I've talked before about painting fabric and today was another fun fabric day. It was fun to play with the lights and darks, hard lines and soft lines, and moving the fabric here and there and eventually right where I wanted it. I also got a start on the epaulets. I'll have to go back when the paint is dry to finish off the buttons and badges, but they got a good beginning.
The Grandpa Shirt
When my boys were little and we would buy them a plaid or western shirt, they would say, "Oh! I got a Grandpa shirt!" This one isn't plaid, but I think it still qualifies as a Grandpa Shirt. Once again it was fun doing fabric. There are only subtle folds and wrinkles, but it was fun to make the collar twist and turn and pop and finally come out just right.
Keep Your Shirt On
Patience is a virtue that often eludes me. There is a lot to do to get ready for the art show and I want it all done yesterday. One step at a time becomes pretty essential. So today she got dressed, but not much else. It's a good thing tomorrow is another day.
Waves Passing Over Me
I have waves pass over me all the time. Sometimes they are waves of exhaustion. Sometimes waves of shame. I've experienced wonderful waves of joy and plenty of waves of hunger. One summer, not too many years ago, I spent a week in southern California and tried my hand at surfing. I experienced plenty of literal waves washing over me, knocking me off my feet, spinning me in circles. Sometimes when the waves hit there's nothing to do but wait for them to pass, get your bearings again, and then keep moving on. Occasionally, though the waves are warm and comfortable and you want to wrap up in them and hold them close and never let them go.
Soft Shoulder
When I was young I was always confused about the road signs that said "Soft Shoulder". How did they know my shoulders were soft? I would lean my head over and rub my cheek against my shoulder and feel how warm and soft it was and wonder why they made a sign about it. Today she got a soft sleeve on her soft shoulder. I worked on her hand again as well. It just wasn't doing what I wanted it to do, so I turned it on more of an angle and I'm liking it much better. Now the paint is too wet and I'll have to wait until tomorrow to play with it again, but at least it's starting to do what I want.
Security Blanket
I don't remember having a security blanket as a child. But I have plenty of "security blankets" now. When I start feeling insecure I like to wrap up in a blanket (it doesn't matter which one) and curl up in my chair (it does matter which one!) and veg out on the computer. Sometimes chocolate is my security blanket. My dog Twilly can be a pretty good security blanket too. My favorite security blanket is my husband. He's the one that can offer both physical and emotional comfort. And then there is my Heavenly Father who is the source of comfort and hope. I think it's important for children to have a security blanket (or object) in order to find that comfort that familiarity brings. And in the end, we are all children on the inside.
Getting Your Feet Wet
My little beach boy finally got his feet wet. This was a fun day of painting. I love how the shorts came out. I love painting fabric. It was as amazing this time as the first time I painted fabric. It took just three strokes of bright red and he had folds in his shorts that defined what his legs were doing. Crazy how that happens. When I learned that painting flesh was just like painting fabric, I was on my way to figure painting. Flesh is simply live fabric that lays over muscle and bone. It reacts the same way as fabric over a solid structure. So cool. I love my work!
Chubby Cherub
My beach cherub is getting chubby! I am really enjoying this painting. The flesh and fabric colors are very close, which makes it interesting. It forces me to really look at values, hard and soft lines, and all the elements that go into creating form. It is reminding me what great teachers I had in the art department at Southern Utah University.
The Color Purple
Another session of painting fabric. Lots of subtle changes in value to create the suggestion of the form.