The Little Painting That Could...

Being that I am a total perfectionaholic, blank canvases frighten me. But I am working on not being such a control freak. Calm down. No one cares if your shirt is dirty or you dishes aren't done.

I bought a couple canvases at the dollar store in January. And they gawked at me until I finally dragged out my oil paints (I have one Emily Carr class under my belt to hold over every one's head)... Not a clue where to start.

Mowgli slept in his Hipster bed and acted like he knew better than I did. Like I care.
Seven year old oil paints. Still good. Still have that ripe smell. Still impossible to clean up (only because I get impatient).

I get a lot of satisfaction from mixing colour.

Rather pleased with the first layer.
Fast forward four months later and I did this to it.
A moth committed suicide on it.

I have been on the prowl for inspiration. Blue canvas is not cutting it. Shame fills me having it on display, but it's all wet, so I can't do anything but try to find an idea. Was not looking to paint anything more than a pattern or abstract form for my first go. Finally, while looking through some art snapshots, and idea came to me. A flurry of dots.

Black Absinthe, from Spain, down the hatchet. That 85% alcohol burns your ears, but it was popular amongst artists and bohemians. I'll take all the bohemian I can get.
I call it "Art in the Garden"- I wore my bikini and lathered myself up with baby oil. Tan+Nature+Art= Damn fine day.
I am obsessed with palish greener turquoise. I want to go to the fabric store and make new curtains and throw pillows for my place (I've named it "The Bat Cave" because it's in the basement and it's where rad happens). So pleasing to the eye when mixed with my peach walls. Need to get a job. Need to get a job.
The brush wasn't quite cutting it. So I did like I do with my makeup- I tossed the brush aside and used my fingers.

Much better. Not so geometric. I copied this pattern, then flipped it around and used all new colours so that the tapering effect wouldn't be only to one side of the painting. I also tried to make use of complimentary colours. Then I took a wood skewer (for kabobs) and snapped the end so it made an "L" shape and then used it to create thinner, more textured lines.

Yup, Masterpiece number one. I think I'll hang it horizontally.

Now the waiting game begins. Tick. Tick. Tick. Oils take soooo long to dry. Oh, and I had blue paint in my hair for 4 days before I noticed. I'm already on my way to loony eccentric artist-ville folks.

It's cheap night at the theaters which means I am off to get some serious Lip envy watching "Salt"- I figure it might motivate me to get reacquainted with an old friend "gym" after I watch her jump around an beat up men. I've always wanted to beat up men. Maybe 2010 is the year I realize that dream.