Busy Morning In The Studio

Why is it when inspiration hits me, it hits me hard!  I suppose part of it is my lack of painting time due to the holidays and kids being home from school.  Now that school is back in session, all those creative juices are over-flowing.  In addition, Pinterest has given me a new found enthusiasm for trying new things.  All those items pinned on my "Art That Inspires Me" board are no good unless I take action, right?  So this morning, I took action.  Naturally, I had to have a neat working space so I pushed aside containers I had emptied earlier in the week.  Then I had to vacuum, because for some odd reason the resident mutt is shedding profusely mid winter.  After that I spritzed my paints with a bit of water and got to business.  These are the results of my morning.....

I found this lovely specimen while cleaning out boxes this week and knew right away I had to paint her.  For a Raggedy Ann, she is VERY raggedy. But still lovable.  I want her weathered and worn look, or as I prefer to say, very well loved look to show through in the painting and I think it will.  She still needs her red striped stockings and shoes as well as eyebrows before I can call her finished. 

As I had stated in my previous post, I'm trying to do more art journaling.  It may seem like a lot of doodling, scribbling, and scratching, but believe me, there is a whole different thought process that goes into this.  I try not to take it too seriously.....I leave that attitude for my watercolors.  Art journaling is my way to let loose, unwind, and just have fun with all kinds of art supplies and newly found tools.  Art journaling is my time to experiment and be as creative as I want to be.

Reflecting on 2011

As I look back on the year, I've learned that painting everyday makes you a better artist.  Even if it means squeezing in 10 minutes of painting between mountains of never-ending laundry, dinner preparation, and taxi service to soccer games.  Last February I learned this very important lesson as I challenged myself to painting 28 flowers in 28 days.  It most definitely was a challenge, but I accomplished my goal and sold a few of those paintings to collectors throughout the past months.  Thank you to those new collectors!

This year I was also invited to hang my art in a new gallery in town, The Whistlepig Gallery on Main, here in our own downtown Pataskala.  I absolutely love the coziness of the gallery as well as the enthusiasm and soul of the gallery director.  This was one of those situations where when one door closes, a window opens somewhere else.

2011 has also taught me the importance of peace and patience.  We all find ways to bring calm and tranquility to our lives.  Now, more so than ever, is it vital to have this virtue in our lives with our cell phones, emails, facebook, iPads, iPods, etc., etc., etc. taking up precious time.  We must live in the moment and not waste a minute.

The year 2011 was good......not great, but good.  I began 2011 sicker than a dog and ended 2011 in very good health......and to that I am thankful!  I look forward to being more artistic and more organized.  I have a head start in the basement as I empty cardboard boxes, pitch, label, and repack in clear plastic containers.  Since my studio resides in the basement it's of utmost importance to get things in order and have all my supplies at hand.  I anticipate more journaling for the sole purpose of practicing and discovering new skills/techniques. 

I also want to extend a huge "THANK YOU" to all you bloggers, Facebook and Pinterest followers, collectors, family, and friends who have supported me throughout the year.  My New Years resolution for 2012 will be to continue to create art in hopes of inspiring someone to pick up a pencil or paint brush.  Happy New Year to you all!

Tranquility

Tranquility  4"x6"  Gretchen Bjornson©2011

It's been over a month since my last post.  School started for both of my boys and life, in general, got kind of busy.  Now that the soccer season has come to an end and things have slowed down, I'm afraid the roller coaster is slowly heading uphill again.  Christmas music is now playing all day on a local radio station and the stores are stocked with holiday merchandise.  The Christmas season is upon us, according to some.  But let's not rush into it.

My palette has been cleaned and fresh paint has been applied.  Lately my inspiration comes from subject matter outside my normal range of florals.  It's refreshing to paint something different and gain a new perspective on values, colors, and lighting. Todays painting seems to symbolize the calm before the storm.....that time when all is tranquil, but you know there is something brewing on the horizon.  It's important to remember to live each day to its fullest and never take a moment for granted.

