In Process

Texture as Focus

I think it's finished.  I'm doing paintings right now where I'm focusing more on the texture and simplifying the painting.  I'm interested to see if people respond well or prefer more painted surface.  This is similar to a painting I did recently called Black Dandelion, where it was all about the grid of pattern in the background with a simple dandelion on top.  I got really good reactions to it at last weekends show.

Painting in black and white.  Totally different for me, but intriguing, I think.  I may do more like this.  I have an idea in my mind that I'm excited to start.

In Process

I've been working on the studio today and also started applying texture to some new pieces. I love the in-process images. My goal for this week is to contact one retail store or gallery per day. I'm on track! My long term goal is to get in 10 retail stores by the end of the year. I'm up to 3.

It also just dawned on me that tomorrow is Friday. The Issaquah Art Walk. I wish I could be there. I have to remember to get up and post the coupon and some photos again in the morning.

Texture Clock in Etsy Collection

One of my clocks was just added to a treasury on etsy. http://tinyurl.com/39uqy27

All About Texture

Continuing to work on the new painting today. All-white, all about texture. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

In Process

I'm just starting a new painting. I've wanted to do it for a while. I'm starting by covering strips of mdf in different textiles to create a progression of texture. Then the texture is modpodged with tissue paper to make a surface suitable for painting. The cool thing about this painting is that it's going to be all about texture, no color at all. Since I usually have a strong focus on color, I'm excited to see what happens. Should be interesting. Check back to follow progress.

Purple Texture Painting

I started a new painting today. It's the same concept with the geometric squares I've been using lately. I put tissue paper down first. I really like the texture that gives the paintings. Then I used a different color combination than I've used before. Dioxazine purple with payne's gray, mars black and titanium white. I love it. It would look great in my room!

Tripod

The tripod has finally arrived! I have goals for tomorrow and they are: take photos of the texture series and upload to etsy. Update resume to reflect current student status and Interior Design focus. Sounds like a fascinating weekend. ;)

Photograph of #5

I'm still waiting for the tripod I ordered. I hope once it arrives I can figure out how to take better photographs of my artwork. This is a photo of Texture Painting #5. I have not loaded any of the texture paintings to my etsy site, so once I get the tripod I'll attempt to figure out how to photograph them for placement on the etsy site.

#5 is Alive

I finished Texture Painting #5!! Picture to follow tomorrow. Now I'm working on a brown and yellow ochre painting of a tree. I've had the background finished for a while, but just started the tree. I want it to have kind of a bleak feeling.

Unfinished Painting

Most of today was spent on schoolwork and my resume, but I did work on my 5th texture painting. I decided to post a photo of it unfinished because I think it's kind of interesting. Typically I only show people my finished work. This photo shows where I get the texture, which is from textile samples. They are then modpodged with tissue paper, thus the filmy look, then the background is painted with glossy black.

Oh, I also scanned the cartoon logo I'm working on. It needs work, but I often think it's better to jump in and start something rather than procrastinating. I'll go back and refine it in the days to come.

Texture Paintings Still

Today I am still working on the texture paintings. I also started Winter quarter today. This will be my 4th quarter at Bellevue College. The class I went to today is called Professional Practices. I'm excited because I think it's going to teach me about owning my own business, writing a business plan, letter of agreement, etc. The practical side of having a "creative life".

Texture Paintings

I worked on paintings all day. I have 3 texture paintings finished and two that I'm working on. I also gathered some information on local arts and crafts fairs, the cost of renting vs. purchasing canopies, etc. I'm not sure if it's something I'll be interested in. I'm still trying to figure out what will work best to sell my art.

Are Note Cards a Good Idea?

Today I checked into the printing costs of note cards. A friend suggested that I have smaller priced items on my etsy site, such as note cards. I love the idea because there have been many times where I like someone's work but can't afford to buy the original.

Step two is to pick a painting to photograph for my first batch of note cards. Taking a good photo of the painting is the difficult part. I'm waiting for the tripod I ordered, meanwhile I downloaded the Canon PowerShot User's Manual. I'm trying to figure out how to use the auto-shoot feature and the AV setting. Of course I ran out of batteries, so now they are charging.

Meanwhile I'm still working on my new texture paintings.

Experimenting with Texture

I've decided to try different ways of incorporating texture into my artwork. I've been doing a lot of paintings with squares making it more 3-d. This is a takeoff of that idea. I used different materials leftover from my Interior Design projects and glued them to my wood canvas. Then I mod-podged tissue paper to even out the seams and finally painted using only two colors; Raw Umber and Titanium White.

I really like the way it turned out. :)

I also am working on the notion that along with the creative side, in order to have a "creative life", I also need to work on marketing myself and my work. To that end I'm trying to figure out a logo to use for business cards and as a banner for my etsy site. I also ordered a tripod today for my camera. At Christmas I spoke with my Uncle Evan, who is a photography buff (along with being an English Professor), and he gave me a few tips for taking better photos of my artwork.