Monday, June 30, 2008

June 30, 2008

Photo by Sharon Lee: Tomato Seedlings


As I've stated a few posts ago I am waiting for some $$$ until I can buy some stretchers to start my next painting. Of course I could paint on a scrap of masonite or piece of metal but I'm using this opportunity to catch up on my gardening. My goal with gardening is to plant most of my fruits and vegetables until the cold wins out (sometime in December-January. Then it's back to grocery store produce. Of course a garden is not complete without an assortment of pretty things including flowering grasses, water, flowers, trees, hedges.

Today was warm and overcast a perfect day for gardening. It has been raining in the evenings for the past few weeks and as a result the soil is nice and moist and the weeds (with the exception of Jerusalem Artichokes and Burdock) pull out fairly easily. My plan of attack when I have gardening time is to weed and/or plant a flower bed, a couple of veggie beds, some front yard-wood area clean up and an odd chore or two. Today I weeded strawberries (yes I munch on a few while working), weed lettuce bed, cold frame and a flower bed. There's a few holes in the flower bed where I'm inclined to plant some more veggies or herbs (dill and peppers perhaps). Today I also dug and planted a pickle cucumber bed.

While gardening may not seem to be appropriate for life as an artist it is indeed a source for artistic inspiration. When I think of gardening artists I always think of Monet whose love of gardens is obvious in his paintings.

Gardens are another way of artistic expression. They contain textures, colors and positive and negative spaces. I like to think of gardens as living sculptures

Sunday, June 29, 2008

June 29, 2008


photograph by Sharon Lee taken in Scotia Range, Pennsylvania

Okay so once again today I will try to share my "artistic observations" which were taken from me two times yesterday by two separate computer problems. Today I downloaded Marsedit-hopefully that will avoid the problem of yesterday's lost post.

Yesterday I made the 2-1/2 hour drive to Pittsburgh from rural Pennsylvania where I live to drop off two paintings for the AAP annual group show juried screening. I have lived several places including the suburbs of New York City and Pittsburgh but since most days today are spent in the land of farms and woods I treat trips anywhere with a fresh view that you sometimes lose after living in a place a while.

My first stop in Pittsburgh was Wilkinsburg, a predominate black neighborhood on the Eastern edge of Pittsburgh. Although there are more than several windows boarded up, Wilkinsburg has not lost it's energy. There's a wonderful neighborhood feel there that I have not noticed as much in the other areas of Pittsburgh. Men, women and children are all gathered outside in the shopping district, meeting and greeting. After dropping off the paintings I headed to East Liberty where I had a balanced vegan meal at Abay an Ethiopian restaurant. After a plate of Ye' Abesha Gomen, Tikil Gomen, Butecha and Shiro Wat served on a large piece of Injera I headed across the street to Whole Foods a groovy, market with many organic and vegan options. The staff at Whole Foods is particularly cute and friendly and it makes shopping there a pleasurable experience.

My last stop was in Squirrel Hill. If you are not familiar with Pittsburgh I think of Squirrel Hill as the "garden" district with many, many beautiful old and new trees, great landscaping and lots of flowers. The business section of S.H. is thriving, catering to a diverse population. At a light I was tickled to see two pre-teen boys dressed in traditional Jewish Orthodox clothing jabbing each other while they stood waiting for a bus. The contrast of the seriousness of their clothing combined with the silliness of their actions put a smile on my face.

Since I was in Squirrel Hill per request of my daughter who wanted some Gluten Free sandwich bread from the Gluten-Free & Dairy Free bakery there. Gluuteny is a charming small bakery with Gluten and Dairy free cookies, brownies, cupcakes and breads. The bread slinger beyond the counter was a interesting mix of 90s punk with today's style and the beginning of a breast plate tattoo (I believe it was a heart but felt it rude to stare at her breasts too long to verify.

Next week when I go back to Pittsburgh to pick up my paintings after the screening I may get the opportunity to stay overnight. If I do I will try my best to get some descriptive Pittsburgh photos taken.

Peace always
Sharon

Saturday, June 28, 2008

June 28, 2008


Photo by Sharon Lee

Sorry guys I lost twice (thanks to Safari program) my post for the day. I don't have the energy to write one a third time. Will do better by you all tomorrow.

