Feeling Lucky

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Twenty-Nine:  "Feeling Lucky"

 

I finally got to use my little frog friend. For weeks he's been waiting in line to be glued on, and today was the day to make that happen. 

 

The illuminated dice come from a book about pinball machines. It is quite a fantastic book from the early 80s with lots of photos not only of the machines but also of the players and the whole cult. The book wasn't in best shape when I first got it, that made it possible for me to actually cut it. 

"Feeling Lucky"

Mixed media: acrylics, book clippings, ink, on canvas panel, 10" x 10"

The Silence Of Growing Things

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Twenty-Eight:  "The Silence Of Growing Things"

Generally, I am not a fan of those cheesy sayings that are written in big letters on some shabby chic wooden scraps, made to put them on the mantle of your fireplace. The all-time cheesiest is probably "Live Love Laugh", closely followed by "Life is better in flip-flops." 

Once in a while I get to read a good one though. That actually happened when I came across "Love the journey you choose." And I bought that piece of wood, not only to put it on a shelf but to make it the motto of my life.

On another occasion I was reading on a silver spoon that was hammered flat to become garden decor: "How lovely is the silence of growing things." Yes, how very lovely! 

This sentence holds so much truth and peace and contentment. It's like a mantra, I feel calm, when I say it a few times.

 "The Silence Of Growing Things"

Mixed media: acrylics, storybook clippings, ink, on canvas panel, 9" x 12"

Goodnight Elephant

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Twenty-Seven:  "Goodnight Elephant"

Yes, right, it's another Goodnight Moon thing. I'm so glad, I found this book, it has given me a good harvest indeed. 

Quick now, I have to do a second piece today still ... 

Mixed media: acrylics, parts from an old furniture layout kit, storybook clippings, ink, on canvas panel, 8" x 8"

Whatever It Takes

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Twenty-Six:  "Whatever It Takes"

It makes me so happy that this turned out the way how I intended it to be. You may have noticed thatI love using bookpages for all kinds of landscaping, so that's what I did here, too. I created a mellow water wave for the fish so they have a chance to be high enough to catch that drop of water. Some fish are more ambitious than others. But what for?

"Whatever It Takes"

Mixed media: acrylics, yellowed edges from a vintage novel, book clippings, sewing thread, on canvas panel, 16" x 20"

Strange Place

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

 

Day Twenty-Five:  "Strange Place"

 

Yes, of course, there are references to The Shining. I used the obnoxious twins from Alice in Wonderland to play the roles of the two girls in the hallway of the hotel. 237 is the number of the room which a character is told never to enter, and I placed the single numbers in a way that they suggest to be markers of a crime scene. 

 

There are no doors though, and no rooms. Just a bare and small mattress on the floor, the pillow doesn't look like it would add comfort. It doesn't look like  a place to rest or sleep. Maybe the mattress is the center of the crime scene, but there is no marker.

 

I could have named this piece "Hearing Room" as well.

 

"Strange Place"

Mixed media: watercolor, magazine and storybook clippings, ink, on watercolor paper, 10.75" x 7.5"

 

 

Get Your Story Straight

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

 

Day Twenty-Four:  "Get Your Story Straight"

 

Remember the Princess and the Pea? Right.

 

Mixed media: watercolor, yellowed edges from book pages, storybook clippings, ink, on watercolor paper, 5.5" x 8.25"

Traveler

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Twenty-Three:  "Traveler"

 

Oh my, now I'm already two days behind ... This piece took me quite long with all those layers involved. Anyways - it's finished now, and I like how it turned out.

 

I used maps from an old atlas under a thin coat of gesso to make "a world" with diverse people living behind open or closed windows. Some people interact with each other, some don't. It seems peaceful.

 

The Traveler, barefoot and voyaging without luggage, wants to come in. The story of a migrant maybe.  How will he be received?  

 

"Traveler"

Mixed media: acrylics, old maps, gesso, storybook clippings, ink, on canvas panel,  20" x 16"

 

Hush

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Twenty-Two:  "Hush"

Doesn't this sound lovely: people's arguments and misunderstandings are ended simply by being knit into a comforting sweater.  - I've had this idea for a while but couldn't quite figure out how to realize it. 

 Thanks to the "old lady whispering hush" (from Goodnight Moon, as you probably know) this all works out now. I found the perfect library pocket to tuck in all the fussy people and assembled everything on the hardcover of an old children's book. 

