I started a new art book, called Symbolism and Modern Urban Society by Sharon Hirsh. It's really good. I love the Symbolist movement, especially Klimt and Munch. And, of course, Van Gogh. I adore Van Gogh. 

I saw an exhibit on african art on Saturday. I was very impressed. I noted several cloth pieces, ceremonial masks. It was interesting.
There is a monet/degas exhibit coming to the same venue(the local sculpture garden). I can get in free for the month of may, through having a membership at another museum. Wouldn't you know,, the exhibit opens on May 31st. I guess I will go then,although I plan on taking my son back to the sculpture garden before then. 

I still need to see the Andy Warhol exhibit. I will try to go this week. 

I haven't painted much these past couple of weeks. I am preparing pieces for Mother's day.

Current Location: Home
Current Mood: exhausted
Current Music: Francesco

Well, for the first time in over a month, I finally worked on something. I managed a tissue paper floral, and prepared paper for two more(which I will do sometime this week) and I did another acrylic goldfish painting.  I also did an acrylic painting, based on something I saw on my experimental acrylics group, but I did it in acrylics, and it didn't turn out right. I know I have those cheap oils floating around here, but I can't find them. They would be perfect for this; The painting I based it on is called Alien Landscape. I didn a wild oil about 2 yrs ago called Creation, and this was supposed to be similar. I guess that acrylics just aren't good for this. 
I need a new movement to study.  I think that it is time to revisit The Impressionists. I reread Gaywyck for the umpteenth time, and that book goes on about the impressionists. Plus, I have the two new books on Impressionist painting techniques, which I would like to try. 
I just don't have time to study art like I would like to. 
I am starting an art group for youth for the summer, so I might be able to do some studying at work. That would be great.

Current Location: Home
Current Mood: drained

I have been painting tons since my Dad died. I did oil painting last night, acrylics the night before, and I will do watercolors tonight. 
Not everything has been turning out well, but I have been having alot of fun with it.

Current Location: Home
Current Mood: creative
Current Music: Twin Peaks-

I did a fish scene(abstract) in acrylics last night. It just didn't turn out like I wanted. It didn't turn out like the watercolor version.
I finally painted that sea scene- and it was just beautiful. I am going to put another canvas together tonight, and then paint it, because I really liked this one. It was raised seashell shapes, salt(to represent sand) and acrylic pumice gel(to represent sea coral and stuff)
Tonight- I am working on minature oil paintings Yay

Current Location: Home
Current Mood: creative
Current Music: A price above rubies

I don't always have money to send out valentines and such, but I think that because my art gifts to

gaedhal (christmas) and gurliemoviegeek (birthday) were so successful, I am going to send more gifts out to those on my f-list. 

I am working on a series of abstracts on goldfish right now.

Current Location: home
Current Mood: artistic
Current Music: Kingdom of Heaven(director's cut)

I have been studying a book calle Big Art, Small Canvas. This is written by an artist who gives tips on oil painting on small canvases, I have done two 4 by 6 canvases- One of a glass and one of a landscape. Michaels seems to dislike carrying the small canvases- they didn't have any when I went there on thursday. I bought some disposable paper palette's because another excellent book- Acrylic Revolution- has a project for used paper pallets. I want to purchase both of these books, but I am holding off for now. IF I do buy them- In addition to Abstract Painting, Paint like the Impressionists and Paint like Monet- it will make 5 new books since christmas. 
I was rather disappointed with Paint like the Impressionists. I was expecting something different, but none of our libraries carried it.

I have entered in the HP_April_Fools fest. I have to do a Harry Potter themed painting. I have never painted or drew figures, so this is going to be an interesting change. I would like to be able to do a oil painting with the water soluable oils, but it might turn out to be just a drawing. I would also love to be able to use pastels and try something. 

Current Location: Home
Current Mood: exhausted
Current Music: NYPD Blue

One of my New Years Resolutions was to do one 4 by 6 (postcard size) painting per day. 
It isn't working out so well. 
Let me explain: This week, I have done two 8 by 10 oil paintings for my dear friend gurliemoviegeek. They came out just lovely, using the new, inexpensive oil paints that I purchased on monday. The color on these is just wonderful. The texture is lovely. I just love them. I will photograph them before I send them to her(hoping that they are dry before her birthday).
Tonight, I wanted to play again, but I want to do something more abstract expressionist. This is the purpose that I originally purchased the paints for. However, I really needed to study the two gigantic art books I got from the library ON Abstract Exprressionism. I didn't just want to throw a bunch of paint on the canvas(although this is probably what will happen) Since I have to get up early tomorrow to do a project on the stupid environment, I really don't want to drag everything out right now.
So, since New Years day, I have done two wonderful 8 by 10 paintings, two 4 by 6 paintings(and the painting swap I signed up for has been cancelled- which is why I was preparing 4 by 6 paintings.)
I don't feel that I haven't honored the spirit of the resolution, as I usually don't produce TWO paintings in a week, not even dinky ones of the 8 by 10 size. Last year I would go weeks without being creative, and that could happen again this year, but right now, I am being creative and creating. I am also interested in creating some watercolor abstracts(which is what I was doing with the 4 by 6 paintings)
The other thing is that I didn't go to the art museum this week. Partly because I had to work all day because I went shopping yesterday. Also, my usual companion at the art museum has kind of busted up our friendship(those of you that have friended both my journals know what I am talking about). I am thinking about purchasing a museum membership, but I think if I go on friday's - it is only 4 dollars. I will figure something out. I have been enjoying visiting the museums and galleries and don't want that to end. 
That's it for now. I have to get up in the morning for this stupid project. My friend is trying to teach young people and start an art project with young people, but she knows absolutely nothing about art. I am going to a grantwriting conference next week- and I think that I need to start searching for some art grants. The idiot that I was hanging out at the galleries with had a grant for 50,000 to study the amount of abstract art in western michigan. WTF? I would love to have some money to do my own art project with teenagers. My friend is flailing around on this- and she has the money and knows nothing about art. 
Still waiting for the book on painting like the impressionists. I'll let you know about that.

Current Location: Home
Current Mood: crappy
Current Music: West Wing

I ordered a book from amazon.com called How to paint like the impressionists, by Suzy Hodges. I already have Paint with the Impressionists which is a very useful guide on some of the art techniques that the impressionists used to create their artwork. I can't wait until I get it. 

I bought some cheap oil paints the other day, because I really wanted to play around with using the entire tube and playing with it(as described in Ruth Kligman's book, Love Affair-This book is mainly about her relationship with Jackson Pollock, but in it, Kligman describes being in an art class and an instructor squeezing an entire tube of paint onto the canvas). I really like doing this, but I ended up creating a rather impressionist style painting instead. I am going to try a different subject tonight with the same cheap little paints. 

I have been continuing to study the abstract impressionists(I have two books out from the library), but I am awaiting a book called Decadence and Symbolism so I continue my study of the symbolist period as well. I should be solidly into my acrylics, and instead I have regressed back to the oil paints. Oh, well, I am having fun with them.  

Next time, I will try and upload some photos

Current Location: work
Current Mood: blah
Current Music: The Cure- Pictures of You.

 Picasso's Blue and Rose Period

I am currently studying Picasso's blue and rose period, as part of a larger study of the Symbolist art movement. I am rather fond of this period of Picasso's because it is so representative of a young artist, who first left home, experienced tragedy and is trying to find both himself and his art. This period is highly influenced by the Symbolist movement, which makes sense as Picasso spent a good deal of time between 1901-1906, moving back and forth between Paris and Spain.

Current Location: Home
Current Mood: tired