Friday, June 27, 2008

June 27, 2008


Photo by Sharon Lee taken on Walnut Street, Pittsburgh, PA

I am a member of several art groups, one being the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh. To qualify you must live within 150 miles of Pittsburgh and pass a group screening. Because I live at the perimeter of that 150 miles (128), I don't often have opportunity to participate in group activities, the exception their annual juried group show usually hung at either the Carnegie or Andy Warhol Museums.

Associated Artists have a live screening, that is you bring your 2 pieces of art to a very large building (an armory or a train depot I haven't figured it out yet-now used as a church, community center, catering hall) along with the 450+ members that also want to be in the annual show. It is amazing to walk through hundreds of pieces of which only a small amount will make the final cut into the show. The show is juried by one person. This fact, to me the artist, is important to remember if one or both pieces don't make the cut into the show. Generally if a juror is an artist I have a high success rate of getting into a show. Curators generally don't chose my pieces and educators can go either way. This year's juror is an educator.

Tomorrow I will drive the 2-1/2 hour ride to Pittsburgh, drop off my pieces, stop at Whole Foods, Borders and eat Ethiopian food for lunch then return home late afternoon.

Last day for this Ebay auction! If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

June 26, 2008


Today I can not think of a single creative thought or idea I had that would be blog worthy to share. I am waiting for some money to come in to buy 3 more sets of stretchers (from Upper Canada Stretchers) so I don't have a painting to work on. Instead I went to the woods, cleaned a bit, went food shopping, mailed some yoga props that I sold through Ebay, trimmed the out of control hedges in front of my house, planted beets and did 1-1/2 hours of yoga. Although it was not a bad day, with the exception of figuring out how to make a vegan-gluten free version of onion dip (for my daughter who was craving chips and dip), none of it was particularly creative or inspiring.

I don't usually have 100% creative free days when when they do come along it's like anything you let it absorb you while it's there and rejoice when you once again have the opportunity to create.

Tomorrow is the last day for this Ebay auction! If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

June 25, 2008


Today I had to pick up a piece "The Big Gulp" that was being framed in State College by one of the local frame shops. I had forgotten to consider its size when my daughter and I left for town in her Volkswagen Beetle. Beetles are not known for their versatility in transporting things and a 42" x 42" framed canvas was not going in easily. After some failed attempts at getting the painting in I decided we should take of the top and slide it in through the top. With an open roof the painting slid in but we could not close the top. We began to drive the 14 miles home. One traffic light later, the brown paper wrapper is tearing off and is making an extremely loud rustling noise. It is now necessary for me to drive holding down the paper so it doesn't rip off and fly out of the car. We drive about 1 mile more when I tell my daughter that she needs to pull over ASAP because I feel the $315 frame is bowing in the wind and sense it may break. Pulling over in a Korean restaurant-Dominos Pizza parking lot my daughter and I have some words (she was not happy at using her car as a UHaul in addition felt it could start raining at any moment) I move around the few miscellaneous things that were in the back seat (old Dell hard-drive, yoga mat and shiny black high heeled shoes), lean the painting forward onto the two front seats and viola the top was able to close. If you bend your head forward a bit and don't mind the looming canvas at your back the problem is solved-painting saved. Such the life of an artist (smile)

Only a few days left for this auction! If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

June 24, 2008


My Pants

If you met me in person you would have already wondered about my pants. Actually it is a collection of pants that I own that are covered with paint particularly the right leg. My art training is in Graphic Design. Although I have taken many art classes over the years at various Universities and schools I have never taken a painting class. Had I taken even the most basic class in painting I would have learned the "acceptable" way to clean a brush after I have used it to mix a new color. In fact most likely a brush should not be used at all to mix colors with but rather a palette knife or something of that nature. However not taking any painting classes my paint experience has been restricted to hands on learning with little guidance or useful professional tips of the trade.

So my pants become the brush rag. There is actually a rhythm to the mix, wipe, wash, wipe a second time, grab a drop or so of paint from the palette, paint, technique that I have developed. The paint wipe is an down-up-down. As I said in the beginning I have a collection of these pants. Any pair of pants that passes through my hands that are comfortable and sturdy become "work" pants which I wear when working on the house, gardening, cooking, sanding yoga blocks and/or painting.

If I have to run into town for a quick errand I often wear my painted work pants. At the grocery store small children stare. It's a great conversation starter for adults. Some people ask if my pants were purchased this way which always makes me laugh. It's fun carrying my palette around with me for one reason it matches the paint on my hands and arms.

