The Valley Below

^ Here is the final painting. ^

I am working on a commission piece...well actually 4 right now. Here is one of them. It is for a client who lives on Monte Sano mountain. Her back yard actually looks out at the valley below. The is a slight hummmmmm to her gardens and surroundings up there. You know that simple little white noise you hear when there are not other noises around. I think that is the sound of peace. Sitting at the edge of her garden is almost like sitting at the edge of the earth.

The painting still has a way to go...but for now

Enjoy!

The Quarry

The Quarry

By Michele Lee

Acrylic on Canvas

Copyright 2010

I was having fun tonight with the knife and some earthy colors. It reminds me of a memory I have from my teens. A big group of us used to go swimming in a quarry just outside of town. The day would be sweltering hot and the sight of that cool aqua green water would almost make your body cool, just by looking at it. The day was spent swimming and floating in that cool water surrounded by rock. Almost like a dream now, I can still see it. A small piece of heaven on earth, so secluded it was....magical.

Here is a painting that doesn't quite capture everything about those days.....but it tries. It is nice to have those memories now. I may not be able to run and jump into that cool water anymore....but at least I still see it.

Enjoy!

Her Legacy

Her Legacy

By Michele Lee

38"x48" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Copyright 2010

I have been working on a commission for a beautiful woman named Daphne. It has taken lots of prayers, but it is almost done. I didn't want to post it until she had a chance to see it. Well, she saw it the other day, was very pleased, and I can now share it with you all. It is titled "Her Legacy". It is a representation of her as an older woman getting ready to leave this world. She is passing her key onto the ones she loves. The key is engraved with African symbols that represent the meanings of her journey here on earth. The fabric and colors represent her heritage. And the circular shaped stones hanging from her waist, represent wealth and good fortune.

I have to say, this painting has been so inspiring. Whenever I get stuck on a painting, I like to ask God to help and guide me. All I kept hearing was, "You hold the brush and let me give her....her" And so I did. The next day I found a wonderful photo to reference the pose and away we went. Pouring the paint onto the canvas, I knew it was right. You know when you just feel that gut feeling in the pit of your soul that something is flowing and going in the right direction? That's it.

I still have a little more tweeking to do.

Enjoy!

Jo's Poem-Thank you

Here is a poem that was sent to me the other day from the girl who bought this painting. She enjoyed the painting and wanted to say thanks.

I was so touched that she would share her poetry with me...that I thought you all might like to read.

(yes I did ask her permission :)

Thank you Jo :)

Semi-colons

not periods,

will mark my journey's end,

for each ending

brings new

beginnings;

my life will be full of more !!!!

and less .....

?'s may linger

but I will be more accepting

of the answers;

I will find antonyms

for any emotions

clouding the sky

which I daydream under;

I will fill my coffee mug

with synonyms

for love and happiness

and offer that cup

willingly and fearlessly

to quench others' thirsts;

I will eat my words

if I must,

but only with catsup or mustard;

I will look for more ways

to be a rebel with a cause

rather than a rebel

without one;

I will take pride

in marching to the beat

of my own drum

and will create new moves

out of any missteps;

I will pay more attention

to the voice in my gut

rather than to the hopes

in my head

Thanks again.

Love,

Jo

The Koi are now free to swim away

Finally finished the Koi painting. YEA! I did this one on a a 3' x 4' gallery wrapped canvas. It is so hard to get a picture of because of all the glazes and metallics. But I gave it a go....hope you all enjoy! This one is up for purchase until I decide what shop to put it in....hmmmmmm where will the Koi swim away to?

A New Pouring-What do you see?

And just a little more color poured

A little more color poured into the canvas

Well, I had so much fun with the last pouring...I thought you guys might like to do it again. (The fish are done!- you can see the whole transformation in one of the posts below)
So let's here it.....What do you see?

Remember to look at it from different angles and let that imagination go wild!
I can't wait to hear what you all see.
Enjoy!

