pamgarrison

not much getting done around here

I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted. I feel like I've been getting some creative time in, but don't have much to show for it. A little bit here, a little bit there. I did finish a new flea market apron for myself and added my initials as the only bit of color. (photo above). And I added ties to one my friend bought at the flea market and sent it off to her.

It's been one of those weeks where everything is taking longer than expected and just making it to the post office feels like a success. I did some painting too. And then covered it all up, even though now I wish I hadn't...

All of it gone now, just couldn't find a groove...maybe next week I'll have a go at it again.  And I'll have some finished things to show soon I hope.

 
Almost made it through one full week of school; the homework and sports schedules are already tiring, but how can this sight not make a mama smile?

more painting

You know I can't work on just one thing at a time, let alone one medium...so when working on the baby's painting, I painted on another as well. I call this one Orange Crush. Here it is full size (30"wide x 24"tall with 1 1/2" edges), almost finished:

On the last post Tanya asked: Can I ask you about the marks on your paintings? Do you draw over your painted background with pencil before you paint it in, or is that something else added after the fact? The answer is both. Sometimes I take pencil and doodle on a layer, then cover over it with another paint level like this (on a different painting):

Sometimes I find shapes in the paint and pencil around it to bring it forward, like on the edge of Orange Crush shown below. The blue blob of paint was there and it looked like a flower with leaves to me, so I penciled that over the paint markings that existed:

And sometimes, I just pencil on top of all the paint, sometimes filling it in with paint or crayon, and sometimes not, like this:

So, as usual, I'm making it up as I go, no hard and set rules. Just seeing what shows up and where inspiration takes me. Hope that helps Tanya! 

 

something other than stitching? whaaaat?!?!

 

One of my dearest friends just had a sweet baby boy and when asked what she wanted for babie's handmade gift, chose a painting. I've been having so much fun painting with the little cutie in mind. I was able to visit him in the NICU  last week and am going up again tomorrow. I'm hoping to have the painting finished so that when he gets to come home it'll be hanging in his room. {There were complications during birth, but we all believe he's going to be able to come home soon; prayers are welcome if you are so inclined}

I don't want her to see the painting here and not in person, thus the peeks only, but the writing tells him he is loved, loved, loved.

This post is dedicated to the readers that have been missing a dose of color in all the stitching posts of late! xo

dreamsicle creamsicle sorbets

 

I can't resist using Lorelei and Suzan's descriptive words for this set of paintings. Once they left them in the comments, I couldn't get them out of my head: dreamsicle, creamsicle sorbets. Perfect for this beginning of summer sale. Here they are, I hope you like them!!!! I'm starting a whole new set too, painting seems to be  where my art heart is right now.

 SOLD- painting above: sweet summer day   12"x16" 2 1/4 " edge      $260

painting above:    moody blues 24"x24" 1 1/2" edge   $425.00

  

 

SOLD- painting above:  this nest is best    24" x 48" 1 7/8" side edge    $750.00

painting above: all in a day's work   24" x 20" 1 1/2" edge   $365.00

 

SOLD -painting above: easy afternoons 20" x 20" x 1  3/4" sides    $210.00

 

painting above: spring meadow  10" x8" 2" edge    $165.00

painting above:  sherbet sky 24" x 30" 1 1/2" edge   $485.00

 

 

SOLD - painting above:  on summer 16" x 12" 2 1/4" edge    $250.00

SOLD - painting above:   summer folly 24" x 20" x 1 1/2" edge    $385.00

this weekend

This weekend I'll be listing 10 paintings. Here's how I'm planning on working it:

I'm going to put the paintings up for sale here, on my blog. Once they are up here with names and dimensions, if you are interested in one, you'll just email me and let me know. I'll send a paypal invoice and once payment is received, I'll mark them as sold here. I'll put any that don't sell here in my etsy sometime in the next couple weeks. Buyer to pay actual shipping charges (determined before actually shipping so that you'll know the rate). Of course, for shipping prices it matters where the paintings are going, and the size of the painting as well (sorry, U.S. only this time while I learn more about the art of shipping large paintings...any advice welcome.) Please allow 5-7 days for packaging once payment is received. These are all cradled panels made using either hardwood or birch and pine. (Which mean they have nice thick edges of at least 1 1/2" or larger. The sizes vary, and will be posted alongside the photos of the piece. I'll be listing more non-cradled paintings (like before), and their prices will be much less than this cradled collection. I figure it'll be less confusing to list the similarly priced paintings in groups. So, if these cradled pieces are too pricey, there will be others that are not, coming soon.

