1.paint 2. rip 3. paste 4.play

Greens             24 x 24" 

Plums            24 x 24" 

Paint paper - dry paper on clothes line- stack according to color on shelves in studio - then dip into - Think: play! - Think: try new color combinations- tear paper and paste-  Collage is a freeing approach 

Art Supplies

Doesn't this make you want to dive in and get messy?
It makes me think of an art teacher I had when I was little and took painting lessons in her barn.  She told the group of 5 or so of us:  It is nice to look at your brand new box of colors all lined up perfectly, but never make them too precious.  Use them, get messy, loose yourself in the process and you'll do your best work.

She was the same woman who taught me some tricks to save a painting.  "Have you tried more yucky yellow?"  she would ask.  (She had a lot of faith in yellow ochre to pull a painting together.)  If some of her other tricks didn't work and we still weren't happy with a painting, she would take the piece of masonite to the sink and rinse it off so we could start fresh.  There was a lot of experimenting going on in that barn and not letting art supplies or whatever we were creating become too precious was one of the biggest lesson I learned. 

Charming Rooster

Saw this little rooster made out of plastic grocery bags sitting on a windowsill with antiques .

Listening to the flutists

Enjoyed listening to my daughter and some other flutists play and, of course, am always sketching on whatever paper is available.  

Holiday Wrapping Paper

Most years we like to make Chef party mix to deliver to neighbors and friends doors, but this year, pressed for time, we decided to wrap bars of dark chocolate and make the hand-made part be the wrapping.

Sheets of brown kraft paper, jars of tempera and acrylic paint and brushes were left on the kitchen table and the kids painted dashes and dabs to the papers as they passed through the kitchen.  (Always good to get them picking up a brush since it seems they do less and less as they leave elementary school.)

Another good way to stay comfortable with the brush is this- love the Buddha Board.