Faces 14

I have a fierce urge to shove this guy out in high winds to rough up that mop on his head—he is in desperate need of a hair out of place!

I'm laughing to myself as I realize this is not the first time I've had an urge to take charge of someone else's hair. Years ago I tutored an engaging bright boy who was middle school age. For the two or three years I worked with him he sported a 'rattail' hairstyle, a style characterized by a long thin braid growing downward from the back of his head. Can't tell you how many times I fantasized pulling out a pair of shears and snipping off that 10" braid! It was just begging me to make mischief!

The Friend Who Signs Every Single Photo
of Himself in My Senior Yearbook
9 x 12"; acrylic, ink, oil pastel, pencil, and collage
on drawing paper
abstract face
2021
$45

messy middle flashback:

blind contour drawing 
on top of cool-colors chaos layer

Faces 5

   chaos layer 

+ blind contour drawing 

+ neutral-ish background to bring face forward 

+ highlighting of one feature, maybe two         

   new territory

The Friend Who Is a Major Dog and Cat Person
9 x 12"; acrylic and ink on drawing paper
abstract face
2021
$45

Steering True

In this new year, may my heart be open enough to stay curious, strong enough to face pain, and brave enough to feel joy (thanks, Brené Brown, for words that identify my compass points). May I let go so as to let in.

Hello, chaos and exploration and experimentation and inquiry! Let 'er rip!

A Poem Biting My Toes
6 x 6"; acrylic, pencil, and pastel on canvas panel
abstract landscape
2021
$75

Boxing Day

There are competing theories for the origins of Boxing Day, none of which, evidently, is definitive. In any case, December 26, the day after Christmas, is called Boxing Day in many countries and plays out in several different ways. 

Today, I have my own definition. In my neighborhood, Boxing Day and trash/recycling collection day overlapped this year. Not only that, but also—on the very same day!—I was in need of a box of a certain size to use as a containment space in which to place a painting in progress, load my brush with loose wet paint, and let go with splatters. 

Imagine the curbside selection I had as I took a two-mile walk early this morning! Square boxes, rectangular boxes, taped boxes, flattened boxes, boxes stuffed with bubble wrap and crumpled gift wrap, tidy boxes, torn boxes, shirt boxes, appliance boxes.

The splatters I splattered fascinate me. They make no 'sense' in terms of content in the abstracted treescape here, but they totally saved this little exercise, an exercise offered generously online yesterday by Amanda Evanston to those who might be having a quiet holiday and wanting to pick up a brush to play with paint. Splattering kept me on track with my goal to be loose and quick in my playing (it was a close call!), and my trusty new box kept me from splattering anything beyond my painting playground.

Happy Boxing Day!

Lichen-Rusted Kaffeeklatsch
6 x 6"; acrylic, ink, oil pastel, and pencil on canvasboard
abstract treescape
2020
$75

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art history:

 8/1/15

10/12/20

12/23/20

Boxing Day 2020!