Weekend Painting – Week of January 15, 2010

Sometimes I don’t feel like standing in front of an empty canvas or a canvas at all. This weekend, I felt like drawing. So, I started with the usual black and white ink drawings. It was fun – but I wanted to use a dash of color.

It became more than a dash. These drawings are 3 x 3 in size. I drew about fifteen, and colored these six. I love the smaller pieces. I just recently gotten comfortable adding so much detail to smaller drawings. So much can fit in such a small space. For these drawings I used Prisma Pencils and Prisma Markers as well as Crayola Crayons.

Back to basics. I feel that I can create one of these a day. I know, just like everything else, I will tire of these, but until then….

Weekend Painting – September 26, 2009

So, I completed last weekend’s paintings and got pretty far on one painting I started last week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I wanted to use a color scheme that was based on the cool spectrum of color (blue, green, green-based yellow). I favor and love warm, vibrant, colors, which you can see from brevious works, but I want to  feel comfortable with all colors. Here is my attempt. I have a couple more weekends of work before this one is complete. The goal lis a series of ten. I am having fun with this.

My sister saw this and the another paintings from last week and said they look like cartoons. She may be right. The outlines and the shapes do have an animation/graffiti art feel. That is probably because I am an animation  and a graffiti art fan. I also thought about the profoundness, or the lack their of when it came to my creations. What do they mean to me now?

When I started this path seven or eight years ago, I was trying to get in-tuned with my feminine side. I was lost in gender space. Now, I more stable in my womanhood and maybe the colors I use are a testimony to it.

They may look like cartoons, but that doesn’t mean that they are not serious.

I am still working on a new line of art that is different in scope and subject than these. It is going to take me a while to develop. My impatience that I once thought was in check is rearing its ugly head since I started this process. Meditation is key. I cannot wait (impatience – told ya) to share it with you all.

I hope to get back to some posters next weekend, so until then!

Making up for lost time – This Weekend’s Paintings

Technically, these aren’t weekend paintings. They were done in the middle of the week, but whose keeping up. Over the holiday, a friend purchased a canvas for me. It was rectangle in shape. I had been in a “square canvas” mood for months, but this canvas spoke to me. Maybe because it was an oddity at this point in my painting journey OR maybe because it was free.

Regardless. Here is the latest:

I still have a few things I would like to do with the painting before I call it complete. What I like most is the use of color. This painting is bold in color, but more rich and less vibrant than what I have been developing lately. It reminds me more of what I use to do in Detroit. Maybe because Detroit and family have been on my mind this painting manifested.

I also did a collage painting on a wood slate this week. I hadn’t done one of these since I left Detroit as well.

This piece consist of drawings that I printed at different sizes and collaged together to create an interesting composition. It is always interesting to see what happens when you take four or five drawings and collide them together. There are a few more steps to take on this one as well before it is complete. I think word art would make this a better piece.

Doing this collage has made me want to do another one. Hopefully this weekend will be as creative as the week.

Short Term Goal

I didn’t write last week. It was a great weekend full of so much activity that I didn’t get to paint. I also was in the beginning stages of an ear infection. It happens to the best of us. I am still not 100%, but I have a goal to achieve in the next week, so I have to get going.

THE GOAL?

I made an agreement with myself at the beginning of 2009, that I would begin to sell my illustrations by the end of March 2009. I am keeping my word. I am very excited by it. It is a first step for me. The first step where  I share my art and give it capatalistic value. An artist is an artist regardless if they sell their art or not, but in order to make a living as an artist, you have to sell your work. A fact. 

I’m starting this venture online (www.esty.com). It is the easiest place to get started and to create a presence. There are so many other things I must do to make a solid living as an artist and I am more than willing to do the work.

Thoughts roll through my head about the economy and blah blah blah. What I can say to those thought is that happiness and passion cannot be contained or held by a bad economy unless we want it to be. Just like that, those logical thoughts are smashed with optimism and positive thinking.

Here is a photo of one of the pieces I will be selling. Wish me luck and I will keep you posted. 

Until Next Week (unless I get another ear infection)!

 

DMJ Portrait Project – JOIN!

This week I did not paint, again. I am writing art new art bio and other nifty stuff  for art exhibitions. That takes time. Once complete this, I can get back to creating. I don’t want to talk about the exhibit opportunities. I will jinks myself. So on to other things.

I did get a chance to start a new community project. I hope that you  can particiapte. See the information below. Next week, for sure will be one where I can create. Both applications will be done and I do not foresee any big projects at work. It will be lovely. 

Until Next Weekend!

P.S. Don’t forget to visit my web site and see what other cool thing are happening

DMJ Portrait Project

DMJStudio is collecting cool and original portraits for an upcoming online exhibition: JOIN IN!!

 

 

 

 

 

How to Participate:

Create a portrait of yourself that embodies all the great things about YOU. Not just physical attributes like your beautiful eyes and lovely nose, but your great personality and other attributes. It doesn’t matter if you are new to the art world or if you are an artist extraordinaire, we want your participation. 

