Where the Magic Is

This is something I started for my sister-in-law for her birthday, then decided to do something else for her.  I had all but the calligraphy done and finally finished it today.  I just love the quote... although I would maybe suggest that whatever it is we have inside ourselves IS magic.  Just something for you to chew on this morning :)

This is around 8x10 (I think?) watercolor and ink on 140 lb. paper and might be for sale at some point; I haven't decided.

Then I thought I'd work on a new acrylic henna impasto... I was dreaming about dragonflies last night so I decided that's what I'd do.

 I got the grass lines filled in but didn't feel like mixing a couple more cones of paint for the other colors I want to use.  The gel medium I'm using is opaque; I think I'd prefer a clear one for mixing with my Pearl-Ex powders.  This will have high-flow washes done over it when I'm finished with the lines.

PtesanWi

"The medicine of Buffalo is prayer, gratitude and praise for that which has been received.  Buffalo medicine is also knowing that abundance is present when all relations are honored as sacred, and when gratitude is expressed to every living part of creation."  -- Jamie Sams

Bison Spirit Animal Painting, Work in Progress

I want to do a series of Spirit Animal paintings.  Buffalo is not one of my animals, but because she symbolizes abundance, she has some meaning in my life at the moment, and this is where I was inspired to begin.  A few months ago I sketched this with detailed notes about the meaning of Bison as a Spirit Animal.  To the Lakota, there is no animal more sacred than a white buffalo.  It was a symbol the Great Spirit was taking care of them.  They have a legend about White Buffalo Calf Woman (PtesanWi) that I will relate with the next (last?  maybe..) layer of this painting.

This is acrylic on 8x8" panel.  I think for the next one I will return to oils... definitely like the way they move around on the canvas better, even though I bought an extender to use with the acrylics.  Sure is nice to have the layers dry so quickly, although I have a feeling it's not going to make me paint any faster because once I'm done with a layer I feel kind of done for the day.  I got the background pretty much done here, just have to put detail on the buffalo, and the circle, which will be painted with impasto designs.  

Back in the Studio

Remember this? Playing with it again. I thought I'd add a quote to it but my calligraphy skills are very rusty.

So, some practice is in order.

But then I remembered that the new Golden High Flow acrylics I ordered last week can be used as ink. I may wait to do the actual lettering till I get to play with them. Can't wait!

I've been canning and making jewelry and it hasn't left me much time to get into the studio. But I've got the itch, which is good because September kicks off another daily painting challenge. And also because I may have a commission. :D

On to the next project, then... This started out in my sketchbook several months ago, too.

And here's the rough-in. This is the first time I have tried working with acrylics. Definitely will take some getting used to... I'm used to bobbing all the oil paint I think I'm gonna need for a painting on my palate, but acrylics are drying too fast for that. I have a retarding agent coming with my other goodies!

Hopefully I can sneak back to the studio tomorrow.

Beginning With Bison

I'm about to embark on a series of paintings that it seems to me very important to do. A series of animal totem paintings, composed in part of the mostly realistic painting style I first learned from my mentor Karen, with symbols and accents and sometimes the animals themselves done in my henna impasto style. It seems to me a marriage of the physical and the spiritual, which is what painting must be for me.

It seems natural to begin with Buffalo (American bison, Bison bison). For one thing, its medicine is something I need in my life right now. For another, White Bison is the keeper of the North direction on the Medicine wheel, the beginning, slumber, winter time. The medicine wheel will figure significantly in Bison's painting. To begin with Bison is to begin at the beginning.

These are going to be 10x10 oil paintings on, I think, panel. I'm ordering the materials, and sketching and researching while I wait for them to arrive.

If you've got an animal you'd like to see me do, feel free to leave a comment or email me.