"Hush"

Mixed media: storybook clippings, old library pocket, sewing thread, ink, on vintage hardcover, 8.75" x 12"

Playdate

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Twenty-One:  "Playdate"

 

I'm still one day behind. That's not a terrible thing of course but it bothers me. I have worked on several pieces at different stages today, and got nothing finished besides this little one. 

The title pretty much says it all.

Mixed media: watercolors, storybook clippings, ink, on watercolor paper, 5.5" x 7.5"

Make Peace

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Twenty:  "Make Peace"

A little piece about peace. 

It looks so easy to come together and talk and listen and understand and love each other. But obviously it's not.

Inspired by the International Day of Peace that we are celebrating today.

Yes, the quote comes from Margaret Wise Brown's classic bedtime story "Goodnight Moon." Our whole family loved reading the book about this peaceful place, and how this little cell connects to the outside world via giant windows and through silent communication. I see the book as an invitation to walk through life with open eyes and with a peaceful mind. To be attentive to see the whole picture of a world that needs to calm down.

"Make Peace"

Mixed media: acrylics, storybook clippings, ink, on canvas panel, 9" x 12"

To Trust

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

 

Day Nineteen:  "To Trust"

 

I used another Snow White for this piece.  Because this is about trust, and she obviously has trust issues, otherwise she would not have zoned out after the repeated attacks and betrayals by her stepmother (and father, who didn't care to do something about it. It doesn't count, that he didn't know, in my opinion), but would have moved on.

I want for her to be confident and to be able to trust herself and others, despite her traumatic experiences. 

 

I like the idea of spirit animals, especially cats, so I added a few to give her guidance and protection. I replaced the sun/moon by a butterfly to bring in the concept of transformation and to let her know that Spring and renewal are coming.

"To Trust"

Mixed media: acrylics, storybook clippings, ink, on canvas panel, 12" x 16"

Where Will I Stay

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Eighteen:  "Where Will I Stay"

Just two days ago I bought a book about the history of barn buildings at my favorite thrift store. How odd I thought. And today I've already got to use it excessively - there you go.

The bundled-up person is from a Snow White storybook, as she's looking for a place to stay, after having been lured into the woods for killing purposes. She's walking on a path through sinking - disappearing -  barns, yet towards the sun. Yes, there is going to be a place for you, for sure, there is. A place where you will love it, and where you will be safe. Just keep going, sister, keep going!

When I was finished with this piece I realized that somehow I was telling the biblical story of Mary in an updated way. Sort of.

And the story of all of us.

"Where Will I Stay"

Mixed media: acrylics, red and yellowed edges from a century old book, book clippings, ink, on canvas panel, 16" x 20" 

Dinner Party

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

 

Day Seventeen:  "Dinner Party"

 

A modern home, something to show off and the perfect place to "entertain" ("entertaining" - instead of having some friends over - seems to be the big thing nowadays). I think, the simple colors and lines work quite well as a setting for this low-spirited get-together. 

 

The dining table comes from an 80s punch-out furniture layout kit. Originally, I included four dining chairs but then found that they made it look way too comfortable and inviting.

 

"Dinner Party"

Mixed media: acrylics, punch-out shape from a furniture layout kit, magazine clippings, ink, on canvas panel, 9" x 12"

The Unknown

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

 

Day Sixteen:  "The Unknown"

 

A man and a kitchen appliance. And nothing to add.

Mixed media:  watercolor, ink, man and toaster, both clipped from storybooks, on watercolor paper, 7" x 5"

  

 

Moving Mom

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

 

Day Fifteen:  "Moving Mom"

 

I've been dealing with lots of different moving issues lately. Moving things from place to place, questioning things, throwing out things, holding on to things. How does it feel to move somewhere uncertain, or to be moved from one place to another completely unprepared. Thinking about destinations in general. 

 

 

In this context I made this one about a woman who is going to be moved into a "home". Her belongings are reduced to a small amount of sentimental objects, and she is taking her chair because she's allowed to take one piece of furniture for comfort. A box full of letters is telling her life story. Who has she loved?

 

I placed the woman and her life inside a huge moving box because I felt it would underline her fears about the unknown. 

 

"Moving Mom"

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

To Have and To Hold

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

 

Day Fourteen:  "To Have and To Hold"

 

I found some doll-making instructions in a seventies' craft book and loved the armless look of the creature on step 5. Instant bride for my nifty little troll, I thought. 

