Passages

Does anyone remember the book Passages by Gail Sheehy? I think it was a 70's thing and was pretty popular in its heyday. Speaking of aging, that expression just did it. I don't know where it came from! Some say the saying originated in the mid 1500's and may have been first recorded in 1751. Just trying to put time in perspective for you.

I don't think I ever actually read the book from cover to cover, just the passages that jumped out at me. I always wondered if that was the real inspiration for the title. You can't really digest the whole thing in one sitting. The essence of the book comes back to me now as I focus on how many of my goals and dreams have changed over the years. Sometimes I have even achieved a few of them as one passage leads me to my next journey. The key is to keep our dreams alive no matter in which phase we find ourselves.

Passages and dreams apply to our own artwork as well. Style, preferred medium and subject matter changes over time. Even the way we sign our work can be a metamorphosis. The watercolor painting shown above is no exception. I worked really hard on it to get to the point when I could finally say "I am finished." Trying to capture the mood of the inpenetrable rain forest was easier said than done. But I'll keep trying and maybe some day I shall overcome.

"Without dreams, artists would perish" - Roger Asselin

True Confessions

Composition, color and clarity. These are what I consider the 3 critical elements that make a painting dance! And in that magical moment of chance, they all come together and it feels as if serendipity has struck again.


OK. Its secret confessions time. Here's the true behind the scenes story of this tiny favorite painting. I was on the prowl again for that perfect Composition. In my opinion, composition is the most important but quite challenging component to success. I wanted to try something different but I knew my limits. I have a fondness for nature scenes and still couldn't resist my temptation to capture waterscapes.


The twist here was the Color combination. Straying beyond my usual attraction for cool analogous color schemes I found myself indulging in bold complimentary colors. I had laid the groundwork but didn't know what my next move would be. So, I left it alone and just waited. For months. Seriously.


Then, when I least expected it, the moment of Clarity arrived. I had a plan. I was really nervous but figured I had waited long enough. I picked up my paintbrush, it felt soooo right and I made my move.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

"People will forget what you say. People will forget what you do. But people will never forget how you made them feel."-author unknown

The Essence of a Decade

2000. It seems like just yesterday that we were all worrying about what would happen with Y2K and the rolling over of a century. 2001. I still remember what it felt like driving home from work on 9/11 and not knowing what was going to happen next. 2003 Gram made it to 103 years of age and in 2004 I finally finished school. Once and for all! I made new friends and reconnected with old ones. The advances of technology is still hard for me to wrap my brain around but I can't imagine life without it. 2008 Expressive art has now become my daily mantra and I have learned how to give myself permission to pursue it while hopefully maintaining an equilibrium. But then with art this may really be an oxymoron. Right? 2010 My first little watercolor painting for you in 3 steps.

Lots of people do not do new year's resolutions. Truth be told, I make them every day and sometimes more than once a day. Pretty much because I also break them every day but I hope that I manage to chisel away at a few. I struggle with maintaining focus and I am always searching for purpose. My Holy Grail if you will. A friend once said to me "what artist do you know that is organized?" My plan is to go paperless and I will rely on my Blackberry for that. No more post-its everywhere. My other 2 overarching goals are to be kind and go green.

I took a tiny break from painting over the holidays but not the piano. Currently, I am reading a book on the origin of Zumba dancing. Not sure if you can really learn how to dance by reading a book but it is interesting. And Oh Yeah, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. ~Mother Teresa

Both Sides Now

"Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air".

Anyone else remember singing (well, at least trying to sing) along with Judy Collins?

Step one of two sides of a new canvas bag. Going OK but you will have to use your imagination at this stage.


I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean, whenever one door closes I hope one more opens, promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance, and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,
I hope you dance.
-Performed by Lee Ann Womack

-Written by Tia Sillers and Mark Sanders

Set Your Spirit Free

I usually do not title my paintings. Sometimes I do not even feel like signing them. This time, however, the fancy just struck me to name this one and I like the inspiration behind its title. They are kind of difficult to see, but I hope you notice the two birds flying in the upper left hand sky. If you click on the pic, it should enlarge for you.

One usually knows when a work is done, even if it is not something of which one is particularly pleased. Many of an artist has totally ruined an acceptable piece by trying too hard to make it better. So, I do think that I am done here.

"I have heard it said that artists have a need to release a certain kind of creative energy. I can kind of relate to that." Dale Chihuly

That "In-between" Stage

OK, here's that "in-between stage" of a painting that I previously mentioned. When I always think "oh, this is sooo not working". I have to work really hard on my impulse control and to not tear it up. Despite serious planning of what I am trying to accomplish, I really have no clue as to what will happen. If it works. . . great. If not. . . I'm probably in hot water again and need to figure out a way to fix it. That's why I say perseverance is my strength as opposed to any great talent. And of course, painting just makes me happy. Anyways, that "in-between stage" is usually so unbearable that I had to post at least two pics to show that there is always hope that things can get better. And I'm not finished yet.

Here's hoping for a Great New Year!

My Wish For You

This holiday season be humble, be grateful, be prayerful.

Some artists amazingly can complete a work in one day while others take years. Monet worked on his six large water lily canvases for 11 years. I understand the desire to produce and struggle to maintain perspective. It's easy to forget to keep it light and fun and I start to stress when I don't like what I've done. However, I always want to be able to lose myself in the paint and escape with the colors.

Here is step one of a painting that I recently started. We'll call the technique gouache. Actually, I just watered down acrylics and used 140 lb. cold press paper. I'll try not to be pressured to finish it before I'm ready. Maybe it will be fun and interesting for you to watch its progression.