Still contemplating…

This painting is looking every bit as muddled up as my mind and heart.  I used 2 stencils with opaque paints.  I’m a “reformed” accountant and there are times I miss the counting parts of my life…  that’s why this number theme surfaces regularly in my work.  I’m also a fan of the butterfly for all it represents about life and transformation within life.  Perhaps a good title for this piece is “Counting on Transformation”…  I think I like it.  I still have a long way to go to make this into a painting but I think I have a plan now…  stay tuned.

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Contemplations in Green… acrylic, 15x22

I’m proud of myself – I cleaned up my studio!!!!  You can’t even imagine what a relief it is to re-organize that mess.  It frees the mind.  While tidying up I found a start [below] from Sept 17th and I puttered a bit more putting in some darks here and there.  It really was mindless doodling. Next I will add some opaques and hopefully push and pull it into some kind of a painting.  It felt good to spend some time in the studio.  I don’t feel fantastic about the results but, hey, it’s at least a step in the right direction.  It is definitely NOT about the product right now. 

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Good Jumpers [in progress, acrylic]

There’s a little row of bins on the way to the Leighton Centre and that’s what I had in my memory’s eye when I started this.  However, they bear a strong resemblance to the row of old wooden bins we had on our family farm back when I was a kid.  My sibs and I would take a run at the row and hop from one to the other like crazies!  We’d run down the entire row of [I think] 6 bins.  There were a few incidents but nothing too dramatic.  The more dangerous trick was “swimming” in the flax seed.  Yes, I can hear the collective sucking in of breath amongst all the farm folk out there – you can drown in that stuff it is so slippery.  I remember taking turns with Chuck…  one would slog across the bin and the other would sit on the braces ready to grab a hand if it was needed.  What a pair of brats we were sometimes. 

Anyway, I’m still struggling a bit trying to get into the studio.  I seem particularly stuck in the planning phase on paintings.  I cannot plan right now.  So, rather than judging myself and stressing about it I’ve decided to just play…  this was today’s play session.  I enjoyed it…  particularly once I recognized the row of bins and the fond memories from the farm. 

Now, I’m off to the FCA meeting…  Cheers!

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Sunrise cloud study… watercolor over acrylic on 140lb arches paper, 11”x15”

I’ve had precious little time for painting lately but I started this yesterday with some loose washes of acrylic in yellows and reds.  This watery application of acrylic doesn’t seal the paper and I was able to put the clouds and foreground in today.  I hope this will kick start me into painting again.  It’s been a rough few weeks for me and my family.  I know that painting is one of the best things I can do for myself and I need to be doing it more regularly.  Hopefully that starts right now. 

Ciao!

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Memories of Chuck [slideshow]

I've put this slide show together in honor of my brother, Chuck Matson. He was born on my first birthday and left this earth September 24th, 2010 doing one of the things he most loved - flying. We will miss him but know that he is in a much better place - think of the flying he'll be doing there....
Music credits: Faith Hill singing "There Will Come a Day" [songwriters Christopher Lindsey, William C. Luther, Aimee Mayo]Matt & Beth Redman singing their song "You Never Let Go"Natalie Grant singing "Held", [songwriter Christa Wells]
There are thousand of photos of Chuck. Most of these are from the perspective of the Matson family. May these memories of Chuck comfort you as they have me. God Bless!
Love,Cheryl
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Purple Pepper [10”x13”, watercolor & pencils]

Lindsey and I set up this still life and spent a lovely hour or two playing with our paints last Saturday at her house in East Coulee.  It’s such a relaxing place and I love to visit Caracol Studio and admire Janet Grabner’s pottery.  Sorry, no website to link to for her but look her up if you’re out to the Drumheller area.  Such a fun place to shop and chat!

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Abstracting with acrylic on baltic birch…

Today I covered up some “duds” with lots of white gesso.  What a GREAT feeling ;-)  The surfaces looked so clean and inviting and I just mucked about in my paints and doodled creating…  this.  I have no idea what it’s going to grow up to be or even IF I’ll explore further on it.  But, it was sure fun today! 

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