Today's question comes from the book 'ever wonder' by Kobi Yamada
When was the last time you did something for the first time?
When was the last time you did something for the first time?
Celebrate Collaborator Differences
8 years ago
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Summer in January
Usually, January is a very slow, quiet, grey time for me. This January as shown itself to be full, rich and colorful. For 2009, I have been invited to participate in several different events as the presenting artist. I encourage you to visit the 'news' page on my website for details. I am one with my easel and am continually applying color to canvas.Just know that I am grateful for the many opportunities and also aware of my blogging negligence. I am hoping to be more attentive.
There has been an unusual, fascinating and fun occurrence at our house this year. It seems that a family of ladybugs has made themselves at home inside our home. Earlier this fall when I saw the little beetles inside, I didn't think much of it. I expected that the cold weather would drive them into dormancy, just like every other bug. Here we are in the middle of January and the ladybugs are still with us. It appears that each day presents a new bug. The variations in color and spotage have me wondering how many there really are and how long they live.
I love that they are here and now find myself actually looking for them each morning. During the day they sit in one spot. In the evening, when I am cooking they will sit on my arm or shoulder and then seem to
follow us from room to room. I haven't found 'ladybug-ground-zero' but I haven't looked that hard.We have decided that they are vying to be my muse. They are holding their ground until I do a painting with a ladybug as the focus. Their threats aren't very threatening, but I am entertaining the thought.
It is a bit of Summer in January.
Be good,
Scott
Monday, January 5, 2009
The Art of Divesting
We all own many 'things'. Maybe too many things? I know, for myself, that I don't always see all of the things with which I have surrounded myself. Every now and then, I stop and take inventory of what I have. It helps that I have moved 4 times in the last 6 years. Each time I pack and move everything I question why I have all this stuff. So I have learned the art of divesting. There is great freedom in divesting. Moving out the old makes room for the new.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
It's that time of year
My annual Holiday Open House took place last weekend. It was festive and fun. The weeks before were crazy with preparation.
Part of the preparation was to decorate the house. I love this time of the year when Christmas decorations appear and creativity abounds. I have a few ideas I want to share, things I have done here in our home.
I have a collection of stuffed Santas. Some of them are old, some new. Though I did not have any of them as a child, when I look at them they recall my childhood Christmases. I have them lined up on the back of my sofa in my studio. I love how the red curtain of the painting behind makes the perfect Christmas background.
In the dining room, we have a white feather tree. I have hung a print of my painting "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow" next to it. The ornaments I found in many different places and chose them because they look like something I would create. The whole scene seems very personal and colorful. What is behind the tree is as important as what is on it.
On the dining room table I have placed a large glass vase and filled it with glass ornaments. Again some are new and some are old. I have placed evergreen boughs fanning out at the top. It is a little play on the idea of ornaments on boughs or boughs on ornaments.
On the mantle in the living room I have a collection of old glass tree toppers. I have placed them in candlesticks surrounding them with pine branches and a string of 'candle' lights.
These are a few of the Christmas displays I have at my house. I would love to see some of the things you have done. Please send me pictures and descr
iptions. I think it could be fun to share them.
Be good,
Scott
Part of the preparation was to decorate the house. I love this time of the year when Christmas decorations appear and creativity abounds. I have a few ideas I want to share, things I have done here in our home.
I have a collection of stuffed Santas. Some of them are old, some new. Though I did not have any of them as a child, when I look at them they recall my childhood Christmases. I have them lined up on the back of my sofa in my studio. I love how the red curtain of the painting behind makes the perfect Christmas background.
In the dining room, we have a white feather tree. I have hung a print of my painting "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow" next to it. The ornaments I found in many different places and chose them because they look like something I would create. The whole scene seems very personal and colorful. What is behind the tree is as important as what is on it.
On the dining room table I have placed a large glass vase and filled it with glass ornaments. Again some are new and some are old. I have placed evergreen boughs fanning out at the top. It is a little play on the idea of ornaments on boughs or boughs on ornaments.
