Friday, May 1, 2009

My Orange Aura


I took this quiz the other day on Facebook. It tells you what color your "aura" is. The results are very interesting...eerily true...since I have a thing for -almost to the point of obsession with- the color orange these days....I find that just a tad of orange balances out my chi so often. Funny, because most of my life I never thought I liked orange but when I learned how to use it and incorporate it into my style, a couple of years ago...it's like me and orange are soulmates....and sometimes I have to hide the orange paint tube from sight so it won't distract me...and I will feel free to explore some other colors....quirky, I know. Here is how the test describes someone, like me, with an orange aura:

Orange personalities are the creative adventurers in the color spectrum. They have an inner urge to be creative, active and enjoy life to its fullest. They are also individual and independent and integrate physical and mental qualities. They enjoy the challenge and excitement of forming and shaping physical reality. Orange personalities love to imagine and plan strategies for their next adventure or project and then put those plans into action. They need to be involved in the actual working process and want to physically shape and form their own ideas. They have difficulty sitting back and letting other people do things for them. They are always busy building, organizing and shaping their projects and physical reality. An Orange personality's motivation in life is based on how much pleasure and satisfaction they get out of their own adventures, challenges and creative projects. They want to be adventurous, creative and live out their own ideas.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Painting of The Day



Sneak preview of my newest painting, to be released soon...

Title: Dream Magic

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 48"x48"x1.5"
Contact me for purchase

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

One step forward...two steps back


Some artists sketch out their paintings, doing studies and organizing their thoughts on paper or canvas ahead of the actual final product like wise, wise people-NOT ME! I just dive right in-some days that works like a charm...creating fresh, unpretentious ideas and concepts...and some days, like today, I curse myself to tears for not preplanning...after the self loathing, I scribble over everything, throw my paintbrushes in the sink and retire for the night...that would be right now.

On days like today, I realize I've spent hours creating something that seemed perfectly on track for a while and somewhere...along the way...things. went. terribly. wrong. One step forward--two steps back--urghhh. What was supposed to be a very warm piece turned into a TOO warm piece...or maybe I just got into a gradually cooler mood, who knows...anyway, the painting got gradually cooler until it ceased making sense and now, except for the part shown above, it's just a big mess *sigh* ...Well, maybe, just maybe I can get a nice underlayer out of it later, we'll see.

This is exactly what I mean when I say I challenge myself to find my interesting stopping point...it's knowing where to stop that makes the artist...and sometimes, when we're at that crossroads, we take the wrong path and do a full circle....better luck tomorrow.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Rainy Day Bliss


We've been getting some awesome thunderstorms here in Austin. I love them, bring 'em on! Rainy days compliment all my favorite things...hot coffee, wildflowers, watching movies, good conversation, cuddling, roaring fires and of course...PAINTING! I have been in the zone all weekend getting things done, primarily my last series of paintings where I'm taking metallics and mixed media an extra step forward. Can't wait to post them....

Monday, April 6, 2009

The Galapagos


I just got back from an amazing journey through the Galapagos Islands. This wildlife lover's paradise has been unspoiled by the footprints of mankind and remains an enchanting eco corner of the globe...minimally changed from its origins thousands of years back...

There is something very minimalistic about the scenery here....wide open blue skies..framing the rocky, volcanic island floor...it's all so hypnotic.....yet, look even closer and you'll see more endemic and unique species than you can possibly take in during one trip....a constant battle of the senses....between the overall landscape versus the beauty of details.

This land, for me, emphasizes the importance of negative space....and how important it is to leave room to appreciate the tranquility and the precious gems of the land.

It was a worldly, sensual experience that is certain to stick with me for some time. See my new travel blog to read more about it:

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/11f645/

Friday, March 13, 2009

Visit me on Facebook!

I'm on Facebook. I would love to connect with more artists and more art lovers worldwide so stop by and friend me to chat or see what's new in my unpredictable world of art, travel and pura vida. Register for a free account.
Visit me on Facebook

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

New York Art Expo... & The Art Pilgrimage


It's been a while since I've written; lately I've been doing a lot of soul searching...trying to figure out what direction I need to focus on in my career going forward...should I focus more on art shows versus internet sales versus retail venues etc?...it seems like there are so many different roads you can take as an artist, especially as a self represented artist. And, after wearing 10 hats, when you're at your most tired, the ever present thought of just handing all the grueling details over to a third person gallery is always looming there in the not so far distance.

Being an artist is a lonely job. You spend 90% of your time working alone...or with the guys at Fed Ex or the art store folks...blah...solitude can be a necessary evil if your art requires it...but...then we crash...and realize that it is absolutely essential that we get out of the studio to seek new inspiration, new artistic visions......absorb it...all types, forms and mediums....and ultimately fan the artistic flame....Introducing new thoughts to ourselves, seeing artists breaking the rules...awe, the courage...it can be very freeing...healing...even if you don't purchase a thing...

In the last couple of months I've dipped my muse into the oh so enlightening artscape of New Mexico which is so far my #1 favorite place to go when I need a good kick in the butt of artistic inspiration. I'll tell you more about that later....

Then last weekend I made a pilgrimage to the 2009 New York Art Expo, looking to find the holy grail of artistic talent.

Now, holy grail it was not...New Mexico still far outweighs the Expo experience, as far as I'm concerned, but there was definitely a lot of art to be seen-a couple of artists that I really admired-and many, many networking possibilities. A few more "cheap, painting mill" stuff out of China than I was expecting but...for the most part...

Has anyone out there tried exhibiting at New York Art Expo? If so, how did it work out?