Inspired by van Gogh

Every once in a while I set out to create a painting that I totally intend to keep and not offer for sale. I had this tiny framed canvas and easel. I never think about framing my own work, so the tiny frame made me think of the master painters. I've long admired van Gogh's work and, bonus, my brother is named after him...and sunflowers are my favorite...well, it was a no brainer. So here's my tiny van Gogh inspired sunflower piece. It's only 3"x2.5" and I love it!

"Inspired by van Gogh"

It's going to go great sitting on my mother's furniture.

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The Many Layers of Frida - Part 4

It's been a lovely rainy morning in Austin, Texas. I opened the windows, made some tea (over and over), and painted to my heart's delight. Just outside the window by my easel, a sweet little squirrel was on a mission. He ran to right below the window sill, grabbed something, an then dashed out in the rain to a bush. He did it over and over and over. I suspect that precious little guy is fully stocked up for winter by now. Hope he remembers where he buried his goodies when the time comes.


I was able to finish this painting this morning. I think I finally found the whimsy I was looking for when I started this project. It dove into a deeper level than I'd expected, but this morning I found myself returning to the bright colors and fantastical land that I find so appealing. And having completed this wonderful taster for the year-long class I was considering, I've decided that I will definitely be signing up for it. I'm so excited to start in January!

Here is the finished painting and below are a number of stages leading up to it.

"The Many Layers of Frida"

I painted the hanging ornaments and added
white accents to the thorns.

I added a reflection to the ornaments, darkened
the canvas on the left of her cape, and added
some whimsical dots to the side of her neck and head.

This shows the dots, the writing on her chest/neck
and that she is, in fact, smiling. When I look at the
photos of the painting as a whole it's hard for me
to see that expression on her face...but there it is!

I added more whimsical dots and some flowers
at the bottom of her cape. The flowers and dots
are reminiscent of my early art work. Fun!
I also added more yellow here and there.

I outlined the flowers and leaves with white.

I added stars. I kept staring at this piece knowing
it was missing something and the stars were it!

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The Many Layers of Frida - Part 3

Our silly big cat, Pug, has been unfaithful. Yes, he's been seeing other neighbors. Not in his usual way where he walks up to people strolling down the street and begs to be petted. Nope. He's been sleeping on a neighbor's porch and begging for their love, attention, and food.

Lucky for us they're friends of ours and they came over to make sure all was well here and let us know about our sweet big boy. My theory? Pug is mad at us because we've been keeping him and Tommy locked in at night to protect them from the roaming coyotes. Can't exactly explain that to Pug, so he's made himself comfortable elsewhere. "That'll show 'em!"

Tonight I had my little guy go retrieve Pug from our neighbor's porch and when they arrived I gave Pug canned cat food. Yes, my plan is to spoil him rotten to compensate for the nightly lock-ins. And maybe, just maybe, he'll get back to his old faithful self.


I continued working on my Frida collage. My goodness this is thought provoking and wonderful! I love that it's got a self portrait vibe with a fabulous Frida twist.

I added white to parts of the canvas and
then I spread it thin with the edge of
a small piece of watercolor paper.

I decided I wanted her neck thinner. Frida
portrayed herself with a long thin neck
and I wanted to emulate that. I also added
a crown of flowers in her hair and added
white accents to her hair.

After I'd taken some of the brightness away
with the white I decided I wanted some
brightness back. I also embellished the cape
with a heart as I thought when it's exposed
on the outside it shows vulnerability.
I gave her buttons connected by cord
that echoed Frida's spine.

The thorned vines are both protection
and clear boundaries. They show an exterior
that is hard to penetrate, but it is decorated
perhaps to show a softening of the edges,
perhaps to honor the purpose of the vines.

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Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.

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The Many Layers of Frida - Part 2

I had a bit of time to continue working on this painting tonight. I'm loving how she's still Frida, but a new version. Part of this project is working through some feelings. My own, not Frida's, though she's a part of it as well. I don't know this for sure, but I think of Frida as being someone who was alone a lot (I should research this). She certainly explored her feelings and conveyed them through her art and she also explored her physical being and laid that down on canvas as well. As I was working on her face and thinking of this piece I thought of my own feelings, too. My introvertedness that dictates so much of my life, my passion for alone time to recharge, and my challenges when faced with things and events out of my comfort zone. Painting is my solace as I imagine it was hers. I think this is my favorite quote of hers.

“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it's true I'm here, and I'm just as strange as you.”

Yup!

I started with her face and hair. I sketched out
how I wanted her face to be (different than the
original photograph). I wanted her eyes perhaps
a bit brighter and her smile a bit upturned. I
absolutely wanted to keep her intensity.

I added splashes of color to the background and
began defining what will be her dress or
whatever she will be wearing.

I added some writing. A quote of Frida's and
some of my own thoughts.

