"Willow Study"Oil on Panel
8x10"
Sorry I've been MIA for the past couple of months. I tend to blog in my free time, and there just isn't much free time when I'm trying to meet all of the needs of a three year old and an infant and keep up with painting! I also apologize to those of you who have emailed me who I haven't had time to respond to. I love hearing from people and I feel badly when I don't reply quickly - hopefully I'll get caught up in the next couple of months.
Luckily, Owen is in that nice not-yet-mobile-sleep-half-the-day-away phase right now, so I have been painting. I had sort of planned to take an informal three month leave from painting so I could just enjoy the baby phase, but a few weeks after he was born I was all excited about painting again so I got the studio all organized and got back to it. Given a choice between cleaning house or painting while the baby sleeps, I think I'd choose painting anyday.
I've been busy getting caught up on my mailing list and financials, which I've totally neglected for months, and I'm working on some goals for 2010. Mostly though, I'm just trying to do some good paintings when I have the time, and experimenting with some new techniques and ideas.
Most artists will tell you that you should paint everyday, or as much as possible, so you don't get rusty. I agree with this for the most part, but I've also noticed that my art tends to grow when I take time off for big life events. When I had Aspen, and now having Owen, the time I took off gave me more appreciation for my art, but also a different sensitivity for things when I returned, and my style shifted a bit accordingly. I don't know how to explain it, but it makes returning to the studio more fun.
Anyhow, hopefully I'll be posting more regularly in the new year. In the meantime, this is a tiny little painting I did a few weeks ago. It's just a color study, and I was also working on edges a bit since I tend to keep everything a bit too sharp sometimes. I'd love to make this into a bigger painting - I love the contrast between the hot sunlight hitting the willows, and the coldness of the snowy landscape.
Dear Stacy,
ReplyDeleteNice to see you back! Time off is unavoidable sometimes, and it can be very productive. I like the new painting -- and "little" isn't bad, when there's no time for big. cheers!
Beautiful piece. Love the contrast w/ the warm and cool. When my kids (now 25 & 22) were little, I treated myself to a cleaning lady 2x/mo. I just couldn't get to everything and couldn't stand the dirt! As they got older we all pitched in. Just do what you can do!
ReplyDeletebeautifully executed piece....you have grown....:)
ReplyDeletegood to have you blogging again.
Beautiful sense of light. Great to see your work again.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! Beautiful painting but your masterpiece is that beautiful baby!
ReplyDeleteHaving children keeps our women artist lives in balance I think. I found that I was more focused on my art, because that art time was so precious.
ReplyDeleteAs someone once explained it to me, you're not taking a break, you're getting a running start to begin something big.
ReplyDeleteLove this little painting! Do you usually do a small study before you do a larger one, or did the study just happen and now you want to take it further?
Welcome back!
Nice painting : D
ReplyDeleteBeautiful -
ReplyDeleteI stayed up till three o'clock reading your blog and your website, and it encouraged me so much. Just like you, I loved art since childhood and was convinced that I should pursue a stable career in the field of science and engineering instead. When in school for my Ph.D. I took a painting workshop and fell in love with it all over again. Now that I have got a job working as an application scientist, I don't know whether I should still keep trying and dreaming to be a full time painter one day... After reading through your thoughts and advice, for the first time in years I started to see clearly what I need to do -- try to build a potfolio, taking a workshop with an artist I admire, and try to submit to juried shows although I am scared to death of that rejection letter... Thank you -- I am just reminded that I should not be the worst enemy of myself, and by not doing what I really love, I am not becoming any happier or better. Thank you - this is an important day of my life, and I now have an example to follow. Wish you all the best in your life, careerwise and family, and thank you so much again.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the major life events can add to the importance of what you do. A new child - the want to be sure that that child will know that you take what you do in life seriously and hopefully with joy. Also the big events make significant passage of time. That always inspires me to be sure that every work is the best I can do. Life seems shorter, or at lest more precious with those moments.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see your new work, Stacy. You are always an inspiration.
This painting has a wonderful contrast! Is a good idea to do a larger work. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteHi Stacey,
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog - great work and very informative. Willow Study is very nicely painted I especially like the colors. Very rich.
Steve D'Amato
A lovely painting!!
ReplyDeleteLove this one!
ReplyDelete