Cool Blue Studio

Fortune

2012-02-03T14:11:00.007-05:00

"Fortune"
Decoupage, Graphite
and Watercolor on archival bristol

Sometimes you get a real crummy fortune inside the cookie, but other times one comes out that makes you stop and take pause. In my case I stop, drop everything I'm doing and draw; which ultimately puts me in control. In reality though I suspect we are not really in control here. The cookie proves it. (LOL)

The Inevitable

2012-02-03T02:12:00.003-05:00

The inevitable was bound to happen. Me catching the cold my son held onto for several weeks. I usually skirt these obstacles, but not this time. My inability to sleep has brought on more drawings. If you can't sleep you might as well draw.

"Separation"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

"Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation." ~Kahlil Gibran

Dream...

2012-02-02T22:08:00.003-05:00

"Taken"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol.

"Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do."

2012-02-02T02:20:00.000-05:00

Mini Haggis (Part 4)

2012-02-01T17:36:00.005-05:00

Reference is of an
extreme bay sabino.

So all the facial and body details have been completed on Mini Haggis and he's only about 50% done. He has a whole portion of painting that still needs to be done on him before he can go back to his owner. This portion is his white markings. He will be an extreme sabino and the amount of bay color I've placed on him is far too much, but I wanted to make sure I didn't miss any spots so the white markings will mimic the reference as close as possible. It's easier to go over the bay color with white than to add bay to small areas later on.

This reference only shows one side. I will have to turn the image around in my head and apply what is here on the horse. So basically both sides will get the same pattern except I'll vary the sides just slightly. I like to try and follow the reference as closely at possible.

Keep the reference at
hand for the entire session.

Even though there is a lot of white in this reference this pattern will still follow the natural hair pattern on a horse so I'll keep reference of hair patterns near by just to make sure I'm following things are realistically as possible.

To cover the work that has already been done the best paint to use is slightly watered down gesso. Water it down till it doesn't streak when applied to the horse. Too much water will create a very cloudy milky effect which we don't need at this stage. It will take approx 6-7 coats of white gesso to properly cover this horse. Once covered add Titanium white acrylics (at least 2 coats) on top of the gesso. Let everything dry for at least a day.

Water down the gesso
so no streaks show

"Tackle and Tumble III"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol.

“Even if you stumble, you’re still moving forward.”

The Mountain

2012-01-31T21:46:00.004-05:00

Finishing touches being added to the
canvas painting using digital reference.
(This is about as clean as this section gets.)

The mountain painting is complete. This was an absolutely wonderful exploration in light, form and color. I'm fairly pleased with the way it all turned out and I'm very excited to take my bucket, paints and new canvases back out in the field soon. (If you missed the first part of this painting you can see it here.) As I was finishing up this piece, using reference photos I took that day, I had to stop and wonder what the spot looked like on a beautiful sunny day. I've made a point to see and paint it up and compare.

"The Mountain"
Acrylic on linen

"Tackle and Tumble"
Graphite and Watercolor on archival bristol

"Tackle and Tumble II"
Graphite and Watercolor on archival bristol

"Keep close to Nature's heart....and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean."
~John Muir

Mini Haggis III

2012-01-31T01:13:00.005-05:00

MIni Haggis ready for detailing

Previously on Mini Haggis II….

Fixatives crackled on the surface and most of the back and sides had to be sanded and repaired. After the repair was complete facial and coat details were then added using water soluble oils.

Water soluble oils are a breeze to work with because they blend like traditional oils, but clean up like acrylics. They can be used in conjunction with other media and dry quickly. I have also found them to be easy when I make a mistake. I just wash the unwanted area off with soap and warm water and start over.

Basically take a darker version of the main coat color and apply in small areas and blend using a dry brush. Color should blend smoothly. Add highlights last and let dry overnight. Repeat if necessary.

Previous posts on Mini Haggis:
Mini Haggis (Part I)
Mini Haggis (Part II)
Mini Haggis (Repair)

Apply detailing paint slowly

Darks and lights work
together to bring out sculpting detail

"The Ribbon III"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. ~Marcel Proust

Sunday Afternoons

2012-01-30T01:07:00.007-05:00

"Arrival"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

Sunday's are suppose to be a day of rest and although I try to calm my thoughts down a creative mind never seems to stop. Sunday afternoons have become a bit of a shopping day for me and my son. We have been enjoying several stores in the area and it's fascinating to watch his creative mind develop as we go about window shopping. Apparently he is just as enticed by the colors, shapes and textures of the house ware's section as I am. He can't seem to go past the colorful fry pans without stopping and admiring and I can't seem to get past that darned paper section without a complete melt down. We make a lovely creative shopping team. What a privilege to see the world through his young creative eyes.

Could I resist? Hell no! I think I could purchase every size box in that blue/brown combo.

More paper goodies
for the studio

"Joy"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

"Joy is not in things; it is in us." ~ Richard Wagner

2012-01-29T00:18:00.002-05:00

"Rain II"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

"Don't worry," said Bee. "Mail will come."

Live Sketching: JJ Bankos (PA)

2012-01-28T17:35:00.007-05:00

Sketch on paper
with Prismacolor colored pencil

It was a spur of the moment session of live sketching last night. A friend and fellow high school classmate was at one of the local bars and I decided to grab my knapsack and run to sketch. Thankfully, mom and dad were around to watch my son (who was thrilled to have a sleep over at grandmas and grandpas last night.)

The sketching was good (as was the beer and company) and so here are the sketches from last night.

I love live sketching. It really puts your skills to the test especially when people are moving. The women last night were moving around a bit too much for my tastes and were difficult to capture. The men, not so much. So the sketches of the women aren't as good. Of course I could just be going through a phase were my abilities to sketch men right now are more honed than women. Whatever the case, the best drawings, in my opinion, are of the men.

In my opinion, the very
best sketch of the night.

2012-01-28T01:36:00.005-05:00

"Rain"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

Don't worry", said Bee. "Mail will come."

Just Thoughts....

2012-01-27T11:11:00.010-05:00

"The Mountain"
Acrylic on canvas board
5" x 7"

It was raining again this morning. It was hard to pull myself away from standing in it. I just stood there looking out onto the mountain while it rained on me. I couldn't help but think that this must be what a tree feels like just standing in the rain. Standing there just taking whatever elements were being thrown at them. I stood taking the element in and questioning how the hell I got here on this plot of land and why and what was my purpose now? But that's when it occurred to me; this is what trees do, they just have to stand there and take whatever Mother Nature and God dish out to them and they don't question their purpose. Their purpose is to just, "be". This give and take between nature and the trees is a timeless exchange, but the difference between us and the trees is that the trees have a complete understanding of the exchange and somehow they are just able to accept it and not question which makes their existence simple and uncomplicated. To be more like a tree and accept whatever is happening is truly, truly difficult.

In my head the symphony of color began. The painting the mixing the cataloging of color, line, shape and composition. In a matter of seconds the entire scene was painted in my head and stored away. As I began this color frenzy the realization that this is not in any way shape or form normal, hit me again. It's not normal.

Some days I pray and ask why and wish that it be lifted from me in order to just be normal cause this "art thing" feels more like a curse than a gift most days. I'd like to walk in normal shoes for a while. Not sketch, paint, sculpt and draw you the moment I meet you for the first time but go about life oblivious to art. I'd like to not be so strange and in some cases, scary to people. But artists are a strange lot by nature. The very best part about going to an art college was that everyone was just as strange (some even more so) as everyone else which created an odd sense of "normalcy"

If you were up at 4 A.M. and in a creating frenzy all you had to do was open your door and find that that guy Steve was sprawled out on the floor near the elevators creating tiny little clay do-dads or drawing on packs of Post-IT notes (and he drew on EVERY note) and he did that cause, well I guess cause he had to get it out of his head and it hit him right there and then. And there he'd be with about a hundred little creations around him and anyone who walked past got one. "Here ya go!" he'd say with the happiest of smiles and you could tell his heart was filled with joy at the act of giving away a piece of himself, a piece of his heart and soul and the acceptance of that gift completed the creation fully. It's not truly complete until its given.

The best part of giving is watching people's reactions. It's also the worst some times because it's too much for some to handle. I don't know what to say to that except you probably wouldn't want to be on this end living with that urge to create, share and give in your mind and heart all the time. And I mean, all the time...even when you sleep the art invades your dreams. The small gift given was only a smear of a droplet of an ocean that is within. Imagine having the ocean within and knowing that that ocean is just a speck of a half of a smear of a droplet of an ocean from the planet within a universe from the Great Creator Himself. Why He chose to give this smear to me, I honestly don't know and on days like today I'm a bit annoyed with Him for doing so, cause on days like today it's way too powerful for me to handle, but I'm trying my best to stand as a tree does and just accept.

2012-01-26T22:57:00.003-05:00

"The Box"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

"Don't worry", said the bee. "Mail will come."

Base for Bjalla

2012-01-26T16:22:00.002-05:00

Gesso the base.

Bjalla has a base. Many moving horses do and painting up these bases is actually a heck of a lot of fun. It's easy too!

I decided to document the painting process of this rocky base to show you how very easy it is if you use the "dry brush" technique. This base literally took about 15 minutes to paint.

Paint the base the darkest color. In this case it was pure black.

Use the dark color as base and lighten
the color to about 50% in orderto mix the "middle color".

Load brush fully with paint then blot the brush completely on a dry paper towel. This "blotting" just removes all the "wet" paintleaving just a bit of "dry-ish" paint on the brush.

Take the 50% mixture and lighten it
further and load brush then blot completely
on paper towel. Sweep on base.

"The Chase"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol.

"Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you believe that you too can become great."
~ Mark Twain

Mini Haggis Repair

2012-01-25T21:06:00.008-05:00

Paper palette with colors needed

Sometimes, for whatever unknown reason, fixatives crackle. There is no rhyme. There is no reason for this. It just is.

The night I worked on this "Mini Haggis" resin I was working on three other horses. All were getting pastelled and sprayed at the same time. Only one crackled. There was no reason for Mini Haggis to crackle. Nothing different was done to him. His coat just crackled under the application of the fixatives.

I freak anytime this happens because it's so random and makes absolutely no sense. The only thing to do is repair. Here is how I repaired him:

The first step was to let the horse dry fully. I let this guy dry for about an hour. After which I took a very fine sandpaper (wet) and proceed to lightly sand down the bumps of the crackled areas. The paint during this sanding DID come off. I let it come off. The only object at this point is to get the body as smooth as possible. Keeping the sandpaper wet helps reduce scratching on the surface of the paint.

Mini Haggis after sanding down
the crackled areas

This repair too approx.
6 coats of acrylics to cover

Once sanded several layers of acrylic paint were then added in just the damaged spots. For this bay I mixed burnt sienna, cadmium red medium and primary blue together to achieve the bay color. A hair dryer was used to dry each layer and make the repair go quickly. After which one more layer of pastels and yes, fixatives were used. The horse is now ready to continue with detailing work on the body in oils.

