Mixed Media Watercolors, Ink & Pastels
Abstract
9" x 12"
Friday, November 30
Monday, November 26
Rain, Rain Go Away
Its a bleary, dreary ugly day. It has been raining for days now and I am more than ready for it to stop. I can't seem to get myself up and going to get anything done. The house is a wreck. The dogs don't even want to go out into this mess!
You know, I hear some artists say they paint better when they are in a down mood. Not me. I can't seem to get going when I feel blah. And of course, my emotions show up in my paintings. It is rare that I paint a lot of browns in my paintings and I really don't like using black (or white) at all. But when I tried to paint last night I found myself painting all browns and dull colors and I even picked up the tube of black paint! I still can't believe I actually used black paint. Black ink I use, but not black paint!
What is my world coming to?
You know, I hear some artists say they paint better when they are in a down mood. Not me. I can't seem to get going when I feel blah. And of course, my emotions show up in my paintings. It is rare that I paint a lot of browns in my paintings and I really don't like using black (or white) at all. But when I tried to paint last night I found myself painting all browns and dull colors and I even picked up the tube of black paint! I still can't believe I actually used black paint. Black ink I use, but not black paint!
What is my world coming to?
Saturday, November 24
Lately I have been hearing, reading, and finding lots of others opinions about what I will refer to as "what an artist is" and "the rules to being an artist". Here are a few of my responses and opinions to the things that are bugging me.
1. "Artists who make or sell crafts cheapen their 'real' art" - hmmmm.... guess I am just "cheap" then. I create both arts and crafts and sometimes there is a fine line between the two and sometimes there is not. In my opinion crafters are just another kind of artist. I paint, sculpt, collage, make dolls, make-over dolls, crochet, do all kinds of needlework, sew, make mobiles and wind chimes, bead, create altered art, and anything else I decide I want to try.
2. "Painters should choose one medium and one style and stick to it" - well, again, guess I haven't followed the "shoulds". I paint in watercolors, acrylics, oils, pastels, colored pencils, oil pastels, ink, and mixed media. I also work in realism, impressionism, abstract and anything else I feel like doing. My interests are varied so I have a hard time sticking to one subject too and paint people, animals, landscapes, still life, fantasy subjects and "who knows what that is" stuff. lol I find a lot of joy in switching it all up.
3. "Real artists have a college degree" - I really don't agree with this one at all. There are many wonderful artists who are completely self taught (I personally have a degree in Fine Art by the way, in case you were wondering). A lot of innovative and original work comes from artists who never received any formal training at all.
4. "Painters must learn to draw well before they try painting" - I disagree with this one too. I started painting as a child but I never really liked drawing that much. I draw now, but even so my sketches have very few "lines" and some of them only make sense to me. And I rarely draw on my painting surface with pencils before painting. Occasionally I do, but mostly I don't. I "draw" with the paint, the method depending on what I am using to paint with. Sometimes I don't start with a "drawing" (even with paint) at all. Oh the shock of it. lol I carry watercolors and oil pastels with my sketchbook more often than pencils or pens. And a camera. Cameras can capture instantly what might be lost before I can finish a sketch. I paint from life as much as possible but thats just not always possible. Another little oddity of mine I guess is that if I use my photos for reference, which I do often, I print them in black and white. I rarely, rarely, rarely paint using a color photo for reference. I would be interested in knowing how many other artists paint from black & white photos as reference.
I am sure there are plenty of artists who disagree with me on these subjects. What can I say? I am an opinionated taurus. lol
1. "Artists who make or sell crafts cheapen their 'real' art" - hmmmm.... guess I am just "cheap" then. I create both arts and crafts and sometimes there is a fine line between the two and sometimes there is not. In my opinion crafters are just another kind of artist. I paint, sculpt, collage, make dolls, make-over dolls, crochet, do all kinds of needlework, sew, make mobiles and wind chimes, bead, create altered art, and anything else I decide I want to try.
2. "Painters should choose one medium and one style and stick to it" - well, again, guess I haven't followed the "shoulds". I paint in watercolors, acrylics, oils, pastels, colored pencils, oil pastels, ink, and mixed media. I also work in realism, impressionism, abstract and anything else I feel like doing. My interests are varied so I have a hard time sticking to one subject too and paint people, animals, landscapes, still life, fantasy subjects and "who knows what that is" stuff. lol I find a lot of joy in switching it all up.
3. "Real artists have a college degree" - I really don't agree with this one at all. There are many wonderful artists who are completely self taught (I personally have a degree in Fine Art by the way, in case you were wondering). A lot of innovative and original work comes from artists who never received any formal training at all.
4. "Painters must learn to draw well before they try painting" - I disagree with this one too. I started painting as a child but I never really liked drawing that much. I draw now, but even so my sketches have very few "lines" and some of them only make sense to me. And I rarely draw on my painting surface with pencils before painting. Occasionally I do, but mostly I don't. I "draw" with the paint, the method depending on what I am using to paint with. Sometimes I don't start with a "drawing" (even with paint) at all. Oh the shock of it. lol I carry watercolors and oil pastels with my sketchbook more often than pencils or pens. And a camera. Cameras can capture instantly what might be lost before I can finish a sketch. I paint from life as much as possible but thats just not always possible. Another little oddity of mine I guess is that if I use my photos for reference, which I do often, I print them in black and white. I rarely, rarely, rarely paint using a color photo for reference. I would be interested in knowing how many other artists paint from black & white photos as reference.
I am sure there are plenty of artists who disagree with me on these subjects. What can I say? I am an opinionated taurus. lol
Monday, November 19
Sunday, November 18
Daily Journal - November 18, 2007
My version of a daily journal... maybe I will start posting them here.
Wednesday, November 7
New Prints Available
Well, once again I haven't posted in quite a while. Unfortunately, this isn't the only blog I have neglected. Having menieres disease can be a real bummer. I have spent the last three weeks in bed or lying on the sofa. My house is a wreck! I love the fall and it kills me that I can't get outside much and enjoy the weather. The most I have managed is sitting on my porch... but still, at least I have that. I have two gorgeous, huge trees in my front yard and I have really enjoyed watching them turn colors. I feel a connection to trees. I always think of them as having personalities. These two definately do.
I think of menieres as a monster. It is always lurking, just waiting until I am not expecting it and then pouncing. It is a life eater. It has managed to take away most of my freedom and make even the simplest tasks difficult. But I absolutely refuse to allow it take away my art. I can't paint as much as I used to anymore but I do paint.
The strangest thing though is this change in me. I have noticed recently that as the symptoms of this disease get progressively worse, my art is changing. Hmmm.... I'm not sure this is good or bad. Perhaps it just "is".
Well, anyway... I have just added a couple of prints to zazzle. If there is actually anyone left who reads this blog... you can find my prints here ===> http://www.zazzle.com/benitasweeney
Also, here are a couple of ACEO size paintings I just completed. I have never tried painting in this format size before. These are my first ACEO's.
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