Background Begins

I have begun the background for the Amazon Warrior painting, laying in the color scheme and value design I have in my mind. My goal is that the warrior is surrounded by dark color values to lead your eye to the warrior and make her the important part of the painting. The doorway is based on some photos I took of the Sterns Steeple in Amherst Mass, when I attended the Illustration Master Class this past June. I loved the old buildings up there on the college campus and took tons of reference photos. I had no idea I would use them so soon. Oh, I am already not liking the snake.....I think it may become a dragon.

Kittens Travel to Studio

The two little kittens now have official names....the boy is Rockwell (in honor of Norman Rockwell, my absolute favorite artist of all) and the girl is Madame X after the infamous painting by John Singer Sargent. It's weird, but she looks like Madame X, all in black velvet and very elegant and thin looking. They travel to the gallery/studio with me each day and are pretty well behaved, but I am not getting anything done for all the visitors stopping in to see the kittens. So, I left them at home today so I could get a background going on my Amazon Warrior painting. I will post a photo of that tomorrow evening.

Happy Accidents and Artistic Genius

Well, I got the original drawing copied at Staples, placed a good layer of Matt Gel Medium onto the masonite board, picked up the soaked copy and laid it down on the masonite and OMG, my masonite was a good two inches larger than the drawing. I had asked my husband to cut my boards months ago and forgot he did two sizes for me. Fortunately, I am great at spontaneous solutions. The copy paper was much larger than the image, so that I could wrap the ends over and adhere them to the back of the board. And I fortunately had laid the drawing on from the bottom end first which left all the added blank area at the top of the drawing. So........Genius that I am, I let it dry and continued my drawing to the top half of the board and paper. So now, almost the entire arched doorway is visible and I have left lots of open space for a title and such, if this were to become a book cover. I wish that I could have said this was all planned, but it was one of those happy accidents. My husband commented that it is a MUCH better composition now. Ouch, that hurt!

Amazon Warrior Drawing

Once again Jennifer has modeled for me and she is terrific. Even brought her own sword and dagger for the occasion. Originally I thought about putting in a cyclops for her to kill, but he looked goofy. So I erased him and added the snake. Pretty generic looking snake, I hope to elaborate on him when I get into the oil painting.

Off now to Staples and have the drawing reproduced on what I am told is Bond paper. I don't believe the clerk or manager understood what I was asking. I will ask the paper type again today if I get a different clerk or manager.

Song Mountain Fine Art

Check out the website of Ellen Strope.....Song Mountain Fine Art. Ellen and I correspond occasionally about our mutual interest in the Black Bear, cats, dogs and just about all critters. Ellen feeds Wee Otis and I feed Barney. Actually, Barney helps himself to my birdfeeders and pear tree. But I do love watching him. Anyway, Ellen is a fantastic wildlife artist. You can really see her love of subject in her artwork. OH, Ellen said it was 32 degrees at her home this morning. Burrrrrrr!

Earthquake and Conan Updates

We sustained some minor damage to our brick home as a result of the earthquake.....a long crack in the mortar that runs from my studio window to the roofline.

Also, Conan has returned to our back deck for regular meals again. Trap and release is a great way to reduce populations of feral cats in a humane way. It cost me nothing but some time and a little kitty kibble. You can see from the photo, he is a redhead and looks very much the barbarian.

Rockwell's Little Sister

OK, a week after Rockwell showed up, his little sister was trapped in the Hav A Heart Trap, instead of the orange cat. She was much more starved than Rockwell and wilder. She is taming down nicely though. So, she needs a name also.

I have no ideas, don't have any favorite female artists, except maybe Cecilia Beaux or Berthe Morisot. Obviously neither name thrills the tongue. Please send your ideas to sha45rps@starpower.net and help give her a name. I put up posters everywhere, trying to find homes for the kids. When I asked my son, How many cats before I become the crazy cat lady? He replied, "Two less than you already have". OMG We finally trapped the orange cat, neutered and released him through our local volunteer vets program. He disappeared for three days and finally showed up this morning for a meal, still feral. We named him Conan the Barbarian. Conan won't come near me now.