"The Ribbon III"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

“The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart.”

Day After

2012-01-24T17:24:00.006-05:00

Steaks, ground and back straps, oh my!
Fueling creativity

Yesterday's painting session knocked me out. I have not been able to do much of anything artistic today. The little that I did try was scrapped. I almost forgot how intense canvas painting is for me. It's a very different experience personally than sculpting or illustrating. I've never been able to figure out why it's so different.

I do have to watch on days like today though for on such days I will get fickle and go through all my art with an extraordinarily critical eye and trash pieces. I've been known to literally put them through the paper shredder if I find I dislike them. Once you shred, there's no going back. I've hidden all the plates from the Four Seasons illustrations I've never finished. I dislike them all GREATLY and dislike the fact that it has taken this long to come to some form of completion with them. Once the "post-canvas-painting storm" passes I'll pull them out from the attic.

Of course, on days like this some little thing always happens to boost my spirits. Today my father brought a bag full of venison for me. Im thrilled I can finally try some recipes in my venison cook book which was acquired many, many years ago. I've been waiting that long to try them out. Sometimes you have to be patient. All things come in good time.

And well, the day like today wouldn't be complete without seeing a major heart somewhere. Turned the venison packs over and the one had...yep, a heart. It's a frozen heart but none the less....a heart.

Ooh, a frozen heart.
Hmmpf....lol

"In The Field"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

"In The Field II"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

"Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in."

Have Canvas Will Travel

2012-01-23T18:38:00.013-05:00

The tree wanted me to mention
that he practiced all morning for this shot.
He did good for his first photoshoot I think.

I've come to learn that those who are ambidextrous (which I am) probably have some sort of brain damage. Well, that really doesn't surprise me. Neither does the urge to drop everything in the office/studio and pack up a plastic container full of art supplies, including my canvases, and drive onto the backroads till I found the perfect painting spot and set up shop.

Yeah.....I set up a painting station right in my Chrysler on the side of a road in the middle of...I have no idea what country road. Street names and directions hold no weight here. It's about composition, shape, line and color when searching for landscape fodder. I just keep driving till I find the perfect spot that inspires. The cup holders, the arm rest and the passenger seat all proved to be perfect for the session once I found the perfect landscape painting spot and the huge bin I threw everything in was choice. It held everything neatly and cleanly and offered a buffer for spilling paint from the palette.

The entire session took about three hours. Only one person stopped to help the "damsel in distress" and they seemed disappointed I wasn't in need. Sorry dude....move along!

I documented the painting process of this landscape painting done in acrylics. It has approx three more hours until finish which will be completed in my studio using photos taken on site. I've mentally cataloged the entire scene and will use the photos only as back up should I need a bit of reference, in particular with the trees in the foreground.

Huge plastic bin containing
everything I'll need for the adventure.

Cup holders and arm rest
come in hand during the session.

Laying down gesso. Its sorta like
primer for walls and preps the canvas

Then is started to rain
which greatly changed all the colors

After hour three with
three more hours left till finish

"Rain"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

"Rain II"
Graphite and watercolor on arrival brisol.

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, It's about dancing in the rain."

2012-01-23T02:08:00.002-05:00

"Sleep"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

"Wind to thy wings. Light to thy path. Dreams to thy heart."

Miniature Inspirations

2012-01-22T07:31:00.011-05:00

Nothing escapes creative
inspirations here in this home.

I have always been captivated by miniatures. My favorite childhood toys to play with were Breyer horses and Matchbox cars. My brother and I would spend hours making tiny roads, houses and towns in the dirt and mud for our Matchbox cars. (Hands off the golden Porche 928 bro! That one's mine!)

And my Breyers proved to be a constant source of fascination and entertainment for me as large boxes were turned into stables with dividers and hay bins for my ponies to live in. Ordinary objects from the trash were also transformed into usable miniature items during play time. So it wasn't too shocking for me to see my own son poking about in the recycling bin recently looking for items for his play time.

Yesterday evening I was greatly inspired by photos of a dollhouse owned (and continually being decorated) by friend and fellow equine artist Joanie Berkwitz. She started sharing some photos (and documented some of the progress on her blog: Yasha's Bonsai Blog.) of her newly renovated dollhouse and as the threads were coming up online I was just floored at the detail and all these memories of childhood came rushing in. Of course my head began to swim in all new directions as I am coming to learn that there are artisans who cater to this industry of miniature. At the moment I am totally holding any thoughts of making teeny tiny miniatures at bay because at this point I can't even begin to think of putting another poker in the fire here. But I have to wonder; does her house have a mouse? lol

"Pause"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

"Ideas are the mightiest influence on earth. One great thought breathed into a man may regenerate him." ~William Ellery Channing

All Bets Are Off

2012-01-21T14:30:00.009-05:00

The mountain against the color
of the sky is enticing me.

All bets are off for serious office/studio work once it snows! I love the snow. I love to watch it snow, I love to paint the snow and I love to watch the colors of a snowy day change from hour to hour. I have literally been sitting at my office window today doing just that...watching the colors change from hour to hour.

One of my favorite colors in the whole world is blue/grey. There is something so enticing to me about that color. On a snowy day this color makes it's appearance all over the place. It appears on the trees, the ground, the sky, the snow and just about everywhere there is surface.

There are only a few more hours left of daylight. I have decided to just enjoy the changing colors as it has been a lovely treat and feast for my eyes today. Work will always be there and I can work once it gets dark.

My hens popping out
into the snow for treats.

A week's worth. There's no stopping.
I'm on a major creative roll and greatly inspired.

"Snow Day"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

"Nature chose for a tool, not the earthquake or lightening to rend and split asunder, not the stormy torrent or eroding rain, but the tender snow flowers noiselessly falling through unnumbered centuries." ~John Muir

Inspirations

2012-01-20T14:59:00.002-05:00

"The Ribbon II"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

Inspirations came in from every area this week. On the whole, a wonderful week...and now onto a weekend filled with art and projects.

"How can you prove whether at this moment we are sleeping, and all our thoughts are a dream; or whether we are awake, and talking to one another in the waking state?" ~Plato

Mini Haggis (part II)

2012-01-19T16:00:00.006-05:00

Mini Haggis after approx 2
coats of dry pigments

The Mini Haggis had approx two days to dry after receiving a couple of layers of dry pigment. Although you can work on the piece immediately after the fixatives have dried, I always find that waiting at least 24 hours offers better results.

At the moment I am enjoying the fluidity and ease of clean up of Duo Aqua Oil colors which are produced by Holbein. These oil paints can be mixed with either water or oils and clean up with water. They basically "feel" like oils, but clean up like a water based paint. Oil paint is applied after the matte fixatives have dried and these applications help to deepen the color on the coat.

Mix up the next layer of color and slowly apply in patches to the horse. Take a dry blender brush (I prefer a square) and blend in the color till it is smooth. Keep working in small patches till the entire horse is covered. This piece will be an extreme sabino in the end so it's legs and most of it's belly will be white so there is no need to go crazy with coloring the barrel or lower legs.

Let dry overnight and add more layers the next day depending upon the richness of color desired. Use the same "small patch and dry brush" techniques addressed here.

Apply oil color in patches

Blend the oil outward onto
surrounding areas till smooth

Mini Haggis with
one coat of oils.

An Eberl "Bjalla" being
painted a dun. This is the third
layer of oils after 2 layers of dry pigments.

"The Ribbon"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

"To love is nothing. To be loved is something. To love and be loved is
everything."

2012-01-19T03:16:00.001-05:00

"3 A.M."
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

A Palomino Pony

2012-01-18T23:51:00.005-05:00

"Johann" resin painted in
mixed media

A palomino pony has been the cause of many frustrating days for me in the studio as of late. The color wouldn't stick, and then the color was too yellow and then it was too brown and then it was too orange and then, I just left him in the corner.

Yeah, he was punished!

After leaving him for days and coming back with a fresh eye I decided that some purple would probably fix all his problems and it did. Light purple washes throughout along with some Pearl Ex Inference gold helped salvage this guy. After all was said and done he has turned out to be one of my favorite pieces I've ever painted. I learned a good deal of patience with him.

More views of Johann:

"The Kiss"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

"How did it happen that their lips came together? How does it happen that birds sing, that snow melts, that the rose unfolds, that the dawn whitens behind the stark shapes of trees on the quivering summit of the hill? A kiss, and all was said." ~ Victor Hugo

2012-01-18T02:02:00.001-05:00

"Sweet Dreams"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

As The Fixatives Dry

2012-01-17T02:09:00.007-05:00

Fixatives used to adhere pastel dust
or dry pigments to resins/plastics

Fixatives are a huge part of the painting technique I work in. Without proper fixatives the pigment/pastel dust won't stick and the desired effect is less than. I figured showing exactly what I use may help those following the blog tutorial. The Citadel is ordered straight from Games Workshop and the other two fixatives can be purchased at most craft stores like Michaels or AC Moore. All companies producing these fixatives DO keep changing the formulas because of health regulations. In a few months or another year these products (in particular the Citadel) will probably be discontinued so if reading much after this has been posted try and find the equivalent.

Of course, once the piece is sprayed there is a bit of down time. During that down time I mostly poke about with new studio items (aka..paper or art supplies). I should get the studio organized, but what fun is there in that?

My most recent paper acquisitions in the bargin bins at Michael's Art proved to be very satisfying. Lord knows I don't need any more journals or printed paper but they are lovely and I'm very inspired.

Inspiring paper goods

Oooh Sir, you were very slow in taking
my FedEx package so slow I had time to draw you.
You're lucky you had a very interestingly shaped head.

Lunch at shop.
Trying desperately to embrace full scenes.
By my 1000th try I should get it.

"Day dreaming"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol

My dreams were all my own; I accounted for them to nobody; they were my refuge when annoyed - my dearest pleasure when free.
~ Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.

Deadlines & Publications

2012-01-16T11:14:00.014-05:00

Binders for my Just About Horse Mags

Thirty some years Just About Horses was in publication. For seven years I was a part of that history and right around the middle of every other month I get into an automatic panic and think,

"DEADLINE!"

Today as I was pouring my morning coffee I got into a panic then remembered that I no longer had a pressing editorial deadline with Reeves International. There would be no more "how to's" for them for print (perhaps online if they need me...will announce when I am to be featured.) I love publications and paper and magazines and books and it hit me as of late, I sure miss writing for them.

I suppose in pulling out the old binders filled with the JAH's I've contributed to I decided to document the painting process of both the Mini Haggis and Indian Silver I'm currently working on for commission. My style has changed a great deal since I first started writing for JAH but the process in the beginning is pretty much the same: dust, spray with fixatives, dust, spray with fixatives and repeat till you get the desired color built on the resin. Oh and as always I must start by telling you to BE SAFE! Wear your masks at all times!

