Stalking at Sunset



Stalking at Sunset ~ Acrylic with texturized underpainting ~ 12" x 24" 

I started this last November as a demo at a local museum.  HATED it at the time, because it was just "off."  Since I have been modestly succesful with a few of my recent works post-Jacqui Beck Workshop, I felt brave enough to take this on again.  Have to say that, in real life, it glows.  The photo doesn't ... glow, that is.  Still not my favorite piece, but I like it much more now than the way it was back in November. 

And The Series Continues ...

Coneflowers ~ Acrylic on Black Gesso 12" X 12"

This is the sixth painting I have done since last Thursday as a result of taking a workshop on Experimental Acrylic and Mixed Media with instructor, Jacqui Beck, who is also a creativity coach in Seattle.  She helped me loosen up and access a better creative me.  Doing a series and "beating it to death" is not an original concept, but I "got" it this time.  As well, I read a recent post by Skip Lawrence on painting at least twenty paintings of a series.

What I need to try for my next "go" at a series, is to paint the same thing over and over again different ways.  I have heard that before, and, being an Aries, I get bored too quickly.  Jacqui suggests that we paint the first one, and then paint from that first one, and then the next one, and the next one ... etc., always asking "what if." 

When the student is ready, the teacher appears!   

Sunflowers and Poppies

Stylized Sunflowers ~ Acrylics ~18" x 24"

Poppies and Pods ~ Acrylics ~ 8" x 10"

Am still "in the flow" of all that I learned in last week's Jacqui Beck Workshop [jacquibeck.com], although I felt myelf tightening up a bit.  I planned to do another painting today with a promise to self to stay loose and to not overthink.  Can I do it?  We'll see.  Am still enjoying the process and still trying to not be wed to the outcome.

Daffodil Time Again!

Daffs ~ 11" x 14" Acrylics

Daylight saving time, spring equinox, taxes, art shows, and daffodils in Skagit Valley.  You know it's spring when the little green heads begin to pop, and pickers are out in droves cutting the "pregnant" stems just before they open, so they will be market fresh.

These have "opened" and are trumpeting the promise of spring! Part of me is SO tempted to get back into the painting and tweak and fix, but the new playful artist self in me says to leave it alone.

What if ...

This canvas is on its fourth iteration.  It has been trees, flowers, a figure, and now hydrangeas.  Isn't that a wonderful thing that we can recycle "bad" paintings by painting over them with acrylics?  The canvas has been texturized, stamped, stenciled, gessoed and re-gessoed, and I think this time it's okay.  Because it has been around the block a few times, I figured I would "play," and this is what I came up with.

Hydrangeas in a turquoise pitcher ~ 18" x 24" Acrylics Mixed Media

Even with all I learned at the Jacqui Beck workshop, I still drifted toward the traditional and ended up with the "star" hydrangea right smack in the middle.  So this morning, looking at my boring painting,

I said to myself, "what if," and started playing with my Dr Martins Hydrus watercolors.  I wasn't wed to the outcome, and enjoyed making squiggles with the droppers. Pretty soon, the main flower appeared to be a little offset, the painting winked at me and came alive!  Wish you could see it up close.

It's rainy today.  I think I will try some more!

Jacqui Beck Workshop

Just got home from hosting  two one-day workshops at two of my teaching venues, the Anacortes Senior Center and the Burlington Senior Center, taught by Jacqui Beck [click here].  Not only is she a wonderful painter of intuitive, sometimes whimsical, often symbolic, acrylic and mixed media paintings, she is also a creativity coach, who is generous of spirit aside from being remarkably talented.  The two classes were full, and almost to a person, they want more.  We are hoping to schedule a TWO-day workshop in the area in the early fall, if we can secure a venue.

Last fall, I went to one of Jacqui's one-day workshops in Edmonds, and was taken by the way she approaches her teaching.  She is not a "how-to" instructor, she really does coach the students, and certainly helped me unlock a few of my creative places.  I just knew my painting friends and students would get a great deal from a day spent with Jacqui as I had.  And they did ...

And I got to be a student and particpate both days.  Woo hoo!  I am so pleased with all that I learned, and hope to really punch through again.  Yesterday's work was good, but I'm not loving it yet.  Today's was much better, because I allowed myself to play with absolutely no intentions.

Here it is ...

Sassy Tulips 18" x 18" Acrylics Texturized Underpainting

This Week's Daily Paintwork Challenge

This week is stacked up with so much to do and so much on my plate, but I really liked this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge, so I did a very quick acrylic sketch.  Not great, but I was able to "play with the others," andpost my little sketch.  I so enjoy wahat Carol and David Marine are doing with the Weekly Challenges.  It gives us all an opportunity to connect through art, and share with others.  Good on ya, Carol and David!  Good marketing, too!

"Happy Hour"  Daily Paintworks Challenge 8" x 10" Acrylics