On the mantle in the living room I have a collection of old glass tree toppers. I have placed them in candlesticks surrounding them with pine branches and a string of 'candle' lights.
These are a few of the Christmas displays I have at my house. I would love to see some of the things you have done. Please send me pictures and descr
iptions. I think it could be fun to share them.Be good,
Scott
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Art is Personal
I have been working on an interior design project. My friends Nancy and Mike have moved from Boulder to Seattle. They have rented a house and have hired me to help them make it a home. At this point, the furniture is chosen and situated. The rugs, pillows and accessories are ca
refully placed. All that remains is the art. Nancy really (really) wanted to create art. Though Nancy is a highly creative, beautiful dancer/choreographer the visual arts are still fairly uncharted territory for her.
We began with a trip to the art store where we purchased two canvases. In this case they were 30"x40" each. Then we hit three different paint stores. The goal was to see what was available in the mis-tinted section. It was fantastic, when, at the first store we found 5 different gallons of paint with colors that would work for us. At $3 each it was truly a steal. We rounded out our color palette by having 2 more colors mixed in the quart size. With seven colors, I felt we were ready to procede.
After laying the canvases on a drop cloth, I had Nancy do several quick sketches for me. These were no-thought-initial-reaction drawings. I gave her a word and she drew. I chose words that I knew were important for Nancy and Mike and their home. "Calm.... happy.... life..... growth... love.... celebration... connection.... " She drew and drew and drew.
I took her simple drawings and painted them (much larger) onto the canvases as an outline in the darkest color we had, which happened to be a blue.
It was then her turn to fill in the outlines, very much like in a coloring book. I gave a little direction in color placement, blending and balance, but mostly it was Nancy and her unbridled willingness.
While the paintings dried, I painted a white rectangle on the dining room wall to frame our bold art piece.
I think it turned out beautifully. What I loved most about it was Nancy's reaction. She was almost beside herself with how much fun she had had and how lovely the painting is. "That was such a high. It's so beautiful." she told me (again and again and again).
This piece of art is very personal. Not only did she play a part in creating it, but it holds hopes and dreams and ideals in her own expression. Art is personal.
Be good,
refully placed. All that remains is the art. Nancy really (really) wanted to create art. Though Nancy is a highly creative, beautiful dancer/choreographer the visual arts are still fairly uncharted territory for her.We began with a trip to the art store where we purchased two canvases. In this case they were 30"x40" each. Then we hit three different paint stores. The goal was to see what was available in the mis-tinted section. It was fantastic, when, at the first store we found 5 different gallons of paint with colors that would work for us. At $3 each it was truly a steal. We rounded out our color palette by having 2 more colors mixed in the quart size. With seven colors, I felt we were ready to procede.
After laying the canvases on a drop cloth, I had Nancy do several quick sketches for me. These were no-thought-initial-reaction drawings. I gave her a word and she drew. I chose words that I knew were important for Nancy and Mike and their home. "Calm.... happy.... life..... growth... love.... celebration... connection.... " She drew and drew and drew.
I took her simple drawings and painted them (much larger) onto the canvases as an outline in the darkest color we had, which happened to be a blue.
It was then her turn to fill in the outlines, very much like in a coloring book. I gave a little direction in color placement, blending and balance, but mostly it was Nancy and her unbridled willingness.
While the paintings dried, I painted a white rectangle on the dining room wall to frame our bold art piece.
I think it turned out beautifully. What I loved most about it was Nancy's reaction. She was almost beside herself with how much fun she had had and how lovely the painting is. "That was such a high. It's so beautiful." she told me (again and again and again).This piece of art is very personal. Not only did she play a part in creating it, but it holds hopes and dreams and ideals in her own expression. Art is personal.
