The Blue in Black

I've made it to the ninth prompt which is Switzerland. I simply can't express how much I am getting from this exercise.  I really needed just such a diversion and maybe that is why I've immersed myself in it. 


I snapped this one in-progress shot because I wasn't sure if what I was doing was going to work or not and I wanted a visual for my memory. It worked just as my muse suggested and I thought you might think seeing the blue in black interesting as well.  


Here is the reference photo and if you look closely, you can see part of his signature in red in the lower right corner.  I usually sign with a pen but always painted my signature when oil painting. Today, I followed Mr Hodler's lead and used my brush with fluid red oxide. I like it. 


With a little energy, I plan to be back tomorrow with photos of all 9 of the spreads to share how my cards are attached in the book. 
♥

My First Nude

go to the tab/page for Postcard Challenge to see all cards
in chronological order and full size

Well well, the story is getting juicy. And I'm still crazy about this project.  Just want to tell you that all of the artist mentioned are real. Even the unknown, Sharon Tomlinson :0)  If you Google their names, you will discover all sorts of interesting art history.


I'm now working on week 9, Switzerland and making huge progress on the pages that hold the cards. I'm very anxious to share those pages as soon as I get photos.
♥    

Peek at next card in progress

I recently read that long ago, artist painted an under layer of green and that if you study the piece you may be able to still see some of the green even in the face.  





So that is why I started this one with green all over. 

I started today's morning art after I was all dressed and ready for this dang-desk-in-town. I knew I would not want to stop.


Note the time on that little clock. I snapped this and ran out the door. 



I almost finished but am happy that I got to this good "sit and stare" stage. So that is what I'll do here at the desk.

I am enjoying this postcard project immensely while I am getting some good painting practice because working in a journal frees me up to go fast and not be so obsessive about the piece. 


I'm also learning a bit of art history. That's good. 
♥

The Blue Hat found by Vanzie

What great fun I had yesterday with this!  I'm getting caught up....well halfway caught up. I confess,  I cropped a bit off the reference and I painted it directly on the book page. 


Not sure what the rest of this day will bring.  I might need to just sit in the chair zone.
♥


I appreciate and ♥ all of your comments. Thank you.

Conversational Saga continues

click on   Postcard Challenge 2012   page tab for large view of postcards in chronological order  

Just in case you haven't figured out, I am using my art in this conversational saga between Vanzie S. Smoot and Professor Dr. Tad Keys.  Almost one year ago, I finished a Morning Art series in which I painted from start to finish this painting.  The background was inspired by another artist and the portrait was inspired by Eva Gonzales (1849-1883) who was born in Paris, France and studied under Edouard Manet.

This is one of my very most favorite paintings.
I guess that is why I have been hanging onto it.
I'm now ready to list it in my shop when time permits.
Or if you are interested, email me for details.
12 x 12 x  1.5 gallery wrapped.  $300.

You can watch the 14 video series by clicking on the Morning Art Videos Tab.  

If you only want to see a "start to finish series in review", watch the conclusion video.  The review starts at about the 8:57 minute mark.  I think it is pretty cool to see the progression of this painting. 
♥

Year of the Dragon 1940

click on   Postcard Challenge 2012   page tab for large view of postcards in chronological order 

My Good Fortune Journal inspired this little do-over painting for this new project.  Which by the way, I am making a journal to hold the cards and art as well as other important things like the maps and stamps of Baha and Pelago etc etc.  When I get the journal a little further along.....well you know I will share that. 


Shout with me! THANK GOODNESS IT'S FRIDAY!!!!!
♥

Another mysterious discovery

click on   Postcard Challenge 2012   page tab for large view of postcards in chronological order

Baha the land of brids

WOW! What a weekend I had. Fact of the matter is I literally wore myself out. Crashed in bed for a late afternoon nap Sunday and then watched a couple of movies last night. 


But look! I was up early today as usual and made an official Baha stamp.  The Postcard challenge is a super fun project and I have added an extra challenge for myself (as I do sometimes).  The prompt each week is new country so I am going to study a little art history along the way. Stay tuned for how that turns out.
♥ 

Vanzie hears from Tad

click for larger view
♥

Have you been to Pelago?

