Mixed Media for March

Six Black Birds  30 x 20 x 3

Working on new pieces for myself and the shop.  This is part of my altar series in that the "frames" were originally designed for pieces based upon Mexican and Spanish altar pieces.  They've morphed into what you see here and below - though they still feel altar-ish to me.  I've got this thing for grapevine tendrils.  I'm sure it's related to my fascination with spirals Equiangular/Spirals (a posting of a couple years back.)  But it's also due to their nature if you will.  As a sometimes basket maker and fiber artist, I've great familiarity with the tensile strength and spring-back qualities of grape tendrils even after being stored for years.

A Singular Path (sold)

And they just make such interesting lines.  It's as if they are drawings in the air that take shape and form; no two alike. I've included a couple of others in the series:  A Singular Path and So Fragile A Fire - both done in the last two years in between bouts of painting. Another previously posted The Madonna of Our Season was done as a holiday mystery give-away purely for fun.

I built the original frame, then asked a woodworker friend to use it as the model for 20 more.  I've four or five left and the next one is taking shape in my mind's eye.

As for the glowing circular areas in the photograph of Six Black Birds - a friend of mine swears they are entities, presences of energy captured by the camera because of their interest in what's going on...  Sounds good to me.

So Fragile A Fire

Please don't hate me...

I am but a lowly artist jus' tryin' to survive...

Okay that's all the whining you're gonna get for today.

So Fragile A Fire, 30 x 20 x 3, mixed media, $365

Not much time for making art the past several weeks. I had to count all those peeps... but now the Census is finished and it's back to seeking commissions and work, work, work of any kind... and ... getting the work out there.

A Singular Path sold at the "Appalachian Life" show at Sautee and went off to Virginia to its forever home. Coincidentally, the photograph that inspired the painting of the meandering pathway through the woods was of the Appalachian Trail. I was struck by the twists and turns of the path which seemed to be arbitrary and very indirect. I thought: why doesn't that path take a more direct route? But then - who wouldn't want to spend as much time as possible in the Appalachian Mountains?

And here is one of my studio assistants: the fabulous Molly Flopover. Molly came to me many years ago via the local farm feed store. The last of a "wild" litter, Molly walked over to me one day as I was loading horse feed and made it clear she was ready for a change. Her name comes from her habit of walking just ahead of me and then kerrrrr - flop! Right down she goes, seeking attention, praise and a tummy scratch (for which she bites). Her record is seven flopovers between the grain shed and the house. And when she goes for it, there's no hesitation. You can hear a thump and oomph as the air is expelled!

Another Altar and small works

Here's the next in my series of Altars: Raven Temple, 30 x 18, $265

Tomorrow I am demonstrating acrylic landscape at the Sautee Community Center Gallery from 10 am to 1:30 Raven Temple is in the current show along with a few other paintings and mixed media pieces including my last post: A Singular Path. I look forward to painting all day - but the forecast is for thunderstorms, so I'm not expecting many folks. The good news is that I'll be painting indoors!

As part of my small series (5 x 7) and the Art for Shelters Project - here is Jojo, a resident of the Habersham Animal Shelter. He's a beautiful tabby who has spent four months waiting for adoption. Heartbreaker...

And What Cat's Think... also 5 x 7 $18.00 (Sold)

Aunt Edna, 5 x 7 $18.00

And a tiny portrait of a friend: Max, 5 x 7 $18.00

And here are the two altar pieces on display at the Sautee Center Gallery's latest show.

I found out I've been called back for the Census!! Yay!! Paid work!! Income!! Mileage too - and I hope to once again post a series based upon my travels...

Another "Alterpiece" or Alter Altar

My internet was down for a bit. I wish I could say it was a storm or a technical problem, and I suppose it was in a way. Technically, I couldn't pay the bill on time and... poof. But I'm still here - living on my edge of the universe - holding on tight.

Got some good news. Next month I'll be working for the Census again, so if I can just make it through April...

While hustling for work and doing my gigs at the Heritage Center, I finally finished a piece I've been working on for the past month. It's a combination of so many ideas and influences that it defies categorization. Definite folk influence. Architectural references, fiber sculpture and basketry background showing through, too. A landscape painting in the middle, and evidence of my custom finish work on the perimeter.

A Singular Path , 28 x 20 mixed media Sold

A while back I found a photograph of a section of the Appalachian Trail. I was intrigued by the way the path (trail) meandered through the trees as if those who had hiked there had wanted to prolong the journey, and indeed, I'm sure they did and do. After all, the point is not how fast to get there, but the journey - the experience - itself, right?

I decided to paint it in sepia tone, or tone-on-tone and frame it in one of my altar/architectural frames A forlorn but sacred path with all of the twists and turns of a life well spent in experience and observation. The little figure? Can you see it? (Click to enlarge and he/she becomes more obvious.) I debated about the figure. But for once, the landscape seemed a bit forlorn and in need of what? humor? Perhaps just a lightening up. After all, a journey should not be a colorless trail devoid of mystery - nor should it be so dour.

An altarpiece of sorts...

Every year several of my artist friends hold a Christmas gift exchange. We each bring something we've made and wrapped and then draw numbers to choose gifts from under the tree. Several years ago I designed and built several "altar" frames with the idea of embellishing each in a completely different manner. I sold quite a few as mirrors, each with turned "pillars", varied finials and painted finishes. I did this one just for the gift exchange as I was stumped for something unique that was more than just a painting. I neglected to get a photograph before I left for the party, and today was the first chance I had to see it again at the "winners" home. She graciously allowed me to take a snap. (Thanks Eugenia!)

The Madonna of Our Season, 18 x 28, mixed media

I'm planning on putting several more together - each with a different theme. I like the folk influence and architectural references - and they're just plain fun to work on!

I'll have to find the old 35 mm photos of the ones I did as decorative accents so that I can show the wide variety.