There may be more I do in the background, but for now, she is complete. Still investigating how process-painting and design come together. I love the freedom of process painting versus product painting, but there is something very rewarding and challenging in pushing myself to try new things.

Adventure Time (or my alternative mother title would be "Calgon Take Me Away")
Gouache on board,12" x 12"

This week we were asked to find colors that we wanted to work with. I dug though my "design" journal that I keep ideas in regarding color combinations I used when doing web design. In the past, I never mixed colors and used the entire rainbow - there was not a color I did not like. However, finding this new middle ground where I am consciously creating colors is an entirely new beast. For this weeks assignment I used Goauche instead of acrylics... for a whole new set of problems. However, I loved that it was so matte and flat when it dried. The colors I chose were chartreuse and deep blue for the background. As is typical with gouache, the background got muddy and it was hard to get the color right. Then everytime I tried to fix it over the next few days, it never seemed to come together - oh well. I finally discovered what I wanted to do for my subject matter - wanting to do a polar bear and a girl - so them diving in together felt like a good idea... and I loved the personal themes it evoked for me (going on a journey, trusting one's animal self & instincts, taking risks, diving in.) I'm not quite done yet, because the background is still bugging me, but I'm not sure what I will do. Perhaps I will also add some more shadows, strengthen some of the lines and take a better picture. That's my progress report for this week.

I'm not going to lie to you. It took a long time. And one thing I don't have is a lot of free time, so it was a little scary to wake up today knowing I had to find time to paint. Luckily/unluckily, I was sick so my family went to the beach without me, giving me a chunk of freedom.

Originally I had planned to do have it be simpler with graphical elements... but no. It wanted to be "painted"... every little detail. And honestly, it was a good learning experience because I am so unfamiliar with acrylic, mixing my own colors, painting glass (!!!!), painting a tshirt (!!!!)... omg, it was crazy. AND I just did one layer at a time. I really had to slow myself down. Because I couldn't ponder my next move too long, I used a hairdryer so I could put on the next layer. As far as subject matter do, the pic was originally taken in my kitchen, but when I started drawing the wine glass, I remembered finding one of steve's empty wine glasses in his compost pile in the garden. He loves his garden and spends most of his "home-time" in it. Steve is also famous for his sweat peas and often has a bunch growing out from the top of his compost pile like a wild hairy mess. So, all things being equal... I painted my husband's portrait and I'm entitling it "happy place" for now.

The artist that inspired me was Maira Kalman, though her style is much, much simpler. I hope to learn enough about mixing colors and layering so I can simplify my process (and spend way less time!) All in all, a terrific learning experience.

I choose artist Maira Kalman because I love how deceptively simple her painting style is and that she loves portraits. I usually draw characters, but this week I am attempting to do a portrait of my husband based off a photo I took of him last year. I don't know about the men in your life, but my guy is the happiest when spends the day outside, is covered in dirt (or paint), has a few minor scratches, and has a great story to tell about his adventure... that he will share as soon as he get's his "sippy sippy" of wine. I realized a long time ago that steve is different than me. To state the obvious, I realized that HE is a man and I am a woman, and they are simply two entirely different animals. After that, his manliness never bugged me and I rarely have the wish that he act "more like me" (with a few minor exceptions - nobody is perfect!)

As far as the painting class I am taking, I am happily learning some cool things. Even though I have been painting for a long time, I have never studied painting nor tried to paint like this. Because I am self-taught, it has been fun to learn some tips and tricks. The acrylics are still a mystery to me, but I am slowly getting the hang of making colors and adding layers and layers... not geting too attached to anything. Steve's arm is still a stump because I can't figure out what I want to do with it it. There is a part of me that wants to put it in a sling. I also haven't added all the dirt to his face. This pic (below) was taken after he torn down an old barn to salvage the wood with a friend. I'll probably depart from the photo soon because I am excited about adding other elements.... again, trying to not be attached!

Some helpful things from this week:

1. The Painting U Curve. You will like your painting when you start, go thru a period of disgust, and then slowly paint your way out of the pits of dispair until you feel great about it again.

2. Start WET & LOOSE, lots of water in your paint, no detail. You can use a hairdryer to speed up the process.

3. Slowly build to DRY DETAIL. With every layer you use less water.

4. End DRY. No water in the paint. Add lines, details, shadows at the very end.