Summer in Texas, is a good time to stay in and paint!  As a Michigander, the winter often trimmed our sails and we got projects done, here it's the summer!  As you may have noticed on Facebook, I have been updating my Artist page and now back to my web page!  Meanwhile, two new paintings are in progress.  As each layer dries, I take a moment to catch up on photographing artworks or organization....not my best suit!  However, I keep working on it!!

The day always begins with coffee, a bit of caffeine to get the motor running, and feed the furry ones.  Off we are into nature, regardless of the temps.  Of course this time of year, the earlier the better.  I take that time to reflect and contemplate the works that I have going.  I really enjoy being out in nature, especially with a bit of breeze...

Then the dogs come home to relax while I get to the studio.  It is in my house, so it's busy day and night.  Right now a small group show at the Jung Center in Houston, September 2017, is also getting attention!  I am sorting and making sure that all paintings are ready to hang.  The opening is September 9th, but we deliver our art on August 31st.  

May already! I continue to paint, but have found that some challenges are better met with digital imaging, there is an intellectual challenge to combing photos, while creating an interesting composition that will bring the viewer in. As with my paintings, I like some structure such as bridges to unite ideas. I have posted some of my digital works, linking them to the digital image on the home page. More will come soon.

Christmas time is here, presents are bought or made...  I do need to do some wrapping, but really want to create!
My potter's wheel was broken, the belts disintegrated into many pieces, just before my kids were coming to use it with me.... I was sure that I could put the new belts on, but it was much too hard!  The Ceramic Store to the rescue!  I drove the wheel into Houston and their repair man got it all together.  Now it's ready for me to throw some pots.  I enjoy many forms of art and this is one of them.  While the grand daughters were here, they hand built some pieces.  They turned out really nice!  I need to fire them, so I may as well make some of my own to fill up the kiln!  

In the indoor studio, I have been working on an oil painting.  I usually work in acrylics, but wanted to explore oils again.  In college, one had to master oils before they could use acrylics...  I like the way the oils blend and the luminous nature, but the drying time was always an issue.  I've bought Galkyd, which is a fast drying medium, this time of year I am busy enough that I am not hanging over the paintings, anxious for them to dry, so it's fun to experiment!  Also, I saw the Dorothy Hook show in Corpus Christi.  Her works were all in oils, and I loved them!  So, with a little inspiration, I am going to have something to share with you in January!!

I am in a show at Hubbell & Hudson Kitchen, the GOLD Show, see the flyer below.  The piece on the top, second from the left is mine: "Traversing the Golden Forest."  The opening was Monday and the show is up until January 12, 2017, when it will go on to St. Luke's Hospital in The Woodlands, I hope that you can get by to see it!

​Sue

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Have Art, Will Travel!!
The trip to Michigan was fun, the show looked great and the visitors were wonderful!  Here's a few pics from the show in Port Huron, Michigan: Natural Forces.  

Since I have returned, I have been trying to catch up on the many things that I put aside while preparing for the show.  I am now painting again.  It has taken a while to get to that point.  I'll post the one that I'm working on very soon.  The weather is cooling, that always energizes me!!

I keep a portfolio with photos of my works.  I remember the days when I would carry a large flat case of paintings, photos etc.  Today it's a binder with lots of photos of my works.  Many of my works are too big to carry around and those that are smaller are still 2" thick, so it's hard to put many in a bag and go.  Instead I carry the binder and CD's of my work.  Today my project, beyond some painting, is to print pages of my more recent works.  I hope to receive more photo paper today, but I will print as many as I can.  I need 2 portfolios ready, one for myself to have in case I find an interested client or gallery and one to leave with Studio 1219 in case people want to see more of my works and order them.  Of course, my website is an online gallery too.  It's a sunny day here in the Houston area, a bit hot though.  I hope your day is beautiful!

