Tiffany Twisted

What do you hear?

If you're from my generation, I just bet you hear the Eagles singing...
"On a dark desert highway,
Cool wind in my hair,
Warm smell of colitas,
Rising up through the air..."
She was my "Hotel California" girl from the beginning - although she's probably too young to have any idea what that's all about.

This portrait is different from my norm, but what fun to do something so different!   The young man who asked me to do it, gave me artistic license with the photograph to do what I wanted.  Yea! I knew that it was her in all her elegance and mystery that was what I wanted to capture.  She had to be confident and regal to pull off that stunning dress.  

It was a pretty complicated painting, so there are so many details that I want to write about! It was a series of struggles that I had to figure out!

• The background - How could I diminish everything that was going on - windows, tapestries, columns, curtains - that just weren't important.  I alluded to those things but fuzzed them out of focus.  Just to keep harmony, I used the green, reddish-brown, gold, and purple (that I shaded with) from the foreground in the background.
• The floor - How could I show the beauty of the hardwood without bringing attention to it?  I simply painted it perfectly then brushed it (almost) out.
• The counter or pew or whatever that thing was - How could I use it to show the depth of the space without making it interesting enough to look at?  I did the same thing.  I painted it perfectly then blotted it, getting fuzzier and darker as it went back.  
• The rail - Well, that wasn't really how that looked, but I had to have something substantial so that her hand wouldn't be just hanging in space.  It ended up helping with the depth anyway.
• The skirt - Wow!  It took a while to figure out what it was.  Scales? tiles?  I decided they were like piano keys.  I had to redo them after the first time.  I realized that every one was exactly alike, perfectly in rows - boring and without life.  You can't see it, but I put the greens and purples (that I shaded the green with) to add life to the black of the keys.  I don't know how, but it worked.
• The sash - I would have said that green is the color I'm most comfortable using; however, I learned that the greens of landscapes and leaves and backgrounds is not the same as that on a satin cloth.  There are three different tries underneath what you see in the final painting.  I tried to highlight with yellows and to shade with dark green - neither was right.  Eventually, white for the highlights and purple for the shades worked.
• The black shirt - I think that must have been some kind of suede or velvet.  It had some neat sparkles... I gave up on those... Used my "artistic license" to decide they weren't important.  (That way I didn't have to admit, I just couldn't get it right.)
• Her arms and hands - Ugh... just don't zoom in. I finally had to tell myself to let it go... I did consider putting another green sash over them!  Seriously, try not to look too closely.
• Jewelry, candelabra, and collar-thingy - I got to use silver!  I've rarely had the opportunity to open that tube.  In the end, I had to cover most of it with white, black, and blue.  But, I know that the silver is under there!
• Flames - I think they might be too yellow.  I need to decide that and decide if I need to go back and mute them a little.
• Her face - I put off doing the face until the very end.  It was so small, I couldn't imagine I'd ever get it right.  To my surprise, it came together quite nicely.  I don't know if it's the "spittin' image" of the young lady, but I'm not sure that matters in the grand scheme of the whole here.  Once I could sit back and say, "...such a lovely face, such a lovely face..." it was time to add the green tattoos.  That was hard to do!  I felt like the time I had to put mud on the side of the beautiful red truck on "She Said YES!" (Go have a look at that one.) But, the beauty of those is that they detracted from any mistakes I might have made on her face.
• Her hair - It was fine.  Then at the last minute - after I'd already signed my name, I went back and put some green in her hair!  Yeah!  (That will teach someone to give me freedom to use that artistic license!
• The name - Well, if you totally got it on the first paragraph, then you'll get it on the title.  If not, then the name's just as mysterious to you as the lady herself.

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Tweet!

Do you tweet?

I don't have a Twitter account, and I don't think I've ever gotten a tweet.  Does that make me behind the times?  If so, think I can live with it.  

There aren't many bluebirds around my part of the country.  They seem like sweet little birds.  Maybe one day a pair will join the cardinals and robins and mocking birds and jays and wrens and owls that live in the trees around my house.

