tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818586311248429252024-02-18T19:35:53.784-08:00The Art of Karen Martin Sampsonjournal of ongoing art projects and thoughtsKaren Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.comBlogger232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-34224296611652977942014-06-01T14:33:00.002-07:002014-06-01T14:40:27.907-07:00Presenting a Sayward Rose<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">"Sayward Rose" oil on canvas 4-"x16"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">detail, "Sayward Rose"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another long while since I posted. The winter found me working slowly on a couple of things, including the above painting, currently in a show at the Campbell River Art Gallery. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This model is a lady I first noticed working at the gas station/convenience store at the junction where the island hwy. meets our road into Sayward. She has incredible eyes and I knew instantly that I needed to paint her eventually. That was a few years ago but I finally got to know her, and we ended up in the local book club together so I was able to present the idea of posing for me to her. She was, as people generally are, surprised, flattered, and wholly agreeable. There really is no need to be nervous about approaching someone to pose but I always am.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I am now trying to work through a new idea for using her in an upcoming painting but for the life of me I am unable to sort through the debris in my mind over how to do this. Numerous sketches are taking me nowhere. In my frustration I have turned to some other things, including working in clay! I never thought I would like that medium so when invited by a local artist to come "play in the mud" I decided to try it. I have a piece completed that I am pretty happy with for a first attempt and the final firing will probably be this week. I will wait before posting the image...if it doesn't take me months again to get back here!</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-27730665287167061652013-09-29T15:09:00.001-07:002013-09-29T15:09:11.626-07:00Back at the easel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pulled out a canvas I started last February and decided to see what I can do with it. The hat flowers have taken center stage for the moment. I just want to put paint down and not be too worried about the results. I felt, as I usually do when I've been away from the easel for a while, like I had three left thumbs. It comes back though. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The exciting news is that tomorrow I have a model coming over to spend the day posing for me. This is a local woman whom I have wanted to paint since I first saw her several years ago at the junction gas station where she works. Amazing eyes and wonderful, slightly unruly dark to greying hair. I have no specific plans but I found an old colourful shawl that should look good on her and set up my new lighting (the lights I bought for the workshop I gave at Pearl Ellis last February.) I contacted the company to let them know that the light stand, with extension boom arm (always wanted one of those!) did not come with the brass screw/nut on the end with which to attach a light! I had to Mickey Mouse the set up the last time I used it. They sent the screw attachment in a huge box but I didn't get charged for anything even though I was told to expect to pay a duty for it to cross the border! My Mom was right: the squeaking wheel gets the grease.</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-25932767906449979912013-09-15T14:31:00.000-07:002013-09-15T14:31:27.660-07:00Pushing the Envelope<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">"Pushing the Envelope" oil 36"x36"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I think I got lost on the way here way back in April. I have been distracted and now I feel I might actually be getting back on track. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The above painting was completed in the summer and won an award in the FCA Painting on the Edge show last month. It is the first time I have been accepted into that show so I figured this piece was "edgy" enough. I also completed three figurative paintings of my model-in-a-box series with Michael Ward posing. None have been accepted in anything. Do I paint the male figure differently? Possibly. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> For now I am amazed and pleased that I have gotten back to the blog and we'll see how it goes from here. It's that time of year, at least for me, to think about reorganizing and starting fresh. Something about the new school year embedded in my psyche no doubt. This will only work if I do the organizing bit my own way. I am deleting newsletter subscriptions, failing to respond to requests for ongoing support for many worthwhile causes, and generally thinking I have to get more introspective for a time. I am tired. I do not want the woes of the world to implode my brain. I still care but I have to sit back and just watch for a while. And I want to return to painting stuff I really love, like attractive and interesting women wearing attractive and interesting textiles which don't necessarily have any statement to make other than, gee, it feels nice to just look at this. I have pushed the envelope and found it wanting.</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-443781194560546092013-04-07T12:28:00.002-07:002013-04-07T12:28:38.738-07:00Feet in - feet out?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another month gone by! It truly does seem like time is moving faster as I get older, but that is a topic for another posting I think.