Winter Wonders

I wonder how people organize their time differently.
I wonder how many people I painted next to consistently for 4 years in college are still painting.
I wonder why my paint doesn't dry in the winter, even in this apocalyptic warm weather.
What wild wonders.

Today, I wonder about David Ageno.
I wonder why he chooses hyper realism with cracked, smeared, globs of paint through the works.
But I also wonder how I have not seen his work before.
How simple and detailed the figure, but how colorful and expressive the strokes.
A marvel, really.

For now, my work is hibernating. The holidays have consumed me.
Luckily, I remained creative this season and made all of my gifts. A new challenge for me.
A homemade body scrub. An illustrated magnet. Bacon salt that was far too greasy. And watercolor mimicked candle holders created from nail polish.
It was several hours, days, and weeks in the making. But worth the surprised smiles.

My latest work, completed 12/10 and STILL not dry.

Misinterpretations

Some people see it as an inability to focus.
Others see it as a short attention span.


But who's to say I can't enjoy two things at once?
Who's telling me I can not paint two very different art series at the same time?


A part of me fears society won't accept me.
I don't have a "style,"
That thing that you see in all my artwork,
That thing that is distinctly...me.
But what if "me" is more than one thing?
What if I see both sides,
And I want to interpret both sides,
At the same time?


I don't know what is right.
I don't know what will help me advance my career or not.
All I know...is that I enjoy painting what I feel on that particular day.
And that day,
Last week,
I painted these.

 


And I can live with that.

New Inspirations

An inspiration can take any shape.
A sound, a flash of color, a delicious bite.
We are constantly being affected by our surroundings.
It's up to us,
To take that moment,
And appreciate what we've just discovered.
Tonight,
My world has been impacted,
By Takenobu.

August Means

Moving.
Hanging an art show.
Buying furniture cause you have none.
Feeling super poor because you just moved.
Birthdays.
Euphoria.
Launching-of-a-new-project-at-work stress.
Being sick for a week and missing a lot of work.
Which means not getting paid.
Which means feeling super poor again.

Pfft....pahahahah.
I guess I'm feeling like I need excuses today.
Excuses for not painting.
But I just bought a new art cabinet,
And set it up filled with supplies,
Waiting to be used and abused over my chaotic, creative process.

Picking up my paintings from Race St. Cafe in Old City, Philadelphia this weekend.
They had a great run.

Stripes

Life

Sometimes, we use "life" as an excuse.
Life is crazy.
Life is too hectic.
Such a busy life.
Life has caught up to me.

That is my current reasoning.
And it isn't a good one.
Being in the process of moving has caused dilemmas in the painting category.
Where to paint.
When can I paint.
I officially move into a new apartment in two weeks.
But I also secured a solo show to be hung the beginning of August.

I thrive on deadlines.
I have a goal. 5 big paints, 4 small for my newest series.
Here is the start of the 5th big one.

Being back in the game, with colorful hands and roughed up knees, feels so good.
Give it up for floor painters like me.

Warmer Weather, Warmer Feelings

Things are looking up.
Pretty soon I'll have much more time for my artwork.
AND a show in the summer.
My goals for this year have been suppressed because of my present situation.
But I will not let that deter me from accomplishing them soon.
Everyone's "soon" is different.

For now, here's a sneak peek into my new striped series:

 

Missing March

I'm one day late.
One day.
Still bummed about it.

I would have updated yesterday, but living in a house without internet can be very debilitating.
So I also apologize for the quick, unprofessional photo.
But I must update!

And here she is:

I am genuinely so proud of this.
It's a significant feeling when you feel a breakthrough in your artwork.
So much different than the real world.

Here's to a long stride down the striped path!

Figured it out

When do you confidently say "I figured it all out"?
Does that time ever come?
Being an artist,
Striving for recognition, appreciation, and achievement,
It's hard to know when you've got it.
Does being a Jeff Koons or a Chuck Close mean you've made it?
Made what exactly?
An impression on the public?
If that's what we are all striving for then I consider myself on the right path.
I've made some many great connections:
Small town business owners,
Self-taught curators,
Bakery owners that just admire creators and help then to share with the world.
These are great people.
And if they remember me and the impression my artwork left on them,
Then maybe I have figured it out.


2014 was a strong year for me.
Mainly because I had two months off of work.
Let's not deny it,
That time gave me a lot.
A lot of time to think,
To create,
To invent,
To experiment,
To take risks,
To do and keep doing and do a lot.
I made a lot of new paintings.
And promoted my work well,
Having over 6 shows just that year,
And being published in a magazine-
My personal best.
But I don't see 2015 as a challenge to do better.
I see it as a challenge to do something different,
And something new and exciting.
So cheers to a good year,
Full of new possibilities,

And, as always, wood grain.

Beginning. Continuing.

What started in August of 2013 finally continues in the New Year.
Isn't it funny how we revert back to things only once we realize, "Hey....that was a good idea. I enjoyed that."
Continuing my striped series. It was a good thing.
And it soothes me.

http://dianabalderson.blogspot.com/2013/08/i-love-this.html