Abstracts

At my recent workshop at Cheap Joe's, watercolorist and collagist Jerry Brommer started us out on a mini design course--really helpful! We discussed three types of composition, then he described the process he wanted us to follow to create two paintings in each style. We painted bridge, T, and cruciform compositions by first painting the basic shape and colors, then collaging over it with a variety of washi papers glued down with matte medium. When that dried, we were to go back over the papers with watercolor paints, applied with a dry brush. We layered paint until we felt done, making sure that our strokes of paint and additional collaging led the viewer's eye to the focal point. The papers caused the paint to adhere and run in ways the artist could never plan which, of course, I liked a lot!

Back from Boone

Here's a little piece I created when left to my own devices in the later days of the workshop with Jerry Brommer.

If you've never been to Boone, NC, you've missed one lovely spot. And if you've never taken a workshop at
Cheap Joe's, you've missed the most fun, and what must be the best week-long workshop deal in the country.

My friend Lynette and I left town last Sunday excited about working in watercolor and collage with Gerald Brommer. We'd seen his gorgeous paintings of the California coast and picturesque hill towns, many featuring rocky cliffs and and a vital compositional element. I had first heard of Jerry's work with paper making and had bought his book on collage. Since I have been using collage in my work for my new show, this seemed like a good fit.

From the first contact back in February with Edwina, who is in charge of registration and the smooth running of the workshops at Cheap Joe's, we knew we were in good hands. When we arrived for work on Monday morning, we were greeted at our cars by two friendly fellows who were instructed to help us unload our supplies and get us settled at our work stations. "Now, you have to let us help you," one of them said when we protested that we could get it ourselves, "You'll make us look bad!"

Before we got started, we were given a bucket of Cheap Joe's goodies, including a water bucket with two chambers and a handle that could hold our brushes, a water bottle, notepad and pencil, name tag, and a complimentary copy of Pastel Magazine. (Each day we got a gift on our tables: sponge, a tube of paint, a brush pouch, sample of papers and a photo of the workshop participants and $25 gift certificate for another workshop at Cheap Joe's.) Four staff members greeted us, including Joseph Miller, Joe Miller's son, to welcome and explain the week's activities. Joe himself, was on the golf course that morning, but when he got back he came in and greeted each of us with a hug or handshake. He knows how to run a business!

I'll talk more about what we learned in upcoming posts.

Surprise!

mixed media with paper, thread and acrylic, 22x28

This is the final version of Surprise! I had the idea to add stitching when someone said to me that the creature looked like a patchwork quilt. I thought it enhanced the humor of the painting. I may have made it just that much more bizarre! I also brightened up the nest area of the painting, hoping that it would become a little more evident.

I will be away for a week at a workshop taught by Gerald Brommer on watercolor and collage. I am really looking forward to it. I will not be taking my computer, so that I might narrow my focus for the time I'm away. I'll see you in a while with photos and news from Boone, NC. Be well everyone!

Fowl Weather

Surprise!, 22 x 28, mixed media with acrylic, WIP

This is the latest painting for my show which I have had to work on a little at a time as we've been installing our new show at LibertyTown this week. I will post some images from that show later today or tomorrow. The opening is tomorrow night. Stop in if you are in the area.

My September show now has a name--Fowl Weather (watch the spelling, please!) My family, friends and I have had loads of fun brainstorming names having to do with birds, their behaviors and anatomy (Bills, Bills, Bills! and My Apologies to Mr. Audubon among the rejects.) It makes a great party game if you're bored on a Friday night--it can go on for hours, believe me!

Cuckoo

Cuckoo, mixed media with acrylic, 12 x 12

This one was a challenge because the birdie was mostly in shadow and hiding in the foliage. I loved the fact that it had these splashes of light on it from the sun coming through the dense green cover.

Time and Again, WIP

Time and Again, 8 x 18, acrylic

I printed my latest Fredericksburg block three times end to end to create this view. I have admired the work of other artists when they have done repeated prints from the same block on a single work of art. So, I decided to try it. I have begun to paint it and plan to do much more. I printed on gessoed canvas and will stretch it myself, leaving a big sky. I really like the look of long narrow paintings.

Family Portrait

Family Portrait, mixed media, acrylic and collage, 22 x 28

I worked a lot on this one today--another one for my show. It may need a bit of tweaking here and there.

These guys are so handsome, and I think they know it. I can just see this hanging in their hallway or over the mantle, though I do understand that they're not home much. They spend a great deal of time trekking.