Process of a Painting

What a glorious spring day it was today! My daffodils bloomed in celebration of the occasion. The sun was warm and the breeze sweet - shorts and a tshirt FINALLY!

Today I worked on a canvas I began when I was still at the Indian Orchard Mills studio. The picture below shows my starting point today.





I then went into it with black paint, accentuating certain lines of the original composition and adding more shapes and forms.




Then I came in with some bold warm tones - bright orange, pink, red and yellow.

I enjoyed some of the drippy effects of the underpainting, and at this point, things were getting too "locked in" so I brought back some drips and splatters in a light color.




Then came some white....



More white, more drips...



Now the canvas was looking pretty close to finished...

The final stage was adding a bit more black to make some parts of the lines stand out. And here is the finished product.



Why Not - Acrylic on 30" x 40" canvas

Now available at http://www.livefunky.etsy.com/

Arte y Pico

I'd like to thank Elis Cooke of Into the Blystic at www.intotheblystic.blogspot.com for giving me the Arte y Pico award. If I could, I'd give it right back to her because I am such a fan of her work and blog!

The following 5 rules are attached to this award:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and that also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.

4. The Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte Y Pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. To show these rules.

The blogs I would like to award this honour to are:
Angela at http://www.angelasartdiary.blogspot.com/
Meghan at http://www.meghanhenley.blogspot.com/
Paula at http://manninglewisstudios.blogspot.com/
Martha at http://artistsjournal.blogspot.com/
Lisa at http://blog.lisacall.com/index.php

Lots of New Paintings

Soul Eruption



Testing Limits

Improvisation

Conversation With The Unknown

Change Direction

Celebrate The Now

Awkward Bird in Flight

Each of these acrylic paintings is on 8 x 10 stretched canvas and they are all available in my Etsy shop at www.livefunky.etsy.com

Some older work

This diptych was created in NH when I was still living there in acrylic and watersoluable crayons on two 16 x 20 canvases. You can find this and a selection of other older work I rediscovered since moving out of my old studio in my Etsy shop at www.livefunky.etsy.com

Art Video

I've been having a ton of fun making little short videos at www.animoto.com - it's easy, free and addicting! I've got more on my youtube link - check them out here!
www.youtube.com/livefunky

More painterly sketches

Happy Day
Acrylic on watercolor paper, 2008

Tempted

Acrylic on watercolor paper, 2008.

Face of a Friend
Acrylic on watercolor paper, 2008

Alternate Landscape
Acrylic and oil pastel on watercolor paper, 2008.

All available original art and prints at www.livefunky.etsy.com

Sketching in paint

You Can Call It Impossible
Acrylic paint on watercolor paper, 2008.

Pile Up
Acrylic on watercolor paper, 2008.

Rise Up (SOLD)
Acrylic on watercolor paper, 2008.

Out to In Focus
Acrylic on watercolor paper, 2008.

Once all blank canvases were painted on last night, I turned to some watercolor paper to keep the inspiration flowing. I ended up doing a few painterly sketches that I have listed in my Etsy shop for a very reasonable price. As I plan on expanding my shop to include larger and pricier work, I still want to have some original art that is within a "real world" budget. These are great because they lend themselves to taking chances, learning new things, and maybe stumbling upon a composition that will work on a larger scale.


See all available art for purchase at http://www.livefunky.etsy.com/

More original art

Windows and Doors
Acrylic on 8 x 10 canvas panel, 2008

The Quilts of My Youth
Mixed media on 5 x 7 canvas panel, 2008

I can't express how happy I am to be painting again. It's been since before I left for Florida when I was working on the big commission - that was the last time I held a brush in my hand. In this past month or so I've focused more on digital illustrations and product development as well as designing my website (which still isn't exactly what I want, but it will do for now). That's all fine, and I guess for whatever reason I needed this time away (otherwise I would have been painting!) but the point is I feel REALLY good right NOW.

I am exploring these compositions with bold black lines - something I've been working with for years - instead of my more recent "boxy" paintings or drip paintings. Each style is "me", just in a slightly different voice or approach.

So anyway, Thank you to the gods of paint for removing this painter's block and freeing my hand and heart to do what I love to do most!

ALL AVAILABLE ART CAN BE FOUND AT http://www.livefunky.etsy.com/

Back on Track

What Are You Thinking?
Original acrylic on 8 x 10 canvas panel, 2008.

Bits and Pieces and The Path

Original acrylic on 8 x 10 canvas panel, 2008.

After a long break from painting, I'm back to the brush. The colors in these two paintings are inspired by this spring feeling I have inside (not quite outside yet, but it's coming). Even just seeing the tips of green from my irises starting to poke up makes my soul sing. I'll be painting for the rest of the day, so hopefully I'll have more to share by this evening.