Only a few days left for this auction! If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

Monday, June 23, 2008

June 23, 2008


For the past so many years I have been working on "name" recognition. It seems as though even in the fine arts world where boundaries are laughed at and broken, name recognition still determines the sale-ability of your work. I like to create art purely through inspiration but water and electricity have to be paid, food has to be bought and cars need to be maintain which all cost $$$$. If my priority in creating art is strictly one of inspiration how do I create the work I do (which is not your typical decorative art) and earn my keep?

The solution I came up with is to go back to school and learn some skills that are not typically taught to those of us who pursue learning our craft but not the business of earning a living at it. I made up a list of classes that I felt could hone my skills and make it possible to self promote my work. Since I live within 20 minutes of Penn State it seems the likely place for study. I met with an advisor for a session to determine how to take these classes with possible financial assistance. I came armed with my art resume and a list of what I want to learn more about. That list included creative, business and non-fiction writing, classes that someone pursuing a career as a curator would take, running and promoting business, public speaking, graphic computer skills and printmaking. It is strange to be considering going back to school but exciting at the same time.

If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

June 22, 2008


Photograph courtesy of Rick Brandt

As I guess with most artists, I draw my inspiration from other writers, visual artists, filmmakers and musicians. Since 1977 I have been lucky enough to be prevy to a musician who is constantly evolving, always pushing the envelope musically, spiritiually and artistically.

Today Todd Rundgren is celebrating his 60th birthday. Todd is a guitar player's guitarist. Most people know at least one of his songs without even knowing it. The Stadium song "Bang the Drum" (which I recently heard was a song about masturbation) is one of his most recognizable tunes. He has produced several Rock classic albums: Meatloaf's, Bat Out of Hell and Grand Funk Railroad's, We're an American Band, wrote music for cinema and television, was responsiple for creating the second ever viewed video played on MTV on it's inargural day, is a master musician, technician, stage performer and song writer.

To the man who gives me inspiration when I run out of steam Happy Birthday and may we all be fortunate enough to hear, see and feel more of the magic that you create. Happy Birthday Todd!

Sorry for the sales pitch but like everything life is expensive and there are always bills to be paid. If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

June 22, 2008



Photo by Sharon Lee

My daughter has decided she needs to visit her grandparents who live at the beach. For the next few days I will be away. Keep checking back.

Sometimes I just feel so afraid
But I know that no one else has it made
So if I just believe in myself
I wont need no help from nobody else and I can make it alone
And everything will be cool, I got to keep on keepin on
Theres nothing else I can do


Todd Rundgren


Sorry for the sales pitch but like everything life is expensive and there are always bills to be paid. If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

Peace Alway
Happy Birthday Todd Rundgren...thanks for all the great music

Sharon

June 21,2008


Photo by Sharon Lee

My daughter has decided she needs to visit her grandparents who live at the beach. For the next few days I will be away. Keep checking back.

The family - that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to. ~Dodie Smit


Sorry for the sales pitch but like everything life is expensive and there are always bills to be paid. If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

Peace Alway

Sharon

June 20, 2008


My daughter has decided she needs to visit her grandparents who live at the beach. For the next few days I will be away. Keep checking back.

I took this photo several winters ago behind one of the casinos in Atlantic City.

“Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it”
Confucius

Sorry for the sales pitch but like everything life is expensive and there are always bills to be paid. If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

Peace Alway

Sharon

June 19, 2008


My daughter has decided she needs to visit her grandparents who live at the beach. For the next few days I will be away. Keep checking back.

"A mountain is composed of tiny grains of earth. The ocean is made up of tiny drops of water. Even so, life is but an endless series of little details, actions, speeches, and thoughts. And the consequences whether good or bad of even the least of them are far-reaching."
Sivananda

Sorry for the sales pitch but like everything life is expensive and there are always bills to be paid. If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

June 17, 2008


In yesterday's blog I wrote a bit about artists using recyclable materials when creating pieces of art. Many of the typical recyclable materials are creating pieces that are 3 Dimensional (with the exception of photographs or prints of said pieces. But there are also ways to create 2 Dimensional pieces as well. Paper artists are always combining papers many use recycled papers already. Painters have been using wood, stone and masonite for many many years. In fact I once saw two of Frida Kahlo's pieces in the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington DC. I was surprised to find that both pieces were painted on masonite having incorrectly assumed that masonite was a modern building material. Since both paintings were done in the late 30s, I came home and started asking my "builder" friends about the origin of masonite. We were all surprised to find that masonitte had been created in 1924. After inspired by Ms. Kahlo's use of masonite I used a left-over scrap from reconstructing my house. This piece is called "Carnivale Cruise on the Cuyahoga" It was created in 2004. The materials are acrylic on recycled masonite which had to be primed with gesso before I could paint on it.