Thank you for the comments and emails expressing interest and enthusiasm; it is very encouraging and I am really excited about continuing down this painting path. Have a great weekend!

making some finishing touches

 

 

paintings for sale soon

There. I said it. I'm committed now. When Amy called the other day, I overheard my husband say, "our kitchen has turned into an art gallery". And he wasn't saying that with any pleasure in his voice. Nope, none. Which is fair. Now I've moved the art gallery to the outside anyway, hahahaha. But seriously, I've got to let go of some of these so I can keep going on others. I mean, really, how many of one's own things can you hang in your home? Sheesh! Although, as I write this my Dad is constructing me a 5'x5' cradle wrapped board to hang in my dining room. Not even sure I have enough paint for 60"x 60"! Oh darn, I guess I'll have to make a trip to the art store soon....

meet my easel!

Remember how I said I was out playing with a new toy? Well here it is! My Dad made me an easel out of an old rolling clothing rack he found left in the rafters by the previous owners. I put some big paintings on it so you can really get an idea of the size. There are 3 paintings on it and the smallest in the upper right corner is 18x22 just for scale. Anyway..... Isn't it great? I am in heaven. It's so beautiful, but I think I need a wide angle lens to really capture it to show you. Here are some of the details that my Dad made that make it over the top cool to me:

 

Isn't it great?!? So I got down to playing a bit...

 

 

brown paper packaging

After seeing this video, I wanted to doodle and paint on throw-away paper myself. I was in luck, having just ordered new painting panels that were wrapped in brown paper packaging for safety. A whole bunch of ink doodling with a paintbrush and coloring in with paints and I'm still at it, having fun, just.because.  Thanks to Alisa Burke for the inspiration and absolutely true message; it is all about the journey. You can own a part of what she created on the video, or other things from her prolific artist's hands here. Here are more shots of the fun I've been having in various stages. {Ed: I used different black calligraphy inks, and all different brands of acrylic paints, all different price ranges}

        I hope you have a colorful weekend!

messing around

I was looking through some old artwork recently for design inspiration. When I came across the designs I had made for PapayaArt a few years ago,  I couldn't resist taking some paint to them.The papers seemed so flat to me. Here's what the paper above looked like originally: 

I  submitted the papers to Anahata and then she worked her graphic design magic and produced the final papers. Not having any luck finding a link to show you; I think they are all sold out (new collaborations are in the works).Here's another close up of the piece above after attacking it with ink:

Such a different feeling. Too bold for gift wrap, but it's coming alive now and will have a new purpose...not sure what yet. Not worried about that, just playing. Here's another original as it was submitted . They started as 22x30 watercolor papers. 

  And after playing on top with some ink:

Just an exercise in loosening up. That, and allowing myself to mess with something that I thought was finished before. It served it's purpose and now it's onto other things...

can you spot 2 things wrong with this picture?

I'll tell you, if you can't figure it out. It's that this is my kitchen floor and 1. I don't live alone and 2. I have a bad back and should not be painting on the floor. Both things considered, I still can't stop. Anyone have any easel suggestions (for and against, good ones and bad ones, what to consider blah blah blah)? Thanks. Here are some pieces in progress: 

I'm excited to tell you that I donated a painting to Haiti by Hand, sweet Rebecca Sower's relief project for her Haitian friends and it sold before I could even post about it. Thanks for that!  Stop by and see the other donations and art pieces available. I know she's got some really great items from artists you'll know constantly arriving.

 

 

still engaged in a love affair with paint

 
 

still painting

I've been working on 3 big pieces over the week. So fun. All are on wood art boards, all done with acrylics and watercolors.

 

I have no idea where I'm going with all this, but I'm sure that it's somewhere that my bank account wouldn't like. I find myself wanting to order more wood art boards, more paints, more brushes, an easel...oh my!

WIP

Having fun playing with paint on a big wooden canvas. {Ed: I ordered Wood Painting Panels from dickblick.com} I'm finally at a place where I feel like there is hope for it, ha! It's sure to change from here, but I feel like it's found a direction. It's 24x24 and I'm really enjoying working in this large size. Gonna set this aside for a bit and gesso another one now. Not sure what I enjoy more, the feel of the paintbrush on the wood, or mixing up my own colors (acrylics and watercolors). Feeling very lucky that I get to play this way. Constantly trying to grow creatively. Hope you get some creative play in today too.

last week's activities

Old ornaments that are new to us this year. Wonder if I'll ever be able to resist their siren song..
We had some guests this weekend, so last week I spent some time painting and collaging something to go over the fireplace. It's really big, about 30x30". Those are photocopies of our family silhouettes. It's a work in progress, but far enough along to use on the giant blank wall.

 

And then I went to work on Holiday cards...late I know. I ask you, do your children put you through this when you ask them to take a picture for Christmas cards?!? It was not as fun as it looks in hindsight. Oh to be young and silly and fun...

monday morning crafting regroup

Stitched bits in progress on the back of the couch



continued stitching on the latest sampler

                    

more doodling and painting layers in progress

 

 

rounding up painting supplies

 

 

stacking up the new beginnings

 

 

and cutting wallpaper rolls in half to list on etsy 

...and it's already 1pm! Must.finish up. something!!! Wait, I can procrastinate a bit more...maybe the kids and I will run away to the beach for the day instead.... there's always time during my son's football practice and my daughter's cross country running to return to my messes in progress. Ya, that sounds less overwhelming, right Scarlett? After all, there's always tomorrow.

why can't i ever do what i'm supposed to be doing?

