Orange

I started my pastel class last Thursday- with the help of my INCREDIBLE husband, as mentioned before- and am now re-familiarizing myself with the techniques and process. It feels a bit awkward. But, I took advantage of the unanticipated extra 20 minutes I had this morning and jumped in to the homework assignment. We were each given a paper bag with instructions to feel inside, smell, notice and picture what we were experiencing without looking. We could then take out the item, examine it further, and then render it in pastels. I set up the still life above on Thursday afternoon, and it languished on my desk all weekend. I kind of half-heartedly started the wooden apple, but the process felt a little weird and was quite unsatisfactory. So it sat and taunted me for 3 days. When I found myself with the extra few minutes this morning, I jumped in and gave everything a minimum of a once-over, so that when I get back to it (likely tomorrow, although I'm already more excited about working on it so maybe I'll find some time tonight), I'll at least have less white paper staring at me. I have already discovered that I don't have a great selection of orange pastels, and it may behoove me to see if I can get one or two more hues in the next day or two. On the other hand, I've photographed the still life a couple of times in order to get a little different perspective, and it's been elucidating. There's not as much true orange as one might imagine in an orange on blue cloth next to red apples and well lit from above.

Pastels

I am signed up to start a pastel class taught by Janice Parker Muir this very morning, a mere 30 minutes from now. And my son is home sick in bed, feeling and looking miserable. I feel very sorry for him, but I also so want to go to this class! Luckily I have an INCREDIBLE husband who volunteered to do some work from home this morning so I can at least spend an hour at the class. How lucky am I?

Everywhere

Inspiration can be found everywhere: This was the dishwasher door a few days ago. I was drawn to the textures and values, drips and dynamics. I search through it for shapes, recognized and imagined, the realities and the possibilities.

Portraits

I so love this artist's work: Carne Griffiths

Orientation

My studio. Actually, this has become very much a home for me. In the years we've been in the house, first with just the two of us and then adding two children (and the dog and the cat, of course), I've really resisted the idea of having only a small space in which to work. I want a Studio! One of those big white ones with skylights and splatters of paint on the walls! Or at least a guest bedroom that's all mine! How can I possibly "work" without the space to spread out? Or the space to be by myself when inspiration strikes!... But eventually, I've come around to the idea that if I'm restricted to only producing art in a specific space, then I'm not going to produce much, am I?! I did not expect to love having this little space- and every iota is mine- right in the middle of everything. But guess what? Art isn't meant to be compartmentalized and separated from life.

Art IS life.

Even as I have been typing this, I've gotten nosed by the dog, helped a pre-schooler with her hair bows, and gotten a request for Mac and Cheese for lunch. All while right in the middle of the sketchbook painting, paints, pencils, and cup of Chai (now cold) I started this morning in the quiet before anyone else was awake.

I love my studio.