Onion # 2 4″x4″
$75
And Another One….
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Tag Archives: Art
Onions and Organization
I did it again. I forgot I have to paint. I don’t mean I forgot I have work to do or I forgot I have a deadline. I mean I forgot I HAVE to paint.
At first I didn’t realize what the problem was. “I’m scattered,” I’d say, “What’s wrong with me? I keep forgetting things.” Enter the dreaded, stereotypical “flaky artist.” After the second missed appointment, third panicked car key search, fourth forgotten errand, and tenth stress headache, I realized- I haven’t been painting. We’ve been in and out of town and I don’t have any looming deadlines for which I feel ill-prepared, so I’ve allowed other things to get in the way. Mistake. It’s not a job with paid vacation. It’s who I am. It’s how I organize my thoughts. The world is full of so many things to look at and so much stimulation that if I don’t have that out-flow I guess my brain sort of overloads and shuts down.
So today, noticing the pinks, greens, and yellows harmonizing on an onion skin, I put down the dish towel I was using and picked up my paintbrush. Upon finishing my little painting in a much calmer state of mind I paid an almost forgotten bill and prepared my daughter’s bag for her first day of mother’s day out. Relief. (Somewhat) organized me is back.
Morning Musings
It’s dark inside the house and out. A melody wakes me from a dream and I roll away from my sleeping husband. I hush the alarm and stand there a moment, considering the silence; considering returning to the still warm bed. I think about the day ahead… about what needs to be done and the few chances I will have to do what I wish with my time. Decision made, I go to the kitchen for some coffee and, as cool blue light begins to seep around the edges of the window panes, I begin my day with pen and paint.
My Little Treasure’s Treasures
They’re everywhere. They tumble out of pockets, they rolls with the broom out from under furniture, they’re in almost every allowable container in or outside the house.
Rocks. My little girl loves them. And I’m not talking exotic or particularly beautiful rocks. I’m talking gray driveway gravel, pea gravel, garden rocks. She collects them, she gives them as gifts, she plays with them, she even sometimes bathes them. She plays with other toys, too; I just can’t help but smile at her penchant for rocks… I admit it’s partly because it reminds me of my fondness for mossy bits of bark. I guess the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Just a little crush
Gallery
This gallery contains 6 photos.
I’m a little giddy… a little obsessed even, over something new. It’s slick, almost plasticky, and as you can see, somewhat transparent (which could lend itself to all kinds of cool tricks). Here are some of the mixed-media pieces I’ve … Continue reading
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
You’ve all seen pictures of my revamped (and so pretty!!) gray and white studio, but have you noticed that it’s affected my work?
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- “Make a Wish” 4″x4″ $40
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- “Wild Strawberry” 4″x4″ $40
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- “Grey Feather” 4″x4″ $40
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- “One Lucky Family” 4″x4″ $40
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- “Purple Clover II” 4″x4″ $40
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- “Nestled” 4″x4″ $40
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- “Purple Clover” 4″x4″ $40
I don’t know what came first, the studio re-do or this series of paintings (they both started around the same time) but I seem, in all areas of my life, to be craving clean, white, open spaces and simplicity. Hmm… could have something to do with the zillions of brightly colored letters and other toys constantly scattered around my house.
Ta-Da! Studio!
This has gone on long enough. I haven’t posted in ages. Reason- computer problems (again!). I can get some photos to you, but I have literally no way of editing them, so forgive bad cropping, tilted angles, and bad light. I paint better than I photograph. Apple, if you’re reading this I’d like to have a few words with you….
Here’s my newly refreshed home studio. Cool gray walls, lots of shelves, aaah… much better.
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- Lotsa shelves
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- Nature collection
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- Huge vase turned trash can- garbage might as well be pretty
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- Pull out wire racks serve as drying space for small paintings
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- Art space
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- Office space. See Molly dog asleep in the corner? There’s still room for furry friends here too.
Studio Re-Do, Part II
I’ve already shown you the absolutely dreamy perfect pale gray (with just enough green and just enough blue and just enough awesomeness) that I chose for my new studio color. As a reminder, here it is again.
*Sigh…*
Now for the ugly part. The stuff. The tons and tons of “I might need this someday and what else do I do with it?” stuff. All piled into the center of the room…
Keep in mind this is also home office stuff, including a zillion books. How did we get so many books? Do we really need college text books?
…or hauled into another room. Whew.
yeah….
Don’t worry! It gets better! Stick with me!
Studio Re-Do, part I
Aside
“Grumble grumble grumble.” That was a brief synopsis of my mood and thought process whenever I walked into my “studio.” It was a room that I had never really crafted to be my own or even to function well for my purposes, but rather a room that I moved to out of necessity because it was there and I had decided our baby needed the backyard view that my former studio afforded. My various supplies and paraphernalia basically landed where my 8-month-pregnant self, fueled by nesting energy, had managed to drop them and had pretty much stayed there. I had made a few attempts to re-organize and re-arrange, but it felt hopeless. So, a complete overhaul was required. Here’s a before picture.
Don’t judge!
Eeek. Cramped. Dark. Cluttered. Have I also mentioned that it serves as a home office and dogs’ bedroom as well?
The first thing I did was pick out a paint color. I wanted something cool, light, and most of all, calm. I’m kind of obsessed with the moss and lichen that grow on the trees in our yard (I actually have bits of fallen bark that I’ve collected all over the house). So, I turned to nature for inspiration and matched the paint to the lichen on this beautiful little piece of bark.
“What happened next??” you ask. Well, I painted it. But that’s not all! Stay tuned for the next exciting installment!
Hope in a Basket
“Hope in Basket”
Watercolor and charcoal on paper
Since the death of the baby birds I have kept an eye out for the mother and father birds to no avail. They seemed to have disappeared. However, literally moments after I sat down to paint and draw this mixed-media picture of their abandoned nest, now blooming with marigolds, the mother came and perched on the top of basket. She leaned down almost as if admiring the flowers, then hopped down to the side of the basket. Looking through the glass storm door at me, she cocked her head. I barely breathed, not wanted to scare her. We stayed like this a few moment then she flew away. I haven’t seen her again since.
I know it’s far-fetched, but I like to believe she approved of me honoring her loss and came to let me know.
ErinHardinArt 