Large Commission Piece

I am working on a commission for a client at work. It will be on a 4ft x 6ft canvas...yikes! I am having so much fun doing up samples. This whole "playing in the colors thing" is wonderful. I am using some of our faux finishing products. It is letting me add a more metallic glow to the piece.

But it sure is hard to take a picture of because of the reflectivity.

Here are some pictures of the mock ups. I think I might do a series in these called Raku. My husband makes raku and some of his pots and vases remind me of this effect.

Enjoy!

What do you see?

Well...I think I'm done with the Koi. The finished result has different metallics, silver mica powder and blues buried in a very thick coat of of clear glaze. Hope you all have enjoyed the ride.

The fish are starting to become more refined

Thanks to everyone here and on Facebook for your visions....It has been fun to see what you see...in the end,I think I see fish beginning to appear!

Pouring above has been flooded with clear acrylic gloss gel and the woven with a large trowel

I did a very large pouring this morning. A pouring is a technique I learned a while back from a wonderful artist named Anne Hamilton. She runs an art retreat near Mentone, AL. You can visit her website here: http://www.artforartlovers.net/ And if you have never gone to an art retreat before...I suggest doing it at least once in your life! I spent a week there doing nothing at all but painting, reading, sitting, eating and just being! It changed my life!
So a pouring is just that. Laying your canvas down on a flat surface, you mix colors (thick or thin) and actually pour them onto the canvas. Let them flow and move where they will. You can help them along by tilting the canvas. After the colors are in place and dry...you begin to romance the canvas. (like we talked about in one of the last posts) Put it in a very visible spot, turn it to different angles and see what vision comes out of the pouring. It will suprise you what comes out of your imagination. And it is so nice to use your imagination...something we tend to loose as we get older.
Have fun with it!
I am curious to know...what do you see in this pouring?

HAPPY 2010!

Last painting sold of 2009.

Thank you Jo...I hope that it brings much joy and laughter into your home.

Happy 2010 to you all! 2009 has been an incredible year. I thought I would share a little recap of the year here at A Year of Art. In January I started the 2nd year of Year of Art. With that came the start of a new company called Artistic Finishes Studio. http://www.artisticfinishesstudio.com/

I partnered up with another great artist and faux finisher in the area and gave it a whirl. The year exceeded my wildest beliefs and imagination! I have been so blessed to have found wonderful clients, lots of work,many commissions and some great shops to carry my painting in during this last year despite the state of our economics. There were just a few art shows and festivals that I attended this year, mainly due to the rapidly growing business. Health issues have begun to slow me down a bit this year. I am finding...SLOWLY....a balance beginning to emerge. I learned lots of lessons this year when it comes to art. But I think the most important of all was to Romance the Canvas. This lesson alone has taken my painting from being just paint on canvas to a complete spiritual experience.

I have met some incredible artists along the way this year. Not all, but most are listed to the right of this page to be shared with you.

My family has had to put up with a lot from me this year as well. Either with me being gone to the job site, lost in a painting or gone to a meeting to keep up with my recovery. (I am in my 6th year ...yea!) They have had to live a year essentially without me around much. Luckily my GREAT husband has stepped in and taken charge. Thank you for that Greg. You are a blessing. And thank you kids for doing such a GREAT job in school and in life this year. You all are my heart and my life....YOU ROCK!

So there you have it...A Year of Art 2009 in a nut shell. Boy, writing it down and looking at it in black and white really helps me to see things clearly. Life goes by so very fast.

I hope that you all have had blessed years as well. With 2010 there comes a new chapter...a new start...what will you begin this year?

I say, look at what you loved as a child or young adult. Look for that desire/hobby and take a running start.....then JUMP!...(eyes closed if needed)...into that world of passion and creativity. There is nothing better for the soul than to create, to built or to simply accomplish and concur a new goal.

Stay blessed,

Michele