So many to finish! Not even sure what to do with the tumbling creek up above – needs a bit more, buuuuut not much!
And then there are these landscapes in various stages of unrest! One thing is certain – I will NEVER have nothing to do!
Been neglecting posting and that’s bad!! My excuse is that I’m a bit preoccupied – lots happening in the studio. Am STILL working on ants, but am also back on landscapes too. Here are a few I’ve picked up again – trying to finish ’em.
MUCH MORE show-n-tell coming!
I’m aching to move on – never intended to mess with these little bums for so long.
Thought I was kinda struggling in the studio this month, but I guess I’m wrong – when I sorted out the stack, I had 26 more Ants Misbehavin’ to snapshot of this morning!!! And all of ’em done this month – it’s only the 11th!!!
Am in shock.
At some point – possibly today – I’ll finish my 150th ant! Geez. I’ve done sooooooo many of ’em that these two (from about 5 weeks ago) feel ancient!
I’m very fond of the one below – which is more of a symbol that captures the essence of ant, even to missing some legs. It’s a tough living!
I slammed water and ink down on a clean sheet of paper, transfer-rubbed it onto another and !!!!!! – instant, complete, wonderful picture! I was shocked.
And below, is a very curious one – also powerfully graphic but with some lovely, quiet little things happening too. My studio snapshot does it no justice. I had better get going on a new round of scanning!
Wow, I really like the one above, buuuuuut I also don’t like it, if you know what I mean. Think that means I’ve nailed it!
Below is a much sillier ant – perhaps playing peek-a-boo? Not sure what that’s all about, but I’ve included him as a sort of antidote for the yucks you might have gotten from the top one!
So, my sis says I’m not in love with ants so much as the marks I’m making them with. Smart girl! And it looks like I still have more to paint yet, because they’re getting weirder and I like that too!
WELCOME TO A NEW YEAR OF POSTING!
As we begin planning another trip to Norway this August, I’m thinking of the fjord where my Sweetie was born. This is a picture I did of it two visits ago – painted on the dining room table in the little cottage where I stayed.
Do you see that little white vertical line at lower left? It’s the glint of the waterfall on the far side of the fjord! Here’s a closer look:
These are our email seasons greetings cards from 2016 & 2015. I like them – and thought you might like seeing them again!
Just simple mark making – but with a brush even more lively than usual! Keeping that going clear through a picture is pretty darned tough, because you have to exercise some control, yet let things also go a little wild. Strange paradox.
Apparently it’s pretty easy for killer ants to end up looking like T-Rex’s kids!
This was our holiday card from last year – cool, right? The image was digitally collaged from a few of my Sweetie’s childhood drawings, which I then color altered and messed with quite a bit.
Below is a picture I made of a little wren. It was a Christmas present for Reidun some years ago. It’s time to figure out what I’m going to paint for her this year!
The wind is whistling outside and it seems like Spring is truly a long ways off. So, I’m revisiting some of my flower pictures this morning! The first one is a favorite.
CLICK ON EACH IMAGE TO ENLARGE – IT’S REALLY WORTH IT!
Been looking at some of my landscape paintings from the last round, prepping my brain and sensibilities for my next push, which will begin right after the new year. Am seeing things I want to work on or try for. Don’t usually think this much before leaping. I think it’s a good thing this time!
Below is another unfinished version of the view above, which is of Viking burial mounds in the Norwegian valley where my Sweetie was born. Now some of my advisory board are telling me not to touch it. Hmmmmm — – well maybe they’re right and it should just be what it is?
And here are more Norwegian views – – – that land has such incredible drama in it!
I’ve done almost 100 ant pictures – will probably keep at it for a few more still! And then there are a whole lot of butterfly wings that I should put bodies on, and another stack of unfinished Norwegian landscapes too. I have plenty underway to usher me into the new year!
I must get back to landscape painting soon! Starting to really miss it.
The picture above is the same view as that on our digital greeting card (but before snow started falling). Although the card’s image appears continuous, it was really done on two sheets, just like this one. Both may eventually be bound into a picture album – hence the brown backing sheet, which is visible here, at the edges and centerfold.
This year, it’s my work on our digital card – a view high in the mountains of western Norway. A quiet snow storm, and every reason to tuck in and stay snug! I hope ya’ll do just that.
Been on a HUGE roll lately! Have finished almost 100 pictures (mostly ants) since the beginning of November. Is it any wonder I sometimes feel as tired as the little fellow above?!?
If you’ll forgive my just so-so studio snapshots, here are a few more – good scans will come along eventually:
These two are from my Wednesday session – which was a pretty nutso round! The one above led to the one below – and get this: I’m just using India ink right from the bottle. But between all the washing, pressing and messing, I’m getting incredible tone, temperature and texture shifts! I’m not exactly sure how some of it even happened, but I wanna get back there today. Let’s see if I can!
THESE ARE REALLY WORTH SEEING BIG – CLICK ON ‘EM!
