Art - new and old

I've been going through a lot of introspection, reading and a regaining of health of late.  It has had a positive influence on my creativity and I have again taken up painting.  Here are some new pieces:

Modigliani study

No Such Thing As No Hope

Fly Home

Here is an older painting that I still have to finish - see if you can see where! 

7-13-11

Here are a couple of photographs I've done recently.  I'm becoming fond of half images, taken on the first or last exposures on a roll of film like in the cup of tea.  It's esthetically pleasing to me and both a bit iconic and humorous. 

   

Road Trip

I love riding in cars and adore road trips ...up until about the fifth straight hour in the car.  Then I get a bit restless and sore.  My husband and I recently drove 5 1/2 hrs to visit his parents.  I had some expired film that I'd been waiting to experiment with.  Here are some of the results! 

'A Look Through The Forest' has been featured in Surreal Arts Weekly!

Isn't this cool?!  I'm so excited!!!  It will be up on the website for a week.  I'm not sure if there is a print version.  Here's a link to their site.  

Here's the image and a link to it in my etsy shop: 

A Look Through The Forest

My most beloved art form is experimental video.  Currently unable to edit due to a lack of a working camcorder, I wanted to bring that talent into my photography.  Here's a print called 'A Look Through The Forest.'  It's surreal, sort of creepy, dreamy and implies that there's more going on than the viewer is knowledgeable of.  I like that.  Let's create together, write your own story!   Let me know what you think! 

Simple Chili Recipe

Hi!  Here is a very simple chili recipe that I came up with.  ...everyone is nuts over it, so I thought that you all might enjoy it.  Writing recipes is not my thing, and I realize this might be a humorous attempt.  I call it 'Mostly Meat Chili': 

1 can Milwaukee’s Best

1 can Coors light

1 can chicken stock

2.5-4 chicken breasts, cut into bite size segments

5 turkey breast burger patties

½ large onion {chopped}

3-4 celery stalks {chopped}

1 can of corn

¾ industrial sized can crushed tomatoes ...think it was 9lbs

1 package of chili seasoning

1 t chili powder [or more, to taste]

2-3 T vegetable oil

Heat oil in dutch oven.  When hot, add meat.  Cook mostly through.  Add onion.  Cook for a couple of minutes and add the rest of the ingredients.  Simmer 1 hr. 

Snuggle Bunny

I'm doing a series entitled 'Silly Wabbit,' the first of which is 'Snuggle Bunny.'  It's up on my etsy site.  

I'm hoping that my allergies calm down enough for me to go out and take some new photos of flowers!  The past few days have seen an abundance of new blooms....and that means an abundance of pollen.  Argh.  Got some new bits for my dremel tool, and so I am planning on playing with that.  I have a box of bass wood that I want to play with - I'm thinking dolls, but who knows exactly what will be created!  During my time indoors, I might also try and finish up some of the other projects previously featured on this blog.  Oddly, my photographs get a lot more hits on Etsy than anything else, which is why I've been focusing on them.  That, and photography doesn't make a mess of our one bedroom apartment.  Sometimes it's just nice to have a clean place, you know? 

Deterioration Detective

Title: Deterioration Detective
Medium: Acrylics
Artist: Jennifer Schmidt
previously featured in Tzeta Gallery

This is a painting that I'm quite proud of.  Done in earth tones, it portrays the battle between nature and man.  Yet, it also shows a new incorporation of nature within man's cities.  There's hope.  Our deterioration detective is observant, yet calm and positive.

Aged Roses Prints

I love the look of aged rose prints, but they're so hard to come by!  Whenever I've found one that I've liked, the cost has been enormous.  This led me to create my own.  I've just made two!  Here are a couple photos I've taken of a beautiful arrangement of flowers cut from the garden.  I took them digitally and then loaded them into Photoshop to add some aging before professionally printing them.  Each probably has six or seven separate layers, not counting the actual image. These two images are very exciting for me, I love the way they came out and may - at some point - print them on a much larger scale. 

Monochromatic Spring Blossoms

I love spring!  It's such a beautiful, colorful time of year.....which made me wonder, how would pink blossoms - so delicate and cute - translate into a black and white monochrome photograph?  To me, the subtraction of color makes the petals seem even more delicate.  Do you agree?

This was printed darker and with more contrast than I was expecting, but I was an immediate fan.  To see such a fragile subject matter shown so boldly is a bit exciting, new, and interesting.  I may still print the lighter version, but I am really loving this darker version a lot!

Evident Difference Print

I often feel like a little oddball, but it doesn't bother me.  Because of this, I did an acrylic painting of this cute little character I've come up with.  The painting is entitled 'Evident Difference', and it may become a series. 

In other news, I think I've kicked the depression.  I've had two good days and am quite happy about it!  Sorry for being such a downer in my last post.

Depression

I've been away for awhile due to depression, but have been asked a few times to update.  Depression is something that is rare for me.  I don't often become depressed.   My nature is pretty much like Odie from Garfield [hopefully I'm not as dumb, though].  I think it is beginning to break, as I'm having normal times in between the down times, and the normal times are becoming greater than the down times.  I haven't been able to really do any new art.  There has been some photography, and I probably should have posted it - I've just been down.  

