Love

Day Thirty of the Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge: "Love"

Here it is, my final piece! Yay, I did it!

Look, what Momma made for her precious children. "Food is love", she thought, and spent all morning cooking breakfast. But for some reason they just won't eat it.

I am so happy I got to use my Joy of Jell-o book again. I find every single dish in this book so irresistibly repellent that I am driven to incorporate a Jell-o dish whenever possible. The "Crown Jewel Dessert" (on the right) is described as "a spectacular dessert that fits busy schedules."

Mixed media: acrylics, ink, book pages and clippings, on canvas panel, 12" x 16"

I said I'm sorry

 
Day Twenty-nine of the 30 in 30 Challenge: "I said I'm sorry"


Inspired by the beautiful autumn day and the infinite tallness of our trees, I thought I'll do a pencil drawing for a change.   

(Only one more to go!)

Mixed media: colored pencils, book clippings, on Bristol paper, 17" x 11"

Y'all come in!

 

Day Twenty-eight of the 30 in 30 Challenge: "Y'all come in!"

This is sort of an updated version of Hansel and Gretel.

(Can you find Dog?)

Mixed media: acrylics, ink, storybook pages and clippings, pencils,
on canvas panel, 20" x 16"

Dog and Owly

Day Twenty-seven of the 30 in 30 Challenge: "Dog and Owly"

I was working all day on a larger piece but then realized that I won't be able to finish it today. I had to rethink and come up with something small instead.

My kids suggested that I do something with their best friends in it. And that's what I did.

Drawing: ink, watercolor, black colored pencil, on watercolor paper, approximately 7" x 7"

Time Lapse

 

Day Twenty-six of the 30 in 30 Challenge: "Time Lapse"

Yesterday, I was randomly painting with watercolor on a small canvas, and when I looked at it later I had this immediate vision of a birth canal. So I made this piece about the origin of human life, and evolution, and the assumption that life began in water. 

Mixed media: watercolor, ink, dictionary and storybook clippings, on watercolor canvas panel, 7" x "5

Taboo

Day Twenty-five of the 30 in 30 Challenge: "Taboo"

Living in the States, and especially in the South, has taught me a lot of things about this society. For example, I learned about the very numerous taboos that I  didn't expect in a multicultural and "free" country like this one.

So this one is about taboos. About the fat taboo that just won't go away. And about the small one that, sooner or later, will grow into a big no-no.

Mixed media: watercolor, ink, dictionary and storybook clippings, on watercolor canvas panel. 12" x 12"

 

Dance

Day Twenty-four of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: "Dance"

I found a quote by Hans Bos who is a social education researcher (at AIR): 
"While I dance I can not judge, I can not hate, I can not separate myself from life.  I can only be joyful and whole. This is why I dance."

Inspired by everything that has been going on in this country lately.

Mixed media: Acrylics, pages and clippings from storybooks, ink,
on canvas panel, 12" x 16"

Out of the Frying Pan

Day Twenty-three of the 30-in-30 Challenge: "Out of the Frying Pan"

... and into the fire.

Who would have thought that this charming girl has a pitfall in her chamber. - My apologies to all the kind-hearted Lindas in my life.

Mixed media: watercolor, ink, book clippings, on watercolor canvas panel, 8" x 10".

Now what

Day 22 of the  30in30 Challenge: "Now what"

I have to catch up, therefore I made just a very small piece.

Mixed media: watercolor, ink, crayon, pencils, dictionary clipping, on watercolor paper. 4.5" x 4.5"

 

Help Yourself

Day Twenty-One of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: "Help Yourself"

This is the piece that I meant to post yesterday but it took me so very long to finish it. Anyways, here it is, and honestly, I am thrilled about it. I really like it. Even though, I have to admit, it is a little odd. When my son looked at it he was very concerned and asked if I would cook something like that in the near future.

The idea behind this piece comes from an expression that is very common here but that I found quite obscure when I heard it for the very first time - a long time ago. I was visiting my sister in the States who was an exchange student there. Her host family was having a bbq for us and they were so kind and wonderful and then they said "Please, help yourself!" It sounded so general, like a life motto. And I said "Thank you" because I was thanking for the good advice and direction.

What can I say. "Help yourself" says it all.

Watercolor, ink, yellowed pages and clippings from books and Rolling Stone on cheap canvas panel. 16" x 20"

The Long Count

 

Day Twenty: "The Long Count" (30 Paintings in 30 Days)

I can relate to the Mayan Calendar (the "Long Count") because for a few weeks I have been feeling like I am thrown into a different time dimension. Part of it is certainly the 30-in-30 project which is intense, and my mind is always there.