I painted this little guy a year or two ago but decided he was worth another.  I love the blotchy colors in the background that just allude to the idea of a tree or bushes behind him.  There's a kind of movement in the lights and darks and colors that makes me not mind not seeing leaves and trees or anything specific.  It's kind of hard to get an expression on a bird's face, but I think the spark in his eye gives him a curious attitude.

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Red Barn & Wheelbarrow in Winter

Which "character" makes your mind wander/wonder?

If you've read a few of my posts, you know that I only love a painting if it tells a story.  This one shows a setting that's just waiting for the characters to show up with their problem to solve.... There are so many possibilities fighting to jump to the front and be the story... What about the picture makes you wonder? makes your mind wander?

• Is there something hidden inside the knothole in the tree?
• Did someone go ice skating?
• Why is the fence broken down?
• Where are the cows and goats and horses?
• Who does that striped hat belong to?
• How cold is it?
• Is it morning or evening?

Because it's a painting and not really a story, I make the objects my "characters."  You'd think that since I named the painting "Red Barn & Wheelbarrow in Winter" that I loved those two "characters" most.  But, I'm kind of a "minor character" kind of gal.  I love the cold sky and the shadows on the snow.  I love the broken fence, the icicles hanging off the roof, and the weather vane on the top of that roof. But, the "character" that makes my mind wonder and wander is that craggy old tree.  I love that tree.  I love gnarly old dead trees. There's one between Sonic (where I go much too often) and my house, and I never pass by without noticing it.  It's on the edge of a golf course and will probably be removed one day.  Every time I look at that tree I wonder if there's an old coon living in some hole in it.  My mind wanders every time to Billy, Old Dan, and Little Ann from Where the Red Fern Grows. (Best book ever!) 

Just so you know... I'm the artist, so I know... and yes, there absolutely is a grouchy old coon (or maybe a possum) living inside the hole in that tree, so the kid who left his skates and hat in the wheelbarrow better keep his hand out of there.

Oil Painting on 16"x 20" Wrapped Canvas

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Apple Slices II

How often do you say, "We should get together sometime to... (fill in the blank) ?

I've painted this little still life a couple of times before, but I never had as much fun doing it as I did this time.  So often we've said, "We should get together and paint sometime,"  so I decided to just set a date.  

We were excited for two weeks!  "After the next faculty meeting! I can't wait!"  We laughed and we painted and we talked and we ate a little pizza and the time flew by.  Most importantly, we set a day for our next paint party... just two faculty meeting days away... 

I loved the spirit of 

 helping, 

asking,

celebrating,
lifting up...

But, we actually did face our canvases and concentrate... (a little).

And EVERYBODY left with a finished masterpiece

That's me, Julie, Holley, and Jolene.
Fourth grade teacher, third grade teacher, art teacher, and tech teacher by day...
Artists for an evening!

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First Recital II

When is one just not enough?

When Mama wants it on her wall and Memaw wants it on her wall!

I've had giclees made of several of my paintings.  The place that does the imaging and creates the giclees is really good.  The product looks great, but it's expensive.

I'm getting better and faster as a painter, I had left over paint, and it I had fun doing it the first time. So... I decided to do a do-over.

They're not identical, but they're pretty close.
Cute.
Cute.
Cute. 



Click "First Recital" if you'd like to purchase this little one for your wall.

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:) Ozark Mountains of Arkansas

What's the best advice you ever got?

My mom always said, "Every stage is the best stage. Enjoy each one."  From taking care of toddlers... to mini-van driver for lessons and teams... to high school activities and games... to college kids in and out of the house... and to an empty nest... 

Yeah, every stage is the best stage.

So, this isn't a painting, but it's beautiful.  We took a Labor Day ride down Old Hwy 71... gorgeous... We are blessed to live in a beautiful piece of the world.

First Recital

Does she know she's being watched?

