Welcome Linda Baker

We are finishing up our first full day of filming transparent watercolorist Linda Baker.

Linda is a phenomenal layerist and also a great teacher. She's been taking our criticisms in stride and been flexible in all ways. If the filming weren't so fun, I'd skip tomorrow, go buy some Pebeo masking fluid and start practicing all the cool techniques I'm learning.

We have two full more days of filming and I can't wait to see what Linda creates.

These are the times I love my job. :)

PS- Linda has been really nice about letting me take photos of her working with my macro lens. The photo on the left is of Linda working with her pipette. Just one of the many techniques she uses to create textures and layers in her paintings.

Linda's site, gallery.

Machine Stitched Fabric Card

During the studio clean last weekend, I threw a lot of fabric into the Goodwill bin. The top and bottom blue are two of them. As I glanced over and saw them laying next to each other and thought, "Damnit. That's kind of a cool color combination." Aaaand the ever so dangerous out-of-the-recycle-pile began.

About 5 minutes later, I had this. I'm very excited about it. I've been saving machine stitched fabric for awhile now wanting to try this very technique. Finally.

Side note: It's amazing how many ideas come out of cleaning. Maybe this is why cleaning takes so long- the derailment of ideas.

New Brush Clean

I spent the whole weekend cleaning (post to come) and finally I treated myself with some painting time. Just throwing colors around...that's about all I know how to do.

BUT I did figure out the way I'm going to work my water jars. Keep one jar for brushes immediately as they come off the page. Try and clean them as much as possible in that first jar. Then, dip them into the second jar for the final clean. I spent an hour and half with paint and the second jar barely got dirty at all. Small steps. Small but super useful steps.

Creative Catalyst Art Show Winner: Congratulations Mary Rochelle Burnham!

We had a portrait art show at work and Jean Pederson was the juror. Jean chose Mary Rochelle Burnham's piece, "Richard."

Here's Mary's assessment of the painting.
What is your favorite part of this painting?
How the light models the face and brings out the warmth of the subject, both in color and personality.

What was a challenge and how did you find a solution?
The challenge is that I managed to get Rich to agree to sit for our portrait group that meets every week! Working from a live model can be difficult with distractions, model breaks and changing light from outdoor windows. The solution for me is to stay focused on my goal of what I'm trying to achieve by giving myself permission to express myself artistically and not try to be a camera.

Mary's final comment is really lovely. She wrote:
Richard...is my wonderful husband, the love of my life. I hope that through the use of light and color that I have captured my feelings for him and his sweet, glowing disposition. We have been married over twenty years and I have cherished every moment with him!

See all of the Creative Catalyst Productions Portrait Show entrants here.
See more of Mary's work at her website.

Links for the Week plus Robert Joyner Painting (!)

First original painting purchase ever! I'm so excited! The cow on the left is from artist Robert Joyner. Run, don't walk, to his blog, site, and etsy. 

Great interview with Donna Zagotta over at Ruth Armitage's blog. Question #9, "What other interests do you have? Do they contribute or take away from your art?" Oooooh interesting! See what Donna has to say.

Claudine Hellmuth's husband, Paul, is turning 36. Happy Birthday!

Thanks (card)

Thank you card I made from random scraps:
T-inside envelope
H-Part of an advertisement
A-Martha Stewart paper line
N-Goodwill found shelf liner
K-Scrap of gold paper
S-Front of a card I started to write for my Grandmother but then after I spelled about a million words wrong, I decided to start again.

Table Try 1 Million

Here's an image from the table design I'm trying for our wedding. You can kind of see some of the fabric flowers I'm working on.

Ellbee Equation

Vector art of a friend's dog.

Sherrill Kahn interview

Judi Hurwitt over at Approachable Art has a great interview with Sherrill Kahn! She also gave the DVD a really nice review. It's reviews like that that makes my job (editing) all worthwhile.

Also, and I learned this from Judi's interview, Sherill is now selling some of her work. Some lovely pieces at her website!