Liquidity, Acrylic Abstract, 6x6

I've gotten carried away with abstracts lately. They are more relaxing (and messy) than my other work. This one looks very fluid, rather like a gentle stream. The colors are not very gentle, though, are they? I'm thinking of the 70s...tie dye...lava lamps...

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Check out the Pieces of 8 Blog today for a wonderful new book by member Cindy Michaud, Sainted and Painted, Stories of the Not Wholly Holy. Cindy's cleverness never ceases to amaze me!

Serpentine, 6x6 Abstract

Had to loosen it up a bit after the previous post. This is acrylic paint and glue, truly mixed media. For some reason "Far out, Dude" keeps running through my head when I look at this one. Maybe it reminds me of a lava lamp.

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Zenqueen, 11x14 Matted Pen and Ink Drawing

This is an 8x10 matted to 11x14. These Zendoodles can be very time-consuming. Also, with this technique, more is more, not less is more. It's hard to figure out what the price should be on something that takes so many hours, and that brings me to a great quote from a noted artist in the Blogosphere:

"...pricing has little to do with time and effort. Besides, the per-hour rate for painters ranges between that paid to falafel folders in Casablanca and plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills."  Robert Genn

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Zentangle 2, 8x10 Abstract Pen and Ink

Carol Marine is to blame for my latest distraction. Her challenge on DailyPaintworks.com introduced me to this art form called Zentangle. It is highly addictive, I warn you. Do try it at home. This one reminds me of something; I think it would be an illustration for a French children's book.

Basically, you just draw a shape that pleases you, then go from there. Draw more designs, fill them with patterns, and keep going. It's my moment of Zen.

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He Feedeth Among the Lilies, 8x8 Oil on Canvas

This was done from a photo shot by Uncle Emmett, who is not my uncle, but the uncle of a friend. That makes him my Fruncle.

The artist Robert Genn has many made-up words like that in his blog, The Painter's Keys, today. They are all about art and they are very funny. I was inspired to make up a few of my own:

Liarkinding: Complimenting an artist on a painting you hate because you don't want to hurt their feelings.

Clownvisagia: Going out in public unaware you have paint on your face.

Saddergaller: Depression because you didn't sell well at your show.

And my favorites of Robert's: 

Snooler: A person who gushes over your work but who you suspect privately thinks he can do better but actually can't. 

Superalphabetted: A person whose name is followed by a lot of letters. 

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At the Winery, 6x6

Trying to get back in the post-holiday painting routine. Why I picked such a complicated subject I don't know. I love painting grapes, especially in beautiful light, and this color scheme especially appeals to me. My great-grandfather came from northern Italy, and though I barely remember him, I do remember his grape arbor, which I found fascinating. I wish I had grapes growing in my yard instead of a plethora of papayas.

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Pieces of 8 Sale Saturday

The Pleininator

I will be painting tomorrow at the Pieces of 8 Studio Sale. There will be gift items and bargains galore. You won't believe the prices, and they are products that are Made In America, which makes them unique!

The sale will go on, rain or shine, and there will be refreshments and much congeniality. The address is 3532 Samuel Place, Melbourne, Florida. Watch for the signs.

Elaine's Flowers, 10x8 Oil on Canvas

Some people in New Jersey and New York probably had gardens like this, and now they have destruction. It is so sad. We worry about hurricanes all the time in Florida, but who would expect this in the Northeast? To be hit by a snowstorm afterward is just unbelievable. My prayers go out to all the suffering people, and especially those who have lost everything.

NFS

View from the Top, 20x20 Oil on Canvas

When the Pieces of 8 were in North Carolina, this is the sort of view that greeted us every morning from Cindy's balcony. I don't think I have done it justice. The mountains are like islands in the clouds.

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My good news: I am featured in an article in Space Coast Living Magazine, a beautiful local publication. Here's the link: Link to article

To Paris With Love, 7x5 Mixed Media

I began this work with the stamp of French handwriting. This is all acrylic, with the exception of the flower and leaves, which I painted in oil. I like anything that reminds me of Paris. It's just romantic. A person could say, "Take out the garbage" in French and it would sound romantic.

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Girl in the Butterfly Garden, 8x10 Oil on Canvas Panel

How much fun is a butterfly garden? This one had every color of butterfly, including green. The girl's pose really struck me, it is so typical of a young girl.

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The dreaded political ad season is upon us and I am disgusted already. I would like to refer politicians (especially those who claim to be saintly) to Proverbs 6:16-19:

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:

haughty eyes,

a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked schemes,

feet that are quick to rush into evil,

a false witness who pours out lies

and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Floorcloth

I've had a little break from daily painting this week. Since my studio has carpet on the floor and I tend to sling paint, I decided to make this 4' x 6' floorcloth to stand on. I figure if I drop paint on it, I'll just transform it into another posy. Or a bug or a butterfly. Clever, eh? Of course, the hardest part will be stepping on a work of art that took me several days to create.

This is actually a dropcloth coated with polyurethane, painted with acryclic, then coated again with polyurethane. If I do another floorcloth, it will be on a proper canvas for that purpose, because this stuff was not easy to paint on.

Fleurs Carmin, 7x5 Oil on Canvas Board Daily Painting

Plain petals make you want to paint them fancier, then the painting doesn't work. I had to control my nitpicking self to stay simple. I like the result. I made the petals plain and the title fancy. I thought just saying "Red Flowers" was pretty boring.

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Just a Little Apple, 4x4 Oil on Canvas

I felt like doing something loosey goosey, and this satisfied the urge. An apple is always a good lesson. I should do this with a lemon, as lemons are my nemesis. Or is it nemeses?

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Steve Jobs, 24 x 30 Collage

This was a brain strain, but Steve Jobs has my undying gratitude for the products that I use every day, so it was worth it. I am not the most patient person (my children are nodding), so anything I can use to easily manage images and documents is absolutely essential to me. It's a lot easier to work hard on a portrait when you are inspired, and my only regret is that I didn't buy Apple stock years ago. I would be able to afford all these art supplies now.

As far as collage goes, this should hold me for a while. I'm going to use some squishy, expensive oil paint now.

Cindy's Cardinal, 4x4 Collage on Stretched Canvas

This is my last little bird collage. It's way too much work for such a tiny piece of art. It was fun, but takes more patience than I actually have. To be a woman of a certain age, I am remarkably impatient. When does that mellowing stuff set in?

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Guitar Wine Holder

This is an original design, and is my husband's handiwork. When his broken foot healed, he got up and started creating art from wood. Today he opened an Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/beecherwood, and he is working hard to build his inventory. The ideas are bubbling up...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89829012/guitar-wine-holder

Pimienta, 5x7 Oil on Canvas Board

I got this red pepper and had to paint it with my little salt shaker wearing a pepper on his sombrero. After all the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas fare, doesn't Mexican food make a nice change? E mucho gusto!

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Red House, 6x8

An alternate title for this would be "Summer's End." The inner tubes are stacked on the dock and the leaves are turning. This house is up the road from artist Carol Schiff's house in North Carolina. I can't imagine having a bright red house, but it looks just right in this setting.

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