I’m starting to handle acrylics like I do oils. At first I tried to use a wet brush, and all I got were thin washes. I bought these canvases at Big Lots, thinking they were cheap, but one is a parallelagram, so no value.
acrylics
I’m practicing w/ acrylics. 
Blue
This was a black & white painting. I can’t stand no color. So I added blue. Maybe tomorrow it will need some yellow.
Back to work
The 14th Annual Fines Creek Bluegrass Jam is over. Friday was disappointing, but Sat. was good. Revenues and attendance down from last year, but that was expected. Unemployment is HIGH in our community, starting with yours truly. I didn’t sell a single thing. I was sooo disappointed to not get any support. But I mentioned it, and FCCA has given me a grant to cover my rent thru the end of the year. So that was something.
This series deals with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). When people monkey with nature, especially for profit, things don’t look, smell or taste the same.
Drawing or painting.
I haven’t got the love affair w/ acrylic paint that I do with oils. However, this winter I have been doing drawings that have a lot of acrylic washes and some painting on them. Some were on vellum, which has a nice translucent quality and smooth texture. This one is on paper. I had painted a rant on the paper last fall, but I knew I couldn’t make anything from it. I drew and painted over it. You can see part of the word “class” left over from the rant.
Computer Problem
I have discovered a new approach to drawing. It’s much more like my paintings. Part of this came from being forced to use acrylics thru the winter. I wasn’t thrilled w/ them for painting, but I stumbled into a winning tri-fecta of drawing, vellum, and acrylic washes. I’m using chalk and charcoal for the drawing. I sneak some color in. I’ve also added some collage after all of this, on other works. This drawing is 3′ x 28″.
Experiment
Vellum is translucent surface used primarily by architects. I don’t think it’s paper, maybe polyester? This is the opposite side. I did the initial drawing and the idea hit me to also draw on the other side. And I’m using acrylics, trying to learn more about their properties. They make lovely washes on the vellum. If I display this I may sandwich it between acrylic sheets. Since it’s 3’x3′, glass would be a problem.
My dog Callie has torn her ACL. We had to buy new tires for the tractor. Gregg’s looking for a job. My stomach hurts.
new gallery space
We are hanging our first show in Sleeping Stones Gallery. It’s a classroom next to my studio. These are huge classrooms off of the Fines Creek Gym. The windows are 8 ft. tall. Go to haywoodarts.org for a map for the HOST this Sat. and Sun.
“The Lacuna”
I’m reading this book by Barbara Kingsolver. Frida Kahlo is telling the main character that a painting needs ” a thimbleful of life”. I dragged myself into my studio once again to battle w/ acrylics, and to pour my life into this painting.
truck
I drove the truck to my studio. It’s huge and it’s old, and I’m trying not to complain. We lost a car, the O’Connors lost Paul.
This is the lower corner of Changes. I’m ready to take my oils back to the Fines Creek studio. Tho we aren’t frost and snow free for sure,
until Mother’s Day.