I've just run into a lot of problems: getting good prints made due to different chemicals in the machines on different days that produce images vastly differently, money to get the prints made, equipment problems with other forms of art.  As has been a theme in my life, when I put my mind to something everything seems to well up in my way.  I've hit this wall enough times to keep myself calm and to just keep going, even though quite often I don't find away around the wall.  You see, I'm very much an optimist - sickeningly so.  But right now I'm feeling very much a failure at pretty much everything and am almost wondering who I am to even be trying to do this, almost as though I'm completely ridiculous.  I just can't seem to get anything right and I'm not quite sure what to do about it. 

I think art - in all its forms - is a very baring, naked thing to do.  It's delicate but strong, frightening but brave.  You have to be honest if you want to create art, which is why I'm sharing this.  I don't know how many people actually read this, but if anyone does I feel that you deserve to know what goes on in my mind artistically and where I've been.  Sorry it isn't something exciting, like winning a castle and discovering the existence of unicorns and fairies, or something wonderful like that. 

Hopefully some great creative energy comes out of all of this.  One thing I will say is that I am fully empathetic for those who often battle depression.  This is some nasty stuff and I don't know how you all do it.  I was bed ridden for a few years with a heart ailment and this is on par with that.  I will forever pray for you all because this is just terrible.  But, as I wrote earlier, I feel I'm coming out of it so don't worry about me. 

The Winter Berry Lanterns 8x10 Photograph

Here's another photograph that I took of the Winter Berry/Chinese Lantern plant.  I can't get over how gorgeous this plant is!!  The colors of the husk are amazing.  I really like how saturated everything is in this photo. 

Deteriorating Lantern

I love this plant!  It goes by the names Winter Berry, Chinese Lantern, Japanese Lantern, Winter Cherry.  What you see is the husk that surrounds the fruit.  The husk starts out a bright orange-red.  It deteriorates to what you see, a gorgeous mixture of tan, red, orange with dark green splotches.

New Photograph is in the store!!!

I just added an 8x10 matte print of my photograph 'Curling Thoughts' to my etsy store.  CLICK HERE for a direct link! 

I used a Pentax K10D for this shot and printed it on Fujicolor Crystal Archive paper that will last forever.  

New item in my store!

Hi Awesome People,

My new glasses should be in pretty soon, so expect much more activity very soon!  Thankfully, being offline has brought an end to most of the migraines. 

I was able to add a photograph entitled 'Catching Glimmer, Reaching Stardust' in my Etsy store.  Here is a direct link.  It was done with true black and white film, but I printed it this time in color so that it has a toned hue.  That's my hand, with a still life set up in the background with intense light bouncing up.  It's sort of an esoteric, hopeful, dreamy piece and I quite like it.  It is professionally printed on Fujicolor Crystal Archive paper - and, if you don't know, when something it professionally printed that means it is a real photograph.  This is not done with a computer and a home printer.

I'm not sure why Blogger is doing this, but there are no white borders on the top and bottom of the print - only on the sides.  Print is on 8x10 paper, actual image size is 6 3/4" x 10".

A New Relic = Mother Mary

Headaches seem to have subsided - YAY! - and so I've finally been able to really get back to my art.  This is a piece that has been in production for about six months, off and on, that I showed you in my last post.  Well, it is nearing completion....finally.  You see, it is a piece of extremes.  Each step swings back and forth between gorgeousness and utter failure.  Currently, it is gorgeous. 

I'm still having some camera trouble.  Here it is in natural light and then with flash:

Art through Migraines!

I've been suffering through migraines the past few days, which has led to an artistic explosion today!  To me, it makes the pain worth it. 

First up is a spiritual piece depicting the Virgin Mary.  It is taped because glue is drying.  This is a 3D piece, and I'm sort of feeling my way through making this. 

The next is a doll head that I spent pretty much all day working on.  It is done in Sculpey clay and has yet to be baked [because I may decide it needs some more work]:

New Painting - Playful Mermaids!

I completed this new painting using a variety of new techniques.  With wet gesso, I transferred a photo I took onto a canvas, then applied gloss gel over it.  Before the gel dried, I gave the piece some texture by dipping into it with a paint brush.  I then applied some glass bead gel into some of the crevices and painted the piece in layers.  I'm pretty happy with it, but am having a problem properly photographing it - all photos came out blurry.  Then I realized that I could scan it.  ....I'm not too happy with the results, but it's all I have for now.  I want to get a proper scan done so that I can sell prints of this piece.

It's entitled Playful Mermaids:

....see what I mean about the photo/scan quality?

My Etsy Store Is Open!!!!

Hello lovelies!!!

I'm happy to announce the opening of my Etsy store, Panoptic Empyrean!  Please check it out, more items will be added all the time. 

In other news, check out the progress on my Raven Man:

A little something

Hello you wonderful people! 

Here is a new little piece I'm working on - the late rabbit!  Like with the birds, I'm not exactly sure how he'll be implemented.  He may become a brooch, pendant or be embedded within another piece of art.  Or perhaps just framed!  I used water color pencils, but only water blended in a few areas as I found that I quite liked the sketchy look. 