I don't think so... I think she's composing something beautiful to her ears and fingers... I think it's loud and has a fast tempo... I think she's writing lyrics as she goes... I also think the magical musical moment will disappear as soon as she realizes she's got an audience... 

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 12" Wrapped Canvas

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Two Tiger Lilies

How do you "get back in shape" after time off?

I have done a lot of traveling this summer and just didn't have that much home time.  Since I didn't get to paint much, I felt a little "off" when I finally did sit down in front of a canvas.  I decided to start with something small and comfortable.  I've painted lilies many times before.  These two grew in the flowerbed beside my front porch. I know I've said it before, but I do love lilies.

Click Two Tiger Lilies if you're interested in purchasing this little painting.

:) Sisters

Hi, My name is Helen. 

I paint what you see in Word Weaver Art’s blog.

I’ve heard that at some point every artist should paint a self-portrait, so here’s mine.  This is me.  It’s pretty accurate.  I’m short, I have brown hair that’s turning gray, and I’m embracing that! I hope to always have a smile on my face.  And, finally, I’ve got on silver dangly earrings.  Last year when I bought a pair of squiggly silver earrings made by my friend Tana, I said, “These are not who am, but they are who I want to be.”  

Now I think they ARE who I am!

These are my sisters:

Sheila’s my oldest sister.  She’s the family historian through her scrapbooks. She’s dressed in her favorite color purple, and like her dress, she’s pretty organized, but she's a little squiggly!

Marcia is married to my oldest brother.  She’s a family musician who sings and plays piano and flute.  She’s dressed in her favorite color blue, and like her dress, she’s kind of polka-dotted! (She makes everyone feel special!)

Karen's my middle sister.  She’s a family entertainer who can put a party together and cook just the right thing.  She’s dressed in a bright orange, and like her dress, she’s all-the-way squiggly! 

Karen Lynne is married to my middle brother.  She’s another family musician who sings and plays piano.  She’s dressed in a red color that looks great on her, and like her dress, she’s striped.  (She likes lists and organization like me!)

Then there’s me at the end.  I'm dressed in my favorite color green, and like my dress, I'm solid. (What you see is what you get!)

And, next week we're doing something we've never done before... a week together... just the five of us!

Caribbean, here we come!  

If you're in my town, go visit Tana for a pair of your own silver dangly earrings!

Yellow Apples

Why do students give apples to their teachers?

I've been a teacher for 28 years and have certainly received my share of apples... apple mugs, apple ornaments, apple paper weights, apple note pads... I think my favorite though is when a little kid brings me a real apple, especially on the first day of school.  They usually have that sweet, sort of embarrassed kind of nervous little face like their mom has said, "Take this to your teacher and smile at her when you meet her."  I love that.  

I googled it and found a couple of possible reasons for the tradition.
     * During the pioneer days, teachers were paid with a room to stay in and food brought in by the students from their family farms.  Apples were harvested about the time the school year began.
     * Even before that, Eve gave Adam a fruit of the Tree of Knowledge.  (People usually imagine that fruit to be an apple.) Teachers represent knowledge... Apples represent knowledge... so... that tradition began a really long time ago, right?

When I went to my very first painting lesson on February 22, 2007, I painted a Tree, and I was so proud of it!  I couldn't believe I'd painted something that actually looked like what it was supposed to be!

On that evening, I felt kind of nervous like a little kid on the first day of school.  And, guess what... yep... I took an apple to my teacher!  I did!  I think it surprised her, but it was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

About a year ago, she and her husband retired and moved to their farm in Oklahoma.  In June we got to visit them.  I'll always be thankful for our Monday nights of painting together. :)

To see her beautiful artwork, visit Dancing Brush.

[SOLD] And I love knowing my friend Laura has these yellow apples hanging in her office. :)

Strawberries

Do they make your mouth water?

Whenever I don't know what to paint next, I go to the refrigerator.  This time I had some strawberries that I'd bought at the Farmers' Market. 

