get back

http://www.vernavogel.com/get-back/

Got four large-ish paintings back from one of my galleries today, which I intend to re-work a bit.
In these older pieces I was playing with the idea of allowing the raw, unpainted canvas to show rather than “hiding” the stitching under layers of paint.  Show the stitching process, keep the painting process very minimal kind of thing.  
Here’s a link to the first raw canvas piece I made, in 2011.  
After that one, I made some more - remember these?

Out Of Sound, 51x45 inches

Sky Light, 45x51 inches

Horizons, 62x35 inches

Connection, 62x25 inches

Problem is, raw canvas is pretty much all the same colour.  When I was making these paintings, the colour of the canvas became quite a challenge: how to work with this predominant beige – how to keep things simple but interesting?

I spent part of 2012 working on how to keep the raw canvas look while making the finished paintings more visually appealing.  I called this body of work “Spatial Awareness”, because keeping some of the raw canvas visible while creating a dynamic painting required a much more thoughtful approach to the underlying composition of each one, since I didn’t want the option of simply covering up visual discrepancies.  
Here’s a link to some of those efforts.

So now the plan with these returned works is to, yes indeed, cover up some of that raw canvas colour!  I still want to maintain the original idea of carefully considered space and minimal colour – just not the same same same raw canvas beige.  The changes I intend will be simple but (hopefully) effective.

Wish me luck!  :)

up and running!

Woo-hoo!!  Bells and whistles and big smiles!

Here it is, finally, my new website blog!  On my website I've called it my journal, which sounds prettier.

For my first post I used a couple of old-ish photos that I've posted here before, but those images do seem to encapsulate how I feel.

I'm sorry to say I don't know how to set things up if anyone wants to follow it or anything slick and posh like that, I am just now very happy to have finally made a blog post via my new website.

The website needs a bit of work still, and gradually it will be looking better and perhaps functioning better too.  Baby steps, right?  And I am one impatient baby, ha.  But quite happy tonight.

:)

skin

In between working on my soon-to-be website, I have made this:

 The paint is a skin that covers the bones of the stitched canvases...

People quite often tell me that I am very calm, very laid-back, nothing flusters me, etc.  This month that calm is only my skin, and underneath I am comprised of a lot of impatient, inarticulate bones!

There is so much to learn in getting my website going - and Kim has done most of the difficult work already! - still I'm finding it rather frustrating to sit in front of this screen for hours at a time when what I really want to do is paint.  

*sigh*

But I am too impatient with the computer - I must not lose my focus, I must keep telling myself that it will be worth the effort in the end, and meanwhile, in between things I am still painting a little to keep myself sane.

And, isn't my painting lovely?  I really like this piece!  :)

news from the front

I just made a facebook page:
Steel Sky Woman

This is a sort of practice for a website.  It would seem that the time is nigh for me to have a website, so that all my things can be under one roof so to speak, and so that ownership of my "stuff" will be more firmly in my hands.  

This is where I will go to set up my future website:
artbiz.ca

Kim is pretty cool.  I met her briefly in person when she did a presentation at the ASA gallery at Lougheed House here in Calgary.  
Checking out artbiz online, it seems like this may be a good choice for me.  I know a few artists who have worked with Kim and they have glowing reports about setting up their websites with her help.

2013 is setting up to be a year of forward changes for me.  Nothing too big since I tend to move slowly through life, but some exciting progressions are in the works.  

Stay tuned!

a sense of scale

Ink paintings coming along quite nicely.  
I just spent some time looking at photos of artist studios and was inspired to take another photo of my own studio, and why not put me in there too.
:)

Inking it in

Started some acrylic-ink paintings on canvas.  Used absorbent ground (a Golden product) to make the surface of the canvas more like paper.

I hope to be able to build up more brilliant colour with ink + water washes.  Acrylic mediums feel thick and a bit clunky to me, and I had been thinking about watercolour painting but not wanting to have a lot of work on paper that would need framing.  

