I am here...where are you???

So. It has been a bit of time since I last posted. I became enamoured with books again. Just finished reading The Historian and then quickly devouring The Heroin Diaries. I love books... do you?

I have not been working on the painting of The Performer. Nope. I thought I was tired of using oils for a bit. So I started sketching. And planning. And stretching canvas. And priming canvas. And hauling out the acrylics. And starting to apply paint to canvas. Now as I work on the newest piece, it is evolving. I will be making even more changes. Only they will not be sketched out first. And also, I am mixing mediums. Yep. I found my most prized art possession that I have not wanted to use since it is SOOOOO SPECIAL (to me...not to anyone else I know, including artists...) My Sennelier oil pastels. I LOVE THESE LITTLE OIL CRAYONS. They feel like butter. I get to work them with my fingers (note: this is not a wise thing to do since the pigments used in making colors are all carcinogenic). It makes me feel like a little kid again. Anywho, back to the new painting. I think that it is mainly going to be a merge between the following 2 sketches:



So far, this is what the painting is looking like. Obviously, keep in mind that this VERY early in the work...
The foreground is still missing. The clothes and head need more development. And I am not 100% sold on the background, although I love the brightness of its blues. I am just going to keep on working at it. And continue to find other inspirations and ideas and make other paintings. Good luck to me and may I stay focused (not a strong point of my nature....)

Until the next time we meet, ask yourself what you will be doing July 31st to September 4th 2009. And stay tuned for the reason why!

A sidebar along the road to a painting...

So... I have no new painting to update on. I am still working on The Performer. Only... not too intensely since there is a novel that has distracted me... all 900 pages... but I do not want to let anyone down, so I thought I should give a few more photos of things I have done. So today, I give you life drawings from school, either in graphite, ink, or mixed. I am also presenting this because I think I am going to start taking life drawing again regularly... I have found a place to go any day of the week!!! But that being said, I will first stay focused and finish the current painting.

Quick side distraction in pink

I often find amusement in many things. In many people. Old people. Stupid people. Little people. Especially little people. I have two little people in my life that I absolutely love. The first is a boy. Now 7 years old. My cousin Colby. He is the oldest man ever to live in such a young person. He is a snotty, bloody nosed kid. Always jumping, running, fighting. But he takes time to share his sketchbooks with me. Always letting me know exactly what each drawing is. Sometimes ripping out the pages to give me the drawing when I let him know that I think his work is brilliant. Sometimes he just draws me pictures that he thinks are funny. Case point:

In case you have not guessed what it is, it is a dog taking a poop. Yep. His mom told him he was gross. Then she told me not to keep encouraging him. I told him to keep on drawing!

The other little person that I love is Quinn. She is turning 4 years old next week. Quinn is the perfect little girl. Except that she has strong opinions on what she likes and likes to do. She loves Princess movies. Wearing skirts and dresses. Polly pockets. Having many pairs of fancy shoes. Quinn decided that she wanted to learn ballet, so her mo m signed her up and she took ballet classes. I saw a few photos of the class. Lots of little girls in there tutus and ballet shoes. Too cute!

So to fuel this story of Quinn the ballerina, I present to you the following photo:

Yep. A flower. Actually from the wallpaper border that decorates the bathroom in my flat. See the relation yet? Well, if you haven't, I will tell you. The flower reminded me of little ballerina Quinn. The form was simple. Delicate. Had motion. Had potential for other movements. So I took out the acrylics that I have not used in a really long time and set forth to make a painting that this one little ballerina girl might like.

The figures are basic shapes. Crudely rendered. No definition of hands, feet or face. Elongated bodies. Exaggerated pinks. Just how I thought a ballerina exposé of ballerina movements should be. If not, I would not have painted it this way. Go figure.

Performance Practice

So peeps may not realize just how long a painting takes when one wants it "somewhat" realistic... Well, it takes lots of time. Case point: The new painting I am working on. On Monday, there was a photo of all the initial color layed down. Since then, I have put in about 6 hours of work on the painting. But it really doesn't show much if you see the updated photo. Last night, I spent about 3hours working on the shading of the shirt. It still isn't done, but I think it is looking much better than that original flat color originally seen. You decide. Then ask yourself "Self, why is it taking so long to paint such a little area?"

