I finished this painting Monday, just in time to deliver it to the Shoreline City Hall Gallery (along with 9 other paintings) for a 4-person group show called Creatures and Places that starts today!  This painting, Better Watch Out,  is 16″ x 20″ on wood.  It says “watch out” in Russian on the arm.  I really can’t believe where it ended considering its earlier stages, which I’m not sure I want to share…  it started out as a goofy looking lion-like creature.   I liked parts of it, but… I felt like the images weren’t interacting quite right, the colors weren’t working for me, and frankly, despite the menacing figure in the background, it was just too happy!  It got worse when I consulted my daughter, and she encouraged me to add the baby lion in the foreground – which, admittedly, works compositionally.

I love painting with my Open Studio Group, but I only have this opportunity once a week.  I find it very helpful being surrounded by the energy of a room full of people creating, even if we are all quietly doing our own thing.  Creating in a vacuum is hard, especially when that vacuum includes two children who are constantly up to something, a house that desperately needs tending to, and a husband who is afraid to have an objective opinion regarding anything art related.  This is where bravery and going with your gut will get you to finish line.  I just started re-drawing, covering up and pulling things forward and pushing them back until I finally felt… not just content, but really pleased with my piece.

The underpainting for this piece was done at Artfest in Jesse Reno’s class, but this is as far  as I got before the class was over.  I did finish another painting in his class, which you can see here.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the process photos.  I wish I’d taken more, but I was too busy attacking my canvas.

There will be a reception at the Shoreline City Hall Gallery (on the 3rd floor) from 5 – 6:30 p.m.  If you are in the neighborhood, please stop in and say Hello.  The show will be up until July 27th.  This show features ten of my darker, macabre and emotional pieces.  Unfortunately, due to this being a public space, I was not allowed to include Flightless in the show.  Need to find a private gallery for that one…

My other show that is taking place now at Oasis Art Gallery in Wallingford, Seattle is the polar opposite of the one in Shoreline.  The Oasis Gallery Show is up until July 7th, and features many bright, playful paintings.  Unfortunately, they are closing their doors after our show, so come in while you can!

I’ll leave you with a few photos that my husband, Randy Stewart, took of my work at the Oasis Gallery.