by Susan Lobb Porter | Art, Life |
Nah, I’m not actually falling behind. I’m in mega-production-painting-my-butt-off-mode again. I’m just honoring the end of Daylight Savings Time with the obligatory whine–which bring us to—
WARNING: Seasonal Whining Alert
Right now it’s pitch dark outside. Pitch dark. As in BLACK. Feels like midnight in every sense of the word, complete with my body being wrung out tired and deliciously ready for bed.
And it’s only 7:30.
I must be coming down with–holy crap, I AM coming down with… (drumroll please) the dreaded dark ‘n dreary days of autumn HIBERNATION SYNDROME!!!
Oh noooooooooooooo!
All I want to do is eat bread and potatoes and slather butter over everything. I want to STUFF my face with carbs. Dive head first into a plate of mac ‘n cheese. And have a steaming cup of tea by my side at all times.
But that’s enough–ENOUGH!!–I say of this whining. You came here to read about art, right? Well, then Imma gonna show you some ART.
First I’ll show what’s happening in the studio.
This is what’s happening. Using up all sorts of watercolor paper and rag board that’s been lying around the studio for ev-ah. Slapping a couple coats o’gesso on it and then, my dearies, I shall paint ’em up, stick ’em in some matts I happen to have an abundance of and SELL those suckers at my next show. Every one of them. For millions and millions of dollars.
I will make a fortune and retire to the south of France. I’ve never been but I hear it’s a very nice place.
I have no idea what I’m going to paint yet but here are more papers drying on the studio floor. I started the one with the figures ages ago but since I had a fresh bottle of gesso and a paintbrush in my hand I couldn’t help but white out the background.
And then there’s this, the start of my new series, CALIFORNIA GOLD.
California Gold # 1
Mixed Media on Canvas 24×24 inches
2014 Susan Lobb Porter
I showed this on Facebook last week as a work in progress but I think it’s finished now. Maybe a few final tweaks but pretty much what you see.
That’s enough about art, I’m going to go to bed. And probably dream about carbs…umm…nom…nom….
As always–
by Susan Lobb Porter | Art, Studio
October? Already???
Oh my sweetums, I have been neglecting you. Truly I have. After thirty new paintings in thirty days, being a complete creative overachiever I went cold turkey on the blog.
But I had a good excuse, had to get ready for Open Studios.
This year I took full advantage of the studio patio, setting up a display outside
So I could free up the inside for painting demos. Lots of painting demos. That’s why the table’s a mess, ’cause I was working. Making art.
I’ve been doing Open Studios for a few years now and I think this was my BEST one. Had a decent turnout, great people, lots of good feedback and some solid sales.
Most of all, I had FUN! OMG, yes!!! So much fun talking with people, answering questions, demonstrating techniques. Open Studios feeds me–and no, Im not referring to the Halloween candy and oranges you see up above (although that too). It feeds me in that feels-good-spot in my creative soul.
Note to self: Remember this next year. Pluh-eeze. Especially the month before when you’re pulling out your hair and going batshit crazy and wondering why the hell you’re doing this again.
Ahhh… so yes, two weekends of positive social interaction. And painting. And money in the bank. All good stuff. And now I’m back to making more art. Here’s what I finished today.
The Garden, Late Afternoon.
Mixed Media on Canvas 24″x24″
2014 Susan Lobb Porter
This started life as one of the 30/30 paintings, day 16. It was an ok painting and then I had this brilliant idea to glaze the lower half. But I used the wrong medium. Or maybe it was the wrong brush. It ended up looking like crap. So for one of the demos I threw on some gesso and tissue and began something totally different than what you see up there. No problem, it’s all about layers, right? Yesterday I pulled it out again and did a fairly representational view of my garden. And then, just when I finished last night, I stepped back, looked at it and said, “Ummm…no…”
Because I’m all about simplifying the image these days.
Before I could change my mind I grabbed a tube of Cadmium Yellow Medium and squeezed a big fat line of it it right onto the canvas. Then I took a squeegee and started moving it around. Made myself all kinds of happy. Finished it up today.
And Tuesday it’s going to the gallery.
Umm…life is good!
Until next week–
by Susan Lobb Porter | Blogging, Process |
Heads up, y’all. I’m giving away some art. But you’ve got to indulge me and read the post first.
Fair enough? Okay, then start reading.
Once upon a time I had this blog (yes, THIS blog) and I wrote a post every single day for something like a year. Every day. Whack me upside the head, I did little else. I wrote about art and the family and food and all sorts of crap good stuff.
And then life got in the way. Art. Web design (how many new looks has Arty Life had recently?) Eventually I started slacking off. Three days a week. Then two. Then one. And then…(drumroll please) three weeks rolled by without ANY posts or any excuse. The site wasn’t down, the internet connection was up–I just was doing other stuff.
I was PAINTING. Like a madwoman, a woman possessed. Mornings before work. Evenings after work. Taking vacay days just to hang out in the studio and slap paint around.
