"Angelica"

($40.00....6" x 6"....300 lb. HP mounted on a 1/8" depth clayboard panel)

"An angel is a body guard sent by God." Angelica is Spanish for angel so it became the perfect title. Angels have specific assignments and I like to think that one of them is my body guard. It's a very comforting thought!

My experimentation is continuing by deleting the strong color and going totally neutral. There are also many more layers of papers just to create a tonal and textural variation. There are several techniques that I am consciously doing to give better integration and a sense of depth. When I overly a paper that is already there, I try to cut it a bit smaller and reveal the edge of the previous layer. It creates a lot of interest with edges and a sense of mystery by allowing some text to show or other texture.

To enhance the "back and forth" conversation between text overlaid with rice paper and other areas that have no text,  adhered just a fragment of the text into the static area. It then becomes more integrated with the piece. And if you look closely just above the quote there is a faint image of angels. It was a line drawing that I had printed on silk tissue paper, but after it was adhered, it was too much. When it was removed, it left a faint image which turned out to be far more subtle.

For those of you who are enamored with walnut ink, there are several pieces of rice paper that were stamped and colored a bit with a dilute portion of the ink. And of course, the three main dark areas are mono printed with black printing ink, gold orange (acryl gouache) with gestural marks in the paint. And there you have it...just a few more things to think about. Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Don't Quit!"

($40.00....6" x 6"....mounted on a 1/8" depth clayboard panel)


"The only way you can fail is to quit." Quitting is a cowardly way of living and stops all progress in life. The successful people are those who have their head in the game and their eye on the ball.

The only problem with edge to edge color, especially if it appears to be in motion, is that the eye is overwhelmed and doesn't know where to look first. All of that changes if you can add an image or text that becomes the focal point. Since lettering tends to be very graphic, it is a perfect juxtaposition to the moving color. If selecting an image rather than lettering, it works well to use transparent tissue paper so the image is fully integrated. Transparency is the most effective way to arrive at integration. Seeing some part of the previous layer is absolutely key.

The reason most collage pieces don't work so well is that there is not integration to the previous layer. Color is also a good integrator. Echoes of design elements already present in the piece is another good integrator. It is always a teachable moment to view how other artists integrate elements of design. You will also notice what doesn't work which is also a good way to learn. Integration is a key component of layering so think about it and keep your eyes in observation mode to see how it's done.

Please contact me personally in inquire about this piece.

"Warm and Cozy" (sold)

(sold)

"Particular colors, images, and people make you feel warm and cozy." These two adjectives are generally referring to things like an afghan, a favorite sweater, etc., but it is a nice diversion of thought to think of unexpected things and people as warm and cozy.


There is a reflective spirit that takes hold of me when going through antique stores and looking at images of "old stuff". These old mason jars bring back lots of memories of my grandmother who might have had something like this on her shelf. How fabulous to have just the perfect background for these two gems.....and it wasn't even planned! So, to quote myself from yesterday..."Some of the best things in life happen spontaneously". I guess my point is, that you should probably hang on to those practice sheets, discarded backgrounds from a class, or anything else you haven't brought to completion. Effective cropping and adding just the right image(s) plus a bit of lettering will do the trick.

As you know, I love creating these windows, framed out in gesso. The way the color interacts with primed and unprimed surfaces is completed fascinating. The secret is to work on a larger sheet and do some effective cropping. But as you know, if you've worked with gesso before, paint does not always want to adhere to a "gessoed" surface because it acts as a resist. Thinning down the geeso helps a bit, but then you sacrifice the technique of being able to texturize the gesso. Pouring Medium or other acrylic mediums will help with this dilemma. You might need to coax the mixture a bit with a palette knife, barely skimming the surface. In some instances, you can achieve an "encaustic" effect with lettering and other imagery submerged below the surface. On a Saturday, these are things to try or think about.

"Texas Women" (unavailable)

(unavailable....in the permanent collection of dee day)

"Texas women are allowed in their man's cave." This time of year in our fine state, many a man (and his woman) spend time in his outdoor cave which would be called a "deer blind". Yes, it is time once again for deer season which opens this weekend. Just so you know, I am opting for the inside man cave. I do not do the deer blind scene....especially in cold weather!

Once again, I have opted to use one of my favorite color combinations which includes Napthol Red, Black, Raw Umber, and Titan Buff. Pouring Medium added to the colors accounts for the soft blending of color and a bit of marbelizing.

Two pieces of collage were added to this background which is just enough to establish the main concept. Besides selecting collage bits that fully integrate with the texture and feel of the background layer.... choosing a "quiet" line of lettering to cross over the background, over the collage, and over the background again is like "stitching" two pieces of fabric together. It is a wonderful way to complete the piece and have the collage fully integrated. One of the reasons I use so much spencerian script is that it is unobtrusive and adds the final touch to a piece without becoming the total focus. Just something to think about.