big changes....

CHANGES

Those of you who know me well know that I have 

been going through some changes.

I have had a painting block for a while now,

just going through the motions to get things done.

My best collector and personal friend Tom 

passed away unexpectedly last year.

My art buddy, day-trip traveling partner Goldie

moved to Atlanta to be with her daughter.

These two people were my biggest supporters and

I'm not gonna lie - I felt lost without them.

How was I going to get rid of this ineria

and get back into my love of making art?

After much soul searching and time spent sitting and

staring off into space,

I came to the conclusion that my art life needed

to be shaken up a bit. No, A LOT.

It was either make a drastic change or stop working.

So - and this is a big one - 

I have left the gallery that I have been with

for the last 13 years.

This gallery gave me my first start in painting

and helped me learn the ropes in doing my 

first group show, my first local big art show, my first solo show.

They have always been so supportive and

I wouldn't be where I am without them.

Thank you, Weems Galleries.

Whew, scary move for sure.

 So now I am floating....

After years of nonstop shows and deadlines, what do I do?

The first thing I did was take a few days off, 

sit down, and think about where I wanted my career to be in five years.

The second thing I did was go to Santa Fe and watch a demo 

of an artist whose work I liked.

Those of you who know me know that I don't "do" the workshop thing.

i always thought taking a workshop would steer me away from my own style.

But this was more like a talk and discussion about his techniques and materials.

The third thing I did was buy some palette knives.

I then watched a few youtube videos and went through 

my books on painting with a knife.

I checked in with (and joined) palette knife groups on facebook.

Then I just jumped in and created my first palette knife work.

Not gonna lie, it was way too thick.

Painting with a knife is HARD.

I gave the painting to my daughter (who loved it!)

But I kept at it and am now loving the knife.

Here is my second attempt:

"WINDOWSILL"

8x8"

oil on panel

I love this painting, so I'm thinking, 

maybe I am onto something here.

My third attempt:

"BLOOMS"

8x10"

oil on panel

It felt kind of strange, not using a brush.

The knife does not go where I want it to go!

I bought better knives and a few spatula-type brushes and that helped.

Then - I was talking to one of my artist friends one day and she

mentioned that she was participating in an invitational

GARDEN SHOW at Sumner and Dene gallery in June.

I thought cool, that might be fun, so I called the gallery and 

they invited me to participate.

I accepted and was excited for the first time in a long time.

Now, I am busy creating a series of paintings

that are garden related.

No pressure, I can do one or twenty one.

Another of my new goals was to make a plan to

go out on location all this spring and summer and paint BIG.

I don't know if I will use knives or brushes but the

main goal is to get out of my comfort zone of small paintings and 

go for size out in the beautiful landscape- 16x20 through 30x40, to start.

I have done HUGE paintings in the past, but all were created in the studio.

It's hard enough to paint en plein air - but to paint BIG in plein air?

Scary!

I am still trying to figure out the actual set-up to do that.

So anyway, I hope you will bear with me, join me on this new venture.

and check out the GARDEN SHOW this June at Sumner and Dene.

Here are the other paintings so far:

 "CORRALES SUMMER 12x9" oil

"DUET" 12x16" oil

"HIDDEN GARDEN 11x14 oil 

"POPPY GARDEN" 8x10" oil

"PRAIRIE GARDEN" 14x11" oil

"SPLENDID" V" 12x9" oil

"SUNBATHING" 10x8" oil

 "HIDDEN GARDEN" 8x10" oil

"WILD GARDEN" 12x9" oil

Thank you all for supporting me

every time I go through some kind of art breakthough.

Life is good!