Midland Texas Art Show

The opening of the Midland show was last night, and we got lost, but got there just in time for the awards. I hadn't seen the program or looked around so when the President of the college called my name for Honorable Mention, I was so shocked. Not only was there a ribbon, but also a nice check to go with it! I wasn't really sure how this would be accepted in the art world because there is VERY little acrylic paint on it. The rest is torn up magazine pages. It is such fun, and very addictive.

West Texas Watercolor Society Show

'Garden Chair'

Our fall show started last week, and this painting got a 2nd place.

This chair is in our yard by the pond, and I normally keep some sort of flower on it.

There is beauty everywhere you look! Even in your own back yard.

Lone Star

'Lone Star'
12 x 12 canvas

This is another Torn paper collage, with very little acrylic, mainly for a shadow.
This is also for the Austin Show, and I made sure Austin showed on the Texas map.
Not that it would matter, but somebody might like it on there! I tried to make it more
masculine, not so 'girl-ee.'

New Spurs Series

'Texas Spurs'
Sold


'New Spurs 4'

'Floral'
'New Spurs 3'

There is a show in Austin so I thought I would do some boots for that. The work has to be 12 x 12. I normally don't paint for shows, but thought the boots would be fun to send, plus mixed media is accepted. These are also torn paper. There is very little paint on them. I just decided since I have done 3 ,I would just call them a series.

Rodeo Clown

'Rodeo Clown'
16x20
(canvas)

This is my 4th collage with torn paper. The 16x20 got very large before I could finish.
I was wondering why in the world i used it, but it was what I had on hand.
This is very creative, and I believe it might be intuitive too, because you sort of do what looks or feels right. I am still using acrylics here and there. It makes me feel better, and makes me feel like I am really painting. I am surprised at the rich colors you can get using this method.
I have a new one sketched off. Plus I have been working on some more 'New Spur' paintings.

Riding the Circuit 2

'Riding the Circuit 2'
12x16

This is another torn paper collage, done on canvas. The tearing, and finding the right texture is a challenge.And a mess! Little pieces of paper all over the floor.

There is black golden liquid acrylics and I also splattered some paint.
The outside edges have towns and map on it. These won't be framed.

New Spurs

"New Spurs"

This 'torn paper' collage is very addictive, and so much fun!
This is from a photo that I took in Clovis NM of some boots and spurs.
Searching through a magazine looking for the right texture and color is time consuming but I am getting faster at it. I call it my paper palette. Derek Gores, a collage artist, told me to just be free, let go and use some wild things in my work, so I did. I was skeptical about using a brooch for the spur but it worked! and added some fun to it. I am going to add what he wrote after seeing my Bronc Rider. You can look him up...and see his amazing work
www.Derekgores.com plus he is on Facebook.

Your piece looks great...! I work very quickly, so I like that the gloss dries fast... and the gloss makes the colors pop out more.
one thought for you on the next one. For things like the fringes, try finding a texture in the printing that mimics that slightly, rather than cutting out individual fringes. could be some stacked letters, or a picture of a fence, or windows in a building maybe. also, try finding pieces that satisfy more than one area at a time. for ex, maybe a piece that has some white and then some brown could be used for the edge of the horse and the background at the same time. and i suggest mixing it up more, rather than just making the whole background a map, be a little more free. anything whiteish could work back there. try an assortment where the pics are a mix of close and far away... for ex a map feels far away.. imagine overlapping that with something super close up... the white of an eye maybe? that near/far spatial play makes these things reallllly dynamic. try that approach throughout. people realllly like saying things like 'wow she used a strawberry and a corvette for part of the scarf!'
try things that are vastly different than the object they will create. don't just go for the right color, go for surprising textures.

enjoy!!
derek
and feel free to include my thoughts on your blog if u wish.