Four more Paintings

Mind's Eye
pastel
16.5" x 10.5"

Veiled Bride
pastel
21.5" x 6.5"

On Eagles Wings
pastel
15" x 6"

Be Thou
pastel
24" x 7.5"

A Light in a Dark Place

I have been quite amazed at how fun un-distracted painting can be. I like to close my eyes and think of the first sensation that comes to my mind's eye. It is light, pure light. It glows and burns away the dross of life. This morning I had another reminder of new life when I stepped outside. In our part of the world, a robin's breast is the first sign of spring. There the Robin was.

Nigeria Alerts Me

But I have been thinking about Nigeria...the ongoing genocide. What do Nigerian mothers wake up to each day? Is there a sense of gloom that hangs over them, as they wonder if they will be the next target?
Because of that, I am thinking about figures again in my landscapes. Figures as living souls, how do they rest in a world shaped by dichotomies?

Reflections with One Vision- Portraiture

I had some reflections on a wonderful discussion panel this past Friday evening at the Charles Allis Art Museum on which Graeme Reid, Michael Foster, Kattie Musloff and her dear 87 year model where members.

Though I have been a landscape painter most of my career as a painter, I have a fascination with figure work and portraiture for the very reasons they discussed that night.

Particularly, I was attracted to how Katie made her models part of her life. So often as painters we are loners who paint forms or respond to forms as if they were inanimate and we are the ones who give them life in our art. Perhaps, that is what Graeme was referring , when he asked about "objectivity" as a necessity for an artist.

I do at times appreciate when artists take a dis-interesting object and infuse it with life; i.e. paint something ugly beautifully. Nevertheless, while, I, as did the panel, recognize the need for an artist to have an objective technical understanding of the painting before him and in some measure an objective view of what painting is about in general, I often fail to be intrigued by the commonly clinical-like-view that is respected among my contemporary artists when discussing their work "objectively" or mechanically.

What appealed to me in Katie's work was the personal response and respect she maintains for and toward her models... who often become her friends. You may ask what does that have to do with painting or making great art.

In Katie's personal engagement with her models she is able sensitively to begin to connect with the humanity of her model/friends not through a mechanical process but through the her own body kinetically, perceptively and personally in drawing and painting responding to the humanity and life in her subjects before her.

I think that is what made Rembrandt great. Not only was his mind able to connect psychologically with the humanity or soul of his subject, his hand was able to kinetically capture not just the physical likeness but more significantly articulate/capture the soul or humanity before him. That is not objective, but subjective response at its best. His sensibilities matched by his skill, touch a chord that resonates over time and communicates only in the way great art does in truth. This phenomena is the attraction in making paintings and why painting and drawing will never die.

As for myself and my drawings of my mother, I found my line drawings to be very much a kinetic response to my feelings for her and about her. They go beyond a mere likeness. I felt a connection to her moods and her dilemma as an aging woman. I felt elegance and brokenness. I connected in my body with her in my physical response of making art.

What I like about my opportunity with the Lake Country Ten Artist Ten Poets One Vision Project is being able to share my painting “Leaves” based on my drawings of my mother in collaboration and response to my poet, Paula Anderson who has similar sensibilities in writing. In this project, I feel the joy and exhilaration of meaningful human connection as well as the pleasure of kinetic response in painting.

I hope you can join us this Saturday, October 17, at 7 pm at the Raven Gallery in Pewaukee, WI

Judith

40/40 of 40 Consecutive Painting a Day Painting Challenge - Swing So High

Swing So High
11" x 14"
Oil on Panel
$250

This was my quick paint submission for the Cedarburg Plein Air Event.
This is also the 40 Painting of the 40 day Painting a Day Challenge.
I will be going a a vacation from painting for a few days.

37/40 of 40 Consecutive Paintings a Day - Waterpump

Waterpump
11" x 14" unframed
oil
on exhibition at the Cedarburg Cultural Center in the Cedarburg Plein Air Event
June 25-26 silent auction
June 27 open sale
exhibt through July 5
Starting bid $250
Retail if not sold in auction $375

Back of reality building on Washington north of Village Hall

34/40 Paintings a Day for 40 Consecutive Days- Birthday Girl II

Birthday Girl II
6" x 7.25"
Watercolor on Paper
$75

This has been a tough Father's day.
My darling, my heart.

