The Patriot

It's done... (I think)..I hope..unless something pops out at me later which usually happens.

I look at this and still wonder....A full colonel that went rouge or just a guy who likes military pins????

Maria Pace-Wynters

This is my new acquisition. "Dream Me Up". I absolutely love it. I am an artist that loves to paint and I love to collect. I only buy if it speaks to my soul such as "Dream Me Up".

It's odd, but I find at most gallery openings the majority of people there are ususally artists. So I guess it winds up that artists support artists. Very few people off the street or people who are not connected to art come to these openings.

This artist is Maria Pace Wynters who resides in Canada. Check out her web site:

mariapacewynters.com

Patriot

A little more each day. So much little stuff in this painting and my shoulders bothering me again. I painted from 10:30 till..well I just stopped and am no making this post. An up-date. I think I'm going to call him Patriot because he has some Full Colonel wings on with a pin above that has red white and blue.

Anyway...Still working on him...

Beginning A New Painting-Blue Eye

Since We're still under a state of emergency due to the storm of the century and snow coming up the door with drifts in some areas of 5 ft., I thought it the proper time to start my new painting.

I ran into this fellow in Boulder, Colorado at the Boulder Fest. I was walking around with my brother and sister in law and found this fellow sitting working on some jewelry. My brother asked to take his picture and he agreed for $5.00! I was intrigued and scared of the man, but there was something about him that really captivated me.

He had all kinds of things on his hat (including the proper insignia for a full colonel) on his hat which I will put later. He also had a strange looking jewelers loop on his left eye which I am not putting in and I brought his hat down farther.

Amazing what being snowed in can do to you...gets you UNdestructed!

I'll post again when I'm done.

I'm Done.........I think..

I'm calling it "Kool Heat". It's suppose to be about the heat of the pavement. I saw this while walking to see Ernest Hemmingways house in the Keys. I loved the shadows...and trust me..in July it was a HOT day!

I intentionally tilted the sign towards the bike. I guess I'm odd, but I don't like things tooooo perfect...it's not reality for me. I don't mind following rules...but after awhile I just have to break them.

I called it" Kool Heat" because there is the COOL blue sky meeting the HOT pavement..and you can't have hot without the cool....plus...the jazzy red bike with the Key Lime Green fenders is "Pretty Cool"!

"EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP"

OMG!!! I watched "Exit Through the Gift Shop" yesterday and found it quite amusing! I have to say for all my artist friends this you will find interesting.

Its a TRUE documentary about this man who was from France and ran a vintage clothing store in Los Angeles. He started filming everything out of an obsession. He had tons of tapes and never did anything with them...but then he started filming Street Artists doing their thing at night in hiding. I was intrigued by the devotion of these Street Artists and how talented and famous some of them were. And I can summize that some had very comfortable means. Anyway he's filming =the street artists and befriends the famous BANKSY and Thierry (later known as Mr. Brainwash) tells them he's going to do a documentary on them, which he never did.

So when one of the Street Artists found out all the footage he did of them was just sitting around he told Mr. Brainwash to start doing Street Art and do a show. He had no idea.

Mr. Brainwash was NOT an artist of paint..and yet he produced (like Andy Wharhol) type art, put on a BIG show and became FAMOUS overnight. He sold MILLIONS of dollars ; in my opinion NON ART.

I think the things here to discuss is this. He was either stupid or brilliant enough to attempt it and limitations NEVER got in his way. What is ART???? Are most of these famous people only famous because of the media hype that has been given to them. In other words were they,are we all brainwashed into thinking they were all that?

I have been to a LOT of galleries as the rest of you and I'm sure you've said the same thing to yourself....hugh???? Why??? Am I missing something here? Some works are fabulous and you know there is skill or a very brilliant thought involved...and some you just think....???????

I have always believed that there are a lot of people who are like ants...just going along with the flow of other ants. Never really thinking for themselves. I am horrified at the thought of being an art, and yet I guess I am to some extent. I think the ant mentality runs through politics, religion, and most aspects of life. If someone tells us something is great....it's easier to believe them to really THINK and question it for ourselves.

Which leads me to this. A lot of people think it's bad to have an opinion...because we've been taught not to question. Well, I LIKE people who can think for themselves and have an opinion. In fact I like people who have different opinions than myself, because then I can talk to them and maybe learn something from a different perspective than I would have otherwise...and visa versa.

