More Clucking Around

It's so hard to stay focused at this time of year!  Like a kid I run from one project to another barely finishing one before another beckons.  Not to mention the cookies that seem to call my name no matter where I hide (or hide them)...so many treats of the season to pack into a whirling 25 days.
So I wanted something purely fun on the easel or I would find excuses to leave the brushes dry.  Enter once again Brave Betty and Annie with the antics we captured on film.

Clucking Around

 

Since this is in acrylic I can pop into the studio, add a few feathers, swish out the brush, run to wrap a gift, eat a cookie and then repeat.  As I "know" these fine chicks (i.e. have painted them previously) they are not too difficult to render again.  The perfect formula for pleasurable work.

 

This is a large piece of ceiling tin, 24 x 24, that I won't need to frame (no really sharp edges) so it adds to the fun knowing there are no real "rules".  It's the level of engagement this season calls for.   I guess I should point out, however, that the really difficult part of this piece was done months ago: the surface prepartion.  The tin was painted cream along with a few other tints and while much had flaked off, the rest was removed by yours truely.  The surface was then sanded and gessoed so the paint would adhere.  It helps to do this kind of messy work in mass, prepping several surfaces to be enjoyed later on.

 

Ooops, gotta run, there is some homemade shortbread downstairs and I swear it is calling my name!

 

 

One Photo = Many Paintings

My friend Patti the potter has chickens behind her studio and all of them have names and stories and personality.  This fall I took my painting gang to visit Patti and after a lovely studio chat we ventured into the rain to see the chicks.  This is a photo taken by Donna through the fencing of Brave Betty and Annie.  Don't they look like models coming down the runway wearing the latest in chic fashion?

With Donna's permission I used the photo to launch a couple paintings.

Chicks with Attitude

12 x 12 x 2   gesso, acrylic and oil on board

 

 

I had a recycled board covered with black gesso and decided to have some fun.  What you don't see in this photo is that when all done I plugged a couple of screw holes on either side of the 2" cradle with porcelain knobs...because the screws fit?  But, hey, it's a great place to hang dish towels to dry!

 

 

Annie & Brave Betty Strut Their Stuff

27 x 9  gesso, acrylic, colored pencil, china marker on tin

 

 

Somewhere I had picked up a couple pieces of tin roofing and once again decided to play around with my (Patti's) chickens.  Same photo, but totally different interpretation.  It has taken me years to realize that I do not have to be a slave to the photo...as the artist I am in control and can do whatever I please.  After all, had I not shared the photo you would not know that other chicks and piles of straw were even in the shot.  True liberation comes too late in life!

p.s. I do not know if the version of text you receive has the words "knobs" and "roofing" double underscored?  If so, these are NOT my inserted links....apparently blogger is finding words to link up paid advertisers.  Not a lot I can do about this.  My links will not be double underlined.  I'll try to learn more...thanks for understanding.