Hard to believe the mag
is no longer

So onward with two visual demos.

The Mini Haggis will be an extreme bay sabino and the Indian Silver will be a plain chestnut. Two sides to the spectrum and both difficult in their own right. The chestnut, of course, will pose the most problems and is already being true to form. It's a heavy resin and I have fingerprints all over the barrel. It's too late to fix as I sprayed the piece already. I will have to fix in the later stages, but will document how that is done. Basically, everything can be fixed. No matter how bad the damage it can all be fixed with patience, determination and of course, TLC.

Drafting table ready for
new ponies to be painted

First layers on a Mini Haggis resin

At this stage the pure pigment or crushed pastel (stick) dust is added to the prepped and primed (white) resin using a DRY paint brush. Once color is evenly distributed to the area Krylon Glossy Fixative is used to "lock" the color onto the surface. Once gloss is dry add a matte spray like Citadel or Testor's Dull Coat (which is no longer called Dull Coat but "CLEAR COAT). Let dry fully and continue to add more pigment or crushed pastel dust. Repeat the process. Both the MH and IS have received two coats of color at this stage.

First spray to adhere the pigments
First layers on an Indian Silver resin

"Love is a fruit in season at all times,
and within reach of every hand." ~Mother Teresa

Day Dreaming and Drawing....

2012-01-13T19:47:00.009-05:00

Graphite.....my watercolors....images....all enticing my brain and I'm caught in a daydream....somewhere between the past and the future. Sometimes the only way to get the images out is to share them fully....and so I share. These are the very best two from the drawing session yesterday.

The eternal dance....

"On with the dance! Let joy be unconfined"
~Lord Byron

Graphite and watercolor on bristol

Graphite and watercolor on bristol

Revisit

2012-01-12T21:14:00.013-05:00

Angel painting
Old Studio, Brooklyn NY

Sometimes I get the urge to revisit paintings. I loved this painting. Loved everything about the production of this piece. From the moment my pencil hit the canvas I was in complete bliss. Everything seemed to flow perfectly and I worked into the morning hours on it and then left my studio satisfied and very happy. (Step-by-step).

Personal life then took over and I slowly lost the happiness I had for it. It was the very last oil painting I ever did in Brooklyn and as it dried I felt all the negative energy of my old studio seep into it. Days went by and then weeks and then the paint on my palette dried solid. The piece was never finished because I couldn't stand to look at it. It was haphazardly chucked in a box along with other art supplies when I packed up the studio and left for Pennsylvania. It lay on a shelf in the cold basement in the new house for months till one night I had to move it to get to my blank canvases.

Oil on linen canvas

It was then that I fell back in love with it. It was brought into the kitchen where it was propped on the counter. I'd look at it while doing dishes. I kept giving myself the same crit over and over and knew I should have used a real model and not just pulled something out of my head. It was missing more than just refinement and it wasn't till my best friend Char came in for a visit that it got what it needed. She had pointed out that the woman looked more like an angel laying there than a woman. It was at that moment I knew exactly what the piece was missing. After an hour of additions I felt the piece had finally come to finish. It's now the first piece people visiting my kitchen see and it's one of my favorites, even with it's heavy strokes and incorrect fabric placement. Yeah, it's missing the hands. I know....

I believe it's become one of my favorites because it has opened the door to something new for me and I can't get new images out of my head. New explorations of new subjects and new ideas are swirling and although I am most comfortable working small I've gone super large with this next piece. It too will be an angel. This time however, I must get a real model.

New piece on easel in the office

Of Mice and Muse

2012-01-11T19:26:00.009-05:00

Graphite and watercolor on bristol

Start of the new year equals new revelations of the joys of home ownership. Yearly sewage bill, garbage bill and school taxes......

Wow.

This week brought forth all of that plus other insurance bills and a revisit of important documents. All real life drains on "The Muse."

The "Art Muse" wants to know nothing of real life. It doesn't care what time it is or what official documents need to be resigned cause the lawyer messed up. No, "The Muse" just wants to go and create NOW and gets fussy when you tell her, "No". Unfortunately when real life isn't in order "The Muse" does suffer and suffers greatly from awful accommodations the artist can give her. Panic, negativity and general laziness are her accommodations brought on by not dealing with real life issues. Such accommodations render her very cranky.

In visiting these real life issues, in particular some official documents, I was struck with the thought of how much I would push "The Muse" to the side in my old life. "Wait here for just a moment" I'd say, and then I would push her to the back and tell her to wait, "Just a little longer, I'll be right there." And then Id visit late in the night when everyone was asleep. Of course there were nights Id wake everyone up (clumsy me) and mayhem would break loose and the best remedy of the situation was to leave "The Muse" waiting and waiting. And when I would show up she'd always say the same thing. "You're sooo not being true to you."

I knew that, but real life had greatly taken over and there was no changing it. But sometimes The Universe steps in and changes things greatly for you and you find that all you have left is yourself and "The Muse", who is of course giving you that, " Toldja so..." look.

Now there is all the time in the world to be myself. To spread wings and fly. And on days like today when real life is pounding down my door I'm reminded to not push "The Muse" aside for too long, to never get in over my head with worry as everything does work out and to always be myself and let "The Muse" guide. I believe the Universe and God knows where and how to guide you, but why on EARTH I've got an infestation of mice in my brain as of late is well...... I guess God only knows.

Graphite and watercolors on bristol

Graphite and watercolors on bristol

Graphite and watercolors on bristol

Affirmation during morning meditation
and angel card reading to...
be myself....

Finishes and More Paper Delights

2012-01-10T11:28:00.007-05:00

Finally, finishes on two pieces I've been working endlessly on. Both the pieces took a bit longer to produce because I found myself wanting to explore hair patterns a bit deeper, especially on the dappled grey. For the moment I'm fairly pleased. The bay roan will be headed to a show this Saturday and I'm excited and curious to see how she is received.

Sarah Mink's
"Sheeza Carnival" in bay roan

Breyer's "Weather Girl"
in dappled rose grey

Paper Bliss

LOL....the colors, the patterns, the bow and the patterned inside made me stop dead in my tracks at the store yesterday. I had to have it. I have no idea what I will use it for or why I needed it other than it made me smile and the blue is my favorite color blue. Put a bit of brown in with blue and I'm completely sold.

Helper

2012-01-08T11:24:00.002-05:00

Look, under the desk...

A backlog of commission work got my attention last night and will continue to keep me busy throughout the week. I hate the pressure of being behind on work and the only way to ease it is to make good headway. I'm most excited about an Indian Silver resin I have to paint. Owner has asked that I paint it chestnut. I always love when owners ask for solid colors. Solid colors are a pleasure to paint since many choose such flashy patterns and colors that just painting a plain chestnut is a nice diversion for a change.

None of this work is being done without my little studio helper. My new puppy Oreo has settled into life here with us very well. His favorite room is the office and his favorite spot is where ever my feet are. If I move them for even a split second he moves with me. Moved for half a minute to take the shot of the Johann resin and Oreo quickly made himself comfy...literally...on my feet. lol His company while I work is most soothing and very welcome.

A nice place to rest.

Quick shot of the Johann resin.
Flash is distorting color a bit.

Just One More!

2012-01-07T11:26:00.007-05:00

"The most important thing in life is to learn
how to give out love,and to let it come in."
~Morrie Schwartz

Just ONE more little mouse drawing had to come out this morning. I woke with the vision in my head and although I tried to stay focused on other necessary tasks this image wouldn't leave me alone till I penned it out. I think these pieces may lend themselves well as OOAK greeting cards if I can get them secured to a really nice card stock. This adventure isn't over I guess. lol

One of the necessary tasks today (which obviously is being put off till tomorrow) is to take down the Christmas tree. I'm not hating the fact that I have to do this chore, I'm actually thrilled that I have a fake tree. No needles everywhere for 11 months after and no hassle getting it out on time for garbage pick up. NO hassles at all really compared.

No offense, but I dislike real trees in the house at Christmas because I love trees and prefer to enjoy them in their natural state. Also, I could never get it out of my head that there was this majestic tree standing in my living room all severed and dying. I know a lot of people enjoy real trees. I'm just not one of them.

So today and tomorrow I'll slowly take things off the tree and get to enjoy my favorite ornaments once more till next year. I couldn't resist in sharing my absolute favorites with you. Most of these were gifts from dear friends and of course the last one was my newest one given to me by my son. I love watching his mind develop artistically. It's fascinating.

This is my favorite glass ornament from
my collection. It sparkles against the
Christmas lights so pretty.

Love!

Love!

My favorite ornament is hung last
on the tree in a kind of careful ritual.

It's wafer thin.

Without a doubt this is my absolute *FAVORITE* ornament I have ever received. Every year it is hung last and always in the front of the tree, eye level. The production on this piece from fellow ceramist Lesli Kathman is just astounding. I cannot figure out how she not only got the letters to imprint so perfectly on the piece, but how the side shapes are measured perfectly and none of the squares warped. Every inch of each letter is delicate and beautiful. You can tell a graphic designer worked on these. They are just perfectly created. Every year I pull this ornament out I get inspired to make more ceramic art and am inspired to create cleaner and more delicately. I tend to have a very heavy hand with my ceramics so her pieces make me want to use a lighter touch.

My newest ornament (in mixed media)
compliments of my son.

It even has a little pocket where
the snowman's snowman can sit.

Those Paper Stickers...

2012-01-06T14:01:00.005-05:00

Those paper stickers were a ton of fun to play around with. If I didn't have a backlog of commission work I could probably make many more little vignettes. My mind is just wandering off as if it were in a playground.

"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.
I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move."
~Robert Louis Stevenson

"Love is the beauty of the soul."
~ St. Aurelius Augustine

"It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing
while we are thoroughly alive. There are certain things we feel to
be beautiful and good, and we must hunger after them"
~George Eliot

Like I Said....

2012-01-05T08:26:00.005-05:00

Mini finds from the paper bin.

Like I said...I love paper. It's terribly hard for me to resist it in all forms. A bargain bin filled with paper is even more difficult for me to resist. Each piece I purchased yesterday is filling my head with new inspirations and ideas. I love when that happens. Should be interesting to see where the inspirations take me. Now, where is my crow quill?

My favorite sticker from the bunch.
:)

Teeny tiny tags.
The colors....the sparkles....the ribbon....Bliss.

Don't Forget the Chestnuts

2012-01-03T13:30:00.017-05:00

"Sheeza resin in roan.
This one had her chestnuts. Im
just showing her off a bit.

"Don't forget the chestnuts! Did you paint them?"

That's what my model horse friends and I were always saying to each other when we would either get together for our painting/pastel parties or when we would share our latest creations via online forum party with one another. There was a 50-50% chance we did forget to paint them. We said it so often to one another that it has become ritual to say it before sending a horse back to it's owner.

