Adventures in Gouache

Well, I felt like my art was at a bit of a standstill. I think most artists are never satisfied with their work. I have been struggling to get a softer, more detailed look with my acrylics with the emphasis on stuggling. Don't get me wrong, I have been fortunate enough to win awards for my work, but I am dissatisfied! Last week I decided to paint a gazebo scene using gouache (opaque watercolor) and the end results are posted above. I thoroughly enjoyed the process and found that I could get better detail with the gouache than acrylic. Some of my fellow miniature artists have given this piece high marks. Although it still looks like my work, it is more detailed. Let me know what you think!

It was very cold and damp in my studio today. Even my dogs were piled up against each other looking for warmth. My husband was doing computer work today, in anticipation of taxes ,while wrapped up in a quilt. No wonder retirees move to Florida! Anyway, I did start a second gouache piece, but its too soon to tell how it is going. I finally quit painting and wrapped up in a quilt of my own. Oh well,there is always tomorrow.

Till next time,

Gail

We're Baaaack!

Well, all good things must come to an end, I guess. My husband and I arrived home from Florida very early Sunday morning. It was a smooth but long drive of 20 hours. We were staying at Disney World Old Key West resort for a week. We purchased a timeshare there many years ago and go at least once a year. Above is a picture of the condo and below is the view from the patio. As you can see many of the trees and tropical foliage were greatly damaged by the heavy frost that blasted through Florida earlier this month. I thought I was in a time warp with dead leaves flying around. Is it January or October-who can tell.

While in Florida we attended the Miniature Art Society of Florida show during the collectors preview day. It was fun saying Hi to Wes and Rachelle Siegrist who were working the show as well as Bev Abbott! Everyone's work looked great and the show itself was well assembled. Sales were brisk that day with collectors lined up Saturday morning waiting to pay for art!!! I was having so much fun, I forgot to take pictures, sorry about that.

Mid January is a great time to be at Disney World because the crowds are way down. Although we go every year, my husband and I decided to visit the parks a couple times just to soak up the atmosphere. I was wearing a pedometer during the week and was pleased that I was able to log 20 miles of walking. This is a real milestone for me as I have been recovering from 2 surgeries and at one point unable to walk even half a mile without considerable pain.

As you can see, the weather was beautiful. The one thing I dislike about Michigan is the lack of sun and blue sky in the winter months. I could get used to this Florida living!

On another outing to the park we visited the Germany Pavilion at Epcot where I said hi to Jutta, a full time Disney artist who paints miniatures on eggs. She is the reason I am now working in miniature! Jutta is originally from Germany and has worked at Epcot for a number of years. I buy her eggs and she buys my paintings. If you are ever at Epcot be sure to look her up and see her wonderful work.

I am back in my studio this week and working on a painting of a gazebo. I am thinking Summer.
I must admit it feels really good to get back to painting. Vacations can't last forever.

Till next time,

Gail

January Freeze

Wow!!! I guess everyone is freezing right now. I am very content to work in my studio. Well, kindda. My studio has a huge window facing North with a cathedral ceiling and skylight. I can't keep it warm! When I walk in my studio in the morning, I swear I can see my breath. This room used to be my mother's bedroom when she lived with us before she passed away. She always complained about how cold it was. I thought it was an old age thing. Sorry mom, you were right. I am currently using a space heater to keep warm. Even the dogs, my constant companions, are staying out of the room.
Speaking of dogs, 2010 is starting out with more vet bills. Yikes. Renji, our younger golden (my son named him) cracked a nail running outside in the ice and snow. The nail split up into the quick. He was in tremendous pain. So, Thursday he went to the vet to be knocked out and the nail removed. Friday he refused to put his weight on the foot and ran around on 3 legs. Today he is finally starting to act normal.
Before Christmas I started this portrait of Duck, a full-blood Cherokee Indian who lives on Mackinac Island. Duck is quite the character. He leads most of the parades on the island riding a beautiful paint horse. Duck makes all his own deer skin costumes. He is very patient with people like me taking reference photos of him and I learned a great deal about him during his setting. My friend, Bill Murcko has done several portraits of Duck, in a much larger format and my challenge was to see what I could do in miniature. This painting is a work in progress. Yes, I know, most portait artists do the hard part, the face, first. Leave it to me to be backward. Actually, I had a good reason for doing so. This painting is on gessoboard by Ampersand, a surface I was not used to working on. Anyway, I hope to complete Duck's portrait week.

Sometimes I get confused at what season it is. Below, is a piece I completed just before the holidays. The piece is call Grand Misty Morning. It is an image of the stair leading out of the Grand Hotel. All the pots are part of a florist shop attached to the hotel. I really enjoyed working on this piece and I hope that comes through in the work.

Looking forward to the end of the week. My husband and I are going to Florida for a week and during that time, will be attending the MASF show. Even though everyone is complaining about the temperatures in Florida, they can't compare to Michigan. I will have new photos to show when I get back.

