Little things

I made this 3 x 3 cm. piece for this open invitation. Thanks to Geninne for the introduction and language translation, she tells how you can participate too. It was totally fun to paint that postage stamp sized piece. Now I can imagine making more, but for what? Hmmm...

Dallas emailed me something to share with you; a link to the kids book foundation he established! Go check out the awesomeness!

Aimee makes me laugh with every post. I love how her mind works!

Savoring the days when we can still bring in fresh flowers from the garden and share meals out of doors. Sometimes little or simple things have a big impact, don't they?

And lastly, it was time to make banana bread again. I think next it may be cinnamon rolls. Do your weekend plans involve any baking?

Happy Friday,
H

poetry & drawing

This is what is on my wall, and this is what I'm thinking about.

Yesterday {in my own mind} I considered the synergy between making a drawing or painting {or other art form, but that is what I know} and writing poetry. A friend sent me a poem and as I read and reread it, I was trying to connect to her line of thinking. What brought her from this word to this image I wondered? What metaphors are suggested by this word? How did she think of this next line? I felt a thread, fine and strong between this poem {poetry in general perhaps} and the drawing process. I find it amazing and interesting to look into the window of someone's thinking.

The other day, as I was beginning a watercolor painting I noticed I was beginning with blue, my own deep shade, somewhere between prussian and phthalo. Why have I begun each of these pieces with blue I wonder? Why not begin with yellow ochre? And yet I know a pool of blue paint isn't just a blue shape, it is a metaphor, at times {for me} a metaphor for origin. And yet, if I were to lead you further on a path, through a line of thinking in the process of drawing, would it be interesting or leave you feeling disenchanted? Would it dissect the piece beyond mystery? I like for there to be questions in art, or wonderings. Not the kind where the piece means whatever the viewer wants it to, because that's too easy. Art making is intentional as is the meaning.

Even so, understanding or explaining may be tricky because I get so involved in the process, that the thoughts become nondescript, like a language with no words. I have always thought that making art is my first language. Only when I am finished can I step away and {try to} gauge in terms what is taking place. Perhaps you can relate?

Making watercolor by hand

Hi,

I'm back to show you some pics of my process for making handmade watercolor paint. When I was in graduate school I took a course called "Materials & Techniques" led by my favorite professor. She taught us to make painting grounds {true gesso, hide glue etc.} and all kinds of paint {watercolor, egg tempera, oil, casein, pastels, etc.} from scratch. Well as you can imagine, I loved it! I mean, look at all those jars of color! {That alone sends me, in a good way, but anyway.} It may sound silly to say but I feel connected to my "roots" when making my own paint. The colors when mixed by hand are vibrant, intense, and with watercolor I have flexibility to paint the way I want. I can control how opaque or transparent I want the paint just by adjusting the amount of medium, pigment, or water. I don't call myself a traditional "watercolorist" but I do love making paint by hand, the old fashioned way. And while it is not difficult it does take time, and that makes it even more beautiful.

Handmade watercolor begins with dry pigments, and grinding them into a glass palette with water until it forms a paste. Once the paste is blended I add a medium to bind it, gum arabic. And this grinding, mixing method is continued with each color. Once I have my 'basic' colors made I can then make further mixtures on my palette when working. While I prefer a giant piece of glass for my palette, I want to mention I have had this palette since I was a girl. I remember sitting on the beach taking watercolor lessons and trying to paint the waves. There is even still a small shrimp boat I drew on the front in pencil when I was about twelve.

Tomorrow I will share a few ideas that have been buzzing around my brain, incorporated in these new works and others. The ones you see here on my table are part of a new collection of {affordable} handmade watercolor paintings that I just added to my Gallery Store.

Thanks for reading today,
H

Wednesday

"Lean to", graphite, handmade watercolor, on paper, 5 in. x 5 in.

Good morning,

Before I dash off to teach this morning I want to let you know that this piece along with a few others are part of a small collection of new works, going in my Gallery Store today at 1pm. cst. I'll be back this afternoon to talk a little about my inspiration and process of making watercolor by hand.

See you soon!
H

Monday

Hi,

Popping my head in to say I just listed two new art cards in my Etsy shop. I have been thinking about house shapes lately and as always, drawing hands. These two pieces use handmade watercolor in washes and layers and details of delicate drawing. Also I put all my photography prints on sale, for a short time. After which I will pull some of them from the shop.

It's a beautiful evening, I think we'll go for a walk. And then have some homemade pizza.

I hope your evening is nice too!
H

ps. Oh good grief! I almost forgot - Rach put some new goodies in her shop today. And Alicia just updated her website, go check that out too. Ok, bye now!