I always struggle to set up my still lifes to make them look natural, like the strawberries just happened to be dropped there.  I think this one worked.

And photo-bombing the shots... Really Pounce?... This is the best place you could find to lay around?

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Raggedy Ann

What makes certain toys life-long friends?

Some toys just last and last.  They last through lots of pretend, through years, and through memories.  Raggedy Ann is one of those, isn't she.  I think nearly every little girl has a rag doll of some kind.  I loved mine.  My mom made my Raggedy Ann and Andy at a time when fake fur was all the rage, so my Raggedies didn't have the usual yarn red hair... oh no... they had flame orange fake fur hair.  I didn't think they were the least bit odd at the time, but looking back, I bet they were a sight!

I made this particular little one 26 years ago while I was expecting my daughter.  She's been a good friend for a long time.  Now she sits in a place of honor on a shelf (with her friend Raggedy Andy and the Christmas Elf-on-the-Shelf, Leona) in my art space.  I noticed her the other day and decided she deserved to be the star of her very own still life.

You can see her here in the bassinet guarding my Amanda when we brought her home from the hospital.  (That's her friend Andy beside her.)

And here we impersonating her.  This was taken in my classroom with Amanda who was in kindergarten.  My little Andrew (hiding behind us) had a little Raggedy Andy costume to match us too!  (Now, at 22, he's horrified that I ever dressed him that way, but he was adorable.)

I listed this painting on Etsy but I have to be honest... I'll be a little sad when this little painting does get purchased.  I'll enjoy her in the meantime. :)

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:) T-Shirt Quilt to Superhero Capes

Why would you save the scraps?

As you can see from the date on this photo, my daughter and I made her high school t-shirt quilt 7 years ago.  (If I saved all the unused parts of the t-shirts, does that make me a hoarder, a pack rat, or just confident that creativity takes time?)

Yesterday, I came across those left overs.  I looked at the shape and size of those scraps and had an idea... a little shaping up, a few pins, and some tight zig-zagging later... Voila!  








My son leaves for the West Coast tomorrow.  Hopefully these little superhero capes will endear him as he gets to know his little second cousins.

So... since I'm on the subject... A couple of years ago, I found a way to use the left over sleeves of those t-shirts.  Again... I looked at the shape of those scrap sleeves and had an idea... a little snipping, a few pins, and some zig-zagging later... and Ta-Da!  I made a dozen little drawstring bags and filled them with goodies.  They were a hit with the great nieces and nephews at our summer family gathering at Lake Ouachita.  (If you look closely, you'll see that the little guy in the middle in red has one of them hanging around his neck.)

A Stunning Pair (Red & Yellow Lilies)

How many kinds of lilies are there in the world?

I love them all... the plain ones, the fancy ones, the usual colors like orange or pink, and the amazing ones like these.

I like using a chunky little canvas so that the painting can continue onto the sides.  I did it for a friend who planned to give it as a gift for master gardener.  These are her lilies. (I wonder if she'll recognize them!) Maybe she'll hang it on her wall, set it on a shelf, or put it on her desk.  I hope she liked it!  

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The Square

Can you hear it?

Our farmers' market is so much more than a place to buy fresh vegetables and flowers...  It's an event!  We go on Saturday mornings whether we need anything or not.  It's not what's there; it's more what's not there! ... buy some fresh fruit, vegetables, or flowers... adopt a dog from the animal shelter... catch up with friends you run in to... look at the art...

I love to listen.  There are musicians - good ones and... not-so-good ones -  every few yards. They're strumming, singing, blowing, or tapping, dollar-filled cases open at their feet.    There's friendly bargaining, "How much are these?" And the seller always answers in a friendly way even though the price is marked if the buyer would have just looked at the sign.  Depending on the time of year, there are politicians who would love to have your vote.  And, rain or shine, there's the guy who proclaims that marijuana has benefits and should be legalized.  Most importantly, there is always lots of laughter - people who are at The Square are just happy.

