Discovering my voice in art was a gradual process. When I returned to making art a few years ago, I was driven by the desire to convey the emotional, ethereal, spiritual experience of swimming with wild dolphins. Words did not suffice, so I had to express visually. Initially, I used colored pencils to sketch the dolphins in their oceanic playground. That was my most comfortable medium, stemming from years of using them to draw abstract, geometric mandalas. Infinity 2 (0317) Colored Pencil: … [Read more...] about Finding My Art Voice
Art
Why Does It Take So Long to Finish a Painting?
People ask me all the time, "How long does it take you to do a painting?" It depends. I rarely finish a painting the same day I start it. Usually, it takes 2-3 sittings before I experience that definitive moment of "it's done." Each sitting is approximately 3 hours. If the painting is small, I may be able to finish within 2 hours. Larger paintings take me longer. But, size isn't the only factor. I'm thinking about all of this right now, because I finished a painting this summer that I started … [Read more...] about Why Does It Take So Long to Finish a Painting?
New Cards and Prints with Quotes
Last year, Peggy wrote the book Lose Your Mind, Open Your Heart, and I painted the art for it (and designed it). We've teamed up again to create new notecards and prints, pairing 3 of my favorite paintings with quotes from her book. Her loving words are uplifting and thought-provoking. The cards and prints could be framed, they are so beautiful! Get some for yourself or as a gift! ORDER at my Fine Art America Shop! Related Posts T-shirt Art and Design for Thoreau Society Self-Publishing … [Read more...] about New Cards and Prints with Quotes
Louise: Boston 1944 (In Memory of My Mother)
A couple of years ago, I assisted Linda Novick when she taught a program at Kripalu called Unmasking Your Soul. The mixed media piece I created in memory of my mother, shown on the left, was done at the end of that program. I had brought xeroxes of several family pictures with me in hopes that I would use them in some artwork. This particular photograph of my mother is one of my favorites. She's a young woman, recently graduated from high school, and probably working at her first job. That … [Read more...] about Louise: Boston 1944 (In Memory of My Mother)
How to Create a Watermark in Photoshop
I use Photoshop to create watermarks as a way to protect my online art. A watermark is a subtle graphic or text identifier: logo, copyright information, pattern, etc. It helps deter web viewers from downloading that image and using it without your permission. Steps for Embedding Text Select the Horizontal Type Tool Click anywhere on the image. This will automatically create a new layer on top of the existing image layer. Type the text you want. In my case, I type my copyright … [Read more...] about How to Create a Watermark in Photoshop
Surrounded by Art in Asheville
My partner and I just returned from a week's vacation in Asheville, North Carolina. This small city has long intrigued us, because of its art community and its location on a plateau in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We love to hike and we love art. So, we spent most of our days hiking, and the rest of the time looking at art and eating excellent vegetarian food! Part of the larger Appalachian Mountains that stretch all the way from Canada to Florida, the Blue Ridge range has some of the oldest … [Read more...] about Surrounded by Art in Asheville
Filling the Blank Canvas
Last week, I sat down in my backyard to begin my first painting of the season. While I experience some level of anxiety when starting a painting, it's mild compared to what I feel when starting a design project. With art, I'm not trying to solve any communication problem; I'm simply expressing a sentiment or emotion or vision. Excitement tempers most of the unease. I think this year's harsh winter enhanced my joy about finally getting outside to paint again. I usually have more than enough ideas … [Read more...] about Filling the Blank Canvas
Unmasking Your Soul at Kripalu
In early July, I assisted Linda Novick in teaching the program "Unmasking Your Soul: Renew Yourself Through Painting and Collage" at Kripalu. I have taken many classes at Kripalu (most of them with Linda!), but this was my first experience assisting in one, and I loved it. The other assistant was a seasoned "veteran", Lesli Lang, who also teaches at Kripalu and assists Linda often. I looked to Lesli for guidance when I was unsure of what to do or how to do it. Our role was to support Linda and … [Read more...] about Unmasking Your Soul at Kripalu
Artist Postseason
I wrapped up my painting season just after the Red Sox wrapped up their third World Series win in the past decade. (Go Sox!) As a pastelist, I must paint outdoors en plein air. Otherwise, the pastel dust would make a mess of my home studio. My painting time is thus limited to warmer weather: I begin as early as April and usually stop in October. When the temperature dips below 50, it's simply too cold for me to stand at my easel. I now enter my "postseason". One of the first things I do is … [Read more...] about Artist Postseason
Outdoor Art Show: Challenges and Rewards
A couple of weeks ago, I participated in the inaugural Belmont Artwalk, an outdoor exhibit in our neighborhood. Over 30 artists took part, which was a good number for this first-ever event. The street was closed to traffic in Cushing Square for the day, and people could walk around leisurely to view the art. It was a great community event with festive energy. I used metal gridwall panels to display my art. I bought them at Joslin Displays in Wilmington, MA, where they are available in various … [Read more...] about Outdoor Art Show: Challenges and Rewards
Building a Web of Connections
I've been told that one of my "power animals" is the spider. A power animal is "a certain species with which you have recognized an important connection. This species becomes your teacher, with whom you allow yourself to grow and learn."* What interests me most about the spider is not its physical body, but the intricate web it weaves. For me, the spider's web represents creativity and interconnections. I have had a strong sense of connectedness ever since I was conceived: I am, after all, a … [Read more...] about Building a Web of Connections
Painting Long Pond Lake
I paint landscapes that speak to me because of their beauty and tranquility. There are certain scenes that repeatedly pull me in and capture my imagination. Each time I return to paint the scene again, I try something different: vantage point, composition/cropping, palette, time of day, and/or technique. Series painting is a wonderful way to become familiar with a place, to explore and discover new aspects of it. Above all, series painting has to do with finding the essence of a place or an … [Read more...] about Painting Long Pond Lake
We Are All Connected
During the 22 years I lived in Somerville, Massachusetts, I discovered many grassroots environmental groups right outside my front door. We had a second-floor apartment in a triple-decker, not far from the Mystic River. I didn't visit the river very often because there are busy highways next to it. For years, I'd drive on one of those highways, Mystic Avenue, to get to work, and I became quite fond of a beautiful mural adjacent to it. I began to take walks down to the river so that I could look … [Read more...] about We Are All Connected
Libraries: Think Globally, Read Locally
A few days ago, while I was browsing through Communication Arts at our local library, I had this moment of gratitude. It suddenly occurred to me how lucky I was to be able to hold this fantastic publication in my hands and enjoy its contents. Furthermore, I could take it home for FREE and continue to enjoy reading it, simply because I had a library card. Libraries have a long and rich history, and I often give thanks to all of those people who have played a part in creating, maintaining, and … [Read more...] about Libraries: Think Globally, Read Locally