Update of Abstract

An update of the abstract which I'm now tentatively calling "Rebirth". 3' x 2' 6" oil on canvas

Abstract based on cell slide of a carcinoid Tumor

In the 2009 fall semester I did a series of abstract paintings using carcinoid tumor slides as a subject. It interested me not only because of the visual aspect of these slides but also because when I went through my burst appendix saga a carcinoid tumor was found on the tip of my appendix still intact. It was removed with my appendix.


I wasn't happy with this painting because it was too busy. There was no place for the eye to rest. The first photo shows the painting with a light covering of red glaze. It didn't have the calming effect I wanted so I decided to introduce new colour. I chose orange because it was complimentary to blue. The colour orange departs from what the cellular slide depicts. I think it's beginning to look the way I want it but it's not finished. A figure has started to emerge and I like this.

Close-ups of Sojourn piece

Finally took photos of the individual paintings in my last project in Narrative Painting, Sojourn.

after glaze

Below is how it looks after one layer of cadmium red glaze. The light is creating a hot spot distorting the colour. When it stops raining I'll take some more photos in the sunshine.

Last summer semester paintings

I didn't get a chance to glaze these paintings and I'm just getting around to them now. It's hectic in class because one semester finishes and you're in the next with more paintings to create. I's hard to get back to the ones I'm not feeling finished with. It's also a way to kick start me into some new ones.

The first is approximately 2' X3" wood panel, oil. This is how it looked before glazing. In the background is my first self portrait during my first semester.

The Plan

Decided to revisit paintings I've done in class over the past year and a half. As is usually the case most paintings are minimum 4' x 5' so I'm never feeling finished. I like time to go away and come back so I can see it with a different eye. I was experimenting with glazes and cold wax. The first one I'm going to tackle is one that to which I'm not so attached. I'll feel more freedom to experiment. Then hopefully I'll have new knowledge to go on to the next with more intention.

I found an artist Alex Kanevsky through Harry Kent's blog. Thank you Harry. I'm curious to try Kanevsky's approach on a couple of my more abstract paintings.

I think this plan will get me going faster than tackling new painting.

Perry Milou

I'm always looking for free workshops online to guide me into new territory for subject matter, mediums or just to give me something to practice. As a beginner I don't always see things immediately in my work so I find watching others very helpful.

I found this artist at a free video lessons site. His name is Perry Milou, an American contemporary pop artist. The two lessons I watched: one from his pop series and the other a children's art project. I then visited his website and found another lesson on painting Van Gogh Style Portrait. Have a look here on YouTube. He has several lessons on YouTube.

“The key to success is for you to make a habit throughout your life of doing the things you fear.”

Van Gogh

On Becoming

Here is the video I did for Open Studio course. It was originally exhibited from two sources on two monitors that were set on plinths turned toward each other. The voice-over plays from one source then the other as though it were a disjunctive thought conversation between the two monitors. The visuals were the same on each monitor synchronized together.

The poem is from the film, Wings of Desire which is a story about two angels who were on earth to listen and bear witness to human thoughts.

I shot it on a Sony digital camcorder. The outside shots were from a stationary camera in my yard. The clouds were moving swiftly across the sky that day.

My eyes were shot inside lit by a small light from the left. I wanted it to be grainy. The voice-over represents internal thought process. It was my first disjunctive video narrative.

sketch of my husband

Here is the pencil/graphite sketch I did of my husband. I didn't have my blending stick so I used a tissue which didn't work as well in softening the harder edges.

Funny how when a drawing is scanned into the computer it looks different. I am tempted to continue working on it but instead I'll do another and see if I make those changes in the new one.