Blog...what blog?

Mission II

24"x30"

Acrylic on Canvas

What a hectic week this has been! If it weren't for taking our parents to their doctor's appointments, I suppose I'd have no place to go. Not that I mind. I love that I'm able to help my parents and mother-in-law out at this stage of their lives. I can see that getting old is definately not for sissys!

All that aside, I miss most not being able to spend as much time in the studio as I would like. Any sort of interruption that takes me out of that environment causes great gaps in my creativity. The creative juices can't be turned on or off. They need to be gently nurtured and "aged", like a fine wine. My studio seems to be the only place where I can let new ideas form and speak to me. Somehow, standing at the kitchen sink or driving to an appointment does not seem condusive to communication with my muse.

I'm hoping that this coming week will be less stressful and hectic. Just checked my calendar...dentist appointment on Monday morning. Looks like I'm off to a bad start already!

I just sold Mission II. It was one of three paintings I did last week in the same color palette as Electric Rain. It is available for sale now on eBay at a very low opening bid price.

Don't forget to check out my website to see my entire portfolio.

If you'd like to be added to my monthly newsletter list, please contact me at:

fil@filomenabooth.com

Electric Rain

Electric Rain

Acrylic on Canvas

24"x24"

This is one of my newest paintings in neutral, earthy colors. Originally, I started this painting by washing in rust tones with a sponge, dribbling water to expose under colors and then using a foam roller to add deeper, darker tones and textures. I wasn't totally excited with the result, so I let this painting and it's two "sisters" sit in the corner of my studio for a few days. Most of the time I'm able to complete a new painting in one sitting, but this time I was a bit stumped. The paintings appeared weak and washy looking to me. They definitely needed punch!

A couple of days ago I decided to tackle the three canvases and see what I could do to create something that I would be happy with. I mixed up some more neutral earth-tones and started to paint in broad strokes with the biggest brush I could find. Working quickly, I applied the colors and built up the texture while allowing the washy base of the painting to show through. As the painting came to life, I added additional accents with my foam roller.

Check out this painting along with the other two new paintings on eBay. I'm offering them in the auction format only one time. This is a great opportunity to own an original at a very low cost.

I hope you'll also visit my website to see the rest of my portfolio.

Part II of Commissioned Work

Eternal II

30"x40"

Acrylic on Canvas

This is the second painting in the commissioned pair for the Boston client. She wanted an "organic", flowing feel to the painting.

When I discuss a new project with a designer or client, I usually ask what kind of "feel" are they looking for. Many times they will be able to describe the mood they are trying to create in the room. This is as important to me as the size and color of the piece and helps me get into the right "zone" as I begin to create the new work.

I also discuss the business end of the project with the client before submitting a final proposal. Commissions require more work on the part of the artist because there are many specifications that need to be met and, of course, final approval by the client. Because of this, I don't think any artist should even think about starting the project without a good monitary committment from the client. I usually request that a deposit of 50% be made before beginning the project. I always send several images to the client's approval - just to make sure that we're both on the same page.

Delivery day is the final and most exciting step! Setting up the art in the home always amazes me. A painting that may appear "blah" in my studio suddenly takes on a new life in the correct setting. Colors that coordinate or complement the painting jump out and pull the whole room together. The buyer's happy reaction is always the most rewarding part of working on a commission!

Please share your experiences with commissioned work!

Check out my website to see some of my latest paintings!

Working on Commissions

Eternal

30"x40"

I've recently had several requests for commissioned paintings. I just completed two new paintings for a client in Boston. The pair will flank a fireplace in a formal living room. I've worked with this particular client in the past and find that she loves to combine bold abstracts with her more traditional furnishings.

Some artists shy away from commissioned work, and with good reason. There are some clients who like to micromanage the entire process, placing alot of pressure on the artist. I've been fortunate in that the clients I've worked with have allowed me plenty of creative leeway. In fact, I enjoy the challenge of working with specific requirements, as long as I'm given enough creative freedom.

I'm wondering how many other artists out there do commissioned work and how they handle the process. I'll continue this discussion in another post and hope to get feedback from my fellow artists.

To see more of my work, please visit my website!

