Day 1 - A New Year (Chinese that is..) and a New Challenge!

Today is the beginning of the Lunar New Year and we are marking the first day of the year of the Tiger! A holiday celebrated by over 2 billion (!) people around the world, traditionally the animal is paired with one of 5 elements- fire, water, earth, wood or metal - 2022 is a water year, so this is the year of the Water Tiger. 

I painted today's painting especially to celebrate the start of the Lunar year. While I am not Chinese, and am far from an expert on the traditions surrounding the Lunar year, the symbolism of the animals and the elements are fascinating and, if nothing else, are fun to explore and think about. So, according to a brief search on the net, the tiger is considered the King of all beasts in Chinese mythology.  While not everyone agrees on what the year of the tiger means for individuals, most agree that the tiger symbolizes power and courage, confidence and strength.  They are associated with good luck, bravery and good health and consequently, the year of the tiger will be a year that will bring about new changes and encourage people to overcome all challenges and difficulties. (referenced from this article)

  The tiger in this painting is drinking a big cup of soothing tea (to symbolize the water) and is staring out at the viewer, rapt with attention. She is ready for a new year, perhaps a new beginning, and is paying attention for opportunities to arise so she can pounce when needed.  

"Tea is for Tiger", oil on panel, 10"x10", 

Click here for purchasing details

Day 23 of the 30 in 30 - Tyger Tyger

An American cartoonist once said that Van Gogh would have sold more than one painting if he'd have put tigers in them (the internet attributes this strange statement to Bill Watterson)

I don't know about the wisdom of this and I'm sure I don't know why Bill said that. I guess I'd have to hear it in context.  I do find it utterly amazing though that Van Gogh only sold one painting during his life time.  According to the website Van Gogh gallery, the rest of Van Gogh's more than 900 paintings were not sold or made famous until after his death.

This painting, however, is not at all about Van Gogh, but... knowing the above fact instills solemn gratitude in me. I am grateful for every sale of my artwork, and thankful for all of the loving support I receive because I know that being true to your dream can be a lonely affair...

Anyway, THIS painting was partially about my recent obsession with White on White. It is challenging to paint images that read well that are also composed of  many similar values.  At least it is for me.  And its the challenge that keeps me coming back for more...

I was also specifically inspired to paint a tiger because the poem "The Tyger" by William Blake has come into my consciousness several times in the past few weeks... two very different books I recently finished.. both coincidentally and prominently featuring Tyger Tyger in the protagonist's thoughts and a random reading on the internet that led me to another reference to this poem...  And it got me thinking about Tygers and what Blake was talking about. In it he ponders creation.. and the creator... the question he posed in prose is, can a God who created something as fearsome and beautiful as a tiger also have created the lamb?

And what about teapots and corvidaes?  I have not the answer.. just the painting... :) Please see below for the entire poem. 

Tyger Tyger, Oil, 10"x10", Click here to purchase

The Tyger

William Blake - 1757-1827

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Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare sieze the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

Day 14 of the 30 in 30 - Hang in There

 Of course I love the tiger ...and the balloon, but this painting is equally about the background.  I like to experiment balancing subject with background. I find myself sometimes with such a strong subject (remember the bunny on the soup can?) and then am stuck not being quite sure how to approach the background.  Ah well.  This is another attempt at something different.  I wanted to stay neutral with just that pop of red and orange and play with the concept of abstraction meets realism.

Anyway..have you ever seen the inspirational poster of a kitten hanging onto a branch that says "hang in there"?  That's what went through my mind when I was thinking of a title :)  

Hang in there everyone. :)  

Hang in There, oil, 11"x14", to Click here to purchase

Detail of "Hang in There" 

Still alive and Focused on the Quest!

Hello to everyone out there in Winter land... Sorry I haven't posted for several weeks, but after the 30 in 30 that I took part in, in January, I needed to take a breather from posting.  (Although that is highly un-recommended)  I have many things going on in my life in addition to making art and it seems they were all happening during this oh so cold month.  They include my son's basketball which happens 3 times a week, getting my daughter to martial arts  and her job, cub scout's happenings, gallery sittings, entering work in shows, going to art openings, attending Valentine's parties, designing commissions and the list goes on.  And this doesn't even include the other things like cooking, cleaning, house repair, and of course, spending time with my family (which seems to be getting less and less these days.  I need to figure that one out..)  Anyway, sorry to talk about all the things that most of us deal with on a daily basis... but I just felt like I needed to explain myself... :)

So, in addition to all of the hectic-ness of my life, I have been experimenting with new techniques, styles and sizes in my studio this month.  I have been having so much fun, and can't tell you how excited I am about some of the things that are happening on my canvases lately!  I have been applying my own recipe of texture medium to canvases, doing a lot of pre-designing of compositions on photoshop and exploring themes like vintage poster art and movement, and working BIG.  I believe that this explosion of ideas and energy is a direct result of the intense work I did during the 30 in 30.  There is something to be said about creating a painting a day... just putting out a large amount of work continuously... that seems to really light the fire.  So, I will be posting these new and different paintings in the coming weeks starting with this one.  It's a biggie... measuring 24" x 30", it was the first of the experimental works I did.  I stood staring at the blank canvas and just kept seeing a tiger racing out of., focused on it's prey...  I wondered what should I paint on this big canvas?  A landscape?...  Head smack... It takes me a bit sometimes to hear the insistent voice and see the clear image that is being handed to me. But, I eventually pay attention.  This painting is titled "Focused on the Quest".  It feels like my life right now!  I really tried to convey movement, action and intent in this one and I hope it comes across!  I will be hanging this in the upcoming show at Art Plus Gallery if you would like to see it in person.  (It will be framed and ready for your wall!)  Paintings are always better seen live!

Focused on the Quest, oil on canvas, 24" x 30", $650

To purchase this painting, please visit Art Plus Gallery, 604 Penn Ave. W. Reading, PA, during the months of March & April