Many of you have never been on an artist residency.  It is a time we go somewhere to work on our "work" with out the world entering in to our creative time.  Sometimes great things come from this time and sometimes it is just a time to get our heads on.

So, I am pretending that during this very challenging time in all of our lives that I am on a residency sponsored by the Corona Virus  As I have mentioned earlier I am at my home studio in the basement.  It is not glamorous but I can work whenever I want and do not have to be 6 feet from anyone. 

All this said I will be posting this interesting and challenging work and begin to talk about what I am actually doing.  Many times it is very hard to express why we are making what we are making but it needs to be made!

 Just an update.  Neither of these pieces (blog post 3-4-20)  made it to the finish line.  Of course disappointed because I felt they were strong pieces for a process themed show in a Women's made Gallery.  But on to the next.... 

This is "creek walking"!  When my children were little we would go on creek safaris turning over rocks to see what's living underneath.  Take a minute and listen to the water.......Again lots of inspiration!

I have had the opportunity to do a little "creek walking" lately. Every time I do this I am reminded how fortunate I am to have these glimpses of the natural world around me. Many of these experiences lead to  abstract paintings like "Near Home "and Near Home 3.  Pulling lines, space, colors and emotions to shape into these contemporary landscapes, riverscapes or seascapes 

This is one of the first paintings from the series I have called Woven Conversations.  Several folks have said "why" I think as all creative people we have to grow and change.  I was throwing away things in the studio   and thought why don't you do something with the paper.  Well here it is torn, woven, painted, new marks, and new art.

This is the final painting as I mentioned.  It has traveled over many stages to come to this final resting place.  The client will view the end of August.  I will let you know what happens.

​You may ask what were the changes I made?  My students hear me say this all the time,  More Layers!
Without the first attempt at this painting I would not have had the "history" lying beneath to allow for the depth and motion that was finally achieved.  A defeat that became a victory.

The relationship between an artist and client is a give and take.  We both have a vision in our minds as to the outcome of the painting . So we work together to reach our final destination.

I thought I had the job finished when I met the client but she wanted something extra within the painting. I went back to the drawing board.  One small glitch in the path of this contemporary oil painter.