"But Zion said, 'The Lord has forsaken me,
the Lord has forgotten me.'
' Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me...'
Isaiah 49:14f

27/40 of 40 Consecutive Day Painting a Day - Boy

A Boy
6" x 8"
Watercolor on Paper
$75

Painting 26/40 of 40 Consecutive Painting a Day Challenge - Smiling Girl

Smiling Girl
8" x 6"
Watercolor on Paper
$75

I had a great time going through our old family photos when I was preparing the life display poster for my son's high school graduation. Here he is held by his sister in a garden at the Milwaukee domes.

Painting 24/40 of the 40 Consecutive Painting a Day Challenge - Illuminating an Apple

Illuminating an Apple
6" x 7 3/4"
Watercolor on Paper
$75

This was a fun way to end the day.

23/40 Painting of 40 Consecutive Days Painting a Day

Mama
6" x 7.5"
watercolor on paper with ink
$75

yeah mama

Painting 21/40 of the 40 Consecutive Day Painting a Day Challenge - Some Years Later

Some Years Later

6" x 7.5"
Watercolor on Paper
$50 print
Original not for Sale

Back several years ago, I took an advanced drawing and anatomy class with Stephan Samerjan (now retired) at UW- Milwaukee. I was inspired by the volume of work he demanded of us, the freedom he gave us to explore and the conversations and class critiques in a fresh way.

I had begun doing a series of line drawings of my mother catching her various moods with a few strokes. It was like writing poetry sketches, fluid yet sharp and clear catching a life of their own. I have talked about expanding that figurative series with color. But because I have always done landscape painting and even Plein Air landscape painting once the magic of the classes influence passed, I fell back into my old habits of doing landscape imagery. Yet the desire to return and expand the exploration of the figure remained with me. Now the last week's busyness forced me to do what I always wanted to do all along. Now I am making expressions with the figure.

This one is of my son now.

Painting 20/40 of 40 Consecutive Day Painting a Day Challenge - Young Actor for Spanky

Young Actor for Spanky
6" x 7.25 "
Watercolor on Paper
$75

I actually am having a relaxing time with this painting. After hosting my son's High School Graduation Party this weekend, I am enjoying working from one of my son's younger days photos.

This weekend marks a MAJOR milestone in my life - my youngest son's graduation from highschool, probably up there with my wedding day and the birth fo my first child or the death of my father. Many of you may not be aware that I had homeschool our four children. Raising and teaching these children was an act of love and my major creative enterprise for over 28 years. I had some of my greatest joys and most wounding experiences in this role as mother and teacher. The goal of teaching was to put myself out of a job. My other more important goal was for my children to have a sense of calling and service to God and their fellow man. Yet another goal was for them to be both kind and happy in being kind.
I have not succeded in all these goals, yet in some measure there was some sucess for them.
Now my role has changed. I officially have retired as teacher.
This weekend's Graduation Ceremony marked the end of an era and a new beginning.
To many of you I wish to thank you for sharing with me this time.

I am now going to restructure my life, assess my activities and reprioritize my time.
It is an exciting time.
This photo I found while my son and I were preparing a photo display board of my son Caleb's life. I found a few others that I would like to use as source materials for other paintings.


s

18/40 of the the 40 Consecutive Painting Day Challenge - Schoetz Park

Schoetz Park
7.75" x 5"
Watercolor on Paper
$50

Slight overcast day at the pond at Schoetz.

15/40 Painting a Day for 40 Consecutive Days - Mr Mendon

Mr. Mendon
10" x 12"
Watercolor and Ink
not for sale

This is my neighbor. He is a remarkable guy, weathered with construction work and many years of raising a family.

I love gray paintings. I like messy lines for drawings of gruff no nonsense workers. This is not a "pretty picture of a pretty face." I like the abstract beauty of the lines and the washes. I feel like I have captured his spirit in the spontaneity of the line.


Now back to my other life that weaves into my art life.
Here we go! The next few days shall be very busy, with traveling to pick up Grandma up north and graduation preparation.

It is just too uncanny. I have a call for arranging an exhibition on the east side in a gallery spot, a journalist, Bonnie North, offered to pose for a moody window portrait, a slew of new listings for the Griffin Gallery website. and a request from a high school friend for a reunion visit all this week. Oh, when it rains it pours. How I wish I could divide myself up and do it all at once. But not possible. It will get done but not this week.
But I will get it done.
Now for tonight, I am going to work with my son on his display poster of "his Life" thus far. It should have been done yesterday, but who is keeping track. :)

2009 Caleb's Graduation Insert

Click on the blurry image below to read the text.

