little and big/ female paintings

have you heard of bob burridge? i was fortunate enough to take a painting class from him a few years ago. i like to visit his website and was so inspired by his contemporary figure drawing that i needed to make some of my own. can you pick out which of his ladies was my inspiration? if you are on the contemporary figure page- i used the second painting for my inspiration. i started first with a small piece of paper, post card size, and then, made another painting on a canvas, 10"x12" covered with music paper.

five senses friday

see
i can close my eyes and still see all the wonderful colors that Bob Burridge will use to paint- even though i have been home a week now.

smell
i can still smell all that excitement in the air of 26 artists there to learn and watch Bob paint. and some very talented people in the student chairs....

hear
when Bob was lecturing- what great interaction from the group....i can hear the laughter. and when we would be painting...you could hear the music in the background, and the brushes and fingers painting.

taste
i could taste the anticipation of another day- hardly able to wait to learn some more; not able to sleep because i was so excited to learn more....

touch
i discovered i love to paint with my fingers (image that...). i would dab before, but, now, i really love to just paint with them. i love the feel of the paint on my fingers- i love the way that i can still be picking those beautiful colors off of my fingers hours, and hours later...and still see traces of those colors.

i have been home for a week- but, i wanted to make sure and capture what and how i felt that week of painting. i can't explain or tell you enough- inspirational.

happy 4th

land scapes....

landscapes can be absolutely breath taking- like the trip out to the black hills this past weekend. i mentioned that we had gone out for a family reunion and the drive out- spectacular!! not a breathe of wind, so, all the water in the fields were a perfect mirror reflecting their beautiful prairie landscape....that being said...

today- still at art class....landscapes. well, let me tell you something- these are not my forte. i had four pieces going (ALWAYS paint in a series....-see what i have learned) on my landscapes. had picked my colors; had picked my forms, and had the committment to do these...well, what a disaster. BUT, actually, i did have one that Bob Burridge had said was a winner (such an honor...). i said, well, i did four paintings, and he stated- and you had ONE that is a winner- that is awesome! i had been feeling rather defeated and more than a little frustrated until my mom encouraged me to look at my painting behind a frame (this trick too is a must) and when Bob saw it- he was like- awesome- so, how could i remain so defeated? i can't. today pushed me to my limited- somewhere i am not comfortable, but, dammit- i am going to try again tomorrow (with way less thought!!)-so stay tuned....

speaking of creative journeys....

so....i am taking a Bob Burridge collage/ painting class this week with my mom. OMG- talk about shedding my hesitations about color. it is so cool- words can't even begin to explain how cool the last two days have been-so enlightening. if the class were to end today (which would totally break my heart...) i would have gotten ALL of my money worth (and this was not cheap), but, no heart breaking here- we will be here all week- yes, till friday!! yeah! i think i have been afraid of letting completely letting go on the color front when it comes to this part- but, the last two days i have been following the bob plan colorwheel- because that is ALL about the letting go- and it is sooooo refreshing. i can't wait to share my pictures- sorry, i forgot my usb cord to connect up to the computer- so, i am setting the bar of expectations high...and will post later. i also made a purchase....or two...sorry honey- if you read this, didn't we just talk about not necessarily asking for permission, but, rather begging for forgiveness.....i had spied the painting while looking around his site and fell in love with them, and was so surprised when low and behold his other painting came in today...love them!