civic duty, part one

oops, forgot my sketchbbook, so I had to draw on whatever was handy.
These sketches are from a couple of years ago. While in the process of scanning sketch books. I came across these and remembered how much I enjoyed drawing them so I decided to post them. People are so fascinating to look at.

cocoon house

24x36" liquid and open acrylic on wood panel

This is one of my first experiments with a new kind of paint (Golden open acrylic). I admit to struggling with it at first, as it is very different from the liquid acrylic I am used to using. It doesn't dry nearly as fast as other acrylics I have used and feels very much like oil paint to me. I put some on a covered pallet over 2 weeks ago and it is still wet and workable. I am starting to love it.

songwriter night at the Blennerhasset, sketches

Friday evening diners at Brighter Day restaurant, Marietta, Ohio

Fur Peace Ranch, sketches

Quick sketchbook drawings.
Chris Smither, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassady.
Had a great time, dinner in Athens at Salaam, including a belly dancer, then off to the wonderful concert.

untitled, cheerful chair?

I am enjoying working on this painting. It feels somehow cheerful to me.
12x36 liquid acrylic and sauce on masonite panel

untitled in process,

today was a wonderful day, I painted in my studio, joyfully.
I started my day by picking peaches. Yum. Baskets in the kitchen overflowing with tomatoes. I happily didn't get picked for jury duty yesterday and the weather is grand.

self portrait in big shorts

I only want to paint from life right now.
So I guess that leaves it up to looking at myself.
I have a bit more to do on this one but this is what the second session looks like,
liquid acrylic on wood
I am a proponent of giant shorts.

cyanotype, night owl, 13x19

looking through folders on my desktop to find work I haven't posted yet
I found this first stage print.

no images today

No images today, I need to spend some time scanning from my sketchbook and photographing what is happening in the studio. I have been on a bit of a vacation.... weeding a lot and trying to get organized in my world... I guess organization is different for everyone. Anyway, went to Athens and rode the bike path, something I have wanted to do all summer, but have been busy doing art and shows.
Followed a lovely day by eating a fabulous dinner with friends at Rhapsody in Nelsonville. What a great restaurant! The highlight of my daycation was going to Stuart's Opera House and seeing Steve Earle and Alison Moorer. Steve Earle was fabulous. I drew during most of the performance, but was in the balcony so the drawings are loose to say the least, will post images later. Anyway just felt the need to post even without an image>
Anyone out there in my area reading this interested in participating in the marietta portrait project? I need people to sit for me and be a part of this project. Just tell me you are interested and I will schedule you in. Come enjoy Studio B with me.

tanya at Brighter Day

I have not put any images on my blog for a while so I thought I would put some older sketch material up that I have scanned previously. I like to draw people at a local natural foods restaurant in town on Friday evenings when my husband sherm is playing music. I am happy observing, eating and drawing and look forward to the times when I can do all three things.
This is my friend Tanya from a distance, prior to ordering her food. This is a quick 3-5 min sketch in pencil in my sketchbook.

red sticks 24x24 liquid acrylic and mixed media on wood panel

surrender, finished,

I've been working hard to finish a couple of paintings... so I am done because the time is up. I am off to an art show tomorrow morning, early. The van is loaded and ready to go. I hope the weather is fabulous. Looking forward to the show.and then I am on vacation..... whoopee.

surrender, in process first and second day

Surrender... so many implications. 14x32 liquid acrylic and mixed media on wood

red sticks, in process day 2

continuing on with this today, that nose is rough, still building...
24x24 liquid acrylic and mixed media on wood

red sticks, in process

I am finally getting some new images loaded. Last weekend I participated in the Boston Mills Artfest in Peninsula, Ohio. I love doing that show. It was hot and a bit rainy. I talked to a lot of people. It is so good to get work out and to hear what people say about it. I am solitary in my home studio without a lot of input. Since I have gotten home I have been spending a lot of time trying to get my gardens in order after a rainy week, it is great to have so much rain after last year's drought. The garden is lush.. the first tomato maybe today.
anyway enough rambling....
I started this painting on top of another that I didn't like yesterday. I put the figure in and am now playing with the plant thing in the background. I never throw bad paintings away. I like to paint on top of them. I don't work well with a white surface, nearly always at least tone it first, but a bad painting is the most fun to paint over in my opinion.
Anyway big list today, digging up beds, sanding and a bit of cradle construction for the back of my boards....then I can go into the studio and paint more or do something fun like some more cyanotypes... well no I would like to finish the two paintings I am working on for my show next week at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights.... then I am on vacation or sort of.

abundance,finished version?

