A round up of Landscape and Nature themed Artwork for our Bedroom

As I mentioned in yesterday's Bedroom makeover post, I would love to have a new piece of artwork above the bed. Artwork qualifications are- something subdued in color and of a landscape or nature related subject matter. Here's a little round up of what I've been finding...

Above: Sticks by Katie Ridley

Into Dusk, by Jane Beharrell

Highway 17, by Jamie Hogge

Water, by Jamie Hogge

Antlers, by Natural Curiosity

Foggy Forest Creek, by Kevin Russ

And below are a few photoshop mock ups to get an idea of what these pieces would look like in the space.

It's so interesting to see what they look like above the bed... photographs that might not be a first choice, suddenly read very well and much better than others...!

We shall see...!?

Mountain Poster

I'm knitting a blanket for my little family, such a big task often feels like climbing a mountain... step by step, row by row.  This lovely Print on etsy pretty much sums it up!

cover art

How great is Gillian Welch's new album cover!?  I love it. I just purchased the cd and am easing my way into these lovely songs, becoming acquainted with each story and melody... perfect for summer. ah her music makes me want to live in the middle of fields on a farm with kids and dogs running around getting dirty and being content and happy.  Thus the cover really fits the music. Read more about The Harrow and The Harvest HERE.

After searching around on NPR's website I came across these videos about the making of the cover art by Aardvark Letterpress in L.A. (more proof why you should purchase the actual album rather than download it from i-tunes, dangit!) And listen to the interview on Fresh Air with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.

Paint by Number. A roundup on Etsy

Late the other night I was meandering around on Etsy and came across this darling little Paint by Number painting- Lobster Boats! It's so cute and reminds me of Maine. As an artist I have acquired a lot of art over the years- from fellow grad students through trading work and some through inheritance (completed by ancestors etc- it runs in the family!) and so Paint by Number paintings always seemed a little cheesy. But I find that I love them, sue me! There is something so sweet about them. I love their pastel palettes, vintage feel, and the concentration that went into them- the yearning to paint a good painting to hang on one's wall, to be proud of it.  SO I was inspired to do a little round up of some of my favorite paint by number pieces on etsy.  I once saw on a blog a whole wall of paint by numbers, it was rather impressive. But I do like the idea of just having a few as well.  My favorite is the above- Lobster Boats. (hint, hint!)

Cardinals and Blue Jays set

Sailing Vessel

Seaside

Pair of Winter Farm Scenes

Country Manor

Swan on a Lake

Which one is your favorite?

Noemie Goudal

wow

Love the work of Noemie Goudal.

New Artwork In GrayDayStudio

Today I listed new paintings in my Etsy Shop.

All completed during this month's 30 Day Challenge.

I will continue to list completed work as the month goes on.

And later today, check back in on the blog for day 11 and 12 of my 30 Day Challenge!

30 Day Challenge: Day 10

30 Day Challenge: Day 10

My Thoughts: A quick little painting on 5x8 paper of another shell in this shell series. I like this painting- if for no other reason than I got in my studio during this slightly busy day- made this painting and worked from the inside out to the edges, instead of drawing the perimeter of the shell and then working on the interior.  I think I will continue with this approach... and I MUST get my oils out soon... I just know that those oil painting days will be longer and wont be completed in one day.  But stay tuned, I will eventually paint in oil!

Check in tomorrow for day 11 and for my Wednesday "Handmade Shout Out"!

30 day Challenge: Day 9

30 Day Challenge: Day 9

My Thoughts: I had a surprisingly busy day today and didn't get to painting until around dinner time. I had fun with this little painting. I was aware of that special moment that happens- when the painting becomes its own thing, when it becomes an individual and you- as the artist, look to the painting to tell you what to do next and leave the subject behind. Tomorrow is another busy day, but check back in for day 10 and for my Green Living Tuesday blog post!

30 Day Challenge: Day 8

30 Day Challenge: Day 8- messing around...

My thoughts: Today I just sorta messed around with the paint and did two little paintings. They are not finished by any means and I honestly don't know if they ever will be... In my "messing around" I used a lot of water which cause the paper to buckle quite a bit.  But I thought I would show my blog and it's readers that I didn't skip day 8, I just took a more casual, dare I say lazy-day approach.  If all goes well tonight I will start to gesso some boards and hopefully paint with oil paint this week!

Hope you are having a great relaxing weekend!

30 Day Challenge: Day 7

30 Day Challenge: Day 7.

My thoughts: Today was a good painting day. I went into my studio, grabbed a random shell from the pile and set to work.  I still started with an outline but worked fast with big pools of water and generous paint- which allowed me to work on the edges more immediately - making some soft and leaving others sharp.  Overall I really like what happened- a loose more carefree painting.  And that's all I have to say! So check back in tomorrow for day 8 and perhaps I will list some on my etsy shop this weekend. Stay tuned.

30 Day Challenge: Day 6

30 Day Challenge, Day 6.

My thoughts: Today was a lot better than yesterday, Thank God!  Maybe it was the shell... or something... not sure. But anyway I was more carefree and relaxed while painting, so that probably had something to do with it. Today I found it hard to stop painting to take enough "process" pictures- evidence that I was more "in the moment".  I like how this shell looks like a landscape. I also like the soft bottom edge. I need to do more edges like this one- where the pigment just sits on the edge of a puddle of water and you can see the white of the paper shining through. (click on final image to see what I'm talking about) I think tomorrow I will not start the painting by drawing the outline of the shell with paint, but maybe work from the interior out to the edges- maybe this will allow for more of the soft watery edge I enjoy in this painting.

Check back in later today for my "Weekend Project" post!