This piece was painted after I took a friend of mine (the reoccurring redhead) to the Cleveland Clinic for a detoxing procedure. The trip was a week long with lots of illness, vomiting and crying from my friend and my pathetic attempts at nursemaid. When we got home both our families were annoyed at been left to their own devises and decided we had taken a vacation-thus the title.

Sorry for the sales pitch but like everything life is expensive and there are always bills to be paid. If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, ""A Silver Titter Stole My Baby"" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

Monday, June 16, 2008

June 16, 2008


The recent issue (July/August 2008) of Art Calendar is focused on environmental issues. Like the rest of the world the art community is involved with sustainable art practices that have a positive impact on our planet whilst creating thought-provoking, beauty and wondrous art.

Today as I walked in the woods I reflected on "green" art. I will use the next few posts to write a bit about art and the environment

One of the thing artists can do (and have done in the past) is to use found objects in their work.

An Australian artist, John Dahlsen is a wonderful example of someone who is creating beauty from discarded object. Living on the Victorian coastline of Australian he uses found objects to create totems, landscapes and installations.

Frida Kahlo, Picasso, Louise Nevelson and Duchamp have all created amazing art from found objects.

In 1998 I painted "The Dishes Hadn't Been Done" on a metal tray that was rescued from the discard pile at a friends home. Using reclaimed materials lends itself to thinking outside the box. There is also an opportunity for more creativity as you have to work with an object already created not started from scratch.With the metal tray I had to contend with a round shape as well as the scallops along the edges. Although initially this is harder the art created can be more interesting than if you start with standard unused art paper, canvas, stretchers, etc.

Sorry for the sales pitch but like everything life is expensive and there are always bills to be paid. If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole my Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

June 15, 2008 Father's Day


Tonight I met my daughter and her dad at Quaker Steak and Lube for a Father's Day Dinner. Now if you were anticipating some sort of intersting art observation there is none. the food, menu and atmosphere was all uninspired. For a vegan the food choices were non exsistent. Nevertheless we had a good time reminiscing of the first Father's Day we celebated which would have been two months before my daughter was born. A celebration of the most co-creative thing I have done to date. Happy Father's Day Rick

Saturday, June 14, 2008

June 14, 2008


In 1998 I finished a piece called "The Menstruation Theater". I had been making puppet theaters for my daughter at the time (shadow, small figure and hand puppet theaters) and decided to make a larger scale theater for what some people have referred to as the "menstruating puppet". The puppet herself was made of all recycled materials including an old pair of linen pants that had stopped being wearable and some jewels from my Grandmother's costume jewelry collection. There are some areas on the puppet that were painted canvas (her nipples and eyes) The hair was purchased doll hair. The theatre itself was linen tablecloth wrapped around a cheap wooden microwave cart. There are four scenes on the bottom: physical challenge, menses maintenance, emotional turmoil and environmental impact. The shadow figures on the sides of the front were from an old school educational packet-I suppose cut-outs for a bulletin board-for anti-drug campaign which I embellished with acrylic paint. The theatre stands 30" x 52" x 18". It was my original intention that this piece would be viewed in a quiet room with empty chairs that people could come and view. It is a static exhibition. On my website there is a fictional story about the theatre and additional information. This piece is also included on the website: Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health

Sorry for the sales pitch but like everything life is expensive and there are always bills to be paid. If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

Friday, June 13, 2008

June 13, 2008


Tonight I attended the high school graduation of the son of a close friend. If you've ever attended a graduation I'm sure you'll nod your head in agreement that most of it is fairly boring and yawn inspiring. Finally one of the speakers graceiously used his speaking time to quote someone who was much more a wordsmith than the speaker at the podeum. The poem quoted was Success by Ralph Waldo Emerson. First thing I did when I came home (after I heated a cup of chai, fed the animals and poured myself a bowl of rice cereal was to look up the quote on the computer with the idea that it might be useful in the context of today's post. The first site I go to states that it has been inaccuratly attributed to R.W.E. and was possibbly penned by another poet, Bessie Stanley. Nevertheless it is a nice poem and I am reproducing it here in this post


To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.