All available artwork at http://www.livefunky.etsy.com/

Update on Updates

The front page and overall layout was changed again today. This is much more what I had in mind for the vision/look/approach for my website, http://www.livefunky.com/

What are your thoughts on the design... yes please or no thank you? If you notice a whoopsie moment anywhere, don't hesitate to bring it to my attention. Thanks!

Updating Website

Your honest critiques are greatly appreciated! http://www.livefunky.com/

I still have to add the about me section (always the hardest).

Beautiful Sunset

Illustrator version of photo below. Part of a new gallery of images at www.zazzle.com/naturalmystic

I punched up the contrast on this picture I ran outside to take just before the sun set over the hill. There is no way to capture the briliant purples of the hillside and the way the sky looks like it's fire red. Still I think it's cool that this orb formed in the picture around the sun.

Spring IS on it's way. I have a hard time believing it, because around here we usually get all excited by a few warms days then - BAM - we get ten inches of snow or something. I can't wait for those bits of green to start popping up, the birds to return, and the sun to shine warm on my coatless back!

Patience..... Reminding myself not to wish my life away, live in the moment. Be happy here and now.

Just as an aside, what are other artists thoughts on Alchemy returning to Etsy? Anyone have any luck so far? And then there is the link in our shops to do custom orders - anyone not very happy about that? For those that are going for it, are you thinking about pricing or do you already have a system all worked out for custom orders? I've been kind of all over the map as far as past orders. I think I need to get something more solid worked out for the future.

Anyway, hope everyone is having a great day!

Examples of Commissions

Etsy has a new feature where buyers can request custom orders. If you look at my shop's page at http://www.livefunky.etsy.com/ you will see a button that says Request Custom Item

I thought it would be nice to give buyers an idea of what I have done in the past working with customer's ideas and color preferences.

This is my most recent commission. It is a 48" x 48" acrylic painting on stretched canvas. The composition was based on the painting White Out in colors that fit my buyer's decor.

This altered playing card was created for a buyer that found another 6 of clubs card I made online (see here) that was already sold. She had a personal connection to this card, and since the first creation was already sold, I created this new card with an emphasis on the two connections she had to the 6 of clubs - luck and love!



An 18" x 24" acrylic reproduction of the painting Breakthrough





A pair of two 36" x 36" acrylic paintings on canvas. I love this set! I'd love to do ten more of these or more!

A 24" x 36" version of the slightly smaller acrylic painting available for sale Here

New Livefunky Products!

Lots of fun designs and patterns over at www.zazzle.com/livefunky* - mousepads, mugs, buttons, magnets and greeting cards!

New Designs for Zazzle

I've been adding some new designs to my Modern Art Apparel shop at www.zazzle.com/artjct* - hats, ties, and men's and women's tshirts.

Featured on Vintage Indie!

Woo hoo! My spring green vintage purse (seen above) was featured in a post on Vintage Indie! Check out this awesome blog and scroll down to see the post http://vintageindie.typepad.com/

To see my vintage shop go to www.VintageJunction.etsy.com

Vintage Junction

Please visit my new Etsy shop for sassy vintage accessories! www.VintageJunction.etsy.com

City On Stilts

Acrylic on 8 x 10 stretched canvas, 2008.
Available at www.livefunky.etsy.com

Spring Thinking

Spring Thinking

Acrylic on 5 x 7 canvas panel, 2008

Available at http://www.livefunky.etsy.com/

Vacation

I'll be away from 2/18 - 2/28 visiting family in Florida. I am leaving my Etsy shop "open" but I've placed an announcement that any purchases made will be shipped once I return.

Be well, and keep on livin' funky!

Happy Belated Valentine's Day

Red Rose, originally uploaded by livefunky.

A few updates

First off, I'm officially declaring 365 Sketch is a great idea, but it just isn't going to work for me, at least not right now. I've got so many things I want to get done in a day, I feel like even if I participate, it will just be something I throw together because "I have to". That isn't the spirit of that flickr group, so I'd be doing a disservice to everyone else participating as well as myself. I think it is hilarious that I only got to 7 days. I guess it just wasn't meant to be for right now - maybe in the future it will fit right into my creative patterns.

Onto other updates.... you may have noticed that I used to have a ton of prints in my shop and then they all of a sudden disappeared. I decided that I'm only going to offer prints on Etsy of paintings that have sold because otherwise it can be a little confusing to look through and see the same pics coming up for prints and originals. I am listing each print as having 10 available and once those sell out, I probably won't renew the listing to keep things fresh in my shop. This doesn't make them limited editions, just "limited to Etsy"!

Unity

Unity
Acrylic on 8" x 10" canvas, 2008

Available at www.livefunky.etsy.com

I've been busy working on a commission. I'm hoping to finish tomorrow and have some pictures to share.

Live Earth - SOLD

Acrylic on 8 x 10 canvas, 2008.

I painted this late last night and was eager to list it on Etsy this morning. A few hours later it was sold! If I could paint ten more paintings like this in the next week, I'll be happy. I'm working on a large commission today and hopefully I'll have some pictures to share soon.

