Art Studio Coming Along

Our Barn/Studio is in the 2nd phase of construction! Vinyl siding is going up as I post.
The above photo shows the great view from my neighbor's yard.

Below is the inside view from what will be the back wall of the studio looking out to the back yard.





This view is from the side yard looking at the long wall, left half is barn and right half is studio.

More pics to follow of the outside completion! This winter we'll finish the interior, the plan is to move in next spring!!!

Still haven't worked in the Studio, Yoga Anyone?

kittyasana

No time for painting lately, but there's always time for yoga.

I didn't work on any art last week

I didn't work on any art last week.
Just one of those weeks with lots of other things happening.
Teaching has been very busy, we're wrapping up 3rd qtr. Yikes! Where does the time go?
This week, the studio and paintings get a visit.

In lieu of no art pics, nature pics, cat pics or other I thought I'd share a few shots of a different genre.
We had a get together this weekend to honor the first day of spring and by the way Bob turned 50! Getting out of the house after a long, cooped-in winter. Necessary
Ahhh, fantastic fun was had by all!



The birthday boy up front, me and our 3 kids.



Me and my sisters. There are eight siblings, 4 boys 4 girls. Boy-girl repeated all the way down. I'm number 6 in the lineup pictured here w/ number 8 and number 4.


My daughter made the cake for Bob. (he's the gardener of the family) I ate too much of the cake, every bite was sooo good!



My son's friend/roommate(they're making a movie, more on that in future postings) and my daughter.


caio!

My Studio is Overflowing Sale

A few months ago I made the decision to have a sale on my website choosing the month of February as THE month to do it. This decision wasn't made without lots of deliberation. So many questions like whether it's a good business decision or not? am I giving away my work? Will people really want to buy because it's a low price--will it be perceived as "cheap" in a bad way?

But...my crowded studio situation put the kabosh on all my doubts along with conversation with people who have good practical thinking minds; setting me straight.

There is also the new studio being built. All the art in the current studio doesn't need to move to the new studio. The new studio will host new paintings! (some of my favorites will stay with me) In addition, in light of today's economy, offering my artwork at a lowered price makes it a possibility for people to buy if they're inclined to do so!

I'm offering my work for HALF OFF for all of February; if any of my readers would be kind enough to spread the word to art lovers, art collectors; those you think might be interested...send them on over to this blog or to my website.

Regarding the painting I chose to post today. It has been titled 'Journey' and 'Anam' (anam means soul in Celtic)and finally 'Anam Turas'--Soul Journey in Celtic. When I started this blog, this painting was one of my first to post. It is 4' x 5' and hangs on one wall of the studio. I began the painting in the winter of 2007, finished it somewhere in the summer or fall of the same year. (There is a fold that shows in this pic., it worked its way out of the painting. I stretched it after I painted it and the canvas I used had a fold in it) It is based on dream images and my thoughts on family, relationships, our life/death journey. Several people I love passed away, people I love needed care, people I love gathered to care for our loved ones. All of these people are in the painting in spirit, symbolically, in thought, and in name. I added my dad's name this year; names of the deceased are written in the upper left of the painting.
White Dog is in the painting, he's a dream image that has shown up on and off in my dreams since I was young.

So looking back to when I started 'blogging' and I look at all that has happened in life. And I look at all the art I've created and the artistic growth and I'm satisfied--with painting lessons learned and with painting successes. Plus, I'm excited--so much more to create, techniques and media to play with, places to go (another trip to Ireland sits in the back of my mind, I'm thinking 2010). I want to get out this summer and do lots of Plein Air paintings! Ahhh, such plans.. all good.

Lastly, looking back to the start of this blogging adventure; there are so many people I've connected with and it keeps growing! Lots of interesting and good people to talk with about art and a variety of other subjects.

Okay, I didn't start this post with the idea of getting philosophical and all reflective... so enough:)

Studio without Walls

No walls. Next year at this time, walls! The view is unobstructed, gives a real cozy winter feeling doesn't it?





We bought this woodburning stove from friend who got a great price for it at an auction. Not providing much warmth now, but once it's painted and in a corner.....I want to elevate it on a low platform so there is seating around it. Tiles behind it and on the platform...imagine the cat sleeping nearby. The crackle of burning logs. Nice!!





It is with humble gratitude for this peaceful, amazing dream/reality that I ask you to head over to Zoom's Blog. Over in my sidebar. (Since I can't get the link to work, sometimes I just don't have that tech savvy.) Zooms puts it all in perspective. Check out her 2nd to last post.

Lastly...

May the sun bring you new energy by day,
May the moon softly restore you by night,
May the rain was awy your worries,
May the breeze blow new strength into your being,
May you walk gently throught the world and
know its beauty all the days of your life.

Apache Blessing.

My Studio is a Mess!

Too much stuff!! My fear is that when I move to the larger studio space in the barn, I'll accumulate more stuff!!!
Today is the start of organizing, sifting and cleaning in el studio. When I'm feeling really bad about all the paintings stacking up and feeling sorry for myself for no sales and I'm totally losing perspective on this "art life"; I dramatically say to myself that the solution is to just stop painting, give all the paintings, supplies, materials away!
But.
My inner, wiser, saner and rational self steps in and tells me how painting is inherent and integral to who I am. How I'll never stop painting even if I never sold a single thing again. I paint to paint. For the sheer joy of it. The pleasure of playing w/ colors, textures. Capturing the landscape of Ohio in my way.
How the colors change daily. EXQUISITENESS (don't know if that's a real word but it works)
Off to clean!

Barn Raising

snapshots of the day
August 24, 2008

Barn Update and Swallow Art to Boot

The barn/studio has a charcoal grey metal roof, installation shown here. All of last weekend was spent raising the barn, putting up trusses, laying the roof. Many volunteers helped! I was the camp cook! The weather was great, a bit muggy on Sunday, but no rain. I have lots of shots that I took on my son's camera that show the various stages of construction. Future postings to come.



This painting is posted for Iona who saw part of the image in a previous post about Tom the Russian Blue. It is hanging on my bedroom wall. This is the last of a series of four. One is with my sister at her home in Lakewood and two were donated to an Aids Ward at a local hospital in Cleveland. The inspiration for the paintings came while birding one spring morning. The tree swallows were flying in incredible patterns through sunlight and tall grasses.

Beginnings

Ground has been broken for our barn/studio and the hard labor has begun. Bob and our friend Scuzzy Miller are working together to build it. We'll have more help coming in later in the week and over the weekend.
For now we'll build a pavilion. In the spring we'll put up walls and after that we'll work on the interior. It'll be a year or so before I'm in my new, larger space. It will be well worth the wait. Twice the size of my current studio! I have dreams and plans for holding painting workshops, having yoga classes and other great get togethers.