The answer to self should be: "Because all things Melanie does prove that she is rather anal retentive." There. I said it. But in this case, I do not actually think it is because of this reason. Nope. I think it is taking time because I want The Performer to "pop" from the canvas. It certainly is not going to be perfect, but when I am finished working on it, the painting will be something I can be proud of (even if it isn't a picture everyone would want Welson!!!)

Until the next time, I will be painting some tonight, then heading out of town for the weekend, away from paints and canvas to be with friends.

I will leave you with a few old works to look at and judge. But in doing so, leave comments, give me your opinions. I really am a big girl and can handle what people say. I can. Really. And I am confident enough in my work that whatever you are thinking and telling me is not going to break me!

Enjoy. 5 painting made 1 a day of the exact same original image for my friend Sindy. See how quickly you can change the same thing?

We are all performers...

And we all play parts in life. No matter how big or small they may seem. Every action we make is added to the overall picture of life. We don't have dress rehearsals. We don't have read throughs. We certainly don't have do-overs. Well, perhaps we do for somethings. Like painting. One can always tweak the end results. And the beginnings are nothing but early do-overs waiting to happen. Paint layer covers paint layer. Tricks are learned or remembered. Changes are always happening once there is paint on the brush and brush in the hand. Just because you don't see the changes, don't assume they are not major. Perhaps a complete hue change. Perhaps an element is added. Perhaps an element of design is removed.
I have been painting again tonight. I discovered last night that if I put this small canvas close to the heating duct, it dries quick enough that I am able to paint again the next day. And the next... so as of the start of tonight's drying session, I am able to present the beginning of The Performer:

It certainly has a ways to go, but the basics are now ready for further development. I am starting to think it looks like another artist's work. But I have not meant for that to happen. Perhaps it is just from the shading. Perhaps it is from the flesh tone blending. I haven't decided yet.

I feel like leaving you with a few self-portraits I have done over the years. Enjoy!

Distractions of Shiney Objects Falling from Space

So I didn't post on Friday or Saturday. I did get to paint on Friday. We had a social day at work and the activity was painting what we do. We all got to hangout, eat munchies, drink beer, and paint. It was a lot of fun watching people who do not paint get the chance to paint. Some were pretty intense. Some were rather intimidated. Overall, it was a blast. I didn't take of photo of my painting, but I will so that everyone will get to see my interpretation of what I am working on. I will give the warning that it is very abstract. I think you would only know what is going on if you are a scientist working in the field. Otherwise, no go. All the paintings are going to be hung in the hallways of our building, so if you are ever in the neighbourhood and want to see what scientists feel they work on, then come and see!

I didn't do any painting yesterday. I did walk down to DeSerres (my favourite art store from Montreal) to pick up some stretcher bars to stretch a new canvas. Best part of that was when I got there, I was told there was an awesome sale on gesso... so I got that too!!! Gesso is an integral part of preparing the canvas. Usually 2 coats after the canvas is stretched. It is a thick paint which seals the canvas so that paint doesn't go through and colour the back. It also means that less paint is used overall. As of late, I have been using clear gesso and then adding liquid acrylic paint to give it colour for the undercoat. When I do this, I tend to go for bright red or turquoise blue and then make sure I leave it popping through in areas.

I wasn't sure what I wanted to be painting next, so I spent the rest of the day thinking about it. And sketching out what I am going to do. For the moment, I have started this small 12"x12" clown portrait. I think it might look a little creepy, but it is going to look fabulous once it is painted and has bright colours!
In the mean time, I will be considering what is going to be painted on the stretched canvas from yesterday. . . But I think I already know what I want to do with it too!!! I will keep that as a surprise for the time being. Nothing like keeping people in suspense as to what it is going to be... Stay tuned!

Spherical revelations in rectangular format...

