3 Peas in a Pod

"3 Peas in a Pod" (Mixed Media)  © C. Eastwood, 2012

This piece was done in celebration of Joni and Dean's newest addition to their family.  They now have three sweet boys and a house full of love.  Congratulations to them all!

Charcoal Values

Charcoal Value Sketch  © C. Eastwood, 2012

Do not attempt to adjust your screen...there's nothing wrong with it.  The picture is black and white and shades of grey (no...not that kind!).  I'm taking a second on-line class taught by another wonderful artist and teacher who goes by the name of "Gritty Jane" (J. DesRosier -- Portraits and Papers) to add some additional portrait skills and mixed media techniques.  Before we get to the paint and other fun stuff, I get to go back to drawing with charcoal.  I haven't done anything like this since high school, and I am NOT admitting how many years ago that was!  (Let's just say that if I count decades, I can still do it on one hand -- barely, yikes.)  Anyway, since I'm sharing this journey, I figured I'd go ahead and add this one to the batch.

I Love a Good Challenge!

"Layered Reality" (Mixed Media) © C. Eastwood, 2012

I saw a "Frida Kahlo Challenge" and decided it would be fun to try the new mixed media format for painting my own "Frida."  The quote is hers -- "I paint my own reality."  It was fun, and now it's definitely time to branch out into some new applications.  More to come!

Mixed Media Continues

"Unconstrained"  (Mixed Media),  © C. Eastwood, 2012

Here's the latest mixed media portrait in my journal.  I decided to try going a slightly different direction and paint a woman of color just to see if I could since the class didn't address doing anything like that.  At first I thought it was going to be a disaster and I was ready to toss it, but I kept adding layers and finally she started peeking through and the portrait emerged from the page.  I learned a lot.  I'm still kind of slow at this, but since it's not a race, that's okay.  The quote surrounding her is from Walt Whitman:  "Re-examine all you have been told -- dismiss what insults your soul."  That's pretty much what I'm doing with my art -- dismissing that part of the past which was hurtful and making my own reality.  Hope you enjoy this painting.

Mixed Media Mania

"Time for New Discoveries"  (Mixed Media)   C. Eastwood, 2012

I've been taking an on-line class called "Pursuing Portraits" from Pam Carriker, a wonderful artist, teacher, and author (Art at the Speed of Life).  This is the first time I've tried mixed media and I think this may ultimately be what I've been searching for.  For those of you who are as new to this as I was, the picture above is a combination of acrylic paint, collage, stamps, crayon, ink, pencil, and charcoal--all on the same piece of work.  The quote surrounding her head -- the thing I've been trying to wrap my own brain around -- is that "there is no 'wrong' in art--only a new discovery."  I'm so excited about this new direction!  Stay tuned for more.

Daisy Dreaming (SOLD)

"Daisy Dreaming"  (Watercolor) © C. Eastwood, 2012

So what do you get when you mix ballerinas, daisies, and a western theme?  You get a little cowgirl in a pink tutu -- of course!  This painting has been done for a charity auction benefiting the Daisy Miracle Brennan Endowed Fund in support of the Infant Special Care Center (ISCC) at the University of California, San Diego.  Daisy Miracle was an angel on loan for a very short period of time, but she continues to touch others and help them through this fund.  This is my second year donating art, and I am so pleased to be able to contribute to this very worthwhile cause.

Heisler Park

"Heisler Park --Laguna Beach, CA"  (Watercolor)  © C. Eastwood, 2011

One last painting of moving water.  I really wanted to try to get the idea of waves coming in and cresting.  This has been a good semester on studying water.  It will probably take a lifetime to get it completely right, but I feel like I can at least tackle the subject with some hope of people recognizing what it is.  I really love the ocean and how it changes constantly.  This will not be the last "water" painting.