Framing! This Artist's Pet Peeve

I'm waiting for my frames to arrive for my upcoming solo exhibit at The Bridge Gallery in Shepherdstown, WV. While I wait for the frames, I've already begun painting for my next solo exhibit. Included here is a picture of a painting in progress of a little barber shop in Frederick, MD.

I'm so grateful for my framer. He'll ship me the frames, glass, and all equipment needed, so that all I will do is secure my paintings into each frame, seal the backs and put on the included hardware. I've already matted my paintings and they're ready to go.

My framer makes my life easy.

I usually cut my own mats, and I now cut them as I complete each painting. It's easier for me to self critique my work with the mat on it, and it's necessary to critique as I go. I once cut off part of my finger while cutting a mat. I can get sloppy and I'm often matting at the last minute. That's another good reason why I now try to cut mats as I complete each painting: I'm more organized and there's less rushing.

Watercolors are more expensive to frame than other mediums: we use mats and glass, along with the frame. I'm always receiving comments about frames, but I do my best to select something unobstrusive that will at least add to the work, and not detract from it.

Can you feel the energy coming through the work as I rush to get my show completed? And, after this exhibit, I have another solo exhibit at the Delaplaine Visual Arts and Education Center in Frederick, MD, beginning in May, 2012. Work, work, work!

Favorite Chair

Here's a nearly completed painting of one of my favorite chairs, in a spot where I like to vacation now and then..... I need to look at it for a few weeks, and do a little tweaking.

I'm posting this for Peggy, so that she can imagine sitting in this lovely spot, with the light pouring through, a good book in hand, and summer breezes fluttering through an open window. This is a spot where healing and good thoughts have occured for me.

It's 9 am, and today I'll be completing some poured pieces, with Italian scenes as the subject. I have a wonderful painting of Florence and another of an Italian harbor. I'm incorporating pouring with hand painting, in an attempt to continue loosening up.

I'll be drawing a piece today, too, of window reflections.

A Day Off

I took a break from work on Saturday. I had a long informational meeting with students who will be going to Italy with me, and I had a multitude of errands to run, and then I went to yoga class to de-stress. I had dinner with friends that evening and a much needed night off.

I do need time off for relaxation, so that creativity can flow.

Last week, I shipped a painting to the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Show in Grand Junction, Colorado. That painting is posted here. I used several unusual techniques to create this piece. I'll ship a painting of Radda, Italy, to NYC next week, for an exhibit there, and I just found out that "Round 'n Round" was selected for the annual Virginia Watercolor Society State Show in Norfolk, VA, this spring. These national and regional shows are very competitive, and usually have 600 or so entries and about 85 paintings are generally selected. I always breathe a sigh of relief when I am accepted into these exhibits.

It's 8:59 am on Sunday and I'm headed to the studio now to continue tweaking a painting with dappled light and clothes on a clothesline and to begin another one. The paper has been drawn on, stretched and dried...so, it's ready to go.

Build The Light, No. Three

I continue to brush on glazes of paint to build up the wonderful light that streaks through this moody old house in Maine.

I may come close to completing this painting today; I'm including a picture here of what I woke up to this morning. I couldn't paint yesterday, because I taught all day long. I needed a good night's sleep before beginning again.

First thing today, I framed a completed painting, then I played with two pieces that are nearly complete - I was trying different mats to see what the best way is to crop them. These two paintings have been in the studio for a month or more, and I've poured on them, atomized on them, and tweaked the values. I think they may finally be ready for prime time. Meanwhile, I'm also working on another drawing....busy, busy, busy.

I'm painting good thoughts and prayers into every piece. I feel compelled to consciously place peaceful memories on each and every painting for someone special who might need those healing thoughts.