But what happens if the chestnuts aren't sculpted on the horse to begin with? This Weather Girl mold was missing her back chestnuts. I noticed it as I went through my check list of "to dos" before the final photo shoot. Even if the horse is complete this technique is fast and easy rendering absolutely no ill effects. All you need is Liquitex Modeling Paste, a brush, and your paints.

Missing the chestnuts

Modeling Paste dries FAST
and adheres strongly.

I only use Liquitex Modeling Paste as it has marble dust in it which seems to make it very strong. It dries fast and can be painted over in acrylics or oils.

Start by scooping out a bit of paste onto a paper palette. Close the jar up immediately. This paste dries very quick. (Also note that if you have been using it often it's best to skim down the sides, remove old or slightly drying paste, and add a bit of water to the top portion of the paste. Let the water just sit on the paste. You can always mix thoroughly when you go to use it again.) If you don't take precautions with the paste each time you use it it will dry up hard as a rock very quick. Trust me. I know. I've ruined many a jar until I worked on skimming walls with my father over the summer. Drywall buckets have to be carefully scraped and protected otherwise the bucket goes bad really fast. Realizing this fast drying issue was the same problem I've always had with my modeling paste, even when I closed the lid tight, I decided to try the drywall method and it's worked beautifully for months.

Load your paint brush with paste and then place the paste in the area you need to fix. (This paste is also excellent for those rogue resin pinholes that seem to pop up when the piece is completed.) Wash your brush out well and then wait about 10 minutes for the area to dry fully. Paint. Done!

Oh, and if you don't like the look of the chestnut or the size the paste can be picked off if it hasn't had about 24 hours to set up fully. It can also be sanded if it has set up.

Add paste with an ordinary paint brush

Finished and ready for the shoot

Beauty In Decay

2012-01-02T10:33:00.016-05:00

Gourd from Halloween

Opps. I forgot about those gourds sitting near the cabinet. They are just sitting there quietly, minding their own business rotting on the floor. Rot brings forth such beautiful colors. There is beauty in decay. Even with a nauseating headache yesterday I just couldn't leave well enough alone and pulled out my acrylic paints to capture the gourd.

The rest of the mini gourds sit quietly on my floor near the cabinet, minding their own business rotting in preparation for more painting. I may actually keep this one on my desk to see how interesting the decay gets. Within a few hours the gourd changed color and shape and is now greatly sagging on the left side. I'm further inspired.

Drawing the shape in graphite.

Acrylic washes

Blocking in color

A fun comparison

Trying to capture all the blues,
browns and purples in the decayed area.

Finish. My favorite spots are
the light blue areas where the mold started
to form. Mold on decay is fun to paint.

Happy New Years!

2012-01-01T03:00:00.004-05:00

Happy New Years!

Prismacolor Pencil on paper

Seems appropriate that the first drawing of the new year would be a baby. Someone brought their newborn to the party and I tried with all my might to resist drawing her. She was perfect. In the end I just couldn't resist. I definitely didn't capture her "essence" nor do I feel this looks like a 3 week old newborn, but it was still a valiant attempt at a baby which is probably one of the hardest things for me to draw next to architecture.

Happy New Years Eve

2011-12-31T16:41:00.001-05:00

Acrylic on archival bristol board

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

~Lord Alfred Tennyson

Hearts...More of Them

2011-12-30T00:07:00.007-05:00

Glad to see them everywhere in my world. All in one day actually! It's a thrill to see them appear. (Photos were not manipulated.)

Can't believe there's
a heart in my butter

Rice Crispies sending
out the love

Sunshine on my carpet

And of course, the most beautiful one of all:
(And more HEARTS from the past).

Sonnet and Graphite

2011-12-28T15:26:00.007-05:00

Graphite on Xerox paper
Quick Sketch

My beautiful cousin Bianca posted this lovely poem on my Facebook wall this morning. I've been lost in the words ever since. Wanted to share:

Sonnet XVII

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way than this:

where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.
― Pablo Neruda

Graphite on Xerox paper
Quick Sketch.

Beautiful. Perhaps someone loves me without me knowing. The thought inspires me to create....

Sometimes...

2011-12-27T18:39:00.011-05:00

Impromptu drawing of Tony
Done with both hands at once.

Sometimes you just have to stop and thank your lucky stars you have the people in your life that you do. This past Christmas I was fortune enough to be able to spend time with my adopted brother Tony. I've known him since I was in my early teens and I can honestly say that he is one of the most loving, generous and caring people I have ever met. The transition to PA would never have gone as well as it did without him there.

Yeah, cause Tony doesn't just show up to help you unload a whole Budget rental truck cause he's got muscle to spare. Oh no, Tony is there with tissues to dry your eyes and a nice hot cup of fresh coffee and a ton of laughs waiting to sooth your soul. The only words that come to mind as I remember this time: I AM BLESSED.

How fortunate I was able to get this photo (compliments of my friend Tracey). It will be printed and hung in my house somewhere. We are all on a journey together. Some come and go from our lives quickly. Some come in and go out and come back again. How fortunate we are to have all these souls interacting with ours. As this year winds down and Im thinking of all that has transpired in the last twelve months I give thanks for all those wonderful souls in mine.

You are all loved.
Thank you for being in mine and enriching me and helping me in my journey.

My adopted brother Tony

Love Trumps...Of Course, a Puppy Helps Too

2011-12-26T23:11:00.014-05:00

No need to be concerned...
tree is not on fire....just well lit!

A large part of me has grown to hate Christmas. So many people have lost sight of the true meaning which revolves around love and light and for Christians like myself, a birth, which brings hope. Every year remembering Christ's birth brings new hope for a new year. Each year I seem to spend more and more time watching people on the sidelines as they display less than human qualities during this special time. In most cases, I don't even want to draw them. Their energy drains me and they make me feel very uninspired.

This holiday brought a *trunk* full of toys/gifts for my son (from family/friends on both sides) which was carted from one car to another at a drop off point where my x-husband and I meet to exchange our son. It was, to say the least, uninspiring for me. I must admit the x looked uninspired as well. Leggos, Halos, DNS with games and a ton of other boxes including a DVD player all packed into my little car and then all was carted out of the car into the house and placed under the tree to stay until the Epiphany.

The Epiphany....yeah, that's when the Wise Men come to visit the Christ child. Of course I'm not sure what the Wise men would say to such an overload if our house was the one they had to visit. Would they frown? Could they pick the winner in the Family Feud of whom trumped whom this year? Maybe the one wiseman would say, "Hay this cardboard house you put together and color is awesome!" while the other would disagree as he was toggling through the "Rango" scene selections on the latest kid sized portable dvd player. Or maybe they would be pleased to see that in the end the real meaning hasn't been completely lost. There are some things that are just timeless and no matter how new, how shiny or how "latest/greatest" something is kids just instinctively know the real deal and when presented with it they go for it without question. In the end, love in every form prevails and all a child really needs and remembers is the love and the attention you give them. The rest is just extra and frankly, unnecessary.

Love trumps all

Live Sketching...Before Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T11:02:00.009-05:00

The day was spent doing nothing. I forced myself to just sit and do nothing. I have to be honest, it was a most difficult task for me. By 5PM I was going stir crazy and thoughts of sketching people filled my brain. By 6PM I was preparing my little sketching knapsack for adventure. By 7PM I was out the door and headed out to sketch. I put a call out hoping my cousins or friends might be hanging at some bars. I would have dropped by because I need a new place to sketch, but it is a very busy time of year and no one really responded so just the knapsack and I headed for the casino and to the old standby Tommyboy's Bar and Grill.

I had a bit of a breakthrough drawing wise last night. I was able to draw men easier. I don't know why it was so, but it was and I ran with it. I normally shy away from drawing men because women just come easier. Perhaps its because I can relate to the body structure of a woman better and it just comes natural. I don't know all I know is I loved that so many men were sporting facial hair. It was really fun to capture on paper with the Prismacolor pencil.

Here are the best drawings from last night.

Toe Curler...

2011-12-23T13:20:00.004-05:00

Little bird and blue envelopes
what's there not to love about that?

I have a love affair. A love affair with paper. Dangle paper in front of me and I just can't resist following. During my last jaunt to the stores to fulfill my Christmas shopping list I noticed (at checkout) the lovely notecards just waiting for a sucker like me. Blues, pinks, yellows, fancy printing, scalloped edges, boxes with ribbon pulls and something that looked like toile all caught my attention and I just couldn't resist treating myself.

The bird clenched it for me

Forget bags and shoes and clothes or even housewares, paper just makes my toes curl.

Nothing like good paper
for a fresh nib

Two

2011-12-22T11:42:00.004-05:00

Two on the desk

The reality of it is I have not one, but two computers cluttering my already tiny desk. The old one is giving major fits, especially on the keyboard and pad and it still will not run the internet, but it has all my design programs on it (CS2) and I have to wait to get CS5 for the new computer. There is so much stored in my old computer that I need to transfer to the new computer that I'm not sure where to begin. All I know is if I keep both open and work on one then on the other things are sorta getting accomplished.

I will say I hate all the "extras" on the new Mac. Most of it is unnecessary in my opinion and the stuff I came to love on the old Mac (like having a large time clock with date sitting on my desktop screen) is gone. There are a ton of windows that pop open when Im trying to click on links or refresh a page. I had a hell of a time trying to find the side scroll bar till I figured out how to adjust it. Whine. LOL I miss my old computer and fear I will need to take some time during Christmas break to just fiddle with all the "extras" and get familiar with the "Lion" here. One definite perk is that the new machine has a brand new battery which means I can get familiar in front of the fire place or in the kitchen or anywhere I choose since it can travel away from a wall plug. In time Im sure I'll come to love it.

Technically Speaking

2011-12-21T12:11:00.006-05:00

Pen & ink and acrylics on Bristol
FS please email: jenndanza@gmail.com

I have a love hate relationship with technology. I love that my computer is always on and instantly connects me with the world and that I can share what I make with everyone in the world. I hate when I can't get online. There is disbelief, then panic, then madness that ensues. How? Why? What? GRRR!! Help!

I've slowly been telling myself that next year I'd probably have to get a new Mac. This old 10.4 was ancient and things weren't running as smoothly as they once were. "Next year," I kept saying, but the old Mac was done. He wanted out and no amount of coaxing or pleading would bring him back, so, out went the old and in came the new. So far Im not totally liking my new Mac "Lion". I miss the familiarity of my old Mac and its lovely 13" screen. Take away 2" and suddenly I feel closed in and can't see. How will I design with less visual space? :/ I can't seem to focus on the type. Its too small which makes me feel old. Where's my glasses? What?

So along with trying to catch up on orders and dealing with Christmas I will have to make some time soon to fiddle with the "Lion".

