painting – Through My Eyes

From My Studio

I am very hyper so it is often hard for me to focus on one thing. I tend to bounce from one painting to another. Being somewhat of a perfectionist I tend to keep going back over a painting. Formerly I thought it was just a flaw in my character until I started studying the works of Akiane Kramarik. If you are not familiar with her look her up on YouTube. She is an artistic prodigy and best known for the painting “Prince of Peace” shown in the movie “Heaven Is For Real”. She paints over or makes changes to her paintings numerus times before completing a painting.

I on the other hand, just cannot be satisfied. The painting you will see below I have touched up or reworked several times and am still not completely satisfied with the face.

Native By Birth – American By Choice

I guess my biggest problem is I want my paintings to say something and not just be paint on canvas. A painting should convey a message or feeling. I love going to galleries and seeing paintings that just pull you in and then there are those that you wonder why they are even there. You know the ones…not just abstract but the ones that are so simplistic they lack any depth at all.

When you look at a portrait you should be able to have a sense of who that person was….needless to say I have not arrived yet but it does not deter me from trying to get to that point.

Well on to the next canvas. Until I lay the first stroke down I never know where the brush will take me.

Have a blessed day!

When Inspiration Drives Your Painting

I typically don’t do portraits but I was inspired by faith to create a painting of Christ.

While it pales in comparison to some paintings, this is my interpretation. Of course skin color is my biggest hurdle. Whites like to think he is white while blacks like to think he was black. I based the skin color based on what I know of his lineage.

He is not as perfect as he should be but then I am far short of being perfect.

As a painter you should challenge yourself daily. Keep Christ in your life and maybe add a little spirit to your paintings.

God truly bless you!

An Abstract Kind Of Day

I typically don’t do abstract but today it just kind of fit my mood. Just because I have a type A brain I guess, when I finish a painting session I don’t waste the paint but throw it on another canvas and “see what sticks”!

It doesn’t really represent anything but free movement. In some ways this is the most relaxing mode of painting. There are no lines to be defined or faces to create.

Ironically abstract is kind of the way I feel these days. I want to be able to create that perfect painting but am satisfied with the simple flowing lines and gentle movement.

I guess the lesson in this is I should paint more based on how I am feeling than on replicating something I won’t be satisfied with.

Keep stroking!

Creating Art & Crafts

I guess I am a strange duck, so to speak, but it is not unusual for me to take something that would be considered a craft and make art out of it.

I purchased this toilet tissue holder last night at an auction. It was very plain and I just knew I had to give it a new life. To me a house should not be just a house but a structure that should contain pieces that give it character. While I love painting in the traditional sense, I also like doing things like this.

This piece after being stained will be a conversation piece in my guest bathroom.

When you are painting it is sometimes easy to get “stuck in a rut”. It is always good to experiment with different projects and differrent styles. I have been painting a long time but still learn something new when I watch other artists.

Expand your horizon and reach for the stars or even paint a few. Have a great day.

Wasting And Creating

It’s not just important how you paint but what you do after you finish a painting. Before I even clean up my workspace, I clean up my palette. Any unused paint is applied to a new canvas, not that it is saving it but it is not at least wasted on your palette. Sometimes I don’t have enough to create another painting but sometimes the waste turns into something like these.

After one clean up…this is an 8×10 canvas.

Another tip, if you are on a tight budget like me you can sometimes buy paint, brushes and even canvases at yard sales and auctions. While higher quality brushes in particular are worth the money, it doesn’t always fit my pocketbook.

Happy painting!

In The Gallery

As an artist I guess I am more critical of my work than anyone else. I have been very hesitant to put my work up for sale for that reason but here goes…

I think I have posted this piece to show before. This work is acrylic on canvas board. Unframed it is $75 + shipping. This is a 16×20 canvas size.

This work is acrylic on canvas. Canvas size is 16×20. Unframed it is $100 + shipping.

While I don’t consider myself to be a perfect painter, I do put a lot of effort into a painting. You can also go to my facebook page, Sue G. Heath Gallery. Come back often to see what I am working on.

Have a great day.

Folkways Creations

As an artist I appreciate most types of art. Today’s topic is Folk Art. Primative or Folk Art may not be appreciated by some people but I can tell you it is not always as easy to do as it may appear. Created in a different time, materials were hard to come by, canvas almost non existant, so most things were painted on either tin or wood. The simplicity of the art existed even in their paint which in most cases they also made.

As the music of the Appalachian mountains, there was self-created from life itself. There were no photos to work from, it came to them to represent who they were. Below is a sample of Folk Art that I just painted.

As you can see, this Garden Angel is simple in appearance but represents the Folk Art style. I chose here because I am learning to garden and I am a spiritual person. In her hands is a nest of eggs and she shows off her flowers at the bottom of her dress.

Hopefully, I will be able to work in a little more Folk Art for you. Thanks for visiting.