Barn1

I love old barns. I painted this to be kinda broody, maybe after a rain. When it comes from the imagination, there is no right or wrong. this is 36 x 24 acrylic on canvas.

2008

Well, It's been over a year since I last blogged. Many times my husband and I say that we're both "great starters but poor finishers", which seems to be the case in the blogasphere as well. I'll try to do better!

From Dana To Me

I haven't posted anything from Dana lately, but she made this awesome tote bag for me recently. We just picked out the fabric from her sewing room, I told her the approximate dimesions I wanted, and she made it! Just like that...poof...it was done...and without the first sign of a pattern. Awesome!

Coming Soon...One for Dana

She wants a tryptic (3 canvasses making one painting) for Christmas. We discussed colors like: sand, tan, camel, chocolate brown, and maybe turquoise. She is going to use the colors from the painting(s) to then redecorate her bedroom. Now that is an honor for an artist...the painting as an inspiration for the whole room! Thanks Dana!

She wants the mood of the painting(s) to be calm, serene, relaxing and tranquil. I interpreted this to mean almost sancuary-like. I'm thinking of naming it Tranquility Triage, not Trio, but Triage...another word for ER. Get it?

And Finally...Beneath The Surface

A while back I received a request to paint a fish for a young boy. It took me a good bit of research and "thinking time" to try to paint a fish that was somewhat lively and had some color to it, yet still resembled the fish the boy is accustomed to catching. So, after layers and layers of paints, glazes, and even a little glitter dust, I am finally finished! I named it "Beneath The Surface" because that is what I tried to capture. It's extremely difficult to photograph because of all the built-in shine the painting has, hopefully resembling the shimmer of water. Anyway, I hope he likes it! 16" x 20" acrylics on canvas.

Frenzied

Frenzied is acrylics on 20" x 24" canvas. Almost tribal looking, don't you think?

Split Decision

Split Decision is on two 16 x 20 canvanses. Acrylics. One of my favorites. I chose to offset the canvases from each other when hanging on the wall for a little more interest.

Some paintings to come

I have some new paintings that I will be posting soon: "Split Decision", "Frenzied", and "Beneath The Surface".

The Flow

The Flow is actually
(2) 14 x 11 abstract paintings that make up one piece. Lots of depth in the cool-tone colors and lots of movement indicated by the flow of the paint.

You can see more details of each in the photos below.

A Fish?

I have had a request to paint a fish for a young boy. He loves to fish and apparently is very good at it, especially for his age. Here's my dilemma: Perhaps he would prefer a very realistic fish that looks like a close-up photograph of a fish that he caught or would like to catch, with every scale defined and every detail perfectly in place, but that's not how I like to paint. Immediately, I think...fish...hmmm...how can I make it different, unique, and stylized? Where's the twist, the umph, the pizazz? How will this fish be different from all other fishes out there? I think of the brightly colored tropical fish in coral reefs, or even in aquariums, I think of colorful swordfish and the whole world of deep-sea fishing, but I don't think of just a plain old gray fish with a white belly and a black eye, or at least I try not to. I think of swirls representing water. I think of brush strokes that give the fish movement and personality. So, here I must find a happy medium that will satisfy both the boy and myself. Wish me luck!

Entangled

"Entangled" is my favorite to date. It has a lot of graphics influence in it, which makes perfect sense since that is my profession.
I love the gorgeous autumnal colors. They make my heart sing!

Unexpected

"Unexpected" is just ocean and sky. Vast, simplistic, and a little scary.
But then...
There's lotus flowers and lilly pads! Definitely a fresh-water pond item. A nice little unexpected surprise and something to make you say, "hmmmm?"

The Grind

The Grind is a mixed media piece. I used different colors of regular old beans and a broken plate.


Had lots of fun with this one!
I love the
way the background resembles
old worn paint on a barn door!

I have new things to post, I promise!

Been too busy to take the pics and post' em! I have new paintings finished: "Unexpected", "The Grind", "Entangled" --my favorite to date, and "The Flow". I have two more in the works. Completed another couple of different type artsy projects that I may post, as well. I simply have been unable to get around to taking the pics and doing the posting. Perhaps next week will be a good time. Hope so. See you soon!