I have often thought it would be great to have a show in my home state of Michigan and the time is almost here.  Last year while visiting Michigan, I went to Port Huron to visit my cousin, Judith Price Green and luckily, her sister Kathy was there too!  I had only driven through Port Huron before to get to Canada and on to Rochester, NY to visit my husband's family.  Port Huron is a nice city, on the water.  I stayed at the double tree that over looks the Blue Water Bridge that crosses to Canada.  It was a beautiful place to walk.  We toured the area, had lunch at the Raven, where tables are named after classic authors.  It's very cool!  Then we went on to Judith's favorite gallery...Studio 1219.  I liked it!  So I talked with the director about a show and carrying my work.  Everything has come together beautifully!  I can't wait for the opening on the 12th of August!  

This week is mainly tying up loose ends.  Today I am working on my portfolio, so I can leave a copy there and have an identical one with me.  I am experimenting with some smaller paintings, getting my photography done of all the new works, catching up my inventory, touching up edges, spraying them with a protective varnish and wrapping paintings for travel.  Then we will have fun packing the van!!

The house and the dogs will be well taken care of as I drive north with my cousin, Kathy Lenk and a van full of paintings!  Some are already there, but I am taking an additional 15-20.  That's why we have a van!  There's is room for lots of paintings!!  I hope that some of you that read the blog will come to the opening and let me know that you are reading it!   We are going to do another one, Cousins on the Road!!  It should be funny!  

I have paintings all over the house, which ones get to go to Michigan?...
I have finished 2 new paintings and am working on a third.  Meanwhile I have 2 that are being gessoed to be worked on.  What doesn't head north will be available for the shows and galleries here.
We just found out that 3 of us have a show at the Jung Center in Houston in September of 2017.  It will be titled "On the Edge of a Dream".  The artists are myself, Rosanne Hudson and Michelle O'Michael.  It's a good group of artists!

On the third, I promised a photo of my new painting yesterday.  It was the 4th and I was busy, so here's 2 new paintings to make up for that!
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Golden Dreams, 30 x 24, acrylic on canvas
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Hidden Treasures, 30 x 24, acrylic on canvas

I have been working on more paintings to take to Michigan for my "Natural Forces"show in Port Huron at Studio 1219.  Also, I have been choosing what will look best, considering the size of the space, light etc.  I then researched how to ship some of the paintings home.  It is an effort, getting the right size containers, padding and running it by the gallery to be sure that they can do the preps on the other end.  Then contacting the shipper at the other end, I find that I am running a few days early...  They only schedule a month ahead.  Oh well, I have it pretty well organized now.  

I will drive many of the works up, although some are already hanging in Michigan.  We need at least 15 more.  It's always good to take more than less.  That way, we have some to play with if we don't like the light etc.  Putting an art exhibition together is like creating another work of art and the elements are each piece of art rather than the shapes, colors and lines of one work.  It's exciting and challenging.

 Tomorrow I will photograph another piece that I have been working on and share it with you.  Happy 4th of July weekend all!

It always takes a couple of days of passing by it to be sure...
Then on to another!
Enjoy the strawberry moon tonight!

​This is 40 x 30, acrylic on canvas

"Life Changes", continues to do so!!  After the layers from yesterday dried, this is what I have.  The face is pretty much gone.  I do strive to keep it as abstract as possible.  Someone always sees something in it, but that's okay, as long as it's not distracting to the painting..  The face not only distracted me, but it was looking out, away from the painting, which would make the viewer's eye travel off the canvas.  I have managed to give myself another problem, the new line is awfully strong and is chopping up the canvas.  So I layered on more paint this morning.  I'm still waiting for it to dry.  This pouring is a lengthy process with so many translucent layers!

I'm looking for the composition to have some push and pull.  You should be able to delve into the painting, have somewhere to travel in and also, things of interest to carry you back out.  Your eye needs to travel the canvas and not get stuck anywhere.  These are just a few of the things that I am striving for as I work on my paintings.  Colors of course add a certain personality that conveys a feeling of emotion or peace.  The angles at which the shapes come together gives a surface tension that can make it vibrate or soothe the troubled soul.

Today I am also looking at transportation of paintings to and from their destinations.   Boxes, padding, all the essentials must be ordered and ready to go.  There is a lot to pulling a show together.  Currently I have a dozen paintings that work well together, but a couple hundred that are still possibilities! There is an old saying, the first 300 paintings are just practice!!  Maybe it all is practice as we constantly strive to improve.  In art, I tend to be a perfectionist!  Happy Tuesday all!