"To Have and To Hold"

Mixed media: watercolor, book clippings, ink, on watercolor paper, 9.25" x 5.5"

 

 

What Will I Do

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

 

Day Thirteen:  "What Will I Do"

 

I made a piece about loss, feeling lost, and about finding the sense to move on. 

The four women are actually one, being in several coexisting states of mind. 

She's walking down the stairs and is about to step into an empty space. She is not moving anywhere, just looking a bit here and there, hesitant to find something to wish or hope for. To put something in her empty basket.

"What Will I Do"
Mixed media: watercolor, books clippings, ink, on watercolor paper, 11" x 15"

I Jam What I Jam

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Twelve:  "I Jam What I Jam"

 

A situation on the grocery shelf. Notice how some jars are turned towards the non-conformist. 

Deep stuff.

"I Jam What I Jam"

Mixed media: acrylic, red book edges, storybook clippings, ink, on canvas panel, 10" x 10"

Dystopia

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Eleven:  "Dystopia"

The cookie cutter fits so perfectly on Lady Liberty's pedestal as if it was meant to be. Eerie. 

I found this woman with empty hands and a bland expression on her face. Her posture seems stiff and unnatural, she could have been cut out with that cookie cutter. I placed her on the wall, and I don't think she's going to jump but it looks like she may fall forward like a stone sculpture.

Wow, let's get back to thinking some happy thoughts now.

"Dystopia"

Mixed media:  acrylic, fly leaves and clippings from vintage storybooks, on canvas panel, 12" x 9"

Meaning Well

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Ten:  "Meaning Well"

Today is the 10th which means, I got 10 pieces finished already. One third, that's right.

I made a small piece today, and it's about good intentions. You know, about the kind of help that you didn't really ask for and that is not really helpful but which is given so generously by a kind heart, that you are unable to reject it. 

"Meaning Well"

Mixed media: acrylic, red edges from yellowed book pages, storybook clippings, ink, on canvas panel, 8" x 8"

The One

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Nine:  "The One"

Glad to report that I am back on track!

I was working non-stop in my studio today and finished two pieces, #8 and 9. I'm done, and it's not even bedtime. I don't know how I did it, but I did it. Wow.

For today a made something about finding the love of your life. Which, for many reasons, seems to be difficult nowadays. I created a window-shopping scene in which a skinless person is admiring his own image in a storefront window. Perfect match!

Those old anatomy books are quite inspirational. I always look for them at book sales and usually find one or two. I love how the skeletons are so proudly posed and that each organ gets a lovely personality. I only wished there would be more female figures in those books.

"The One"

Mixed media: watercolor, ink, clippings from a vintage anatomy book, on watercolor paper, 15" x 11"

Open House

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

 

Day Eight:  "Open House"

 

A house that is open, for real. It's empty but inviting. I found this little pilgrim woman offering refreshments. I added balloons to emphasize the lightness, and to give the situation a festive yet playful feel.

"Open House"

Mixed media: acrylic, ink, clippings from storybooks, on canvas panel, 12" x 12"

Great Entertainment

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

 

Day Seven:  "Great Entertainment"

 

So I did not get up early this morning, and I did not get back on track. At least I finished this one, and I actually like how the piece came together.

 

I placed the G-word in the title. I usually avoid using this word because of how it's been misused. I can't associate anything G with G anymore. I had to make an exception here to make a point. - The old record sleeve is from the Capital label and makes the slaphappy face look like a sun. But then, it's toilet paper. Perfect.

Nobody is listening to the entertainer (that's wishful thinking) but a little mouse. Who couldn't care less.

"Great Entertainment"

Mixed media: watercolor, ink, record sleeve, fly leaf and clippings from storybooks, on watercolor paper, 11" x 15"

He Said He Was Sorry

Well, I'm still working on my Day Seven piece ... I've been quite occupied with lots of other things all day, so I didn't get finished. My plan is to go to bed now and get up really early in the morning. So tomorrow I will need to make two pieces. Let's assume, I can do it.

Among other things, I've been busy today with organizing the forth edition of my ART ON 45 project, for which artists are asked to create a piece of art on or with a 45rpm record. The pieces are juried, exhibited, and then auctioned off to raise money for a valuable cause. The project has been increasingly successful simply because the works are so amazing and people love buying them.

