"Quietude"

"Quietude"  Mixed Media (18" x 24"),  C. Eastwood © 2017

Quietude -- the state of being quiet; tranquillity; calmness; stillness; quiet.

Sometimes you design a painting with a specific message or theme from the beginning sketches.  And other times there is a painting hidden within, waiting to be discovered.  You might be surprised to know that there are actually about 15 layers to this particular painting.  And it took all 15 before she was ready to make herself known.

Speak No Evil

"Speak No Evil"  (Acrylic Mixed Media, 12" x 12")  C. Eastwood, © 2015

For some time now, I've been increasingly dismayed (which might not be a strong enough word) at the level of vitriol we hear from our leaders, at the bullying we hear expressed on social media, and at the general loss of kindness in our dealings with one another.  And maybe that's why I've been so taken this week with the coverage of Pope Francis' visit to the United States.  For the last four days, we've been treated to stories centering around images of joy, acts of kindness, and people behaving well.  Whether or not you are a Catholic, there is something about this man of God -- and I believe it starts with love. He's urged us to be better versions of ourselves, and that is what's behind this painting -- Speak No Evil.

Small words, once uttered, are out there, and they grow.  As the painting came into being, and the face emerged, I realized there was no mouth -- thereby giving this painting its name.

So I offer this to you.  I hope you enjoy it.

Make Lemonade

"Make Lemonade"  (Acrylic Mixed Media, 8'x10' canvas panel)    C. Eastwood  © 2015 

"Choose your own direction...when life gives you lemons."  I was experimenting with some different techniques and media, and this is the end result.  Underneath the painting, and visible through the lemons, is a recipe for making lemonade.  There are some other little surprises tucked into the painting for the viewer to discover.  Just a simple painting for a kitchen wall.

HAMLET and FRIENDS – A Triptych for the Kitchen (and A Tale of Second-Guessing)

"Hamlet and Friends -- Cow" (Acrylic Mixed Media), C. Eastwood © 2015

"Hamlet and Friends -- Duck"  (Acrylic Mixed Media),  C. Eastwood © 2015

"Hamlet and Friends -- Pig" (Acrylic Mixed Media, C. Eastwood © 2015

I offered to paint a picture for the kitchen wall for my son and daughter-in-law.  Their condo is done in a neutral palette and they’d been making some noise about kicking it up a bit. As an artist, it was obvious to me that the easiest way was to use art work to bring some serious color splashes into the area.  I’d seen a picture of a very colorful cow in a magazine and asked Jenn if she was interested in something like that.  Embracing the idea of an oddly colored cow, her marvelous sense of humor took flight, and suddenly the project became a tongue-in-cheek tribute to beef, poultry, and pork. 

I will admit to being a bit nonplussed by the idea of painting a triptych based on “cow, duck, and pig.”  But hey – why not!  They gave me total artistic control (woo-hoo!), and then it just snowballed out of control.  I  decided that it would be fun to surprise them and make it a mixed media grouping because I really wanted to give a nod to Jenn’s profession as an English teacher.  And how better than to collage pages from “Hamlet” into the paintings!  And from there it was a logical leap that the pig would be “Hamlet” and the others his friends. 

Of course, by the time I’d finished the cow, I was second- and third-guessing myself.  This was a seriously different style and I wasn’t sure that my brilliant idea was actually any good.  I had these horrifying visions of them smiling through gritted teeth every time they looked at these “weird” paintings, but living with them rather than hurting my feelings  That wouldn’t do, so I gave up my cloak of secrecy and showed them the first painting with the demand that they be honest.  I actually tried to convince them that I should do the paintings in a different style.  But no, they liked it.  Were they sure?  Absolutely.  So at that point, I showed them the collaged pages from “Hamlet” that would be visible under the heart on each painting, and they were thrilled. 

Okay….one duck and one pig coming up!

The biggest goal (and the largest challenge) was to move away from traditional colors.  That’s easier said than done—at least for me.  But it was freeing, once I got past the oddity of it all.  I wanted to be sure that each painting was slightly different in the colors, but that there was still a sense of unity and that they looked like they belonged together. 

So that is the story behind this triptych.  I’m glad they like them.  It definitely adds color.  Now we just have to explain to my grandson that cows and ducks and pigs don’t really look like that!

Unexpected Angel

"Unexpected Angel"  (Acrylic Mixed Media)  C. Eastwood, ©2015

This is one of those paintings that was a surprise all the way around.  I was actually in the midst of painting another series when this one decided it needed to come forward.  I fought it for a couple of days, but then gave up and began the background.  Interestingly, I was intending to paint sunflowers—right up until I flipped the canvas onto a different edge and noticed that there was an angel in it.  The wings were left without an outline to represent the idea that angels are not always immediately visible or recognized as such.  

This painting made me realize that we generally don’t expect angels in our lives—even though I believe that God puts them around us.  Sometimes they’re disguised as friends, sometimes as strangers.  Upon occasion we will have the opportunity to be an angel to someone else.  I hope that each one of you meets your own Unexpected Angel from time-to-time, and that you are blessed in that encounter.

