It's not unusual...

...for me to occasionally dabble in landscape-type paintings when requested.

My Aunt Bonnie, like me, loves the sea (I'm certain it's a hereditary thing).  One of the main things she loves: Lighthouses.  Aunt Bonnie = Lighthouses...always has.  She asked me to make her a lighthouse picture a few weeks ago, so I did a watercolor sketch and sent it to her...and forgot to sign it.  She's a sweet stickler for things like that and demanded I make her another, SIGNED this time.  I did, except this time 'round, I used acrylics.

The idea of making tapestries has been really intriguing to me lately so I decided to experiment using canvas.  My intention is to slide a dowel rod through the top (replacing that nightmare thing I have in there right now) but keeping the idea of hemp twine wrapped around the edges and used as a way of hanging the painting (plus I think she'll like the rope look combined with the painting).  And, yes, it's signed! :)


{tags art, painting, acrylics, ocean, tapestry, canvas, twine, aunt, lighthouse, sea, seascape]

New body baby...

New body as in body of work.  I'm not sure where I'm going with it, but I have found that I'm very attracted to poppies. Symbolically they are of great interest to me - anything that is tied to dreams is bound to pique my interest (or obsession).  I've also noticed that the use of poppies seems to soften things up a bit for those that are turned off by my work.

I stayed with my Grandmother a lot when I was a little girl and among the variety of flowers she had (has) were poppies. They surrounded the base of 2 oak trees that I played on and around.  I loved the colors - bright bloody red, sometimes tinted orange and the petals seemed so vulnerable.  We sold fake poppies made by Veterans to support the American Legion. The fake poppy petals were more resilient than the real ones and I always wondered why poppies were chosen for that specific purpose.  I'm sure I knew I one time, but I can't think of it right now.

Knowing the different things poppies represent I was hesitant to use them in my work, considering the subject matter, but hopefully it will be taken as something positive, whatever the interpretation.  One constant running theme with me: I mean no harm.

[tags art, drawing, painting, watercolor, poppy, poppies, symbology, dreams, morpheus, veterans, childhood, memories]