Artwork by Michelle Ottey

Moon Rising

I started this ages ago.  It is my first finish in months.

Here is a close up of the moon area:

I am happy with how it turned out.  If felt good to finish. 

I am particularly happy with the textures and depth of color.  It sat half finished for over a month and it was because I wasn't happy with the color gradation.  I reworked it and I think I achieved the smooth color transition I was working for.

I think I am entering a prolific phase again, let's hope.  I have missed painting.

Peace.

The Book

The book has been published.  Created In God's Image by Michelle Gonzalez.

Last night Christy came in with a box, I jokingly asked, "What did you buy me?"  Neither of us was expecting a package.  As soon as I saw the return label I knew it was the book. 

I opened the box and was giddy.  The cover looks fantastic.  I love that the figure is also on the spine and a gray scale version starts each chapter.  I started reading the book this morning.  It is very thought provoking.  Obviously it isn't light reading in that it is an academic text, but it is a fascinating subject.

I am sending a copy to Lisa who inspired and commissioned the original image.  I can't wait to show everyone.

Peace.

Sold

I have sold Vertigo.  Thank you Paula for seeing something important in this piece.

I am happy about this, but it has made me realize that selling a piece is always going to feel like giving away a part of myself. 

I love the idea that I am sharing myself with others; that they can see something beautiful and connect to something I have created.

Even with commissions that are inspired by another person, there is something very personal in the finished piece.

In the end, letting go of the piece feels a little sad but at the same time it feels as though I am freeing something, letting go of something that will only work to better my future creations. 

Peace. 

Time

I must make time to paint.  I have the materials and the inspiration...now I must make the time.

I am in the middle of a wonderful lecture series about post-modern and modern pop art.  I will write more about it and the influence it has already had on me, when the series is complete.  For now I will just say that my eyes have been opened  to the social relevance and intriguing nature of the art of this period.

I am currently designing a multi-canvas piece for over a large mantel.  I am very excited about this.  I am also working on ideas for either a tryptic or multi-canvas piece for our living room as well.  My mom loved Texas Gloaming so much that she has requested something in a similar vein for her living room.  I have several sketches for female figure paintings, and an idea for a baby's room using Twinkle, twinkle little star as influence.  There are many things in the works. 

I created an "available for purchase" album on the side bar, for easier access to completed works that are for sale.  If you are interested, email me or leave a comment and I will contact you with the price for the piece and shipping information.  Several of them are rather small, done on canvas board, and so less expensive than others.

The book for which Peace in the Light will be used on the cover will be released this spring.  I am very excited to see my work on a book cover.  I am also excited for the exposure and potential for sharing ever more of my creative energy with the world.

Peace.

Synergy

 

I completed this commission over the weekend.  Paula, who commissioned the piece as a gift for her two dear friends, just picked it up.

The piece is called synergy.  It was a joy to work on.   It challenged me to work with the male figure in a way I haven't until now.  I had complete freedom with this piece; the recipients requested jewel tones, which was easy for me, but that was the only request.  I do not know the couple well, only peripherally, but what I do know of them and what I intuitively felt about them was channeled into this piece.  Paula was so happy when she first saw it.  I could see in her eyes that it was a success; I hope the couple is as happy with it.  She is taking it to them as I write this.

I can only hope that I am continually lucky and am able to create works that mean something to the men and women who see and or purchase the pieces. 

I love painting.  I love creating pieces that move someone in a way that I can see and feel.  What a gift.

Peace.

Oeuvre

Strong, independent, driven, assertive, giving, provides unconditional love and support always, thoughtful, insightful, and a natural leader.

Those were the words I was given to describe the recipient of this painting.

Oeuvre is the French word meaning:  The sum of the lifework of an artist, writer, or composer.

I often use the beautiful, humbling backdrop of space in my female figure paintings.  There is something inspiring to me to see the curves and colors of women among the stars.  In this painting the figure is reaching forward toward her goal, the white star, while looking back to include all those she cares for and every experience that has made her into her current incarnation.

The picture of this painting came out pretty clearly, but in person, the purple is much deeper, and there is more shimmer to the white.

Peace.

New Commission

I am excited to get started on a new commission.  I'll post a pic when I am finished.

I haven't made much time for painting recently.  Work has kept me busy and when I have been home, I have been crashing.  One of my goals is to make more time for my painting.  I am going to get supplies this weekend, and hopefully will be a bit more prolific soon.

Peace.

Peace in the Light.

This painting is going to be used for a book cover.  I am very excited and flattered.  I will share more information when the details are finalized.

Peace

Mother Nature, A Portrait

This is my first foray into portraiture.  It was fun to work with subtle gradient textures and the experience made me want to explore oils.  That'll have to wait until I have more space and better ventilation.

I have uploaded 3 pictures because not one of them captures it quite right.  I'll try at a different time of day when there is more natural light in the apartment.

I wanted her to have a certain look in order to portray a specific message.  Rather than state it outright, I would love some feed back about this piece.  Good bad, positive, negative, whatever you want to offer I am ready to hear.

Peace.

Texas Glaoming

This painting took several weeks. 

It was done as a commission for a resident of Texas; and my trip to Austin for work helped me to finish the piece.  Once again, hard to tell in the picture, but the texture of this painting is once of my favorite aspects.

It is acrylic on canvas.  I did a base coat defining the colors and the color transitions, but then I went back in and used thick coats of paint and my fingers to create the texture.

I am really very happy with how this turned out.  I hope that the recipient is as happy as I am.

Peace.