Renee's Artistic Journey: 2010

Sunday, November 07, 2010

The touch

As an artist when I visit a gallery or museum I want to touch a work of art. I want to feel the brush strokes. I want to feel a Van Gogh some day. There are different kinds of paint and different kinds of strokes, like different kinds of snow, or now, after having lived in the desert, there are different kinds of sand. You feel it and know, oh, its that kind of sand. Paintings are like that too. You can feel the difference between oil or acrylic or full body or fluid. That touch breaths life into the painting.

But as my girls will tell you, I won't let them ever touch a painting or scuplture. Not mine of course, those they can touch all they want. Someone else's work of art has to be respected and preserved. I hope that my grandkids and their kids one day touch my paintings and feel my presence in those brush strokes.

Friday, November 05, 2010

Progress...

The birds are still progressing along, but this one is my favorite.

This morning I did one coat for the background on the wine painting too. Hopefully I will find more time to paint later this afternoon. Now I have to do some laundry, vacuum and get the old skis out for the ski swap tonight!

Birds

A bird ran into my studio/office window the other day... gave me the idea to do some birds. Picasso's dove popped into my head, a great image of peace, then living in the Middle East, etc. My head runs from idea to idea connecting them all together like a long paper chain. Here are some doves and an owl (which I had to throw in because we have some in the reservoir behind our house) in progress. I guess they are kinda hard to see. I'll do individual pics once I am finished.

Monday, November 01, 2010

Commissioned family portrait

This is for a friend in Dubai for her grandmother in Texas. Interesting to work in Connecticut for a person who lives in Dubai and wants the piece sent to Texas, very cool! Portraits are not really my thing, but I'm still proud of the output.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Horses!

I completed a few horses in red and gold. They turned out well. Next time I need to deviate from my usual palate.

Now looking for more inspiration from the woods and wildlife around our house.

Friday, October 01, 2010

New Subject Matter

Dubai had ready made subject matter at hand... mosques, wind towers, etc. Often people buy art to commemorate an experience they've had or cherish something they love. What do I paint in Connecticut? Big green trees and rocks, oh lots of rocks.... I've decided on horses for now. I started 4 new paintings today. They'll be abstract horse in different colors.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Changing times, changing site, selling art

As time passes so does our approach to whatever we do, hopefully anyway, I sure don't want to be stuck in the past. This blog was my original website, alas I created a new website and this will become a blog about creating my art vs showcasing it.

After recently moving back to the US from living in Dubai, I am at a cross roads, what to do with my life... something tougher to ponder beyond what to make for dinner. I love creating art, but is there a strong enough market for it here in Connecticut. Maybe yes, maybe no, but it would mean I have to come busting out of my shelf and sell my work. Selling your own art isn't like selling a product on a shelf. It's selling a piece of you, which is waaaayyyy harder to do. My inner insecurities always creep to the surface when I think about walking into a gallery with my portfolio. Art lies in the eye of the beholder. I've sold pieces that I've loved and pieces that I thought were crap, because everyone has different taste.

I've already e-mailed/called 3 places about showing my work. Every week I will call or visit more. It will come in time. Here's to today and moving forward!