200

This is the 200th post for Orion Art at White Dog Studio!  It's true!

 I've been looking over my blog from when I entered blogland on June 23, 2007 to the present.  At times an art journal and at times a personal journal, either way I've enjoyed sharing my thoughts, ideas and art in this space.  For a while I considered closing this blog, mostly because I couldn't give it the time I felt it deserved.  But, when I realized it was ok; that I don't have to be a daily blogger or even a weekly blogger.  No rules.  I can just blog, whenever...allow for the ebb and flow of life. 

Here's to more posting, paintings and life!

Last week my AP Studio Art Class finished up a unit which incorporated the figure into textural acrylic paintings.  My goal was to utilize some figure drawings they'd done while exploring surface texture on canvas.  We used acrylics, gesso, newspaper, mediums added to the acrylics, pencils.  Individuals added whatever other media they felt inspired to add. They scratched into the paints and added to the paints. While working the students were thoroughly engrossed in the process and I believe they are happy with the results.



Here's a few of the student works:

This last one is what I produced. 

I really had fun playing with the textures, juxtaposing flat areas against raised portions.  The color palette was toned down and limited compared to what I usually use.



Until  # 201, wishing all a season filled with Peace and Love!

An Outpouring

Light Behind

Oil on Canvas

30 x 40

Thanks to a couple of shows this December, a beautiful barn down the road and the incredible Autumn light, I had a painting outburst that from which I  produced four paintings that I'm really happy with.  

Light Behind is just what the title implies.  As the shadows grew longer this fall, the light behind this barn was...well...so many things.  A visual, soulful feast. 

I've been soaking up the views of this barn for many years, but nothing emerged until now.

Glow

Oil on Canvas

30 x 40

Same barn, just zoomed out. 

Red Sunset # 1

Oil on Canvas

22 x 28

The last two aren't of the barn, but instead are landscapes of nowhere in particular.  My focus and goal was to work real loose using the canvas as an exploration in messing around with color and texture.  With Red Sunset #1, I had lots of fun with layering colors, then scratching into the surface, then laying glazes on top, more scratching.

I haven't used glazing much in my paintings, so this was an interesting and different approach for me.  I called it Red Sunset #1, because I enjoyed the process and end result enough that I plan on painting more red paintings. What is it with red lately?  I think our taste or desire for certain colors is like food cravings.  For the last few years, I've been using, loving and craving reds (especially raspberry reds) in my art and life.

Home Fields

Oil on Canvas

22 x 28

The second of the two landscape in my head paintings.  

My apologies, the photo isn't the best.... but I think it relays the essence of the piece. 

Products of workshops

Long time no post.  I think that's how all my posts will have to open these days.... For a number of reasons.  A slow computer; which leads to frustration when I'm trying to do just about anything on it. I'm giving it a go tonight, hopefully with success.  The school year has been busier than usual which has led to minimal time for artmaking and blogging. 

However, I've had the chance to attend a few workshops and produce a few little pieces.  I took my AP studio art students to a Plein Air workshop which was sponsored by our local Park District.  The students spent a morning painting after time spent with local artists who shared their knowledge and experience of Plein Air painting with the group.  The afternoon was spent critiquing results.  It was a great day for the kids, I was happy with the work they did and I think they were too.  While they were painting I took an hour or so to paint, producing this:

Last week I attended a workshop for art educators called Walking the Path.  It was a chance for art teachers to spend time reconnecting with their creativity through yoga, journaling, introspection, creating art and interaction with one another.  For the art component we were given a slice of wood from a fallen tree, a myriad of art materials; including paint, pastels, glue, hammer, chisels, nails, wire, string, yarns, fabrics and much more.  From this we created a piece which reflected where we are on our path--art path, life path, educator path---at this point in time.  I produced this:

I began this post on Sunday, today is Wednesday.  I was only able to upload the first image and then the computer froze.  Urggg. But, I was able to upload the last two pics tonight.  I was hoping to post one more pic, but the computer isn't in the mood. Again.  harumph!  Oh, well, some other time : )

It's Been a While

There has been lots and lots happening at Orion White Dog Studio.  Where to begin? 

