Letting Ideas & Bees Find Their Way: A Mixed Media & Life Process

There are days in the studio where I feel like I know exactly what I’m doing...and then there are days that are not so much. Even if you don't paint, you might recognize this feeling and totally relate to it in something you're taking on in your day to day life.

Work In Progress

This piece started without a clear plan. Just layers of paint and paper, a few marks, and a sense that something wanted to happen if I stayed with it long enough. As you may know, I’ve been working larger and slower... and that shift changes everything. You can’t rush your way through a larger surface... it asks you to pay attention.

A Swarm Of Busy Bees Showed Up

At some point, the bees began to show up. Not all at once...not in a “here they are” kind of way...more like a suggestion…a movement…something gathering. Again...even if you aren't an artist, you might recognize this part of the process...the moment when something starts to whisper to you, instead of shout. I truly love when that happens! I'll be working on a piece, and an idea quietly enters my mind of what's next on another part of the canvas. In this case the upper right hand side called out for a swarm of bees!

For all of us...no matter what we're working on, art or otherwise...when we relax into it...the answers, next steps, ideas show up. It never fails!

Negative Painting / Painting Around The Shapes

This most often happens when I'm using the simple process of negative painting...which for me is very meditative. I used negative painting to define the shapes…painting around the shapes instead of inside them...kind of like letting the background do the talking. I find it so relaxing to just paint around shapes that are already there, or to create shapes by painting the areas around them. This is my favorite way to paint...and when my best ideas show up!

New YouTube Video / Studio Session 231

This week's video is all about negative painting and bees swarming. The idea for those little bees came when I was negative painting around those three little kids in the center... and I ran with it. There is also a story (a funny story now, gruesome at the time) that goes along with the bees... that's in the video too.

I’m not sure this piece is finished yet...I'm still having fun with it and a few more ideas have crept in that I want to play with. Mostly I am really happy with my decision to work on pieces that are more thoughtful to me, have a deeper meaning and tell a story...and taking my time with them.

My Life As A House / OMA / Opposing Angles

If being happy wasn't enough of a sign...one of my storied pieces has been juried into the Oceanside Museum Of Art / Artist Alliance / Opposite Angles show at the Woodward Contemporary gallery in Old Town...and given a front and center location. I am beyond honored!

If you'd like to see one of my story pieces up close (and you do need to see these pieces up close to get the whole story) I would love for you to join me in the gallery and chit-chat more about it.

Saturday, April 18th / 4pm to 7pm

Celebrate OMA’s Artist Alliance exhibition Opposing Angles

Woodward Contemporary

Enjoy refreshments and creative conversations with artists and art lovers...

both with the show and the resident art studios upstairs at the gallery.

Woodward Contemporary is located in Old Town San Diego

3935 Harney St. San Diego, CA 92110.

I appreciate you being here, hanging out with me in the studio and seeing what I'm up to.

I enjoy your comments and questions, so make sure to leave those in the comments below... and add your name if you're a guest commenting so I know who to respond to...I respond to all comments.

Likewise...I know how full our inboxes can get, so if you need to unsubscribe from my weekly emails to lighten the load, I get it. I hate to see you go, but you know where I am and can join in again at any time...you are always welcome here.