What the hell is that supposed to mean, right? Well, I think it means exactly what it says. Spheres. Explanations. Rectangular explanations. Not too difficult to understand now, right? Right.
So back in the day when I was at art school, I had a teacher who I will call Ken (only because that is still what I call him when I see him - it is his name...). Ken taught 2D design class. For some reason unknown to me, many of Ken's in class assignments involved spheres or circles. We would spend our time arranging this very simple shape to fit the assignment. Whether it was to show light source, motion of design layout, or even creating a balanced design, the circular shape was involved. My friend Frances was in a different 2D design class and would laugh when she found out that yet again, all we had done in class was draw circles and spheres. I claimed that I would never ever draw a damned circle or sphere again.
I guess I lied. Or I didn't realize that I would come to like that spherical shape. I have noticed that the abstract paintings that I do make usually contain circles or spheres. And I actually want to be making these paintings... especially since I spend the time to render sketches of upcoming paintings.


So now I spend time to make sure the circles and spheres are bright and eye catching. Well blended light sources for the spheres. Primary colour exploration for the circles. It think it works for the paintings. I think it is going to continue to work for the planned paintings. But it leaves me wondering why I am so drawn to painting this shape now. Is it to defy myself and that huge statement of never again? Is it because subconsciously I realized there is still more for me to discover with the use of such a simple form?


I do not know. Maybe one day I will.

I finished the circus painting. Done. Onto the next one.


Inside the Big Tent. Oil on cradleboard. 20"x24" (Notice the spherical balls being juggled???)

Into the woods to see trees

For quite awhile, I have been fascinated with trees. Trees with no leaves or needles. Trees in the winter. Dead trees. I like to look for the "tree person" that is always there. Call me a nut. I really won't care. I see personalities in the way the branches turn. In the way the trunk knots. In the way some trees try to hold onto that final leaf. Or the way it tries to run away.
I know when this fascination developed. It didn't start when I was young and used to climb trees. It didn't start from living in rural Onterrible. It actually start one Montreal winter morning while waiting for the bus. For those that do not know Montreal, the streets are lined with trees, buses usually stopping under them. It was a beautiful morning, sun not yet up. The blackness of the branches against the low light of the sky. I knew then that I liked trees.
This discovery fuelled a photo frenzy of various trees in Montreal while out for walks. I do not know where those photos are anymore, but I have them in my memory, and in early paintings. Nothing but the nakedness of the branches, so delicately painted. Smooth. The same view repeated in opposing black and white. I still love these paintings even though my painting style has changed from all those years ago. But like changing seasons, so too does my style change until the day it knows it is meant to be. Until then, I shall be applying paint to canvas however I feel like!

Circus practice continues another day

So I was able to get some more paint on the canvas last night. I like how the painting is turning out. It still has some work to go, but it is definitely getter there (where ever I decide there is...and a few days of necessary drying time.) Most unfortunate for you, the reader, is that my camera and the photos it takes completely kill the real colour of the painting. Oh well. As with all circus', it is better to see in person!

I am venturing out tonight to attend a musical called Into the Woods. I know nothing about it and was told by one of the participants that I best not look it up on the internet because then that would go and ruin the show for me... unbelievable as this is going to sound, I LISTENED TO HER!!! So I really don't know what I am getting myself into. Perhaps I am leaving the circus and heading into the woods. But what will the woods hold for me? Maybe it will be a new idea or perhaps refinement of an old one. Either way, it is going to be different! And so I think it is only appropriate to leave you with a few nature drawings from my sketchbook.

Life is nothing but a circus...

So for some reason, I have decided I like circus themed paintings since the summer. Perhaps it is because each and every one of us has a bit of freak in them. Perhaps it is because of the freedom of being someone else for a limited time. Perhaps because it reminds me of a time when life could be fun and carefree. Perhaps it is because of the inspiration that is given after taking in all there is to see. Sensory overload sometimes, sometimes not. I don't know. But I find I am drawn to making paintings related to this subject for the moment. I want to share a work in progress (only because oil paints take forever to dry, otherwise it would be done by now).


I am calling the painting "Inside the big tent". It is rather abstract, no facial or extremity distinction. That is something I started to do after being inspired by the painting style of my friend Frances. She has a way of making incredible playful paintings with bold colour and brush strokes. I personally think her work is brilliant and think the world should see it all. In fact, I shall share with you the reader a painting of Frances': It is called Peony Girl 1. It is definitely one of my favourites. I love the bold colour and brush strokes. Her paintings are my inspiration. But this is supposed to be about me. And my paintings. And my inspirations. And anything else. And so it will be. As I evolve. And the blogging experience evolves for me. Until then, I will be painting, working, and observing.