Audie...

Meet Audie, a glamazon from the 1940s. She ended up looking a bit like Lauren Bacall, though not intended. I'm working on some acrylic paintings for the first time in I don't know when. Rusty is the word! It feels so good to get back into that practice. Will share when I have something worthy :)

The first tinges of crimson and gold have been appearing here... I love this time of year. Happy Tuesday!

Catching up with Faces...

Had a chance to paint some of last week's prints. The last one still needs even more futzing. But, I like her hair... rarely do curly hair, so it was fun to try. The first lady ended up looking a lot like Sarah Jessica Parker! Not at all meant to be her, she's actually a teenager named Jetta. (was a teen in the 1970s). Woodcarving can sometimes be like clay. You never know what you're going to get when opening the kiln and same for pulling a print from the press! I love that about printmaking.

I will actually be on time for 100 faces Thursday tomorrow. New drawings and wood being carved to share... which are based on an 11th century sculptor. See you tomorrow!

Ultimate Spa?

You know how some people put their beds outside to sleep under the stars... especially where the sun shines a lot? Well, I thought bathing by the light of the moon would be divine. But not in a murky, dark pond - no, a claw foot tub would be best. Never mind who has to fill the tubs or heat the water... just to enjoy the soak is most important.

(sidebar... the movie, A Room with A View has a great scene where many of the male characters go for a swim but they call it to 'go for a bathe'. This must be the female version of that idea)

Fireside - apres swim

Fireside - apres swim, originally uploaded by Tea and Ink.

Without even realizing it, I've begun a series of water/swimmers. They just came from some more 'big paper sketches' done recently. These 2 friends have just been out at the beach sunning and swimming. Love the idea of a warm, bright fire after a day at the beach... sand in the toenails, salt on the skin and a good feeling of exhaustion.

More to come - click on photo to see more at flickr.

More Telephone Ladies at Luncheon

India ink on Arches Cover paper. I want to add some funky sofa or busy, old-timey wallpaper. Wish time travel was possible... I'd love to visit other eras to experience it first-hand.

Portraits

Cal Champ... barely begun

Last night, I sketched out this lady on 'big paper' with watered down paint. I liked the pose but didn't have the patience for the hands... I need to do some hand studies, it's been too long since I've really drawn them! She's got these deep set, large kind of 'bulgy' eyes that I really like. I hope to capture them in a better way as I work through the painting. So, this is the California State Champion - Tennis. (Inspired by my grandmother as well as my father who both held the title - respectively- back in the day.)

I had a chance to work this morning on my new lady...I like the purple, my daughter's room is painted a few shades lighter. (painted by moi, 9 months pregnant and in a tizzy of nesting!) Anyway, I think it's a great shade - it's got a bit of yellow in it to neutralize and white with a hint of black. Really enjoying painting her!

The Good Mother Series

Painting yesterday, I had an idea to paint a 'good mother' series (and perhaps bad mother too). These are a few beginnings from the easel. I'm really excited about these, I think they're going to be really fun to do. (I have an obsession with doing faces).

On another note... one of my great, old friends is coming into town tomorrow. I've been cleaning like a mad woman! It'll be great to hang out with her and I'm taking her to my favorite place to eat. It's kind of fancy but lunch time seems to be OK to bring kids... we'll see :)

My BFF

Well, I'm not one to text message (in fact - never have done it!) But, here is one of the greatest friends ever... my BFF, Miss Martha! She's got such a great face and a beautiful personality... I love drawing her. Sadly, we don't live in the same city... but I got to visit her this summer for a short little while. Of course it was like no time had passed and we had a great time chatting the night away eating and sipping wine. There's nothing like getting together with old friends... now I want to call her! (these are pencil drawings on paper - sketchbook)

Bed in Winter

I finally committed to it and made this felted 'collage' into a pillow. (I was undecided for quite a while what it would 'be') She will be in an upcoming show at the end of October. I've never shown pillows at a gallery before so this will be different for me. But, I do consider myself part 'fiber artist' so it's not that big of a leap! I have some new purses for the show too that I'm pretty excited to show... stay tuned for those. I may have to keep them secret 'til after the opening. On that note - to all a good night!

3 Generations

Sketch of my maternal grandmother

Sketch of my maternal great-grandmother

My daughter at the beach ... 21 mo old. (arg! the far arm and leg are pretty funky - I'll be editing in a new drawing...this is when I miss using pencil)

I had a cancellation in my usual Wednesday routine and jumped at the chance to catch up on some painting and drawing while my daughter played at the sand table! Searching around the house for some people to draw, I ran across an old Thanksgiving photograph I recently acquired and started drawing. (I think it's from the late 1940's). I like to change up the hair and clothing sometimes - just for fun. There's more to share in the coming days... hopefully I'll have some of them painted.

Mary

Here is Mary - she is one of many drawings I've been doing lately. But... I've also made several ugly, unsuccessful drawings. What is going on? I guess I'm having a slump - hopefully I'm going to come out of it soon. I'll be finishing Mary soon and doing more faces - maybe some men?!

Happy hump day.

More Faces

Of course these are not finished... the hair and background need to be done. But, here are a few doodle-y faces I did. I love drawing faces, the eyes are my fave and if given the chance, I tend to exaggerate the eyes. In high school, I doodled eyes in so many margins of my notebooks -there's so much to be read in a person's eyes and the psychology behind them.

Tea

Tea, by Brenda. 28" x 38" acrylic on canvas

Here's a painting I did a few years back... it's one of my favorites. It sold right away and I did a small woodblock print of the image. I did a 'Tea' series of women having tea and they all sold,
I guess there are a few of us die hard tea drinkers out there! I should pick up where I left off and do some more, I've been wanting to do some larger paintings again.... it's just finding the time to actually finish them. (I have a few going in my studio that I need to finish - maybe with school starting again I might have the chance.)

Odette

Preliminary crayon rubbing on woodblock.

This lovely lady is the latest mini print I've been working on. She's looking a bit serious and of course she's in progress. I'm getting close to printing 3-4 new images and will post them soon!

Barefoot Friends

Woodblock print 8 x 10 in.

Here's another new print for spring. It is also done from a painting I did years ago in art school, a favorite. I'd never sell the painting so making a print is a nice way to share it without really "parting with it". :)

Flowers in her Hair

Jewel Box Painting to be finished in the next few days.

Pensive Milly in Easy Chair, 1954

Jewel Box in progress...

Test Print

Here's a test print of Barefoot Friends in dark blue ink. I have more carving to do now!

Relief Crayon Rubbing

Barefoot Friends Woodcut

Here is a preliminary rubbing I achieved with my son's art supplies. I use his 'big paper' (newsprint) and an unwrapped crayon to rub my woodcut and see how it's

looking. (the newsprint works better than the computer paper I've been using). This is a great way to check it at the table before even doing a test print. Since we all have head colds, printing the other day did not happen - but I'm shooting for sometime this week!

Santa Monica Pier

Woodblock print 4 x 6 in.

I took a photo of this lady reading a book sitting on a bench at the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. She looks quite average here, but in real life she was absoutely eccentric... dressed in a tube dress and low heels, about ??? 70-75 years old. I caught a glimpse of her and knew she was a painting waiting to be painted! (perhaps in the painting I plan on... I can capture the 'real lady')