Art!!!

Wow! I can't believe a month has passed since my last blog post. It's been a busy few weeks with life and art and friends visiting.

All the abstract experimenting has led me to changes in my art. In this piece I worked with many, many layers of high flow acrylics and also using some of my stencils.

 What you can't see very well in the photos is the gold I used.

 Not just as paint with the stencils, but also gold-colored metal leaf at the end.

The result is a beautiful 9 x 12 inch portrait, somewhat mysterious and quite layered. This painting has sold.

The following painting is quite a bit larger (16 x 20 inches) and here I again worked with stencils, but this time using them with light molding paste to add texture and structure to the painting.

If you look in the lower right corner, those flower shapes are raised.

As are the flowers in the photo below. Such gorgeous texture!

I'm really enjoying working larger even though it takes much longer. And I love painting human portraits again in addition to my animal paintings.

I hope you are having a wonderful June! I'm spending much of it painting and I'll have more to show you soon!

❧ Silke

Stencils and Molding Paste

A couple of years ago I bought a handful of stencils ... and I keep forgetting that I have them! The other day I came across them while looking for something else and decided to experiment using molding paste with them.

One result you can see in this blog post from a few days ago.  And now again. I used the first stencil with molding paste and it worked beautifully.

After applying some paint I worked light molding paste (which I had tinted with acrylic paint) into two additional stencils.

The result is really fun and rather busy. It needs something else. Maybe a focal point.

I'm just not sure yet. Hopefully today will reveal the next step...

❧ Silke

Evolution of an Abstract Painting

Abstract painting is an interesting thing for me. It requires much more patience than painting an animal or a human portrait. And knowing when it's "done" is a feeling rather than a conscious decision. For me it's the ultimate practice in letting go and surrendering to the process. And it's playful and FUN!

Here's where I started out. I applied light molding paste to the entire surface and then started with three colors plus white.

I could  have stopped there, but it just didn't feel complete. And then I started playing. I wanted more color and more mark making. The following photo shows the "almost finished" stage. I was almost there, but it needed more.

And then I arrived here. This feels balanced to me. I look at it and my eyes roam and observe and don't want more or less. It has depth and light and gorgeous color (much more stunning than the camera was able to capture)!

I wish you a colorful and playful start to your week!!

❧ Silke

Abstract Painting with Texture

I'm still painting in an abstract style and doing a lot of experimenting. Here, I first prepared the canvas with molding paste applied through a stencil.

As you can see, it gave me a lot of raised texture! Once dry, it was really fun to work on with high-flow acrylics.

Again, I limited my palette to three colors: phthalo turquoise, quinacridone magenta, and green gold - probably my three favorite colors! At the end I also added a tiny bit of iridescent pearl in some of the textured areas.

The result is a very vibrant and interesting painting.

I hope your start to the week is beautiful!

❧ Silke

Evolution of a Painting

Reflection
12 x 9 inch acrylic painting on canvas

I took a few photos along the way of creating the painting above. I was interested in looking at the photos afterwards and seeing how it all progressed. I thought you might enjoy this as well.

This process is entirely intuitive. I started with a blank canvas, added some doodles in purple and yellow and then a layer of light molding paste in some areas. I let that dry over night. The next day, I added another layer of green gold and nickel azo yellow, both pretty garish colors. So, the above photo already has three layers.

I then added a layer of diarylide yellow (such a pretty color) and cobalt turquoise (photo above). While that was still wet, I worked into it with some titanium white and titan buff (photo below).

After letting all that dry I got totally lost in adding more layers and promptly forgot to take pictures. I added many more colors in transparent layers - yellows, orange, red, turquoise, blues, and maroon. I used brushes, rags and fingers to apply color, smear it around and wipe it off in place. Totally messy and fun!

I let the above version sit overnight again and added a few more layers this morning to come up with the final version of the photo below and the very first photo in this post. Love it!

I've already got the next one started and am two layers into that one. This is the most exciting painting process I have worked in yet. It's totally unpredictable and incredibly gratifying when the painting comes together in the end!

Thanks for visiting! I hope you are having a great week!!

❧ Silke

Rachel ~ Finished Painting

Every once in a while a painting really surprises me and this is one of those times. Meet Rachel, my very special daydreamer. She reminds me of myself when I was in school. I was such a dreamer and I cannot tell you how often I heard: "Silke, stop daydreaming and pay attention!"

In my adult years I learned again how important it is to keep dreaming. Rachel never stopped and she never will! She knows that her true power doesn't come from being vocal, but from being quiet and letting her thoughts wander.

I don't know what it is about this little painting I like so much. I think it's her sweet face. I feel like I know this girl! I'd like to sit next to her on the stoop and watch the world go by...