I finished this painting finally, I think.
I am getting ready to do a show next week and have several paintings to finish. I have gotten past the really crazy time of trying to finish everything in the studio.... and realize that I have plenty of work, I just need to get everything in show order. I am not totally happy with this painting, but it is about abundance and growth. I am consciously thinking about painting positive things ( maybe in a creepy way, but there is a positive thought behind it.) I also am playing with edge painting which you can't see here, but the edges are totally painted with flowers on a black gessoed back which I glazed over several times.
I will be at the Boston Mills Artfest next weekend, Saturday and Sunday with a wine opening on Friday night.
Looking forward to seeing old friends and customers. It is always a good time, except maybe the year it flooded.

luscious changes to sun mask and the purple horse

this is the updated version of an earlier post
still plugging away...

sketches from the symphony

Here are some quick sketches from a couple of years ago when I attended the Columbus Symphony. It was a wonderful concert. I love drawing musicians.

cyanotype, plate and exposed print

If you are not familiar with the cyanotype process... which I am just beginning to learn about... here is a photo of the glass plate that I painted the image on.
The brown behind it is a piece of wood that I use as a backing so I have a dark background when working on the glass . The print is not a fabulous exposure. It was a sort of cloudy day. so much to learn , such a fun process.

abundance , (in process still),12x24" liquid acrylic, mixed media on wood

As this painting progresses I realize it is about positive energy. I want it to project a feeling of love and abundance.

trick or treat, in process, 18x24" liquid acrylic and mixed media on wood

I started this painting in December 07. I was thinking about seeds, veins and particles.It was totally abstract at that time.I worked a long time on it, but felt like I was slogging through mud, deep mud. I finally put it away to stew for a while. Last weekend I found it again while putting some paper away and thought I would play with it a bit and out came the figures. It isn't finished yet...but has a direction.

silverpoint, 4x5", dried leaf

I had forgotten about this one. It is from late winter of this year

silverpoint, 3x4", my new obsession with vines

more cyanotype

this is the first state of a cyanotype I did earlier in the week, the central area is a bit vague and needs some work, but I love this process! It reminds me of the look of a lithograph.I feel like there is so much experimentation to explore with cyanotype. I really don't know much about it, just diving in.
On a totally different note.... I now have satellite internet so I am no longer on dial up and I can post images from home instead of going into my office and spending time doing it when I have so many other things I need to be doing, like organizing my office. Anyway off to the studio for the day, hopefully to conclude at least one of the many paintings that I am working on as well as probably getting some more painted glass panels ready for more cyanotype play time. Since it is going to rain, I will wait to develop them when it is a sunny day.

cyanotype, 2guys 13x19 on stonehenge paper

after attending a cyanotype workshop recently, I have been playing nonstop with the process. I love it. I am painting on glass then using that as my negative which I then develop in the sun. So Fun,

abundance , in process,12x24" liquid acrylic, mixed media on wood

this is the latest development of the painting posted on april 14.
I really feel the need for flowers

TULIP GARDEN, silverpoint, 4x5"

4 of spades, 22x28, liquid acrylic and mixed media on artspectrum paper

continuation of a series for a deck of cards .....I am now working on spades.

behind the drape progressing,

another comparative photo of an ongoing piece today.
I have several new pieces to show, but havent' had time to photograph or scan...busy in the garden and finishing the semester. New upcoming project... more later...

the striped jacket.18x40, liquid acrylic and mixed media on wood

masks, two of spades, in process. 22x28 liquid acrylic and mixed media on artfix paper

behind the drape, phase 2, still in progress, 32x32 liquid acrylic and mixed media on board

this is a newer version of an earlier post. in progress, of course. I don't know where these babies are coming from....

acrylic monotype, experiment....with drawing 12x16 on arches paper

I am experimenting with monotyping with liquid acrylic and Golden's acrylic glazing liquid, I know it should work, but it hasn't worked to my satisfaction yet.... I went back into this one with my derwent drawing pencils.

abundance,12x24,liquid acrylic mixed media on wood, in process

here is yet another work in progress, as you can see, the one on the right is the second stage...what a giant baby!

3 of spades, masks. phase 2, in process, liquid acrylic and mixed media on artfix paper,22x28

age of kali, 32x32 acrylic and mixed media on wood

I worked on this painting whenever I was in a really bad mood. It seemed to absorb all of my negative energy. I actually softened it up a bit from it's original state.

wrapped woman, silverpoint,4x6"

I hope I haven't posted this before... I don't think so. More fun with silverpoint, I love to just play with this medium.