So, since I'm supposed to be stitching away to list little stitched bits as promised, I suddenly have a huge desire to play with paints. My crafting schizophrenia is getting really annoying! Here is my family room floor right now, covered in different pieces I'm dabbling on.  My poor family; I placed them right by the door so I could see them in the light, which is also the door to the outside. Kindly, they haven't said a word (yet!). Up at the top you can see one I'm making just for me. I call it 'Wanna Be Jennifer Mercede'. I recently saw her artwork in Tumbleweed in Portland (such a cute shop!) and fell head over heels for it. You can see more of Jennifer Mercede here, and I loved watching this fun video of her working.

At least I've been creating which is waaayyy better than the other "should be doing"s like laundry, cleaning, groceries etc. Ok. I'm going to stop painting here and let these percolate in my brain a little. I'm  going to finish up some stitching now, now that I got that out of my system. Here's my favorite thing from this morning:

 

That's what I really want to do most of the time anyway, and obviously, it doesn't matter much what it is. Just have to be making something!

creatures from an enchanted forest

Some paper mache creations that will be in my etsy shop soon. I'm going to list all the things I'm making at once (hopefully Friday), but just wanted to give a sneak peek. And here is a close up of one of the paintings I'm listing too...I think the creatures above live in a place like this!

color love

This past Artfest, I took "Welcome to Color" taught by Tiphoni Moore. I have such a strange relationship with color. I love it, I love to mix them and match them, but I also love that non color look, sometimes in my art, but especially in my home. Anyway, in Tiphoni's class we brought 7 acrylic paint tubes :cold and warm of red yellow and blue, and then white. Tiphoni taught us how to mix colors to make (or try to make) any color we want. It was so fun to play and mix and create our own color palettes. Here's my journal page from class. I took notes in class and then glued down some of the colors from my wax paper palette.

Now that I'm home, I don't try to match colors to a magazine page like we did, but I do enjoy mixing colors willy nilly. Here's my palette from the other nights playtime.

And here is what I was playing on...the same boards from the other day...still in progress.

Here are close ups of the two closest to completion. It's been really fun not  knowing where these are going. Well, fun and then sometimes frustrating. The two on the left remained untouched from the other day because I didn't want to "ruin" them in the discovery phase.

Speaking of color palette's and the love of color, I received Teesha Moore's Art&Life issue #7.

Inside, Teesha created her own endpapers of sorts by making a gorgeous water color palette. Here's the inside of the first page.

and here is a bit of the back palette. Thanks Teesha, now I've got about 5 more watercolors on the must have list, ha ha. How about you, see some must haves?

I am honored to have some artwork in this issue, the innagural all-color issue. Here's the first spread. Teesha surprised me by including the back of one of my submitted pieces, that's what's on the right side, because it had some interesting color bleeding things  going on. I like the way her mind thinks, I certainly never would have thought of that page as anything, but I like the honest nature of it.

Above is the 2nd spread I did, an article on Moo cards in case anyone hasn't discovered them yet, and a little ode to color which seemed fitting for the issue. The paper is so smooth and feels great. Paper quality is so important, isn't it? If you want to check out Art&Life click here.

To answer a comment question, yep! Marie Antoinette project info coming soon, but the above's all the blogging I can fit into today. xo

i'm a big doodler

Isn't this bed beautiful? It's my friend Debbie's (the one that just moved back home) and I came this close (pinch your fingers together) to getting to "borrow" it for my daughter for a few years. You see, her teenage daughter decided it was too vintage, not cool, not hip and didn't want it in her room. It made it all the way to my garage, where it was waiting to be moved into my daughter's room,and then it hit her daughter...if it was cool enough for my teenage daughter, maybe it was cool enough for her room after all, and back it went to where it started from. Truly I am relieved (well, almost), what if something happened  to it under my care?  It just makes her room. Her mom and I promised her we could make it work with more modern, cool things, that if it was her only vintage thing it would be great. So Debbie bought these Pottery Barn sheets, and that was all I needed for inspiration. You know I love swirls.

In came the paint...and now that the kids are at school...

I have time to doodle on a large scale. Deb and I had fun today, here's how it looked when we finished.

There are three areas with the doodles, and once there are curtains, mirrors, photos etc. on the walls  the  doodles will be a little softer. (Anyone have any great ideas for curtains or some sort of finish for the windows above the bed?) I love the bed with the modern lamp and bright funky swirls, but more importantly mom and daughter do too.