I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole my Baby"" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.


Peace always

Sharon

Thursday, June 12, 2008

June 12, 2008



When I started out as an artist I studied graphic design with the intention of going into typography. I left Pratt Institute and moved to central Pennsylvania to continue studying graphic design at Penn State. The head of the graphic design department was a memorable teacher who made me question my passion for art and whether I could truly lead a creative lifestyle. (A few years ago I read a book by Chip Kidd called The Cheese Monkeys: A Novel In Two Semesters which was about this very teacher and art program) Years went by and I tried to stifle creativity. Then about 3 or 4 years later I decided to take a basic weaving class. After the first class was over I decided to study fibers learn to spin, took more classes at Yavapai College in Prescott, Arizona studying color, fibers, weaving patterns, etc.

It wasn't until my daughter entered kindergarten that I started to paint after being encouraged by a few neighbors and friends who wanted to start an art critique group. My first paintings were graphic stylized representations of animals with different patterns: lizards, chicken heads, frogs, fish, etc. The lines were all even and basically they were flat painted patterns.

As happens I was influenced by some of the other members in the art critique group. One woman Sue Matsui would painted these fun narratives in miniature with detailed plates of food, scenes from medieval stories and little slices of life. I started to see the potential of art as a more expressive medium. Graphic Design is all about form and function and the only meaning is that you need to buy an item or idea whereas painting has no such boundaries. My first "real" piece of art was done in 1998. I used acrylic paint and painted over a small broken metal toy that had been discarded by my daughter. I titled this piece "The Housewife".

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

June 11, 2008


No painting started although I have a general idea of which direction I want to take. My plan is to be secretive about this painting until I'm sure it's well on it's way as I sometimes change my mind mid painting and wouldn't want to restrict that instinct because I had publicly stated my painting's intention. However I always have a creative idea or two brewing books to write , magazines to publish, photographs, videos, sewing, knitting, gardening you name it and I'll figure out a way to introduce emotion, color and pattern into that activity or thing(s).

A friend and I are going on a two-hour drive with some of his buddies to drive in a 4 x 4 park. Please don't expect me to explain the thrill of driving through mud and terrifying hills for me driving is a most un-enjoyed chore and if I could and live close to a town I would ride my bicycle and gladly give up driving. However my friend's passion is for driving in conditions and in places that appear to be undriveable and this was a birthday gift from me to him. I am planning on visually documenting as much as I can both through a video and digital still camera and an additional mounted camera. I have no experience in taking these types of photos and/or videos-but I like the challenge and really like the opportunity to combine my search for aesthetics, beauty and patterns in something that doesn't on the surface appear to be what would normally be considered to have a potential subject matter for art.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

June 10, 2008


Photography by Sharon Lee
Construction work in Atlantic City 2004

Today was a non-art day. When I look back I'm not sure there was one creative thing I did except try to make a new recipe. I was trying for making burgers of TVP and veggies into something resembling a burger patty. It did not work and I was not fooled into thinking the pile of rubble on my plate was a patty.

There's a thunderstorm stuck in the mountain range I'm in so even though there is no rain now I hear thunder and will respectfully stay out of the woods until it possession opportunity for my daily walk with camera.

I spent more time managing trash and laundry, ignored the growing pile of dishes and trying to stay as cool as possible. I don't have ac at home (part ethics/part costs) but I do have 2 small fans that I can strategical aim at myself and my dog during the sweltering parts of the year.

I had hoped to at the very least take a photo of something new blooming in my garden but I spent a few hours getting little done weeding a bed that had a lovely blooming foxglove but was ravaged with weeds. Then there's the work that is very non artistic. I work as a part-time assistant to a web/video production company with a wide variety of jobs and responsibilities. Today I had to do some transcribing of two interviews to be use in a promo for a local University. As I was typing every "like", "um" and "er" and sentences that when you read don't always make sense. Out of the 50 minutes of transcription only 3 minutes is to be used.

And while I was having this very non-art day I was thinking how alike non-art things are to painting or creating.. When I paint most of the time I am looking at one small area that is in front of me. When the paint becomes to wet. to be workable I step back, scan the entire painting and move on to another small spot. Sometimes the art work is made of random thoughts that originally weren't the whole idea but are usable in telling the story I wish to tell. Somedays I spend moving paint around from one area to another to make it work not unlike managing laundry and trash and weeds. And in the midst of all the chaos you still see something that makes you interested enough to continue.