Mr. Brainwash...picked out his name correctly... check out the movie! It's TRUE!

picture from Rotten Tomotoes by Flixster

Up-Date on The bicycle Painting

I'm still working on it. Added the sign...but had no real sign to look at so I am having a hard time getting this thing to look like a real sign...need to research some photo's and see if I can see a sign and get ideas....

Looks a little different from the bright colors I started out with doesn't it? I want you to have a feeling of HOT pavement....it's summer in the Keys....and it's hot....but I also wanted the cool to meet the hot...I like a little friction...

Claude Monet

I am relating to this quote right now:

"Colour is my day-long obsession, joy and torment."

Why am I relating to this quote right now? Because I am an artist but mostly because I just repainted my dining room. It only took 5 gallons of wasted paint and then I got smart and started ordering the small trial cans...I just had to match the silk curtains that shimmer only aqua, blue violet, red orange and cranberry red. You only see those colors when it shimmers...I was insane to get into this project!! The walls looked like a coat of many colors. I didn't give up...and after a month found a color I could live with that was pretty good. Color is SCARY!! It changes all the time with light and it changes when it get's close to another color. I have always had a great respect for color.

On the photo I'm showing you there are 5 colors!!

Yes, Monet....I understand the Joy and TORMENT!

At least the guys at Sherwin Williams know I'm their best customer.

Back to Life Drawing

Back in the saddle again as they say....yes, last week I finally made it back to Life Drawing at the Art Barn. It felt good...I felt a little rusty.

Tonight was Life Drawing but our model came down with the flu...but that gives me the time to blog...work on my painting of the bike which I'll post soon....

My Crazy Red Head as I mentioned earlier will be hanging at Studio 659 in Whiting for the month of February.

New Years Resolutions

A new year...new hopes. I once again make the same resolutions as I usually do....paint more and get things done. I'll try not to let life get in the way.

I bought the Artists Way on cultivating your creative being which now lays next to my bedside and it seems I can only get 3 pages read at a time because my eyes feel so heavy every time I read.

I started working on things that bothered me about my house. Much needed up-dating and re-doing. I am a creative being and it doesn't stop with just paint. My house, my life is a canvas and I work on every aspect of my creative life. However I struggle with those as I do with my paintings. Just yesterday I found a color I LOVED and started painting in my dining room to discover it cheapened the room and just wasn't right. Color is a very complicated thing. Some days I feel like I just can't do anything right. That's why I ride high when things are flowing! We all have to take advantage of the good energy flow because they don't last forever!!!

I worked more on my fish...never feeling satisfied with it....got to the point I said "screw it" and just started mindlessly painting. It's now laying on the floor in the studio to be reckoned with another time. I'll post a picture of my mindless ramblings on it. That fish has NEVER been right. This picture just feels wrong. See I post my failures too...I'm not proud...

I also started a painting of a bike I saw in Key West. Trying to keep with my feeling of a warm hot day I decided to keep it warm and tropical looking...so this is my new project. I have no idea how it will end up. I always say I'm not going to get into detail and I always wind up getting head long deep into it. I must succumb to the fact that it's my nature. We are always wanting to be something we are not I guess.

Studio 659 in Whiting was looking for Mardi- Gras material for their recent show and was interested in "Crazy Red Head", so that will be hanging there for I assume the month of February. I take that over January 27th. I have never seen this gallery before so it'll be a new adventure.

Next week I plan to drive to Fort Wayne to see "Jazz Lady" hanging at the FWMoa (Fort Wayne Museum of Art) as the show comes down in February and I haven't seen it hung yet! Bad me.

Went to the Brauer Museum of Art in Valparaiso at the University. There hung a collection of Robert Lovings pieces which I very much enjoyed. Do check out his recent works! Loved, loved his work. I'll try and post some of his images if I can.

The image with the birds nest is a painting titled "In a Budding Grove, 2008" oil on canvas, collection of the Artist (Richard Loving) which is hanging at the Brauer Museum of Art.

FORT WAYNE MUSEUM OF ART

Fort Wayne Museum of Art

ARTISTS MEMBER'S EXHIBITION

December 4, 2010 through February 27, 2011

Opening Reception is Friday, December 3, 2010 from 6:30-8:30pm

RSVP to Justin at 26-422-6467, ext. 313

Reception Will be catered by Mad Anthony Brewing Company.