Teeny tiny drawings
2" x 2 3/8"

Nine Little Landscapes

2011-12-18T17:22:00.014-05:00

Palettes and canvases ready

First Christmas in the new home required a party. Just a little something to not only say thank you to my family and to my friends who continually helped me out in various way throughout the year, but to officially unveil the house dressed up in it's finest. The tree was lit as was the fireplace and food and drinks were in abundance. There was much talk both light and deep.

I wish all my friends who were invited came. Not all did. I understand. It would have been nice to see everyone again all together under my roof. The retelling (or in some instances telling for the first time) the story of how I came about getting the house (nail biting experience) would have been even better and all the trials and tribulations of new home ownership even funnier. For those that were there though the night went late and it was a night of joy, celebration and nine little paintings for my dear friends and family.

I have to thank my dear, dear friend Char who traveled two hours to celebrate with me. Who has been there continually throughout my new house transition. The night ran as smooth and as well as it did because of you. I cherish our deep and profound conversations. Try and remember, and I will too, that sometimes not getting what you want IS a wonderful stroke of luck.

Okay....who am I kidding? Only another Baja Rosa will help.

Pencil outline on canvas

Blocking in the sky

Blocking in the ground.

Adding trees and details.

Finishes

Finishes with added hanging ribbon

One left as is and propped
on an easel.

There was one person invited that I suspected didn't have a tree so I decided to pop that piece up against a mini easel (which rendered a very cool effect.) Next time I paint a series of mini canvases I will have to definitely offer them with mini easels.

~"Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck." ~ Dalai Lama

Dog Portrait: Step-by-Step

2011-12-13T23:34:00.004-05:00

This dog portrait on canvas took a while to produce. For whatever reason my mind was like a record skipping when it came to the eyes. Although I only documented the eye change once here I actually had to change the eyes three times. Thankfully in the end I did get to finish. I documented the painting process.

Pencil drawing and blocking in color

Blocking in more color

Hated how the eyes were coming along...

....soooo, I nixed them with gesso

Look, deep into my eyes! LOL

Finish. The dog in real life
does look like he's totally smiling
when his mouth is open.

Bar Sketching -Tommyboy's Bar & Grill

2011-12-10T10:37:00.007-05:00

As Im sketching brother says,
"Hay, I think I know him!" He did!

Wings. Beer. My baby brother....and a ton of people to sketch once again at the local bar. The beer was good. The wings, excellent as was the company and the sketching was fun. One theme throughout the night was "hats". Most people were wearing hats which proved to be a challenge to draw since most were floppy fabric hats. I only included the hat sketches I felt were "somewhat" of a success. Most were flops. I just couldn't draw them on the heads. These were some of my favorites from the night.

That's a beret. It was difficult.
I don't feel I succeeded in capturing it, but
I love the way this drawing came out.

"Fedora"

Well?

2011-12-08T14:57:00.002-05:00

Well?
What do you use yours for?
LMOL.

Makeshift studio space in mudroom
while my puppy is being house broken

Oreo

2011-12-06T21:53:00.006-05:00

Oreo!

I had been missing my little girl Kiko very much recently. She passed away a while ago and I felt it was time for a new puppy. The moment I walked into the breeder's house Oreo saw me and I saw him and it was pretty much love at first sight. I was apparently the only visitor he ran to in over 7 months of being in the kennel. He was continually left behind because his markings were not symmetrical. I sorta liked that he was "off" marking wise. It was sorta artsy. LOL

Slowly and patiently I am training him. I hope by the new year he can have a bit more space to run around in cause he is quite the little clown. Another wonderful new addition to our home.

I turned my back for 2 seconds....BaAA!

Feetsies

Tired

Dumpster Diver

2011-12-05T12:36:00.004-05:00

Finished mirror pulled from a dumpster

Ok, I must confess, I love garbage. I love garbage day. I can't resist peeking into people's garbage bins. Sidewalk's lined with discarded junk makes my toes curl.

I am a dumpster diver.

Over the years I have found some amazing pieces of furniture discarded on the sidewalk and in garbage pails. Of course, they are never amazing at first. They need a hell of a lot of tlc most of the time. The best part about discarded pieces is that if the project doesn't turn out you can just throw it back out on the sidewalk next garbage day. Until now I have only picked up stuff from the side of the road. I have never actually had the opportunity to dive head first into a real dumpster until a few weeks ago when my lovely neighbor invited me to throw away things I didn't want in a dumpster she rented. She was clearing out her attic and didn't really fill the large dumpster. Little did I know how wonderful such a thing would be for my artistic sensibilities. I found lace and ceramics and pieces of furniture and many broken things that needed a lot of tlc. Out of the entire dumpster the most choice piece was, without a doubt, an unwanted and discarded mirror. It was old. It was worn. The mirror had pitting but once I had a vision of it painted and sitting in my front room, I had to have it.

I documented the painting process. It took about two days to complete and was quite a lot of fun.

Discarded mirror from dumpster

Spray painting areas with silver

Adding shadow to areas

Painting a base color on the wood

Adding shadow work to the base paint

Finish

Another view

Update

2011-12-02T01:27:00.002-05:00

Lermond's "Farrah" resin

Updates have been few and far between. An entire month flew by but I have finished many lovely pieces in that time frame. These are just a few that were completed. My books open again today for 2 commission spots. If interested please email at: jenndanza@gmail.com All sizes. Thanks!

Gomez resin

Eberl's "Babette" resin

Fraley's "Indigo Beau" resin

Drawing

2011-11-01T18:47:00.008-04:00

Crow quill on xerox paper

There were so many birds at my feeder and the neighbor's feeder today. I decided to set up a drawing station on the ironing board in front of the window in the mudroom and started sketching away. Commissions were put on hold cause I felt I just needed this time to enjoy drawing, and I did enjoy every minute of the experience. There is at least one sketch here that is inspiring something else...something. Not sure what but my mind is in over drive.

Don't TOUCH My Shovel!

2011-10-29T11:37:00.009-04:00

It's October and it's snowing. It's not just a little flurry action either, nope, this is hard core and I'm going to need a shovel.

Well, I do have one. Let's just say I "had" one. I have only part of it and yes, it has become a permanent structure in my back yard near the bistro set and no one is allowed to touch it....again.

My shovel.

Throughout my journey I have had the pleasure of meeting all types of people. The most interesting and comfortable people to be around have been my intuitive friends. I felt at home immediately upon meeting them. I was able to discuss things and events that occurred in my life with them I would never discus in open company. You know, discussions of the unexplainable stuff like angels, ghosts, strange dreams and the nether world.

My one very close friend felt compelled to call me after having had a dream with me in it. She explained a beautiful scene with me and a new man. There was love and laughter and it all sounded great. Of course, I wanted details....but all she could say was that things were shown to her in a kind of sepia tone and things were moving, but exact details were void. But I was hungry to know and pressed on asking was she sure it was ME and was she sure it was MY back yard and what DID she know? She couldn't say anything except she had the "feeling" it was my backyard and that I was extremely happy. Extremely happy is always good for my art.

Weeks later in a text I showed her a picture of the new chicken coop and how lovely it blended in with the house. It looked like it had always been there. The photo captured the entire backside of the house and on the side was an orange shovel propped up against the house. It was the beginning of summer and yes, I admit I was too lazy to run that shovel up into the garage for storage till the winter. But I'm thankful I didn't because she stopped our text short and typed out....WHAT IS THAT???? Apparently it was the ONLY item in her sepia colored vision that WAS colored and that helped place the new man with ME in MY backyard! The shovel somehow gave the prediction weight. It stated that at some point in time "he" would arrive.

Huzzah!!!

So, from that moment on the shovel found a new place of residence. It would remain propped up against my house to bask in the summer sun. I weeded carefully around it and it was never to be moved until the day "he'd" arrive to swoop me off my feet and ride me off into the sunset. Never, ever to be moved until.......my father ran over it with the lawnmower!

Bits of orange plastic lay everywhere. The shovel head discarded in the recycling bin. My eyes filled with tears and my father stood there perplexed. "It's just a shovel" he kept repeating. "I can buy you a new one." I tried to explain to him that THAT one came with the purchase of the house and that one was suppose to be the one and now "he'd" never come. How could he? The shovel was gone! He'd never know which house I was in! His response? "Whose "he"? No more boys for you!"

Weeks went by and in the process of clearing out a part of my rental I found, in a dark corner of a closet, another orange shovel! It was left by the house owners, original to the purchase of the house. Joy! Bliss! I quickly ran it down to the house, propped it up against the siding, and all seemed right with the world again.

But a father can be a formidable force when it comes to his daughter, no matter what the age. Someway, somehow he just knows deep down there is a man connected with this "shovel" and he would prefer me to remain "daddy's little girl" even though I am too old to be called "little". And this loving fatherly force appeared once again when I discussed placing a dowel in the chicken coop for my hens to roost properly at night. He, being a most resourceful artist, grabbed the first thing handy. Yep, he grabbed the shovel and with an underlying glee in his eye started banging away at the head to dislodge the pole for use as a roost.

Shouts of, "Daddy NO!!!!" fell on deaf ears. He was in "the zone" experiencing the "artist high" and on a mission to create the nicest roost possible for my hens. There was no stopping him. The damage was done and the shovel head lay on the ground partially cracked.

Is this really
happening in Oct?

Gingerly, I placed the shovel head against the house and asked that no one touch the shovel again. I said that if the shovel head were gone I couldn't work. "If it's not there I cant draw, paint, sculpt or do anything." At that moment I could see from the look in his eyes that he understood how important it was to me. He understood superstition. Hell, he can't work without his "hat", and he understood that the shovel head had to stay, propped up stupidly against the back of my house all for the sake of my art. As the father of an artist he could accept "superstition" as a reason. Deep down though he knows the real reason and he knows it brings comfort to me, it gives me hope even though the reality is it will probably remain propped forever. I have to believe that although that fact brings a bit of sadness to him it also brings an added comfort for as long as it's propped "he" hasn't arrived and there is nothing additional for my father to worry about and in a sense the shovel has become comfort for both of us serving a strange little purpose. But it's really snowing out there and I'm really going to need a shovel. Anyone got one I could borrow?

Beau resin
being painted to a blue roan appy

Water Water Everywhere

2011-10-26T22:43:00.003-04:00

Storm clouds....many of them

I love rain, but this past fall we've really gotten bombarded with far too much of it. Just when I think my cellar is dry more water seems to creep out from....somewhere. The walls I guess. Everyone around here has the same problem. Water in their basements. Most owners have sump pumps running, others dig trenches. Previous owners of my house dug trenches in the cement to help drain the excess when weather would get bad, but this fall Mother Nature has been relentless.

My lovely down stairs studio now resembles a dungeon. It's cold, damp and just plain uninviting. I've been trying to embrace the fact that this is how it will be during certain times of the year but I am having difficulty wrapping my brain around working with the dampness.

Poor easel waiting
to get back to work

Most of my work has been taking place in my office/studio. But as delicate and involved projects come to a close and new ideas for canvas work surface it's time to face all that water for good.

