February 4, 2011 | Posted By: Chris
Filed Under Annie, Art Shows, For Sale, Life, Our Artwork
. . . for neglecting the blog for so long. Suffice it to say we’ve been working nonstop, me on a ridiculously insane graphic novel, and Annie on whatever awesomeness she sets her mind to, and Narshall on saving the world, oh, AND the laptop was dead for a good long while (thanks, lousy off-brand charger) so that kind of put a pause on Annie’s usually frequent posts here.
But hoo-ray, the laptop is back in action and we never stopped actioning, so there are plenty of things to catch up on. First off, there’s a show tonight at Art & Light, and there shall be tons of beautiful new gems from the heart and hand of Annie. Sneak peek here…
July 1, 2010 | Posted By: Annie
Filed Under Annie, Life, Our Artwork
When Chris and I were first married (almost five years), one night when I was returning from work reeking of coffee, he surprised me with a tiny black pouf of a kitten. Which was very gracious and generous of him, he had slight allergies to them. . . but he knew I had always had a cat or two around my entire life, I suppose he wanted the brownie points. This little kitten was so funny and darling, but unfortunately he grew into a very overly sensitive cat who couldn’t handle the jealousy from the addition of another cat and a new baby . . . so piles of cat puke later, we do not have him anymore. But I still have fond memories of him and this little painting was one of my first attempts at acrylic, and I have to say its a favorite despite my stacks of past experiments that still make me cringe. It had fallen out of its frame and I just fixed it so I thought I might show you despite it being old work.
That said, a friend on the Indie Craft Parade jury, Kevin, asked if I was going to try any new subject matter. . .to which I hesitatingly told him I was considering cats. Hesitating because I don’t want to be a pet portrait painter, you know what I mean, and also not wanting to offend Kent in my hesitance toward the subject matter (who was sitting next to me) because he is one of those rare artists who actually render cats in wonderfully legitimate way. But, I think I might just try it, one, because this one turned out well, even when I was a younger artists, two, I really really love my cats and I like to keep my subject matter mainly familiar, three, the main reason, I love the similarities they have with owls, their movements and behaviors. I’d love to mix the two in paintings and see what happens. Actually we almost called Charlie “Owl” because it was Marsh’s only word other than Momma, and Marshall used to think Bill was an owl when he would sit outside on the window sill in the dark, his pair bright eyes the only thing you could see at night.
So there, I think I have convinced myself its ok. . . I think, now if only I could get Bill to sit still long enough. . .
June 15, 2010 | Posted By: Annie
Filed Under Annie, Art Shows, For Sale, Our Artwork
Today, packed a suitcase full of objects and rushed them into setups at the studio for my paintings, new ones and some from the last White Whale show. Here are some sneak peeks, I’m sure you’ve already seen these here before, but in other environments. Given my affection for antique stores and the like I thought I might attempt to style just such a background for these little ones. Still not quite happy with the lighting. . .
You’ll see these come up in the shop over the next few days. . .
April 23, 2010 | Posted By: Annie
Filed Under Annie, Art Shows, For Sale, Our Artwork
I know that I may have promised certain people more owls for the WW May show. . . but the proliferation of botanical specimens in my yard distracted me. More owls for the fall show and Indie Craft Parade, thats a promise.
This newly finished one, Luna, Mystery Weed and tribute to the Schiele Girl in the Striped Dress? Ok, so maybe that’s not the real title, I hate picking titles. I’ll just say that this is another milestone for me, a return to my former true art self. (weeeeeirdo. . .) What I mean is, I realized, that as I was finishing this one that it looked so much like my oil work in college ( I had been oil painting at least six years by then, I’ve been in acrylic about five now). The thick loose brushieness over glazes. And the color palette (yes, the obsession again) I can’t tell you how familiar it feels, I think perhaps these colors were in nearly every painting I produced from that time period, tubes and tubes or cerulean and the siennas. And I don’t mind actually. I guess returning to old techniques can be a good thing sometimes. We’ll see what the public thinks about it.
Below, another painting of the mystery weed, and a thank you to Paul Flint for tipping me off about this gray/blue paint was in the oops stack at paint store. A gallon of it for pocket change, yay.
April 14, 2010 | Posted By: Annie
Filed Under Annie, Artist Love, Our Artwork
I sat back and pondered today, in retrospect I think it might have been an obsession, my search for a color palette I could confidently wield. The three giant binders filled with magazine clippings, the screen captures and files saved in folders, the dates I spent with Egon Schiele, Leonard and Mauricio, counting the colors in the stripey gowns (or lack there of ), the feathers in the headresses. Its true I never felt very comfortable with my color choices, they didn’t fit, I think it was the paint. I never had that problem with oil. No, it was me, I just didn’t know what I was doing. Now I just choose what I really want to see hanging on my wall.
I like these. I like the colors. They are so small and frivolous really, the only thing I can manage to slip into my short free times (toddler naps). But, I think they are a good predictor of getting somewhere worth going. And I’m loosing up! Another good thing, I also never had that problem with oil. But I thinned the latex paint and now the visible strokes are flowing and not sticky looking. I like how they seem more impulsive. And I like Sterling Hundley, how he makes white shine on the sandy undertones (”pretty”, no 1 in case your interested, I can’t link directly to my example). Thank you reader, for reading this if you did, I know its very self-absorbed for me to say all this.
Oh yes, they will be done for the White Whale May show.
March 5, 2010 | Posted By: Annie
Filed Under Annie, Friends + Family, Life, Our Artwork
I think today I’ll post these photos of a commission I had done for a friend, because they finally have them now, and to remind me that this was part of the work I did the past few months when I look at the walls of my art show and wonder why it seems there should be more to show for my hours of sketching and glazing. I was so happy to see them in the home they belonged to, for the wall that was ready for them and the lovely people they would live with.
Tonight is the opening of my show. I have a large roll of the best butter from Happy Cow creamery and some jars of jam from NC that really is the same price as you could get in a store. I hope I have enough bread! I am a very social person, but I do get nervous at shows, art is so personal and its hanging there for everyone to see.
February 12, 2010 | Posted By: Annie
Filed Under Annie, Our Artwork
Sitting in bed after pizza, waiting for the winter olympics ceremony to begin. I love knowing the grass outside is covered with new snow (it doesn’t happen very often here). Spent the first part of the day at the studio. . . snatched a few photos of Christopher’s experimenting in charcoal. The Great Horned is glazed in shades of gray, waiting for opaqueness around it. Its little Saw-whet brother is almost ready too, you’ll see them soon, I’m sure.
February 11, 2010 | Posted By: Annie
Filed Under Annie, Our Artwork, Uncategorized
The brilliant naturalist and artist, Maria Sibylla Merian did them first. Not used to drawing from old botanical figures, so dependent on photos for those shadow subtleties I love. . . the creatures that are coming out are a little bit more whimsical. . . perhaps a bit Baskinish. . . which I don’t mind. . . now if only I can attack the color in a good way.
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