Hanging will be "Jazz Lady" by Dawn Fetty

Despite the Arm!

O.K. , I've been told to take it easy...not over use the arm. But asking me not to paint is like asking me not to breathe! We artists have to create. It's the process of creating that gives us air!

So I started this Koi painting. It needs to be tweaked, but it's pretty close to being done.

Hazards of an Artist

While on our trip to Denmark and Sweden my right arm that had been bothering me became much worse. Seems I have overused my arm and neglected it (from painting and computer) and now I'm in a full blown frozen shoulder AGAIN! If your arm starts to bother you...stop and listen...slow down and work with a break every hour or so.

I would stand in front of an easel for hours. You know how it is...when you are working you are transcended to another place where time does not exist. Many times I have started in my studio and been SHOCKED to see that I had been in there from morning to sunset and totally unaware of time.

It started at the beginning of the year. First the elbow felt bruised...no big deal...

several months later...the shoulder...I noticed that when I elevated the arm to draw or paint I had a pain like in the bicep muscle.

More months it spread to the entire arm. So here I am. I can't post too much or it'll start killing me again. I've had the shots and now therapy.

Artists, beware...be careful, and listen to your body.

The image is from a painting I saw in Stockholm. You can faintly see the girl standing there...as if she were a ghost. She's there but not committed to the space. It's like the environment around her was more real than she. I thought it a little eerie.

Compilation of my artsy shots while in Denmark and Stockholm

Susan Philipsz coming to Chicago in December

While in Stockholm every morning we received the Global Edition of the New York Times. While sipping on coffee over looking a canal towards the Palace I noticed an article "An artist whose work 'sounds like stars'. Reading the article that enticed me I learn that Susan Philipsz who came from Glasgow will be coming to Chicago to the Contemporary Museum of Art in December.

The article reads as such" Human yet ethereal, soothing yet melancholy; invisible yet strangely physical". (written by Gemma Halsey) Susan is does environmental art. The article read that hauntingly beautiful music of her voice played under three bridges in Glasgow. I will be curious to see what she does in Chicago!

Another Study...

This was a 3 hour study at Gerries studio. I am really loving painting from life. It just takes me away....like meditation. Now I'm working on a painting of my oldest son who is an avid hunter. I told myself after working on Makenzie so diligently that I would take a break from people...but...here I go again.

I really liked just starting out painting...so this is what I did with Scott -and of course the 3 hour study. With Scott I am just in the correction process...getting it down and correcting measurements...so I guess you could say this is the drawing stage.

Live Study

My friend Gerri and I hired a model (which happens to also be an artist) to sit for us in Gerri's studio at her home.

This was new in the sense that I approached this totally differently than I normally do. I did not draw her on the canvas first-spending hours (exaggeration), but did a 2 minuet sketch and started the drawing process with the paint.

It was actually less up tight..more fun and liberating. I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it so much we are going to do this again tomorrow. This time I have this beautiful robe my husbands father brought back from Viet Namn...all silk..deep blue with embroidered designs all over. With her red hair and that blue robe....it should be good.

I just came back from Outer Banks...so I've been out of pocket. I did manage to get some pictures of possible paintings....

I deliver "Taos Roses" tomorrow for the "Women's Show" in Michigan City.

Gallery Hopping in Chicago

Gerrie and Anke my artist friends and I went gallery hopping in the Bucktown/Wicker Park District.

Many galleries from our list out of Chicago Gallery News were not easily accessible so we didn't see them. Either there was no parking or the area was not safe.

One gallery that we did like a lot was the Jackson Junge Gallery. The work was imaginative and executed very, very well. It was a delight to be there.

We then walked down Milwaukee Avenue to the Flat Iron Arts Building where there are lots of studio rooms. It was a trip just walking through there as it felt like you were in a maze. It was fun especially with some of the windows being dressed to entertain such as this whimsy looking fellow above!

Out of frustration in inaccessible galleries we decided to go back to the user friendly River North art district where you can park and walk from gallery to gallery. Our all time favorite is the Ann Nathan Gallery which always handles top notch work, and the new Eche gallery which was the Habitat Gallery. They had several large Chihuly pieces and some paintings of his.

Every time we go we feel that we are re-energized to paint...have a better perspective on what's out there- and maybe what's selling and the current trends and galleries.