Rachel
5 x 7 inch acrylic painting on clay board

Available in my Etsy Shop (click here)

I am linking her to the wonderful folks over at Paint Party Friday and also to Illustration Friday (this weeks' theme is "vocal").

P.S. Remember to enter my giveaway (click on the photo at the top of my right sidebar) - you have until tomorrow evening EST.

Little Painting in Progress

Most of you know how much I love texture in my paintings, whether it is through a layer of paper collage, different grounds or molding pastes. Some of my paintings are on plain canvas, but not many. 

I thought I'd show you this little painting in progress as it's kind of fun. I painted a layer of molding paste on a little clay board. These gessoed clay boards are super smooth, so I like to add a little something when I use one of them. 

While the molding paste was still wet, I took one of my stamps and stamped into it. Today, before doing my underpainting of the girl, I smeared on a little powdered graphite to bring out the pattern so I can see it better. I like it!!

So now I have the textured pattern on the left and even the brushstrokes from applying the molding paste that are adding interest to the painting for me.

We are expecting an afternoon of storms and rain so I foresee more cozy studio time... I'm not complaining! But for now I am meeting a friend at our favorite cafe.... In fact, you might enjoy her blog - she sews, quilts, knits, crochets, felts, and she's a potter! Have a click here to take look at her very creative world...

Wishing you a terrific Thursday!

A Painting in Progress

I was having one of those evenings tonight - you know, when you doubt yourself. A lot. When you give the question of who you are to someone else to answer. In this case, I was giving that power to my etching class, having how I do in there decide whether I "really" am an artist or not.

The funny thing was when I was tossing and turning trying to go to sleep wondering if I had been kidding myself about being an artist, all I wanted to do was paint. So, I got up and I continued on this painting in progress. She still has a ways to go, but already she has answered my question.

No matter what anyone thinks, I can no longer imagine my life without art!

It's that simple.

And now, I wish you good night!

Update:  It is morning now, a blustery and rainy morning - simply wonderful! Painting last night did the trick. I feel good. After all, it's not our definition that matters, it's how much we enjoy each moment. And today, I plan to enjoy my day - including my afternoon at the print studio.

I hope you'll be able to enjoy your day as well, no matter what you have planned!!

P.S. Just wait until you see the rest of this painting - I love it!!!

New Painting & More

Well, my friends I took the whole day off from printmaking. I needed to not be around big presses, rubber gloves, goggles, acids and metal. I needed a peaceful day painting - and I painted all day!

When I paint, I meditate, I think, I allow things that have been percolating to come to the surface and be noticed.

So, two things happened here. My style is changing a little. My women and flowers are coming together. Plus, Jane DesRosier (Gritty Jane) is having a Facebook challenge to paint a piece paying homage to Klimt. While it wasn't my intent to paint this for the challenge, I was clearly influenced by reading about Klimt, his life and his art.

It also made me remember how much I love patterns. Not the regular kind so much, but the organic patterns I see everywhere. And I added a little bit of metallic paint (gold and copper) - yum! The photos don't really do it justice, but they come close.

But here's the big change. I decided to offer my paintings for sale right here on the blog for two reasons (everything seems to be happening in pairs today).

At this point, I call myself an artist (even if only timidly), but also want to hide it from the world. I still do that!! I like to show you my art, but the selling part I am so incredibly insecure about. I barely want to mention it and then apologize for it in the same sentence.

I came across the following quote a few weeks ago, which has had me thinking - a lot. A LOT!

“The original definition of courage is to tell the story of who you are with your whole heart.”

           ― Brené Brown

This is me being a little more courageous and telling the story of who I am:

Putting my art out there for you to see, to comment on, to buy if you want to, or to simply enjoy online! 

The second reason is a more mundane one. I find it takes a lot of time to maintain two Etsy stores effectively, so I will close my Etsy art store over the next few days and offer my art here on my blog. It just feels right. I will also no longer offer prints of anything, just my original pieces as they become available.

The "Buy Now" button will take you to PayPal for very secure checkout (the same as with Etsy).

About the pricing of my art, it is not a science. I price the pieces according to how long they took me to paint and - because I only offer you the pieces I truly love - by what would feel like a fair trade to me for that particular piece. If you have questions, just e-mail me.

Jewel
8 x 10" acrylic painting

Thank you all for listening, for bearing witness to my constant becoming and for your always supportive comments! 

You all warm my heart and make my day - every day!! 

P.S. I loved all your comments on my previous fall post - seems I'm not the only one who loves this particular season... 

A New Painting - Emergence I

Emergence I
Acrylic painting on 11 x 14 inch canvas

The voodoo lily from my previous post has inspired a new series of paintings, which I lovingly call pod women. I finished this one today and started on the next two already. It's been a while that I've felt so excited about new paintings!

All of them will be painted on a heavy layer of light molding paste, which gives them incredible texture!! I wish you could feel this one... If you click on the image for a larger version, you can at least see the texture.

