second studio

The New Year's Journal

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:23:00 +0000

I was over at Judy's and she's on a book making binge. Well, that inspired me. This was a lot of fun and a nice change of pace.

started out with wallpaper scraps and paper bags

the inside covers

i love the roughness of the page edges

vintage stuff from my friend Sandy and a medal

my first attempt with this stitch

2011 was quite the year. A lot happened. 2012 looks to be every bit as fun filled and change-able. I guess the important point to remain open and flexible.

I applied to a couple of art shows for 2012 and should soon learn whether I've been accepted or not. My work has really changed and evolved over the past couple of years. I hope I'm ready for the BIG art world of selling. I'd sure like to. Only that jury and those customers will tell the tale. If I'm not ready, then I'm not ready. We'll see. Won't stop me from painting and challenging myself.

Let me know how you are!!!!!

May You Feel Happiness

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:34:00 +0000

Whole

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:31:00 +0000

Whole ~ Writing Myself Whole ~ Admitting I'm Whole (with no holes) ~ Moving The Pieces To Create A Whole ~ The Whole Shebang ~ Loving With My Whole Being ~ Admitting I'm Not Whole ~ How Do I Become Whole ~ Can I Ever Really Become Whole ~ I Ate The Whole Thing ~ I Want The Whole Thing ~ The Truth And The Whole Truth (so help me god) ~ Making You Whole ~

Oh boy, this thing about "Whole" gives me a lot to meditate and journal on.....................

What about you?????

Yep, I'm lazy

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:16:00 +0000

You know what I just figured out? I'm lazy. Yep, I'm lazy.

What are you up to? Have a great Sunday.

still looking at this one

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:53:00 +0000

I'm still looking at this one too. Thinking about some glaze. Don't have a name yet either....this one is escaping me for now.......got any suggestions?

Off to do some final holiday shopping. Need to get things in the mail.

The kids have the week before xmas off of school. I think I'm going to have my grand daughter and a couple of her friends for the day to make ornaments and cookies....give them a break from daycare mayhem. May have bitten off more than I can chew, but I guess it is just for one day. Little girls are so darned cute!

We've had snow on the ground for over a week now. Very unusual for my part of the world. Makes it feel like Christmas. But I must admit I'm ready to ditch the heavy coat. Not big on the heavy duty winter stuff.

Oh, and we bought a new coffee grinder. A Breville. Bought it from some place in Seattle. They do these really cool online demos which made it easier to buy. Wow, our coffee really rocks now! We've also discovered there are lots of little coffee roaster establishments in the area. Who knew? So the next big purchase will be a new coffee maker....ours is an antique. I'm gonna feel kinda sad not going to Starbucks any more.....I'm gonna miss those breakfast sandwiches. Guess I could learn to make my own, now that is a novel concept!

Well, I'm giving myself the "make a change" award today. I don't think I've ever had so much to say on my blog.

What's up with you?

The Club ~

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:37:00 +0000

The Club measures 24 x 24 x 2 and is mixed media. I'm not sure this one is complete yet. I feel it needs more depth but am having a difficult time figuring out how to achieve it. Any suggestions??????

Going bigger

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:08:00 +0000

Fun challenge. Time for a career enhancing move.

My husband is now making my cradled boards. He's doing a great job and I'll soon have enough panels to last me quite sometime.

Do you paint large? Got any suggestions for the learning curve besides of course needing more paint, more medium and larger brushes........

I'm using Golden Open Acrylics along with Open Medium. But still getting things to REALLY blend takes a bit of getting used to on a bigger scale. I've been working on 16 x 16 and wouldn't have thought 24 x 24 would make that big of a difference.......maybe it is all just in my head.

Started these two yesterday.....

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:32:00 +0000

16 x 16 Acrylic and Oil Pastel on Canvas

The Committee

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:59:00 +0000


The Committee - Acrylic, 6 x 12 deep cradled canvas

What A Surprise !!!

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:08:00 +0000

I had a painting that I really wasn't happy with and had set aside. Took it out and ended up with this! Trust me this is not even close to resembling what I painted over. I like the result though.

16 x 16 acrylic on canvas board

Epiphany

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 03:31:00 +0000

Dumping a painting???? Do you ever???

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:46:00 +0000

Well.

I did a life changing thing the other day.

I looked long and hard at a painting I'd been working on. Decided (finally) that no matter what I did, I would never be happy with it.

