Oh my sweetums, I have been away. Not away away, like needing a ticket or a boarding pass, the kind of away that would require me to bring home souvenirs like little plastic Eiffel Towers or sea shells with ‘Florida’ painted in flowery script across the smooth side. With glitter pen. By someone in China.
No. No. No. Not that kind of away. Trust me, I would’ve sent you all postcards from Paris. Or Milan. Or sweet Jesus save my soul…MIAMI.
I have been away in my mind…engrossed in every day workaday life. Tired of week after week where the temperature hit 100 degrees every day. Maxed out on fruit popsicles. In short, I was in the summer away place…August.
I do NOT like August, even though it is the birthday month for three nephews and one dearly departed dog. Oh wait, the dog died in August. Which goes to prove my point about the month. It sucks. Except for the nephews, of course.
Even my laptop went belly up in August. Last week.
But butbutbut BUT THAT’S ENOUGH WHINING!!!
It’s ten degrees cooler. I have a new computer. AND I PAINTED TODAY!!!
YAY!! Handspring time, I’m BACK!!!
So I was in the studio today and I pulled out one of my layer canvases. Think it’s 24 X 30 inches. You’ll have to trust me, I didn’t measure it.
I took a look and decided I saw a face on the right. I decided to make a painting based on the image from the art journal I showed a couple weeks ago, the one up above. It was uber popular on FaceBook. So I made a few marks, blocked in the figures and let the party begin.
Oh, having so much fun! So GOOD to be painting again. I just had to document it. Look, here I am, paint brush in one hand, camera in the other. And yes, I’m a lefty. Like Leonardo.
Another detail. Added some text which may or may not get painted over as part of the back ground.
Here’s where I left it tonight. Lot of work to do still but I probably won’t get back to it before next week. Have a day job, y’know. And this upcoming weekend is all about concrete. Friday Mr. Spouse and friends will be pouring the walkway around the new studio, which means no access for me.
But I’m doing concrete too! No, no…not concrete…cement. But close enough sez she who knows NOTHING about either one. AKA moi. Friday night, Saturday and Sunday I’m going to be learning cement sculpture at a workshop by Deborah Bridges. You have to check out her site, her work is AMAZING. We’re going to be making ‘orbs’ in this workshop. YAY! I’m so excited about that! OMG, can’t wait to show you guys. I should have something to show you Monday.
I like it ALOT! Can’t wait to see how you complete it.
Thanks Teresa! Probably be done next week. 🙂
Love your painting – glad it’s cooler and you got a new lap top. It’s been unseasonably cool in GA this August – what will winter bring?
Deborah Bridges work is amazing. It’ll be interesting to hear about your workshop. Enjoy!
When I was a kid, Judy, I could never understand how my dad and his brother could talk about the weather all the time.
Now I know…
I’ll tell you all about the workshop in Monday’s post. Deborah also does AMAZING encaustics. I’d love it if she did a wax workshop!
xo
Hi Susan! Love the painting in progress – love how the flowery landscape colors seem to be flowing around the heart space of the two lovelies on the right! Don’t know if it will stay like that as you complete it, but I look forward to checking it out! That workshop sounds fabulous!
Thank’s Bonnie. Never know what changes will happen by the time the painting is finished. I like what’s going on in that area too so there’s a good chance it will stay that way…or better! 🙂
You make such lovely things.
Thank you, Karen! I enjoy making them. 🙂
Love the painting! I love all the months of the year, but August is my least favorite. Thankful for the breeze, rain this morning and a river close by to cool off. Look forward to your cement creation. 🙂
A breeze and rain would be heaven right about now, Pat! 🙂
I feel this post so….to my bones and beyond.
And your painting fascinates me….I see so much
goodness in it:)
hopeful flutters,
Jennifer
🙂 Jennifer! xoxo
Cement. That’s gonna be SO INTERESTING! I want to hear about that! I’m enjoying your paintings as they progress; such neat colors and technique. I wonder what old Leonardo would make of mixed media today? Turn up his Roman nose or be in it up to his wazoo?
Come back Monday for a peek at the cement workshop, Sue. As you can see, I enjoy documenting the creative process.
Leonardo was such an experimenter and innovator I suspect he’d be into it up to his wazoo. Or designing computer games.
I can’t wait to see what you create! Sounds like a very cool workshop. I’m going to go check out her site when I’m done here. I am sorry for the “toughness” of August too. xoxo
I hope you do check out Deborah’s site, Michele. Her work is gorgeous! I’ll tell you all about it in Monday’s blog. xo
Susan, I absolutely love your painting. Love all the colours. Love how it seems to simple for you. I tried painting this week when I was away, I feel so backwards and frustrated but I so want to learn how to free that creative self in me. So I’ll try again when I get back home. 🙂
Enjoy your cement sculpture class, I can’t wait to see what you’ll be making. Great blog post.
Frustration? Oh nooooo! The secret to freeing that creative self, Suzanne, is loud music with a good beat or an inspirational speaker like Wayne Dyer on a CD. Something to take you outside yourself while you paint. And you’ve got to dance, no sitting!
You enter into it with the attitude of having fun and check your ego at the door.
One of these days I’ll teach an on-line class about getting to that place. It’s a great destination!
Well I was standing but I never thought of dancing. lol Great tips… will try with those in mind when I get back home. 🙂
I hope to hear if you ever decide to give an on-line class. Would love to check it out.
I’ll let you know, Sue!
Susan, I’m struck by the HEAT in the cool palette of your work in progress. I work in layers, too, and it is a mystery how the piece will look when I am done playing with it. Enjoy your cement weekend!
Thanks, Janet. I love the unpredictability of layers too. Even when they’re totally covered over, there’s something about knowing there’s substance beneath the surface.
I’ll have lots of cement news after the weekend!
really loving the layers in your work, keep ’em coming. So what’s this about cement, haven’t heard anything like that before. Please show some photos, sounds exciting.
Photos and story Monday, Sue!