Du Jour 15 and they're starting to pile up ...

Awhile back I came across a small stainless steel fork, I think it may be a child's fork. I've wanted to do something with it, but was clueless as to how to incorporate it into an art piece. Apparently my mind went a little on the dark side, because today's painting is how I used it.

There could  be a story that accompanies this painting. Hmmm ... what would this painting say about your story?

This is acrylic, stainless steel fork on stretched canvas.

Du Jour 14

I couldn't find any canvas board or something primed to paint on for today, so cut a couple of strips of cardboard, glued it to a 7" x 9" cardboard and painted with acrylics, figuring it would seal the cardboard sufficiently for my purpose. I also took a little scrap of the Japanese chop from one of the calendar remnants and incorporated it into the painting.

Today's exercise:

I had fun using collaged items in the painting. I may play more with this approach. I enjoy the dimensional aspect, more of a 3D, sculptural treatment. Girls just want to have fun!

Painting for Friday the 13th ... figures

I've not been a pleasant person today and subjected those around me to my foul mood, regretfully. I've asked forgiveness, which was cheerfully given. It's all of my own doing. I suggested a garage sale to clear out a bunch of unnecessary clutter, and the idea was taken up. The garage sale is tomorrow ... I detest doing garage sales.

My day was one of getting ready, when I didn't want to get ready ... very childish, very petulant. I get through such things, but it's better when I'm by myself when I throw my little tantrums and none are the wiser. Alas, I live among people. I know, "Grow up!" Yes, to be sure. That is the sensible thing to do, of course.

Oh yes! The matter of my daily painting challenge. That, too, is self-imposed. I did finally eke out a bit of time to move medium around on a board. I'm not sure what to make of it. There was no preconceived thought. These are the few of the remaining colors I have in the Shiva oil stiks. The colors have no significance to me. It's all simply play and releasing of self-inflicted bad mood. If I were to self-analyze--my sister says I think/worry too much--I would say this painting indicates the patient keeps meeting herself coming and going and not making any progress. The patient does have a rather pleasant signature.

Monday will be a better day ...

Du Jour 12

Three minutes to go and still be Day 12 ... eeks ...

I was thinking about masks today and have wanted to try painting a face, of some sort or fashion. This is all about trying new things, so I pulled out my acrylics and painted this "mask." I started doing strictly an abstracted face, but then the connecting circles demanded to be included in this exercise, as well.

For a first attempt, I'm encouraged to try another.  This one is 5" x 7" acrylic and colored pencil on canvas board.

I was totally disenchanted with yesterday's exercise, so went back in and dinked around a bit more. I'm happier with the results.

Du Jour 11 ... in an equine frame of mind, so it seems

I've been running around like a chickie with her head cut off today, busy, productive. BUT, it dawned on me about an hour ago that I hadn't a du jour painting. I was tired, but I didn't want to break the challenge. It becomes easier to break it again, and then again.

I saw I still had Shiva stuff lying around. Grabbed what was at hand and set to.What to paint? What to paint isn't really the most important factor in this challenge. Discipline, developing a productive habit with which to continue is more to the point. I saw the acrylic I did yesterday with the Japanese horses ...

Yup! A horse, of course. It actually came off looking too much like a horse, I wanted more movement of legs, muscle mass. Didn't know what to do about background, which I didn't want to be "background."

I'm tired, I painted, task completed. Not satisfied with artwork, but am very satisfied I pushed myself so as to comply with a painting a day.

Below is a pile of photo cards I'm getting ready to ship to Redlands, CA tomorrow so they can go into the new show at Redlands Art Association. I have two matted and framed photographs and a framed oil stik painting that will be submitted for acceptance, as well. Feels GOOD!

The RAA Show "Redlands Celebration" will run from September 20 - October 18, 2013. If you're in Redlands, CA area, and you haven't been before, I encourage you to drop into this community art association sales gallery and classrooms. They sponsor a good many art classes and workshops for children and adults. This coming week, Ann Bingham Freeman (sculptress, painter, mixed media artist and instructor) will be facilitating a workshop to make an art book, if memory serves me correctly. This artist breathes creativity and much insight is to be gained from her teaching. I wish I could attend!

Du Jour 10 and RAA Show Entries

Today's painting is acrylic with collage. I came across an old calendar of Japanese prints and I think I'll have some fun with a few du jour paintings. This is 5" x 7" canvas board.

I'm also including the two photographs I've matted and framed to ship down to Redlands, CA for the next show take-in at the Redlands Art Association. When I was down there a couple of weeks ago, I admit I didn't take many iconic Redlands photographs. So, I was a little stumped when I discovered that this particular show has the theme: Redlands Celebration.

Alrighty then ... I happened to take a shot of Cajon Street with all of the palms lining the street, but the shot I had was more to chronicle, not to be a cool photograph--short-sighted of me, yes? Anyway, I played with my original image with some filters and after trying a number of different approaches, I settled on this image using a Cut Out effect. It reminds me a lot of a serigraph. I like the clean suggestions of shape and perspective. This is a 5" x 7" photographic image, which I've doubled matted in white in a matte black metal frame.

I'm sending another photograph of mine, using the same effect filter. I am pleased with the feathery green of Redlands Poppies, and the distinctive shape of that flower. This one has an image size of about 3" square. Yes, these are v-e-r-y  small, but I wanted to see how they ship before I try sending larger photographs/paintings.

It's been a busy, productive day. Hopefully some surprises tomorrow! Pleasant surprises, please!

Du Jour 9

Day 9 and I'm almost a third of the way through my September painting challenge. I've more scribbles for today's painting in pink and yellow. I enjoy connecting the dots ... is it as simple as this, as metaphor? Hmmm, just thought of this. Interesting. I'll give that more thought another day. As well as the lines connecting, I like the open spaces relative to the connections. I think, too, the lines keep the viewer's eye moving and I like that movement in the painting.

So, here be it:

I've been matting and framing some small scale photographs to ship down to Redlands, CA for a show take-in on the 20th of this month. There is a theme: Redlands Celebration. I've tinkered with some of my original photographs so that they look like serigraphs. I'll upload those photographs tomorrow, along with the painting of the day.