Friday, June 8, 2012

Rainbow Sherbet, Mrs. Finch and the Artful Journey

Mrs. Finch Takes a Walk with her New Umbrella
encaustic on birch 8x8
The shortest distance from A to B is a straight line.  Even the great circle route is short and straight as it curves over the globe.  Do you remember as a kid stretching the string from your hometown to somewhere in Europe?   For me, the art process usually starts as a visualized straight line - A to B - simple as that.  However, it can take many twists and turns along the way and really sometimes, I never end up at B.  I sometimes go right on by, or miss the turn, or take a detour.. anyway, what I'm saying is that I don't end up at B or at least my visualized B. 

This painting went that way for me - no B - not even a Plan B.  The idea is to use the color inspiration for The Summer of Color 2 - Ice Cream Inspirations given by Kristin over at Twinkle, Twinkle - that's A.  Then, create a work of art using the color inspiration for this week of Rainbow Sherbet - that's B. Easy.. a straight line, the straight and narrow.

In my mind - B (the work of art) didn't look anything like this.  For one thing, there was no bird involved.  I started with a very cool background and moved on to a great photo transfer.  I painted in the umbrella which I loved... but then things took a turn.  My car went careening in a downhill spiral.  I managed to pull it out and take a side road.  Then an enormous pothole bounced me in a new direction.  I overheated on a huge uphill climb - and coasted down windy switchbacks to find a bright orange detour sign pointing a new direction.  Then, finally a straight flat road was visible once again (not the same one as I started on, mind you).

Sometimes, our best works begin with a vision and they stick to the plan A to B - the straight and narrow.  Other times, the road map gets thrown out the window at some point in the artful journey.  Mrs. Finch is the outcome of the zig-zag process we lovingly call art - a detour here, a side road there, switchbacks, steep inclines and treacherous pot holes that can easily bump us off the road. 

Mrs. Finch is inspired by the work of  Olaf Hajek.  His art is a personal favorite of mine.  In Olaf Hajek's world, Mrs. Finch would be wearing a black cocktail dress rather than a raincoat.  However, Mrs. Finch is a product of Seattle, and a black cocktail dress is hardly practical for the weather. 
Go check out and join in the FREE fun at Summer of Color 2.  Its 6 weeks of Ice Cream Inspiration starting with the delicious colors of Rainbow Sherbet - oranges and pinks.   Happy Paint Party Friday everyone. 


54 comments:

  1. Mrs Finch is delightful ~ very creative and well done ~ I haven't done my 'sherbet' painting yet ~ you are inspiring ~thanks, ^_^ (A Creative Harbor)

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  2. I love your description Marji and how you put this: "the zig-zag process we lovingly call art." Wow! So true. I've stopped even trying to visualize my "B" these days. It only serves to cause me to pull off on the shoulder and stop working. Thanks for describing this in such a perfect way. Happy PPF!!

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  3. How Fabulous and whimsical..and enchanted soul!
    Beautiful
    Victoria

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  4. I love the way you put the creative process on words, I wish I could express my thoughts like that. Your piece is absolutely gorgeous!!!

    Thanks for sharing and have a great day!
    Nora

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  5. wonderful inspired work today, nicely done!

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  6. Oh this is gorgeous work indeed- I especially loved hearing the story of all the directions it took! Wonderful!
    Happy PPF!
    Stephanie Corder

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  7. Great post - I can so identify! Ms. Finch is wonderful:-)

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  8. Great to read how this work came to be.:) Love it!

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  9. Hi Marji - so glad you stopped by my blog. Looking forward to following your creative blog.

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  10. oh wow!!!! love this painting and love the colours!!!Wishing you a wonderful weekend!!!

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  11. Fun artwork,full of color. Saludos

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  12. Oh my goodness, I love it! So many wonderful things in it. :) Happy PPF!

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  13. so gourgeous! it makes me happy...she looks so lovely with her new umbrella ;)

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  14. Love the story behind this piece! Great piece love that umbrella!

