Catching up

August came and went and now we're already in the middle of September. Not sure how that happened. To sum things up in a nut shell, below are a few highlights from around here.

©HeatherSmithJones_LPLshow_aug14.jpg

During the month of August I was very pleased to show my work in the new beautiful Lawrence Public Library. Sometimes I like to just meander the perimeter of the library interior, and peruse the shelves. I always check out what's available in the new releases. I just finished reading "The Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd and enjoyed it.


A couple weeks ago we went to Wichita so I could see Lisa again, who was back in town for festivities at the Ulrich Museum. It really was a nice evening, of which I took zero photos. Sometimes I like to just be, you know? The next day, Matt and I stopped at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve on the drive back to Lawrence. We walked a trail that we hadn't before, in hopes of spotting bison. And we did! From a distance, which is preferable when they are free range. In the fourth image of the slideshow above you might see them, the black dots in the distance.


Along the drive to Atchison, KS.

Along the drive to Atchison, KS.

Here I am mixing paint for the spinner art project. (Photo by Atchison Public Library.)

Here I am mixing paint for the spinner art project. (Photo by Atchison Public Library.)

Bubble wrap printing.

Bubble wrap printing.

On Monday I went to the Atchison Public Library to do a workshop representing the LAC Arts-Based Preschool. It was a sweet group of young children and their families. They were celebrating International Dot Day so I took activities incorporating dots and circles. I think everyone had a fun time; I know I did.


A beautiful morning in the preschool garden and playground.

A beautiful morning in the preschool garden and playground.

©HeatherSmithJones_boxturtle

Teaching is underway. We're spending a lot of time outdoors in this pleasant September weather. When we're not painting with cars, or playing with homemade playdough, or hammering golf tees into styrofoam, you'll find us out observing caterpillars turning into butterflies, praying mantis, tree frogs, doing box turtle races, and of course, digging in the sand. 


Lately I've been putting together a photo book for Matt and I, a collection of photos from our New Mexico vacation this past June. I just ordered it this morning and am really excited to have it in my hands. 


©HeatherSmithJones_sunflowers

And now the signs of autumn. We notice the sun setting earlier as we take our evening walks/bike rides; dinners with garden butternut squash roasted and drizzled with agave nectar and cinnamon; oak trees full of acorns; blue September skies; delicious farmer's market apples; cooler nights and wishing we had a fire pit. Autumn is my favorite.

And oh, for local folks, I'm offering a couple photo session package specials through November. Learn more about those here. Thanks!

Going BIG

Transferring the drawing to the canvas, using a grid. Old school methods still work.

Transferring the drawing to the canvas, using a grid. Old school methods still work.

A new glass palette, table sized. I'm so glad I got this bigger palette to work on these paintings!

A new glass palette, table sized. I'm so glad I got this bigger palette to work on these paintings!

The first layer is painted.

The first layer is painted.

January 1, 2014. On page one in my sketchbook I wrote, "let's go big, let's do this big." Yesterday I began one of three large linen canvases that are 5x5 feet. That is LARGE for me. I'm excited to not only be working at this scale, but also to be doing something I set out to do. Slowly I've been working towards this goal this year, completing the four 2x3 footers, which I've shared three of here, and here, and here. Is this the next step to even larger? Who knows!

Usually on a painting I'll work from scratch, without a pre-planned drawing or sketch. But sometimes I alter my own rules or routines. Since I've been interested in blowing up my sketchbook entries I have begun this painting with an entry from the end of June. I scanned and printed it out and then marked with a grid to transfer to the canvas. Doing the grid really took me back to my high school days. 

And I'm reading a book that is in every art student arsenal but somehow, unless I completely blocked it from memory, I never read. Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. This morning I started "the morning pages" excercise.

With all this, I'm setting myself up for a productive, focused, and creative time in the studio before I begin teaching again in one month. 

Snaps from the week

A wonderful visit with Lisa Solomon! I loved meeting her, and could write a whole post about it. 

A wonderful visit with Lisa Solomon! I loved meeting her, and could write a whole post about it. 

Gathering color from the garden.

Gathering color from the garden.

Cleaning up the edges of these canvases, prepping them for a gallery.

Cleaning up the edges of these canvases, prepping them for a gallery.

Dinner makings, from the garden.

Dinner makings, from the garden.

Oil based primer, for some big canvases.

Oil based primer, for some big canvases.

Lots of work to look forward to!

Lots of work to look forward to!

A new painting... From February Seventeenth

From February Seventeenth, oil on canvas, 24 in. x 36 in., 2014

From February Seventeenth, oil on canvas, 24 in. x 36 in., 2014

This painting truly underwent major changes throughout it's process, as you can see in the sequence photos below. There were times I didn't know what was going on, I would think I had it figured out then it would change, and I'd look at it wondering what in the world?! There were sections that were working but overall it wasn't. So I'd sacrifice the whole thing by painting over it; that happened several times. Then I'd see things in it that I didn't want, like cartoon characters, and I'd have to paint over them.

I really like the color palette, the black lines, and the collections of brush marks. I like the sense that I'm looking at something from above but also from inside. It is perhaps my current favorite of the new canvases and was worth all the effort and time. Right now we have it hanging in our house, though it is available (as are my other new canvases here and here.) Please email me with your inquiries!

 

Sequence: top to bottom & left to right.