MASA RICE PAPER-What's underneath

Hey Friends, Just a little random tidbit of interest - maybe. I scanned the above canvas which has Masa Rice Paper on it so you could see what the paper looks like before Painting on it. I had to make 2 scans and photomerge them in Photoshop. Too big for my scanner in one pass. Since it's too big the canvas doesn't lay flat on the glass and you wind up w/ that shadow on the left. Now maybe you've heard how much I hate Vista on this new computer, therefore I will not do any more experimenting until it's gone. Meaning, I won't take a crack at fixing that shadow.
The Masa paper has a wonderful batik-e look that I really enjoy painting on. You should get a sheet and PLAY! Daniel Smith Art Supplies sells it by the roll or sheets.
Also wanted you to see this paper before painting on it because I just finished a couple small paintings that started w/ this paper and I totally ruined them. The paper was wasted!!
I'll post them next time.
Happy Trails.

DESIGN STYLE GUIDE TREASURY

Hey Friends, I did it!!!! I goggled "how to make screen shot" and it gave me some directions for doing this in Vista. (I hate Vista) After doing screen shots about 7 times and saving in Paint, then cropping and rotating and photo-merging in Photoshop - the shot above is what I came up with. Whew. What a hassle. Still don't know how to get a full article in one screen shot. Kathy Reed, over at Design Style Guide, included my painting Monday Laundry in her treasury. I've had my paintings included in several treasuries but I've never been able to show you until now. Thank you, Kathy! Now I shall ask Google how to screen shot a full article and see if its do able in Vista.
Happy Trails.

FRIENDSHIP Original Painted Collage 6x6

Hey Friends, Hope you are having a Great Labor-Free Day! My work place closed early so I had the time to post this little girl on Etsy. I included a close up of the bottom edge so you could see the mini-dragonflies. It's just a thick layer of acrylic gel with the impressions of dragonfly and the actual DF embedded.
Have a wonderful week!
Happy Trails.

LA Series #3 Original Alla Prima Painting

Hey Friends, I just added this to my Etsy Shop. This is the third in the LA series. Soon I'll have to start an NR series!! After the handsome fella in the post below.

This is a close up of the model looking for stones to skip across the brook/creek/stream?

Happy Trails.

Sept.4,2009 NEW GRANDSON

Hey Friends, Big news of the Day/Year!!! NICOLAS IS HERE!!! He is healthy and beautiful. He weighed in at 8 and a half lbs. and 19"long. He seems to be a content baby also.

And here is his very Happy Sister. She couldn't wait for him to arrive so she could hold him!

Needless to say it's been an extra busy year for everyone. Now that Nicky is here and Jessi is home maybe things will quiet down for a while. I've got a small solo show coming up first of Oct. and I've got stuff to do!!!!

Happy Trails.

Original Painting of Raven-Details

Hey Friends, I think this post may turn out to be pretty funny. You know how you have a choice of putting your photos in the middle or on the left or right? Well, I've seen others put the image on the side and the verbage on the other side. Thought I'd give it a go. I clicked the left and you see what I got!! It's always a mystery how I do these things. I'll try to work around this.

Theimage above is just acrylic splattered with alcohol and then more acrylic layered on, transparent acrylic. And more alcohol. If the acrylic is somewhat dry, you get the tiny marks. Then in the corner I laid down a pink layer and swirled a comb through it.

The image on the left above is the limb the Raven is sitting on. Painted thinly or transparently. It has a watercolor look. The orange dots were placed with the brush handle. Obviously the other is the Raven's tail.

The images above are details of the beautiful birds features. The background was painted in blocks. Taped off, then paint was dripped and rolled with a brayer and alcohol, etc. in layers. I'm not doing so well with getting this verbage where I want it. HA! My daughter still needs to fix this thing. I'd love for it to be done before that Baby Boy arrives!!! Hint Hint!

I realize I didn't post the full image but I dare not go back and try to add something else. I'll just do that next time. It's more fun trying to put this puzzle together anyway.

Happy Trails.

RAVEN Original Painting Details

Hey Friends, I have a friend, Kelli, who lives in Alaska! She was curious about a couple of mypaintings, so I thought I would show her a few close ups. I thought maybe you would like to see also. This is a contemporary twist on the famous Raven. Ravens are so smart and good looking.

In this close up, you can see one section of the Real Gold Leaf and the Ravens tail feathers.

This close up shows a stamp I hand made from a sheet of foam. I like to make my own stamps.

Here is the famous nosy face.

This section just shows the effect you get by dragging things through the paint. Here I used a comb type thingy for decorating cakes! This style or technique is one of my very most favorite ways to create.

Tomorrow I will post another Raven, but right now I must get going to see my daughter in the hospital and take her some PB&J sandwiches.

Happy Trails!

HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS

Hey Friends, Just a quick note to tell you my youngest daughter has had a major relapse! She has been in the hospital since Aug.4th and needless to say we've been there too. Hopefully not many of youknow what a giant pain all this is. It is hard for doctors to figure out what the problem might be especially in the gastro tract.
Thanks to my friends for your encouraging comments and hope to have time soon to reply and maybe post another colorful painting.
Now I'm off to the hospital.
Happy Trails.

Expressionism or Impressionism?

Hey Friends, Got a new painting to show you. Actually this is only the top half (it's 24x8) cuz I don't yet know enough about Photoshop to correct the color difference where the two scans meet! I know, I shouldn't tell the world what a Dolt I am but as Popeye says " I yam what I yam." My newer ones are even more colorful. Going through a stage, which I've done before. I've been reading William Herring's book " A Horse of a different Color" for about the 12th time. Maybe that is why I'm going nuts with the color. He is an artist from Texas and this book is illustrated in black & white drawings so I'm not sure where the color fits in.
Happy Trails.

NEW DELL COMPUTER

Hey Friends, Good to be back! My computer died and I have a NEW Dell. Shiny black and Fast! I'm having trouble with this blogpost though. The pictures uploading fine but I can't click with the mouse to put that little blinky thing whereever I want to type! Exasparating.

This is a quik note to let you know I haven't died yet and what I've been doing besides painting (which I've done a lot of). The skys here in SW Va. have been gorgeous this summer and I've carried the camera around clicking as I drive!! The nighttime temps have been chilly too, good for sleeping but the tomatoes aren't happy. And of course following the little flying Angel around with the camera! She's a ham.

With the old computer, I could click between the photos and type, now I can't. And I always forget the photos upload in a backwards order.

Tomorrow I'll show some new paintings. My world has been pretty colorful!! hope yours has been too. Must be off to work.

Happy Trails.