Send a scan of your portrait and the project questionnaire via email to:dmjstudio@msn.com

Have a Flickr account? You can also send a link via email to your portrait.

Type of Media

We prefer that the portraits are drawings done in your preferred medium (ink, pencil, paint, crayons, mixed media). Photography is accepted in mixed media format. 

SPECS for Images

When scanning and emailing your portraits, remember these simple items:

• Please make sure your image is in JPEG format
• Save the file at a resolution of at least 200 dpi and a physical size no smaller than 3 x 5
• In the email please provide:
  • Name
  • Your city and state
  • email address
  • Short description of your portrait (The description can be short or as creative as you want it to be.)

Deadline:

This is an ongoing project. To be considered for the “Monthly Featured Project Portraits”, artwork must be in by the 15th of each month.

2009 Online Exhibit of art will be available for viewing, December 1, 2009. Please return for the most up-to-date information on this item.

NOTE: Artwork may be used in other exhibits and in promotional materials for DMJStudio. By participating in this cool project, you are giving DMJStudio permission to use your art in these capacities.

Week of June 28 –

FINALLY!  Finally I can share the image of the painting that I have been working on the past two or three weeks. Here it is:

It’s 40 x 40 x 1.5 in size; acrylic paint. The subject is from a drawing I completed in 2005. What does it mean? I am not sure it means anything, but it is interesting. I will continue to search for the meaning behind what I create until I find it. The above is not the completed version of the painting. the batteries on my camera went kaput and so, I thought I share the most current photo I have available with the promise to share the final results.

This week has been bitter sweet for me in the art arena. I entered my artwork into a local contest and, as of 6 pm today, the deadline for notification, I did not hear back from the gallery. That means this time, my paintings were not chosen. That is ok. I kinda felt that they wouldn’t be. Not because of lack of talent on my part, but because of lack of preparation and, really tough competition.

When dropping off my paintings for review, I eyed the competition and saw some wonderful pieces. Even then I knew this was not the year for me.  I can’t wait until the show opens and see if any of the works I saw and admired made it.

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS:

I learned that I need to be better prepared for things like this. I found that I did not take care of some finishing touches that may have caused me this opportunity. Next time I will make sure all of the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed.

MOVING ON – ART HOUSE CO-OP:

I completed two of the community projects I’ve been working on. Take a look: http://www.arthousecoop.com/users/DonnaMJ.Sometimes as artist, we focus on one type of subject and get stuck there. Some people get great results from it, others, not so great. My participation with ArtHouse gives me an ok to move away from my usual subject and work with something different.

This week, I purchased three small canvases to do a series of paintings focus on the feet. I am not a feet person (if you notice none of my painting so far have feet). Stay tuned for that. I think it will be interesting.

UNTIL NEXT WEEKEND!

P.S. Happy B-Day Mom, Pops, Je’Taime and Rhonda.

Week of July 4, 2009 – Getting Bored with my Subject

This is my first time staying in Houston during the July 4th Holiday. I am glad I did, but I missed a few birthdays (My mother, my father, my niece and my older sister). We will celebrate when I get home next Friday.

I slept in today and didn’t leave my apartment ’til close to 10 am. When I got to the driver’s side of  my car, I saw that the door was open. I didn’t leave it open. Who left it open? The thief left it open. A disappointed thief. I don’t leave things in my car.

I have had my car stolen before and, since I lived in the good ole Museum District of Houston, I have had someone go through my car twice (not counting this time).

No damage was done to the car (the universe loves me, kinda). they didn’t even break the window to get in. The first two times this happen to me, I didn’t share it with my landlord. This time I did. Where I park, there is a wooden gate that is great cover for any thief. It is more frustrating than anything.

I have OnStar, an alarm… Thank God for great insurance. This is a good reason not to become attached to inanimate objects.  What does this have to do with art? Can’t explain my tangents every weekend – Life is art, this is life, so it is also art.

After that surprise, painting was a great distraction. It calmed me down as well. I painted a collage that I put together months and months ago. I also drew/sketched some new items this weekend which I am using for three small paintings. SIGH. I must share something about my painting. I am bored.  YES – I AM BORED WITH MY SUBJECT.

It happens to the best artist, I am sure. I know I will come back to my obscure and warped women at some point. I need a small break from them.

Since I will be in Detroit and Chicago next week, I thought I would take some photos and create some posters from the photos I collect. I haven’t designed in for ever and I need to. I feel the itch to do it.

Give me a couple of weeks and I will show you what comes out of my boredom.

Next week, I will start a new series of blogs: “Art for the Busy Artist.”  It’s perfect timing since I will be more than busy with classes,  a project at work and keeping up with my art goals.

I’m sure my tips will come in hand for others. BACK TO THE COLLAGE: It’s not complete (as you can see). I do plan on doing a series of these after my boredom is complete (see, I am optimistic that it will end). Soon, I will video myself doing my paintings – WOW!

Well, Happy Independence Day, America. Happy Birthday to family and can’t wait to see Detroit.

