New Experimental Works

SPIRIT OF THE SOUTHWEST

Inspired by an earlier experimental painting

I began a series of 6 x 6 x 1.25 inch mixed media on panel paintings

Here are 9 of them before finale layers were put into the paintings.

I used the dirt/sand from my yard

and shredded linen and handwoven hemp fabrics.

Plus I made some stamps then experimented with adding gold foils as well as layers of paint.

I wanted these to be small jewel boxes so I painted the edges black

then I carried the gold foil over the edges.

Cutting and trimming the linen/hemp plus deciding where I wanted the turquoise bead to go.

Here is the finished front of one.

Infusing the linen in acrylic medium changed it's color.

And a side view of the same.

Here is another one finished.

I love the various textures and layering on top of each other.

Using the turquoise bead along with New Mexico "dirt" is central to the concept of

Spirit of the Southwest.

Up and Running

Despite wicked winds which brought stinging dust storms followed by smoke from fires in Arizona...my booth is up and running. I'm so pleased to be able to show so much of my work. The response I've gotten has been just great! There are still some tweaks I hope to make but this is a super beginning.

I hope you'll beable to drop by and visit sometime during the season!

Opening Weekend

FINALLY!

The spring winds have been doing their usual screaming dance and slowed the tent going up but it's up. This weekend (May 14 & 15) I'll be out there. I won't have had time to build the walls and add the lights which will turn it into the Gallery I hope to have but It's beginning!

I'll eventually have a small studio space there and will be painting . Sharing inspiration and techniques with my visitors. Please come by and say hello.

I'll be in booth # 6 in the ARTIST TENT.

There will be so much for visitors to see and do while at the FLEA!

Please note that there's a free shuttle service from downtown.

I'm looking forward to a fabulous season!

Thank You!

The Las Vegas New Mexico Arts just printed an ad in their first arts directory for my studio and this BLOG. I had no idea they were doing this, Check out http://www.lasvegasnewmexicoarts.com/ to see other artists working on the east side of the mountains...



I'll need to post more often than I have....!

Finally a Valley View done in Acrylic which makes me happy. Tho the textures are more subtle than with oils they are still visible in the many layers of paints. This painting gives me direction and enthusiasm for where I can go with this process!

20" x 16" acrylic on canvas

Sometimes I begin a painting with great enthusiasm and then must put it aside as other works such as commissions come up...this painting began that way. It sat for at least a year, with me pulling it out of my canvas closet occasionally, but the momentum had been lost...

So several months ago as I began exploring various ways of using acrylics towards the Aerial/Valley Views I pulled this canvas out and said why not (!) and totally re-painted it. The under textures from the originally intended painting are still there but now has many layers of paint on top.... I spent days adding and subtracting from the composition as I looked for ways to capture the feel of what I loved about my work in oils...but in acrylic.

This is a painting of learning for me; one of those paintings where I let it take me where it wants me to go and not just where I demanded it. Even adding the "veils" of color is a revisit to aspects of my days with the "Serenity" Series... as then; here it brings to my mind the passage of time...as day flows to night and night flows to day.




A View From Above (series) (image shown) 38" x 49" Acrylic on canvas

(has extended painting to be gallery wrapped (total 52" x 42" plus 1" all around)).

This Valley View oil on paper (over gesso) painting sold 2 weeks after letting it go to market. It has at least 5 layers of paint tho large areas have a smooth and blended surface that accentuate the heavily textured areas. I loved the intense colors and dramatic composition in this painting.