"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.

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.

Innocence II

"Innocence II"  (Mixed Media)  C. Eastwood, 2013

Well, as promised when I posted "Innocence" (watercolor), I've tried the same painting in mixed media.  The results (especially in the texture) are quite different and it's been an interesting process.  I've never duplicated one of my paintings before -- so this was an experiment on several levels.  I'm not sure which one I like better because they're so very different.  But seeing them side-by-side on the easel is fascinating (at least to me!).

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.

(Detail)

(Detail)

(Detail)

(Detail)

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.

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!

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.