Day 14 - Roller Skating Rainbow Rabbit

 Good day and a happy Saturday to you :)  

I've only roller skated a handful of times in my life, but I do remember liking it quite a bit when I did. Haven't done it in years.. and while I don't seek it out on social media, Roller Skating (with a capital R) comes up in my feed sometimes, reminding me that the sport is still alive and well in some areas of the country..  

Gliding around on wheels attached to your feet is just a little bit like flying.. and that is what I imagine this bunny is feeling as he glides around the roller rink, blissfully breezing through the moment...

Continuing on with the rainbow theme.. I dunno.. it keeps drawing me back in with it's happy vibes and infinite design possibilities. And I know, this one is a lot more illustrative in nature. If I'm brave enough, I may keep exploring this direction :)

Roller Skating Rainbow Rabbit, oil, 10"x10", purchasing details can be found here

When your art moves someone to write poetry about it...

...That's just what happened recently with my painting, "Gabriel",  which is in my current show Spirit○Animal, at Art Plus Gallery. I am always so thankful (and still a little surprised...) when my artwork moves someone enough to buy it and take it home... actually live with it and see it every day!  What an amazing thing!  But this was something different.  I met the poet, Catherine Mahony (Cat) at the gallery the other day. She is a poet who writes what she calls ekphrastic poetry explaining to me that she tries to interpret poetry using language that evokes an understanding of the painting, even if it can't be seen. Looking into the definition of ekphrastic poetry a little deeper, I found that an ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the “action” of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning. (More on this type of poetry can be found here)

Fascinating!! I never had heard of this before.  What a wonderful thing...

 She asked if she could write a poem about Gabriel, as it moved her and spoke to her on so many levels. I was of course incredibly honored and told her yes, I'd love it if she did.  So, this is her poem, her interpretation of my painting.  I have to say, the painting was very personal to me and evolved in my studio over the course of several months with some meanings specific to me  and my creative life, when I was painting it.  For me, it actually does not have the dark undertones and meanings that Cat saw in it, as I have a different relationship with Gabriel... But, that being said, once a piece of artwork is created and put out there for the world to see, the artist releases the artwork to move people and affect them in their own personal way... That is the absolute beauty of artwork and I am thankful and honored that my artwork evokes such feeling in others. 

And, thank you Cat, for taking the time to write such a beautiful poem.

Gabriel, oil and cold wax, 24"x24", Sold

Catherine J. Mahony

5/23/18

Gabriel’s Purgatory

(An Ekphrastic poem, depicting “Gabriel,” an artwork by Karen Weber)

Hark the Herald Angels embark,

on a journey that unfolds here-

please hold here,

this collage.

Adhere here

to this

fantastical pentacle,

of a Raven’s portrait.

May I escort you

into a realm

of crimson realities…

This frailty

displaces me.

Once upon a midnight dreary,

Poe paced his floor boards-

weak and weary.

Dreary you may think

this tale appears.

Awaken now,

all your hopes and fears.

Come near once,

come hear once…

Listen as I squawk!

My ebony feathers drip

with beads of burgundy,

I am warning thee-

do not come forth

with promises you can

no longer keep;

Rather look upon

this piece

and weep…

for all who were lost,

for all whom we keep.

I will tell you a secret,

but please do not tell...

There is no Heaven,

there is no Hell.

A purgatory

is where

we all tread…

Black birds prey on Gods -

our souls they are fed.

So when this bird

with crimson wings,

lurks upon

your door and sings,

Please don’t fret or

run and hide-

Just pray

he doesn’t come inside.

This is my body,

and this is my blood…

Come let us feast,

come bathe in the flood!

The moon is full,

as I bask in it’s glow.

Mother Earth is due soon;

She will bear children,

who howl at perched crows.

I know something

you don’t know…

This poem is homeless

and Squats under this tree.

It feeds on the berries

I drop from my beak.

So the next time you long for

a place call home…

just ask me,

Gabriel,

for a place

of your own.

You see it’s just me,

and this old oak,

and we loom here alone!