Weekends are so great!
Especially when playing ART.
Just working on my next postcard.
Hope you are having as much fun with your weekend as I am.
No laundry happening here. 
No cooking either.
Just full on ART play!
♥ 

To Professor Dr. Tad Keys

I'm starting out behind as this challenged started in January. However, after following this, I could not resist any longer.
Darcy at ART and SOLE is sponsoring a 52 week postcard challenge for the year 2012. This post tells all about it and this post has the links for Facebook and Flicker groups.  
It has been a while since I participated in anything like this......Oh wait, I don't think I ever have. Anyway, I think it will be great fun.  I'm going to try my best to play catch up for a couple of weeks.  
♥

A lovely Bird

My Bluebird

Sure enough, yesterday was great fun.


The granddaughter hair job went well, but I think she wants it as light as my girl's in My Bluebird.


We will have another session in a couple of weeks for that. 


I finished this one and am all set to paint another today. 


I love rainy movie days. We're doing in again today. 
♥

Juggling Fun

What fun I'm having.  Just popping in to share WIP.  
Granddaughter on her way over and ask me to dye her hair. 
Sure, I guess so. You know I love color. 
Also, she picks the best movies and we're gonna do that too. 
While I'm painting. 
Having a burst of inspiration.
Trying some new things. 


For Sue B: blue sky and birdcage discussion yesterday got me going today. Thanks for that!
♥

Colors On My Path

Colors On My Path
Today
In the damp air,
I walked.


The white crow poison is in bloom.
And I hear them in the distance.
Caw. Caw.  


The sky is gray.
But at my feet is a carpet of small bluets.

Walking In Beauty 

Crackers or She Lived or Us

She Lived

She Lived.
That was easy, I so enjoyed your comments and thoughts about naming your paintings.  And I was so tempted to call this one "Crackers"  after Kristin Dudish's comment that made me laugh. But I thought instead to just call it "She Lived".

OK, I have to confess to you that I am totally knocked over with Peter Metchev, a Bulgarian artist that I have just discovered. I can't stop looking at his creations.  Click here for the google images.  I just love the way he "couples" faces and I just had to try it. I haven't felt this way since discovering Gustav Klimt.

I just showed She Lived to dear husband and told him it was a self portrait of us.  Of course, all I get is a puzzled raised eyebrow...much like the one I have painted on him. And I look just like that too.  So, maybe I should just call it "Us".
♥

What's your name

A New Moment

Do you give your paintings a name?

How do you decide what the name will be?


When do you have the name?


When the name comes to you, do you know it instantly?


Is is just a name?


Or does it have some special personal meaning?


Or you know the name but don't realize the "personal" meaning until later.


Do you know what I'm talking about?


Here is what happened.  I finished this little painting, A New Moment, and of course always always, need to share.  But wait, I don't have a name. It hasn't come to me yet. My working title was "She". I really never meant to use that as a name but needed a title for my print folder.  That was all I came up with in that moment earlier this week.  


So today, I'm getting anxious about not having a name.  I have an old book that I cut words from and I call it my "she" book because it is full of the pronoun, she. I used it when I was making these, and these, and these.  So, I thought maybe the "she" book would have a name for me. You know, the universe was sending me there. I randomly opened the book and a little piece of paper fell from the page.  On one side there was a list; crackers, pecante, Tabasco, lemon juice.  I turned the paper over and it said, "Live a new moment". There it was, a message waiting for me. Although, I think many of you will "get it", I don't even know how to relate to you how it is personal and yet relevant to this new little painting.  It just is.
♥

I Needed to get Funky

Do you see that little canvas on the left? It was boring me to death!  Made me want to puke! I needed to try something. F.U.N.K.Y.


But one of those little demons was sitting right there close to my ear and so I decided to print and give F.U.N.K.Y. a try. 


The thing is I really did enjoy painting on this Epson paper. The idea was to lay down paint fast and furious. So I did and I'm not done yet but it will have to wait until tomorrows Morning Art.  


And now the question is, what to do with that little boring canvas.
♥