March 2012

This month's Creative Every Day focus is mixed media, which I am excited about...and a little nervous...it is always a little stressful starting something new.  Deep breaths.  So my immediate thoughts are...I would like to keep working with the figurative pieces...I just love sitting and drawing faces.  But what if I draw them on a collaged background?  Or what if I collage on top?  Add some fibers?  Create some small altar style pieces?  Not sure what direction I want to go in.  I have some of my 4x4 canvases ready...going to start creating some surface textures, maybe add some collage elements...and see where it takes me.


Update...3-6-12...I haven't been using those little canvases...gonna work 5x7 for this month's theme.  I like the consistency in keeping everything the same size and letting the changes occur in the actual work.  So far I am starting to add in some elements that will be relevant to the next ANE show (Edgar Allan Poe), and also allow at least one element to continue into the next piece, which you would hopefully notice when you look at the work in sequence.  Just some thoughts...

Update...3-16-12...loving these so far.  Each piece presents a new challenge/opportunity to experiment...just have fun.  What I seem to be doing is starting off with a pencil sketch, usually in the earlier part of the day, and then approaching the mixed media portion later in the afternoon or evening.  Sometimes I leave the figure on the page, but the last few pieces I have cut it out and adhered it to a canvas panel board, something that can take the glue and paint better than regular paper.  I have already started my piece for 3-17-12, I am hoping to have my friend Jessie teach me some basic digital art techniques so I can create at least one digital work based on this piece.  This will be pretty new to me...I have a love/hate relationship with PhotoShop and Macs (mostly due to lack of experience)...should be interesting!  Stay tuned!

Update 3-29-12...so...digital art still eludes me.  I somehow just haven't made that happen...but I reckon the computer isn't going anywhere, so I can always revisit this at a later date.  So...the pieces are getting...a little sparkly.  I maintained the Poe theme through the ANE show, then I left the cat and bird cage motifs and moved forward with my large-eyed figures.  Enter rhinestones and sequins, ahhhh...I knew you would not be far!  So I am working on a triptych right now for #s 89-91...never know where this will go...

Update 4-1-12...all done!  Didn't get too post the last CED's and portrait last night due to technical difficulties...but all done!