As of the last post, things were being wrapped up for the show at BAYarts. The show went well, 3 paintings were sold, including the one shown here.

The staff at BAYarts is fantastic, a special Thank You to Erin who invited me to have this show, then tremedously promoted the show along with hanging the work beautifully; showcasing every piece.  Somehow I managed to paint about 20 new paintings this summer.  Phew!  Lots of time spent outdoors painting in the morning and the evenings.  Every minute and brushstroke wellspent.  Even when the brushstrokes were off, still valuable. 

Yesterday, I picked up the work from BAYarts and brought some of it along with some paintings from home to Carnegie Kitchen and Dining.  The owner of the restaurant asked me a while ago if I'd like to hang my work in his restaurant; which opened this year.  The food is wonderful and so is the atmosphere.  Now that 25 paintings are hanging on the walls, well.... I really do love how my paintings look!  My son, daughter and sister helped me hang the work yesterday. (Thanks : )) It took a few hours, but the Cleveland Air Show was going on while we were hanging, so we were entertained by the Thunderbirds flying over the entire time.  I love to watch them! 

I was planning to put a few more photos of the paintings hanging at Carnegie Kitchen and Dining, but this old laptop isn't obliging my request.  To see more, if you're a Facebooker, go to this link:  Carnegie Kitchen and Dining and you'll be at their FB page. 

What else?  Oh, yeah.  Here's a link to an online magazine called ARTZINE that covered the Natural Light: Paintings by the Ohio Plein Air Society exhibit at the Riffe Gallery in Columbus in which I have 5 works included.  The show is very, very nice, tastefully curated and the space is full of light which makes all the beautiful paintings even more beautiful.

School has been back in session since August 16th, so there hasn't been much time to paint.  But the days and weeks are developing a rhythm which will allow for some personal art time.  I'll go out in the next few weeks to sketch, paint and gather information for some paintings that are resting for now in my imagination. 

Last, my apologies to my fellow bloggers.  I've been reading your blog posts, but haven't been able to leave comments.  I don't know if it's my laptop or Blogger.  I've installed some updates, so we'll see what happens.  I'm following you!  Just not saying much : )

Four to Go

Windowsill II

10 x 12

oil on panel

This is the final piece I painted for the BAYarts Exhibit.  This and the second to last painting ended up being paintings of my kitchen windowsill, thanks to my right knee.  I strained it about a month ago and it got progressively worse until it was extremely uncomfortable and painful to walk far.  So, no going out in the field for this painter.  C'est la vie!  On the bright side the knee is getting better. 

Also on the bright side, the two windowsill paintings turned out to be bright, fresh and colorful.  I just loved painting the light, the shadows and the rich colors  of the fruit.

The opening for  "Summer Color" is Friday, August 12th at BAYarts in Bay Village, from 7- 9 pm.

The show runs through August 31st.

Three to Get Ready

Orchard Path

Oil on panel

6 x 8

This little piece was painted last Friday morning, another one for the show at BAYArts this August.

This photo doesn't do enough justice to the juiciness of the paint application nor to the beauty of the colors.  The painting 'happened' after I spent an hour fixing another painting--which is so-so.  I guess I needed to loosen up.

Two for the Show

This summer's paintings are being generated for a solo exhibition in August at BAYArts.  I'm painting like a madwoman, trying to create works that are energetic, colorful and ideally with a focus on morning and evening light. The show is titled SUMMER COLOR,  I know I'll get the color part down, since I really do love working with lots of color. 

This one was completed last week. It's a view from our property looking at my neighbors barns, which were built by my husband's grandfather.


 

Yaro and Yaro

Oil on Canvas

16 x 24




Sky Song

Oil on Canvas

30 x 40