So I picked up the paint and did an a'la Jackson Pollock on it. Covered it all over. Came back the next morning and discovered I really liked what I did and saw so much possibility, different things I could do to it.......it was an

EPIPHANY!!!!!!

I have never been the type to put a canvas aside and come back months later to finally figure out what it needs. Basically I start a painting and stay with it until I'm satisfied that it is finished. But this radical move was new territory for me and it was refreshing!!!!!

Tell me about your processes?

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:00:00 +0000

I'm still slugging away with these. Think maybe it is time for an inspiration break.

I like where they've gone but something is still missing.

Saturday Bringith Much Wonder

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 22:26:00 +0000

I've been painting all day. It is 4pm and I'm still in my jammies. A good creative roll going here.

First up is Five Fishes. I'm still puttering about with this one and it feels boring to me so I think we're gonna let it simmer a bit and see what crops up. I added quite a bit, but it still isn't there.....where ever "there" is.

And next is Forest Fire. I've been working on this one for a couple of weeks now off and on. Finally this morning it seemed to come together. Recently my husband and I drove thorough a nearby mountain area that had been through a forest fire. It was a cool and misty day. Everything hung in a fog and seemed like a place for dreams and discovery.

Please feel free to comment. Good or bad, I like to know what you think.

Currently working on Five Fish....

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:16:00 +0000


16 x 16 acrylic, pencil, ink on canvas board

The Chama Pods

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:57:00 +0000

I had a really fun cabin get-away this weekend with my husband to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. And wouldn't you know it, I found more really cool pods.

Acrylic and ink on 16 x 16 canvas board

Pods

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:30:00 +0000

Something about these pods fascinate me.

Another one........I've been busy

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 03:58:00 +0000

A few months back I was out on a noon time walk and stopped to get a closer look at red tip yuccas that grow everywhere here in our area. They have these funky sort of pods which in my imagination kind of morphed in to the pod shapes you've seen from me lately. Those shapes really speak to me......so here is yet another installment of the sacred and mysterious pods....

Not yet complete......I think....

acrylic and ink on 16 x 16 canvas board

Ok, I think this is it

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:11:00 +0000

But I really value your feedback, so please leave a comment. Or if you don't want to leave art feedback that is ok, just leave a comment anyway.....I'd sure like to hear from you.....

This one was fun................

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 04:04:00 +0000

This was fun, I've made a few tweaks since this photo was taken earlier today. Will follow up with the next version.

Today I sat down in the studio and just painted. Didn't over think. Didn't ruminate. Just relaxed and let it flow. What a pleasure......I'm wanting to get into that grove more often....working on it.

16 x 16 acrylic on canvas board

Acrylic Abstract ! This Is It For Now

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 22:01:00 +0000

For now I feel a sense of completion with this one. I'm going to set it aside and see if it talks to me.....

I seem to be on a roll....so started this one. I'm officially calling it "throw everything at it and see what happens".......not a huge success (in my opinion, but what do I know?). Tell me what you think.....

Not so sure about this yet....

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:26:00 +0000

I may eventually have to give up on this one........new technique that I'm liking. Maybe I just need to spend some more time with it. Please excuse the not so great photo. I did it quick with my phone this morning as I left for work. There is quite a glare on it......hate that.

and here is how it looked when I started

Golden Open Acrylic Paint Is Wonderful !!!

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:09:00 +0000

At Julie and Chris' urging I purchased a couple of tubes of Golden Open paint and some Open medium. There is a bit of a learning curve, but I do love this stuff.....

Fun With Julie Prichard and Chris Cozen

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 15:13:00 +0000

Julie and Chris, those two gals run a mighty fine online painting workshop.

I go through moments of procrastination, challenge, hope, anxiety and joy. Hard to believe that painting can be such a complete and total emotional roller coaster ride for me.....oh yea, did I mention anger, angst, resignation, more hope and joy......

and then, of course, no post would be complete without a quick pic of the ever wonderful Miss Iris.....check out those teeth !!!!

Prayer Flag #1 - Apifera Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Paula S In New Mexico) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:14:00 +0000

Here is my first installment on the prayer flag project. My grand daughter Iris is here with me today. I took a day off from work to have some time with her before school starts. First grade came so fast !

Apifera Farm is located in Oregon and Katherine Dunn and Pino the Donkey are the ring leaders of a bunch of wonderful characters and one sweet man. If you've never been to Apifera Farm you don't know what you're missing. Find Katherine and Pino here .

You can find out more about the Prayer Flag Project

here.