Until Next Weekend!

What is Important in My Life May Not be important in Yours.

It has been months since I painted or even written a blog entry. Once again, I let other things get in the way of art. The question becomes…why? Stability of the normal life. There are things that seem to, in a logical world, have more importance than others. For instance, the job is important. It allows you to sustain a particualr lifestyle. College is important. It allows you to advance yourself and make you a great addition to an organization, a family, what have you.

Creating is impotant, but its importance is not seen as a priority as job, family, college, blah, blah, blah. Yet, it is. I try to live by society standards of putting my all into my career and putting my all into to my studies and the end result is a tired, depressed and a little bit of a angry person that doesn’t paint, doesn’t draw, doesn’t live. 

So this isn’t a promise like last time to, no matter what, not to let life get in the way of painting and creating. This is a statement of understanding. That for me, life is creating. Studying and the career are less important.

I have not painted, but I wanted to share this video of one of my favorite journal artist.  She is a little eccentric – but – she is cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1U_DB4UFmk

Here’s a video on art journals. I thought it was a pretty good one as well

 

Until Next Weekend

Weekend Painting – September 7, 2009

This weekend, I worked on two 16 x 20 paintings. I do not usually paint this small.  I have a lot more work to do with both of these

 paintings. I am experimenting with color, taking a little more risk with bringing together warm and cooler palettes and looking at what the outcome would be.

I am also trying to bring more small details into the paintings to bring perspective (through layering objects) and to develop a style that is a lot closer to my drawings.

I haven’t learned yet how to control the brush they way I control the pen, but it is coming.

I hope to begin an art class at Art League Houston in a few weeks; taking my weekend painting into weekday. This may also mean purchasing more paint. I am a paint snob and only buy and use paints from Utrecht. I am looking forward to the art class and to picking new colors to experiment with. Next weekend, I hope to bring the finish products of these two paintings.

I know I usually have some story to go with my weekend painting entry. No story. Life is life and I appreciate that today it was all about creating.  Make sure you visit Utrecht Art Supply. They have a really good Fall Sale going on right now.

Until next weekend…

Weekend Painting – Week of January 2, 2010

I just returned from home. It was lovely to see family. It felt like such a long time. I did not paint this weekend, being away from my studio and my materials, but I did recommit myself to my painting.

This is a new year and with new years come new experiences that can be shared through art. So, next weekend will be my first weekend of the year that I will share my experiences through art.

THIS MONTHS GOALS:
I always have goals for the day, week and month, when it comes to my day job. I want to bring this habit into my art world. I have a couple of art goals this months.
1. Create five new packets and send them to local galleries.
2. Become more committed to my artist group.

Last year, this blog supported me in developing more art than I had in years. Now, I want to build a career with what I am creating. 2010, here I come.

Weekend Painting – Week of October 4

This weekend, I completed the following painting.

Excuse the blurry photo. I had to take these photos with my iphone. Great phone, not the greatest picture quality. I started two paintings this weekend.

I will work on these next week. I am enjoying this series. It has sparked some really fascinating ideas for me. One is to take one of my drawings and make copies of it; send it to other women and ask them to do an interpretation of it; color it in or use it to create a similar piece (in style and size). I will keep you posted on this project – if I decide to do this project.

I spoke to my mother over the weekend. She was amazed over a drawing that my niece completed. It was a drawing of a flower. When my niece shared it with her grand mother, she, my mother, responded by asking her where did she get your auntie’s (i.e. me) sketchbook. Basically, my mother thought that my niece’s drawing was one of mine. She realized it couldn’t have been my sketchbook because 1. I DO NOT LEAVE SKETCHBOOKS SITTING AROUND and B. The sketchbook that the drawn flower was in was one that my mother had purchased about a week ago for my niece.

“She can really draw!” I knew that at least one of my nieces or nephews would share their talent through visual art. I have been sharing school options with my niece. I hope she attends Detroit School of Art – a place that will nurture her talent and make it ok for her to pursue a career in something she loves.

Art is life and it will continue in my family, from me, to my niece and nephew (I have an eight year old nephew that is also artistically creative) and to their children.

Tuesday I start a art class at Art League Houston and the following Sunday is a first of many meetings with a group of women artist. I am looking for a successful collaboration from this experience.

Moving on. Until Next Weekend.

 

Weekend Painting – Week of September 18

A couple of weeks ago, I started these paintings:

I got back to these painintgs. I wanted to share my progress. Believe me, I still have some ways to go on these.

These are 16 x 20 in size. I love the vibrancy that I am achieving here.  I believe one more weekend and these should be complete.  I started a new painting and a drawing that I hope to develop into a painting. Here are photos of these items.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not sure where I am going with any of my art. I am just enjoying the process right now. I have started brainstorming and development of a new body of work. I hope to share the prelimnary drawings for that in the next two weeks. The rest of the  day is a school assignmnent and sketching. I also have some proposal to complete. I enjoyed creating this weekend.

Until Next Weekend!