A whole month has passed since I wrote last. Ever so slowly I am crawling out of hibernation. As I write I am wearing 2 sweaters and any noises in the house are drowned out by the  whir of the space heater beside me. It still feels and looks a lot like winter here... but the days are longer with day light until almost 9pm... soon enough I will be fully awake.

I have been diligent in the studio this winter, working on pieces that I adore. Painting angels with soft wings and gentle smiles. I have also painted pieces that disappoint, and end up in the recycle bin folded in half not even worthy of a place in the local 'second hand shop'. Creating can be (for me) like photography. You take a hundred photos, and find that only a handful are worth printing for your scrap book. I've painted a dozen paintings, and find that I can only brave to reveal a few. 

But that's not what today's post is about really... it's about my latest painting and a new-to-me discovery. You see, I interviewed this lovely girl from our community with an incredibly interesting story. We did a photo shoot, and I came home with a handful of great pics to play with. I've spent hours working on the painting of her and thought I was finally at the point where I could walk away. 

Yesterday I posted the finished work on facebook and thought.... "finally, I'm done, and can move on" ... but here's what I find so interesting. 

In the studio, under the light I use, and the natural light spilling in, I look at a pastel work, and think "yup, that's good". I take some photos of it and bring my camera to the house to crop and post them to my site.... and then this happens.... When I take a moment to look at the photos of my work, I notice things about the painting that I didn't see in the studio. I see mistakes, or better yet, areas needing adjustment. The photo of the painting causes me to see the work with a new set of eyes. 

So what did I do with this new information? I went back to the studio and made some adjustments... 

Above I have yesterday's version (left), and today's version (right). There isn't a lot that was changed, but the subtle differences are there.Using a green/grey hard pastel, I adjusted the colour of her face. I played with her hand and arm a bit and darkened the shadow under her chin. 
Normally I do find that as long as I don't have a pastel painting sealed under glass, I will continue to pick away at it... there never really is a moment as an artist that I can call something complete... but there is a point where I need to walk away, to move on to the next painting challenge. So, as long as this intriguing lady is in the studio, she will continue to change...

How do you know when it's time to move on from one painting to the next?

I'm working through a second angel painting. It's fun, and I can't wait to be finished. A few more touch ups and I'll be ready to move on. But I discovered something today... well, I've known this for awhile, but today.... my left brain jumped in and took note.

I work through paintings instinctively. My colour wheel is memorized and I just pull what works. Most days...  I am so "into" the painting process that I don't even always remember how I achieved certain effects, or mixed a colour.... 

but not today. 

Today... as I struggled to get that smooth, youthful, glowing, skin...and then I remembered..... the hard pastels! 

I have read that pastel can be applied like oil, and although I haven't used oil paints more than 5 or 6 times, I do know (from reading) that you apply thin to thick... and you can glaze near completion. 

I understand that pastel should be applied the same. Thin to thick, which would  mean a hard pastel first... and top layers should be softer and thicker. I do this... in areas where I want to see texture. Where I want the stroke of the pastel rough, and painterly like the angel's skirt, and wings. 

But I don't like that look on skin. Especially younger skin. It's just a personal preference, and not a rule by any means. And although there are a couple ways to blend... like smudging with your finger, or stump, or even a kneaded eraser, today I remembered the hard pastels. I like them because after I've applied a few layers of colour (3, 4 ... maybe even 5) I take a hard pastel of similar colour and gently stroke over the area. Not only does it apply a small amount of a chalkier colour, it blends the colours already in place. Then, the pastel can easily be smudged to create a soft, smooth look. 

So... a little tip, and a sneak-peak... she's coming along.
Happy painting! 

Do you believe in angels?

I do. 

Although Biblical encounters with angels describe strong, manly beings with wings, I can't help be drawn to the idea of a younger, more feminine being flitting about attending to God's business here on earth. 

Children have a way of looking at you, and leaving you affected. They love without judgement, and trust with full hearts. There's something almost angelic about them as they go about their own childish business.

My children are growing before my eyes. Some mornings I wonder if they've grown an inch while they slept through the night. I am constantly reminded of how quickly time flies, and how precious those younger years are. So much so, that I had to borrow someone else's 'little angel' to put together my latest pastel. 

I'm still touching it up... and working on a title. Tell me - how do you go about finding the perfect title to your paintings?

And hey, don't forget to head over to Facebook to enter the Fabulous February Facebook Giveaway... 
Enjoy! 

February begins this Wednesday and I was thinking ... it's been awhile since I've done a give away. 