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The above image is from the four hour workshop I gave last month at the Pearl Ellis Gallery. The model was great but the room, in terms of lighting control, was difficult. It was supposed to be about cast shadows but I couldn't obtain the strength of shadow that I was going for. Still, the day was good and the results not too bad, considering. I would like to go back into this piece and make some changes but I don't know if I will bother. I never seem to have the ideal set up for use with live models. Maybe if I knew what the "ideal" setup might be I could actually make one.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I ended up staying out of my studio for practically the entire month after the show was over. Rain, chill, mild depression, all working to encourage a cleaving to womb-like homebodiness. Lots of reading going on. FaceBooking taking over hours of my day and staring out of windows. The moment arrived when I was sick of it all and I made myself start to think and do things again. First some somewhat serious housecleaning, both physically and mentally. Clear out the cobwebs! Repairing and revamping stuff; looking into cookbooks and actually making some interesting meals. A trip to the neglected studio and a day spent rearranging, put away clutter, hanging paintings sitting around on the floor, and scrubbing the bathroom. And then the sun began to appear every so often. Work in the garden! Weeding, pruning, raking. Helping Bob restore the depleted wood pile so we will be ready well ahead of time for next fall. That new, very efficient woodstove in the basement heats almost our whole house and has saved a small fortune in oil heating and electricity bills! We have enough deadfall and aging Alders to give us wood from our own property for a long time to come, and still leave plenty of beautiful trees to enhance the place from all the evergreens. I've been reading about Alders and how beneficial they are to a forest eco system. They are fairly shortlived but they add nutrients and are a catalyst to the growth of many other tree species. And they reproduce and grow quickly, unlike the other trees which need years and years and should be left alone to mature. And they are pretty! I really should consider doing a painting to celebrate this underrated and even maligned tree!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I started to hit the studio again finally this week and started a larger version of "Pushing the Envelope". The show that the small version (12"x12") went to got postponed because several pieces meant to go in the show were held up by customs at the US border. The exhibit, "Raining Women's Voices" will go on in June and this gives me time to reconsider the piece and do the larger version (36"x36") I had initially been planning. Above my semi final drawing/cartoon (as in the Renaissance meaning of "cartoon") is taped to one of my studio windows for appraisal. I had to put several pieces together from the small enlarged sections. I gridded the piece but also used the copier/enlargement machine and managed to calculate the needed size exactly to fit my larger canvas.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Now the decision about changes (or not) in placement of feet is in process. My first idea was to have hands and feet at the outer edges of the canvas, almost reaching to move out of the canvas, as above. (I know, these images are quite light but I am unable to increase the contrast any more than this). It means straightening and slightly lengthening the legs. I'm not opposed to a little distortion even, to serve the greater purpose:-)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Here I have only moved one foot out to the edge and allowed the other to remain as in the original pose; I kind of like the bent knee foreshortening.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This is the original pose with hands near the canvas edges. The feet are away from the edges, along the inside-the-box perspective lines. Placing feet at the edges would interfere with this perspective so I would probably not paint the sides and back of the box - just leave it amorphous, concentrating on the emphasis on the frontal edges of the canvas. Anyway, I know what I mean even if no one else does...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The decisions are taking some time. Paint the inside light or dark? Utilize the perspective or not? Feet in or out, or one of each? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Time to go split some more wood. I think it might be saving me.</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-29872491435039365622013-03-03T11:54:00.000-08:002013-03-03T11:54:14.703-08:00Pushing the Envelope<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7qvS8KIyyxE3awv-5uu156Id4TDpAvCcKCUUNV3SxzKbx3JAfJ6NH6oLrFiN2xfc2QQjn8oEQxR25lWkbzylQH9Mtyhaf05oW8Bqg4lg7tlTEniTUOxeUm4u3bnvz_DFgs4EN7SDP432/s1600/kim+box+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7qvS8KIyyxE3awv-5uu156Id4TDpAvCcKCUUNV3SxzKbx3JAfJ6NH6oLrFiN2xfc2QQjn8oEQxR25lWkbzylQH9Mtyhaf05oW8Bqg4lg7tlTEniTUOxeUm4u3bnvz_DFgs4EN7SDP432/s640/kim+box+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">"Pushing the Envelope" oil 12"x12" </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I have been invited to take part in a show for this month's Women's Day at the Cafe of Contemporary Art in Vancouver, called "Raining Women's Voices". My friends Dianne Buxton and Vone DePorter, of LA, will have poetry and a drawing in the show. I have wanted to do something with this idea for a while and thought this was the right time to at least do a comprehensive study. I would like to do this at a much larger size at some future point but the little piece has its own charm.