Butterfly

Philippians 4:13  Acrylic on Masonite, 8"x8"

I have a friend who has cancer.  It is a frightening ordeal.  She is relatively young and right now hope is at a premium.  She can't have flowers at this point in her hospital room.  Therefore I painted this painting and gave it to her recently wishing it will provide her a place to quiet her mind and lighten her heart.  I named the painting Philippians 4:13 which is from the Bible.  The verse is "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Strength, hope and prayers.

What have I learned?

Gracie 6"x6" Acrylic on board

I am posing a question for the holiday.  Usually we sit around the table at Thanksgiving and routinely say what we are thankful for.  It is important to reflect on these things that we take for granted.  Health and family are two big ones that come to mind.  However, this year I am reflecting on the things I have learned as well.  Last June I took a painting class in Grand Marais, MN which brought me back to acrylic painting.  It has also brought me to this blog.  I entered an artwork in our local Area Art Exhibition put on by the MacNider Art Museum here in Mason City, Iowa and was selected for showing.   I have also sold several of my works which is also reaffirming.These are all steps in the Creative Way that I have come forward and progressed.  So, this Thanksgiving, I am reflecting on the question of "What have I learned?"

Flexibility

Meeting people halfway

Keeping an open mind

The above painting is of Gracie.  This little dog is owned by a past student of mine.  I taught art in the local high school for many years and I was delighted to have the opportunity to paint this little guy for someone I had in class in the past.  Lots of unruly fur made the dog fun to paint with the liner brush.

Kittens on the Farm

Kittens on the Farm    10"x10" acrylic on masonite.

It is the 14th of November.  Tonight the Super Moon will be at its fullest.  According to EarthSky website the moon of November can be called the Frosty Moon, the Hunters Moon or the Beaver Moon.  Nature is such a splendorous thing.  

These two kittens that I painted and posted here are frolicking in the grass.  They were born on a rural Iowa farm and are two members of numerous litters that occupy the grounds.  Green grass will soon be covered by white snow.  Winter is coming.  The seasons are changing.

Black Cat on a Black Chair

Toki 6"x6" Acrylic on Masonite Board  11-16

This was definitely a challenge for me.  This kitty is my daughters.  I already painted her other cat, Stella, on August 4th.  This is Toki.  A very black cat.  Back in August I cat sat for the two kitties for a week.  Toki was a little shy and didn't stick around much to socialize.  She did jump up on the refrigerator and stare at me while I watched the television.  I did manage to get a photograph of her on this black chair glaring up at me, at least long enough to get a photograph.  I like the perspective and the challenge of painting black on black.

Mindfulness: a journal by Catherine Price

The Mindfulness journal is a wonderful method of paying deliberate attention to your life and the living in the present moment without judgment.  It is a helpful method to slow the mind and really pay deliberate attention to life being lived.  The journal gives prompts that can help you start the writing process.  You can go through the book in a linear fashion or skip around if desired.  This slowing down of the mind opens up new avenues of thought that I find helpful in artistic practice.  How does this relate to a practicing artist?

Creating art is a combination of many aspects of a person's mind, body and soul.  There are the technical skills developed through practice and time.  There is the careful observation of other artist's works.  There is the inspiration that comes from creative ideas and insights and the incorporation of them into artwork currently being worked on or those of future projects.  The Mindfulness journal has been helpful in allowing ideas that are floating in mindspace to be captured in print and then reflected on later.  For me, personally, it has been as valuable as a sketchbook in guiding ideas and thoughts related to artistic practice.

Blue Dog

Stella 6x6 Acrylic on Masonite

   I had the good fortune of having my sister find clients for me for painting. Today she told me she has a third person that wishes to have a painting of their pet.  Now she is asking for commission.  Sisters!
    It is interesting how some paintings go easily and others are more of a struggle.  This painting went relatively smoothly, everything falling into place and I knew when I needed to stop.  I like the diagonal, rather restless nature of this painting.  This is an active dog and I think the diagonal line reflects that.

Samson Smiles

 Recently I visited my sister in St. Paul.  I was helping her with a day of Gelli Printing with her third grade classroom as the artist-in-residence.  When I arrived, she was entertaining a few quests on her front porch from an event that she was hosting and it was winding down.  I got to talking with one individual about my painting of pets and she commissioned me to do her daughters dog, Samson.  So here is the results of my efforts.  It is a 6"x6" painting and I think shows his personality fairly well.  I believe her daughter lives in Oregon so the painting will travel a good distance away.