Day 23 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge - "Time to Grow"

"Time to Grow" - 24" x 36" acrylic on 1.5" canvas

I've been fighting a respiratory infection this past week that has unfortunately turned into a case of pneumonia, so painting for the remainder of this challenge will be happening as the meds continue to work their magic and in between bouts of coughing and dizziness. 

I really liked the painting that was painted over for "Time to Grow" - and I almost set the original aside to keep intact.  However, an inner voice guided me forward with the knowledge of what I was doing was indeed growth as a person and an artist. 

The original was rather dark and very personal - it was one from my dress and cups stages.  This new painting covered all that darkness, and at the end I decided to collage one of my canvas house pieces over a particularly personal area.  I just noticed it now appears as though it is "housing a secret" which indeed it is. 

Isn't it amazing at what appears when we let our psyche's through and hand them the control of the brush? 

Day 19 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge - "City Dreams"

"City Dreams" - 20" x 16" acrylic on 1.5" canvas

This painting was done entirely with a palette knife, something I haven't done in years.  I like the texture and blended colors you can get with acrylics and a palette knife, and may try to do a similar style piece or two before the challenge is over. 

Another cityscape using complementary colors - again a very limited palette.  I wanted to do something that looked Mid-Century, but didn't want to do turquoise with orange, so I opted for a creamy soft Light Ultramarine Blue by Golden instead.  The building shapes look contemporary to me though - and that worked for me.  I had to really hold myself back from trying to add more colors or change the "sky" - and I'm glad I did now.  I like the end result and would have lost it entirely had I gone rogue with my earlier desires!

I'm behind again in finishing the paintings (ie signing; wiring; varnishing; finishing the sides), and need to get a jump on that this week.  I know - in my spare time :-)  But seriously - I need to get those paintings finished so I can show them to another art consultant and her client.  Nothing like a little pressure to get this artist busy!

New Show in December

It's been awhile since I've participated in a gallery show, and I've held off from accepting any offers to show for several reasons.  The main one is because I've been focusing on new styles and creating a lighter, softer color palette instead of the bold, bright colorful abstracts that I had been doing for the past decade or so.  I've begun adding objects and symbols to the paintings.  They feel more personal and raw to me, and to be honest, I'm a bit nervous about how they will be accepted when the show opens on December 12, 2015 at FE Gallery in Sacramento, CA.

Houses, buildings and structures have always played a big role in my working career.  When I owned a residential property management company, I learned quickly how very personal ones home is to them.  It's not just a place where tenants store their stuff......a home is a place where memories are created, lived and sometimes longed to be forgotten.  Some homes hold loving, fond and kind energies while others are filled with static, angry and sometimes violent ones. 

After years in the business, I learned to "feel" my way through a home to learn more about their owners and the people who rented them, and can tell you the words often did not match the reality. 

"Somewhere......Out There" - 11" x 14" acrylic on canvas

"Somewhere.....out there" was based on a memory of an almost tragic event:  many years ago I managed an apartment building where a young girl was kidnapped.  After several weeks of searching, and the neighbors and families holding vigils at the building, the little girl was found alive in a pit outside a church in a neighboring county.  The girl's mother insisted she was "absolutely fine" and quickly moved out of the apartment and away from the area.  I've often wondered what became of them both and hope the little girl truly is OK.

"The Loving Cup" - 11" x 14" acrylic on canvas

"The Loving Cup" was based on another memory from the residential property management business.  I once rented to a very young couple who appeared to be madly in love.  They were engaged and married shortly after they moved in. A couple years later, they gave notice because they had purchased a home.  While doing the final walk-through inspection, the husband kept a tight grip on the wife's hand.  At first glance, I thought "how sweet - they are still so very much in love."

Then I began inspecting the property.  The place were clean, but the walls had at least a dozen fist-sized holes that had been newly patched.  In fact, the mud was still wet in some spots.  Shocked, I asked what happened and the wife looked down as her husband sheepishly grinned and shrugged his shoulders as if to say "you know." 

I quickly performed the rest of the walk through and took their keys.  After they left, I walked around the house again and found a coffee cup tucked away in a corner in the garage that said "I Will Love You Forever" on it.  I shuddered as I threw it in the trash and locked the doors.

Again, I am curious what happened to them and wonder if they're still together or if she's still even alive.

While I tend to forget many of the names of the people, I usually remember the properties.  What I don't forget is the memories of my feelings - they're ingrained in my soul.