"Hope Rings Out" (unavailable)

i

(unavailable)


"Hope rings out in an atmosphere of prayer." A bell ringing has always caused me to stop and listen. It indicates that something significant is happening. That's the possibility of continual prayer. It stirs up hope in the midst of all kinds of circumstances.

This very simple image taken in Santa Fe had very little detail. To make the dark area surrounding the bell a bit more interesting, I prepared the paper with some random placement of Golden Crackle Paste, using a palette knife. It cannot be applied too thick since the paper will need to go through the printer after it's dried.

Walnut Ink was applied very lightly after the paste dried and then the image was printed. I was a bit disappointed because none of the paste was visible...until I applied some gesso. The application was done with two sponge brushes. One to apply the gesso. The other to apply water and remove enough to see the image. (Remember the print must be sprayed with spray acrylic coating (3x) before applying gesso.)

I chose to leave the lettering a bit "splotchy" because I think it's more artistic looking and adds character and texture. Notice how the surround around the bell tower frames the bell by the way the photo was cropped. Part of the sky showing through a window at the bottom also provided depth and several more interesting shapes. These small details are worth your attention when photographing. This would also be a very interesting painting with all kinds of texture possibilities. Just something else to try or think about.

"Star, Bell, and Tree"

($40.00.....mounted on a 1/8" depth clayboard panel)


"A star, a bell, and a tree converged on the landscape with warm greetings." This beautiful photo was taken in Silverado, Colorado. Enjoy all the beautiful images you see as you move through your day. They are everywhere!

There is a beautiful contrast in this piece between organic and manmade shapes. Both shapes extend from edge to edge vertically, making it a great division of space. They are harmonious in the sense that they're both vertical and have an apex at the top, but they also have extreme contrast in texture, color, line, and shape.

The focus on photography this month has made me even more aware of how much can be learned about composition so quickly. If you have young people in your home or life, it can also be a way to ease them into understanding composition and move into the technical aspects of drawing and painting. (It is useful to carry a small camera in your purse or backpack with a zoom lens for those unexpected things you might see while you're out and about.)

For those of you who are into offhand flourishing, note the placement and direction of the flourish. It leads your eye right to the tree, bell, star, and quote. It's almost like an invitation to come into the piece. Just a few more things to try or think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Tolling of the Bell" ($40.00)

(adjusted price...$40.00 )

"The tolling of the bell marks the reflection of memories past." This day of National reflection reminded me of all the times I've heard bells tolling to mark significant events. Let us all be diligent in prayer for our country as we reflect on the most devastating event against our Homeland.

Grays and black work well with any color combination. I returned to my favorite mixture for gray...Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna. With these two colors plus white, a whole range of grays can be mixed. Of course, the first layer is dilute acrylic painted over a randomly applied gesso.

Those of you who are or have taken Spencerian Script can appreciate how just one or two lines gives a historical look to a piece and has a "quieting" effect. As much as I love Copperplate, it has a heavier visual weight and will not accomplish what Spencerian does. Hopefully this kind of look will give you even more motivation to include it in some of your work. I seem to have fallen in love with it as soon as Pat Blair hit our city limits with her pen! Also notice the division of space and what's going on in all four corners. As always, these are just a few things to think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.