It was a good day!

Encaustic Class

I have a new respect for Encaustic painting. As you can see I tried to control it. Which you cannot!

We did a burn technique on this. You put varnish on with a rag and then set it on fire. That's where you ge the shinny dark color.

There are about 6+ l ayers on this. The more layers the more you hide things underneath, so you have to be very careful.

It was a lot of fun and I'd like to try it again.

Red Cup Cafe' Show

Saturday I spent the day in Chicago visiting an old friend. We walked to the Palette and Chisel since they were having an art show-small pieces for $250.00. I was sooo disappointed. It was like most (not all) but most were the artists rejects.

Sunday I got up and took an Encaustic class at the Chesterton ARt Gallery. It was a lot of fun. I'll post the picture of my first attempt. I have a new respect for Encaustics.

After the Encaustic class we attended an art opening for ART COMP and my friend Gerrie Govert won Best of Show. A lot of people asked why I didn't enter and my reply would be I need to work on new pieces so I'll have something to enter. I'm holding out on Forbidden Fruit for a show in Elk Hart next month.

AFer that we hung our show at the Red Cup Cafe with Gerrie and Mary Ann Pals. The show will be up through September during the Wizard of Oz Fest in Chesterton. I'm hoping it will be seen by a lot of people.

more changes on Makenzie

I changed the background to green and a chair- and then I decided to add purple bees flying around her to make it a little surreal???

I took this right after painting so some areas have major highlights (glare) that will go away when it dries.

Makenzie in Progress

Yes, after uploading this I can see numerous things I need to work on...but I thought I'd let you see how it's changing from black and white to color. With the color it becomes more complicated for me. After painting with color I can also see that my face should have been a little longer. This is my grand daughter at about 3.5 yrs. old.

I'm thinking the folds almost are as important as the face...so I guess I should do something about that as well...also the curve of the cheek on the left needs to be corrected, etc. etc...but ...you can see the transition.

Saatchi on line gallery contest

Here is the corrected image of Forbidden Fruit. I just entered her into the Saatchi on line gallery compitition. People who go onto the site vote for the paintings of their liking. Here is the link:

www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/

It is just a shot for me since people from all around the world enter. Saatchi gallery is in the United Kingdom and is a very large museum. Check it out. I have a gallery on line with them. They have great information for artists of all types.

Latest Project...Portrait Class

So Tuesdays I'm driving into Chicago for a Portrait class at River East Art Gallery with Rory Cohen. I took a Figure drawing class from Rory last year and I liked him because he does push you and actually shows you things. Unlike a lot of classes that instructors feel you pay a couple hundred dollars just to paint in their presence!

The drawing process was a little different but somewhat the same as my portrait class with William Schneider. They use the point system. I found Rory's point system a little easier than Bills because Rory's thinking is that as long as you have at least two points you can start and navigate which I also find to be true. So I marked the outside of an eye and then the outside of the nose and crossed the lines.

Then you were to finish the drawing and then put it on canvas with brown India ink, followed by a thin wash to get rid of the white of the canvas. I missed that class so had to do my drawing at home of which I didn't know a bout the India ink so I just painted it in brown and white, later adding ultramarine blue.

Next process after I'm done with this step is to add the color. This is actually an old technique, but a good value study lesson!

I'll post a picture of the finished picture.

Burnred Out!

How do I get into these predicaments? I have another show in Michigan City and I need two NEW paintings. I just used my latest two new paintings in another show in Chesterton. One of those paintings I'm holding out to enter into the Elk Hart Show so that leaves me only bringing ONE new painting...Crazy Red Head which I'm not too crazy about.

I had no idea I would grow up to be a juggler!

So, I have for the last 4 days been painting non-stop TRYING to get a picture together. My daughter encouraged me to do something abstract and weird. I'm not sure it's working as I get soooo burned out after working on them. I'm concerned it may be a little hokey looking.

The eyes on the fish are human eyes, and there is a bee on the picture. On the lower left is an oriental photo of a wave that I outlined in red. There is also under the paint texture that isn't showing up in the pic..

I went to a seminar by this Scottsdale, Az. gallery owner which said "you need to be painting 20-30 paintings a month...well...I don't think I will ever be ever to do this unless I want to die young!! Unless...of course you crank them out like an assembly line....and then..where's the art in mass producing????

I'm not sure if this will make it to Michigan City...we'll see.....

