Hey fellow color throwers,

Yesterday, I went to my second color class. This time I remembered to bring my water jars, paper towels and pencils. During the last half hour, the instructor critiques any work you bring in. I brought  my favorite NFS work, Sleep. He loved it! The man next to me wanted to know if it was painted in acrylics! I also brought in Beachy, the part acrylic, part seaweed work. He asked me to make the top sky smooth, leave all the rest and bring it in next week. I can do that!

Getting ready for my two gallery shows in May. Every picture had to be taken apart, looked at, photographed with our new high pixel camera,then put back in the newly cleaned frames. A real drag, but necessary for cataloging work to be going away to RI and Essex, CT

I am so greedy, I want to contact more galleries, but will I be able to supply more work? Art isn't like anything else, it can't be done unless the time is right, the heart and soul are ready.

Tomorrow, except for a few phone calls, I am free to work most of the day! I work so much better when I have free spaces of time. You'll see, as I will post all new pieces.

Live in the light,

Lisabeth

 

Hello fellow risk takers,

My husband and I talked about our family Easter egg hunts. At my house, there were two prizes, one for the most jelly beans, and one for the person who found the gold foil wrapped chocolate egg. My older brother usually won both because he was a bully.

At my husband's house in New London, New Hampshire, they hunted for plastic eggs filled with different amounts of money

I guess that's the difference between my Irish/Italian family and Wasps!

We had a good day. Larry, my husband has a new hi tech Dynovox V machine and keyboard that enables him to type in sentences and the words come out.

He's had it for about a week and I see a change in his attitude. Much more alive and involved with what is going on around him.

We had such a good day, that I found myself doing my homework for Color class tomorrow at 8:00pm. I felt like I was in high school! I remember those Sunday night scrambles. I just hope the paint dries overnight. I was really in to it, as it is totally different than anything I have ever done. Put a  piece of red celephane over a photograph, and draw thumbnails of it, first in pencil as two shapes, one black, one white, then add one more tone, then another, finally painting the picture in color as it is. I only had time to do one, so I may have to say "the dog ate the rest."

Find peace,

Lisabeth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Arts,

Today, I did battle with the wild rose bushes winding around the evergreens in our yard. I wasn't aware I had so many aggressions to get rid of.

At times, I was held prisoner by branches of thorns stuck  in my hair, my pants, my jacket. When it comes to that kind of gardening, I turn into an animal. Tonight, I have the cuts and slashes to prove it.

Since this yard is new to us, I planted as many bulbs as I could, but it's great to see some surprises popping up, that were planted by previous renters.

I was exhausted after an hour, so I returned to making a picture and price list for the Rhode Island gallery owner to select from. I kept my favorites for the local Essex gallery because I will be there more, and my clients and friends can see my work. 

I am back to pure seaweed, as it goes together so well for me.

I intend to paint in my spare time (If I can find any) I love acrylics, and sometimes watercolors. I haven't tried oil painting yet. It seems difficult and smelly and permanently messy, although I see knockout oil paintings everywhere.

I have to do my color class homework for Monday. I love the feeling of being a student.

Happy Easter, or Sunday, or Springtime,

Lisabeth

 

Hi talented souls,

Today I spent many hours in my studio, which, for me has been rare lately.

I reassembled The Tribe and worked on two finished needed a little help before framing. I am beginning to get that "artist" feeling, thinking two pictures ahead.

Between the "Uncommon Art Gallery" in Bristol,RI, and The Left Bank Gallery, in Essex, CT, all my favorites will be hung. I was given some Gallery names in Cape Cod from an artist friend who livesin Wellfleet, but I wonder if I can create enough pieces for a third gallery. Something to think about!

Do your best, (Buddha's last words)

Lisabeth   sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss 

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Hello fellow creators,

Yesterday, after studing it for days, I took my latest picture apart. Something just wasn't right. I saved the tribesmen and their house, but threw the rest away. Today I was playing with the pieces and an idea came to me that I think will work.

I'm also working on another piece, so the loss wasn't as traumatic.

Today, I also went on a seaweed hunt. We have had tremendous winds, so the seaweed was small, but I managed to fill the bucket with lots of red and white. It rests now in fresh water, sand falling to the bottom of the pail.

Just wanted to check in, so you didn't think I dissappeared. Just working on life issues and stealing time in the studio when I can. So beat at night, with back pain, I usually just drop.

Do your best, (Buddha's last words)

Lisabeth

Hi painting crowd,

I think I finished a mixed media picture today. Do you know what I mean "I think"? I could always add this, or move that, and on, and on, and on. I find the best way to finish is just to stop.

Live inside hope, (B. Kingsolver)

Lisabeth

Hello Artists,

Today I had my teeth cleaned (how exciting), then spent two hours in a library conference room with my therapist(how exhausting!).

I really like her and she is helping me deal with balancing my caregiving with my work as an artist, with my responsibility for every bit of paper that comes in the mail.

Sometimes I am on the phone for three hours talking to three different IBM benefits people about whether my husband is elegible for a pension and if so, where is it, why is our deductable higher because he is on Medicare, life insurance problems, etc.

Sorry to bitch, actually, it is manageable, I guess, just exhausting. And sometimes my life takes me away from my art, which hurts.

Just one day, I would like to go into my studio at 9:30am and, with a short lunch break, come out at 5:00 or 6:00, or whenever I feel like it!!!

Tomorrow, I have a christening and first birthday party to attend. My older brother's (who died at 47) son and his wife and baby Sophia. I need to hold that sweet little one to feel new life.

Sorrow prepares you for joy,

Lisabeth

Hey Arties,

Today, after delivering two pictures to a Guilford Art League show at our community center, and picking up three pictures from a framer, I finally sat in my studio and focused.

I've been working on a picture that I was calling The Tribes, but today the structure they were headed for became the focus of the piece and it has a " Long Road Home"  feeling. Isn't it amazing how I start a picture with something in mind, but have no control where it goes? Has anyone else  had a similar experience?

I have a friend who is encouraging me to show my work on the Cape (Cape Cod) this summer. He lives there and is finding me some connections. I have never been there, but have wanted to see it for many years. This summer might be the time!

Got to go make labels for the back of my work, name of piece, medium, price, and a second label with my name and information. Who knew I would be a label maker? Being an artist takes many hats.

Be here now,(Ram Dass)

Lisabeth

Hey paint lovers,

Today, reality dawned. My high from last night seemed to deflate by the hour.

Physical therapy didn't really help my back, which is becoming more painful daily.

Another $500 plus electric bill (we have electric heat).

All of my work spaces, including my studio, look like a madwoman paper piler lives there.

Will I ever learn the many types of acrylics there are? Thick, thin, translucent, opaque, add textures, texture the gesso, is there a perfect knife? I feel like I should be turning out pictures at a much faster rate. Maybe it's time to go back to what I know. NYC II? Another lighthouse?

My head spins with questions.

Tomorrow I give a man from the Guilford Art Society two pictures to hang at a show held in the Guilford Community Center. Lots of traffic, change in one month.

I want to enter two pieces in the Salmagundi Club's juried non-member show.

I am working on a self-portrait for American Artist magazine competition.

So, I guess I'll go to sleep, to build up the energy I need to do everything I want to do.

Live inside hope, (B. Kingsolver)

Lisabeth