Secret Angel

Secret Angel

Mixed media painting on 11 x 14 inch canvas

Something has shifted in me. It always seems to happen when I have a period of apparent creative drought. It's like I can't see clearly, as though I'm trying to see what to paint through a fog. I actually created some artwork recently that was so bad (to me), I had to cover it immediately with another painting!

And then, suddenly, the fog lifts and my mind is flooded with images that want to be expressed on canvas. Suddenly, all seems to flow again. And the feeling while I paint - extremely satisfying and at the same time wanting more, more, more...

After my last painting (click here to see) my wonderful friend, Renate (Put a little magic in your life) bluntly told me to get out of my own way and cut loose. I am not sure if I am cutting loose entirely, but something certainly has changed and my painting feels unstuck, like it grew wings all of a sudden. Thank you, Renate, for that kick in the behind!!

I'm so grateful that I get to lead a creative life!! And that I get to share it with all of you - that truly is the icing on the cake!

Art Journal - The First Pages...

Yesterday, I played with my first two art journal pages (I'm showing you the background I had created and then finished pages) and returned to my first love:

Faces! And it was so much fun -- seeing what they would look like, each one different and each one a surprise. These are simple and done fairly fast - more like little sketches really.

It felt so good and so familiar. I missed this.

Progressing in my art techniques had somehow taken the joy out of painting for me. When I first started out, I was so much more carefree in just painting and experimenting. Because I didn't know anything, every painting was a success. These couple of pages connected me with that feeling again and I am so grateful!

I call them angels in training. Even if this is the only entry in my art journal, it was already worth it!

By the way, I was really tickled by the comments yesterday by all of you who also don't journal, but still collect black books. It seems that there are many of us...

P.S. I just wanted to mention my giveaway! If you haven't entered it yet, click on the photo in my sidebar and then leave a comment in the post that comes up!

Wordless Wednesday

Wings and Flowers

Ok, so when I started painting, I did not think I'd be painting angels. I thought of birds, butterflies, old photos as images, but not angels. And here's my second one! Funny how that happens... Well, with this one, I was looking at the background below and she suddenly jumped out at me and I just sort of colored her in. I was going to give her long hair (shouldn't an angel have long locks?!), but then she ended up with a stylish hair cut. This was my first face at a little bit of a profile angle and I am pleased with how it turned out, complete with a dreamy look in her eyes...
On to the next painting...

Angel - Revised and Complete

Thank you all for your very wonderful comments on my angel! Still last night, I took her and changed her. I took out the "heart" word and added "light" and "love." (Click on the image if you'd like to see her larger.) After that, she looked happy and complete!

It's interesting to me how a painting just doesn't quite seem "right." And when I finally (sometimes after Daniel's sage advice) change one little thing, the whole piece sort of comes together. Quite amazing!

Wishing you lots of light and love!

Angel

I've been working most of the day on this pretty angel and love how she looks, especially her sweet face. She went through many lives and color combinations before I settled on these colors. I haven't varnished it yet because I am not sure that she is finished (I am not sure at all about the "heart" word on the left). I'll let her sit overnight and see, but wanted to post her as is tonight. If any of you have any suggestions or if you think she is done, please let me know! I always appreciate your feedback as I am learning to paint!!

I did this painting on a piece of wood I found in our garage and was going to paint a really tall bird on. Instead I did the background and then felt like painting this angel instead. Funny how that works...

Aside from her, I am working on a piece that will be a special gift for a birthday in my family and prepared another image-transfer background for another painting I will hopefully get to work on tomorrow. I can't believe it took me all these years to start making art... Now I feel like I am making up for lost time - it's all I want to do anymore! So much fun!!