Where I've been, where I'll be.

Since I started blogging my posts have been sporadic, sometimes I can post regularly and other times I post infrequently.  Right now is an infrequent time. 

Summer.  Usually the time I can post alot.  Not so this year. 

I've been working on Curriculum writing. 2-4 hours for the last two weeks. Hopefully just one more week.  (tedium)

                                                                  where else and what else?

hangin' out with this little guy.

the laundry.

we're building the deck for the barn/studio.  Yaaaay!!

and then there's the garden.  growin' like crazy!

If I don't post...I'll be in the studio

or

painting

or

starting new paintings.

(just made arrangements to do a solo exhibit at our local hospital for this fall)

yikes!  lots to paint and thankfully I've got lots of ideas!

While I may not post for a while, I'll be visiting your blogs, checking out what's happening in your lives and with your art!

A Peak at the Exhibit at The Flying Monkey Pub~New Landscape Paintings

Last Friday was the Tremont Art Walk.  I have 19 works on exhibit at The Flying Monkey Pub.  What's fun about the Tremont Art Walk is that every business is open for the event.  Art is everywhere, restaurants, pubs, galleries and shops.  It was a warm, beautiful night and Tremont was packed with people.  A bunch of us got together to see my work, have some fun and walk around a bit.  Here's a sampling of some of my work that is hanging. It will hang until August 10th.  If you're in Cleveland, or already live in the area, stop by and see the show. 

New Puppy, New Painting

Larry the Dog Sedivy

Last year in February we said goodbye to our best dog,  Woody after spending 15 wonderful years together.  It took a year or so before we began to think of  having a dog around, although we still missed him.  So much.

My daughter and I have been visiting the local shelters for a few months. Nothing grabbed our hearts.  Then we met Larry.  (His siblings were Curly and Mo). 

He's been with us for a week and he is working his way into our hearts and home with all his puppy cuteness and personality.  I've got a big space in my heart where Woody rests, but its funny how hearts work.  Ours have opened up with ease and made space for this little guy. 

Soft Morning

36 x 42

Oil on Canvas

Last year I worked on a commission which I struggled with the during the entire process.  Nothing ever rang true, although I tried to convince myself otherwise.  So, after the buyer wasn't interested in it, I covered it in red and waited for inspiration.  Which came while I was out birding one soft morning.  The day was foggy, soft and gorgeous.  I took lots of reference photos.  

This is what I came up with.

It's leaving tomorrow to hang in a solo exhibition in Tremont.  (nice arty area in Cleveland)

And on that note, gotta run.....so much to do for the show!

Loosening Up

Orchard Hills Park

6 x 8

Oil on Panel

Since summer vacation started I've gone out to the local parks to do some Plein Air painting.  Each time out has been totally wonderful.  I try to arrive around 7:30 or so and spend a few hours painting.  Last time I painted two panels, with this one being the better of the two.

Last year I painted this:

I liked it for a while.  Then I didn't.  The composition really started bugging me.  I loved the colors, the brushwork, but otherwise...blech.  So I decided to do a paint over the other day.  I zoomed in on the Orchard Hills painting.

Orchard Hills

Oil on Canvas

24 x 24

Now this, I really LOVE.  Loosening up is soooo good.

Some details:

This is color I could just Eat!

Summer Vaca has started and I've hit the ground Running

                                                                Orchard Hills 6 x 8
                                                                                          oil on panel

Where to begin?  It's been so long since I've posted and there's so much to share and say.  For now I'll share a few pics of some little paintings I worked on this week.  The scenes were painted in a few different parks within the Geauga Park District.  What has been intriquing and of great importance to me lately has been negative space.  How it is used in an artwork.  I love the abstract shapes that negative space creates.

                                                                                        Orchard Hills  6 x 8
                                                                                            Oil on Panel

It was fun to mush the sky up against the trees and to paint the pinks behind the trees.

Swine Creek Park  6 x 8

Oil on Panel

This started as a demo piece, waterbased oils on panel.  I reworked it a smidge this morning (the demo was on Monday night) putting regular oils over the waterbased oils.  Which works just fine.  I also turned the painting upside down when I worked back into it.  (I revisited this idea courtesy of a friend who often paints her work upside down--she's not standing on her head, the work is upside down :) ) 

                                                                    The Rookery 6 x 8
                                                                                               Oil on panel

This is a painting from last summer that I was never felt was complete.  So, since I was turning paintings upside down, this one was flipped and worked into.  It's more intense than before, the colors and paint is getting nice and juicey.

Soft Morning

 

Sunday morning birdwatching in a dense fog which formed a soft, muted landscape.

This gorgeous property (owned by Case Western Reserve University; a bio-field station of sorts) is about 15 minutes from my house and I've been interested in visiting it for quite a while, in hopes to find some new painting inspiration.When I was invited to bird there, I was quick to say yes.  We didn't see many birds because of the fog, but we heard many. The morning was spent being totally enthralled with the mists and fog (must be my celtic roots), enjoying the good company of fellow birdwatchers and when the sun broke through...well, then we did see birds, birds and more birds!

Oh, I'll go back to paint this summer.  Eight more days of school!!

Portals

oil pastel on chip board

Colours are the wounds of Light ~ William Blake

as the anniversary date of my mother's passing (through her portal) arrives, i remember and miss her on this mother's day.  (and all days)

the other portal, the doorway through which my father passed.

thankful to both of them for passing on the gifts.