Watercolor Lilies

I couldn’t resist the lilies at Kroger’s.  Well, I did resist buying them, but couldn’t resist photographing them.  This is a diptych, two pieces that together make one.  You can see how my watercolor progressed.  My shoulder is  starting to feel a little better and my head is clearing enough so that I can do a little painting these days.  Yay, finally!  It was Jamie Wyeth that said ‘Painting is as difficult as brain surgery.  It’s not that relaxing, but that’s the discipline.’ I have thought of that quote so many times this summer as people have asked, “Which shoulder did you have surgery on? Oh, the left, and you’re right handed? Good!  That means you can paint!”  I just smiled, but alas and alack, not so.  I agree with Jamie Wyeth.  But now, NOW... I am coming back!

Artists Naming Works of Art

This is my lion painting.  I named him King for obvious reasons, which comes to another point; why do artists give such stupid names to their works of art? Why, if you painted a lady sewing, for instance, would you name the piece ‘Woman Sewing?’ (Renoir). Or... following the thought here, ‘Girl with a Watering Can?’ Renoir again.  Renoir, I feel you.

Would you like to know the secret of artists through history, myself included?  We really just want to paint.  We want to paint beautiful things and have people BUY them, so we can paint MORE beautiful things!  Once the painting is finished, we don’t CARE what the painting’s name is!  As for me, I just want to make it, finish it, love it, and then do it again with another piece. The naming thing is distracting from the first desire, to create. 

All this being said, ‘King’ really IS a good name for this one, don’t you think?  And artists out there? How DO you name your work?  This piece is for sale on my website which you can click on below.  Will somebody please buy King so I can paint another painting?  Thank you! In the meantime, I’m going to go paint flowers.  I think I’m going to be really original and name that painting ‘Flowers.’

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

Meet the Artist of This Blog!

Meet the artist of this crazy feed! Here I am waiting for a show in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, the only building in the city that is permitted to have a thatched roof, for obvious reasons.  We enjoyed two peerless shows whilst there.

 I’m in one of the balconies but you can look down to see that people still crowd around the stage, lean on the stage and stand shoulder to shoulder for the entire length of the show!  What a place.  

I also notice my gold earring(s). I lost one on that trip.  Came back Stateside and found a different sized gold hoop and wore them as a mismatched pair.  I’ve always felt that ‘life is short, you might as well mix up your jewelry!’ The next time we went to Europe I lost my last hoop! Maybe the next time we go I’ll find a pair, huh? :) 

Man, I miss those earrings.  Dang.

My Mother’s Hands

My goal is to keep this feed related to art because I’m a professional artist; however tonight I must make an exception. Actually, maybe it’s not that big of an exception.  These are my mother’s hands. She’s caressing our cat Calypso who loved cuddling with both my parents.  My mother is gone now, and so is my father.  So is our beautiful, good natured sweet kitty.  I miss all three of them.  This photo brings it all crashing back.  But really, what IS art? It can be many things, but taken down to its very essence, I believe it’s living a life to glorify God, loving people and caring for your own.  And boy am I thankful that God was gracious enough to give us animals to love us and to teach us how to love. And living a well-lived life?  Now THAT’S art!

My Art Studio Today

I had to step aside from the work I’d outlined for my painting day because these hyacinths were driving me to distraction!  Their fragrance is divine and I literally carry them from room to room. Finally I prepared a canvas and did some color testing.  Pictured here are the color winners; the color losers were banished back to my paint drawers.  We artists make it our job to make creation look easy, but you can see from this photo that a whole lot of planning and work go into a piece long before brush meets canvas.

Also, sometimes I have a helper come into my studio.  Trust me, when he comes in, I stop and enjoy life for a while.

Metal Embossing

This beauty is one of my creative loves - metal embossing.  Done in layers, I first painted the wood with those nice flowing textures. Once I embossed the metal I gave it that nice patina and laid it on the wood. Once set I put a layer of heavy gel over all as a sealant, and drew textures to echo the metal and signed my name into the gel, so this piece actually has a double signature, seen and unseen. The finishing touch was the turquoise patina around the edges of the wood to bring it all together.  Rich and deep!

This piece is on cradled wood and is approximately 12”x12”.  It’s on my website, colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

Artist Celebrating Over Here

It’s time to celebrate! Whenever I use up a sales receipt book and have to buy a new one it’s time to celebrate. Thank you, Lord, for directing me into this profession! How can I help YOU? 

Portrait of an Artist. This Artist

This is the artist responsible for this crazy blog.  Me.  I’m just over here celebrating my naturally red hair.  One of our sons tells me I’m prone to gross hyperbole, but I don’t know what he’s talking about.

Watercolors

Oh my goodness I love watercolors!  I usually use tube watercolors but am stepping out and trying some liquids for a change.  Yes, because the bottles were pretty; that’s a valid reason for purchase.

These bottles glowing in the sun really do make me want to get busy!

 Sometimes even one color will inspire me, then I’m off painting again. What inspires you?

An Artist’s Hair

Artists.  The ones with the weird hair.  So nice to see you today, @lydia_grayce ! You look adorable! Break a leg in Seven Brides; so glad you loved Newsies! 

Seriously, our bodies and hair are really just more canvas to cover.  So... I guess if you want to have a painting commissioned, chase down someone with crazy-colored hair. The odds will be that they can do it for you.

You Need Art Classes!

Meet the artist responsible for this crazy feed.  Well, my HAIR is ready for school, now for the rest.  Still have wiggle room in some of my art classes.  Look at www.hisclasses.com and www.ttcclasses.org for class info, schedules and teacher info.

Artist’s Flatlay in Studio

I’ve done quite a lot of layouts, always in a single color.  This time I decided to celebrate the color wheel and just lay down those colors (sorry, purple, I owe you one.) Of note, gorgeous ribbons one of my students gave me on a cool gift, my metal embossed seahorse mounted on a box and a colorful swag I recently made which I toss over all kinds of things to brighten things up and celebrate. Oh, and my coolest ever striped purse from Target. And my cheap sunglasses.  (These be no rhinestone shades.)

Blanton Museum of Art in Austin

I wasn’t expecting to find my good old friend Robert Indiana in Austin, but there he was. And since I grew up on trains, drove a train and then worked for the railroad, wasn’t it perfect that it would be this painting the Blanton Museum of Art had on display. Very nice, Robert!

I have long loved Robert Indiana.  He manages to take things right down to their very essence and distill out all the flim flam, like a great chef. His work is stark, colorful, very dramatic and imbued with meaning for those who take the time to look.  Absolutely love this particular piece.

Making your Day Palette-able!

Just trying to make your evening’s feed a little more PALETTEable!  Har har har! Ah, hum.  Yeah.  Sorry.  Couldn’t resist. Anyway, kind of pretty, isn’t it?