Over the weekend I had the responsibility and delight of installing ‘Soft Light’ in its forever home. It now lives with Arline in Rancho Mirage.
It just fits in perfectly with the two on the other sides.
Last night I guided a small group through a paint and wine class at Vanguard Gallery in Moreno Valley. One of my students had already taken classes with me, including the Absolute Beginners class and was happy to work through this painting of winter solstice sunrise across the Salton Sea to hone some of the skills.
We’re doing an underpainting to get rid of the white so in the final painting we’re not strugging with that aspect
We’re painting the sky part of the top coat
It’s easier to paint the bottom of the panel when it’s upside down.
Adding the sun.
All done!
“Heartrise” is one for the raising of the saddened soul – the words are written first on a lower heart, then on a couple higher ones. It was one that I thought was appropriate for the competition “Gateway to Imagination” for which it is entered. I won’t find out if it is accepted until late August, though.
#1355 Heartrise. Mixed media on panel, 12×9″. The words painted into it are: “My heart rises each dawn into possibility”
Here you can see the texture.
My client that I met at Calabasas had commissioned me to create a repeat of a small painting in a larger size for a space in the guest bathroom. He lives close enough to my other half that I was able to deliver. Here’s ‘Ron’s Red Morning’ in it’s place.
Gonna be hanging out with the towels.
…to cut up a perfectly good watercolor skyscape and refracturing it into something more. This one is going to really hurt.
A beautiful morning, many moons ago
One of my students who enjoyed my watercolor collage workshop also mentioned that she has a Sizzix machine. This is a hand-run press with embossing templates. Immediately we both saw the possibility of adding this texture to my refractured watercolor work. Last week I created a new painting for a refracture:
… and yesterday when she was at sm’Art studio for a follow-on lesson to my Absolute Beginner’s class. she loaned it to me again to emboss the pieces I had cut. This is what they look like so far!
The two on the left are our original test to see if the watercolor paper would emboss nicely. The rest are the refractured watercolor.
I’m looking forward to seeing how this works out when I assemble them. Watch this space!
Top clouds going in.
Well, didn’t think I’d finish today, but I did. Put in a full two hours, it’s easier to work when you know that some of the traffic that’s honking is honking at you in appreciation.
The north side…
And about every third person who stopped at the lights rolled down their window and said it looked great.
Getting down through the cobalt. (I didn’t run out after all.)
Another local artist who also does murals in a different context stopped by to chat.
It’s harder to photo this side as I’m shooting into the sun!
I did the top clouds lighter because it seems like they will fade darker anyway (comparing with photos of the original) and I knew the city planner was always a little unhappy at how dark the top came out.
Tah dah!
And now, the clean-up.
