New Paintings_Color Studies

While I was in graduate school (the past 5 years), I often thought of what I would do after I finished. Oh yes, I definitely was going to continue working full-time, but the time spent studying, for me, had to be replaced. Never one to sit quiet, I'm used to keeping myself busy. For the past 3 years or so, I looked forward to painting. I had never painted before and had no idea if I would like it - or even be good at it (still don't know if I am). But it didn't matter. The thought of swirling colors on a palette, seeing the variance in hues and tones, and slathering wet paint on a white untouched canvas seemed...well, liberating.

Promptly after graduating last summer I registered for an acrylic painting class at a local fine arts center. After purchasing the supplies - 3 brushes, 4 tubes of paint (is that all?), a canvas and a roll of paper towel, I excitedly waited for the first night of class. The instructor has a MFA in painting and is a kind and patient teacher. The first night of class we painted our color palette with primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and then secondary colors (green, orange, purple). Oh I how loved twirling the colors together to form different variations...and with only 3 tubes of primary colors and a tube of white I was able to create almost every color I desired. Black, gray, brown and purple became challenging for me, but I figured it out.

Fast forward 7 months and I'm about to take my 3rd round of acrylic painting classes at the fine arts center and am in the midst of a second round of 'artists studio plus' on Wednesdays - an open studio located a mere 7 minutes from my home. I now paint twice a week. Painting has easily replaced 'studying' and for me is a form of therapy. When I paint I let my mind go free, never knowing what I will paint until the brush hits the canvas.

I guess I may be a bit unconventional as I don't paint from a still life or photograph. I have painted some pieces from my memories of the beautiful Black Hills in the winter - snowcapped pine trees, softly lit pink skies. I admire the work of Cy Twombly, so have tried to paint my own type of flowers. And I'm trying my hand at abstract (the paintings below). Using pumice, modeling compounds, different painting implements, and water has allowed the paint to express itself on the canvas rather than me controlling the paint. Where it goes and where it stops is up to the paint, not the artist.

No, I don't plan on 'quitting my day job' and becoming a full-time painter but I am both thankful and fortunate to portray my many inspirations thru paint. There is so much more I want to paint - the sensuous of a nude woman's silhouette, the autumn evening sky...ideas churn around and inspire me for my next project. 

       "The world today doesn't make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?"

                                                                                                         Pablo Picasso 

The Art of Painting

A quick post tonight....my painting class started again last night. I couldn't get to the class quick enough! For a 'warm-up' I painted 5 small (3" x 3") paintings (see above and below). Having fun playing with pumice, toilet paper rolls (great for stenciling!), sides of cardboard, and my continued learning of mixing colors. On to bigger (and perhaps better??) next week.

Transitions

For the past 9 years I have been going to school and working full-time. After the first year of working and going to school I got into a rhythm, sometimes with much effort, where my life was dictated, not by my choices, but rather by the due dates of papers, exams, work responsibilities along with mom responsibilities. Sometimes I felt I had no 'me' time; no time to do those things I wanted to do like write more, read more 'fun' books (not textbooks), take an art class, really get into a television series, spend more time with family and friends.

During the last year of graduate school my thoughts often strayed to the transition from full-time work and school to just full-time work. What would I do with the 'extra' time? What were my weekends going to be like since I wouldn't be speed reading hundreds of pages, writing a 2o-page paper or interning at an academic library? My mind traveled through an encyclopedia of choices, which at times felt very foreign to me. All of a sudden, in August of this year, I would be done with graduate school. Done with school. Forever. I think. Really? Instead of feeling elated and relieved, feelings of sadness and grief and even a bit of anxiety started creeping into my psyche.

Some people are ecstatic when they finish their academic career - be it high school, trade school or college. Me...I love school. I love to learn, to be educated, and all things connected - yes, that even means researching and writing papers, reading textbooks that at times make you want to take a long nap, and preparing for exams that cause you to lose sleep wondering if you passed. I've always liked school. So am I REALLY done with school? Perhaps in the 'formal' sense, yes. I've had to finance every credit, book, and pencil of my college education and unfortunately simply cannot afford to pursue a PhD. Maybe one day I can start again, but I'm on a break and it may be a permanent break from college.

While contemplating what I would do after graduating this summer, my thoughts went to creative pursuits. I've always wanted to write more. After taking a couple of writing workshops on memoir I desire to take a deep dive into this writing genre but feel I wasn't ready in the fall after completing a heavy year of coursework writing. Woodworking? No - I have a fear of power tools. Beer making? Interesting, but I'm not a big beer drinker. Salsa Dancing? Though I admit I need to exercise, stumbling over my feet and flying on the floor doesn't sound very fun - especially in front of a group of people. Painting? Mmmmm. My aunt S. is an oil painter and does beautiful work. Maybe genetically some talent would pass down to me. I registered at the Hopkins Community Center for 'Acrylic Painting' in September. Cost: $80. Experience needed: None. Supplies: small list; low cost. Done.

Little did I know that a 2-1/2 hour weekly class (with a net cost of $10/week) is worth 4 sessions with a therapist (at $120/hr). Not only have I learned painting and color techniques (who knew you could make a myriad of colors with only 4 tubes of paint?), but I've also learned to let myself go artistically, let myself make mistakes, let my feelings and emotions flow on canvas, let myself relax. With one week left, I am already missing my Monday evening painting class. Lucky for me, registration for winter quarter starts soon.

This week I finished my first painting - an impressionistic landscape titled "Prairie Horizon". My painting instructor wants me to put the painting in the Potpourri show starting in December. I think I will. I started my second painting and am already thinking of future ideas. I have learned much during the 8-week class and tonight purchased a couple of books on painting techniques and tricks. I can't wait to read them.

I may be done with college; but I am never done learning.

First Blog - Autumn is here!

Greetings and welcome to my first blog!! This has been on my "to do" list for quite some time and I'm now happy to be able to start writing. I don't know where 2009 has gone but I can't believe it's October. Summer was a whirl...graduate exams, a job promotion and moving. And it was the l.o.n.g.e.s.t. move every...took 4 weeks to unpack - couldn't believe it! But we're settled and really enjoying our new home. I graduated in August with a MS in Library & Information Science from the University of North Texas specializing in information science - areas of information architecture, data organization and management.

I'm most excited this fall and thankful for many reasons. Cooper started his sophomore year at Minnesota State University, I'm taking a painting class and starting to knit again, we're settled in our new home, my job is going well and I have a great group of friends. I hope to add interesting tidbits, information and general 'catch-up' to this blog. Stay tuned.