There's so much to see, taste, and smell at a farmers' market.  But the next time you go, make it a point to listen. 

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Pink Lily

What makes you smile when you come home?

I love pulling into my driveway.  We have kind of a winding gravel road through wonderful trees.  There's usually a yellow cat sitting on the porch rail who's waiting for the door to open so she can go inside. And there's a black and white cat rolling in the dirt or pouncing on some poor grasshopper.  In front of the porch there's what could be a fabulous flower bed, if only it had someone who thought it was great fun to keep it weeded and watered.  I have planted all my favorite things there, irises, daffodils, tiger lilies, day lilies, and hyacinths.  Luckily those are all fairly hardy flowers who bloom and are beautiful even with weeds and little attention.  This pink lily bloomed last year and is almost ready to bloom again this year.

 Here's sweet Daisy relaxing on the porch rail waiting for her chance to run inside.  And, here's crazy Pounce; she's crawled through the tomato cage in order to roll on top of the little tomato plant.  Thanks, Pounce :(

Sometimes we see other friends in our yard as we come home.  Seeing our deer as we drive in makes us smile too.

When I come from school tomorrow, this is what I'll see, purple irises blooming in the flowerbed. And here's what I'll smell, a wall of honeysuckle on the edge of the woods.

Click Pink Lily if you'd like to purchase this little painting.

We'll Just Have Salad

How important is the title?

I've gotten good advice from people who sell a lot of paintings about naming pieces.  I understand that the goal is to get your art seen.  I understand that when people go to Google they type in Cow Painting or whatever subject they're looking for.  I understand that my pieces would probably be seen more and sell more quickly if I'd give them titles to sell. 
Oh, but how I love to choose the just-right title!  Sometimes I know the title before I begin.  Sometimes I try out several throughout the process of painting.  Sometimes I get it about the time I sign my name in the bottom corner.  This time... nothing stuck... Two Cows... Black and Brown Cows... Flossy and Bossy... After I'd finished and was cleaning my brushes, my husband got his first look and said, "Wow!  I love it.  I love the grass hanging out of their mouths.  It's like they're out to lunch and you've bothered them. 'We'll just have the salad, thanks.'" And just like that "Two Cows" had a title that I loved!

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River of Dreams

Does it make sense now?

This painting went through a major transformation after it was finished the first time.  

My friend and I went to Painting with a Twist where they give you exactly what paint you'll need, tell you which brushes you'll need, and show you every stroke to place on the canvas.  It's lots of fun to go with a group, especially when most of those participating
 are non-painters who are thrilled to leave with a finished painting.  

They don't mind if you stray from their instructions, so right away Jolene and I decided to lose the rainbow in the background.  Besides that, we both tried to be good students and follow directions.  But as we were finishing, we both had the feeling that something wasn't right. The painting didn't make sense.  The tree took over everything even on the opposite side... the bridge didn't lead anywhere and it wasn't even a bridge since it was only one-sided... The water just stopped at the sky...

So we both went home and reworked what we'd done.  (Jolene went first because she's probably braver! Here is her finished-revised-finished again piece.  Love her new colorful trees lining the riverbank!) It was hard for me because, first of all, it's acrylic which is not the medium I'm used to.  Second, I had nothing to look at... YIKES!  That's when I was reminded that I had learned the skills of painting... I wasn't born with that artistic way of thinking.  (It's back to that skill vs talent debate.)  Being reminded keeps me humble. :)

First I simply blacked out the bridge and took the rainbow hump out of the sky strokes. Next I used some green on the bottom of the sky to create a horizon. Then I skinny-ed up the water and gave it a path to follow and added some more grasses on the other side of the canvas.  I like it now... maybe not realistic, but kind of dreamy.  

There was a lot of Billy Joel music playing while I was painting this, so "River of Dreams" seemed an appropriate name. 

[SOLD]
 Acrylic Painting on 16x 20" Wrapped Canvas