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It is good to be feeling more involved, again, with my work, and I think this is going to be a fairly productive time for me. Several ideas are becoming more focused now and having sold some work recently is great incentive to keep at it! I realized that a long time fantasy actually came true when, last month, a couple drove quite some distance to come and find me. They stopped in Sayward village and asked where I lived and I got a call from the village office telling me that these people were looking for me. Once here they ended up purchasing two paintings! They had seen my work two years ago at a show down island and kept me in mind all this time. Having people "beat a path to my door" so to speak! Even if it never happens again I have this memory, a wonderful moment of feeling a success and appreciation.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This afternoon I drive down to Comox to take down the show that I have shared with Yvonne Maximchuk. The time went by so quickly! Hope I remember how to fit all that work neatly and safely in my hatchback Prius.</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-61648751553510403592013-02-23T11:32:00.003-08:002013-02-23T11:33:23.908-08:00Back After a Long Absence<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I know, I know. It's been a really long time since I last posted. I'm not sure what happened except that I felt the need to pull back and hibernate a bit this winter. I didn't even post a "see you a bit later" message. That was kind of rude, I now realize. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Depression is something I have dealt with most of my life and there are times when it is worse than other times. I wasn't in the depths that I have suffered in the past but just down enough that I didn't even want to look for some light. It made working in the studio quite hard so I had to make myself go out there, at least once in a while, to justify to myself the whole point of having that beautiful building out there, made specifically for the purpose of making art. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> In early December I was asked to show with another woman who lives in a remote area (much more remote than where I live), <a href="http://www.yvonnemaximchuk.com/">Yvonne Maximchuck. </a>She paints in watercolour and acrylic and since I paint in oil we decided to simply call our show "Oil & Water". (I sneaked in a couple of pastels at her suggestion at the last minute!) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.pearlellisgallery.com/"> The Pearl Ellis Gallery</a> in Comox, BC, is a volunteer run gallery and has been around for thirty years, a remarkable length of time for this kind of operation. They used to be housed in the downstairs and around the back by the parking lot room of the building where the Comox Library was. Two years ago a beautiful new library, facing toward the Comox bay, was built and the upstairs space of the old library became available. The town decided to lease the space to the Pearl Ellis Gallery and it has made the fortunes of the gallery so much better. Now they are right on the street for anyone to see and bring it many more people. I had originally not thought much of the gallery, especially being so out-of-the-way; I didn't even know about it for the first few years I lived out here. Then I exhibited in a couple of group shows there and to my surprise I sold some things! That's what I get for turning my snobby nose up at a so-called lesser venue! It taught me a good lesson, the one we all learn as children which is to not judge a book by its cover. I am now a proud ongoing member of the Pearl Ellis and happy to be in this show right now, which goes on until March 3rd. Last weekend we had a reception, meet-n-greet the artists afternoon and had a very good turnout. Yvonne sold a piece and now so have I (see painting above). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Below are some photos taken at the meet-n-greet of me and Yvonne, plus from the workshop I gave in the downstairs space last saturday. I called it "The Magic of Cast Shadow" and sent away for a professional type lamp to light the model. Unfortunately there was a lot of ambient light also in the room so my cast shadow was not as strong as I had hoped, but it served the purpose and the eleven students seemed pleased with the class in any case. The only unfortunate occurrence was when one quite elderly lady (who has been a longtime watercolour artist in the Comox area) accidently fell and had to be taken to hospital. She had fractured her pelvis it turns out and that saddened all of us. She is going to be ok according to her friend's report. It gives one pause to consider what growing old will mean for any of us as working artists and all we can do is keep at it with joy in whatever capacity we can and not let infirmity dictate the love of making art if at all possible. I give Dorothy so much credit for signing up for my workshop even though she is old and frail. I took her hand before she had to leave with paramedics and expressed my happiness that she had come and my sorrow that she was leaving early. She said she was also sorry she had to leave early and I could see it in her eyes. I am going to make an art card for her and send it next week.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Thanks to those of you who have followed me and will continue to do so in spite of my hasty retreat last November. I have missed everyone and I need to return to some discipline regarding this blog. Looking forward to future interactions with you all again!