Boats

I don't think I have ever before painted a boat.
Not sure if it's done or not.

The Great Vermont Plein Air Paint out 2013

I enjoyed the day in Waitsfield.
Here is what I painted:

For more photos of the event go to:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200701279164340&set=p.10200701279164340&type=1&theater

Painting my - house continued...

I wish I knew how to turn this photo - summer 2013

I'm actually sort of laughing at myself

 although it's true I am not comfortable up on the high ladder.

Honestly even years ago, when I moved in, the peeling paint and weather damage was worse towards the bottom of the house. Even though I will have to go up high to finish eventually I figure - in my old stoic way, that every little bit of coverage will help protect the house from further erosion.

Watercolor

.. of camp from memory in studio the day after. 

Watercolors at Camp

A rainy day, makes for a soggy painting, but it had some merit, so here it is:

House painting 2013

Believe it r not I did find a day or two to scrape, caulk, prime and paint!
Waiting for dryer weather.

Picking up where I left off PAINTING THE HOUSE

It was snowing by the time I took the last photo of the house painting that I did last year.

Here is the photo from the last painting I did...I got all the way down one of the long sides!

So the HUGE body of this monster house still needs to be painted.

As the sun comes out, I realize that I may have to spend all of this summer and probably a bit of hard earned cash too since I am afraid of heights to finish this job!

A plea for the real world (duplicated from my work blog.)

In this day of digital everything, I'd like to make a plea for a little bit of the real world.

I've had several conversations lately with many customers about some interesting technological developments.

I've been told that in an effort to reduce the use of paper, many school systems will soon have children using a tablet for every bit of school work from an early age through high school. From now on kids will e-mail homework, and have the ability to access a huge variety of technology. In essence, I am not against this. I just wish there were a bit more balance.

Another complaint I have heard several times this summer, is that many of the upcoming generations can no longer read hand written cursive, or calligraphy. I know that some of it never was legible. Still it seems a shame. Some of you may be glad, if so I'd love to hear why.

There is this wonderful new world of digital art, which puts so many applications at your fingertips that you can paint, draw, airbrush, and animate images without even knowing how to hold a paint brush. You don't even need to know how any of it happens, and you can change colors without having to squeeze out another tube of paint.

Why would you ever want to buy all those art supplies, if one tablet can do it all? Why would you ever want to do more than just push buttons? Why would you want to have to put down a drop cloth, or make a mess?

Besides, digital art can be and often is - quite beautiful.

I just worry that something indescribable is lost here.

Do you remember the silky softness of finger paints squishing between your fingers.

Art can have a physical visceral edge to it, and that can be part of the process.
The sound of scissors munching through a creamy cotton paper, the soft deckled edge of watercolor paper, or the press of your hand into soft clay.
There is a magic to it.

Old masters mixed paint from the elements and were almost considered alchemists.
Like the block print with it's subtle variations for each pull of the print. The happy accident of a double print that gives new movement, magic, and life to an image.
Art has the vitality of life.

The element of surprise when the translucent watercolor flows into an unexpected and wonderful shape.

The more cynical folks (assuming anyone is even still reading at this point,) will say “Of course! She's just trying to make money selling her art supplies – she has a motive here!”

You're right. I do scratch out my living from a local art store. Art inspires me and keeps me sane. Also, I am honored to employ a few wonderful, kind and knowledgeable local artists. We try to encourage emerging artists and sell their work through the store. (The local Artists get 70% Artists' Mediums Inc. gets a 30% commission.)

Yes, I will encourage you to buy art, framing, or even art supplies. But the truth is, art supplies don't have to be expensive. You don't have to spend a lot of money to find your creativity.
Start simple.
First there is the pencil: It costs less than a cup of coffee, will write on most porous surfaces, it is easy to transport, and operates beautifully even in zero gravity. It will draw anywhere in the world, even when the power goes out, and if your pencil breaks, you still have the art!
Just sketch!

-Chelsea Lindner

manager

Artists' Mediums Inc.

Vermont

www.artistsmediums.com

Designs for work signs.

This time of year, I am usually working a lot of hours.

Retail you know, and Art supplies. (www.artistsmediums.com)
I do love my job and it often inspires me, although sometimes in many directions at once!


