mARTa's Art

Woman with navy blue headdress
pastel on pastel paper approx 7.5x7 inches

We are on fire again in California.  About 2 hours ago we heard about another fire 15 miles from us in Corona, Ca.  We went out to pick up some printer ink and when we came out to the parking lot we already were faced with a massive plume of smoke.  It took us 10 minutes to drive home and this is the view from our neighborhood.  We came home running around the house closing windows and bringing in the dog.  This second photo is looking out from my studio window.  This is so sad and I'm feeling a bit too emotional.  My Rudy is a firefighter and I'm thankful he is home for the next few days.  

Dottie and I are both getting old. She is back to being an indoor dog for the winter. I worry about her old bones and since she is now on medication for arthritis; cuddled up at my feet is good for the two of us.

5.5x 7.5 inches
gouache on 140lb cp watercolor paper

I have a collection of sewing machine (over 12). This one belonged to my sister-in-law when she was a little girl. My Amy played with this also when it was handed down to her. It now sits on a shelf in the studio.

11x14 inch arches cold press watercolor block.
This is a study for an oil painting I'd like to do of this Guatemalan apple lady.

vine charcoal in Raffine sketchbook. Study for a future painting.

Image from a photo from my trip to Guatemala

after 1845 painting by Henry Brintnell Bounetheau


"Americans like any other people inscribe their histories, beliefs, attitudes, desires and dreams in the images they make."

Robert Hughes, Art Critic

 

Completed master study of Madame Matisse by Henri Matisse 1907.

oil on canvas 31x 40 inches

I felt an intimacy with this painting. I can't express how much elation I felt as I painted her. I left her eyes and lips for the end; and then when I added them she came alive for me. I haven't felt this way before about a painting. I can't wait to begin a new painting with my own subject.

She will be placed in the truck in the next hour and off to the college for tomorrow's critic.

Perspective painting assignment. Our objective was to paint the shapes using value, hue, and intensity to make the space believable. We were to be in control at all times. I think I learned what I was supposed to here. I'm calling this done other than I still want to paint in a string or line holding up the yellow box flap.

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

I've been happily painting this week; working on the perspective exercise and starting the master study.  I haven't had much time for anything else, like studying my french lessons or blogging!  I am so in love with the oil painting!  I love it's texture; thick and rich or smooth and buttery.  I  love how I can manipulate it at my whim!  For the Madras painting I've chosen to lay it on thick with marked brush strokes.  I like how up close you can see the globs of paint but as I stand back from it, it looks smooth and glowing.  I do hope it turns out nice and I can hang her up in the house.