June's workspace

I am trying some different things.  One is to draw directly on my paintings from botanical sources.   I draw in sketch books from nature, but not so much in my painted work, so this is a change.  I still want to maintain a layered effect of my work and not paint a straight forward branch for example, so I began thinking about alternative ways to alter the surface beneath the drawing.

I am experimenting with some old metal plates I found from my printing days.  I have painted with copper salts to change the surface.  Then I thought that would be neat to have that type of surface as an under layer to my paintings, so I tried painting the support with metalic paint and got this.  

Now I am painting over the surface with oils.  You can see the undercoat of 'bronze' paint, brushed with copper salts and the blue oil line drawing on top in this detail.

spread the word

 http://www.whodoesshethinksheis.net/ 

peas and paintings in progress

This is the time of year when I feel most productive and also most distracted.  When I am in my studio I think of being in the garden.  And when I am in the garden I think of being in the studio.  Luckily they are right next to each other so I can easily go back and forth.  Unfortunately I track mud into the studio and get paint on the gardening tools. 

two of three panels still in progress

any guesses?

I think these vein like lines are gorgeous and the color so intense while hidden within the pulpy shrunken pod.  It is nutmeg!  (courtesy of my Mom's friend who brought it back from Jamaica).  The red and gold covering is the mace, also a spice, and beneath there is a thin shell which cracks off and you are left with the nutmeg for grating.  Beautiful.

in the pink

gelatin print on mulberry paper

some smaller ideas on wood

some small ideas on paper

nursery update

we returned home from vacation to find the eggs had hatched!

a fine line

In early spring on my walks I notice that the silhouettes of trees and shrubs are sharpest against the clear blue sky.  The tips of the branches are beginning to swell with life.  Leaves and blossoms are soon to arrive.  I am drawn to the trees' complexity that is visible while they are still barren.  Each branch takes its own distinctive course through space.  These are details from some panels I have been working on.  I am building layers of line as if looking through a web of forest.  It is a quiet meditation to paint in such a slow methodical way.   

I'm a mom too

4x6"

My son made this the other day, I think it's pretty cool.  The origami birds are about as big as my thumb nail.