German Shepherd: A Visual Step-By-Step

2011-10-25T19:21:00.003-04:00

Laying out the drawing
in colored pencil

I've been consumed by acrylics recently. Illustrations and portraits have encompassed my thoughts. I've learned its best to just sit down, pull out the paints and let the ideas flow when my mind can't think of anything else but painting on a flat surface. This time around I was enticed by the nuance of browns, blacks and blues within the portrait of a German Shepherd. I started capturing the process early on and was pleased with the end result.

This portrait was painted in acrylic on archival bristol.

Blocking in main color.

Slowly defining more shape.

Defining more shapes and color.

Trying to capture the
structure of the actual dog.
l believe he looked most like the real dog here.

More refinement of structure.

Honing in on details.

The finish ready for presentation.

Open: Commission Books. & A Taste Of Fall

2011-10-03T11:53:00.004-04:00

Wait...what?

Fall is here. The moment the calendar turned to October 1st it got freezing cold. Honestly, I could really use at least one more month of hot July weather and a few more dips in a swimming pool. I feel as if winter was just here.

Fall and winter in the big city is much different than in the country. In the city everything just gets cold and the trees turn brown and the leaves fall and it looks depressing. Here in the country the trees slowly turn color and then stay brilliant for about a week and then fall. The best part is that once they fall the woods floor is a beautiful carpet of color to walk on. Im looking forward to those walks in the woods. Also decorating the house is more fun. Of course I was perplexed by the way they do business in the country. You certainly wouldn't see this type of monitary exchange in Brooklyn! LOL.

Lastly, commission books are now open for the month of Oct. Spots are limited. Please email me at: jenndanza@gmail.com if interested. All sizes are being accepted. Was able to get a Mini Lonestar commission into the studio but would love to paint a few more up if you are interested. I loved painting the big guy up and the little one will be like potato chips for me.

Most recent commission
currently in progress

Twenty Some Odd Days

2011-09-27T11:26:00.007-04:00

Lynn Fraley Draft stallion
being painted a bay roan.

It's been twenty some odd days since I updated the blog. Most of this time has been spent on commissions and on turning parts of the new home I've been ignoring into a "house". A place where we can feel warm and cozy and where brand new memories can really and truly take hold. Up until this point I was just unpacking.

The town of Nanticoke, PA.
Sept 2011 flood.

The town of Nanticoke, PA.
Sept 2011 flood.

This urning to make my home truly warm and inviting came about after our valley got flooded. The flooding made National news. Seeing parts the town slowly getting enveloped in water was strange. Walking to the edge of the water and seeing people's belongings already ruined by flood waters that, in low lying areas already reached the tip of the ceilings on the first floor by the second day of flooding, made me thankful for living on a hill and thankful for all that I have received. It was time to stop procrastinating and complaining about all the work I had to do in the house because thankfully I didn't have to muck out and rebuild my home. I just had to paint it.

Such work though does take time and the time slot it ripped into was blogging time. But commissions come in, commissions go out. Many commission requests this time around have been for the color roan. Bay roan and blue roan have been the most popular colors requested and thankfully I love painting them. Laying hair down one spec at a time is rather meditative. Of course, after a month of roan work I am now craving to paint a plain ol' chestnut/sorrel. So if you have that color in mind for a stablemate sized piece let me know. You've got a spot on the commission books!

Well, the roans are calling me!

A desk full of roans and
a dappled rose grey in the mix.

SM sized mare
dappled rose grey
Will be a sales item soon.

"Winter" plate from the
"Four Seasons" illustration project.

New Edition to the Studio

2011-09-01T01:23:00.012-04:00

Favorite jacket ruined

I love mice!
I love to draw them with clothes on and I love to draw them with clothes off. I'll draw them on paper, and I'll draw them on porcelain and I'll even sculpt them in clay, but when I find out there is a wild mouse in my house I sorta freak. Not cause I'm afraid of them, they are actually cute when the scamper about my things in the house. No, I'm more afraid of the damage they'll cause and the diseases they may carry. I've tried traps (shiver), poison (shiver) and a myriad of other methods I care not to mention in order to get rid of them from a house. In the end the best method for keeping mice out of the house is a cat.

For the first time since I was a child I'm sharing my home with a cat. This was something completely unplanned for both me and for the cat. See, her owner's new landlord refused to let them keep her. And see those little holes in my pocket there? Yeah, only one animal can make precision holes like that and that animal is a mouse. The little critter got the entire seam on my favorite "bird" jacket. Worn while walking my dog Kiko and while handling my chickens this jacket was one of those things I just couldn't forget from Brooklyn when I left. That pocket has held many treats in it's day. It's one of those cozy oversized ugly pieces of clothing you hope no one sees you in on the street if you have to take garbage out, but it's the first jacket you reach for when the temperatures chill. In a split second I realized I needed a cat and in the same instance her owners realized she needed a new home. It became a win win situation and a new edition to the studio.

Naturally once the cat came out of her shell and we bonded a whole slew of drawings ensued. I had forgotten how very much fun cats are to draw. They can put their bodies into all sorts of interesting shapes. Even their heads are a lovely shape to draw. Of course "Tigger" or "Ms. Tig Tig" as she seems to have been named liked petting more and drawing less. Despite her trying to teach me new ways to procrastinate I did jot down a few quick sketches.

Ms. Tig Tig
First Day new Home

No, no...lets procrastinate now

Overall, she's a lovely new edition to our home and studio. A very calming and quiet soul who is keeping me company as I work. I love having company in the studio. :)

Requests....

2011-08-16T13:32:00.007-04:00

Been burning the midnight oil these days on commissions and other various projects I've tacked onto my already hectic days. Thought a few photos would say more than I ever could about what is going on studio wise here.

I also found it cute that the last photo will probably be the most challenging of my current projects. Yes, that is a sketch of Spongebob. My son has requested a Spongebob mural (not small...but big) on his wall. Of course, I dabbled with a few sketches already, but those were quickly and forcefully shot down by my little art director. I've been given a new "revised" sketch to follow. When I asked what had happened to Patrick, Spongebob's partner in all things fun and frolicy, I was advised to "Look inside the pineapple. That's where Patrick is! Can't you see him?" LOL

Without a doubt, it will be a challenging project. I hope I do ok. I must admit. I'm a bit nervous. He's going to be a tough client. =:oo

Eberl "Babette" resin
being painted a blue roan.

Two Rose "Working Girl" resins
sportin' different coats

Eberl "Weather Girl" in
dappled bay.

Future sales pieces
currently in progress

Request for mural

A Tree...Yep, in Brooklyn

2011-08-11T22:18:00.004-04:00

Sketch done in charcoal

I love trees.

I love drawing them, sculpting them, painting them, climbing them and sitting under/near/around them. The best part about moving back to PA is that I get to be near as many trees as my little heart and head can handle. How strange that I had to come BACK into Brooklyn to yep...paint a tree on someones wall. It was fun. It was challenging and it was strange to be back. I've come to the conclusion that I don't miss Brooklyn (well some of the people and some of the food. Pizza and sushi just aren't the same in PA. I actually don't even know WHERE to get sushi in PA to be honest. It was heaven to have some again though.) I also came to the conclusion that no matter what the medium or surface I love reproducing trees.

Transferring the tree on the wall
with white chalk.

Blocking in color.

This tree was for a baby girl's nursery (who will be born soon). The basic process is sketch in pencil or charcoal, map out in chalk on a freshly painted wall, block in color then detail everything. The entire mural, including name in ribbon script and seven butterflies took about eight hours, good help from cousin Angela, many kisses from Mario (the pet dog), and the never ending hope we'd meet neighbor Steve Buscemi. The later never happened but that's ok as I couldn't seem to pull myself away from all those puppy kisses once I left the nursery anyway. Overall, the tree that I drew in Brooklyn proved to be a creative delight.

Details. Mural was
too big to fit in the photo frame.

More Bar Sketching

2011-08-06T18:45:00.016-04:00

Last night proved to be another successful live sketching night at Tommyboy's Bar & Grill. Perhaps it was the company of my very best friend Abbigail whom I've known since my first week of college that made drawing so easy. Perhaps it was the wings? I have been craving them for several weeks now. Perhaps it was the creative vibe that permeated through the room from Three Imaginary Boys...Abbi and her husband John's nephews. They played their hearts out and their drive was infectious.

I stayed out much later than I ever anticipated and got a TON of great sketches. My sketching was on which made up for all the disasters that happened in the studio earlier in the day, including spilling an entire jar of linseed oil everywhere on my desk and carpet in the office. Thankfully I've learned to leave serious artwork alone when I get clumsy.

Well, here are the best sketches from the night:

He was so serious.
Must have had a bad day?

Loved his head and neck.

There was a theme that kept repeating itself during this session and that was skulls. I had to really concentrate on skulls in order to get the drawings correct for both balding men and for those wearing hats. It all started with this guy who was bald. His head had a great shape to it and he was thin so the neck was all muscle which meant I couldn't flub anything. I had to draw this guy spot on. In an instance like this you have to visualize the skeleton underneath the skin. I think I captured the shape well. This is my second favorite drawing from the night.

She had the cutest pigtails

A hat with glasses proved
to be a challenge.

A different type of forehead

Bouncy!

I couldn't resist drawing her. Her bra was too tight and her camisole too small which caused an interesting effect in her chest to draw. It was line upon curve, upon line. She moved too much though and was way too bouncy to keep up with. I stopped struggling to capture the line when she asked the female bartender to pop a Beef Jerky down her cleavage. Sorta took the fine art aspect out of it and I couldn't help but wonder if the female bartender got tipped well when all was said and done.

Loved the tuft. Had to draw it

She was GREAT to draw.
Completely Reubenesque.
She left too soon.

My favorite drawing
of the night. She was so graceful

Awww...my cowboy!!
This was by FAR the most difficult
person to draw. That HAT...so hard to draw!!!

Hard to capture him.
Im still undecided about whether
this was a success.

Farrah is alive and well
in Nanticoke!

And last but not least, the best body to draw in the entire place last night belonged to this girl:

Full drawing

She had beautiful form and a gracefulness that I couldn't ignore. I believe I captured her dead on. She was such a pleasure to draw. Everyone was a pleasure to draw. Thank you. :)

At the Casino

2011-08-04T14:52:00.004-04:00

So my baby brother and his lovely fiance came in for a visit. There is nothing I love more than visitors, most esp. my baby brother. When he visits it's a constant stream of laughing and hi jinx between us. And this last visit left me with sides hurting. We managed to find our way up to the casino and as is the norm with me I wasn't without my sketchbook. These were the best three from the session.

At the slot machine

Playing craps
he looked very frustrated

He looked absolutely bored
to tears sitting
at that machine.

I also managed to finish a couple of horses. Thought I'd share those too. If you find favor with these pieces please note that my commission books have been opening every 1st week of the month. Secure a spot and have your favorite resin painted by me. These openings are announced on both my Facebook page and my Yahoo News group. Please be sure to check them both out!

