Art

I love this video by Andrea Dorfman, inspired by the the song “Art” by Tanya Davis.

Andrea is one of Canada’s most promising and truly gifted independent young filmmakers.

It’s all about Art!

thought for the day;

“In order for my work to continue to evolve, I become involved in playfulness and take the opportunity to look at the ‘what-ifs.’ Whatever the result, it expands my vision by letting go of who I think I am and discovering the spirit within.” – John Denver

Dancing Paint Brushes

A great video  of a live painting session by Tali Farch to the music of one of Brubeck’s jazz standards.

It’s not so much the painting that attracted me as it was the idea of painting to music.

The total experience of getting lost in the rhythm, brush strokes, colors, mood and the energy expressed as the two paint brushes danced across the canvas. Wow!

I would love to try this process as one of my daily morning warm-up exercises.

thoughts for the day;

“Nourish your eye and spirit with inspiring things. They will bloom with your tending.” – Sark

“Art is the only proof we have of the existence of the soul.” – Author Unknown

Raining Blue

Here is another digital morning warm up exercise.

This time I used digital liquid ink on hot press paper. I did several 4 x 5  inch paintings, and each one turned out a little different.

I sometimes use these as a point of reference for traditional paintings. This way I can experiment with new ideas without the expense of purchasing new canvases, and if I don’t like what I ‘ve created I can hit the delete button.

This also allows me to  play around with several different compositions before choosing one, and helps me to figure out what medium would work best for each new painting.

As an example, lets say I wanted to turn this one into a traditional painting. I would probably use acrylics, collage elements, gesso, crackle paste, and light modeling paste on canvas.

Raining Blue – Digital Painting – 4 x 5 inches – Digital Liquid ink on hot press paper.

thought for the day;

“if you want to get better at painting or making art, then do it everyday (passionately/religiously) as if there is no tomorrow. Let go of the judge within, and be surrounded by positive, supportive people. Be gentle on yourself and others. Give. Never hold back. ” – Nancy Davis Bilbro

Lughnasa

I started out my morning with my usual daily warm up exercises. Instead of working with traditional mediums today, I did my morning warm ups using Corel Painter IX. 5.

My inspiration for the day came from the word “Lughnasa,” which is one of the four main festivals of the Medieval Irish Calendar, celebrating the beginning of the Harvest season.

It’s that time of the year when blackberry bushes are heavy with ripened fruit, and there are subtle changes in the light, a golden haze that seems to wrap itself around everything.

I love this time of the year even though there is a lingering sadness as summer comes to an end.

Lughnasa – Digital Painting – Oils – 4 x 5 – on heavy hand made paper

quote for the day;

“Whilst August yet wears her golden crown,
Ripening fields lush- bright with promise;
Summer waxes long, then wanes, quietly passing
Her fading green glory on to riotous Autumn.”
–  Michelle L. Thieme, August’s Crown