Works in Progress, Painting Two
This is the current state of the second painting in the series of five that I’m working on. First, the “after” picture . . .
Untitled Work in Progress – Acrylic on Canvas, 12 x 12 x 1.5″
The above image shows the painting when it is still very wet with a mixture of acrylics, glazes, and clear gel. It will not end up quite that glossy. I have been applying Golden Fluid Acrylics and Golden Self-Leveling Clear Gel in analogous colors, mixing the gel and the paint together directly on the canvas with a big plastic painting knife. The gel keeps the paint transparent so that I don’t completely hide the texture below. The relief portion is a piece of paint skin. In the upper left hand corner is an application of Golden Acrylic Glaze, Violet Earth.
This painting may be close to finished. I am happy with the colors and might simply close up some of the holes that I don’t particularly like. I’m not crazy about the white streaks still showing in the upper right. Those are where I scraped away the wet paint. I’ll probably put down more of the same Yellow Ochre Glaze in that corner.
And next is the “before” picture of that painting. It is my intention to unify the color while preserving little passages of the original colors. As you can see by comparing the “before” picture below with the current one, a little complementary color goes a long way.
Blueberry the Cat Gets Her Own Bird Feeder
The head of our bed is Blueberry’s favorite perch every morning after we get up. Dad has promised her he is going to buy her a bird feeder of her own to hang outside in the tree, so that she can have more bird watching fun. Our cats aren’t allowed outside. Too many predators, including roaming dogs around here.
An Artist's Journal 
Love your use of colour, especially the violet earth glaze. And the yellow ochre. will be interested to see it when you’ve filled in the white. Today a very stressful one, so happy when your email arrived, really cheered me up. Love your cat too.
Sandra, that makes me happy. I’ve worked on that painting a little bit more this morning and when it dries, I’ll be able to tell whether or not it’s finished. I think so!
Sweet cat! She surely deserves her own bird feeder. 🙂
Your color layering is so personal, intuitive, and visually pleasing. The way turquoise is incorporated here (peeking through from underneath) appeals to my senses because I love using it as an accent color in my own work.
Your blog is a wonderful and inspiring read when starting one’s day!
She got it, Stephanie — and this morning the birds were right on it! I can’t watch her watch the birds, because she doesn’t like anyone watching her do anything. In this picture, if I’d come any closer she would have gone under the bed. A shy girl, she is.
I’m so glad you are enjoying the work and the narrative.
I think the cats are inspiring birdwatchers!
Meg, there’s a lot inspiring about them. Their single-mindedness, their persistence, their confidence.
Since we moved to Missouri, we enjoy the birds and my cat now has her own tv to watch all day. Thanks for the picture.