Hello Again

It's been kind of a bumpy weekend for me sorry I haven't kept in touch. I guess the Universe swirled when I wasn't looking and took me along for the ride. Yesterday was a strange day all round I helped a friend pass from this life to the next. My old friend was a beautiful 14 year old Rotweiller, named Bomber and companion to my friend, Pat. I would only hope someone is as kind to me when it's time. He was surrounded by his friends and in his human's loving arms; now who could ask for more?
So today I'm going to be in the studio all the rest of the day and I'm sure Bomber will be in there watching as I paint. Lili, my dog roommate and one of Bomber's friends will be in there too. I find so many animals living with artists we must like the audience or the company for our solitary work.
Layering on top of gesso with acrylic using a palette knife today. It's a change and it's immediate. I discovered another painting tool a few years ago that I love to use for big surfaces, an eraser. A simple blackboard eraser, new of course, is a lot of fun to smear paint around. It leaves a interesting stroke and covers a large area. Try it you might like it for a change. I've found that over the years I've tried many different tools it keeps the work interesting and the artist engaged in the work. Periodically I get tired of color and do all black and whites for a bit then switch from figures to landscapes or abstracts just to keep the work fresh. I don't think it confuses too many of my collectors at least not the ones who really "know" art. They are the ones who know an artist must experiment constantly to investigate the world and empty the imagination onto the surface.... Of course deversifying the surface is fun and challenging too. That's why I engaged my imagination with resins recently. Seeing the many layers that can be accomplished is stimulating; it keeps me interested. The pieces I uploaded for you to see are both 12" X 12" to give the resin depth and online I hope they show their color well. Until later write me, exchange some thoughts and ideas you have. Remember art is communication. SR

Mybrushstroke

Today is the 26th of February can you believe it?

This year is moving too fast for me and yet not fast enough in some areas. I told you I'm preparing for a show in May at Istvan Gallery, new in town the gallery is a cool place to see new and different artists' work. If you're in OKC drop by there sometime.

Since we've had no Winter to speak of our weather has slipped quietly into almost Spring and I'm still waiting for Winter. Spring is too soon I have too many other things I was saving for Winter.

Preparing my studio is a big job as you might imagine. I will keep you informed as to sales etc. I will have lots of artsy stuff to eliminate. I am even going to sell my king sized canopy bed.... $900.. I think having a new experience will be great and a queen sized bed would be interesting maybe even more fun. We never know, do we?

Some things I have ready now are: a small "dorm" refrigerator.... $35. works like a charm has a tiny freezer and all,

A drafting table............$20. that needs some help in the adjusting screws otherwise is a great surface.

There will be more I'm sure as I go along. It would be helpful to eliminate these items to give me more room now. So let me know if any of you are interested.

Now on to more artsy stuff.

I've been working with resins lately; drawing, collaging or painting then building a frame to hold the liquid resin. the end result gives such depth and glow to all the work underneath that it simply enhances your work. It does magical things to a charcoal drawing, or anything that dry like pastel. I would encourage anyone to try it. Let me know how it works for you and what you think of it. I'm enjoying it very much. I'll continue to do more just not all the time because I am always drawn, pardon the pun, to figures any way I can do them and larger than I do the resins. The resins are little jewels.

I love to do the figures in acrylic though I find oil very rewarding sometimes I work on one of each at the same time due to the drying time of each. I've worked acrylic into a place of comfort where I can make them look oil-like so the outcome of each media is equally fulfilling for me.

I guess that's all for today I hope you will keep doing creative projects what do you have to lose. It is time well spent and meditative for today's crazed world. SR