Tiny steps

I made some small changes to the moon today. I like posting, because it helps me see what needs to be done. And I think, more leaves! And I also still think it is too pretty, but starting anything new right now is out of the question.

    The upper image is from my sculpture class. They made wire figures and then added to them with paper, fabric, more wire, beads...anything that wouldn't overwhelm the wire. I'll post some more, but this stingray is pretty nice! 

    It occurred to me this week that now that I am teaching sculpture, we could totally have a team to compete at Zehnder's Snowfest, in Frankenmuth, MI, where (in non-Covid years) they hold an excellent snow/ice  sculpture contest. I've always wanted to do it. I think 2022 might be our chance:)

 

What a beaut

 This beauty formed outside my studio wall. Right now, my sculpture students are starting with an existing form and making abstractions from them. I wish I'd had this around when I set the assignment. I hope I can harvest it after the owners leave it. Maybe I'll have it for next semester.

Covid Classroom

  Well, this is what it looks like in a college classroom during a pandemic. No fun, smart, wise-cracking kids in the room. Just me and two cameras and a tenuous hold on the workings of Zoom.

   The kids are there virtually, and let me say, they have been very sweet and kind. They help me with my tech difficulties on a daily basis, and they put up with me pestering them about turning on their cameras so I can see their faces. And best of all, sometimes, one will stay after class on Zoom just to chat, or even to ask how I am. So while this is one of the hardest ways to teach, I have a feeling we will find some silver linings come out of it, too.

 

Three for a Key

    To be honest, this is looking like it is going to be a bit too pretty for my taste, even though the flower she is blowing away is henbane, and it is associated with mental illness. 

     For a little while I thought about adding mosquitoes to add to the misery, but, mosquitoes are too small, unless I decided to turn the image into a '50's horror flick. So, I opted for crows, which are very smart and communicative, and are the stars of their very own counting rhyme. 

    I'm glad I got this far before the semester really takes over my life. There is still a lot to do on it, but for better or for worse, the composition is mostly set, and I can work on it in bits when I have the time.

    I think for my next painting, even if I decide to do the toe dancer dream, the subject is going to be older. And not too pretty.

 

Into the storm...with a little hope

Tomorrow is the first day of classes. 

I've been touching up this little painting up over the summer. It is sort of a description of my life: lots of things are lovely, but also, all hell is breaking loose.

But, I think one of the painting's messages is hope in the face of a storm. And there is a big one coming. 

A dream

Well, I said goodbye to my colleague this week, and now, I am officially the Keeper of the Keys.
Then, the same night, I dreamed that I had some ballet toe shoes, and when I put them on, I could dance on air. I danced with a tall man, and still towered over him. Maybe that will be my next image.

Trusty Blue

  I’d like to say that the reason I’m busy is artwork, but alas, it is not. Since my colleague retired, I inherited his responsibilities. That, plus preparing a new class and the prospect of another semester online is making it hard to get to the studio. But, every little step is a step in the right direction. 

     This is a first layer of leaves, and it’s hard to see, but there is the beginning of a flower above her hands. There will be a lot more leaves, I think. But this was a first step to see if it would work. So I got out my trusty blue pastel pencil and outlined the shapes, and then filled them in with a light wash. I don’t want the contrast between the leaves and the moon get too big. Probably, having to go slow will keep me from getting it too wrong.

    I still don’t know what to do with her hair, poor thing. That’s something she and I have in common at the moment:)