Ink washes on canvas is a new process for me, and so far it seems to be working well.

the density of pearls

Pearls...  hmmm.  Just thought of my paintings as pearls without thinking too much about it, last night.  

Now this morning it seems interesting that I came up with that one.  I've been feeling really irritated lately and painting has seemed difficult, producing more pain than pleasure.  I am, it would seem, a studio oyster!

Worked all last night and into the wee hours of morning.  These paintings are not all finished, but most are very close I'd say:

3 "Pearls" - 16 x 16" each

"You Can Take It With You" and 2 "Densities" - 20 x 20" each

3 pearls

beginning here:

 getting to this point:

These are the bones.  Over them will grow skins: sheer colour layers which allow the bones to show through.  

A simple idea of making 3 paintings using the same colours but in different proportions for each one.  This is going back to the basics.

Progression or regression?  At least it is something to try.  

Put away tired heart and mind, let the body take over for awhile.

the laboratory

you can take it with you

This is like a memory from 15 years ago.  I really enjoyed painting this - may work on it a bit more or may just leave it as it is, at least for now.  Let it sit, let it simmer.  Something is simmering in me, eventually will emerge whole.  Until then I post these bits.

acrylic on canvas

20 x 20"

the trampoline

First time in a long time that I've painted on an unstitched canvas.

Maybe a little too much red in the end...

engaged hands

Sometimes when my hands are engaged my mind is free to explore, peruse, think things through.  This has been the case today.  I can show you now the result of the hands' labour:

Christmas cards!

The mind's ponderings are mainly invisible, although there may be some visible effect on the actions of the hands further down the road.

On foot I had to walk through the solar systems

On foot
I had to walk through the solar systems
until I found the first thread of my red dress.
Already, I sense myself.
Somewhere in space hangs my heart,
sparks fly from it, shaking the air,
to other reckless hearts.

poem written by Edith Sodergran and translated by Stina Katchadourian

painting by yours truly
acrylic on panel, 12 x 16 inches, framed

a winter's tale

stepping outside after a long work day
to inhale the shock of cold pure night air
it's been snowing all day and the whole world is white 
reflective among evergreens
and in the low glow of sky
I stand in the yard until I'm shivering, thinking
this is the life

intrepidation

Another plein air painting jaunt.  The weather turned nasty while we were out, with howling winds and blowing snow and plummeting temperatures.  But we persevered!  This may be the fastest plein air painting I've ever done, ha.

snow falling on my work

let there be light!

... but what you love are those who do work and feel thirst.

You love most of all those who need you

as they need a crowbar or a hoe.

improved studio lighting underway

 Prep: protecting my stuff with vapour barrier stapled around the shelves.

Holes cut, lights installed, wiring connected

Stuff piled up at the other end of the studio

east meets west

Another photo-stitched painting well under way.  Photo is of Toronto streets, and the background shape is meant to look/feel a bit like Vancouver.  Trying to get an effect of layered urban and natural landscape, not sure if this is it though... perhaps too many hard lines?  

where it began

where it went

under warm lights

This painting will be put aside for a little while, I will work on some other things and come back to it with fresh eyes.

begin at the end and work your way forward

One Thing Becomes Another

mixed media on stitched canvas

33w x 32h inches

Portal

mixed media on stitched canvas

51w x 31h inches

Queen Pawn

mixed media on stitched canvas

25w x 52h inches

stepping out

Just went to the FCA website and saw my work posted in the AIRS show.  First time I've ever shown a landscape painting.  Looking through the images, I'm quite impressed - there are some very fine paintings in this show!  Perhaps one day I may achieve the level of excellency that many of the exhibiting artists have reached.  Meanwhile, I'm very pleased to be included, and motivated to keep on improving my plein air skills.

click here to see my painting in the AIRS show

we live in a beautiful world

view: south side of nose hill, oct 17 2012

painting: oil on canvas, 10x10"