Relatively Essential Oil Painting Supplies

Here's my list of the top 12 or so things I currently wouldn't want to do without in my studio.  Most of the things are pretty standard fare, but for the uninitiated and beginning oil painter, all of the supplies out there can seem daunting.  I have tried to keep my supplies at a minimum and the following list gives what I consider the essentials for painting successful paintings in comfort and ease.

 

"The Sentry", Oil, click here to purchase

Paint:  I prefer Gamblin artist grade oil color (but have other brands in my box too) and typically use a limited palette of 5 colors:  Alizarin Crimson, Cad. Red Med., Cad. Yellow lt and Ultra Marine Blue.  In addition, I use Titanium White.  With these 5 colors and white, you can mix almost any color you can think of, including chromatic Black,

Medium:  I make my own medium from 2 parts Linseed oil, 1 part Gamsol (an odorless solvent) and 1 part stand oil

Substrate:  I paint mostly on wooden panels that I purchase ‘raw’.  They require sealing, which I do with several coats of a sealant called GAC 100 (put out by Golden) and several more coats of white gesso. Sometimes I stain my panels a color before I sketch on them.

Brushes:  My favorite brush is the Blick Masterstroke Interlocking Bristle Brush. I prefer flats, sizes 3, 4, 6, and 8, but also use filberts from time to time.  I also really like Silver Bristlon Flats & filberts and find a small fan brush to be indespensible.

Assorted palette knives for mixing and painting, scrapers, a kemper clay shaping tool that I sign most of my paintings with plus ample paper towels or rags.

Easle:  I have acquired quite a few easels in my time as an artist. They all serve different purposes and needs and I can’t say I have a favorite. 

Palette:  I prefer a glass palette that has been painted a neutral gray on the back. I have made all of my glass palettes inexpensively from spare glass I had.

Poster Putty:  also known as museum putty or picture mounting putty.  I can’t tell you how many uses I have found for this stuff but I use it daily for something in my studio!

Tablet:  Sounds funny, but I use my Ipad and my Samsun S10 all the time for designing compositions and to display my reference photo as I am painting.

Apps: Any photo editing app that has basic editing capabilities such as cropping, color adjustments, brightness/contrast are very important to quickly adjust your reference photos. Some of my favorites are PicShop Pro, Photopad, and pic collage. I also use Photoshop on my laptop for more complex compositions.

Good lighting:  I have an overhead light, and two clip lights that illuminate my panels from behind me.  They all have LED bulbs that have a CCT of 5500 K. I am also fortunate to have a studio space with a large North facing picture window.

Apron:  This is also going to sound funny, but maybe some of you can relate.  I must put on my artist apron before I begin to paint.  It somehow puts me in the right frame of mind, perhaps because then I don’t have to spend any time thinking or worrying about getting paint on my clothes.  I remind myself of Mr. Rogers and how he had to change his shoes and sweater at the beginning of every episode!

Day 28 of my Painting Spree & the Winner of my Commission Giveaway!

Today is the last day of my Holiday Painting Spree, Sale and Giveaway. I can't believe it!  This spree/challenge has been just about the most influential things I have done thus far in my career. I have had such a huge response from my fans, have given away 4 paintings, painted 28 paintings and even sold a few!  The 20% off sale on my paintings will continue until December 20th, so you still have time to get in on some great deals on my artwork

Today's painting is titled "Sam & Pete".  Sam is the dog, Pete is the bird.  They are 2 unconventional friends, but they go together like peanut butter and jelly.  I am definitely going to explore combining animals in upcoming paintings.  Like I said, this challenge has been so good for me and one of the great things that comes from doing something like this is the influx of ideas that flood my brain.  You don't run out of ideas when you do something like this.. on the contrary, you wind up with more ideas than you can handle!  But of course that is a good thing. :) 

 If you are interested in purchasing this painting, click here. :) 

Sam & Pete, oil on panel, 6"x6"
to purchase, please click here

I also want to thank EVERYONE who followed me through this challenge and everyone who entered for a chance to win one of my paintings. I wish I could have given everyone a painting as it feels great to give back to those people who support me.  I will definitely do this again next year! 

Without further ado, I want to announce the winner of this week's commission giveaway:

Nancy Kauffman of Birdsboro, PA!  Congratulations Nancy!  

I can't wait to get started painting your amazing pet!