Alcohol Inks Up North

I'm really enjoying the alcohol inks. I've started to experiment with various pictures including this landscape. The process is so interesting to me; the way the colors mix, the different patterns that are made. I always think, "How is this ever going to work out?"But it does.

This is after the mask out is removed.

A few more colors added in the whites.


Then some ink drawing. I did a lot more drawing than I used for the dog portraits. It felt good to be drawing on the painting.

 I like the bold colors. I don't think I'm there yet but I definitely think these alcohol inks are worth further exploration. Any suggestions on titles? I feel this needs to say something about the gate.

I also have been playing with wine glasses as you know. I dripped some alcohol ink over the glass and it looks good but I'm highly concerned about the toxicity of the inks. I know I could seal the inks but I still would be concerned. Especially since one will be putting this to their lips.

I supposed the glass paints are a lot safer. Any ideas? Let me know, leave a comment.

Cody is the Last DOG on MY BLOG

Here he is, Cody, the Last Dog on My Blog.

Cody's fur reflected  purple, blue, pink, brown, grey and black tones.

 I've enjoyed drawing these black dogs and adding the colors I see reflected in their fur. They're very difficult to photograph well. In fact, did you know that dog shelters put down more black dogs than any other color because they just can't take good pictures. Think about it, you want to adopt the "cute" dogs. So next time your at a shelter looking for a cat or dog - take a good long look at the cute ones with the black fur.




Let me take this opportunity to thank everyone who sent in their dog pictures for this promotion. Each one of them was adorable and very special. We even had a rare Oscar Spaniel sent in from Columbus, Ohio. No one loves us quite like our dogs. I think one of the reasons they're on the planet is to teach us what unconditional love is.

So in celebration of the warm Spring weather, although today is rainy and cool, I'd like to send each dog owner the portrait I did as my thank-you gift to you for your support and encouragement through out the year. Your likes and comments on my blog and Facebook page have given me continued confidence to pursue my dream of becoming an artist. Please email me (moreart@jillraefinallyart.com)  the address I can send your picture to. I ask that when you get the picture you send me a photo of where you're putting the picture, or showing it to your dog. And thanks again for everything.

And for you patient cat owners I'm just waiting for the purrrrrrfect time to do a cat promotion.

It's Time to Plant a New Painting!

It's Time to Plant a New Painting!

I know it's early, and that the nights this week will be in the 40s. But I can't help myself. Village Green has their annual $0.47 geranium sale and I must start putting them in pots.

I can't wait for the season to begin. I've put some dahlia tubers in pots. A lot of my tubers look pretty good this year. I also put a few seeds in pots yesterday. Today, it's back to painting.


 

Painting Glasses for the Unforgettable Art Event

I had a lot of fun painting wine glasses this week for the Unforgettable Art Event.  The  Annual Affair for Alzheimer's will be held Saturday May 3. Tickets: www.alz.org/illinois or call 815-484-1300.

Using Americana Gloss Enamels I painted flowers from my Garden Series. It took awhile to catch on to painting on glass with transparent paint but I got it.

In fact, it was so much fun that I went out and bought several more wine glasses to paint. I thought it might be fun to paint Wisconsin scenes for the upcoming Artarma in July.

Looking at My Iris Painting in a Different Way

Progress continued today on my iris painting. My goal is to have it completed by May 1st. What interests me most about this picture is the sharp contrast between the straight leaves and the more organic shapes of the iris flowers. I also find the contrast between the lights and darks very intriguing. These are the components which draws me to most of the garden compositions that I choose. I'm trying push my tones just a bit more with this painting. So I started my third round of the irises with a very dark purple. I want to have deep, dark colors to contrast some of the lighter tones.

I didn't complete a full pass of the background on the lower half of the painting. I won't know how much darker I need to go until I complete the second pass.

I wanted to see the painting in different ways: black and white, upside down etc. these settings are not available on my I-pad although I understand that there is an app I can download. Hense began the playing around in photo booth - very interesting....

This is x-ray iris. Not quite black and white, more like a negative of the painting, I find it very useful anyway. It shows me that the right hand side of the painting is lacking a bit in tonal variation. this is the side I haven't completed the second pass on. Although, this is truly the lighter side of the painting. I find this to be a really interesting picture. Maybe I should try a painting in just one color?

This is the mirror image of the painting.

Then there's kaleidoscope iris. Again very interesting.

In what way are you trying to push your painting?

Have you ever tried any of I-pad's photo booth apps on your images?

Send me some and I'll put them on my blog.

Packing Up for a Plein Air Workshop

What a week! Between getting ready for 13 guests for Easter dinner and wanting to complete three watercolors by May 1st I've kept busy. I don't think I'll make my painting deadline. I still have a long way on two of the watercolors and I haven't even started a third. That's okay, but I'm already fantasizing about doing nothing Monday but painting.





Today I'm going to Richard Weber's Plein Air Workshop. The first two classes will be inside as we learn techniques and composition. I've brought my pastels for the class as traditionally I'm very slow with watercolors and I don't own acrylics. My goal is to paint plein air with oils. I'm hoping to spend a lot of time this summer up North doing just that. I've bought an wonderful light weight easel, a new palette.







