The Death of Me

That's what I am calling this latest surreal piece! It was created with watercolor, gouache, and also irridescent medium. I'll spare ya the details on this one, but it's basically about how you can lose yourself in relationships, or potential relationships. As humans we sometimes get so wrapped up in others, and trying to please others, that we forget about our own needs, and part of us dies. Interesting how that happens...reproduction prints are available in my Etsy shop!

Thee Painting Evolves....

This is actually a recreation of the last watercolor painting I created in college. It was a response to a car accident I was in shortly before September 11, 2001. As a result I created this piece, called "Comfort." (When you're in freakish pain you need comfort, you know?)...Unfortunately the original watercolor painting was stolen off a gallery wall while I was in a group show in Madison WI, circa 2003...or was it 2004?.... As of that date, it was my most cherished piece, so I was very upset when it was suddenly gone. I had one crappy photo of it, and from this photo I began recreating it in oils this February, and with more color. It was originally monochromatic and in Payne's Gray.

It is evolving into something slightly different now. It is still about feeling pain--the emotion is similar, but the cause is different. It is not about physical pain now as much. The tear drops are new. They were not in the original. Not sure how this one will end up, it keeps changing...I'll have to keep posting new pics until it is complete.

I've Started Oil Painting Again!!!!!

Yeah!!! To tell you the truth, it's been years since I have completed an oil painting, so this is a bit of an experiment, if you will...

For some reason, watercolor seems to click with me. I wanted to get back into oils though, as the color is so intense and saturated in comparison. They take so long to dry though! GRRR!!!!!!! The colors get all blendy and mushy and ....stuff...

Here is the start of my painting anyway. It will probably look much different when it is completed. It is a big one too-- 30 by 40 inches!

I Present to You..."Pickle Head"....

Yeah!!! I actually finished it :)...and it only took me a month!

For the record, finishing a surreal piece, for me, usually takes MUCH longer. I have been known to work on surreal pieces for months, even years. Often because I get frustrated and set the piece aside (for months, or even years)...and I"m very much a perfectionst! I worked on this one for about a month straight though (minus a few days when I made paper)...and here it is! :)

Makes me wonder if I should rethink my artistic strategies...I often work on multiple pieces at once, and set aside works of art for extended periods of time. I don't know if I will change my strategy really, but I do wonder if I would be more productive if I just worked on one at a time...just thoughts I'm having currently :)....Knowing myself I probably won't change a $#@!!@# thing! :)... :O ...(we'll see though ;)

The Latest Round of Wierdness...

So lets just say I've had a creative block since 2001...I kid you not, I'm dead serious...This was the last time I planned a major composition...

I think when I finished college, and went out into "the real world" I lost a bit of my creative edge. I was no longer doing art 5-7 days per week, nor working in my sketchbook. In fact, I did little to no art at all for 4 years....I refer to those years (late 2001-late 2005) as my "lost years"....I was busy just trying to make ends meet, and often working up to 3 jobs at one time...It didn't occur to me that I could try to earn a living as an artist. (I think this is what happens when you don't think outside of the box (which I often don't) and when you have main stream parents who work in education)...

Anyway, when I say "major composition" I am referring to the surreal images in my Snitterdog shop. I started them in college, and finished them in the last 2-3 years. (they just didn't look done, so I went back to mess with them :)...Anyway, this is the type of art I am most interested in creating. This is the type of art that is also the most difficult to create -- it is very time consuming and intricate. I have not started a "new one" until recently. This is the sketch I plan to turn into a painting. (Supposedly)....we'll see what happens...

I'm trying to tell myself that I'm not any less creative than I used to be...I was just preoccupied for a few years, and my brain got lazy...(by the way, I tend to do the leaves and flowers because it' "easier"...I hope that doesn't sound horrible)...My goal is to get back into the wierd stuff-- I hope I can still pull it off! :)