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Me and Yvonne in front of my work</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">caught offguard at the gallery:-)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">some of the students at the workshop</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Yvonne and me in front of her work</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">my demo painting for the workshop</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-1207824670942327612012-11-17T12:56:00.000-08:002012-11-17T12:56:13.744-08:00All but the feet...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All week I told myself to get out to the studio and work more on this painting. All week I stayed in the house doing other stuff. Finally went out there yesterday. Now the feet are left to finish. This painting has actually required very little work and something about that makes it seem less important. Stupid. The length of time worked on a piece is irrelevant to its value. I should be thrilled that I have experienced no real pain in doing this painting. The colours come to me, the brushes lay it on, and the session lasts maybe two hours. Still I am very tired at the end of the session so I suppose I must be working harder than I thought. I have decided, also, to keep this plain and simple. No extraneous do-dads or fussing with anything. Kind of goes against my grain:-)</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-88574488120539721792012-11-06T12:20:00.000-08:002012-11-06T12:20:04.686-08:00On Being Outside of Myself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can scarcely believe a whole month has gone by since I last posted! I was fairly tired after the workshop and spent a week cleaning up, reorganizing, and just resting. The beautiful Autumn weather was not to be missed by spending too much time in the house so apples were picked, wood stacked, grass raked, walks were taken and time just standing in the waning sunlight, soaking up warmth was enjoyed. Then the rains came as they always do up here this time of year, and we have been preparing for winter. A new, very efficient woodstove in the basement is heating up the house so well we are finding we only need to use it once every couple of days and what a savings on the expensive oil furnace! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Michael Ward, the intrepid male model from Victoria, arrived for a day of conversation, eating, (homemade vegan treats) and posing. He was to have been accompanied by the beautiful Tegan but she was not able to come at the last minute. Too bad as I had dug into my stash and found fabrics to drape her with that would match her currently dyed pink hair! Another time, although the hair will likely be a different colour by then. That's ok too. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Michael posed for me so I could just draw but mentioned feeling a little sad that I am not as inspired by the male figure as I am the female, and that is true. I think I understand the female form so much better, physically and psychologically, plus one can seem to play more with the subject, poses, dressing up, hair styles, backgrounds, etc. I always feel more constricted by the male form - more serious? Less bendable and twistable! Michael does have a collection of marvelous costumes and I am thinking I should look into this, see what he has, and work from there. He presented two quite large, beautiful photographs to me, taken by well known photographers who often use him as a model. In one he was dressed in full medieval armour and in the other he was posed with Tegan, both body painted and set in a dramatic, futuristic, apocalyptic setting.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Having Michael here provoked my conscience and I pulled out the drawing I had done of him months ago with intentions of starting a painting and I did just that. I am sticking to the 16"x40" canvas size that is my current favorite and got paint on the surface this week. After the preliminary background work and a bit of value placement on the figure I started in on skin tones yesterday. I was not in the mood to fuss. I had no powers of concentration available for itsy bitsy paint-every-square-inch-precisely as I tend to do. I kept the palette limited: quick dry white, naples yellow, cad yellow medium, cad red medium, burnt sienna, brown pink, indian red, permanent rose, and indigo. I looked at my photo reference and mixed some colours and kind of slapped them on. I had NO patience. I was irritated and feeling restless. I kept looking out my window and asking myself if I really want to continue painting for the rest of my life (I know, I know...what kind of a question is THAT??). It is such hard work painting and I find myself feeling fed up and tired of it all sometimes these days. Part of me seems to want to just rest, to retire I guess. Another part rebels at such a notion. I will never stop. I know that, but I think I may slow down. I am actually liking the days I spend going over recipes and pulling together interesting foods. The act of keeping the house clean (at least on SOME days) feels like a prayer to living and honouring that privilege. I take a lot of time with books and I am a shamelessly promiscuous reader. I am constantly discovering new authors (new to me) who open doors in my mind and allow me to travel on the beauty and skill of their amazing craftsmanship. How do they find the right words and the way to put them together just so? Look for <u>A Message for the Emperor</u> by Mark Frutkin to sample harmonious ideas and structure; simplicity and complexity woven seamlessly. Some painters can do that too. