Rite of Spring

Spring is almost here. In fact, here in southeast Texas we can pretty much say that spring is around the corner by the end of January. This year I'm welcoming the season by planting new things in my garden - strawberries, cabbage, and spinach (and a replacement rosemary plant for the one that died) and working on some pieces that will feature the colors of spring.

 

 

 

I wanted to showcase the soft shades of green and aqua, as well as the colors of the warm sun and budding flowers. They are both in acrylics - the first painting is on an artists panel measuring 6" x 8", and the second is on a 1 1/2" deep canvas measuring (I believe) 12" x 24". Neither piece is titled yet.

I'll also work on producing some ACEOs to showcase spring themes. I may follow the trend of the two paintings and create simple, abstract pieces, or I may decide to produce more detailed works such as this one, Titled "Among All the Commotion":

So, with new art ideas, along with projects around the house, lots of thorough cleaning, not to mention my full time day job, I've really got work to do!

What plans have you got for spring?

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Trends? What trends...?

So... Are you a trend follower?

...Me?... hmm.... no...

I can't bring myself to do it.


Which is why my art will always consist of whatever I think is awesomesauce at the time of my creating the thing of art. Whatever that thing of art might be.

Today it has been miniature paintings - two of them, actually. They're not finished, yet, but because I started one, my brain decided I needed to start another YES AT THE SAME TIME RIGHT NOW.

The point of this is not that I suddenly had the urge to create two paintings at once today, but that I chose paint colors that I thought would look interesting, or created textures that I enjoyed the look of. I don't pay attention to whether or not the combination of orange and purple is a trendy color scheme, for instance. I merely start painting and grab colors that catch my eye at the time.

I'll even just start randomly picking colors that transition from one to the other, which, I admit, might be a little predictable, but if I like the result I figure someone else might, as well.

So, when you're browsing my shop for art, you won't find the latest...you won't find trendy...and you certainly won't find fashionable.


Because truthfully, you should NEVER expect fashionable from an artist whose socks never match :P

Are you a "Colour Lover?"

As an artist and all-around creative person, I've always loved looking at colors and how they mixed, matched, clashed and complemented each other. It's always fun to pick two or three colors that you would never think of putting together, and having them make the most amazing palette. My paintings usually start with me staring at my tubes of paint and contemplating: which ones fit my mood right now? Is it this one, these two? Oh, now do I want contrast? I discovered a website a few years ago that helps you discovered some really beautiful color palettes: Colour Lovers Colour Lovers allows you to search for palettes by color, or you can browse and be surprised. You can even make your own and submit them, which I believe might require registering on the site. Here are a couple of examples I found:

I actually did this sort of thing with my latest painting, which is a work in progress I'm featuring on my website here I didn't actually submit my palette, but here's what I came up with:

I think that looking through palettes might be inspiring, or it might even help kickstart a lazy art muse into producing ideas - I know that just looking at all the interesting color combinations helps me feel quite creative :)