Open for Business: Marrakech

I can't resist another painting share from Marrakech  

where I enjoyed the vibrant colors as well as the cultural

differences.  Outside the Medina (the old city) stores looked

very European, but it was the shops inside the walls that

caught my painter's eye.

I had plenty of time waiting in airports to play with some sketches and was anxious to try them out first in watercolor when I got home.  This was a daily scene on the way back to our riad and I loved that the weavings exposure to the elements seemed not to bother anyone (except maybe me).

I then took a 12 x 9 canvas and laid down a first pass keeping the paint very thin and drip-y.  I wanted to see if the drips left to dry added something of interest to this vignette.  I played around with the walls and shadows for quite a bit...I think I was anxious to get into the colors and patterns but afraid I would abandon the hard work around them if I jumped in too soon. Like waiting for desert.

I decided to preserve most of the drips, there was no other way to let you know that the street was pitted and uneven without distracting from the blankets.  And I wanted you to be more intrigued by the shadow of the person coming down the street than interested in the road.

When I finally did get into the weavings I enjoyed them like a bowl of ice cream, slowly working my way around the light and shadow and trying to get just enough suggestive pattern that you would know they were all unique.

"Open for Business," 12 x 9, oil on canvas

available

I like this piece.  I like the lines and minimal composition as well as the limited color.  I think it also

captures a feel for shopping outside the darker souks.  I was sorry to be done when I finished.

If you have been to this fascinating city and are interested in the art send me an e-mail (art@cindymichaud.com) as I will soon deliver them to the Crossnore Fine Arts Gallery, in Crossnore, NC.  

Traveling in Living COLOR,

Cindy

Taking the Challenge

When our Pieces of 8 painting group gets together just about anything can happen!  We like to make up challenges that keep our brains sharp and our creative muses on their toes...so when Carmen wanted us to dig deep into our supply drawers and bring out the tubes of color that we had long ago abandoned, we were ready to take up the challenge.

If you paint, you probably recognize this.  Something you bought because it was a) on sale, or b) recommended in a workshop.  And it has never seen the light of day since!  So we came with our bags and palettes of such.

Carol brought us all a "subject" and we settled in to make silk purses from sow's ears.  It was rather disconcerting at first not having our "go to" standards handy to use.  But slowly we adjusted and started thinking "dark" and "light" or "warm" and "cool" as opposed to yellow, blue and crimson.

Denette was able to find a variation on the colors needed for her apple and pepper and got right into  painting  the details.

I, on the other hand, had a long stretch to paint this green apple with the colors I had.  Add to the challenge that we had under two hours to produce and we have a baaaad habit of talking through the first 30 minutes at least!

Mary does watercolor and although she swore these were not her default bag of trick hues I think she did a pretty darn good job of painting a green apple.



Carol (below) had a board with some wonderful, pre-done texture on it and was able to use that for added interest.  Her red apple is definitely red but these were some strange shades that had luscious names but uncommon tints.

Kathy (below)

was a renegade and decided not to paint a piece of fruit.  She went after a photo of an owl she had taken at the national zoo.  He was so cute I think he would have been fun to paint in any color.

I share these not because I think they are wonderful pieces of art (I hear the group choking right now) but because you can make an artistic challenge out of almost anything.  As long as your brain has to process the painting basics and your eye can help you execute, there is a way to overcome almost any obstacle and still make it pleasing.  Obviously it would take a bit more practice  to perfect but taking leave of a comfort zone is a boost to learning...and a sure-fire way to challenge your skills.

Now, where is my cad yellow and cobalt blue.....waah, waah, waah.

Colorfully Challenged,
Cindy

Flying Free: Biking in Fantasy Colors

Not long ago I told you this was (to be) a painting of my sister flying down a hill on her bicycle.
We had a dangerous childhood: we actually never wore (never mind heard of) a bike helmet!!  To this day we admit to loving the wind flying free through our hair while biking.  She confessed recently that it had to be one of her favorite "guilty pleasures" as well as the way she cleared her mind and restored her soul.  Since I clear my mind by swooshing and mooshing around in color I decided to paint a tribute to both activities.  Above was the start done with acrylics and a credit card.

 Here are two details and the finished piece.  Fantasy of course but a very true story!  Where do you go to clear your mind and restore your inner peace?  Is your mini-vacay in one color or many?

This is crooked and the color may be a tad off, but it is a 12 x 12 piece done on cradled board and framed in a black shadow box with an edge inside.  If you would like to see a better photograph just email me and I can get one to you.

Colorfully Yours,
Cindy

Cleansing Breath...

I am one painting away from finishing a 16 piece series, whew! and so badly feel the need for a change of pace...a cleansing breath, if you will.  How does an artist free the mind, change the challenge and get a second wind?  Well, I change media and do something totally different and only for my own pleasure.

The floor of my studio looks like this now: spread with bits and pieces of fabric and quilt squares I found some time ago in a junk shop.  The hand pieced squares intrigued as I wondered why he or she had done so many (I have 16) and then just quit; seems the hard part was completed.  I also wondered about the fabrics: they are a tad garish, very old and the backing is obviously recycled from...bags?  lining?  who knows?  So of course I bought them and brought them all home to sit in my closet.

These are harsh colors but when I got rid of the yellow they started looking better.  I have played with numerous ideas: a wall hanging, the trim on a quilted painting, doing something in each center....adding more applique in the center...lots of playful ways to combine the mysterious old pieces with the new and modern additions.  The colors are starting to grow on me a bit more as I arrange and rearrange some of the pieces.

I may get no further than this on the floor game of laying it all out.  The pieces may spend another long time back in the closet.  But they are doing their job nevertheless by providing a much-needed break from the easel and the palatte.  They are about as far away from the subject of stones as one can get!  Just playing with the pieces and wondering about the southern (I decided) gentlewoman (my guess) who died in childbirth (made up story) while piecing this quilt of her mother's old dresses and father's old shirts (who else would wear these prints) and topping them all off with the harsh garish yellow (because it was free at the church bazaar) has gotten my creative juices flowing again.  Ahhhh- that's what a deep, deep cleansing breath will do!