Raven Man

Hello lovelies! 

I'm currently working on a paperclay sculpture/doll piece.  I'm going to try to keep the wings capable of rotating in the finished piece.  I began the body and then decided to experiment with adding black paint to the clay on the wings.  It gave a nice chalky effect.  I think I might give him a vest and perhaps a hat or a crown.  Over the next few days I'll be sure to post more photos of my progress.  Hopefully by the time I'm done with him the store will be running! 

I'll be building up the lower body with more clay.  I wasn't sure about how to connect the wings and so I had to sort of feel things out.  My husband gave me the idea of doing a series of angels in this basic way.  I CAN'T WAIT!!  Once Raven Man is fully sculpted, I'll be sealing him, painting him and then sealing him again.  ...I've found that adding paint to unfinished paperclay makes the clay soft and details are lost. 

Bird musings

I love birds!  They're so cute and soft looking.  I got to raise a couple of wrens one summer when my Dad unknowingly bought a shrub with their nest in it at the local nursery.  It was a fantastic experience! 

Here are a few drawings I've done of birds, and more will surely follow.  Not sure exactly what I'm going to do with them.  Make them into pendants for necklaces or brooches?  Put them into little frames?  So many possibilities!!!  

You know what else I love?  Birds wearing clothing! 

Here's the one that started it all.  I've framed him in a cut aluminum can that's been painted and sealed [all sharp parts have been taken care of].  In the back there is a perforation in order to hang it upon the wall.  It's very rustic looking and I've applied a crackle finish with a stain. 

Gift for a friend

A dear friend of mine had all sorts of exciting life changes, and so I wanted to make her a gift.  Sculpture had always been my most beloved medium, yet I hadn't been able to sculpt in over 5 or 6 years.  In fact, before her, I had stopped doing any sort of art.  She encouraged me to start again, and look at how far I've come!  One of her favorite characters of all time is Loki the god of mischief.  I did a paper clay sculpture of him for her, and since she received it in the mail today I can now post it on my blog! 

Watercolors are fun

Hello lovelies! 

I've completed a watercolor of a young woman wearing a crocheted shawl.  I'm quite happy with it, but realize that I don't properly know how to stretch the paper so that it doesn't warp when dry.  Therefore, this will either be framed or shellacked to a board.  Got a book at the library, and it says that I need an absorbent board to put the paper on.  ....that is probably the problem, and one I need to fix.  I currently don't have an absorbent board, but I'm sure I can find something that will work. 

Doll Series

I plan on doing a series of dolls.  The original came about organically and quite unexpectedly.  Hand stitched of felt, sealed, painted and sealed again, the overall result is one that somehow speaks to me on a deep spiritual level.  Upon completion, my art took a turn from more gothic and creepy to uplifting and innocent humor.  Not to say that I don't like both - I do!  Anyone who knows me can attest to my love of all things creepy.  Yet this one little doll began a new branch on my art tree, one I'm excited to continue exploring.

So far I have two complete.  The first will never be sold.  I believe he was meant for me.  I love how he almost looks as though he's made of leather.  That serene, balanced look on his face is one that calms me.  Meditative.  Peaceful, like the true constant that our souls really are.

I've already depicted the second in the series, but will do so again: This is a guardian angel who's seen battle, but has won and is still strong and serene.  Angels are fascinating creatures and I adore them.

 

The store is about ready to go.  It's up, but there are a few little things to work out before I put up any products.  If even one of you is as excited as I am, this will do well!  Thanks so much for visiting and come back soon as the art just keeps coming! 

A New Piece

Hello Lovelies,

I wanted to show you all a new piece I've done.  As you can see, I have multiple styles.  This is a mixed media piece that can be interpreted in a variety of ways, and so I feel no need to explain what I was thinking.  You have your own fun there, my sweets!  I sculpted the face out of paper clay and have sealed it.  Measurements are Nearly 7"x1". 

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!  I'm so happy you're here!  This is quite exciting, the idea of sharing the artistic process here with you all.  In the coming days, I will be opening an Etsy store of this same name.  Don't worry, there will be a post when it is open for business! 

In this blog, I'll talk about and show what I'm working on, and will also show pieces as they are completed and added to my Etsy store.  There will likely be some chatter and musings here and there.

I'm very interested in making art out of discarded or seemingly useless items.  My latest passions are my watercolor pencils and paper clay.



Here are a few pieces I've recently finished:

This is a small wall hanging done in mixed media.  The wings and heart I sculpted from paper clay.  The entire piece has been sealed and there is a notch on the back to hang it on the wall.  What I really like about it is the gold paint I applied here and there.   Measures 6"x4.5".

Here is a piece made of cardboard, paint, wire and glue.  ...what can I say, I love flying hearts!  Piece measures 9.5"x4.5", add another 4.5" for the wire hanging.

This is a guardian angel who has seen some battle, but who is still strong and serene.  The angel is hand-stitched of felt and is painted and aged with acrylics and then sealed.  Piece measures 13.25"x9".