The original and prints of this painting are available at http://fineartamerica.com/featured/tranquility-gretchen-bjornson.html?newartwork=true.  Greeting cards are available as well.  What a great Christmas gift for the boat lover!

Success at the Mansion

This is the beautiful Bryn Du Mansion located in Granville, Ohio, just a short drive from where I reside.  The city of Granville hosts their annual autumn art show in the mansion.  It is rich in history and is situated on 52 acres of lavishly landscaped property which includes a huge front field where you can frequently catch polo matches on Sundays in the fall.

This year I was fortunate to have 3 of the 4 paintings I submitted juried into the show.  One of which has already sold.  Below is a photo my son took of me standing by my piece that sold. 

I have to admit, I was thrilled to have sold a piece, however I had a special love affair with this one.  "Field of Poppies", for those of you who may recall, was the final painting (#28) of my 28 day painting challenge last February.  I'm sad to see it go, but pleased it will bring joy to someone else.  After all, isn't that what it's all about?

"Field of Poppies" is the smaller painting on top.

 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Re-do

I love it when I get an idea and can produce results without having to make a trip to the arts and crafts store.  Anytime I can dig in my junk drawers or recycle bin to reuse something to avoid buying new is alright by me.  Saves me a dollar, or ten, uses up "stuff" around my house, and saves the earth.....it's a win/win situation as far as I'm concerned. 

Since I can't say no, I have taken on the responsibility of my son's Art Club at his school this year. I really want the students to make their own art journals. I decided I needed to make one first.  I had been searching the Internet and several library books hoping to find directions for homemade sketchbooks and stumbled upon one that seemed the least expensive to put together. 

Low and behold, it cost me not a single penny to make this book and I was very pleased with the results.  After digging through several drawers, bins, and trash cans I was able to round up plenty of paper (all recycled).  I even threw in several pieces of used watercolor paper.....you know those paintings I'm not happy with that are put aside.....yep, some of those ended up in the book.  Other miscellaneous papers included newspaper (the arts and entertainment section of course), coloring book pages, a print out of a map, and a page out of a magazine.  You could use any paper you can find around the house......old text books, atlases, wrapping paper.  The possibilities are endless.  The cover consists of two chip boards from the back of an old notebook covered with some wonderful coordinating scrapbook paper. I sewed the pages together and voila.......instant art journal!  Free!  

 Here is one of my first art journal entries......."Meet the Kids"

Now don't think I've given up on my watercolor painting......I'll have some watercolor pages in the journal as well.  And I don't intend on making my blog about art journaling, but I will share the occasional "cool" page that comes along. 

The plumeria are still in the works as well.  I haven't quite reached my "a-ha" moment with the painting, but it's getting close.  I had to re-do this painting.  Well, actually I started over.  Don't be surprised to find the first attempt in one of my future homemade art journals as paper fodder.  Let me know what you think of the plumeria.  I'm in that stage where I could use some suggestions on strengthening the piece.  Happy Friday all!!

 

Not All Gingerbread Men Are Brown!

My son started kindergarten last week.  He came home after the first day of school and proudly opened his folder to show me what he had worked on that day.......a beautiful, multi-colored gingerbread man.  Now I know what you're thinking...it's August, why are they coloring gingerbread men? 

In the classic story of The Gingerbread Man, we find our main character on the run trying to elude all who crave him.  "Run!  Run!  As fast as you can!  You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!"  The kindergarten teacher uses this story on the first day of school.  The students participate by baking a gingerbread man, then realize he's disappeared.  The teacher leaves clues in key locations around the school building (office, nurse, gym, library, etc.) and leads the children on a hunt for the gingerbread man.  It's a fun way to familiarize the kindergarten students with their new surroundings.