Peace Always

Sharon

Monday, June 9, 2008

June 9, 2008



Yesterday when I was doing early in the day gardening I noticed that some short poppies were coming up in a cluster of about 10. Sorry I have to go back a bit an explain my garden (and do not think it is anywhere near weeded as we have had 3 weeks of rain into many many days of exhaustive heat and humidity-but I digress) Most of my yard is part of one or another flower bed. There's the two beds at the front of the house under the maples and another small spot with all day strong sun. In the shady garden I had planted hostas of many varieties and planted them in a simple pattern, some old traditional orange day lilies. and a nice small leaf ivy which slowly climbs up the wood fence. But let's move on. As you go to the back of my yard you pass a work area of wood-firewood brush, etc under a giant maple tree-hardcore no real beauty to this section of my yard but:

1. It doesn't need to be mowed
2. I love to see piles of firewood-like money in the bank.

At the edge of the shade of the giant maple tree is the first bed I have in full sun and it's a basic the entrance bed for the garden In this bed goes the flowers I treat myself with I had a blue lupine there, a beautiful blue delphinium, striped green and yellow grasses, mint, primrose, ground sedum, comfrey, sweet woodruff and a delightful pink poppy. Last night when I looked I saw only the pods. This morning when I got up to look the pods were still attached to the flower (like a chick coming out of the egg shell) By afternoon the pods had already dropped to the ground and the flowers were fully opened. I took the attached photo this morning around 9:00 am.
Peace Always

Sharon

Sunday, June 8, 2008

June 8,2008


FInished!!! As with any painting there are areas that please me as well as some that do not. I struggled a bit with this painting as I had no real idea of what the outcome was to be, no real sketches to start from and found it hard to paint everyday whether in the mood or not. I hope you enjoy the finished product. After a few days of letting the paint dry (Normally this does not take long as I paint with acrylic but the humidity has been outrageous so I will allow a few extra days of drying. I will take it to be photographed. After it is photographed slides and a tiff file will be made so I can post on my web site and/or enter shows. I plan to bring this to the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh annual show screening in two weeks and may not have time to have it framed for the screening-normally for this screening I would but as it often does the date has snuck up on me and I don't have enough time to follow my usual protocol.

peace always
Sharon

Friday, June 6, 2008

June 6, 2008




Photos show regular view, view when finished today's session and close-up of heart.

The day I had decided it was best to put my dog down, I had been to the vet earlier in the day and she was describing the results of Jackson's chest x-ray to me. Jackson had diabetes with many complications including blindness. I had a hard time controlling his diabetes even with his twice daily shots of insulin, careful home made food and regular blood work. Diabetes is an insidious disease and eventually his body had given all it could and it was time for him to leave this earth. The X-rays showed several areas of cancer, the retention of lots of water and an extremely large heart. When I talked with my friend later in the day about his health she stated "Jackson died of a heart that grew too large!" If you had met my dog (and I would suspect many Vizslas) you'll know exactly what I this means.

But How does this tie into todays painting session. On the upper left behind on of the clouds I painted a stylized heart. I used a diagram from a Biology course on line and played with the lines until it became the shape(s) it is now. Sometimes when I paint I will actually be consciously thinking of the symbolization I am using sometimes things just appear (such as the lemon in the upper right side).

Thursday, June 5, 2008

June 5, 2008


A day or two ago I caught part of the movie Pollack with Ed Harris and Marcia Gay Harden. In one scene, Jackson Pollack has just broken through the restrictions of traditional painting and starting experimenting with dribbling, splashing, pouring, etc. In a classic New York accent Lee Krasner says something to the effect,"Ya finally done it Pollack and broken through to the other side." A total misquote but if you have seen the film you'll know which scene I am referring to. So last night in the classic Pollack style with a mood alterating atmosphere I become Pollack and broke the boundaries of painting by painting with my eyes closed not looking at either the palette of paint nor the canvas. This morning I anxiously approach my easel to see what I have done and how it translated since as I was doing this I believed it was pure genius. Fortunately paintings can always be corrected ad after a few hours of over-painting my experiment with breaking boundaries was eliminated and the painting is back on track.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

June 4, 2008


Today was a full day of rain and I had a mad idea that I could paint all day and finish this painting. Well I did paint most of the day but still no end in sight. I'm usually anxious at this stage as I start to get ideas for my next painting(s) and want to get started working on something new and fresh.