Floral Fantasy

Floral Fantasy

24"x48"

Acrylic on Canvas

If you know my work, you know that I don't normally paint flowers. Yesterday, as I was trying to salvage an abstract that was on this huge canvas, I found that my usual tricks and techniques just weren't working. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood to paint. When this happens, I usually resort to completely freeing myself from any preconceived plans or ideas.

I started to apply my paints in a heavier, more painterly manner. At first it dawned on me that I might be wasting alot of paint and that I'd end up gessoing the whole thing. But, stubburn as I am, I kept plugging along. Suddenly, something in the lower right corner of the canvas drew my interest. It looked like a flower of some kind!

I decided to go with that. Sometimes the muse whispers in our ear and we need to pay attention. I grabbed a pencil and started drawing floral shapes into the still wet paint. After doing a little negative painting, painting around and between the shapes, the whole image began to come into focus. I stepped back and decided that I liked what I saw!

I don't know if this particular painting is the start of a new trend. Probably not, but it was sure fun painting it!

I have the painting listed on eBay right now but if it doesn't sell I might just find a place for it in my own home.

Old becomes new again

Tapestry

22"x30" mixed watermedia on paper

While cleaning out my studio this morning, I opened an old portfolio that had been sitting in the corner since we moved to this house nearly four years ago. I pulled out this painting that I had done back in 2003. It's a mixed media on watercolor paper. Back then I was doing alot of this type of work - and I may go back to it one of these days.

I love the detail in this painting. I remember that I used a clear wax crayon to create some resist areas. While trying to get the wax off with a heat gun, the melted wax spread into other areas and created an interesting effect when I layered other colors over it.

Yesterday I decided to purchase a set of photographic flood lamps and tripods. Up until now I was setting my work on an easel and depending on the sunlight that floods my studio to provide ample light for a good picture. Unfortunately, these short winter days have made it difficult to shoot a good picture. It was taking too much of my time to try to adjust the colors with Photoshop. Anyway, I discovered that the lamps certainly make my life easier and now my pictures are truer to the original.

I just uploaded this image to Fine Art America, a really neat website that any artist would want to know about. Prints of this and other images are now available. You can have a print of this painting on paper or canvas. You can even order mats and frames through this website. How neat is that?

Weird, isn't it???

Morning Mist

30"x40"

It's funny that no matter how much I'm determined to blog every day, life seems to get in the way. Before I know it, a whole month has gone by!

I have been pretty busy working on some new paintings. You know how I love to experiment with new techniques. I think I have AADD - Art Attention Deficit Disorder. After exploring a particular style or technique, I seem to hit a dry spell and need to try something totally different. But, don't worry, I won't be mass-producing any nostalgic little cottages with golden light pouring from the windows!

Lately, I've been working on unstretched canvas that is stapled to a luan board. I like the hard surface. It lets me do my stamping and scrubbing without flexing the way stretched canvas does. Lowe's and Home Depot are great sources for supplies that I can't find at the art supply houses. Paint rollers, sponges, acrylic patch compound and floor adhesive spreaders are great to have in my arsenal of tools and materials. There's absolutely no reason why an artist can't use whatever materials are available to create an image. Of course, it's always a good idea to make sure the materials are archival. If you're wondering about the acrylic patch compound, I use it to texture my canvas before painting. It's a great substitute for the more expensive modeling paste. Just be sure not to buy the kind that has limestone in it - that will suck the moisture out of your paint faster than you can imagine. In no time at all, the paint and spackle just flake right off the canvas- believe me, I know from experience! Anyway, if you plan to try the texturing technique, use Elastomeric Custom Patch available from Home Depot.

I staple and tape the edges of my canvas to the luan board. After applying a thin layer of the patch compound, sometimes mixed with gesso, and allowing it to dry, I apply a couple of coats of gesso. That pretty much seals the surface and then I'm ready to paint as soon as the surface of the canvas is bone dry. When the painting is complete, I remove the tape and staples. I love the nice clean edge around the canvas. It almost looks like a print! Now, the painting is ready to be stretched on bars or to be rolled up for shipping. This is one method that allows me to paint in some large sizes that I normally would not attempt.

Here is one of the paintings I finished a couple of days ago. It measures 30"x40" and is pretty spectacular, if I say so myself. It is available on Ebay right now for a one-time listing. Hope you check it out!