Taurus

We are well into the second sign of the zodiac and I want to dedicate this small post to my niece, Joanna, whose birthday is coming soon.

The above painting, done with oil glazes, is called WOMEN'S WORK and to me it represents the ability to undertake many tasks and to see them through. This quality is strong in people born under the sign of the bull. (I would prefer the bison as an icon but nobody asked me.)

This oil-glaze painting was done many years ago just after a disastrous year during which my husband underwent several abdominal surgeries and I was in a car accident and was sidelined by a shoulder separation. I hadn't set out to portray these events but obviously they came through anyway.

It's called A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE and I chose it for Taurus because it expresses the bull/bison's resolve to overcome difficulties. It's not a particularly pretty picture but a very strong one, I think. 



Aries

My computer has been to the hospital and had an injection of flash and java, whatever that means. These techies speak blythely about such things, not caring that some of us (me) have no idea about these terms...I don't even know what a 'cookie' is. Yet I like to blog away just for the thrill of seeing my stuff out there and connecting with the world. It's an ego thing I guess.

So let's see if it works:( I was having problems uploading images and even viewing them on other peoples' blogs.)

This post is dedicated to Aries, the first sign of the zodiac.

Aries, like the robin, is a sign of Spring.  It's a fire sign and is symbolized by the ram. I know a few Aries and they certainly fit the description. Fiery, passionate and spontaneous.

Aries are also impulsive and energetic. I would imagine that when combined with a water sign a lot of steam would be produced. So here's to all you Aries people and to new beginnings. And to my reconstituted computer.





Out of the Trunk

I'm trying this experiment and if it works you'll see my new blog post which has been a long time coming. I'm working from my husband's computer because my computer won't let me upload images and what's a blog without images?

Here's the first image ( I hope.)

So far so good.

The old trunk above (and behind Samantha) is full of odd bits of fabric and attempts to create art from them. They are wall hangings and they usually hang around for a while,then they end up in the trunk. So I'm taking them out today for an airing.

It's hanging crooked but illustrates my brief foray into faux-tapestry. Painted in acrylics on burlap it features mixed mythological figures prancing about beneath a William Morris inspired arbour. I gave it to my parents years ago thinking they would recognize themselves in it.

THE FLIGHT OF THE ANTS

In which I was trying to depict the impression of thousands of winged ants soaring into the evening sky one day in August, their glittering wings sparkling in the sun before many were devoured by skuas high above. Their little wings are coated with 'diamond dust' which is difficult to see here.

When my parents' 60th wedding anniversary came diamonds were in order. I asked family and friends to contribute a diamond-shaped  memories which I then sewed to a backing to make a 'quilt' hanging. These three pieces were done by my sister and celebrate early family road trips we enjoyed as kids. 

Here I am sitting by the completed oeuvre hanging on our fence on Vancouver Island where George & I lived during the nineties. It hung for a time in their dining room and now enjoys its retirement in the trunk. As will all the above creations because I still don't have the heart to get rid of them. Some day I will.

Blogging Problem

I would love to post a new blog but am having problems uploading images from my files. I've registered the problem with Blogger and still await a reply. Now I notice some other blogs I follow have no pictures to go with the text. This can't be an April fool's joke because it's been happening for three days now. Any of you have the same problem? What gives?

Pisces

One of the things I plan to do on this, my new blog, is to feature some of my paintings which represent signs of the Zodiac. I don't really believe in horoscopes but I do think it's fun to play in the Zodiac. We are coming to the end of Pisces, the last of the signs, so I'll be working backward for the rest of the year. (Some of you may have seen these images before.)

WATERBABE

From my 'Fairy Fossils' series: it comes with a poem...

Tho' I am old I'll never die,

or cry

or lie.

MATRIX

Pisceans keep a low profile and seek vast amounts of knowledge. 

TIDE POOL

Pisces are gentle.

WANDA

This is my alter-ego. Yes, I am a Pisces.

Freeform

Sometimes I like to try a different approach to painting. Here's a way to begin a piece with no preconceived idea of what the subject will be.

Start by wetting your paper and dropping some colour in. 

Add more colour according to your whim. Tip the paper around to let the colours flow.

Tear up bits of tissue paper and place them randomly on the wet surface. You still have no idea where you're going and that's fine. Now let the paper dry. Go do something else. Have a coffee or go shopping. 

Remove the bits of tissue and stare at the result. You now have the matrix for your painting. Organic forms usually present themselves to be developed this way. Make a thin mixture using all your original colours to begin isolating the forms you want to define. You will have a neutral shade to set off your shapes.

Keep going, adding by subtracting. This is known as painting negative space. You are painting what's NOT there in order to show what IS there.

Combine hard edges and soft edges. To keep an edge soft let it trail off with clear water. 

Strengthen your composition with darker washes and glazes in the background. Add a few details but don't be too literal. When you can't think of anything more to do your piece is finished. Resist the temptation to overwork it. If you're not sure just put it away for a while and look at it with fresh eyes. That's always the true test.

In Like A Lamb

The snow looks like cellulite today, a sure sign of Spring

caused by the warming sun breaking down the once flawless mantle of winter. We can still get more snow; my birthday is coming, an event that usually guarantees a large dollop of the stuff, but it won't last long because Spring is scheduled to fix that later this month.

These mourning doves will soon be looking for a place to build their flimsy nest.

I expect we'll be seeing fox cubs in the back field within the next month.

But we still must bundle up while we wait. (No, it's not fox fur. It's fake.)