Till next time,

Gail

Happy New Year!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Where does the time fly!!! My husband and I spent the day taking down the Christmas trees and nutcrackers. Although I am always a little sad when packing everything away, I look forward to the coming year. This will be the first winter I will go through without surgery in 3 years!!! I have been spending a great deal of time in my studio and enjoying the solitude. This year I decided to begin a new tradition by creating pendants for gifts. Below is one example of several I completed. Everyone seemed to like the results. The image size is 3/4 inch x 1 inch.

We had a great Christmas with the family. Both my kids and their boyfriend/girlfriend spent the day with us. Due to really bad weather some of our family was not able to make it. It rained Christmas eve and day and froze. My son's girlfriend fell twice. A possum that lives in our backyard somewhere must have gotten flooded out. He spent Christmas under our back deck attempting to stay dry. Poor guy.
We all spent the afternoon playing pool and Wii bowling. As you can see my son was really getting into it. I am the worst bowler ever.

The kids weren't the only ones having a good time. Our golden retriever LOVES pool.

Well, now its January-hard to believe. We will be heading out in a couple of weeks to Florida and while there, will be attending the MASF miniature show. Till then, you can find me hold up in my studio. Can't wait

Till next time,

Gail

Winter Wonderland

Well we are almost ready for Christmas! Decorating is done as is the shopping. I took this picture this morning of our backyard. I really liked the dark blue snow clouds coming in from the North over the lake. According to the weather forcaster, I had better fix this firmly in my mind as it might be raining here by Friday. I never considered the possibility of not having a white Christmas as we have been slipping and sliding here for weeks.

While taking this picture the squirrel games began. We have four birdfeeders in the yard and the squirrels are busy chining themselves on the hangers robbing each feeder. While I don't mind their antics, they did cross the line today. Storing birdfeed has become a problem at our house. If we keep the seed in the garage, it attracts mice. Uck! Well, we decided the only thing to do was to buy a rolling trash can to keep outside and place the seed inside. To discourage the squirrels from investigating, we placed it right under the living room window. Much to my surprise, today I was met with two beedy eyes staring at me through the window. Mr. squirrel was busy destroying the hinge on the trash can. By the time I got the camera, he was gone. His buddies were still around though. Anyone with ideas for storing seed, please let me know!

I have been spending quite a bit of time in my studio this week. I started a new tradition this year and have painted bird pendants for some special people in my life. I will show them after Christmas. Besides pendants, I finished a painting of the Grand Hotel entrance on a hazy day. I am currently working on a portrait-my first of a Cherokee Indian that lives on the island. I had intended to show my WIP, but cannot as my dog ate the power cord to my scanner, and the new one has not arrived yet. No kidding-this was a $45.00 snack. You see, Jasmine, our 10 year old Golden, believes she should NEVER be left along. She gets quite angry and tends to snack on the first thing she can find. I am surprised she has not been electrocuted by now. Its animal house around here.

This will probably be my last post till after Christmas. I wish everyone a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas and a healthy and profitable New Year!

till next time,

Gail

Shamir has an operation

Well, we are slowly getting ready for Christmas, but in the meantime, life goes on. My daughter's horse spent the day at Michigan State University Vet School. Shamir is 19 years old and is being treated for a tumor behind his front leg. Shamir has always had a mole in this location, but a few months ago it blew up into a baseball size tumor. This is his second treatment at the hospital. Medicine, even in animals has progressed in amazing ways. After knocking him out-strapped in a sling so he can't fall over, they place beads the size of peas inside the tumor to shrink it. Today they placed 12 beads inside Shamir. The great news we got today is that the tumor is shrinking so well that they don't think they will have to go in and remove the tumor. Best news of all is that tests showed it is not cancer!!! This picture was taken at the hospital just as he was waking up!! My husband had just given him peppermint candy (his favorite) and he is begging. In this picture he looks like a mule. In reality he is a very beautiful horse. For those wondering Shamir is an Arab. I don't know what his name stands for. We bought him when he was 4 years old and kept the name.
Hope everyone is having is a wonderful December. We are supposed to get snow the rest of the week!!!
Till next time,
Gail

Is It Thanksgiving Already?

Wow! It has been another month, and I had promised to update this blog on a much more regular basis. Just completed more paintings for Twisted Fish Gallery holiday show and have shifted to island views. Seems very strange working ahead one or two seasons. The above painting was from a photo taken near Woodstock , Vermont. I love Vermont and would really like to secure a gallery in that area as an excuse to return. Woodstock has been voted one of the prettiest small towns in the US on more than one occasion. I agree. My husband and I went on a sleigh ride on a particularly brisk day. It was well worth freezing a couple of toes over.

I have been enjoying the serenity of fall and secluding myself in my studio. It is amazing that I don't seem to mind working for days at a time without leaving the house even though I am a very social person. Creativity occupies the mind.

Besides painting I have spent time shoveling out my house for the holidays. Shortly after Thanksgiving we start decorating for Christmas. My husband has a rather large collection of nutcrackers. I think they are strange things, but my husband loves his collection so I arrange it for his enjoyment. Complete with snow and lights!

I recently bought some Verithin colored pencils and plan on doing some small flower and fruit pieces in the evenings with my feet up on the loveseat. If I finish anything worthwhile, I will post in the future.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and PROMISE to update my blog in a week!! Honest

Till then,

Gail