Watermelon Sherbet, Leaves X5 and Ideas

Leaves X5
encaustic and paper on birch 9x12

I have this idea in my head that I want to paint a large tree and have the leaves be made of paper scraps and photographs.  I don't really know exactly how it will come together but its in there, in my brain, sitting and waiting to be born into a painting.  Ideas like this just come.  Sometimes they are action items and I know exactly what it is I need to paint and how to go about it.  Other times, its a thought that just keeps turning over and growing a bit here and there.  It wanders around in the corners of my mind and keeps popping up and asks to be acknowledged.  Then it goes away and grows some more.  Most of the time with these kinds of thoughts, there is no "ta da" moment where I see the whole picture.  Sometimes I just play around with the idea and see where it takes me.  The process of playing seems to help these kinds of ideas.  By not having an agenda, I can just let myself play.  I really don't do this enough.  I get a little bent on the idea that I have to make something that is worthy (whatever that means).  The art of playing allows us to create badly and just have fun with it - fun with the artful process.  Play time is about finding the little things that work and we can then build upon their foundation.  Play time = Happy time. 
An artist friend told me that she is often asked how long it takes her to paint a painting.  She says "the process itself takes about an hour and half - but really this painting took me 30 years plus and hour and a half".  I love that answer, because it is so true.  Sometimes we just have to think about an idea and let it churn around, growing and taking shape into what it is meant to be.  I'm not really sure that I have this idea of mine at a point at which I am happy.  I love the process of making the leaves and I love them individually, but I 'm not sure yet.  I feel they need a little more sophistication for what I am envisioning.   This idea needs more time to grow and take shape.  I'll send it back to ponder some more. 
Its the final week over at Summer Of Color2.  This is the last challenge - Watermelon Sherbet.   Its been a wonderful event.  Many thanks to Kristin over at Twinkle, Twinkle for hosting this fun summer challenge.  Happy Paint Party Friday everyone!

Little Bird, Wild 'n Reckless Sherbet and Stretching

Little Bird
encaustic and paper on birch 5x5

We often take on challenges because they are good for us.  They fuel the creative spirit.  Challenges ARE good for us.  They make us stretch.  We all know how good stretching is for our bodies.  It keeps us limber.  It keeps our muscles lengthened and pliable.  When our muscles are stretched, we can react faster, move freer and leap over tall buildings with ease.  So, how about the mental stretch?  Or the creative stretch?  These are equally as important.  It is far too easy to let ourselves fall into a pattern with our creativity, with our art.  I know this happens to me in the kitchen all the time - right now especially.  In fact, I move through my repertoire of recipes for dinner over and over.  It gets to the point that I dread making dinner because I've narrowed myself down to just a few things I make.  Gee.. chicken tonight....again.  I have countless recipe books for inspiration.  However, there is something that winds me down to the point that seeking inspiration even from opening a cookbook is too much work.  And, then... we eat the same things over and over without any flare or fashion.  It can become quite a sad culinary state around my house.
So, what gets us out of these ruts?  Challenges are a great place to start to get us to stretch a little.  The key to a good challenge is commitment.  Its an agreement with yourself that you WILL follow through and stretch a little and then perhaps a lot.  I've been playing along with Summer of Color2 and its luscious ice cream inspirations.  Last week was Strawberry Lemonade which totally tipped me over.  I could not get my head wrapped around pink and yellow.  I fell off the wagon and didn't participate.  I did have someone point out that pink and yellow are skin colors - that didn't even help.  This week - Wild 'n Reckless Sherbet - blue, pink and apple green.... really not my colors... at all.  This is where the commitment part comes in... I totally pulled a muscle on pink and yellow and it caused me to sit out and be sidelined for a week.  Injuries suck.  I made a run at it and ended up on the bench again.  This week... limping all the way, I decided that I had made a commitment to me that I would participate no matter how difficult... (the stretch).   I pulled all colors off my palette with the exception of pink, blue and green.  I was stumped and blocked myself into a corner and just sat there like a lump.  It was far too easy to just give in and sit out another week.  Then she came to my window- little bird.  There are no birds in the world that are this color - but no matter, its the stretch that counts and the commitment to the challenge of stretching.
As for the kitchen dilemma...  I recently took a cooking class and today I'm sitting down with a cup of tea, Cooking Light Magazine and pencil and paper to make my shopping list.  Happy Paint Party Friday everyone!! 

Portland, Baseball Nut and Hip Hop

Hip Hop
encaustic on birch 8x8

I've been in Vancouver, WA for a couple of days which is just across the Columbia River from Portland, OR.  Its fun to get out of town and make a road trip.  Just 3 hours away and an easy drive.    Hip Hop made the journey with me.  She now lives happily with a very good friend of mine.  She's also my ice cream inspiration this week with her black raspberry and vanilla colors. 
I have to say that I really did love Portland.  Its quirky and fun.  Have you ever watched Portlandia? - well... its kinda true in a good fun way.  

 

Its Baseball Nut flavor over at Summer of Color2 this week.  Vanilla and black raspberry swirl with cashews.  Sounds pretty yummy don't you think?  Its also Paint Party Friday!  Can't wait to make the Hip Hop and see what everyone is up to. 

Mint

Mint
Encaustic on Birch 10x10

Sometimes we have to experiment.  Try something new.  Take a leap and hope we sprout wings before we hit the ground.  I've decided to do just that.
I set a personal goal that June was my official unofficial deadline to do something with the art I am creating.  I'm going to enter my first juried art show since I was a kid.  I drop of my paintings tomorrow - fingers crossed.  It'll be the first time my encaustic paintings have left my home.  The first time for people to see them in person.  And, oh my gosh... they are for sale too.

My Dad was an artist and he entered lots of shows.   The Ocean Shores Art Show was the local event and being that we lived in the community, he would enter.  So, I entered too.   I remember going to the show for the opening event.  There it was, my painting.  It was a lovely brown horse with a saddle, blue sky and green grass.  And hanging next to my painting was a big blue ribbon!  wow.  I was 7.  I entered every year with my Dad until I was about 14 and I felt I had better things to do.

This is Mint.  Over at  Summer of Color 2, we have moved on to our next ice cream inspiration::
Chocolate Chip Mint.  One of my personal favorites!!  Of course B and J's Cherry Garcia and Salted Caramel from Molly Moon in Seattle are my all time favs.  However,  Chocolate Chip Mint is a close runner up in my mind.  In keeping with trying something new, I decided to try a tonal portrait and just focus on the shapes and values that make up the face.  Also, wanted to keep with our inspiration colors.   I kept the palette simple with black, white, raw umber and raw sienna and alizarin crimson for her lips.  This experiment was SO helpful for me who gets a bit tied up in the color.  So, I think I'll try another, a little bigger and easier for detail work. 

I'm asking all my friends to send happy vibes to the judges of the show so they will pick my paintings to hang on the walls of Bastyr University for the Kenmore Art Show, June 21-24. 
Also, I would love your help to decide what paintings I should take.  I can take 3 paintings.  I have grouped them in potential sets of three - four choices.  What do you think?  Option 1,2,3 or 4?

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Thank you to all of my Paint Party Friday friends and my new friends at Summer of Color 2.  I so appreciate the inspiration you provide to me with your beautiful artworks and kind words.