Finished "Telsa" commission

Maureen Love foal customized in bay

A Peek...

2011-07-29T15:56:00.002-04:00

A Peek at the studio desk:

...and a peek at a little bouquet that has been completely inspiring me all week. There is just something lovely about a clunky beautifully shaped bottle on antique lace with Queen Ann's Lace shoved inside. Just does something to my creativity.

The Birth of Painting Clothes

2011-07-26T22:43:00.010-04:00

Charcoal on paper

Francesco: "Mommy why is that sweater still hanging on the clothes line?"
Me: "Cause it is."
Francesco: " Is it yours?"
Me: "It isn't."
Francesco: "You should take it down it's night time now."
Me: "Let it hang just a little while longer."

It has hung there for 5 days now. A last attempt at trying to get it clean. It has hung through the rain and through the scorching heat and it has managed to remain unscathed even though a hundred or more birds have flown over it to get to the neighbor's feeder. It hangs with stains that can never be removed. They are permanent. Made by accident in the laundry the very first time it was ever washed. Hidden in a corner of the basement for months so no one would know. Thrown in the rental truck when we moved so no one would know.

No one knows.

One day I may decide to wear it even though it is enormously too large for me. I will wear it while painting and the ill marks will be accompanied by spatters of paint. Colorful, vibrant, and funny splatters of paint will pair up with the marks and it will be glorious and it will help create beautiful art. It will become my lucky sweater.

Until then though, I'll let it hang.

Full Steam

2011-07-22T13:32:00.003-04:00

Weather Girl first layers

It's full steam ahead here with commissions. I've been enchanted by Brigitte Eberl's new Breyer mold "Weather Girl". I just love this mold. Every part of her is so well sculpted and beautiful. I love it so much I opened up my books in order to paint another. This one is going bay with some faint dapples and some minimal whites.

The Babette is beautiful too. Heavy though and Im finding I have to work on one half of her body and let it dry before working on the other portion. She's just too heavy to work with in any other fashion. Well, things are drying very fast in this heat so back to work.

Weather Girl with a few more layers

The drying station...

Summer Plate

2011-07-19T13:14:00.005-04:00

Summer Plate with
"wheat" sample

I tend to juggle many different projects all at once. It keeps me on my toes creatively and keeps inspiration at an all time high. After finishing a Telsa resin and nearing finish on two Working Girl resins I got the urge (and inspiration) to revisit the huge problem area in the one Four Season plate I've titled "Summer".

The lower portion of flowers and wheat proved to be difficult right from the sketching phase where I just scribbled in something just to have that area covered with pencil marks. I always say that I'll figure it out later on and sometimes such areas never find finish, but last Thurs and Friday were the days I felt inspired and decided to tackle this area.

I'm very glad I decided to create a sample of wheat on a piece of scrap bristol. Having the sample nearby and having the process still fresh in my mind helped during the 3rd and 4th layers of the plate. As you can see, there was a problem with blocking in color and form right from the start, but I managed to tame it and I like the look. It isn't as covered with wheat and stalks as I originally envisioned, but I believe with all the activity on the bottom of the illustration a simpler handling was what this area needed.

Left hand side
with first layers

Several layers later
wheat begins to form

Upper portion now a problem

Of course, once areas come closer to finish the remaining areas start to look bad and the upper portion of clouds now need serious attention. Clouds are difficult to paint. I was fortunate enough to see and quickly capture some incredible clouds hanging over the house the other day. I will keep them on my Blackberry and refer to them as I flesh out the form and color in the upper left hand portion of this illustration. I couldn't ask for more perfect clouds.

As this piece nears completion I'll start on the "Winter" plate and handle it the very same way. Many layers of washes and then acrylics and then finishing touches in oil.

Perfect "live" reference

"Winter" plate getting taped
and prepped for sepia washes

Bar Sketching

2011-07-16T08:16:00.005-04:00

Big hair, up high. Loved that
her cheeks and neck became one.

So what does an artist do on a Friday night when there is no one around and her son is partying in Brooklyn? (Yes, he was at a sleep over party having a tremendous time with his cousins). We gather pencils, pens and other drawing items and hit crowded places to sketch people. The fact that I wanted a cold beer prompted my trip to the local bar.

Last night I was very interested in people's faces and capturing their features. We all have two eyes, a nose, a mouth, ears and etc., but the combination of how these elements are placed together vary greatly which make up an individual. Capturing that in live time with people moving and watching and wondering (and getting drunk) can be difficult, but very fun. Here are some of the better sketches from last night at the bar.

Tommyboy's, Nanticoke PA

Shape of his neck
was fun to draw.

Her hair and eye lashes
intrigued me and I had to draw her.

Sometimes when people
shift positions in a chair
it creates interesting lines.

Bar view.
Way too much change/movement so I
quickly bagged this idea and centered in
on just capturing faces.

He knew something was up.
He wasn't pleased and kept an eye on me.

Yeah, people sometimes get pissed about being drawn. I've never understood that, but an angry person is something I have to contend with from time to time. This guy was quickly sketched and I avoided making any more eye contact with him. Overall the bar was a very pleasant one to sketch in and no one really bothered me. A few were curious and sent a designated person over to ask what I was doing. News quickly spread throughout the bar. That happens too.

Arms crossed was
difficult to capture.

Guy with the big gold chain
knew something was up too.
He kept a close watch.

Loved how elongated his
face was. The goatee accentuated the features

Yeah, papa had a
rockin' neck!

And, that was that. I'm currently searching out for another bar to sketch in maybe next week. A bar is good since people move in and out of view, but stay long enough to be captured on paper. This was just way too fun not to do again.

Random

2011-07-13T12:54:00.003-04:00

Second layer of pigments

It's been a week of random happenings and creating. In trying to unify this thread all I can come up with is...it's all rather random. From painting a lovely Sarah Mink medallion, to catching a hilltop race in the area, to hearts everywhere, it's all been a mixture of randomness. So I'll just share with you the photos and spare you a lengthy thread.

Finished Mink medallion
portrait of a childhood horse I once knew.

Giant's Despair.
I liked this little blue car.

Went to the race a second day
but was continually getting interrupted
so only one drawing exists from this excursion.

Out of all the hearts seen
recently this was my favorite.

After the Vacation: Work

2011-07-08T21:06:00.003-04:00

My father laying in
hex wire in the coop.

Back to work...or at least I say it's work but it's not really work cause I do enjoy what I do. It's rarely a chore. It's rarely "work" and the best part is I get to work at home. Of course working from home has it's drawbacks. There are always many interruptions during the day. Some good, some not so good. I had been waiting a couple of weeks to build the chicken coop with my father. My poor girls were hanging out in the 2 car garage I own. It wasn't a bad accommodation, but it certainly wasn't the best. So when dad came over with tools in hand I dropped studio work to help.

I have to say it was very interesting to watch every part being built. I loved watching him work too. He was so careful with every part making sure it was square and perfect. In the process of all this cutting and building I began to have ideas about the discarded wood from the project. The wood was nicely weathered and I could picture something to hang. Here is what transpired from that vision. Fun...nothing serious.

Inspired by cut pieces
of weathered wood

Hen painted on with acrylics

Topped off with a bow
ready to hang

The coop took about a day to build and once finished one chicken loved it the other hated it. So I guess you can't please everyone all the time, even hens. Studio work resumed and I'm happy to say I made lovely progress on a wild patterned Working Girl resin. In general dry pigments, acrylics, and oils are placed on the piece first. Then the white pattern is layered on with acrylics. It will take approx 20 or more layers of white to get this pattern perfect. I'm about half way there at this stage.

Reference used for the pattern
on Working Girl

Color blocked in

After many layers
of white

Getting Away

2011-06-29T05:25:00.012-04:00

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

For half a week I really tossed and turned over the idea of just dropping everything and taking a mini vacation. An invite was extended and the pressure was on to make a decision. Fresh from moving, with boxes lying just about everywhere in the house and commissions being held at bay on the shelves, I just couldn't see the logic in going. There was just too much to do. But then I saw the pictures Francesco was drawing. They weren't his normal happy drawings. They had a touch of melancholy to them and way too much black grey and blue color to them. It was at that moment I decided that everything could take a back seat. It was apparent both Francesco and I needed a break and some time to laugh and just enjoy, so when my adopted brother Tony suggested I come down with his friends to enjoy 2 days at Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, I finally accepted.

I don't think I've laughed as much and as hard as I did this past weekend. Honestly, I think I was a teenager the last time I laughed so hard and for so long. Every day brought hi jinx and laughter for both me and Francesco. The sand, sun, waves and smiles on my son were just what I needed to rejuvenate my spirit. Of course, I never go anywhere without my sketchbook and there were so many interesting bodies to draw at the beach. I was in overload. These were some of my favorite from the vacation:

Sketches on the Beach of Rehoboth

LOVED his belly
and loved the fact that he was eating

Fun angle to draw

She was rockin' these
huge sunglasses

Loved the hat/glasses combo

All in all, it was the right decision. We had so much fun and I am personally ready to tackle everything in the studio and the house. I'm even ready to do battle with the push mower again.

That one totally
snuck up on us!

Workbench & Sketchbook

2011-06-25T16:31:00.003-04:00

View from the side
of the lake at Francis Slocum Park

Today I visited Francis Slocum Park with my son and good friends. It was nice to get out and be with people and just flesh out a few surroundings. I was only able to get a few sketches in the book. Seemed rude to just sit there and draw all day but I honestly could have if given the opportunity.

I seem to remember drawing this same view over 20 years ago when I went to Marywood College. I may have to try and find the old sketchbook I think the view is in. It would be fun to compare how the view has changed artistically for me. There were many people fishing today too. These two intrigued me and I tried to flesh them out discretely.

Love the belly
That was fun to draw

Heafty arms...fun!

Work has begun in the studios once again. Felt good to be back at the drafting table. I have several pieces being worked on at once but was very excited about painting bay so I started both the Telsa and the Working Girl resins. Both will be bay (or bay with white patterning.) All in all, work is going smoothly and I'm very happy with the new studio.

Working Girl resin
Will be bay tobiano with wild cat tracks

Telsa resin
Will be bay

Traveling On

2011-06-21T17:03:00.006-04:00

My most prized china
An "Excalibur" by Sarah Mink
Riding safely right next to me.

So the big move to the new home/studio came and went this past weekend and I survived. I survived driving a rental truck not only on Route 80, but I made it through the narrow streets of Brooklyn. I was in an utter panic when I found out I couldn't take the spacious Belt Parkway to the Verrizano Bridge. Nope. Commercial vehicles are not allowed. I had to travel under the elevated train tracks with the rest of the commercial traffic. I did it. I survived and didn't kill myself or the truck or any of the other drivers/pedestrians in the process.