I wish I had something interesting to write but mentally I am drained so we will all have to settle for a picture being worth a thousand words (or at least a hundred or so)

Peace Always

Sharon

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

June 3, 2008



Well I'm finally feeling that the end of this painting is near. Not everyone of my paintings I love, in fact I'm usually satisfied with only one out of three which isn't bad but as a perfectionist This painting falls into the two out of three category. I would like it to be three out of three. As far as this painting goes I am mostly unfinished with the background and some areas around the words. Today was a good painting day although once again it was fabulously beautiful outside and I had to force myself not to stray outside too often. My dog Sophie gave me until about 3pm when it was time for our walk through the woods.

I have been taking my digital camera (Cannon G9) with me as much as possible and especially on my hikes in the woods. Today I tried to capture my dog leaping through a field of ferns. I didn't capture her mid air leaps but will keep trying. Pennsylvania's Mountain Laurel-the state flower is just opening up and there were lots of pink and white just opening flowers throughout the woods.

Even though time away from the easel may not seem like time spent painting it actually is research and inspiration and I find myself revived for my next painting session.

Monday, June 2, 2008

June 2, 2008


Alright you guys caught me again. No painting today. This is indeed the frustrating life of an artist. I would have liked to blame the weather as it was a most beautiful day and hours of gardening and hiking in the woods could have almost justified not painting. But no I have no lofty excuse. I went on a date with my almost 19 year old to a matinee to see Sex and the City. I'm not going to give away any plots (if they had any to give) and I won't give my opinion on its merit as entertainment. However my daughter rarely wants to socialize with mom except for out Wednesday night take out dinners (which used to be take out and movie watching but now has been shortened to meal and taking left overs with her to her next stop). So I went see a movie that is over and under my head on so many levels that I needed a 2 hour nap when I got home.

I did still have thoughts about yesterday's blog concerning the suffering that goes on in this world. I heard on the Angry Hippie blog that because of money making opportunities rice would be diverted from Cambodia which is send there as part of a relief effort, News stories abound about the horrors of Darfur,the Middle East, the animal industry, bigotry, sexism, racism, speciesism, and on and on. As an artist I want to include thoughts concerning these things. Some are offensive to see and/or think about. I once heard Eric Marcus (an animal activist) beg people to help causes whether it was animal, human or environment issues. When I first heard this I was discouraged as I didn't see myself as a person who could stand on the corner passing out leaflet showing the horrid of animal treatment (as in the case with vegan outreach). But I do have a creative talent and I can paint. So when you are looking at my piece although initially they may seem bright and cheery there may be an underlying message that a few viewers will get. And for those people who do get what I say I hope that you will also use your talents to improve a world that is much in need of improvement.

Peace always

Sharon

Sunday, June 1, 2008

June 1, 2008


Sorry to be such a wimp but I lost my post twice so far tonight. Here is the painting as it ended today. Will write much much more tomorrow

Peace Always

Sharon

May 31, 2008


photograph by Rick Brandt

Today was my daughter's first dance recital as a teacher and not a student. She had been taking classes a the same dance studio for most of her life and like all dancers considered the "senior-teacher" dance the pinnacle of success. Unfortunately my daughter dropped out of dance school in high school to attend a private high school that had a top tier dance program. Anyway low and behold she gets to dance in the "Senior/teacher" performance this year as she is now a part-time teacher at the very school she grew up in. I had to spend the morning getting 8 tires for my daughter's and my car, bring lunch so we could nosh and came back to town a third time (40 miles round trip) to watch her dance. Long day-no painting.

May 29, 2008



The painting sessions themselves are going much better although my time is so limited that it seems I just sit down, catch a groove and its time to move on. I think such is the life in central PA when the winter breaks and before we get the hot humid summer that causes every one to host a party, dance recital, dinner party, BBQ, etc. None the less I got some painting done. The two legs (barefoot) are god's feet. I decided to make him/her a female mostly because I liked the idea of cut-off shorts and painted toenails. One of the nails is not perfect-either chipped off or was bitten so even God appears to have a flaw.

From now on you will see two paintings one right side up and the second the view will be the direction it was left when I was done painting. Hope this isn't too confusing.

Peace always

Sharon