IN PROGRESS

This mural on canvas measures 6' 3" x 44" is a work I started a LONG time ago, and am just now starting to work on again..so it may look a little familiar.

At this stage I am just trying to find a language..waiting for the painting to tell me where it needs to go. I decided instead of a sun I made it a moon and threw in some stars to see how it would go. I throw things into a painting so I can see if I like the feel of the direction...after I know the language ,then I will continue to refine and clean it up, still continuing to make changes. So, this is a rough "in progress" photo.

I am adding the text "To the illuminated mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light" Emerson

I also would like to add but probably not is " Courage, strength and hope possess my sould...I will stand firmly and without fear".

Just a quick note: I did change the painting of "Forbidden Fruit" which this photo does not reflect...but at least you get the idea. When I get it back from the show I'll post the up-dated image.

Summer

Just to catch you up to date.

I went to pick up my pieces at the Chesterton Womens Show and found out Koi had SOLD. That was a nice surprise! That is the piece I won the BEST OF SHOW with.

So I hung a show at SOUTHSHORE ARTS GALLERY in Michigan City, Indiana for the SUMMER OF ART show that lasts for the month of July. It encompasses the entire county, so I hope I can sell some more pieces.

I also hung a show called "WHEN ATTITUDE BECOMES FORM" with 18 Artists at the CHESTERTON ART GALLERY in Chesterton, Indiana. This show will be for the month of July also. I will show you the two pieces I entered and what I had to say about these pieces.

The Forbidden Fruit

Dawn Fetty

Tension, conflict, chaos; as the young girl studies the forbidden fruit her attitude becomes form. Her feelings towards the forbidden fruit are conflicting in her pursuit of happiness. Her goal is one of peace, however she realizes there are different feelings that she needs to contend with.

Her eye is focused on the forbidden fruit…the golden ring…this ring becomes a part of her and almost enslaves her and yet she strives for peace within…she reaches out of this enslavement towards the oriental sign for “peace” as she struggles.

44x35 acrylic $999.00

Crazy Red Head

Dawn Fetty

Her attitude is cavalier….so she has flaming red hair, bright colored clothes and an attitude. She doesn’t even care if she’s a little on the eccentric side. Life is worth living and expressing the joy she holds within.

Life is a celebration for her and she is always living as if she’s in a Mardi Gras festival.

Her attitude creates the visual world she lives in.

Mixed Media on paper 33x26 $900.00

Artist Quote

It is not the form that dictates the color, but the color that brings out the form! ~ Hans Hofmann (1880-1966)

The FEEL of Beale Street-Memphis, Tennessee

Hi...I just came back from a trip to Memphis, Tennessee and had some shots of Beale Street I thought I'd share with you. The FEEL of Memphis! Southern-hot and humid!

Bragging Rights

O.K.., I have to tell the world because I am one happy camper. I got a phone call the other day saying I had won an award at a show. They wouldn't tell me which one, but I instantly thought it was my "Jazz Lady". Well, I missed going to the Father/DAughter White Sox game with my usually absent husband and daughter and grandaughter , thinking"oh it'll probably be 5th place. So, I go and to my shock.....I won Best of Show!!!! I am a happy camper. Not sure anyone reads this blog...but I am getting it out.

I'll tell you....I totally didn't see that coming at all! I started that painting and thought it would never turn out. So I told myself....o.k., if it's not going to turn out...just have fun with it and go with the flow. And whoala!

There were paintings there that I would have thought would have taken Best of Show that didn't..and I am always perplexed...

I went to a seminar in Elk Grove, Illionois with the Xanadu Gallery from Scottsdale, Arizona. The gentleman spoke about a lot of very interesting points. One comment stuck in my head. The painting that you don't like that you think won't sell will be the one someone loves!

Well, enough of this. gotta go and just be happy...

Good News

Just had a phone call yesterday that I won an award at a show. It's not a big show...but it's a show. It always feels good to get some recognition for your work. I had entered Jazz Lady and Koi.

I've been taking a break from being in the studio every day...as I felt I was just going backwards. I did sign up for another portrait class at RiverEast in Chicago which starts the end of July. I'm taking the class from Rory Cohen which I'd taken classes from before. I like him as an instructor because he pushed me and actually tried to help me. So I hope I get the same response this time. I also love his work. He's on the internet so check out his work!