This is one of the inserts created for the invitations.
This one I created with the note for parents. Caleb created some other inserts with other favorite verses for his friends and family.

Painting 11/40 of the 40 Consecutive Painting a Day Challenge - Fence Post

Fence Post
6 1/4" x 7 1/4"
Oil on panel
$75

View during sunrise near Mineral Point, Wisconsin

There is nothing I like better than the smell of the earth and the sounds of birds and the rustle of the wind in the early morning.
I can touch the earth as it is, unpackaged.

Painting 9/40 of the 40 Consecutive Day Painting Challenge - Uphill Country Road

Uphill Country Road
7 1/4" x 6 1/4"
Oil on Panel
$75

This is a country road near Mineral Point, Wisconsin in early morning.

For those who have been keeping up with the 40 day challenge, I am really coming into some "challenging" days ahead. I have a "Block Party" that I am co- hosting this coming Saturday, May 30, and a Graduation Party for my son the following Saturday, June 6.

Its going to be interesting going.

Painting 8/40 of Painting a Day Challenge for 40 Consecutive Days - Out of the Haze

Out of the Haze
5 1/4" x 7 1/4"
OIl on Panel
$75
Temporary Photo

This scene was from around Breezewood, Pennsylvania
Again I painted this in late evening, and had difficulty with glare. I will rephotograph this tomorrow.

Its about 11:21 pm.

Garden on a Grid

Garden on a Grid

I just want to share with you my Square Foot Garden.

Its a garden on the grid.
About the only thing in my life that is contained.
You see pepper and tomatoe plants, but not the carrot, lettuce, zuchini, bean, marigold, zinna and hollyhock seeds that were just planted.

The art is for eating later this year.

Revised Painting 7/40 from the the 40 Consecutive Painting a Day Challenge - My Backyard II

My Backyard II
7 1/4" x 5 1/4"
oil on panel
$75
contact the artist

Yesterday, I painted a view from my back yard. I painted rather thickly. I never had the problem photographing a piece like a did with this one.
I was dealing with a lot of glare. Because the sun had set when I finished it, I had to use light in my home, rather than diffused natural light from the outside. So today, I tried rephotographing it without success. Then I started painting from my imagination.

It was great fun.
Yet I still need to paint Painting 8/40 for today.

If you click on the painting you will see a blowup with all the texture and brush strokes.

Painting No 5/40 of the Painting a Day 40 Day Challenge - Fred Bell with Eye Slits, Land West of Monches Farm, Fred Bell Concentrating

Fred Bell with Eye Slits
7 3/4" x 6"
Watercolor
$45
to purchase contact the artist

Land West of Monches Farm
7 1/4" x 5 1/4"
Watercolor
$45
to purchase contact the artist

Fred Bell Concentrating
6" x 7 3/4"
Watercolor
$45
to purchase contact the artist

Today was a fun day, the 5th day of the 40 day Painting a Day Challenge.
A friend of mine and fellow painter Fred Bell and I went out to Monches Farm near Colgate Wisconsin to a attend a Plein Air painting day organized by the Wisconsin Plein Air Painters Association WIPAPAP this Saturday,

May 23rd: Monches Perennial Farm!

see WIPAPA's blog posting here
It was an Ireland looking morning with a gentle mist.
We saw at least 15 Plein Air painters scattered around the grounds hidden under umbrellas and plastic sheets covering them and their work.
Even though Fred and I got a late start, arriving later than the others, we found a covered potting house with open sides from which we painted, protected from the drizzle.
Currently reading the Letter of Vincent Van Gogh, I decided to draw with ink and do washes in watercolor on paper soaked in a bath of water. I felt I was keeping in the spirit of the wet day.
I have been thinking of doing these figurative pieces of my art friends for sometime.
So here you have it, the famous "Fred Bell with Eye Slits".
When Fred went wandering off, I worked on a landscape piece of a scene to the west. I liked working in watercolor because I felt it captured the rain. However, because of the moisture in the air the pieces were slow in drying, creating a very lovely fluid effect.
The last painting of "Fred Concentrating" is indicative of his focus while painting.

Fred and I enjoy painting together from time to time.
If you go to Fred's blog site you can see the painting he made today.

What do you think of our projects for a day?
They were a delightful change of pace.