30 faces - i finished it!

So, I finally finished this a couple days ago! And it feels great! It's one of those paintings which I learned alot from, and I'm happy with, and so it's a success already, no matter what.
I learned about a limited palette, as well as broader strokes. I learned about acrylic and texture, as well as how not drawing first can affect a painting positively and negatively. It's an exciting new phase for me.
Also, today I scored a great deal. I bought some 50-60 tubes and jars of acrylic paints plus mediums, used of course, for just $70. This about triples what I had in paints, and gives me the freedom to continue to experiment! It's a great feeling! Thank goodness for craigslist!

11x14 acrylics on linen canvas pad







I also finished another drawing...
This one is on the moleskine, with the gray pitt pens and then ending with the sepia for the background.

30 faces - alex(in progress)

This is my effort for today.
Despite still having Willik at home with the chicken pox, and I had a big headache all day.
So, I painted this on a new canvas linen pad. I like the color of the linen, though I think I'd like it best if it was a stretched canvas.
I'm using a limited palette of 4 colors only, and I like it so far.
There was no underdrawing, just straight painting. It's very liberating. I still need to do about an hour's worth to call it done, but I'm not looing for a peice with every detail. I want to keep this loose, quality about it, somewhat abstracted, and treated as big shapes of the different planes of the face. it's a new way of painting for me, and it's a great learning process.
I also stretched my first canvas this morning. That made me feel like a "real" artist. Believe it or not, I've never stretched canvas before. I've stretched watercolor paper before, and that's super cool, and the concept is the same, but stretching canvas requires some heavy duty manual labor. You really have to pull the canvas tight, and it's difficult to do with your hands only. I used some of my husband's tools to get the job done. To staple the canvas to the bars, I used my own, recently purchased, heavy duty stapler. It worked great, but you really have to put some force into it. And now I know why one really needs canvas pliers. They are probably easier to use than regular flat little pliers found in a "normal" tool box. But all in all, I think the stretch on my canvas is pretty tight, and I need to gesso it, before I paint on it.

getting into a groove

I think I'm finally getting into an art groove.
On thursday, friday and yesterday, I have been working on art projects.
I worked on an old painting about my salvation story which I hadn't worked on in 10 years, I think, and you can see the progress to the right. It's on wood, nothing fancy or special. It's a square, but it's warping a bit. It's not a great photo but you get the picture.
then, when this needed a break, or rather, I needed a break, I gessoed a couple canvases, added texture, and tried to glue stuff to them, and waited for them to dry.
The texture to one of the canvases worked, but the glued/collagey stuff didn't and I had to remove it, and do something slightly different to the canvas.
While this tried and I figured out what to do next on these surfaces, I worked on the boys' costumes for Halloween. They had the Autumn Festival at Graffiti church, on saturday, so I worked into the night on friday to finish the costumes. They are pirates, and you can see their pictures here.
When I came back to the canvases on monday, I knew how to approach one, so I began by doing a quick sketch of the figure, and then I blocked in 3 shades of blue in acrylics as under painting for tone and contrast.
Then this needed to dry, so I set up the next canvas on the easel.
I felt a need to use orange, and so I started brushing it on to the canvas. I was originally planning on making this a big head, somewhat distorted and comic book-like, but as I got orange over the whole thing, and played around with wiing off some paint, and letting the texture show thru, I realized it was not to be a face, but a cityscape of sorts. It was weird, because I've read and heard many times of artists being "spoken to" by their paintings, as to what it wants to be, and I believed it, though can't say I remember haveing those experiences, so it felt strangely odd and exciting to be so in tune with the painting. It made me feel like a real artist.
of course, these are in their beginning stages, so there's not much to see here, but I thought it would be good for me to record my progress and keep myself accountable.
After the blue figure set aside and I looked at it enough, I decided it will be my modern version homage to St. Francis, since he loved animals, especially birds.
Any thoughts or comments always encourages me.
Thanks for reading.

Planetary

This past weekend, we had a retreat here at home. It was fun to get away from the city and get to spend a bit more time with some of the church family. Sunday mornings are so rushed!

Anyway, one of the things I was in charge of, was having a little art workshop during the free time on saturday. I was glad to do it, though I had so much to prepare for between the workshop and the games I was in charge of, it was just a lot of stuff to pack and bring, all for a one night away.

