Drooling, WIP

I don't eat cupcakes, so I must paint them! Sigh...

Note on yesterday's photo: there was a terrible flash bloom on the big cherry, which is better in today's picture. I forgot to give the warning.

Still no clothes on the figure, but I did resolve the last few squares a bit and added some detail.

Remember, it is still evolving--no telling where it will go from here!

"Cloudy with a Chance of Cupcakes"

...just to quote a great children's book title and a movie that did well on its opening weekend, as I understand. Anyone seen it yet?

It may be too soon to show the world how I have conceived this large painting to reinterpret the cupcake block print I just finished. But I have had fun pursuing this idea, so here it is, ready or not.

This is a 24 x 28 canvas with a painting on it that I had never been entirely happy with--ripe conditions for refurbishment, in my book! The long, narrow format also suited my purposes very well for another onslaught of the sweet treats in my original design.

I began by measuring out 8 inch squares Next, I sketched my ideas of this and that of cupcake-dom in each sector with watercolor pencil. If you look in the lower left corner of the canvas, you can see that I'm not through with the first application of paint in the last three squares, mostly because I'm not really charmed with those last three images.

Right now, the collage is restricted to the huge cherry which takes up 4 squares and the cupcake tower just to its right which takes up 2 squares. But, the matte medium may be coming out again tomorrow.

Will you still recognize this as the same painting that you saw today when next you see it? Will there still be a face in the window? Will it have clothing on? Only the Shadow knows...

Ready to Deliver

21 Cupcake Salute, hand colored relief, 8.5 x 4

It's done. I have really had fun with this. I am already at work on a large painting using this format. My only problem is-- will it be cupcakes or birds....both?? Stay tuned.

21 Cupcake Salute

Well I got the whole piece printed and approved by the customer. She is really happy, which is a relief (pun intended!) I've already decided how to add color and what color to add, so I'm letting this dry well over night before I paint on it some more.

Step Two, My Lou

Work in progress, relief print, as of today 3.5 x 6.5

I had camera malfunctions, but I've finally captured my second block which I added to my first for what I'm calling the 21 Cupcake Salute--the birthday present, which I said I was delivering to my customer today. NOT LIKELY! But, I do hope to have all of it printed and to play around with how I am going to add color to the piece. I'm really pleased with the way it is turning out, and I hope she will be when I am done.

I'll cut the third block, Happy 21st, as soon as I'm through posting, and print it at the bottom of what you see here.

Thanks to my new friends who've joined the blog in the last few days. Welcome! And to new friends and old, I really appreciate all the nice feedback on my last post.

Happy creating, everyone!

New Work

This is my sketchbook drawing of a design for the commissioned work for the neice of a friend at LibertyTown who is turning 21 in October. She likes cupcakes, so I went with that theme and created 21 little images about the mighty sweet treat for a block print design.

I decided to split the design in three smaller blocks and cut and printed the first one today. I have already transfered the second set of nine little pictures to the second block, and then I will do the bottom three cupakes on a third block so that I can remove it and still use the other blocks for a less specifically birthday work. I'll be holding my breath as I print each block, one beneath the next!



I can also see this design as a painting. I have a 24 x 48 canvas which needs rehabilitating, and this might be just the thing for it.

A Nice Surprise

When we (Carol Josefiak, Rob Landeck and Gabe Pons, plus my mom!) got to the opening of From There 2 Here at the Target Gallery in Alexandria's Torpedo Factory, I found that my little piece Why Young Mothers Feel Trapped (see the previous post) was the ad for the show all over the place. It was on its own poster advertising their second Thursday art walk as well as on the website all over including the Torpedo Factory's online newsletter) and the post card. I'm a happy girl! Here's the link to see www.torpedofactory.org.

I'll post pictures from last night later, but I couldn't wait to share.

Torpedo Factory

Why Young Mothers Feel Trapped, collage/acrylic, 11 x 14

He Takes After Your Side of the Family, collage/acrylic/metal, 10 x 10

Two paintings of mine are in a show called From There 2 Here in Alexandria, VA which opens tomorrow night, September 10. I am planning to go up to hear the founder of the Torpedo Factory give a talk at the opening at 7 pm. This is an invitational show from the Target Gallery to the artists working at the various centers which hosted the Torpedo Factory's touring anniversary show which was called From Here 2 There. It was exhibited at LibertyTown last September. The show runs from September 10-October 18.

I am pleased and proud to have been selected for the show and am really looking forward to seeing the work of all the other artists. I hope that my parents will go with me to see this art center, which truly is the best use of a Torpedo Factory I can think of (in my own art focused, narrow-minded way, of course!)

More later...

Wow

Small Town, Big Sky, acrylic and printmaking, 8 x 20

What a night! I was overwhelmed by the reception of my show and so gratified by how many of my friends and family came out for it. Best of all, my parents were able to come back after just having been here in May, AND just having spent the week together in Georgia in July.

The weather we ordered was perfect, a lovely night for doing the gallery crawl. The good citizens of Fred were out in force. Thanks to all my generous patrons-- I sold 15 paintings from the show and two more in my studio. And I talked and talked and talked from 5-9 pm! I had the good sense to wear flat shoes and to stay away from the wine.

My husband took me out to dinner afterwards at a terrific little farm to table restaurant called Poppy Hill in downtown Fredericksburg. My son used to work there, and one of his former roommates, Sarah, still does. When Sarah told everyone I had opened a show last night, our waitress brought complimentary glasses of champagne to our table.

In reflection on the evening: I've come a long way from that scared little girl in Mrs. Johnston's 2nd grade class who could barely speak above a whisper. I've slain quite a few demons along the way. I don't know where I would be without the support of my folks, my sister, Dorothy, my husband and boys and my wonderful art community, headed up by Dan Finnegan. And all the friends who propped me up along the way--Anna, Lynette, Aline, Beth, Stephanie, Carol--you guys rock!

Damn, it takes a long time to grow up-----if we're lucky!

It's on the Walls

My show is installed and opens tomorrow night. Dan did a wonderful job of hanging my work-- I just tried to stay out of his way. I really appreciate how great it looks. It is hard to take a photo to get the real feel of the room. All I have to do is hem my pants and make artichoke dip for Stephanie. Then I am ready!