Artists' Mediums Inc. window sign painted acrylic on sheer trace paper
 

 As the winter grows cold and blustery I do tend to stay inside and paint more.

 Buttoning up for winter (and getting a car!) have taken up some of my time.
No more excuses though, for not doing art. (I just need to recognise the resistance and move on.)

Last spring I was at an impasse, and I was thinking of changing the direction of my art, landscapes seemed a little boring. I still hold a sliver of a painting idea which I still intend to explore. But after much inspiration from several sources, I am renewed with some new ways to look at the landscape, and frankly re-energised to paint.
I haven't been photographing the 3 oils I have going now, but I promise I will soon.
So until I get the ones in progress a little more presentable: here are the sketches I did while trying to design the window covering at the store.

We get great light in the front window, but don't want folks blinded by the rising and setting sun.
Signage allowances are slim and  not all creative folk even know we are tucked back in here, why not make something to block the sun and represent art, like our pallette logo?
Next time I think I will have to paint it on plexiglass though so it won't buckle...and I still need to backlight it!
I did some roudh sketches on paper which I scanned in, some thoroughly rough colorizations so we could judge what I should paint.

 (the first time I posted about this, I simply ahowed the results: http://gypsiesgesso.blogspot.com/2012/04/sign-painting.html)

 Sometimes It could be helpful to share the process, otherwise how can one see how you arrrived at the final destination?
(they are not very good, but I intend this blog to show process, ideas good and bad and all.)

 

 

 

 

Suggestions for a future sing will be welcome at the store, since I think I have to do it over again on plexiglass.

 



Have I done any actual ART this year?

art? well a little...I painted a fish on a board for John.

House painting

The only problem is, it's all bigger than it looks, so now that there is so much that looks painted, I pull back to reveal how big this job really is!

What we have done so far has been spare time work all summer, but the weather has changed so much, I don't think we will get much further this year....besides, my fear of heights is making this job harder.
Maybe next summer I can pay someone to do the really scary bits?

I have gotten some actual painting done

and John did help with a lot of the painting!

I like the colors, and I LOVE to see the progress!!!

more about the house...

but it needs scraping, caulking, and priming first.
I am using this incrdible primer, that will keep the wood dry, even before you add paint over it.
it's called MAD DOG and it is the best!
Here is a photo, after I have primed the lower half, it rained...

and you can see how the boards that have been primed are dry!
sorry, that no matter how SMALL I make the photo I cannot seem to set it VERTICAL!!!!
the right side should be considered the top, which is wet, and not yet scraped.

painting -the house

You may be wondering how I have spent my summer...

as you can see, my house has been in desperate need of painting....for quite some time

2nd Annual Jericho Plein Air Festival

 The 2nd Annual Jericho Plein Air Festival was inspiring.

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Here are some photos I took of the goings on during that beautiful summer day.

Portrait Complete

Portrait Complete, frame chosen, framing assembeled and off to my customer/friend.
I painted it very thin, over many weeks, so I can put it in the frame with no damage to the paint.
But since it is an oil painting, I have an arrangement to allow it to be enjoyed for about 5-6 months, but then I will have to bring it back to the studio to varnish it.
 The frame shown on the left is the one that was chosen. I am pleased with this Portrait.

You know, Portriats of any kind are very difficult.
It may sound like a joke, but when I think of human subjects for portraits...I think there are too many variables for me.
  Am I supposed to paint this person they way they see themselves? ...as they would view themselves in a mirror? Then there is the problem of what I see, (in whatever photos I assume* are provided?) versus what I am capable of painting. Countless experience has shown me that I never do quite paint what I imagine I see. -chels
(*People, in my experience don't have time to sit, nor do I really, and of course photos often don't perfect either.)

Watercolors

Getting the hang of it- I think.

Watercolors starting over

Everytime I switch from Oils back to Watercolors, I have some trouble.
Evidence  shows that I tend to cover all the paper with paint at first, as if painting with oils, then later I figure it out. Finally, I start to remember to leave some of the white of the paper.

I am going to post several watercolors that I have completed lately, and I will post chronologically, so you can see how I attempt to progress out of my over-use of paint.

These are the first:

Portrait in progress

Almost done...Oil on Canvas Portrait