The Cape Cod Collection

Tide Pool Reflections 1 - Acrylic and oil pastel on 24" x 24" canvas, 2014

There is something that happens to you when you spend even just a couple of days by the ocean. That magic something happened to me this past June when my husband and I went on an anniversary trip to the Cape (where we married and honeymooned 8 years ago). 

Tide Pool Reflections 2 - Acrylic and oil pastel on 12" x 12" canvas

During this wonderful trip (now 3 months ago) I experienced a sense of peace that I really can't say I've ever experienced before. With some reflection, I now understand why. 

1. We camped. 

The media/entertainment/news-feed of our modern society can become not only addicting and something to obsess about, but also alter who we really are. It was so great to get away from technology - the television, the internet, our online businesses and who left a review for one of Rob's books on Amazon and who favorited one of my Etsy listings. Being in nature and connecting with nature's rhythm was so very good for the soul. #mediablackout

2. We were on the freaking Cape. 

Not only does it hold a bounty of good memories and heart strung connections for us personally, the flexed arm of New England is everything that a laid back traveler could want. There's room for every kind of New Englander to get their taste of the Atlantic - from the super wealthy (hello Kennedys?) to your average Joe and Josephine getting clam strips from a roadside stand. Life is good on the Cape. Whoever you are you can make it work... and thensome. #tartarsauce

3. The beach has magical powers. 

This is where I feel for my landlocked friends. If you've never been to "the beach", than you really do not know what you are missing. The ocean is the best anti-whatever-ails-you antidote that I've ever experienced naturally. People come to the shore to veg and let it all hang out. You could say that in the outer Cape, that is more true than other many other oceanside locations internationally. (he he - #nudists!) 

Tide Pool Reflections 3 - Acrylic 12" x 12" canvas, SOLD

If you've been paying attention, I've shared 3 paintings titled the same. Tide Pool Reflections 1-3. 

It was our last day on the Cape and we were at a bay side beach. The tide went out for as far as the eye could see, but in between here and there were many tide-pools - from knee deep to just barely covering the top of your feet. As any normal person connected to their inner child would do, I skipped my feet in the water, watching the beautiful patterns of swirls and circles of light dancing on the surface of the water before me.

And that was the beginning of a series. 

Serenity by the Sea - Acrylic and oil pastel on 18" x 24" canvas, SOLD

This series was yes, about the reflections of light on water, and New England earthy sand vs the salty sea BUT it was also about transcending petty problems and just living in the moment. It gave me the idea that hey maybe I could feel this way - this zenned out, happy and fullfilled way, any time I wanted. And wasn't that radical. 

Song of the Sea - Acrylic and oil pastel on 24" x 36" canvas

Check out all of the mellowed out, ocean inspired, Cape Cod Collection here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JessicaTorrant?section_id=15658933

Express Yourself

Play It Loud - Acrylic and oil pastel on 12" x 12" canvas, 2014

Lately I've been focused on creating my own take on abstract impressionist paintings (see previous posts). A certain style is calling to me this painting season and I'm rolling with it - scratch that - I'm loving it! But that doesn't stop me from having pulls in different directions that I can't help but indulge in. These two paintings are bold and bright and totally expressive and different from everything else I've been doing lately. Truth be told, I haven't been in the best mind set lately, and sometimes just letting it all out via the brush is great free therapy. If it happens to go outside the "what I'm working on currently" playground, so be it.

I recognize the validity of working in a series, but maybe it's the stubborn Taurus in me that wants to rebel against any kind of rule or expectation, even from myself. As far as I'm concerned, just painting, just making art in any form, is a mission accomplished. So hey - I made a couple of paintings that don't fit the current mode/zone/series/whatever you want to call it. Like them or not, they needed to be made. I will always paint what I feel needs to be made. Even if it's just for myself and no one else gets it or likes it. It's something I would tell young artists to do no matter what voices they have swirling around their heads about what to do and what no to do. Oh yeah... maybe you are a young artist reading this blog... in that case... JUST DO YOU! I mean it.

I think working in a series is a revelation for an artist. You have to do it, even if it's just one time (but once you do, you'll be hooked!). At the same time, during the time you are working on that series you may feel a little twinge to do something else, and all I'm saying is to follow that and see it through.

Take the time away from a series or project that you are committed to when inspiration calls from a different corner of the room. Allow yourself to invest the resources it takes to create this new thing that may not be anything ultimately but you've just GOT to explore it. In my experience, there is always an audience. If you are an online art seller such as myself, forget the business side of the equation, just go there, let yourself do it. Given my facebook page's responses to paintings, it is always very interesting to see who likes what. I am a firm believer that being a one trick pony artist isn't necessarily the right goal for every artist. You can put a lot of your various takes on subjects and styles out there for people to see and yes, sure, maybe it will turn some people away because of inconsistency, but who exactly would be all that bothered by it? In my opinion, let's just say it... art snobs. Let's just call a spade a spade, am I right? If you want an artist to be one dimensional, I'm sorry, but you must not know an artist personally. 

This blog entry is one part free form rant and one part call to arms for independent artists to go their own way and break the mold. But to sum things up - to the budding artists, my dear friends, if you happen to be reading this, my advice is this... attempt working in a series, give it a try even if you don't think you are "there" as an artist yet to do so. Just do it to get comfortable with the concept, give it a go. Who cares what the results are. Also, don't ever stop listening to the inner muse. Follow her voice, she's going to lead you in the right direction. If that direction deviates for a moment, go there without any regard to expectations or concerns about how you will be perceived. Paint it, make it, do it anyway.