30 Day Challenge: Day 5

30 Day Challenge, Day 5: another progression of a shell painting

My thoughts: Sooooo I thought I would document the progress of the painting again, AND this is why you document- to look back and see that - YUP I over worked this one!  I decided to add a shadow towards the end and looking back I probably shouldn't have. Now I think it looks like a Christmas tree, and once you see something like that in your work, forget about it!  I should have stopped at picture #5.  Anywho, there are bound to be duds and today's was that in my opinion.

Check back in tomorrow for Friday's "Weekend Project" and for Day 6 of my 30 day challenge!

30 Day Challenge: Day 4

Day 4: the progression of a painting

My Thoughts: Today I thought I would document the different stages of my painting. Forgive the warm light of the progression as there was limited natural daylight in my "studio" when I was painting.  This documentation- made me more conscious of each stage... which was a good thing.  Overall I feel like the paintings are loosening up and I am more aware of not overworking it as I continue to let the paint bleed as I did on day 3. Anyway, that's all I can put into words for today with my muddled brain since I have lunch waiting (at 2pm), it's laundry day, and oh yeah I have a 10 week old! lol (remember to click on images to view them larger)

Check back in tomorrow for day 4 and for my Thursday blog of "links and such".

30 Day Challenge: Day 3

Day 3: Bigger paper, a more abstract shell.

My thoughts: Today was more laid back and in general I decided to keep in mind the lessons from the first two days. I wanted to preserve some of the white paper and to more carefully hold back on over painting everything. I also wanted the painting to feel like watercolor- for the paint to flow and bleed within the puddles of water. The pools of water in some ways speak to the shell and it's habitat.  I am still conscious of keeping the edges varied in both their value and thickness of line. (click on the image to view it larger)  While painting the idea struck me to make a little video during these 30 days of me actually painting, to show the process, and who knows maybe I'll narrate it, but then again who likes to hear themselves!?!

Check back tomorrow for Day 4 

and 

for my Wednesday "Handmade Shout-out!"

30 Day Challenge: Day 2

Day 2 of my 30 day challenge to paint one painting a day.

My thoughts: I started a shell series the year between college and going to grad school. I have quite the collection of broken shells; I love how they look like artifacts that have washed up on the shore. They have a history to their patina and when you zoom in on one they can become very abstract... anyway, I decided to reunite with this subject matter. And my plan is to focus on painting these artifacts over the course of this challenge. Might as well have one continuous body of work!  I began today as I did yesterday, although a bit more set up, I attempted to paint on the same reeves bfk paper, and within two brush strokes I realized what my hang up was yesterday- the paper. Although I love it for print making for painting it stinks- it pills and just doesn't work well with watercolor. So I rummaged around and found some old watercolor paper, Thank GOD!  And I set to work. Above is the completed little study, measuring 8x5 inches. (click on image to view it larger)

Check back in tomorrow for day 3!

Announcing Gray Day Studio

As part of my 30 day challenge, I decided to combine some of my etsy shops into one studio where I will sell all of my artwork- called GrayDayStudio.  In addition, I decided to put UrbanKnitfits on Vacation for an indefinite amount of time. I love knitting but honestly I want to knit for myself and my family and at the moment I don't have the interest in keeping up my knit shop... but yah never know, I might change my mind down the road.  Anyway, I am very excited to get back to my Art! Check back in with my shop through out the week as I will continue to flush it out with more prints and then later with more paintings! 

30 day Challenge: Day 1

I am participating in this 30 Day Challenge- as described on ground rules.  The idea is to focus on one thing and do it every day for 30 days. They gave the example- practicing the piano for 15 minutes each day. Then you post a video every day talking about your "project"- about your successes and failures, etc. Originally I thought "I'll teach myself to crochet a new motif each day!", something I've been wanting to do for a few years... but then the idea hit me- I want and need to get back to painting. I put it aside during grad school and now that I am a mom, I don't want to abandon my art until my kids are off to college... and this is what I want to do with my life make art SO my 30 day challenge is to paint one painting each day!

Here are MY ground rules: These paintings can be small, or large, in oil, watercolor, ink or gouache. And having a newborn shouldn't be too much of a hindrance, since during my undergrad we were given the assignment to do a drawing every 5 minutes during a 3 hour figure class. SO I shall keep this time limitation in mind! ; )

So I might not make a video each day of my 30 day challenge, but I will check in daily on my blog and share photographs and then perhaps a video at the end of the week!  Be sure to check in every day on my blog to see a new painting. At the end I might sell them on my NEW etsy shop GrayDayStudio.

Here is my Painting from Day 1

My thoughts: today's painting was like a stretch after a long winter of sitting on my ass. And coincidentally- I must work on that resolution too ; )  This painting was of some dried dune foliage, painted on Reeves BFK gray paper with gouache and watercolor. And of course after seeing it as a photo- I see areas that I could "revisit"...(click on image to view larger, not the best detailed pic, but will have to do!)  I didn't spend long on it, since the baby began to stir the moment my brush literally dipped into the paint! Luckily she settled down, but this will be interesting!  I had fun revisiting the process of painting, of remembering how easily you can destroy a little area and how you didn't realize how special that area was until it was gone. I also dove into the white paint towards the end and used it as a tool to create both positive and negative areas around the foliage.  I got crap for my use of white during grad school, which is probably one of the reasons I focused on installations rather than painting during those two years, but fuck it, I like white paint! I understand why not to use it so much and to not mix every color with white, I get it, duh, but sometimes white is such a purifying element and helps you cover up your mistakes ; )

Anyway, I'm looking forward to tomorrow's painting. I think I will have to whip out the oil paint this week, as the watercolor and gouache are sometimes chalky and dull for what I want, but we'll see I could change my mind!  Check in tomorrow for my Day 2!