The other part is that I have started going to "CrossFit". I never thought I would. I never thought I actually would! So now I am finding myself constantly counting. How many dead lifts, push-ups, or American kettle bell swings will I do, how far will I row? How many ounces of water have I had today? How many years have I gained?

These are my work-out shoes. I really wanted red ones. Like Andersen's "The Red Shoes" that couldn't stop dancing.

Mixed media: watercolor, ink, book clippings, on water color canvas panel, 12" x 12"

What to believe

 


Day Eighteen of the 30 in 30 Challenge: "What to Believe" 

Something about trust, truth, and monsters under the bed.

Mixed media: watercolor, crayon, ink, and clippings from an old dictionary on watercolor paper, 5.5" x 7.5"

Sending My Love

 

Day Eighteen of the 30in30 Challenge: "Sending My Love"

A little tale about love and projections, desire and persistence.

I never had long-distance relationships, so I don't know what it really feels like. I had a pen-friendship though, when I was growing up. For many years, I was frequently exchanging letters with a student in England. He told me what was going on in his country and in his life, and I told him what was going on in my country and in my life. I thought I knew so much about him. But when we actually met he was a stranger. Of course.

Mixed media: watercolor, ink, crayon, storybook clippings on watercolor paper, 7.5" x 5"



   

Infertility

 
 

Day 17 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: "Infertility"

When I did the "Portals" (Day 13) I used yellowed book pages for the floors of the padded room, and I really liked the look and feel of it. For this piece I applied the same technique for the dress to give my "Infertility" a mummy-like yet festive appearance.

My idea was to make "infertility" into an allegory comparable with the allegories of the seasons, for example, or with Lady Justice. Therefore I wanted to give her a classy and confident appearance rather than a pitiful sad look. After all, it is, what it is. And it's okay.

Mixed media: watercolor, ink, yellowed pages and clippings from storybooks on watercolor canvas panel, 12" x 9".

Save Our Souls

 

Day 16 of the 30 in 30 Challenge.

Stranded on a lonely island. And all the mustard is gone! SOS! 

I think, I am going a little nuts now. Good news: I Finally got to use my "The Joy of Jell-o" book.

Mixed media: watercolor, ink, book clippings, on watercolor paper, 15" x 11".

Competition

Day 15 of the 30 in 30 challenge, which means, I am halfway through! I love this kind of pressure, it has been working for me.

"Competition" is actually inspired by my small watercolor/ink painting "Fertilization" that I did for Day 6. This one is much larger though, 14" x 18".

I think, I like it.

Watercolor and ink on watercolor canvas panel.

Nothing's Impossible

Day 14 of the 30 in 30 Challenge: "Nothing's Impossible"

I am happy to use my beloved toadstools again, this time in a very different context. It's a wonderland, and amazing things can happen there, please draw your own conclusions.

Mixed media: pencils, watercolor, ink, and storybook clippings on artboard, 14" x 11".

Portals

Day 13 of the 30 in 30 Challenge

I am so excited I have made it so far! It is the thirteenth, and some superstitious people may say that 13 is not a good number at all. Well, in order to even this out I have incorporated a toadstool - for Germans that is the lucky charm.

I have made a mixed media piece which is different from the other ones that I have made lately: I have used the cover of an old storybook for a canvas panel and its old yellowed paper for the background scenery. I really like the texture. Some of the portals are open and you can see the pattern of the book cover. There is one portal that hasn't opened completely; it looks like that there is a thin film or membrane still in place.

Anyway, I call this one "Portals".
I find the idea of portals quite intriguing, thus to be able to visit parallel worlds. Especially if those portals lead to a gigantic loony bin. Who wouldn't like to dive in there once in a while, just for a few minutes during lunch break maybe.

Watercolor, ink, paper and clippings from an old storybook, on book hard cover, 12" x 8.5"

The Good and The Bad

Day Twelve of the 30 in 30 Challenge: "The Good and the Bad"

I have based this piece on the Japanese "Notan" concept which considers opposites as parts of one unity. For example: there wouldn't be light without darkness, so darkness is part of light, and vice versa. I definitely prefer this concept over the Western idea of viewing "positive space" as the contraposition of "negative space."

Anyways, it is Fall season. Some people may want to go mushroom hunting.