I decided that I would teach a bit about collage. It's what I've been doing alot of lately. We got off to a slow start, with only 2 people joining me at first. Then one more, and then a whole family of 5 joined us at the very end, with only 20 minutes left. Things got a little nuts there at the end, and I'm not sure anyone learned great things but I think everyone had fun, and got to play with some things they might not have come up with on their on.

The little painting above is what I did during the workshop. I was just playing with shapes, and textures, and when my boys and Fabio came to see if I was done, they declared that it looked "planetary" or like-saturn" or "from outer-space." I did a little finishing touch to it when I got home, but though it wasn't my intention, I think they are right. I like how it came out.
Any one have any thoughts?

the man behind the music

A good friend had a birthday about a month ago. I told him that for his birthday, I would be giving him a "glaucia original." This is what I came up with
Kareem is the music leader at our church, among many other things. But more than that, he loves music, he inspires others to love music. He will give guitars to anyone who wants to learn, and he will teach them the basics. He loves to support all musicians and artist in general, and I feel like he's one of my biggest "fans" and supporters. He really is the man behind the music and that is what inspired this piece. Pictured are just some of the instruments he plays.
I hope that he'll enjoy this piece, and that I can be as generous and inspiring with my talents, as he is with his.
8"x 8" mixed media, on wood fiber board

dania

Yay! I finished another mixed media piece.
Again, it was experimental, and full of learning.
This one includes a photocopy transfer, drawing/writing and collage, as well as painting. It includes a bit of a background technique I read about in Claudine Helmuth's book which includes the use of vaseline. I don't think it worked like it was meant to work, but in either case I like the way it turned out, considerin how much learning went into it.
6"x6" canvas
Any thoughts, or advice? I look forward to comments!

danielle

The first of a series of mixed media collages, after having found some great older photos from my husband's family.
6"x6" canvas

one painting in one hour

Since the beginning of the Everyday in May projects, and shortly after painting in church in under a hour, I thought that I should try to do some more paintings in a short time, just to see how I do.

So, after some thinking, and some listening to an old episode of the Creative Mom Podcast, I decided that a self-portrait should work well for the job.

I had pre-sketched myself the other day, but I wasn't very happy with the drawing, so I decided to just put the background color over it, and start from scratch.

Before doing anything, I had to "straighten up" my boys' book collection which was all over, in order to have a space to set up my easel. The studio space we're trying to put together still has a long way to go, and if I set up the easel in there, there will be no space to actually more around. So I opted to bring everything out to the living room, which then took more time, as mentioned above.
I then found a way to hang a small mirror from the easel, so I'd have some way of looking at myself while painting.
I then painted a the orange background over the back and after giving it a few minutes I set my timer for an hour, and started to paint. I "drew" directly with the brushes, and attempted to look at myself while I was painting.
The set up for the mirror got in the way, as far as painting the left side of the canvas, plus I did not get a look at my whole face at once, which I knew it would lead to distortion, but that didn't bother me.

Working quickly for an hour, checking my countdown a couple times, I managed to come up with the painting you see above. Those of you who know me personally might be a bit confused, as to say it doesn't look like me, . Those of you who don't know me, might say that it's a distorted face. I suppose all of you are right. As the artist, I don't think it matters.
I actually am really happy with the result. I wouldn't say it captured me perfectly, but it accomplished what I wanted to, with this painting. I did manage to make a face, with no prior drawing, show up in the canvas within an hour. I like the impressionist brushy style it's in. I like the colors, and I like the confidence it gives me for the next quick painting I will do. I learned some of what works best. I learned a bit more about dealing with acrylics, and I learned a bit more about how not to place the mirror next time.
Regardless of how I look, what do you think of the painting on its own? If you didn't know it was a self-portrait, or that it was done in an hour. What would your response be?


16x20 acrylic on stretched canvas

Everyday in May - Fifteen

That day felt more productive. I worked on a card for a friend. Another pop-up card idea from this book.

I will scan the front of the card later, but I did some experimental work for it which I read in an excerpt of Claudine Hellmuth's collage book , with acrylic and saran wrap. Interesting results. I need to try again, cause I did not master the technique, but it was fun.

Sorry I'm posting so late.