Last year's proceeds went to DART, the local Domestic Abuse Resistance Team. Many artists took the cause as inspiration for their pieces. So did I. - This is my contribution from last year:

"He Said He Was Sorry"
Mixed media: torn paper, acrylics, colored pencils, ink, storybook clippings, on vinyl record

Life

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

 

Day Six:  "Life"

 

 

The figure in this piece comes from an old anatomy book for young readers. He was used to explain muscle function but I knew right away that this guy had a much bigger story to tell: He's stepping out of his story for a moment to choose his next chapter.

 

I named the piece "Life" simply because it's about choosing your own narrative. Which indeed is not that simple at times. 

"Life:

Mixed media: vintage (German) book pages, old file folder, book clippings, ink, on canvas panel,  14" x 18"

Wrap Up

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

 

Day Five:  "Wrap Up"

 

 

I think I should do a couch series. My life has been an overload of heavy things lately, which mainly has to do with those terrible illnesses in my family and all the worries that come with them. There are other concerning things going on but I'm not going to touch on that right now because I need to think uplifting thoughts to stay sane.

 

Anyways, in one of my old Life magazines (1965) I came across a double page ad that was full of sleeper sofas. The photos are perfect for clipping - what a fantastic find. I used one of the couches for yesterday's Green Room. For this one I chose a larger orange sofa for a couple to sit on. Yes, that's right, the woman and the telephone. They can't talk to each other anymore, they are completely disconnected. But still, they are trying to save their relationship by getting some therapy. They are so fixated on their own issues that they don't even notice the aggressive gulls above them.

The uplifting part about this piece is that it doesn't have to be like this. It's a choice to stay in a certain situation or to call it quits and move on. 

 

 

"Wrap Up"

Watercolor, ink, clippings from vintage storybooks and Life magazines, on watercolor paper, 15" x 11"

 

Green Room

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

 

Day Four:  "Green Room"

 

So, I made another transition piece, this time set in a Green Room. 

 

I like the idea of a space where performers can hang out and relax before or after they have to be on stage. Or during a show when they don't have to act for a while. How symbolic.

Let's have a "Great Green Room" for all us people who are tired and overwhelmed for this or that reason, who just don't want to deal with things for a while, who want to breathe, and feel safe and powerful and good about themselves.

 

Thank you, "Goodnight, Moon," for giving me your line.

 

"Green Room"

Mixed media: yellowed edges of book pages, clippings from a storybook and an old "Life" Magazine, acrylic, ink, on canvas panel, 10" x 10"

 

 

 

Intermission

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Three:  "Intermission"

 

 

This is about a moment of transition. Something has ended and something else is about to begin, thus the Janus head. I added a pair of eyes/glasses to bring the two faces together. She's clearly seeing now that things - her life - are going to change. 

 

For the black and (yellowish) white I used fly leaves from vintage books, the blank pages at the beginning or end of a book. The black fly leaf came from the end of a book, the white one I took from the beginning of a different book.

I used the "Notan" concept to cut the bodies. I like the Japanese idea of seeing both the positive and the negative spaces as parts of a whole, as in Yin and Yang. The opposites complement each other, everything is well-balanced.  

"Intermission"

Mixed media: fly leaves and clippings from vintage books, acrylic, on canvas panel, 12" x 9"

 

I Love You I Need You

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day Two:  "I Love You I need You"

I could have named this one "Let Go" as well. Or even make it my theme of the entire challenge.

Anyways, the skinned man is embracing the shell of a well-dressed woman. Sounds like the perfect match.

I do remember such relationships when love for someone got severely mixed up with expectations. Not healthy, people.

The red coat that I've used is part of a 1940s paper doll set that I found at a little antique shop a few years ago.

"I Love You I Need You"
Mixed media: fly leaves and clippings from vintage books, 1940s paper doll die cut, acrylic, on canvas panel, 12" x 12"

Let Go

30 Paintings in 30 Days, hosted by fabulous artist Leslie Saeta.

Day One:  "Let Go"

I feel good about this piece, even though I went in a completely different direction with it. I meant to do something funny or uplifting but it turned out looking a bit sad or depressing.

I named it "Let Go" because that's what I have been doing all year. Letting go of stuff, lots of stuff. It's my birth father walking there. I don't know if he's still alive. Even if, it's unlikely that I would meet him. That's okay. I'm good now.

"Let Go"
Cut-up book pages and clippings from storybooks, colored pencils, acrylics, ink; on canvas panel, "16 x "12.