My collection of fine china and artist resins also survived of which I am thankful because I really didn't pack most properly. I packed in a hurry and was very cheap with the bubble wrap. Murphy really could have had a field day with me but held back for whatever thankful reason. The only thing that did break was a beautiful hand blown glass vase my grandmother purchased for me the Christmas before she passed. THAT was packed properly and broke. I have decided to use parts of it in a mosaic project and I may melt some in future pottery projects.

I'm giving credit to all this good fortune in travel to my little kiln buddy "Blueboo" the kiln guardian who rode front and center the entire trip. Where ever the kilns are he is and with my main kiln in the back it was fitting he sit nice and easy in in the cab. Driving that truck sucked. He made it easier because he was a pleasure to look at during the long trip. Nothing like a familiar face to help ease a difficult transition. Speaking of familiar faces I cannot go any further here with my "trip experience" without giving a proper thank you to my adopted brother Tony whom I've known (and my family has known) since I was a teenager. He was the familiar face waiting at the house for me. He was ready, willing and able (and bearing gifts of fresh coffee) to help me unpack. From the bottom of my heart I thank him. God has placed some wonderful people in my life and Tony has been huge in the transition of my new life. Thank you bro!

After the long journey I noticed....
....yep, a heart on the ground.

But packing and unpacking a truck is only one part of the process. Unpacking the unpacked boxes is another and the urge to fill these shelves was great so the entire weekend was spent filling them. I'm actually rather shocked I've filled most of the shelves up already. I'm honestly not sure where I put all this stuff in the Brooklyn home. It's nice to see it properly set up in the new studio though. I'm very inspired seeing all of it in a new space. I want to use it all/paint it all now. I took a ton of photos to document the process. One day I'll look back and think how the hell all this managed to come into place the way it did. Here are some of the best shots:

Shots of the New Studio

Shelves for storing china wares

The main drafting table

More Storage.
PS...that is an unpainted factory finish and he's fs.

Resin storage

"Blueboo" in his new spot
quietly guarding the kilns

The perfect place for Emile.
Scared the crap out of my mom.
Hehee

Of course, the chickens also made the trip from Brooklyn to PA and were not happy about their journey or their accommodations....at ALL! They protested quite loudly and I am scrambling to make them a proper coop. I just couldn't fit their old one in the van or the car. Even after having taken it apart the boards were just too long and honestly, I was just too tired to worry about it at that point. The gals will get a nice new coop now. Until then though, I'm getting major stink eye from them. Some type of worms should soothe relations over.

I will not even
TOUCH the floor here!

All kidding aside, it's good to be home. Let the creativity begin. :)

Folded, Boxed....Ready....

2011-06-16T00:21:00.002-04:00

My kiln guardian waiting
patiently for the move

I never noticed how much noise the fluorescent lights make in the basement until tonight when everything recognizable in the studio was packed and folded and either pushed to the side or taken to the hallway. It was so empty without my stuff. I sat in the middle of that basement completely exhausted and thinking that despite the overflow (on a monthly basis) from the sewer I did manage to created many beautiful pieces of art in this basement. Now a new basement awaits and I am anxious to get my stuff in the new home. Friday truly can't come soon enough.

Everything folded and ready

There is one thing I will miss. I will miss my china cabinet. It was a lovely antique but sadly there is just no way to get it out of the house so I will leave it and hope something nice comes along for me to display my show string. Which, I must admit, was quickly placed in two crates. I plan on keeping them with me in the front seat of the truck. Hopefully they will arrive at their new home unscathed.
Bye china cabinet

The Reality Of It All....

2011-06-11T20:47:00.006-04:00

I know....more wrong doings....
I know.

The reality of it all is packing up 2 studios and a life.....stinks. I'm trying my best to not crash as commissions keep coming in and work waits. I keep trying to hold it together as boxes give (as do crates with very expensive resins) and am thinking that after next week all should be well. All will be in place and I can finally rest for good in my new home in PA.

Of course, all this moving and shifting hasn't been without damage. Leaving all my "soon to be cast" wax sculptures in the hot car for half a day was a very, very grave mistake. Every single one melted. The worst to suffer was my Ophelia sculpture. I made such good progress on her and was excited to see her come to fruition later this summer. She is nothing but a lump now. It's gruesome to look at and best to scrap what is here and just start over to be honest. All that work....all gone.

Squished all around

But there have been some very quiet and rewarding moments in all this transition. Laundry blowing in the breeze seemed to satisfy on many levels today. Not quite sure if it were the multitude of birds flying around the yard, the laundry itself that pleased or the baby bunny who was very entertained watching me as I hung these curtains out to dry that brought a simple but happy calm. In any case, I'm taking the good with the bad and looking forward to next week when I'm in the new home and PA bound for good.

Classic
White on white in a sea of green

More Odd Finds....The Wetbox.

2011-06-06T23:31:00.007-04:00

He's really furry now.

As I continue to pack up the basement studio I continue to find odd things. Things like the wetbox I forgot about. A wetbox is a covered box filled with a bit of dried plaster which is kept moist and is used as a holding station for ceramic pieces waiting to be cleaned or waiting for parts, like tails, to be added to them at a slightly later date. The box keeps everything moist. Turns out I let all these pieces wait a little too long. Two years two long I think. This is apparently what happens to porcelain when it's left in a wetbox and forgotten over a couple of years. They get strangely furry. Ahh well....

Would have been a cute dumbo rat sculpt.

Wetbox complete with dried up pieces

In any case, I had to toss everything in the trash. I tossed, but didn't look.

On a happier note, I have finished the "Oliver" resin and wanted to share him with you. This is the third Oliver I've painted and I can't seem to get enough of this little one. He's quite a lot of fun to paint. My new favorite resin to play with.

Sales item coming soon.
Sale announced on both Yahoo and
my official Facebook page.

Video: Quick Head Study

2011-06-02T16:49:00.005-04:00

(More video as I get many requests for this.) One studio is completely packed and ready for it's new home. The other studio (basement) is taking a bit longer to pack up as it served many purposes for me including photo studio, sculpting studio, ceramics studio, oil painting studio, and all around model horse industry studio which catered to chopping, hacking and an all around mess anytime I sat down with a horse. I took a break today and decided to shoot a quick video of a horse head. Many supplies are already packed so I grabbed whatever was closest.

Quick Fjord head study

Strange

2011-06-01T17:10:00.002-04:00

THE desk without anything
inside is creepy.

It's a day of strange here.

That is the word to describe the feeling of seeing my well worn desk without it's paints, brushes, pens, pencils, crow quills and endless pieces of inspiration taped to every surface. Strange. I can't look for too long cause it starts to upset me. I need to get this desk in it's new home quickly. That will happen this weekend thankfully.

Stranger still was the fortune I got when I opened the fortune cookie. All I can say is, "Universe, yes please, with sugar on top."

The cookie knows....lol

Antique Finds

2011-05-31T13:37:00.016-04:00

Antique chair for the office
with a lovely heart-like carving

It was a beautiful weekend.
I could probably just end the entry right there, but there is always inspiration packed into even the most simple and beautiful of days and I love sharing that inspiration.

My father has been watching out for me and fixing things in the new house. I arrive for the weekend and there are just things done. Things I either couldn't get to from the last visit or things he felt doing would save me time. He's even spared me the task of cutting the grass.

Bless him.

The best part of this weekend was having him help me with an antique chair I found for my new office. It was absolutely perfect in every sense for me. Perfect even down to the lovely carving of the heart-like shape on the backrest. It did, however, need repair and we went right to work gluing the seat back together solid. Spending such a quiet moment with my father in his workshop was soothing, rejuvenating and simply put, lovely. No amount of money could buy that moment. None. I hold it forever now and also walk away knowing how to fix a chair should I ever need to do that again.

Chair glued and clamped

The antique chair wasn't the only "old" find I stumbled upon this past weekend. An antique mouse trap thrown in a trash heap (yes, it's true I can't resist a good trash heap) was also a choice find and the moment I realized what it was lying there in that heap of junk my heart raced and my imagination just went wild. There was no doubt, I was taking that trap! For the entire weekend I marveled at it's barbaric simplicity. Even the petrified pieces of cheese in the hollows brought wonder. It also sparked some drawings. I'm sharing the best one from the session.

Antique mouse trap
now on display in my new office

"The Lesson"
Pencil and watercolor on paper

Shelves....glorious shelves!
Which, btw previous owners
had installed. They must
have known I was coming.

Everything else is coming together in the new home. Second floor is painted and my office awaits my secretary desk and hutch. The basement studio space awaits my drafting table and the many rolling bins I own for supply storage. My mind is wandering on this space and I'm finding it very difficult to even draw here in Brooklyn. This past weekend just did me in so I've decided to pack it all in and transport both studios (including furniture) fully this coming weekend. I have to close shop but in the long run it's probably best. I'm already comfortable working on art in the new home so the moment the desks are reopened I'll be out the starting gate. Everything is ready. It just needs a few more things and of course it needs me.

I Found A Box....

2011-05-27T00:09:00.005-04:00

I found yet another gem in the studio storage room. A box containing nothing but old sketchbooks. What fun! I couldn't resist taking a few shots from within a few of the books. What an amazing journey each book revealed. It's good to look back and compare work then to now.

The box was shoved
in a corner on the floor.

Markers are fun.

Apparently he said, "Urg".
Dude, I hear ya!

I was onto something here!

Now, the next three are odd. I have no IDEA why I was exploring this subject matter and to top it all off, exploring it with mice. It's actually been bothering me all day that I found this exploration in the one book. I can't recall if the image just came to mind and wouldn't cease tormenting me till I drew it or if I was trying to hone in on human expression in an animal. Anyway, they are sad to say the least.

But thankfully I bounce right back and get on with the happy stuff and there was certainly a lot of it in these books. I found so many card designs and "mice" drawings that were crude but on their way to becoming something formidable. These books were done right after my very first illustration gig and long before I got to work on Milly & Tug. Now do I chuck them or cart them with me to PA? Yet another box to cart. I'm on the fence.

Happy Birthday!

Always happy to draw a tree

Pen on paper

More Finds....

2011-05-26T00:56:00.004-04:00

Deep within the storage room was a drawer filled with old illustrations. What a trip to revisit these pieces. Thought it would be fun to share them. My style kept changing during this period. I liked the look and feel of watercolors, but was still hanging onto the thickness of ink and my obsession with Authur Rackham.

I think there is room
for at least one more!

Mmm, blueberry pie.

I don't remember why this little
beetle was getting yelled at.

You should be centering in
on how lovely the spots on the neck came out
not how crappy the hands are drawn.

Marvel at how tiny!
LOL

Orange, it's what's
in this picture.

Entire piece was created just cause I wanted to
draw my grandmother's antique mohair chairs with the tassels

As this picture progressed, the creep
factor got super high so
I abandoned it.

I drew this idea several times.
This finish was the one I chucked in the corner