PEEKABOO BEAR and TWINROCKER PAPER

This last painting was created on Twinrocker Paper.

There is a story about this particular paper.  W a a a a a y back in the 1990's I visited the Twinrocker Paper Company with some other students from the watercolor classes I was taking.  The facility is located in Brookston, IN, just north of West Lafayette (home of Purdue University).

We all drove up together and had a tour of the facility which, as you can see from their website, you can still do today.  As I recall, it didn't cost us much, and we had lunch at a small diner just down the street.  I recall the most delicious soup and sandwich - maybe I was just famished, or it was truly delish!  Have no idea what the name of the place was, nor if it still exists.

Our tour was very informative as well as warm and moist!  It ended in a room filled with newly made paper!  All shapes, including circles and ovals, and all sizes.  I purchased about 5 pieces of full size paper and a couple of smaller ones.  When I got home I put them away since they were hand made and precious.  I decided to wait until I was a better painter before I used any of them.  They have resided inside the bag they came in until this year!

When I was looking for paper for this particular painting I finally decided that I was ready for the Twinrocker!  About time!!!

The paper is not competely flat as other w/c paper, and has more movement - little hills and valleys.  I'll be curious to see how, or if, it will flatten before I frame it.  It is also  about an inch smaller both width and height.

It handled very well as far as taking the paint - of course, this was acrylic versus watercolor, so I'll be curious and excited to try another "precious" sheet for a watercolor painting.

PEEKABOO BEAR - FINAL

Here is the completed (I think!) painting of "Peekaboo Bear".

"Peekaboo Bear", Chroma Flow Acrylic on Twinrocker paper, full sheet.

Twinrocker is a hand made paper and is slightly smaller than regular paper.

PEEKABOO BEAR - 4 (Chroma Flow Acrylics)

Step 8 - Here I have added a bit more to the yellow bear.

 Step 9 - Some shadowing begun on the blue bear.

 Step 10 - Blue bear darkened, eyes and nose added to yellow bear.

AcrylicWorks 2: Radical Breakthroughs

I received a surprise Saturday.

My friend Chris Beck emailed me to say she had seen a Northlight promotional email with my work featured.

When you enter most competitions your entry is an agreement for your work to be used in promotional materials.  (If you are like me, you sign the waiver so you can enter the competition, but never expect your work to actually be considered good enough to be used!)

Nevertheless - after receiving her email, I looked on my phone and, sure enough, there was my painting featured in the promo for the new AcrylicWorks 2:  Radical Breakthroughs book.

I immediately showed it to my husband, I was so excited!  In case you are interested - here it is!  (Scroll down to 3 - Still Lifes)

NEW in the North Light Shop: AcrylicWorks 2

AcrylicWorks 2: Radical Breakthroughs Edited by Jamie Markle What is considered a radical breakthrough in art? The second edition in the AcrylicWorks series works to showcase radical breakthroughs from over 100 top contemporary acrylic artists - whether it's a unique use of color, a different approach or style, an unusual subject matter, the method of painting, composition, or creative brushstrokes. Discover insight from each artist on their work and learn something new, delight your eyes, and find inspiration to create your own radical breakthroughs. Inside AcrylicWorks 2: Radical Breakthroughs you will find: Artwork from 116 acrylic artists 126 works paired with fresh from the studio insight from the artists themselves A variety of subject matter including landscapes, people, still lifes, animals, and abstract art Retail: $35.00 Your price: $24.92 Order Now Download eBook

Take a look at several included works and hear from the artists:

Another Crossroads | Acrylic on panel | 30" × 80" diptych "The process begins with a long hike, bottle of water, sketch pad and camera. All of my landscape work is derived from my experience in nature. I take many pictures, inspired notes and sketches. I combine these experiences in the studio and compose my work. Painting an idea can take on a life of its own, and I have found it is best to follow that muse rather than fight it." --Darien Bogart

DISCONNECT | Acrylic and Inktense pencils on canvas | 36" × 30" "Viewing old photos opened the floodgates of memory for me. I started painting these figurative pieces, telling the stories of my difficult childhood. It was as though the paint could not hit the canvas fast enough. They became my healing journey, an absolution between me and my mother. The painting starts with a rough sketch of a pose and stylish clothing from one of the old photos. Symbolic items are added as the story grows." --Marla Thirsk

Poured Yupo Peony | Fluid acrylics with tape on Yupo | 13" × 19" "Having been asked to do a demo pouring paint onto Yupo, I chose fluid acrylics rather than watercolors. I drew a peony, one of my favorite flowers, easy to draw and paint. To save white areas I used masking tape, then poured the first layer of paint. Additional pouring layers were created using blue painter's tape, which released easily, not pulling paint from the painting, and allowed paint to bleed underneath." --Deb Ward Pima Cotton | Acrylic on PVC board | 11" × 15 1/2" "I remember taking the photographic reference for Pima Cotton at a zoo. That in itself is unremarkable. It's the fact that this western cottontail was deftly hopping around feeding on grass under the hooves of a group of Burchell's zebras. As they walked around, the bunny seemed to want to stay in their shade in spite of being in peril of getting stepped on." --T.J. Lick What Lies Beneath | Acrylic and heavy gel on canvas | 20" × 16" "One of my most popular workshops is "Experimental Acrylic." What Lies Beneath began as a demo for my class using large swaths of thinned black paint to create a strong design. I allowed drips to form and the mostly rectilinear shapes were then filled with either heavy gel applied with a palette knife or brush, or thin glazes of transparent colors." --Kay Brathol-Hostvet Learn more and claim your copy of AcrylicWorks 2 today!

3 - Still Life


https://us-mg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=fp6g3ggafbcha#5002831559

PEEKABOO BEAR - 3 (Chroma Flow Acrylics)

Step 5 - More color added to the red bear and the rug.

Step 6 - Now working on the light brown bear.

Step 7 - Here I've added the little brown bear and worked more on the other two bears.

This is really a fun painting - same techniques I usually use, just a very different subject!

QUICK REVIEW OF 2014

At the end of each year I usually take a look back at what happened in the prior Art Year.

This past year my artwork was accepted into:

• 121^st Woman’s Art Club Juried Exhibit – The Anniversary Clock won the Winsor & Newton Award
• Georgia Watercolor Society National Exhibit - Swirls
• Hoosier Salon – Japanese Tea won the Outstanding Watercolor Award and sold that evening!
• 46^th Annual ViewPoint National Juried Exhibit – Swirls and Daisies on Daisies
• The Artist’s Magazine 31^st Annual Art Competition: Still Life/Interior (Finalist) – “Oriental Roses” (Acrylic), “Yin Yang Mums” (Watercolor)
• Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s 35^th Annual International Juried Exhibition (received Signature) – Flights of Fancy
• Watercolor Society of Indiana Annual Juried Show (received Signature) – Industrial Revolution
• Two of my paintings have been published in the book Artistic Touch 6 – Red Paisley Scarf and Flights of Fancy

In addition, I held two workshops.

My plan for this year is to take time to simply produce more work, so I may not be entering as many shows this year.  It will depend on what I have available, and I’m not going to put myself under that “deadline” pressure.  We shall see!

My best wishes to all of you in your artistic endeavors this year.

PEEKABOO BEAR - 2 (Chroma Flow Acrylics)

Step 3 - Adding color around the bears (a little bit of negative painting) 

Step 4 - Adding more color to the background and rug.  Then I began painting the "peekaboo" bear!