Twisted Strands . . . In progress

 "Twisted Strands" (left) in progress

"Bands" (right) completed

 

I've been working on a new painting, "Twisted Strands."  It's in the "hanging-on-the-wall-so-I-can-ponder-my-next-step" phase.  Yesterday, I hung it next to "Bands"and I taped some waxed paper to it to get a sense of what a semi-transparent foggy rectangle would look like as a compositional element.  Today, I plan  to paint the rectangle, and to truly commit to laying some color down on the twisted strands.  

Cheers!

Inspiration

I like simple, graphic compositions and industrial imagery.  So I jumped at the chance to take some pics of a passing train recently, when my car was first in line at the tracks in Portland's waterfront warehouse district.  And yes, that's a woman on top of the building in the first photo. . . but it's only a mannequin.  :)

Portland is wrapped in ice-covered snow today.  I'm heading to my studio.  Good thing it's in the house!

Have a great week!

When Great Artists Come Together

I

                                         
Found this video via Earth eMag (via Sophie Munns).  Guess I've watched it at least five times.  And actually, I could listen to it on repeat all day long.  You really must watch the whole thing once (and then dance to it the second, third, fourth and fifth times!)  Jazz pianist, composer, and arranger Herbie Hancock brought together brilliant vocalists and musicians from around the world for The Imagine Project, which includes this fabulous cross-cultural arrangement of John Lennon's classic song.  I love watching the faces of the collaborators.  Of course, as one might guess, the artists' performances (and faces) are filled with passion, but there's also this sense of deep mutual respect, delight, and perhaps a bit of awe at what they are creating and experiencing together.  If ever there were an arrangement and performance of this song that left me feeling hopeful for the world, this studio session is it.  So wonderful to know that Herbie was selected as a Kennedy Center Honoree this past September for his significant contribution to American culture.

Enjoy, and for goodness sake, share this wonderfulness!

(P.S.-- If the above video doesn't stream correctly for you, here's the link to watch the video on YouTube. (Or you should be able to click on the YouTube button above.)  And apologies, this is the first time I've tried to add a video to my blog.)

Speed Painting #5

Sketchbook Speed Painting # 5 - Acrylic

Hello everyone!  I've been rather absent from here lately,  but I've been making the rounds of the blogosphere on a daily basis.  The creative energy on display from around the globe is so stimulating and inspiring.  It keeps me in a perpetual state that reminds me of horses behind the starting gates, or runners on their marks, or . . . the beagle we once had, as he waited (not so patiently) just inside the door while we frantically scrambled to put his leash on.  It all boils down to pent up creative energy waiting to be released.  If you're like me, trying to squeeze your artistic pursuits in between a full time job and the rest of life's demands, you can probably relate. :)   Anyway, aside from not having created much art, I've been very busy around here, and am getting close to a point where I will be able to devote more time to painting.  A little more on that later; for now, here is the fifth speed painting from my sketchbook.  Speed paintings, after all, don't take much time. :)

The weekend is here!  Hooray!

New Paintings by Catherine Freshley

Montana 
24" x 48" on gallery-wrapped canvas
  

Spring Storm on the Palouse 

30" x 30" on gallery-wrapped canvas

Clouds Over the Columbia 

24" x 24" on boxed birch panel

I've been more than a little preoccupied the past couple of months, planning for and now in the midst of a small remodeling project that has impacted several areas of our house in successive stages.  We currently have all of the furnishings from our living/dining/kitchen areas crammed into other areas of the house while our hardwood floors are being refinished.  The stove is not operational, the refrigerator is not in the kitchen, the dishwasher is taped shut, the kitchen cabinets are taped shut and covered with plastic, and wispy sheaths of plastic drape the doorways between rooms. There is a foggy quality of light in these rooms, and with everything out of them, it is only too apparent that they are in much need of fresh paint and that this would be an opportune time to address the situation.  Except that. . . . it is December 10th and guess who would be doing the painting?  Hmm. . . Do people really take on these types of projects so close to the holidays? Needless to say, my art practice (and blogging) came to a screeching halt.  

Meanwhile, my daughter Catherine, has been very busy at her easel, preparing for her current show at South Perry Pizza in Spokane.  If you're in the vicinity, stop in to take a peek at these works and Catherine's other paintings, and while you're there, do partake of some of South Perry's artisan pizza.  The show's up through December 18th.

Cheers!

Warm-ups

 Speed Painting #4 

(sketchbook)

 11x17

I've had some ideas floating around in my head about painting over stripes.  I need to begin some new canvases for a show, so I turned to my sketchbook to explore the stripe idea in a speed painting.  I'm glad I did -- I learned a thing or two.  I gessoed the pages first, blew them dry, and jumped right in by quickly painting one bright stripe after another. And then . . .  I painted over them.  

At the end of these speed painting sessions, I'm done.  That's it.  It is what it is.  Time to move on.

We had the nicest groups of trick-or-treaters.  

Happy Halloween and thanks for visiting!

Autumn

 

 Did you remember with anticipation the smell of autumn?

the colors, yes,

but the smell of leaf fall?

no?

nor did I

 no matter,

now, we relish it

Blueberry

Hand painted

Acrylic on cotton

6" x 8"

(older piece)

All in all, it's been a great weekend.  Spent some time becoming familiar with textile guru India Flint's book, Eco Colour.  Spent some time yesterday with artist friends, LeBrie Rich and Joan McGuire, testing fabric swatches in conventional dye baths. Back at the house, I rolled up some eco leaf bundles per the instructions in India's book and steam-tested them for dye effectiveness. Today, I over-dyed some of Saturday's test swatches in mashed blueberries, and also took the paintbrush to the pulp (some of which is still adhered to the linen in the first photo). To top the weekend off, I went to see an awesome retrospective exhibit of Portlander Stephen Hayes' prints and paintings and was truly inspired. Indeed, it was a great weekend!

The rains have arrived and the wild(?) bunny continues to visit.

Have a wonderful week!