And then I painted over everything I did. More. Than. Once. I was ‘sperimentin’, going through a heckuva lot o’paint. It was all part of the learning process as I took a class with Pauline Agnew, SEE. FEEL. PAINT. Great class, great teacher and tons of challenging content. I’m not sure whether it was Pauline, the energy of the other students or the self imposed challenge to push myself but I became damn near manic.
A good creative shake-up, something every artist needs once in awhile.
I ended up with a few finished pieces, several works in progress, a whole bunch of ideas sketched out on the ipad and new life given to some old canvases. But most of all, I ended up with a passion for contemporary landscapes.
I’ll give you a sneak peek at one. Just one. The rest I’m going to dole out in future posts.
Autumn: Lake Harriet, acrylic on canvas 24 x 24 inches
2014 Susan Lobb Porter
This is taken from a photo I took last autumn at a little oasis in the Nevada desert. If you’re familiar with my work you’ll know that I’ve painted a lot of abstracts with a landscape feel. But I haven’t taken an actual for-real landscape and abstracted it. Much to my surprise I found out it’s entirely different.
And a whole lot harder. But I’m getting there.
And now about that arty giveaway I mentioned up above…it’s something I first read about here, via Michele Bergh’s blog. She found out about it from someone else who found out about it from someone else who found out about it from someone else. Get the picture? Here’s how it works, paraphrased from Michele (who got her info from Deborah Weber):
I promise to send a small work of art to the first five people who comment on this post and say, “YES, I want in”. You must in turn pay it forward to the first five people who comment on your blog. If you don’t have a blog, a facebook post will do. The rules are simple: it has to be your work, made by you, and the recipient must receive it before 2014 ends. It can be anything art based: a drawing/painting/photograph/knitted item or however else you express yourself creatively.
I’m going to add print to the list because maybe I’ll send a print. Or jewelry. Or something.
This will be fun! I can’t wait to send my little gifts out. Remember, if you want in you have to say so in the comments below. First five who say, “Me! Me! Pick Meeeeeeee! Pretty please!!!” will get a little something from moi.
And in case you haven’t told yourself this today—
by Susan Lobb Porter | Art, Process, Work in Progress |
Woot! Had some quality PLAY time in the studio today. A landscape was calling my name.
Or maybe it was calling me names, I dunno. I had my R&B list playing and this is what happened.
work in progress Susan Lobb Porter
Not a bad painting I guess. But not terribly exciting either. Ho-hum. Yawn. BTW, I think the photo is a bit heavy with the yellow. Can’t say for sure because once I got this far I decided the R&B was too…safe for the mood I was in. Which was (drum roll) a badass paintin’ mood.
AKA, a GREAT mood. Seriously, there is NOTHING better that a badass painting mood. Nothing. And if you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time (and I sincerely hope you have) you’ll know that a great painting mood (GPM) calls for high octane rock. Da Boss. Loud.
And adventure. All GPMs call for risk taking. So while Da Boss was blasting working class angst and the speakers were positively vibrating with passion, I took the tube of white and squeezed it directly in the middle of the sky. And then I took my hands, one of which is pictured above, and smooshed that paint all over with my fingers.
Note to self: Next time wear gloves. Or barrier cream.
There was No. Going. Back. And I didn’t want to, I was having waaaaaay too much fun.
Valley View, acrylic on canvas. 24 x 24 inches.
2014 Susan Lobb Porter
This is where it stands now. It’s a completely different painting, one that I personally find to be more interesting. Is it done? Maybe. Everything in the studio is fair game. Nothing is ever considered done–or safe–until it belongs to someone else. So there’s a chance you’ll see this one again…with more improvements.
So what do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
And meanwhile, remember this:
As always–
by Susan Lobb Porter | Art, Work in Progress |
Today I painted. With paint. First time in nearly 6 weeks. I didn’t realize it’s been that long because I’ve been creating digital art nearly every day since the first of the year, painting with pixels.
I used the digital piece I showed yesterday as my inspiration. Except I forgot to bring it to the studio so I had to remember what it looked like.
Oops.
First thing I did was find a sacrificial canvas. I changed the orientation and globbed some yellow in the corner.
Then I added white and dragged the colors together using a palette knife.
I blocked in other colors using black, white and blue.
The chunky look from the palette knife wasn’t doing it for me so I began brushwork using open glazing medium. This is where I had to leave it for now. It’s maybe half way there but it has to dry before I can introduce more color and layers. I’m using Golden open medium so it has a longer drying time than regular acrylics.
I doubt if I can get back in the studio before Friday, little matter of the day job, y’know. This puppy still has a lot of work and whether it ends up looking like the digital inspiration is anyone’s guess. Da Muse may move me in a different direction. Really, who knows? I’ll post more photos as the piece progresses.
Clearing Space: Did a little more in the kitchen today. Mostly I did some proactive conversation with Mr. Spouse, as in you are NOT bringing that crap into the house, dear. I’ll let you know how that works out later in the week.
