I've Been Away Awhile

Nero Fiddled, 16 x 20, Commissioned Work

Elizabeth W. Seaver

sold

 

Not literally away, but away from writing and posting on my blog. You may imagine me, paint-stained and wild-haired, industriously stacking the canvases against the wall, hoping to have enough work to fill the amazing Bistro Bethem. 

 

The real kicker, as you painters know, is to have work you are proud of and what looks to be a body of work when it all goes on the wall. Interestingly, though my work will have been created within about a six month period, it changes as I go along. Earlier paintings don't fit as well with the later works as I would like. Which leads to fiddling.

 

Anybody else have that problem? I can't leave them alone. I have already painted over two of my earlier works and while the consensus on one is that it is a good thing, the jury is still out as to whether the latest painting on top of the second is better that the original one.

A wise teacher once said to me, "Put down the paintbrush and back away from the canvas." 

I hear her voice in my head, but just like that petulant child who wants what she wants enough to try throwing a tantrum to get it, I keep painting anyway. Sometimes.

But when one has the inspiration of the real Nero the Cat, well, one is careful to stop in time.

Distracted

Distracted, 22 x 28, acrylic/collage

Elizabeth W. Seaver

Personal electronic devices. 

 

It's pretty bad if a cool customer isn't even tempted by the birds on the beach....

Go Wilbur!

Wilbur, 18 x 24 x 7, sculpture by Tex Forrest

painting by Elizabeth W. Seaver

Wilbur got accepted into a show at Artful Dimensions for the month of April. He rode his green trike to victory, winning an honorable mention and people's choice awards. 

Go Wilbur!

Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherry Blossom Festival, acrylic/collage, 18 x 36

Elizabeth W. Seaver

Because It's Almost Spring

 Drawing Inside Cat, 22 x 8, Elizabeth W. Seaver

First Stage of painting--notice the editing I did. When I realized I wanted to use a very detailed looking paper, I took out the mouse balanced on the cat's tail

Finished. It looks a little wonky because my photo is not the final one. Parallax will get you every time!

So, this one is named Inside Cat, it is acrylic and collage. It is a bit of a companion piece to Come Here Often?

Some Cats Like Water

8 x 8, acrylic/collage, Elizabeth W. Seaver

Come Here Often?

Come Here Often? collage/acrylic, 22 x 28

Elizabeth W. Seaver

This is the finished cat from two posts ago.

I'm working on a companion piece. I may rename them Outside Cat and Inside Cat. 

It's a blast.

And Another Thing!

And Another Thing! collage/acrylic, 6 x 6

Elizabeth W. Seaver
sold

Thought you all might like a little rest from the cats. I started this in October, but finished it this month.

 More cats tomorrow!

Progress

Here is the original image I showed a couple of weeks ago. Since then, I have changed my direction with this piece. Here's how it started:

My plan was to stamp my block prints in the back ground, so I'd masked the cat figure in preparation. Here's what I decided to do instead:

I can see that available light and my fiddling with color balance gave several different impressions of color. It is meant to be salmon.

As I keep working, I will post more images and try to capture the color more carefully.

I purchased beautiful papers which I am finally pulling out to use in this series of paintings. I like the formality of the handmade, screen printed paper with the whimsy of my cat.

Stay tuned!

Mardi Gras Harold

Mardi Gras Harold, collage/acrylic, 6 x 6

Elizabeth W. Seaver

Harold actually behaved himself with decorum at Mardi Gras. He's always this color.

Cardinal for Dinner, Again?

Cardinal for Dinner, Again?, collage/acrylic, 6 x 6

Elizabeth W. Seaver

I know. 

 

It's not funny. 

 

Maybe just a little?

Kids' Classes and Valentine's Treats

 We had a blast last week making stuff at Water Street Studio.

Armand at Work

Armand at Work, 6 x 8, acrylic on Masonite

Elizabeth W. Seaver
sold

"Bliss," thought Armand. He cycled around the three rings of Humbolt's Harrowing Circus keeping tabs on piles of poop deposited by Erma the Elephant and the tiger triplets, Hocus, Pocus and Dorcus. Next act, he'd be spotting Boomer the Bear and the snooty dancing horses. Armand didn't mind who was pooping. He loved his job.

The seats were full. Cannon fire in the middle ring made the whole arena shake and filled it with smoke, turning it into hazy perfection. And just because Armand had Poop Detail, the least mysterious job in the whole circus, didn't mean he loved any less the thrill of the ride, the riot of calliope music, and the roars, sighs, oohs and ahhs from the ticket holders.


Whoops--Erma let loose a steamer. He swung by the curtain shielding the acts waiting offstage for their cues. "Surely and Pete, you're on. Big plop dead center stage left," Armand called.