Everyday in May - Fourteen

Victory is mine!
I think I'm done. I think I like it.
Looking at it here, in this small version, makes me like it more.
I finally had enough time, and mustered energy enough to finish it. It was a fun process. Lots of new aspects for me in this. From the collage of chinese newspaper with gel medium, to the glazed, layered acrylic style, it's been full of experimentation as well as learning.
Believe it or not, though I have drawn Fabio many times, this is the first time I painted him, even though we've been married 8 years. I attempted to paint him before, but just didn't get it done. So this finished project is satisfying for that reason as well.

Every Day In May - Seven

Two days ago, or rather, 3 days ago, I worked more on the collage painting.
I focused my limited time on the face. I still need to do a little more to it, but it's mostly done I think.
Now I gotta work on the other things on the painting. I think one or 2 more sessions should be enough for this one.
Sorry I haven't been posting on the day. It's been hard to kep up. I hate that!
Hope you're creating something this month!

Every Day In May - Two

Just a continuation from yesterday, a bit more paint has gone in. Not as much time to paint today, so all of what was done, was done tonight.
I do have to make a trip to the supermarket sometime, since Fresh Direct will not deliver to my house. Thanks for that reminder today, Susan!!
Anyway, here's the second installment of the same painting.
Can you tell what I worked on?

Every Day In May - One

A work in progress, this was a painting I started working on about 2 weeks ago. But with the kids being sick, and getting ready for the painting I did at church, as well as working to get the church's website finished up, I just hadn't done anything but got it ready.
Today, paint finally made it's way onto it.
It's experimental, joining collage and acrylics. I'm excited to see how it will turn out.
If you find it hard to see, that is because this is sorta at the underpainting stage.
It will be nice to see the work develop the next couple days.
Stay tuned, and let me know your thoughts...

i painted in church

Today was the 3rd sunday where the focus has been on artists, in a series called "Imagine: Christians and the Arts" at Graffiti.
Every sunday, Taylor has spoken on a different topic, and a musician, dancer, or actors have given a performance which is connected to the sermon, because artists have a way of helping us to understand life, and life's hardships better.
So today was my turn, to help interpret the topic of "Dignity". [I'll put a link to the sermon once we have one.]
The specifics were about how God giives us a face, and we are created in his image.
I started painting right before the service began. This was my second attempt at this. On a canvas larger than I'd ever worked on. On stage, and I was to paint a portrait in about 45 -50 minutes.
I did all my prep work this week. I'd bought the canvas and had a wash on it. I had made a small version of it in colored pencils to help me work out the colors since the orginal picture was in black and white. I'd pre-mixed some colors. And I'd prayed a lot. But I was still a little nervous.
This painting was 3 feet x 3 feet. My last painting at church, off stage, with no special lighting on me was 18" x22". The biggest work I would usually do back in art school was 16"x20", and that would be over a couple weeks of working on it. This was done in acrylics. I used to paint mostly in watercolors and oils.
One friend said I was very brave. I said maybe a little brave with a large dose of insanity.
The neat thing was once I was painting, the nerves were gone, and I was super enjoying it. I was still aware of the time, and I did sing along with the congregation. but I was very happy. The biggest thing was that I had to listen for Taylor's ending point so as to be able to finish at the same time as him. I did.
People liked it, and were impressed. I pray that it spoke to people in a deeper way about his love, and that God was honored with my worship and service.
Of course, had this been a longer painting time, I would have added more to it, but once I stepped away from it, I liked it, even though I could see faults with it.

Crown of thorns

This week I had an unlikely opportunity to do something unexpected. I was asked by Graffiti 2's director, Andrew Mann, to put together a visual for the Lord's Supper multi-sensory experience he was planning for this sunday. It was to be some sort of a picture with the focus on the crown of thorns, and the "man of sorrows".
Even though it was wednesday, and we needed this to be done by sunday morning, I decided to make a painting. It seemed a fitting project, and just up my alley.
I wanted to make sure I delivered something that would fit with the request which had been presented to me and that the painting would be a blessing to the people that saw it, and that it would draw them closer to God. All I know is that it caused me to pray more as I painted. And that in and of itself was a good thing for me.
As far as the outcome, I will probably never know of when and how it might have blessed anyone, but I know it blessed me and brought me joy in the process.
It's approximately 11x7 inches. It's a mixed media piece, which is one of my first. A mix of watercolor and acrylic, along with collage, and the use of design for the fonts.
So you can click on the picture above to see it bigger.
Let me know what you think.