Larry Paddy and Maeve are finally complete. Yeah I know, I said that a few days ago, but now I have client approval so I really won’t touch them again.

Really!

Larry, Paddy and Maeve

As I drove to the studio, I was thinking about what piece I’d work on today. And about how I should continue my plan of finishing what I’ve started…

(See my bog post from a couple of days ago :O)

“But noooooo!” (In my best Saturday Night live voice)

This morning I wasn’t feeling so good, and I didn’t want that energy on any of my paintings in progress.

So I started another :O)

(Check out the succulent on the right.)

I’m glad I went with the flow. The first statement on the succulent is solid, and I felt a whole lot better when I was done painting.

Wonder where I’ll land tomorrow?

The students have only a few weeks to go before they are out for the summer, and they are sooooo ready for vacation.

They had wonderful energy and it was a great session.

This week we worked with Daniel Smith oil paint  on Gessobord to create abstracts, using palette knives. 

Using a triad of Pthalo Turquoise, Quinacridone Rose and Indian Yellow, the goal was to experiment with color mixing and application using a palette knife.

Knife painting is always a messy undertaking, so I gave the students gloves to help, (emphasis on help) keep their hands clean.

They had me laughing as they blew them up like balloons while waiting for their materials.

The students really got in to this lesson.  When I asked them for feedback as to why they liked it so much, one student remarked that it was because he knew he couldn’t fail.

I appreciated the feedback and let them know that they only way they could fail is if they didn’t try. 

They are all winners in my book!

Here’s a short little video of their wonderful creations… enjoy

Van Halen ‘s,  “Come on baby Finish What You Started.”

I laughed out loud!

 I’m still grinning as I type this blog.

I spent much of last week working on the painting of Larry and his puppies and I think I may have finished the painting. Now it’s time for the client to come and give me feedback.

Next up on the list are the other commissions I have in progress…

A venetian mask…

a funky chair,

a fun video editing project, and

and the abstract landscapes behind the left easel.

I prioritize my work on a first come first serve basis. But some days, certain muses yell louder than others, and it really is true that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. 

Fortunately, I build this phenomena into my estimated time of completion so that my work gets done on time.

The cool thing about working this way is that I have a lot of work in various stages of completion so that I’m just about always in the mood for one of them.

I must admit I was tempted to add more…Right now there’s  a landscape series that’s calling my name, but I’ve put my hands over my ears, and won’t remove them until summer.

For now it’s time to sing along with Van Halen as I finish these pieces…

Anyone else out there spin a lot of plates/creative or otherwise? Love to hear how you keep them all in the air…

It may very well be his favorite instrument to play! He has also been seen with an accordion, and I hear there is a ukulele, and maybe even a banjo in his future !

Click here to download your free Wanna Be A Rock N Roll Star Coloring Page

Click here to find this rockin monkey on fun prints and cards or here for  all sorts of fun merchandise!

Thanks so much to Mrs. Romiti and the Southside Foundation for awarding me a grant to teach art to her 7th grade students at Southside School!

This is my third residency at Southside , and I am so honored to be able to work with Mrs. Romiti. That she always has a great group of students is such a testimony to her as a wonderful teacher.

This class was very welcoming, and they dove right in to the first lesson.

As they started their lesson Mrs. Romiti shared  that some of the student work from last year won awards at our County Fair.  Way to go Southside!

For our first session, the students created a black and white value study, using acrylic paint on canvas board.

I downloaded the reference photo from  123 Royalty Free Stock Photo. It wasn’t really free. I paid $20.00 to get credits towards downloads but

I was happy to pay the fee. It’s important that we all get paid for our creative work.

Here’s a sampling of their finished pieces.

I so love the  unique character in each and every painting! They did a great job :O)

Some students finished early, and went on to create  additional pieces on their own…

Next week the students will be creating abstracts in oil.  I can’t wait to see what this creative group come up with!

It was a whirlwind 45 minutes ,with over 200 children (K through 1st grade)  in attendance, so I structured the visit in short little segments in order to hold their interest. Judging by their level of engagement, they liked the book reading, song singing, and question and answer sections the best. 

One child asked if I was rich.   I’ll admit my first thought was, “nope.”

My second thought, and what I answered, is this: “Anytime you can do what you love for a living, you are rich.”

Today I received this  beautiful hand-made card  from Keyla Gomez, one of the attendees at Cerrra Vista, and it really reinforced how I feel about what I do for a living.

I am indeed rich.

:O)

Card Front 

Card Inside

Card Back

Click here to get your copy of Monkey Made of Sockies :O)

The parrots are on their way to their new home in Capitola by the sea.

Delivering these pieces was really cathartic. I’ll admit I cried after dropping them off. It was such a release, “such a long long time before the dawn…”  definitely a Crosby Stills and Nash soundtrack for this pair…

When I returned to the studio I went to work on Larry and the Puppies. By noon, they had made a remarkable transformation.

Gone was the dull monochromatic scheme  from the first several statements…

 Today it was like someone pushed the equalizer button on the stereo.

I infused the painting with imposed color. (I went a little overboard and had to tone some of it down.) Now it just needs a few more

notes of color, and these puppies are done!

 I feel that letting go of the parrots paved the way for the rapid progress on this piece. And when I finish this one, it will pave the way for the rest of the work

that is waiting for me. Sometimes I have to let go of what’s in my hand before I can reach for something else.

I’ll post pics when I am done :O)

Happy Mother’s Day!

Click Here to Download Your Free Mother and Child Coloring Page

Click here to see beautiful cards and prints.

Click here to see fun clothing and other cool merchandise !

New to First Fridays? Here’s the description from the Hollister Downtown Association’s website:

“On the first Friday of each month, historic downtown Hollister businesses and restaurants will open their doors to showcase local artists and/or offer specials at their establishments.  The idea is to host a free day/evening of art, entertainment and specials where people gather to enjoy local art, the company of others, and maybe even a glass of wine!”

Come spend a couple of happy hours with me! I’ll be open from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday May 4th.   And while you’re here, check out all the Mother’s Day gifts that are available! From fine art, music, golf, and gift items, there is sure to be something for every mother on your list.

I look forward to seeing you!

Joe’s Lane seems to be a place of healing for many people, myself included.

Enjoy~

Lyrics

Joe’s Lane

You see them come

You see them go

You see them leave

When they want to stay

Down the road

Take away the pain

Joe’s Lane

You see them run

You see them hide

You see them leave

What they can’t abide

Up the road

Take away the pain

Joe’s Lane

Oh I was tired

And mistaken

I’d come undone

And I’d come shaken

Who could know?

You’d take away the pain

Joe’s Lane

Click Here to Download your Free “Heal” Coloring Page

To see darling prints and cards click here :O)

Enjoy!

No matter where you live, thank you so much for your support. It means a lot to me.

Open Studio Art Tour

Saturday 4/28 and Sunday 4/29

10am to 4pm both days

Start your tour at :

719 San Benito Street Suite A

Hollister, CA

For more information, please click here:
http://shannongrissom.info/2012/art/san-benito-county-open-studios-2012/