Still Working on Loose

"Untitled Profile"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood

One more exercise in trying to stay loose and using a painting by Charles Reid as a guide.  This one wasn't quite as traumatic to paint, and it went equally quickly.  I'm still trying to learn from this technique and keep the colors purer and more simple.  It's tougher than it looks, and I suspect is going to take quite a while to incorporate into my own natural style.  It's from our last day of class for this semester, so I guess I'm on my own for the time being.  It might be time to take a break from watercolor and move back to a mixed media painting,   I've got one I started and it would be nice to try and finish it before the next watercolor class begins at the end of January.  So many paintings--so little time!  What a lovely problem!!

Loosest Yet

"Untitled"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood

"Yay!  Finally!"  No that wasn't my reaction -- it was the reaction of my instructor.  We were copying again, much like we did last semester for the landscape class (this one is based on a painting by Charles Reid, a true master).  I painted this in a little over an hour (which is pretty quick, for me) and, to be completely honest, I spent almost all of that time muttering under my breath.  The style is not easy for me, and the painting felt totally out of control.  But suddenly, at the very end, it just pulled together and was done.  I added some splatters and drips (now that was fun) and voila -- the loosest one yet.  I'm going to have to do some more of these to get a better feel for the process and style, but I like the end result.

Man in a Straw Hat

"Man in a Straw Hat"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood

As the semester draws to a close (no pun intended), we've moved on to doing faces.  The idea is to find a looser approach (my "every semester goal" it seems).  This is a start, but still not as loose as I'd like to go. 

But wait -- there's more.  If you want to see loose -- check out the "Loosest Yet" post!

Martini Needed

"Martini Needed"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, 2012

Okay -- last one in the series.  Ellipses are improving, glass reflections coming along, and so now it's time to add in some metal that will reflect the jar and the two olives waiting outside.  It's been a good study, and now it's time to move to the next subject.

Peachy Keen

"Peachy Keen"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, 2012

Whoops!  Slipped some fruit in for a change of pace.  I've discovered how difficult it is to differentiate a bunch of peach slices when they're all the same color.  Yikes! 

Pickle Garden

"Pickle Garden"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, 2012

 So we're still doing jars of various vegetables.  Learning about ellipses (not easy) and highlights on glass.  Two more to go!

A Peck of Pickled Peppers

"A Peck of Pickled Peppers"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, 2012

Our watercolor class has moved on from painting paint brushes to painting jars with interesting things in them.  I nabbed the jar of pickled peppers and this is the result.  With all due respect to Peter Piper, I realize this isn't exactly a "peck" -- but it was too good a title to pass up!  The next one up is going to be another glass jar filled with .... well, you'll just have to check back in a few days and see what it is.  I'm thinking of this painting and the one to come as "kitchen" paintings.  Wouldn't they look yummy on a kitchen wall?!

Indian Corn

"Indian Corn"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, © 2012

Next assignment....an up-close and personal look at something...really "zoom in, but we should still be able to tell what it is."  Wow.  Okay, it's fall, so how about some Indian corn?  And so you have it.  The subject matter is set, now it's time to draw corn kernels.  Gotta admit, after a while, when you're painting something like this, you see blobs of color, not kernels.  But the thing to remember is to occasionally step away from the painting.  So I did, and what do you know!  They're Indian corn kernels.  Again, one of those subject assignments I probably never would have done on my own -- but one which proves to be rather satisfying when it's completed.

Tools of the Trade

"Tools of the Trade"  (Watercolor)   C. Eastwood, © 2012

Carrying on the theme of "Tools of the Trade,"  our class assignment was to paint this still life.  While I've used a number of these items, I have to admit that I haven't had occasion to use a paint roller on anything other than a wall at this point in my career.  I guess it's something to which I should aspire!?  It could happen -- just probably not with watercolor.  Lots of different textures and surfaces in this painting -- so it was a good exercise.

Ready to Paint

"Ready to Paint"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, 2012

Ah, watercolor class is back in session, and we've been working on some composition skills (which in my case were so rusty as to be practically non-existent).  The assignment?  Dig around in your purse or watercolor supplies, find some "stuff," and turn it into an interesting composition.  Six thumbnail sketches later (as required), I'd finally found a mix of objects that provided an acceptable composition and it was time to paint.  Of course, once the painting was done, there was a tad too much space on the right and so I ended up (heels dragging the whole way) adding in some paper clips.  And guess what!  The instructor was right (imagine that).  I'm a lot happier with it now and I feel like I've learned some important lessons about positive/negative space, rhythm, balance, and movement.  Not too shabby for a painting about painting!  Hopefully I can translate all that into future work.

Textural Abstract (Untitled)

Textural Abstract --Untitled (Mixed Media)  © C. Eastwood, 2012

In my continuing exploration of mixed media, this is definitely a new direction -- abstract.  There are layers and layers of all sorts of interesting things to create texture and dimension.  The painting is 16" x 20" -- which makes it a bit tricky to photograph.  That plus the metallic elements which create shine (and appear white in the photo) add to the fun!   But I definitely want to try more of this technique.  I've included some photos that show details of different areas of the canvas, each exposing different elements of the painting.  I hope you enjoy it.

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Let Your Dreams Take Flight

"Let Your Dreams Take Flight"  (Mixed Media)  © C. Eastwood, 2012

As explained in the post about "Big Engines,"  this is the 8" x 8" mixed media painting for Maddie, Andrew's big sister, who turned three this Spring.  Maddie has an abundance of energy which her very wise mother is letting her burn off in dance and gymnastics.  I believe it's important for every child to dream and pretend, so I wanted to do a painting that showed these two activities carried out to the next level.  Whether Maddie stays with dancing or gymnastics in the future, the message will always be the same -- to let her dreams take flight and carry her to new heights of discovery and joy.

Big Engines

"Big Engines"  (Mixed Media) © C. Eastwood, 20121

Having just returned from a trip to visit family in Chicago, I was determined to do paintings for two of the youngest members of the "fam."  Andrew is rapidly approaching two years and is all boy.  We had a brief discussion about trains and he most enthusiastically informed me that they go, "Woo-woo" (that demonstration being accompanied by pulling the imaginary whistle chain).  I understand from his grandmother that he likes trucks and trains...so this little 8" x 8" mixed media painting is dedicated to Andrew and his love of things with big engines.

Daisy Gazing (SOLD)

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

If this little girl looks vaguely familiar, there's a reason.  (And it means you've been reading this blog!!)  The original painting, "Daisy Dreaming," which was donated for the Daisy Miracle charity auction held earlier this month, generated a commission to do another "Daisy" painting.  So how cool is that!  Yay!

Girl With a White Collar

"Girl With a White Collar"  (Mixed Media)  © C. Eastwood, 2012

Okay, here she is.  This is the end result of one of the lessons I just completed in my online class I'm taking from Jane DesRosier.  I've actually got a series of photos I took as this one was built layer by layer and the starting point and ending result couldn't be more surprising (and I was there!). She's painted in acrylic over a collaged background and then distressed and stained and all kinds of good stuff.  It's hard to see in the photo, but if you look carefully, you can see the layers peeking through.  Look for the post entitled, "Making of a Portrait" for a view of what this looked like in some of the earlier stages.  I think you'll be surprised, too.

The Making of a Portrait

These are a few of the very early stages that the final painting, "Girl With a White Collar" went through during the painting process.  I'm not going to into detail, because it's a class taught by someone else.  Suffice it say, I was excited by the whole process and pleased with the end result.  Be sure to check out the finished product!

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.