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The Many Layers of Frida - Part 1

I received a tutorial in my email a couple of days ago. It was a taste of a year-long class I'm strongly considering taking next year. The tutorial is for a collage and painting piece. After doing my Van Gogh and Kahlo paintings I felt I was up for a bit of a break. But what did I end up deciding to use as my focus? Yup, Frida Kahlo. As I was going through images I found flowers that reminded me of her. I found a fence that made me think of her spine. Even the flowers in some of Van Gogh's paintings reminded me of her as she wore them so beautifully in her hair. So, Frida it is. I hope to make this more of a whimsical piece than my last one. I understand that Frida had a wicked sense of humor and loved to laugh. That's what I want to portray. I'm super excited!


Here's my start. I got the collaging done and I'm hopeful that the next thing on the tutorial is painting...we'll see!

Note: I'm using other artists and photographers' work, but it is only for inspiration as I will be painting over all of it.

A canvas I'd dripped with leftover paint from a
previous painting called out to me. Yes, it said,
"Pick me! Pick me! Paint me! Paint me!"
I found a number of pieces to compose my
collage. Some from the web and some from a
1963 plant encyclopedia I'd gotten several years
ago to use for just such projects.

I lay the pieces out on the canvas. I love the
gathering of Van Gogh, Kahlo, Matisse, and
lovely garden photos.

I used matte medium to stick it to a canvas.
It's on my easel and ready for the next step!!!

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Van Gogh's Postman - Part 3

When I got home from work today I sat on the couch and chatted with Dave and the kiddo. Hazel, our awesome, 85 pounds of pure love dog, stared at me from my little guy's lap. They were both on the recliner about six feet away. Hazel could contain herself no longer and leapt off of the chair and ran over to say, "hi". I pet her, rubbed her ears, scratched her back, gave her hugs, and told my little guy that she'd had her fill and he could call her back to his lap.

Little guy: "Hazel, come here!"

She started to walk over there, turned around, came back to me, jumped on the couch, and lay down all snuggled up beside me. I guess my one minute doggy love session was simply not enough. 

And so one minute turned into five minutes which turned into a trip to the bedroom for a twenty minute snuggly power nap. Love that big girl of mine!

I finished this painting. What fun it was to paint in Van Gogh's style (or at least my version of his amazing style).  I learned so, so much.

"Van Gogh's Postman"

I used white paint to lay out where I wanted
the flowers on the wallpaper to be.
I also lowered his shoulders. Did ya notice?

I started adding color to the flowers.

I finished the flowers, added stems, and
added a bit of brown in the parts between the
flowers. I worked on his eyes a bit between
this picture and the final photo of the finished piece.

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Van Gogh's Postman - Part 2

I'm absolutely convinced that the electricity usage in Austin, Texas could be cut by at least a quarter if grocery stores didn't keep their thermostats so darn low. I'm also somehow convinced that someday I'll remember that this is always the case and I should, by now, always be prepared. Yet....


Me (after having shopped at Randall's and then at Costco in cut-offs and a tank top...including going in the sub-zero produce room): "Oh, my gosh, I'm so cold. I can't wait to get outside again."

Costco receipt checking lady: "I know. I have to take a light jacket with me wherever I go."

Me: "Yeah, I'm forty-eight and I still haven't learned that."

Costco receipt checking lady: "You're young. You still have plenty of time."

Well, that's good, because I'm clearly not a quick study in this area.

I continued working on this painting. It was so exciting getting to start the layering of patterns!

I painted the background with a mix
of green and turquoise. (Sorry, I think
I didn't use flash with this one.)

I added details to his hat and jacket.

I started the first layers of patterning on his
face. He reminds me of a tiger at this point. :-)

I continued adding layers. I used five different
colors on his face. I added color to his lips and
details to his eyes and eyebrows.

I added more of a reddish color to his face
and started the first couple of pattern
layers on his fabulous beard. 

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Van Gogh's Postman - Part 1

Our sweet little cat, Tommy, has a variety of favorite places in our house. Whatever his mood, there's a perfect spot for him to be. Dave's desk chair, in the cloth napkin bin on the table, on or under any of our beds, under any of our beds, in the carport by the door, out back with the chickens, and my personal favorite, right under my easel. He's a fabulous painting buddy...and if a bit of paint or water falls on him he reacts with a blissful twitch and goes right back to sleep.

Tommy was "helping" me paint this morning and there's a pic of him below doing his best to support my artistic efforts.


I've started a new painting. I'm still working with Van Gogh as my inspiration.

I sketched with charcoal.

Tommy, my sweet little painting buddy.
This is one of his favorite places to hang out.

I painted with white acrylic which
blended with the charcoal to create gray.

I began laying down a layer of color.

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Pattern Bliss

I'm taking a painting class that has the students diving into the styles of some of the greatest artists of all time. We're starting with Vincent Van Gogh. I've forever loved his work and have really enjoyed looking super closely at his paintings. The patterns in them are mesmerizing. Today I both looked at his work and reproduced some of the patterns found in them. First with pen and then with a brush and india ink.

I adore patterns. I take great comfort in them. Makes me think of an awesome striped shirt I bought when I was in Salzburg as a teen...all glorious with its white, turquoise, and black pattern. Wish I still had it.

Van Gogh-esque Patterns

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Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.

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