Facade

My newest painting, Facade (fa sod), defined by Webster as "a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect" was inspired by a person who continuously projects a facade as part of their very existence.







It's kinda that old "what you see
AIN'T what you get" deal. The
flowers represent the pretty
facade; the background
represents something
very different.

Genesis

Genesis. A new creation; a new beginning. 16 x 20, Acrylics and Glazes on canvas.

Detail of Genesis at its center.

All in the Spirit of A Woman 1 series

Here are all 6 women in the series as I imagine them displayed in a facility that provides services that nutures, inspires, empowers, or encourages women.

Series of A Woman 1, Dawn

Finally! Here is Dawn, the final of six in the Spirit of A Woman 1 series. I had Dawn just an hour away from completion for several weeks, but I just never could find the hour to work on her. Acrylic on canvas 11 x 14.

Look for the "artist's point of view" regarding the series soon. Also I am working on implementing a view of all six paintings at once...so they can be seen together as they were intended.

I am looking forward to moving on to my next paint endeavors. I have 3 in the works and one that needs to go from my mind's eye to canvas...quickly before I forget it!

Series: Spirit of A Woman I, Crystal

This is Crystal. She is the fifth in a series of six. 11 x 14 Acrylic on canvas.

Series: Spirit of A Woman 1, OPAL

Opal is the fourth in a series of six. 11 x 14 Acrylic on canvas.

Asheville NC Artist

I ran across this artist's sites today. I found them inpirational.
Between The Lines and
Through the Fears

Series: Spirt of A Woman I, May

Here's May.
C'mon, you know we're not all happy, excited, bubbly, ALL the time!
I'm almost finished with the other 3. Wouldn't these be great in a place that caters to, or nutures, cares for, celebrates, or empowers women? MAY is the third painting in a series of 6. The next 3...Crystal, Opal and Dawn are coming soon. As I have said before, this is just a tribute to women and their attributes. These are just in-my-head and are not portraits of real people.

Series: Spirit Of A Woman I, JUNE

Here's June and a detail of June. 11 x 14 on canvas.

Series: Spirit Of A Woman I, AUTUMN

Here's Autumn and a detail of Autumn. 11 x 14 Acrylic on canvas.

Series: Spirit Of A Woman I

I've got six paintings going at once. (That's the way I like it best.) I have been inspired by some women lately and I thought I would try to capture the essence of women on canvas. Basically, in this first series, each painting will be named a woman's name that is also an object, an emotion, or something else other than a woman's name. You know, like Rose or Daisy or Ruby or Hope or Joy? Women's names, but also something else. My intention is to capture a feeling through the painting that is also part of a woman's characteristics. We'll see how it goes. No pics to post yet, but hopefully over the weekend.

For Sarah's Birthday

Big, new painting for my granddaughter Sarah. She's turning 9 years old this week, and I thought she might want something with lots of color and impact. It's like a poster, only more permanent and more personalized. Hope she likes it! Acrylic on canvas. 24 x 30.

"Scream"

A new abstract painting. 16 x 20. Acrylic on canvas. The photos shows a pinkish-purple color but actually it is a brownish-burgandy color. The two dark brown streaks in the painting are done with texture paint. Olive greens, creams, tans, rusts, browns, burgandy-browns. See detail below.

Trepidations

A new painting "TREPIDATIONS" Acrylic on canvas. 16 x 20. See detail views below:

31 Summers... It's hot!!

Hot, New, Fresh!31 Summers and her blog! Dana's Blog

31 Summers

Ok, the name for Dana Marie Designs has been changed to the more catchy 31 Summers! Check out her online shop
31 Summers and her blog! Dana's Blogs

DANA MARIE DESIGNS

Dana has opened her online store! We're so proud! Visit it NOW! Dana Marie Designs Online Shop

Purses, Pocketbooks, Fashion Accessories

These are some examples of purses my oldest daughter makes (ok, technically she is my step-daughter). She even makes her own patterns!