So, I've picked this cute little 8x8 pastel of the Northern Alberta landscape. I've been toting my camera along walks through open fields around our property. We are surrounded by rustic beauty.  

Yes, we still have snow, and we'll have it for awhile yet. If you're from a warmer climate, consider it a view that you can enjoy from the warmth of your home without having to bundle up to see it. 

Winter wouldn't be the same without the reds and purples of the willow, and the way shadows in snow seem to glow blue. The colours of winter make for wonderful painting. My little pastel will be shipped to the winner (anywhere in the world) free of charge, double matted without a frame, so that you can pick out one that you like best. 


All you have to do is head on over to my facebook page 
(that's right, it's called the Fabulous February Facebook give-away!) 
Painted Acres ~ Artist Studio LIKE my page, so that you can 'like' this little picture as your ballot entry. It's titled Winter Landscape . At the end of the month, on Friday February 25th, I will put all the entries into the Randomizer, and contact the top name picked as the winner and get thier address for shipping. 

I'm looking forward to meeting up with you on facebook  :)

Hey... glad you stopped by! Today is Fun Friday. The day I share my latest Creative Journal entry with you.

But first, when you journal, and find yourself reluctant to pick it up.... whether you are using a regular old journal that requires a pen in hand, or are playing with the idea of a creative journal, and slapping colour with complete abandon - please can I encourage you. 

Journaling is for your benefit. It's an outlet to express your feelings, thoughts, and dreams. It is not an autobiography, or an inventory to be used by others. Yes, there may be someone who picks it up and fingers through it with curious decoding intentions BUT try not to let the fear of pleasing a reader, or a viewer paralyze you and keep you from expressing your heart. 

I find if I am unable to express what I am feeling creatively, it slowly simmers within me, as though ignored on the back burner, until what was once a pot of creativity becomes abandoned, empty and fruitless. I feel agitated, frustrated, and without purpose. Creative expression is a fruitful release. 

I am really just writing this out for myself. I'm reassuring me - the pastel perfectionist - that it doesn't matter if the painting I did today in my Creative Journal isn't in perfect proportion. It's okay that the detail is limited. It doesn't have to be tight, and balanced. It's okay - because I had fun. I loved the colours. I found patterned scraps and tore them to create texture. It's okay. 

And I'm happy. 

Planning today's entry (and I use the word planning loosely), I wanted a soft soothing background. I wanted to stick to 'cream' colours. I used acrylic paints and mixed white with burnt umber painting over the glued on torn textured paper.

I also knew that I wanted a tree theme. In my mind it was just a tan colour, but I pulled out the pinks, and golds, and it still has a soft feel to it I think.

I tore patterned paper to make leaf shapes (where ARE my scissors! I seriously have no idea) and found a cute tag with coordinating ribbon that I will write on when everything dries. I pulled out some markers and added extra scrolls. I love scrolls!

AND I glued on this awesome little glass angel that I picked up ages ago. She sits perfectly on the branch surrounded by words like 'love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness' written on the leaves. 

Have a wonderful weekend! Happy painting  :)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a black and white photograph? What if the world we lived in was void of colour and everything that we  looked at appeared only as shades of grey? 

There would be no more cotton-candy sunrises. 

No more vibrant gift wrap. 

No fun in a bowl of fruit-loops. 

We would never have been introduced to words like amethyst, lavender, or fuchsia. And we wouldn't know what colour to associate the taste of an orange with. 

With the thought of so much colour around us, I wonder how many of us take the varying hues for granted. Our world is saturated in colour, but have we become so distracted that we don't think to enjoy it?

I recently presented a workshop titled Colour for Life encouraging women to become aware of colours around them, and use colour to express their personal thoughts and feelings whether it be in what they wear, their home decor, or the things they surround themselves with.  
 

The ladies had fun discovering what colours they liked, and didn't like. Some had personal stories as to why they weren't fond of certain colours. One of the most popular disliked 

A visiting woman shared a story of a dark green skirt that her mother made her when she was young. She didn't like the skirt at all, and so, she has never liked dark green. It's interesting how an association from our childhood can affect our feelings toward a colour. 

Another woman shared her passion for the colour purple and expressed how wearing the colour made her feel confident without standing out in a crowd. 

We discussed positive and negative associations that every colour carries. When making a statement with colour, it's good to know how your colour choice may be received by others based on those associations.

If you were to choose a colour to describe 'JOY' what hue would you choose?

This week  I spent my second day working in my Creative Journal. You can read my first post about the journal here.

