size and scale

So I haven't posted in a while... Did you read the title and description of my blog? Yeah, that pretty much sums up the why. Well, that and my laptop completely died over the summer and didn't get replaced immediately. This new laptop has a year full warrantee... *knocks on wood*

I don't have my camera with me, but I am really excited with the last two little paintings I did and the one I'm working on today. Today is one of those days where my hands are shaky as all hell but I'm working anyway... I couldn't fall asleep right away last night because I had the idea dancing around in my head so I must work on it some today... I just keep taking a ton of breaks.

Working on 6 x6 (or smaller) canvases are a lot of fun while they are physically challenging as well. I find that every stroke counts more the smaller the canvas... but somehow it feels more intimate too. Maybe it's because of the subject matter that ends up on the smaller canvases I paint or maybe because of the restrictions from the size, I don't know ...
The terrible downside to smaller works is that, obviously, they are smaller. They can not thrive well on a large space alone. They get lost in the sea of white (or beige or ecru) that are so prominent in our homes, offices and work places. They are visible in these large overlooked and underused spaces much the same way a blaze orange parking cone is seen in an empty parking lot. We have  a hard time deciding whether we want our attention drawn to such a spot... it's interesting and all but for some reason it's surprise draws a curiousity that we don't feel the desire to sustain.

But... I'm working on 5 by 5 inch canvases this week. Days before the most publicized art weekend of the year here in Lowell. http://lowellopenstudios.org/ I know that the likelihood of these pieces selling this weekend, because of their small scale, is next to nil (and I really REALLY need artwork to sell so I can purchase more supplies at the very least!!!) but I can't help myself. The ideas are there dancing waltzes in my mind and very specifically want to be small scale. And for far they look fantastic this size! It's like a beautiful well behaved child asking for chocolate milk with their lunch... there are better options sure, but I find myself pouring the chocolate milk because it feels right.

There was an article emailed to me a while ago titled "Steal like an Artist"... meaning inspiration. That's how this latest batch came about. A friend is doing a book series of oil paintings right now and we've been talking about that a bunch... so I have books on the brain... but what and how she is doing things with books is very different than what I'm doing with acrylics and these tiny canvasses. I'm sorry, but I don't feel like being more specific about her work. It's incredible but I'm not willing to cut short her time as the "only artist doing this now". I will share after she completes "my" book painting.

Okay... enough resting... time to see if my hands will quit shaking long enough to finish. This third 5 by 5 is titled "Tea Party." #2 is titled "Into the Woods" #1 is "South of Soledad"

First person to comment with the correct books reflected in my current paintings will get a gift. Promise. But you must COMMENT to the blog, not email me.

August

Suppose I should update and say that while I'm registered for Lowell Open Studios, uploaded an image and will be on the map, I do not have a artist bio/description up.

And the little man is chasing around the cat while I rest in bed trying to will away whatever is going on in my gut.
Seriously starting to think I ate something bad days ago because it's taking days to get any better.

Open Studios this Saturday noon- 5pm. If you're in the Lowell, MA area please stop by Western Avenue Studios. The studios has had a lot of internal movement over the summer and some lovely new artists have moved in as well. It's still summer, and with all the moving around some things aren't in their "finished stages" but it's a great place to visit, and on Open Studios there is bound to be free candy & snacks if you visit every floor!

And tomorrow's to-do list includes mopping the studio floor... because I let my son paint with matchbox cars again today. Best busy activity ever!

Oh dear... the painful part

For me personally, the most painful part of self-promotion is describing my work or my style. Really, I still truly fail at describing my artistic style. No... really... I stammer worse than when I was in seventh grade when I try to describe my own work. And now... I have to register for Lowell Open Studios...
This is good, because it's not only participation, but promotion and getting my work out there. The catch (other than the registration fee) besides having to be in the studio for two consecutive afternoons (October 1 & 2) is that I have to write my own "PR snippet"or as they would call it "artists statement for PR purposes." Whatever. Regardless 1) I don't know which person everyone else has written theirs from (1st or 3rd). 2) I suck at it. 3) If it was suppose to be more than 2 sentences than f*ck it.

Here is what I put... after WAAAAAY too much hemming and hawing. "Works of various media with heavy emphasis on animals and nature. Bold images meant to express both grace and whimsy. " I can always edit it. But yeah... I really can't do justice describing my friends' works & styles... writing about my own in a professional manner is painful.

So... if you have any suggestions PLEASE I'm really interested. How would you describe my artwork? or my artistic style?