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Backyardnotes

~ All things botanical in photos and words—in my West Seattle garden and elsewhere; seeing and creating art and assorted musings.

Backyardnotes

Tag Archives: painting

30 DAY ART CHALLENGE–I DID IT!

03 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by backyardnotes in Art, Creative, December

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30 Day Art Challenge, acrylic, Art, color pencil, Drawing, mixed media, painting, watercolor, works of art

FROM OCTOBER 17TH TO NOVEMBER 19TH I created 30 works of art, roughly one (or more) a day. It was a challenge and a blast! Tomorrow night as part of the Pioneer First Thursday ArtWalk, is the unveiling of the works of 110 artists and 3300 pieces of art! Check out some of the work here on their Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/30dayartchallenge. All of the work will be for sale tomorrow night through Saturday afternoon.

Here is a gallery of the work that I submitted. All work is on 8″ x 10″ canvas board. The work includes acrylic, watercolor (using watercolor ground for the first time), color pencil, mixed media, and oil pastel.

 











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ART COLLABORATION PROJECTS–NEARLY FINISHED!

23 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by backyardnotes in Creative, Painting

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Art, collaboration, creative, group painting, painted pears, painting, pears

 

I BELIEVE THAT THE PEARS ARE NEARLY FINISHED! I may yet lighten the top portion, as to my mind it is still too similar to the forward pear and the lower background. Also, the yellow pear needs a little warming, rounding and shadowing at the bottom; it’s very close. When my piece is finished, then four of the the five paintings will be complete; only the arrangement needs finalizing. The Abstract and Laden Table collaborations are complete. I am eagerly looking forward to the next project (solo, that is).Pears_finished

Arrangement possibility #1

Arrangement possibility #1

Arrangement possibility #2. The Swiss Chard remains unfinished at the point

Arrangement possibility #2. The Swiss Chard remains unfinished at the point

The Abstract

The Abstract

The Laden Table

The Laden Table

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HOW POETRY INSPIRES ART

20 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by backyardnotes in Art, Drawing

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Art, boyce thompson arboretum, mixed media, old dodge truck, painting, pastel, poetry, poetry exchange, south seattle community college

Hallucination

THE ANNUAL ART-POETRY COLLABORATION was on exhibit last month at South Seattle Community College. For me and other artists and poets it is also the imagination challenge. My interpretation of Lily Men-Sin’s poem “Hallucination” is above; a mixed media piece using photography, newspaper, and acrylic on gessoed chip board. The excitement for me, at least, is creating art that I would not have thought to create. I’m guessing the same is true for the poet’s as well. I hope that this tradition continues far into the future; it is an immensely enriching experience.

Hallucination

A crash
Disturbs my presence
 
I look over
At a site that shocks me
A conflagration
Across the Seattle skyline
The sight of my town
Being annihilated into bits and pieces
 
A great hullabaloo catches my attention
Helicopters flying in circles
But not helping put out my city
 
I have never felt so malevolent
I had a plan
The fractious side of me has taken over
I wanted the helicopter to go down
Down and burn along with my city
 
As I scamper over to a shop to take a weapon
Someone bumps me
Back into reality
 
The crash I have heard,
Were just kids skateboarding nearby
I look over at my city
And enjoyed the sweet simplicity of life
                                  —Lily Men-Sin

 

A pastel painting of an old abandoned Dodge truck was my submission to the poet. Lily wrote a poignant poem of remembrance. The painting was inspired by a photo I snapped an of old truck at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum near of Phoenix, Arizona several years ago.

