Paper Mache Cow - Session 1

 I decided I wanted to experience what it would be like to create a paper mache sculpture. So after watching a couple of youtube videos, I decided to launch into the project with both feet (and no additional resources, probably a bad idea, but how I usually do things).

In my first step, I wanted to just cut out a cardboard shape of the cow's body. I didn't worry about his ears or legs for now. You can see I have really leaped in - he will be a sizable cow for a first project. Who knows, maybe he'll turn out to look like a pig - anything is possible.

I then cut out the shape of the two legs from separate pieces of cardboard. I think I'm not going to worry about the other side of him, because his legs wrap underneath and I can probably build up the shape I need there from just the newspaper. I used masking tape and began build up shape to the two legs. It probably ought to look more exacting but it doesn't.

And that's it for Session 1. Now off to get a lot more recycled newspapers and more masking tape.

Coming Home

I am back in San Francisco after a month in Indiana and adjusting back to my daily routines here.

Here is a 3x4 foot oil painting I completed while in Indiana, called "Coming Home". It is the largest-sized painting I've done so far.



And here it is on the client's wall:



My Open Studios is this 13-14th, so I'm just going to get started on before-show things, like labels and signs and gathering all together my selling supplies. I might try to squeeze in painting some more miniatures as I completely unexpectedly pre-sold 6 of them in Indiana at a book club meeting!

Technorati tags: art , oil painting , cow painting , Open Studios

Cow Descending

The good news for me in today's painting session is that my second attempt at a cow at least looks like a cow... I think.... [as for my first attempt last weekend, let's just say I had a cow "accident" and it so didn't look like *any* animal that I had to wipe it out. No genetic animal experiments gone wrong on my hands!]

I'm learning the ins and outs of painting with painting knives. It's more challenging than I anticipated. But I like it so far and want to do more.

I wanted this painting to be minimalist, abstracty (I'm pretty sure THAT is not a word!) in nature, and moody. I'm going to live with it for a few days and see if I just leave it as it is or if it is calling out for more work on it.

Sometimes I won't like a piece of work and quit it for that reason, only to learn either (a) I like it better after some time, (b) I never end up liking it any better but other people do. Not saying either of these apply to this painting, I've just learned to reserve my internal judgment (which can be so severe) and see what the painting says to me after I let a little time pass.

Also, my friends have been teasing me lately for my cow paintings (which I *always* get requests for from collectors), so I thought I'd take a cow out of my usual landscapes and put him (her?) in unfamiliar surroundings.




Technorati tags: art , abstract painting , cow painting