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June 29, 2008
Clayboard
I am sooooooo excited! I tried a new multi-medium art board tonight and it was amazing. Called a "clayboard", it is made so that it will virtually hold anything on it: watercolor, acrylic, oil, whatever! PLUS, it can be carved in to. So, being that I like to dig my heals in (just ask my hubby about that one!) I got the closest carving implement I could find (in this case it was the metal cap at the bottom of one of my drawing pencils) and started to carve into the board. The idea of the branch happened first. It just sort of flowed out of my hands and became my all too familiar choice of image. But I love vines, branches, trees, leaves, flowers, and rocks... And butterflies, birds, turtles, and bees... Anyway, once that presented itself I set in the watercolor paint which gave a little transparency to the image... Reminding me of stained glass... It wasn't soft really, so, it chipped a little but actually that made for a cool effect.
Then I envisioned a bird in a nest sitting there on my simple branch. But as I looked at pictures online nothing really looked like the angle and view I needed. So, I found a simple little bird and used it for my guide.
As I looked at the branch all colored and full of life, I knew I needed a better tool for what was to come next. I had to find something that was a little sharper and easier to manipulate through the semi hard surface...So I grabbed a crazy wall hanger thingy that was laying around on my desk. (I got these things at a hardware store, recommended by some guy who said one little nail could hold like 50 lbs!! I bought them to hang up my art work, whatever it turned out to be. It is sort of like a nail with a disk in the middle and about 3/4 inch big and angled slightly.) Anyway, it was just what I needed (although a little short) to make more refined strokes.
Soon I was carving out my pencil lines and seeing the little bird come out and become a permanent piece of the board. Once carved, I got to begin my favorite part... choosing colors. The image of the bird was in black and white and so all of the colors were up to me to bring it to life. As I mixed browns and yellows and blues and blacks the creature came to life with personality in her eyes. I felt like she looked at the heavens for guidance... Much like the artist who brought her in to being.
Well, all I can say is no matter how many things I make, when finished I think "how the heck did I make that!? Simple me? How am I able to instinctively color and shade these things that flow out of my hand. Huh..." Then I figuratively shrug my shoulders knowing all too well that I am merely a vessel. That my gift is simply put in me to share with others and hope that is awes them too. I know maybe that sounds a bit conceited, but really, when I feel successful at something I simply cannot take all the credit. I feel like I must thank the One who gave me the privilege to create... And hopefully, to be effective at touching people's hearts in the process... Blessings...
There is a metallic sheen on the image that can not show up except in person, but gives it a very warm heavenly effect.
Posted by mindy on 11:36 PM | Comments (2)
June 26, 2008
Better
The days have been better since the last entry. And tonight I panted my mudroom with some very interesting paint. Keep you all posted!
Posted by mindy on 01:21 AM | Comments (1)
June 09, 2008
Maybe
Maybe it was the hot weather drawing us to stay indoors... Maybe it was lack of interesting food choices in the cupboard... Maybe it was the lack of social interaction... Maybe it was the heartache of never being the person I should or could be... Maybe it was the lack of interest in doing anything worthwhile... Maybe it was stillness of our house... Maybe it was the little mites that are living on all of our windowsills... Maybe it was because I seem to fail more than I succeed... Maybe it was the stop sign I neglected to obey... Maybe it was the ticket that came next...
Maybe it was getting to the pool too late to meet friends I so desperately need to spend time with... Maybe it was taking three hungry kids to the supermarket at 6:30pm to figure out dinner... Maybe it was the 5 minute bathroom break in the sweltering back room at SuperFresh... Maybe it was the call that came 5 minutes too late to say the power was out at home... Maybe it was the crashing of a eco-light bulb filled with some sort of mercury gas that made us evacuate the house... Maybe it was the lack of wait staff at TGIFridays... Maybe it was the bad food we ended up eating at Bennigan's at 9pm... Maybe it's the impending long summer... Maybe it's my stupid asthma and the uncontrollable dust in my house... Maybe it is just me...
But as far as I can tell today just sucked.
Posted by mindy on 10:18 PM | Comments (3)