Back to the multi-colored gingerbread man......
After showing me his piece of art, my son told me one of his classmates told him it wasn't very good because it wasn't brown.  Apparently she believes all gingerbread men should be brown like their cookie counterparts.  At this point the artist in me stepped in and explained to him that, in fact, not all gingerbread men have to be brown and that his was a very creative, unique, and artistic gingerbread man.....definitely one of a kind.

So let this be a lesson to us all.  After all, not all grass is green nor is the sky always blue.  Not only is this an important lesson to learn in art, but life in general.

Gingerbread Man by Conner 5 yrs. old

Time Flies............

Why is it summer flies by so fast?  Is it because there is always so much to see and do outside?  Or is it because I dread the arrival of the colder months?  Either way, it's hard to believe there is only one week remaining in July.  I'm just not ready for it to end!  That being said, there comes a time when I am ready for the boys to go back to school and back into a daily routine.  My next few weeks will be busy ones, filled with swim lessons, piano lessons, soccer camp, and art classes.  Of course, painting time should be figured in as well.  Currently I'm working on a painting of plumeria. 

The painting above was completed during drying times with my previous piece of the Hawaiian dancer.  I'd like to play around with  more of these small landscape paintings.  This one is about 4"x6".  I enjoy experimenting with different background techniques and then adding detail to the foreground. 

Enjoy what's left of the summer months!  Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Mahalo!

Mahalo!

Hawaiian Dancer 11"x15" in watercolor

Mahalo means 'thank you' in Hawaii.  

A huge "Mahalo" goes out to my latest customer (and wonderful friend) who requested this painting.  The girl in the painting is actually her cousin who graduated from hula school (yes, there really is such a thing as hula school).  This young lady was also part of a group called  Merrie Monarchs whose mission was to preserve and promote the art of hula and Hawaiian culture.  She also taught hula for many years.

Hawaii is on my bucket list of places to visit.  I would have to pack an extra bag just for my painting supplies.  What an amazingly beautiful place it would be to paint.  I'll need to pick up a winning lottery ticket or sell more paintings in order to get there! 

Aloha and Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July to all my blogging friends!  I've been away for a bit, but I'm back.  Our family spent a week in the land of the "mouse".  That's Disneyworld for those of you who don't know.  The weather was very uncooperative the entire time we were there.  However, that didn't deter us from enjoying the rides and attractions.  Although 4 days of park hopping can take a toll on your physical and mental well being.  Needless to say, we all had a terrific time.

Getting back to the business of painting, I was able to dip my brushes back into my paint and make some serious progress on the Hawaiian dancer in watercolor.  It was especially nice working outdoors.  As you can see from the photo below, I set up shop on our patio. 

Now that most of the landscaping in our yard is in full bloom, it's time to immortalize the flowers in watercolor.   Is there anyone else out there who enjoys painting outdoors as much as I do?  What are your favorite outdoors subjects?

Hawaiian WIP.....

There is so much more to the flesh tone color than the crayon you find in your box of Crayolas.  In addition, there are so many different kinds of skin tones in the diverse world we live.  The challenge in watercolor is achieving the right mix of paint to get the right tone without making it look flat and lifeless.  

Hawaiian WIP.....kind of sounds like a tropical drink!  I could definitely use one of those right now.  I'm currently working on a commissioned piece of a Hawaiian dancer.  After laying down a light wash of aureolin yellow over most of the painting, I decided to work on the dancer's flesh tones.  After doing a bit of a refresher on painting skin, I decided on a mix of cadmium red light, cobalt blue, and quinacridone gold.  I built the facial features with two layers of this mix and added touches of cobalt blue to accentuate darker values.  A touch of alizarin crimson was added to the cheeks for some warmth.  At this point, the darkest shadows, eyes, eyebrows, and mouth are yet to be completed to make it pop.

My next challenge will be tackling this beautiful girl's long, black locks (hair).  Black is such a taboo color in watercolor.  Not only will the color itself prove to be a challenge, but keeping the hair from overtaking the piece and looking more like a wig is going to keep me on my toes.  Suggestions, tips, and comments are welcomed.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to find me on facebook!