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  15. Yes this fits Oregon right now too. In need of rain gear. Its a fun & colorful piece no matter how you got there. :) and no I don't remember stretching a line to Europe but I do remember my Mom once telling me if I kept digging I would get to China. :)

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  16. Mrs. Finch is lovely and unique!!
    I really connect with what you wrote, too, about going from point A to point B with lots of twists and turns, and sometimes never even getting to point B. :)
    My painting process (and life process) often mirrors that.
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  17. Happy PPF. Have a wonderful creative weekend!

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  18. This is a fun piece. Love it. I like Mrs. Finch. Lots of creativity going on here. Thanks. Happy PPF!

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  19. Mrs Finch is just delightful and your description of the journey to create her made me alternately laugh and then nod knowingly...I have so been in the car ride with you...xx

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  20. Your painting made me smile! What a delightful and whimsical piece! Happy PPF!!

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  21. The route you took was a very inspired one if not at all planned. I love your post and Mrs Finch is adorable.

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  22. Lovely Mrs Finch!! My A to B route is not very straight. :))

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  23. Oh I hear you!! My route is rarely straight.It's always a different path too!! Great job, she is wonderful. She could take a trip up the Vancouver B.C. and fit in well too!! Since we have practically the same weather.

    Hugs Giggles

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  24. I love this! It's full of awesome,coming by for #PPF and the Summer of Color actually. :)

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  25. Wow this finch came out amazing and I love how the umbrella came out.
    Your blog header though--I had a tough time taking my eyes off it.

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  26. Amazing piece...............love the bird head, human hand....all of it! All of it! HPF.

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  27. where did i see this? facebook maybe...??? i love it...it's so quirky...well done...xxx

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  28. No matter what convoluted path got you there, Mrs. Finch is utterly fabulous!

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  29. what a creative painting! I agree that sometimes plans do not work as it's supposed to.. but it always ends up beautifully.

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  30. Fantastic - Whether the road was straight and narrow, or long and winding - I think your final destination is great! I love how quirky and fun this is - and that texture... Wow! (I am so impressed with your encaustic skill!)

    xo
    Kristin

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  31. Fabulous, love the colors and patterns with vaguely Asian vibe! Beautiful, quirky and original! <3

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  32. WOW, this is awesome! I'm a big fan of your work and am thrilled to have you playing along with The Summer of Color! And yes, isn't it true? Some of our best work happens when we are derailed from our original thoughts. . . . thank you for helping to spread the word and please feel free to link this again to the widget Monday for your chance at the Sherbet giveaway. See you then, Kristin xo

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  33. Wonderful journey with such an amazing result!

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  34. Love this! Mrs. Finch is just gorgeous! I love these detours that art takes you on at times. It is usually well worth it.

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  35. Mrs Finch is truly delightful - what a wonderful journey you've been on to end up here!

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  36. If I'm hit by a bus this week, I want to be reincarnated as Mrs Finch
    x x x

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  37. ahhhhh I love this! And who needs to go in a straight line anyway?? :-D

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  38. She is so FUN! Just gorgeous...

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  39. I love it - hearing about your 'journey' made me smile :)

    Karenx

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  40. Quite a unique idea...brought an instant smile to my face :)

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  41. wonderful work...so creative. I am glad you took the "zig-zag" path! :)

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  42. Très original et très créatif! j'adore
    ;)

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  43. Straight lines are over rated ;) Mrs Finch is just beautiful and I really loved reading how she came about.

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  44. Mrs Finch is just delightful! Being just north in Victoria perhaps I will see her one sunny afternoon looking for a respite from the rain!

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  45. Loving the fabulous Mrs Finch, perfect for the SOC. Annette x

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  46. However you got there - I absolutely love it! I'm following your blog now, so I'll be back.

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  47. what a vivid description of the adventure that art often leads us on. And Mrs. Finch is divine, from her umbrella (you're right... it it gorgeous) to her slightly ruffled feathers to her raincoat. Can't wait to see what you next time.

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  48. oh my goodness, this make me smile to big! I cannot even express how much I love this!

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  49. Oh WOW! Your rainbow sherbert artwork is fun and fabulous!... looking forward to your week 2 now!!
    Jan x

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  50. Mrs. Finch is fab. Love your quirky style.
    Can't wait for week2
    Lesley

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