Be good,
Scott
Monday, November 10, 2008
Light Up My Life
Last summer I was walking down Queen Anne Avenue on my way to getting a haircut. I passed by a shop I had not noticed before, a lamp shop. I felt a pull to go inside. I kept walking.
I kept walking but I couldn't stop thinking about the shop and my draw to it. The window was full of unique, beautiful and creative lamp bases and shades. I appreciated the immaculate artistry but couldn't understand why I was so attracted to the place. I decided that once I had a fresh new haircut I would stop in on my way back.
I came to the shop, admired the window display and, well, kept walking. I caught myself and turned around and entered the store.
I met the owner/artist Kathi Mullaney. I introduced myself and explained that I felt pulled into her shop. She was kind and gracious. I told her that I was an artist also and we shared stories of living as artists. I loved meeting her looking at her lamps. I left her with one of my business cards. I felt bad that I had questioned my initial attraction. It was such a gift to meet her.
I think by the time I got home she had sent an email saying she had visited my website, loved my work and wondered if I would be interested in painting a lamp base for her. I went back the next day to get the wooden base, my blank canvas. What to paint, what to paint?
There had been a delay in finishing the base as the wood had been seeping sap. I let it sit in the sun for several weeks giving it a slow drying. I am trusting that it is done seeping now and have once again started painting. Here is a sneak look at what I am doing. I am excited to see it done but even more excited to see what kind of shade Kathi will design for it. Stay tuned to see the finished lamp.
Oh, yeah, check out Kathi's website. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. www.kathleenmullaney.com
Be good,
Scott
I kept walking but I couldn't stop thinking about the shop and my draw to it. The window was full of unique, beautiful and creative lamp bases and shades. I appreciated the immaculate artistry but couldn't understand why I was so attracted to the place. I decided that once I had a fresh new haircut I would stop in on my way back.
I came to the shop, admired the window display and, well, kept walking. I caught myself and turned around and entered the store.
I met the owner/artist Kathi Mullaney. I introduced myself and explained that I felt pulled into her shop. She was kind and gracious. I told her that I was an artist also and we shared stories of living as artists. I loved meeting her looking at her lamps. I left her with one of my business cards. I felt bad that I had questioned my initial attraction. It was such a gift to meet her.
I think by the time I got home she had sent an email saying she had visited my website, loved my work and wondered if I would be interested in painting a lamp base for her. I went back the next day to get the wooden base, my blank canvas. What to paint, what to paint?
There had been a delay in finishing the base as the wood had been seeping sap. I let it sit in the sun for several weeks giving it a slow drying. I am trusting that it is done seeping now and have once again started painting. Here is a sneak look at what I am doing. I am excited to see it done but even more excited to see what kind of shade Kathi will design for it. Stay tuned to see the finished lamp.
Oh, yeah, check out Kathi's website. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. www.kathleenmullaney.com
Be good,
Scott
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Season of Color
This morning as I was writing, or supposed to be writing, I found myself staring at the table by the window. 
The Christmas cactus happens to have bloomed at Halloween and the glass pumpkins I bring out every fall. I love the little squirrel-candle-holder as he is a reflection of the food-gathering-squirrels outside. The combination of colors is so vibrant, so beautiful and I wanted to share them with you. Surprisingly, (I didn't plan this) it is a study in the secondary colors: purple, orange and green. Okay, that sounds a little art-nerdy, but I am a little art-nerdy sometimes.
The Christmas cactus happens to have bloomed at Halloween and the glass pumpkins I bring out every fall. I love the little squirrel-candle-holder as he is a reflection of the food-gathering-squirrels outside. The combination of colors is so vibrant, so beautiful and I wanted to share them with you. Surprisingly, (I didn't plan this) it is a study in the secondary colors: purple, orange and green. Okay, that sounds a little art-nerdy, but I am a little art-nerdy sometimes.I hope you are surrounded by color (primary, secondary, tertiary....) especially as we embrace fall and enter winter.
Be good,
Scott
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