Happy painting everyone!

Sweet Dreams....

Since I'm starting to share my dreams in this creative way, I thought I'd share a song from Stevie Wonder's The Secret Life of Plants. My parent's had this album on tape and I ended up with it, because I loved all things Stevie Wonder - everything from the hits that he was coming out with in the 80's as I was growing up to the Innervisions record I played from my parent's collection. This album, The Secret Life of Plants, was different.

I couldn't listen to it during the day. I was too busy as a kid to really slow down and groove with it. But I would put it in my walkman and listen to it at night as I was falling asleep. It was so peaceful and otherworldly. Now I share it with you and wish you sweet dreams...

365 Day 7

365 Day 7, originally uploaded by livefunky.

This drawing began on the back of a used envelope. I then scanned the drawing and altered it in Illustrator.

This rough sketch shows a scene from my dream last night. I was standing with my best friend Emily in the middle of one of the fields on my Grandfather's farm. It seemed like it was in another time because the land looked different. Where there is now a tobacco field, there was tall wild grasses and marshland. My friend and I were standing at the edge of a clearing made for camping. We had a fire going and were prepared to spend the night in a tent. But I looked up into the woods on the hill and saw a wild kingdom of animals. Lions and tigers, rhinos, giraffes, zebras - you name it - if it was an animal that wouldn't normally live in New England, it was there. My first reaction was fear - no way were we camping out there! I worried there were lurking predators in the brush surrounding us. But my second feeling was awe at this wild jungle of life before us. How did these animals get here? What happened on Earth to get us to this moment in time?

A special gift

This ACEO was a commission for someone very sweet that is giving this as a Valentine's Day gift. The six of clubs holds special meaning for the couple and I was so happy to "embellish" the card just for them.

It's funny how lovers have their own special connections that can be any and everything. For us, it's a red pen. The first night my husband and I spent hours on the phone, Rob guessed that I was doodling with a red pen. All these years later, we still will bring it up "Remember the red pen? Awww... I knew I was hooked when you said that." Love is so special and unique to all of us.

Feel free to share your own special connections as we get closer to this ooshy gooshy holiday celebrating LOVE!

365 Sketch - Day 6

365 Sketch - Day 6, originally uploaded by livefunky.

This (kind of silly and basic) sketch is of a dream I had. I was in a boat with a few other people looking at a city on the water when black clouds came in and two tornados plunged out of the sky striking the water in front of us. On the right was a bridge that we were close to/under and I could feel the force of a third tornado about to strike right in front of us. Someone in the boat said "don't look!" and covered her eyes. I couldn't look away.

(This dream was the night before real tornados did some damage in the US).

Drawing in ink digitally colored in Illustrator.

365 Sketch Day 5

365 Sketch Day 5, originally uploaded by livefunky.

A portrait of Rob post super bowl sleeping on our futon.

I spent the night at my cousin's house (who happens to be Rob's good friend also) finishing my book (Eat Pray Love) as they watched the superbowl. So let's see....

it was me surrounded by these guys I love and trust who feel comfortable enough around me to yell and curse at the TV when things don't go their way... they are Pats fans - that says it all. Meanwhile, I'm lost in Bali, thinking about pleasure and devotion merging as one, covering my ears with my hoodie as if that was a good substitute for ear plugs. I have to say, it's a testament to our marriage that I can come along and be that uninvolved and it's ok for both of us.

He was so engaged in the game, that when we got home, he crashed. I get it - I get that way about the Red Sox. Sports can be emotionally exhausting! And it ended up being beneficial to both of us because he needs the sleep and I needed a figure model for my sketch tonight. One that didn't move or "pose", which he would do if he was awake. Let me tell you, it has been a looooong time since I sketched from life. The last time I did it was in a dream and I don't think that really counts. I miss it and need to incorporate it back into my life - even if it isn't what I'm selling or focusing on in my major work, it needs to be present. This flickr group/challenge came at the perfect time!

365 Sketch - Day 4

365 Sketch - Day 4, originally uploaded by livefunky.

documenting dreams...

The Sound of Rain

Original acrylic painting on 8 x 10 canvas, 2008.
Available at www.livefunky.etsy.com

365 Sketch - Day 3

365 Sketch - Day 3, originally uploaded by livefunky.

I joined a group on flickr called 365 Sketch. As you can imagine it entails doing a new sketch every day of a full year. I've been tempted for a while to try and do the "daily painting" thing, but at the same time I resist because I don't want to push it when I'm not in the mood. This is perfect because if I'm having a down day, at least it's SOMETHING - something to keep my mind/spirit connected to my hand and to the stream of creativity you can easily cast yourself on the shores of.

So far I'm at day 3, and I've included a sketch on lined paper, an Illustrator altered drawing, and now this sketch on a torn piece of a paper bag. I like how other people in the group are showing pictures directly from their sketch books. I'm thinking I may start doing that too.