"Aw, man! I'm getting tired of this s**t," Surely whined to Pete, who never said anything. Pete always agreed with Surely. It was easier that way. Pete nodded leaving her behind the curtained area. He moved towards Erma's disgrace: cartwheeling, back flip-flopping, ending with high-flying round-offs. The crowd laughed and clapped. Pete took the pooper-scooper, size large, off his belt, grabbed the pile and flipped it into a large receptacle at the completion of a thrilling set of acrobatics.

Armand watched with envy--ok, maybe there was one job he wanted more than Poop Spotter-- Acrobatic Poop Scooper Clown.

"Tomorrow, I'll start to work on my cartwheel," Armand resolved. "Surely--she can be replaced."

Wilbur and His New Green Trike

Meet Wilbur. He is a new collaboration between sculptor Tex Forrest and me. Tex got excited about my birds on bikes and one day showed up with a gessoed bird and tricycle. He had carved the bird out of foam and found the trike somewhere exotic, I'm sure.

His part was done, and it was left to me to figure out who this fellow was. It had to be a fellow, 'cause of the comb on his head, right? Well it took MONTHS, but finally he popped into my brain and introduced himself. After that it didn't take long to transform the plain white sculpture into Himself.

As you can tell, Wilbur is a happy fellow. Proud of his new green trike, he took it out for a spin in today's lovely fall weather.

Then, he parked himself back on his shelf at Water Street Studio.

I'd Rather Be Sleeping

This IS My Happy Face, 4 x 4, acrylic, Elizabeth W. Seaver

Title borrowed from my student's t-shirt yesterday--thanks, J!

We have experienced quite the opposite of the weather in my painting the last few days. Skies have been beautifully sunny, and October breezes blew--kinda chilly for those of us still circulating summer-warmed blood.

Alas, it is time for seasons to change, and yesterday we got the jump on Halloween with a downtown trick or treat event. Ninjas, ghosts, princesses, pirates and their patient parents wandered among store fronts to collect all kinds of things, including oos and ahs from local business owners. We gave the traditional candy, but we saw books and pencils in pumpkin buckets as well.

Let me leave you with one thought: perhaps purple plastic princess shoes are not the best footwear for traipsing city streets.

No Fly Zone

No Fly Zone, 4 x 12, acrylic, Elizabeth W. Seaver

I think this one speaks for itself.

* * * *

If you cannot tell, let me say "out loud" that I am having a great time in my studio.

Friends are dropping in to visit and work, the sun has been shining in my window, warming my back as I paint, and my birdie friends are visiting long enough to be captured on canvas.

Life is good.

* * * *

Tonight: Looking forward to hearing Steve Watkins read from his new book, JUVIE, out this month from Candlewick Press. Happening at our new place, Water Street Studio in downtown Fred. Come on by if you're in the area.

Camilla Hates to Fly

Camilla Hates to Fly, 5 x 7, acrylic, Elizabeth W. Seaver

"I won't spend another winter, freezing my tailfeathers off in that strange excuse for a lake in Central Park shopping hell," Camilla muttered to herself as she leaned into the October wind. "Just because I'm afraid of heights...I don't have to miss out on winter in Mexico."

Her breath came in short gasps, and her legs, previously only used to scuttle across Central Park Blvd. to worry the patio diners at Chipotle as she scarfed the chips they dropped, ached with a burning sort of throb.

"What is it with Amtrak that they won't sell a ticket to me, a respectable goose? Next spring, I'm getting into it with Julie!"

Beach Bum

Beach Bum, 6 x 6, collage/acrylic, Elizabeth W. Seaver

Beach Bum is not perhaps the most appropriate name for this strangely elegant bird. But if you look closely in the collage, you can see that there is a map fragment of the coast of Texas--Galveston, to be exact--the place I grew up calling beach. Moody Gardens is visible along the curve of its neck. That is where I have seen flamingos close up. Amazing, prehistoric-looking creatures.

I will be entering Beach Bum in LibertyTown's 6 x 6 show next month. If you are in the area, stop by to see the show in the main gallery. It opens First Friday, November 1.

Abner

Suddenly Abner Was Quite Popular, 4 x 4, collage/acrylic

Elizabeth W. Seaver

We see Abner just before his life changes forever.

I leave you with just one question: How many licks does it take to get to the chocolaty center of a Tootsie Pop?

Okay, maybe two: What is your favorite flavor?

Party Underground

Party Underground, acrylic, 24 x 24

Elizabeth W. Seaver

I never blogged about this piece. I created it for the show I had in the spring--all underground veggies.

Now, THIS vegetable is very rare. I have not ever actually seen it in its natural setting.

If you know where it grows, please let me know.