OldDodge

This Old Dodge
 
My grandfather’s truck was precious
He would take me out on school nights
For a smooth ride downtown
On summer days we’d go out to a drive-in movie
Laying on top of the hood
After my grandmother died
We took turns crying on each other’s shoulder
 
Today, I have no one to cry with
I have yet to shed a tear
Trying to stay strong for my own sake
Walking into my grandfather’s house
Has never been so hard
I take a step outside for a breather
I walk around and spot an unfamiliar rocky trail
I walk
Walk
Walk
And walk
Until the trail ends
A rusty old blue dodge
Parked ever so carelessly
Buried inside uncut grass
 
Memories overflow my brain
My legs automatically walk slowly towards the car
The loud screeching noise as I open the door
Chase crows our of the trees that surrounds me
My body perfectly matches the indented seat
That he eventually made for being in this car so many times
I open the glove box
Tears deluge my eyes
Inside is a candid picture my mother took
Of me and my grandfather laughing hysterically
Sitting on top of his precious old dodge
On the back of the picture was a note he wrote
“I love her more than this car.
The older it gets, the rustier it is.
While older she gets, the more beautiful and strong she is.”
I cry
Cry
Cry
And cry
 
—Lily Men-Sin

 

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HOW DO YOU PAINT A POEM?

13 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by backyardnotes in Art

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Art, art poetry, painting, poetic response, poetry, poetry exchange, South Seattle CC

I HAVE BEEN ATTENDING DRAWING AND PAINTING CLASSES twice a week at South Seattle CC since 2004. I learn not only from the instructor, who –has a keen eye and imparts a sense of discovery in each student– but all of the other students as well. It is a community rich with camaraderie and support. Returning students and first time students alike share a love of art, learning and creativity.

About ten years ago the Poetry, Art and Photography professors came up with the idea of an Art-Poetry exchange. In the first exchange, art and poetry students each submit a piece of art and a poem. Each poetry student receives a piece of art and creates a poetic response to that piece. The art student creates a work of art based on the received poem. The second exchange is the big reveal when students see the interpretation of their respective works. I look forward to this exchange of ideas. I find it exciting, stimulating, and challenging to interpret the ideas of another and I have a chance to create something I might not otherwise have thought of doing. (My responses are featured here.)

“Foundation” 2011 Acrylic on canvas

Foundation by Kevin B.  2011
each tree stands on opposing edges of the plain
gazing gazing and growing out worldly
the field is nothing but dirt as their roots spread
and from the branches fall nothing but dry arid twigs
 
both seek the safe security that comes with greater land
and each fight to muscle out the other
eons pass as the roots meet in the center
and drive forwarde in to opposing territory
 
the roots tangle together
onto one solid knotted mass
of whtich fills the entirety of the dusty plain
and strains into every last gap of soil
 
this stress on the trees from underground
draws all their force from above
it pulls the branches back into the trunk
which shatters the tree and buries its splinters
 
the lifeless roots release their grasp on each other
and lose their hold on the land
the remnants fade into a fog up to the surface
and press with ribbons into the open air
 
eventually the ribbons will fade away
but for now the field is green
 
 

“Babushaka”  2010 Collage

Babushka by Jacoby M. 2010
 
An azure day
I go for a long walk
clouds sit packed like big
stacks of meringue
 
I listen to real old music
and I listen to the new
a meld of psychedleic angst
dance from ear to ear
crrash in the center of my mind
kaleidoscope of notes
never  played before
 
the fugue begins to splinter
the cat wants to eat
the dog has to pee
something has to give
 
She never sees me coming
until I am alomost right next to her
Babushka pirouettes up off the bench
she grasps her chest shoulder raise
hands clench in to fists
her liquid brown eyes
give way to solid black
 
She stares at the dog
as if she is in shgock
and there is nothing
I can do
My warm smile
it is not enough that you will
be assured and so the dog 
and I walk quickly away
 
Bubushka widow
head covered in black
trimmed in white
like Chopin’s piano
before it became kindling

on its fateful defenestration day.

“Jenny” 2009 Mixed Media Collage on Playing Cards

Jenny by Pedro  2009
 
We’ve gone through the good and bad.
I’ve helped you when you were sad.
We stayedup all through the NIGHT
Till the sunwas super bright.
We played our computer games.
The next daywe played again.
You opened up that door.
You showed me there was a floor.
We may be an ocean apart.
You’re likefamilyyou’re in myheart.
Days seem to disappear.
You showed me there was a floor.
Holy crap it’s been4 years?
We laughed while we played board games.
You always win and nothing’s changed.
One day we’ll meet for real.
I’ll greet you yesthat’s the deal.

The 2012 Art-Poetry exhibit opens January 5th at South Seattle CC.

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