Acrylics and origami paper on art board,  11" x 14"

I told you so

Day 11 of the 30 in 30 Challenge: "I told you so"

Something is going to happen here, probably something really bad. - But "Hooray!" to the girl for making her own decisions, no matter what. That's my credo.

Watercolor, ink, clippings from old storybooks (7.5" x 5.75")

Left Field

30 in 30 Challenge, Day 10: "Left Field"

Time to harvest! This is a little story about ripeness and maturity, expectations and surprises, and things that don't make any sense.

Mixed media (watercolor, ink, book clippings), 11" x 7.5"

Bubbles

Day Nine of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge, initiated by artist Leslie Saeta.

"Bubbles."
I am originally from Germany, a country where the concept of "bubbles" is quite unknown. Therefore it really surprised me when I first came to the States and people were excusing themselves whenever they felt they came too close, like in a grocery aisle.

This piece is about those bubbles. With all their pros and cons.

Mixed media (water color, ink, book clippings),  15" x 11"

It's a Bird!

Day Eight of the 30 in 30 Challenge: "It's a Bird!"

It was love at first sight when I found this hysterical girl in some torn old book. And she grew even more on me while I was cutting her out. I felt that she deserved a new life and an epiphany moment.

This is her story:
Penguins are the only birds she ever saw, so she does not have the right picture of what being a bird really is about. Some birds want to fly but can't. Some birds can fly but don't want to. Or they forgot how to. What kind of bird is she?

Watercolor, ink, book clippings. 12x9"

Chance of Rain

Day Seven of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: "Chance of Rain"

Always prepare yourself for the unlikely!

This person I actually clipped from several (very brittle) books. Interestingly, it was hard to find boots in the right size which would point to the left, and not to the right.

White pencil on black paper, book clippings (6.25 x 3.5").

Fertilization

Day 6 of the 30 in 30 Challenge: "Fertilization"

A small water color and ink painting (5.5 x 7.5").

I was actually thinking about the time when I was considered an old woman by doctors but wanted to be a mother anyway. To give birth to a child was the only topic that was occupying my mind for a long time. It was quite a stressful journey.

Hold on

 
  

Day 5 of the 30 in 30 Challenge.

Again, I made a mixed media piece: water color and ink with collage details (9x12"). I am actually quite happy how this turned out.

I wanted to do something about life, and how it is so full and fast. So hold on, take a minute. And hold on to what you love.    

Let me in

 

Day 4 of the 30 in 30 Challenge: "Let me in."

Again, this is a mixed media piece with water color, ink, and collage.

In a way, this is a variation of the lipstick-wearing pig: The mouse is a world traveler, she is educated, well-off, and has a sense of style. But she is not welcome to someone's home, no matter what. The mouse is just a mouse, after all.

(7.25 x 11")

Decisions Decisions

 

Day three of the 30 in 30 Challenge. 

I always found it interesting to see what people do with their lives and what kind of decisions they make for themselves. And why do I go this path and not the other one.

When either way is good, which one will I choose? When either way is bad, which one will I choose? - This piece is called "Decisions Decisions."

Watercolor, ink, and collage.

Stepmothers

My second piece for the 30 in 30 challenge. I call it "Stepmothers" simply because the German word for "pansies" literally means, well, "little stepmothers". I like that.
This one is a lot larger than my average work, 16 x12". Oil pastels.

Openings

After four years of teaching art I decided to pause for a while and focus more on my own work. I have learned so much through teaching, and I want to apply what I have learned. I don't really know what I am going to make though, not exactly, that is. I used to make small and very detailed 3-D objects and miniature drawings, most of them based on the traditions of (German) storytelling and playing. My heart is still there somehow but I am also ready for a change. The small format is my comfort zone, therefore I want to challenge myself and try to make more and more bigger pieces.

I am a storyteller. I tell stories to my kids, and I tell stories through the things I make. I see stories in all kinds of random objects, and love the idea of putting those objects together to create even greater stories. Obviously, and naturally, I am drawn to collage. I haven't done collage much but I feel this is where I belong.

When I came across the "30 in 30" Challenge, I thought it was a great way to get myself into a new routine. Thirty paintings in thirty days! This means, for all September I will daily post the piece that I have created that day. I am not really a canvas painter. I love oil pastels though, and ink. And I want to experiment with mixed media.

I signed up for the 30 in 30 challenge knowing that I cannot compete with all the amazing artists that are going to post their fantastic pieces every day. I am competing with myself, and I hope that this process will help me grow. - I spent all morning trying this and that. At the end I made a small drawing with collage that I call "Openings."