My other goal for today is to continue cleaning my office and studio. How did I get this messy? I have piles of Finally Art papers, House restoration files, bills, family history etc. all about my desk which I usually set up as a drink area so my guests can help themselves. I completed a full inventory of my works for Finally Art and feel good about that. Tonight it's back up to the studio where I'm spraying and bagging works. I know by Monday I'll be thrilled to have things well organized but to tell you the truth, I just want my comfy clothes and to spend the day painting.

Help Find Oscar in Columbus, Ohio

Please share to help find Oscar in Columbus Ohio.

Remember Bethannie's rare "Oscar-Spaniel" on my blog about 3 weeks ago? He ran away shortly after that in the Clintonville area of Columbus, Ohio. They had just moved from the Short North area near Neil and Goodale so he might have returned to that area. Please share this post if you live in the Columbus area. We miss Oscar and want him home. If you find him please contact me at goldraes910@yahoo.com. Oscar is today's DOG on MY BLOG.

Iris Work in Progress

The grass is green and the flowers are popping.  Work in progress.

Gayle Heinemann Covers a Wine Glass With Polymer Clay

We had such a great time at Art Scene Friday and Saturday. So many wonderful artists, great crowd of people, music and lots of fun. My table was next to Gayle Heinemann's.
Gayle makes wonderful jewelry out of polymer clay.

Gayle decorates a wine glass for the Unforgettable Art Annual Affair for Alzheimer's to be held Saturday May 3rd in Rockford. (tickets: www.alz.org/illinois or call 815.484.1300)

First she wraps the glass in clay.

She wraps, trims and adds some lighter blue clay.

Short break for dinner. Glass is fully wrapped .

 

She adds grass.

Flower stems are added.

Almost done, just need some flowers but alas the show is ending...

Stay tuned, Gayle said she'd send pictures of the finished glasses. Great job Gayle! Just four more to go. 

I'll post my painted glasses when they're done.

Art Scene

I'm having a great time at Art Scene going on yesterday and today in Rockford Illinois. Come on down and visit if you're in the area.

Yogi is Today's DOG on MY BLOG

Yogi

The weather is getting warmer but I still have a few dogs left. This is Yogi. Thanks Brian Hardas for submitting the picture.

Charlie and Rusty are Today's DOG on MY BLOG

I'm loving the alcohol inks! They're interesting as they make various patterns and blend with surrounding colors.

There's always a point when I wonder:"How is this painting ever going to recover?"

Then I realize I actually have a lot more control than I think.

Rusty and Charlie

And it all works out in the end.

Inspired By the Spring

Beth's Tulips

 Want to purchase a Giclee Print of this painting? http://www.jillraefinallyart.com/giclee-prints.php

My garden is my inspiration. First, it taunts me with a few pokes of bulb leaves reassuring me that warmer days are coming. Then I am enticed to go outside where the sun and wind clears my mind. I become further awakened by doing the physical activity required to clean-up the garden and prepare it for the season. Choosing the season's plants and flowers is like painting in 3-D as I combine colors and textures into a riot of living art. I photograph the garden as I walk around and pick out nature's masterpieces.  In the winter I am left with only the memories and the photographs as I paint, waiting patiently for the coming season to start again.

Emma and Zoe are Two DOGS on MY BLOG 2014-04-04 05:51

Emma and Zoe

Progress on the Iris Painting 2014-04-04 06:06

The day's work.

Any ideas for names?

Happiness is a New Painting Happiness is a New Painting

I love starting new paintings and I'm beginning to understand how important it is to me.

My studio is a mess. I really need to clean it out but I don't want to take the time away from painting. I have dog pastels all over ready for their final fixative spray, two alcohol inks, oils drying and my Queen Anne's Lace oil on my easel along with stacks of photographs I want to paint or draw. There is the Chives and Russian Sage watercolor hanging upside down on my bulletin board (Is this painting really done?) On my watercolor boards are this Iris painting and - I don't know the names of these - flowers and squiggly grasses. I have found that I really need the variety. My watercolors are slow and very controlled, where my oils are freer and louder. All these things; oils, watercolors, pastels, alcohol inks, ink pens have very different feelings to them. I like working in one medium until I feel I need to stand away from it for awhile and have another project waiting for me. Some might say that is not a good way to establish a style. But it doesn't work for me to stick to one piece or medium. Does that make me an ADHD Artist? Why not? I'll wear the label proudly.

Everyday I can't wait to get to my studio, and I don't want to leave. I just want to paint and do nothing else. Alas, there are dishes and laundry to be done along with meals,shopping, bills, meetings and appointments. I have come to my one year anniversary of leaving my employment for my painting and I can say I love it. I can't get enough and actually feel a bit overwhelmed with all I want to accomplish. I never knew that I'd be learning so much about accounting, marketing and computers. What a joy it is to be an artist waking up and doing what I love everyday!

How do you work on your pieces? Do you stay with one painting from start to finish or do you jump around like me?