Today is the last day of my 100 Studies sale!  10% off all works on paper in my shop - have a look :)

This piece marks an introduction to a different process for me - I have started incorporating ink transfers into my works on canvas. I gather photos that I have taken while outdoors and blow them up or otherwise manipulate them in photoshop, print them out on our inkjet, and I am ready to transfer!  It's the safest, least toxic way that I know of to do a transfer, and the results are somewhat unpredictable, but I like that aspect.  It's been the biggest change up in my process over the last year - the introduction of chance and an easing up on the reins.

I like to begin the new year with planning, organizing and cleaning (much to my husband's dismay, I have to add!).  This year I have started with the office.  We recently purchased a new glass top desk and a bookcase to store all of our mailing/promotional/office items along with our art books/resources.  The thing is, my taste in home decor runs toward a minimal sort of look, but that doesn't translate very well when all the random-but-will-be-useful-someday stuff I have squirreled away overflows onto every surface in the house! 

I have been working on keeping things organized and finding homes for odd, miscellaneous things that crop up.  I have purchased large and small boxes for different thingamajigs.  At least now when Derek asks for a stamp or envelope, I know exactly where to go!  Kind of sad that it has taken me this long to get semi-organized, but there you have it...

Too bad I don't have a before picture (I would be too embarrassed, anyway) but here is the current state of our little office. 

Above is my kitten Yuki, snuggling in our other office chair that we keep tucked in the corner, getting it nice and hairy.  The chair is handy to have and we like the kitten too :)  I haven't mentioned adopting her yet, after what happened with Louis (our kitten who passed away earlier this year).  My mom convinced me to adopt another kitten and we are glad we did.  She's been wonderful. 

The office still needs some work - especially a coat of paint (I'm considering a light grey?).  Now I have to decide which room to tackle next!

This batch of abstract landscape studies are all done on watercolor paper instead of canvas paper, which lends to a slightly different feel and texture to the works. I've been enjoying it.  All are 4.5" x 6" and can be found in my shop.

Brand new wintery abstract landscapes using colored pencil and acrylic.  5" x 4.5"( except for the larger last one)
They are all available in my shop!

The fabulous Mary Zeran recently blogged about a topic very near and dear to my heart.  Fear...rearing it's ugly head during the art-making process.  I was reading her post and nodding vigorously, muttering "Ugh this is so very true."  Especially for me right now - I have been stuck in a bad pattern in the studio (for a few months now) which goes something like this:

1.        Make a painting.

2.        Fall desperately in love with it.

3.       Minutes later, realize it is actually mediocre at best and that it needs to be pushed, and probably MUCH farther.

4.       Become consumed by fear that I will “ruin” it and end up never completing it, letting the piece sit in the studio until the end of the world.

I currently have 3 large pieces sitting in this limbo of incompletion.  It's time to remind myself that a painting is not "precious" and the whole point is to grow in my work and I won't get there using my current 4-step process.  Berating myself for being back in this place of fear will do me no good.  I think it's time to let go and throw caution to the wind!