I have been so busy with my projects for drawing class (this latest one is giving me fits!) and my own art that I haven't had nearly enough time to visit all of your blogs. I check in on facebook every once in a while, but I really miss leisurely reading about your lives and creative endeavors!

I do think of you all the time and hope that you are all doing well. And I thank you for continuing to visit my blog and check in with me! You have no idea how much that means to me!!!

"Echos from Times Past"

Echos from Times Past

14 x 18 inch mixed media painting on canvas

Another new favorite of mine! She turned out so differently from what I had originally planned, but I love all her layers - and there are many of them: molding paste, collage papers, acrylic paints, tissue paper, an image transfer of a graveyard photo Daniel took in Ireland, and pieces of a letter written by my favorite great uncle. He was a Franciscan priest and married Daniel and me in Germany 20 years ago this week.

As I get ready to visit my family in Germany later this month, I find myself thinking often about those "times past," and I am sure this painting was much influenced by that.

"Echos from Times Past" is available as a 5 x 7 inch print in my Etsy Shop.

"Fear No More"

Fear No More

6 x 8 inch mixed media painting on canvas

I really like my latest painting! It amazes me how I am returning to my old loves working in textures, layers, collage, image transfers - and how they have a totally different feel from my earlier work.

On this background, I transferred a beautiful photo Daniel and I had taken in Ireland a couple of years ago. I love how it ended up being very abstract, but you can see some of the branches at the top.

"Fear No More" is available as a 5 x 7 inch print in my Etsy Shop.

P.S. The crow is from Milliande's Printable Blog, and the butterfly the lovely Anne shared with me! Thank you!!

Illustration Friday - Satellite

The local satellite branch of the library was her favorite place to get inspired.

(Light and coarse molding pastes and acrylic paint on 11 x 14 inch gallery-wrapped canvas.)

My paintings are changing in a way I had not anticipated and I am over the moon with excitement. When I had finished this woman, I told Daniel I wanted to paint a "real" background this time and asked for suggestions. His first response was "books" and so books it is. I am trying to be humble, but I am incredibly proud of this painting! And already on to the next one...

For more entries in Illustration Friday, click here.

P.S. Daniel is trying to outdo me and has started a second blog that is dedicated to his many travel sketches. It's called "Wanderlust, or Have Sketchbook, Will Travel: An Urban Sketcher's Blog." It's worth a visit! (Click here!)

Painting Interlude

Love is Gentle

12 x 16 inch (30 x 40 cm) acrylic painting on gallery-wrapped canvas

Available for purchase at Etsy (click here)

I have been back in my studio and am painting - very differently from how I was painting before our road trip (travel always inspires me) and I'm having so much fun! I had this urge to paint more painterly, creating more depth and a richness that I had been missing.

She turned out beautifully and to me looks so kind. Plus, the texture ... oh, how I wish you could feel it! It still amazes me that I can make something like that.

I'm already on to my next painting. Now that Daniel is ambulatory again, I have more time to create... It's all good!

A New Painting

A little while ago, we decided to move my computer cabinet upstairs into my little studio, which was one of two guest rooms before I moved in. It's a room that still needs to be painted, but for now it's cozy (love all the books around the built-in bed) and serves me well.

However, I hadn't gotten around to organizing the computer cabinet and slowly but surely clutter took over, making my creative space seem smaller and smaller.
So, this week, I took one morning and organized. I am proud to say that I didn't merely close the doors to the cabinet (I have to admit that I was tempted...), but that I organized and filed every piece of paper. Yeah!! Done!

I also cleaned my little art space,

all the while being supervised by one very lazy kitty.

After that I finally felt like painting again, and she was the result!

Those Eyes

4 x 6 inch acrylic painting on Strathmore Acrylic Paper

She's bold, she's colorful, she's heavily textured (molding paste) and she's thoughtful. I love her blue-green eyes and the general energy of the piece. You can find her in my little Etsy shop.

It seems from all your comments on my last decluttering post that I am not alone in my need to organize outwardly in order to feel at peace inwardly. This time, too, it helped. I feel much calmer than I did last week AND I've started painting again. I like that. A lot.

Illustration Friday - Fearless

She often dreamed of living a fearless life.

As do I! I am a natural worry wart. And I have a very vivid imagination, which readily runs away with me... I often wonder what it would be like to be fearless. Do you know?

She was an interesting woman to paint. Again, I covered the 4 x 6 inch acrylic paper with a thick layer of molding paste (I love that stuff!!) and, when dry, started painting her in rather bright colors. But it just didn't look right. The colors didn't match her mood nor mine. She needed to have soothing colors, and finally it all came together!

Incidentally, there's one thing I never fear - showing you all my artwork! And that's because you are all so incredibly kind... Thank you!!