The Goddess Within

"The Goddess Within"  (Acrylic Mixed Media, 16" x 20")  C. Eastwood, © 2015

Still experimenting with the new techniques I learned in my last class.  This is an absolute departure from my usual style of painting and I found myself fighting it at first.  I could see the person trying to come out, but she was so stylized and unlike my usual portrait-work.  But the painting would not be denied, and once I decided to just let it go and see where it went, she came out of hiding.

I was thinking how -- much like this painting -- we hold preconceived ideas of how we should look. As women, we are so unkind to ourselves whether it be our looks or our accomplishments (or lack thereof).  We can be terribly harsh critics.  (You should have heard my internal dialog as I was struggling with this painting at the beginning!!) So this is in tribute to each woman -- whatever her stage of life -- and the hope that she will accept and know she is precious just as she is.

Painted Pony

"Painted Pony" (Acrylic Mixed Media, 30"x 30")  C. Eastwood, © 2015

So I just had the most amazing weekend at the Paint Mojo workshop with Tracy Verdugo.  We gathered at Studio CRESCENDOh in Santa Ana (thank you Jenny Doh) and had an absolute orgy of creative painting.  No one knew what their painting would reveal (and they were all very different). I came back from lunch on the second day and discovered that there was a horse in mine!  Who knew!!  I won't go into the techniques involved because that is the journey that Tracy teaches.  But needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and look forward to pursuing this process and seeing how it relates to my own discoveries as an artist.

Untitled -- Negative Space Painting

Untitled -- Negative Space Painting (Watercolor),  C. Eastwood © 2014

Some of you may have noticed that I have not been posting my work this semester.  It's not that I've stopped painting, it's just that this semester's watercolor class -- taken with a different instructor (Kristi Genoway) -- has been a time of exploration and experimentation.  One of the most freeing parts of the class as been her encouragement to indulge in "spectacular failures."  And trust me, I've taken full advantage of that and produced some pretty awful stuff.  But along the way, I've also learned some really cool techniques.  This is an example of a process called "negative space painting" where layer after layer is added to produce a feeling of depth.  It got confusing at times, trying to remember what needed to be left unpainted at each subsequent step, but the end result was quite interesting.

Camouflage

"Camouflage"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood (2013)

This is another one of those "take something and change it up and make it unrecognizable" paintings.  What I've learned after the last four abstract paintings is that this is not my favorite style.  I think I like the freedom of the "flow and go" paintings.  And if you'd asked be before we started, I would have guessed totally the opposite.  Interesting.  I guess that's why I continue to take classes.  I'm learning new things about painting and myself each time.

It's Only Paper

"It's Only Paper"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, 2013

So this is a further exploit in watercolor abstract.  I had started a painting on my own as we first began this segment of class and when I had completed it...the only word I could think of was, "Bleech!"  (That's not a good thing.)  I couldn't figure out how to fix it and I was actually prepared to cut it into strips and use the back for testing colors as I paint.  But then I thought of what we're always telling one another in class -- "It's only paper."  So I started by using resist and writing some admonitions to myself.  Then I began adding layers and spraying them into different directions and creating drips and spatters.  (Note to self -- cover a larger area underneath the painting next time before spattering to aid in easier clean-up!)  And voila -- it's bright, it's bold, and it's fearless.  And I think I won't cut it into strips!

Incognito

"Incognito"  (Watercolor)   C. Eastwood, 2013

Okay -- abstractions continue.  This time the assignment was to take something and change it up so that it is no longer recognizable -- hence the title for this piece.  There were thumbnail sketches and everything and it took considerably longer than any of us expected.  I discovered that it's difficult to look at something as a model and then purposely not draw it.  At least it is for me.  The funny part is that I was feeling the painting was too stiff -- and I'm the one who is always getting hammered for not painting loose enough.  The instructor says this works.  I'll take her word for it.  

Discoveries

"Discoveries"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, 2013

So we're giving abstract painting a shot in class and trying a technique that involves pouring paint and tilting the paper to make it run, blowing on it, spraying it -- basically anything but using a brush to move and direct the paint.  WHAT?!  So after some initial experimenting, I wrote myself a note in resist across the paper as a reminder -- sort of like a secret message -- and went for it.  Surprisingly I kind of like it.  It changed with each new layer and became something quite different.  Definitely not as much control as I'm used to.  But I just kept reading the words as they began to appear and finally arrived at the finish line.  There were definitely a lot of discoveries along the way to this piece.

Giving Thanks

"Giving Thanks"  (Mixed Media)  © C. Eastwood, 2013

This has literally been a labor of love as it was painted for a member of my new extended family.  These are her boys and she's the photographer.  It was lots of fun layering in color and texture.  She wanted "mixed media" and boy did she get it with this one.  I've never tried layering canvases before, but it worked and it was really fun to see this come together and match what I had visualized as a completed piece.

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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