She's On Fire - Acrylic and oil pastel on 16" x 20" canvas, 2014

Three paintings, one palette

Walls and How to Dissolve Them - Acrylic on 8" x 10" canvas panel, 2010

Red Sky - Acrylic, paper, gel medium on 8" x 10" canvas panel, 2010

Gathering - Acrylic on 8" x 10" canvas panel, 2010

A lot of times I'll just mix paint as I go. Today I pre-mixed some set colors - an orangey red, dark green, lime green and a cool gray. These paintings all have a different feel to them though they share the same palette. I think paintings have a strong personality and forceful will to become an individual. I may think I'm the one in control, but the reality is, the paint is the one that's calling the shots and guiding my hand.

The Healing Process

The Healing Process - Acrylic on 8" x 10" canvas panel, 2010

Stop Making Sense

Stop Making Sense - Acrylic on 12" x 16" box canvas

New paintings

These four new paintings are all Untitled on 5" x 5" box canvas. They can be displayed at any angle. 

Summerscape

Summerscape - Acrylic on 12" x 12" canvas panel.

Round and Round

Round and Round - Acrylic on 12" x 12" box canvas.

Secret Code

Secret Code - Acrylic, fabric and gel medium on 12" x 12" box canvas

Surrender

Surrender - Acrylic on 10" x 13" canvas

Dancing Meadow

Dancing Meadow - Acrylic on 20" x 24" canvas, framed

Summer Showers

Summer Showers - 12" x 15.75" canvas

Today I finished this canvas I bought in Ireland last fall. It had been going in another direction so I decided to work over it with this technique, taken an extra step further by "whiting out" the negative space around circles instead of circle chains, as I've been doing. (See previous posts and the Connections series). I feel really free right now in the studio - able to take chances and go against what's familiar. I'm listening to those thoughts that inquire "what if I did this?" and answering, "I don't know, let's find out!". I'm working a little slower, more conscious and detailed. Of course, the effect I want is something dreamy and loose so the marks are more impressionist than hard lined - not sure if detailed is the right word, but that's how it feels.

I think this piece conveys the atmosphere I've been surrounded by all week - wet and misty, damp, heavy air, vivid greens and sparkles of dew drops. Of course I love a hot, blue sky summer day like the next girl, but these moody, rainy days have their own energy that is quietly comforting.

The Muse Returns - new series

The Muse Returns 1-6 - Acrylic on 16" x 20" canvases

What can I say - I am in love with this new series! I was at a bit of a stand off with my abstracts and muddling around with too much color, too little focus and too many ideas all at once. My husband and I were watching a television show and I saw these giant black and white abstracts that really inspired me. Something clicked that limiting my palette might free me up to new ideas, new ways of painting and exploring marks. Things just took off from there. I'd love to hear your thoughts and reactions to these new paintings!

Video Blog 4/10 and new texture painting

Awakening - Acrylic on 20" x 20" canvas, 2010

This is the finished painting from the video below.

Renewed Energy

Renewed Energy - Acrylic on 16" x 20" canvas, 2010

Carried Away

Carried Away - Acrylic on 12" x 12" canvas, 2010

Dreamstate 2

Acrylic on 18" x 24" canvas, 2010.

Floral Series

Floral 2 - Acrylic on paper - Available at www.livefunky.etsy.com

Floral 1 - Acrylic on paper - Available at http://www.livefunky.etsy.com/

As Spring approaches, my heart skips a beat thinking of my garden coming alive again. The first daffodils and hyacinth (oh how I love the color and smell of hyacinth!). Then the tall and mighty irises blast up in full bloom and the bare rose bushes have promising buds. Blink your eyes and the whole gang is there, alive with color and thriving under the sun. I love flowers and through the years I have painted them in various approaches of style. Around 2001 I got into a good groove painting flowers in an abstract, bold poppy way. I'd like to get into a new groove with my beloved flowers, so I started this series.

Fluid in the Now

I made this new banner based on the painting below that I really like. I need to do this on a large scale (add to large to do list)... Here's the original.

Fluid in the Now - Acrylic and oil pastel on paper http://www.livefunky.etsy.com/

Lay of the Land - Acrylic and oil pastel on paper http://www.livefunky.etsy.com/

Both of these are new pieces created in the last two days. I've loved working with my fresh new batch of oil pastels that I got for Christmas (thanks Mom and Dad!). The weather here has been downright miserable but the colors I'm working with keep me feeling rejuvenated. I'd love to be working on larger pieces but without heat in the studio, that's not really an option right now. Well, I could (and have) set up inside the house, but for now it's nice to work in a smaller scale, more contemplative as I listen to ice chunks whip against the window!

I'm not going to officially sign up for the Painting a Day deal because if I do that I'll come to a grinding halt. It happened before when I tried two separate times to do 365 Sketch last year. It's an unfortunate personality trait to crave doing what I'm told not to and vice versa. Instead, I'm keeping it "in mind" to create a piece a day with no rules, no pressure. I need to do this to keep myself connected to that source - you know how it is fellow creators. Even a few days away from your craft and you get a little rusty, you need some time to mess around before it clicks again. I'll always feel a need to plan and it will always be counter balanced with a need to live in the moment. So... hi 2009. Nice to meet you, it will be interesting getting to know you better.

New Paintings

Echo - original acrylic on 8" x 10" canvas panel


Check out my latest paintings in my Etsy shop at www.livefunky.etsy.com.