I'll be honest, I had mixed feelings about this... before heading into the studio to work on it I began to question it's value. Maybe my time would be better spent throwing on another load of laundry, or whipping up a batch of peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-muffins.... but I reluctantly loaded up my arms with magazines  and newly purchased acrylic paints, and walked over. 

Because the purpose of the journal is to create, and stretch creativity, I deliberately chose colours I don't regularily use. If you are thinking of starting a journal like this, I would suggest you do the same. For me, they were greens, yellows, and orange. 

Why is it that everything I do has to have a purpose? I could have continued slapping on pretty flower stamps loaded with colour, but I want this journal to say something about me. I want it to be a journey-journal. So I began with the 3 words I used from the first Journal blog-entry... 

DREAM  ::  CREATE  ::  EXPLORE

Tearing through the magazines I hauled over, I found a few words that describe my time in the studio... 

RETREAT :: RELAXATION :: PLAY

One of the wonderful things about being an artist are there really are no rules. I love that... I just scribbled, and smudged as I was led. Cut and pasted, and soaked in the moment of just being... 

being 
a creative, sitting quietly in a studio with only the hum of the pellet stove
being 
an artist in front of beautiful colours patiently waiting to be set into place
being 
inspired as I watch my creative thoughts come alive on paper

:: Materials used ::
Journal
Acrylic paints
Acrylic gel medium
Sharpie
Old Gardening magazine
Little bits of green wrapper from the Hershey's Kiss I ate  :)
spray bottle of rubbing alcohol
Large flower stamp 

Since taking the photos for this post, I've taken a fine black pen and written a few more thoughts expounding on the words, and ideas. I keep thinking, if my children found this journal in ... say... 40 years ... would they 'get it' , or should I add just a bit more. I even found some textured yarn to glue along that center piece. 

I'm glad I went out to 'play' in my journal... I kinda wish I had one of those muffins to go with my coffee right about now... but I can always whip those up next! Happy painting fellow creatives! 


Let me know what you do to stretch your creativity...

The weather has been balmy as of late in Northern Alberta. It's been over zero almost every day this week, which compared to last year's January temps of anywhere between -20 and -30... well, I think you can understand why I would use the word balmy! 

We still have snow, but with the nicer weather, it is definitely more enjoyable to head out into the back field for a mid afternoon walk. I wouldn't say that I love winter, but if I lived in a 'forever-green' climate, I would certainly miss the way snow adds fresh beauty to a winter landscape. The sun hangs low reflecting soft colours off of white hills, and icy roads. 

The barren fields  are decorated with dark twisty branches of Willow, giving the barren winter landscape an interesting texture. This pastel is titled Winter Willow. 

Even in the dead of winter colour abounds. The reds and purples of the Dogwood seem to come alive against the white snow. This pastel is untitled.

I can't help but notice the contrasts in landscape. The smooth snow against rough brush. The deep burgundy next to golden yellows. The coolness of shadow edging the sunlit snow. This pastel is titled Winter Grasses.

Winter can be long, dark, and cold (for us lucky Canadians). It's so easy to complain about the weather, and hibernate until the arrival of spring. I am just as guilty of that as anyone... but why miss out on all of the beauty winter has to offer? Soon enough the dark reds and purples that colour the hills will be wearing green. For now, I'm going to enjoy the purples.

Happy painting!  :)

Aahhhhh...... the refreshing feeling of a new year. But this isn't just a fresh start, it's turning over a new page. No. I'm not just turning the page, I'm picking up a whole new book! This NEW year is about new words, chapters, and ideas. 

Years ago, from a very special friend, I was given a beautiful book, covered in soft purple fabric, tied with gold ribbon and full of empty pages. I've loved this book over the years. But I've never used it..... never known exactly what to use it for.... always knew a beautiful book like this had to be saved for something wonderful. 

Last year this time, I began 2011 with my `first-time-ever`resolution ... writing about what I was working on in the studio. This year, this fresh new start, will begin with a regular visit to the empty pages in this book. 

A fellow artist relayed to me a suggestion she had heard. `Spend at least one day a week working in a style that you don`t normally work. Create with different mediums, designs, and techniques` What a great idea! I have mulled over that suggestion for months and have now found the perfect book to journal each of these `play times` in. 

I anticipate this book will become thick with texture, heavy with creative juice, and worn with paint-covered fingers.... an artist dream. I encourage you to find an empty book, pull out your unused paint supplies, and follow along, as I delve into the unknown.

Don`t worry, I`ll still be leading workshops, playing with pastel , and sharing new-found tips with you here... but I only hope my creativity will be stretched with `play time`in my new Creative Journal. 

Do you currently keep a creative journal? Do share your story!  :)