White Marbled Brownies

This month I'm working on some larger pieces for my upcoming art shows. And while I sit at my desk waiting for the paint to dry, I turn to smaller pieces of art to fill in the time. I am loving these smaller blocks of wood for creating art and experimenting on. The art prompt for this week is to create a darker background and then use white paint on top to make a design.

I began the background by collaging colored paper scraps and adding drips and splatters of paint.

Next, I applied a generous layer of tar gel into which I swirled black dobs of paint. Well, that was acidentaly awesome. Can you tell I'm a product of the 70's, where the endpapers of all my favorite children's books were marbled? (Note: when tar gel dries it turns clear).

Finally, I used 3 washes of white acrylic paint to create cutout patterns of  birds on branches.

These tiny wood blocks of art are a great filler in your studio when you need some drying time. Not all art prompts can get you started in your studio day. Some times an art prompt is just what you need to keep you in your studio.

Wordless Wednesady

16 blocks done 8 ways

Experimenting in art is crucial. A great way to do this is to work on a series of small canvases (this week's art prompt, by the way.) My dad recently made me 16 wood blocks for creating art on, in and around. These little blocks are commonly known as art brownies. Every few days I am going to pick two of them and experiment with something new.

This week I chose to sew little felted houses. They can be hung on the wall, sat on the dog, or placed in a bookshelf. I even used one as a pincushion this week!

Actually, I have always loved little colorful houses. Years ago I created a series of paintings on this theme, and I still love them to this day.

"Sunshine City"

I began with raw blocks of wood.

Next, I hand dyed pieces of recycled felt blanket...

... to get these bright and whimsical colors!

Viola!

Check back over the next few weeks to see what else I come up with for the remaining 14 blocks.

Wordless Wednesday

What's in YOUR basement?

What's in your basement? I ask, because there isn't much in mine. This is because I don't actually have a basement, or even a storage area for that matter. So what do you do when the art prompt you pull from the jar says to scavenge in your basement for unusual objects that can be used to make art with? You visit your nearest junk dealer.

And then you take it all home, spread it out and see what jumps out and inspires you.

"Hoo's That Masked Bandit?"

Wax encaustic with metal cleat on wood        6" x 6"

"She Likes Shiny Things"

Wax encaustic with found dog tag on wood     6"x 6"

Wordless Wednesday

"The Tidal Watcher" finally!

Monsters By Mason

This week my art prompt is to create a doodle on a piece of paper and then use it to create a piece of art.  Nobody does this better than my 12 year old son Mason. Introducing... Monsters By Mason!!

Last week, Mason hit the studio early one morning with me. He created a stack of hilarious drawings of monsters. By the end of the day he had piles of fluffy wool roving stretching from one end of the house to the other.  He also had two fabulous wool sculptures, based on his drawings.

"Little Bobby"

"One Eye"

Every day that my children accompany me into my studio is a gift. Every time they take over my entire house with art supplies and artistic creations is an inspiration!



Wordless Wednesday

Borrow Someone Else's Process for the Day

I was thumbing through a stack of greeting cards last week, the stack I buy at art shows and love so much I can never send them, and happened across several art cards by Wendy Picken. I've long since been a fan of Wendy's art and her process of mixing pencil crayon, conte crayon, oil pastel, grease pencils and wax. So when the art prompt I chose was to paint in my own style using someone else's process, I thought of Wendy's unique method of combining media. Here is my take on Wendy's process.

I highly suggest you check out Wendy's art at http://mangosmilestudio.com/wendy-picken/