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This I painted in that outside-of-myself mood of no patience and realized after the strokes were down that I had found where I truly reside. My hands know and I let them off the leash. The rest of the painting may not match this. I won't know until I return to the canvas. I don't mind either way as I am happy with what I discovered.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Michael is scheduled to come visit again at the end of the month and bring another lovely female model whom he knows. He is very devoted to the needs of his favorite artists and photographers! I've never known another quite like him. I posed him for more photo references while he was here and had intended to use Tegan with the fabric full of stars, but I posed Michael there and think I know what my next long, skinny canvas will be, only horizontal this time. Michael is a star in his own right:-)</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-11234239552016201222012-10-05T12:19:00.000-07:002012-10-05T12:19:04.870-07:00A Weekend to Remember<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The workshop went really well! Six were scheduled to come for the weekend sessions and at the last minute I received a call from another person who had heard about it and wanted to know if I could squeeze them in. I decided the more the merrier. While we were, indeed, kind of "cozy" all in one space I found that this little group was very attentive and serious about improving their skills, taking what I talked about and demonstrated to heart. It is so hard to put it all into a mere two days, the things I want to show people and have them understand, things it has taken me so many years to develop in my own head. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We started the first morning with drawing from a skull replica that I set up on a table. I wanted to emphasize the underlying structure of a head/portrait, which I happen to think is important for understanding the process of portrait painting. </span></div>
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"Yorick," the studio skull</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I drew these two versions very quickly to show the basic elements to be looking for and how to avoid getting hung up on extraneous details. After an hour or so of drawing "Yorick" we moved on to Planes of the Head:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Last year,before I got this "Planes of the Head" figure, I debated for some time about whether or not to invest in it...the head is not inexpensive. It has turned out to be one of the best purchases I ever made for my studio. "Planes" is wonderful to set up in a variety of lighting, to test angles and to see if a proposed pose is going to work. One of my students this weekend is a talented woodcarver who would like to do more portraits and he spent most of his time with "Planes", drawing and redrawing it. One side is carved very simply and the other side has more detail. Moving from the skull to "Planes" was a smooth transition showing how bone and muscle shapes work together to form a head and face. We spent a couple of hours with "Planes." From there to the living model was an easy step, and spent the afternoon and all day sunday working with Mary Ann, our living model.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Apologies to MaryAnn, as I should have spent some time taking a better photo of her! She has good bone structure and is very attractive! I will try to get a better photo of her when I see her again and vindicate myself! At least this shows the transition between skull, Planes of the Head and drawing and painting from life, (see top photo of my painting demo). I was more engrossed in drawing and painting her and seeing to the needs of the class than I was in photographing things; all to the good as far as the workshop went!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Bob, as always, played chief cook and bottle washer, and amazing host to all our guests. Lunches were tasty and satisfying, as was dinner for the three students who stayed overnight with us, after first taking a leisurely walk up the old logging road on the mountain we live on. We spent the evening over wine and nibblies, talking at length about art, telling each other funny stories, and never got around to kicking back to watch NetFlix. Could it get any better? It is a weekend I can relive in my mind over the upcoming long winter when we may be snowed in and hoping the power comes back on soon. </span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-81409914356293149572012-09-26T15:39:00.000-07:002012-09-26T15:39:37.077-07:00Pre Workshop Efforts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> With the Portrait Workshop coming up in a couple of days I have decided to put this painting away for a bit and give my brain a chance to work on it incognito so to speak. It looks very close to completion but I know something is missing and quite possibly I'll understand what that is later next week when I return to it. The good news is that it does not have to be ready until late October so I have some breathing time.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I am doing a lot of cleaning and straightening and rearranging to get ready for the workshop, especially as some of the participants are staying with us overnight on saturday. Certain things, not necessarily the SAME things, are priorities for Bob and for me. How clean does the tiny furnace room really have to be? Is anybody going to look in there? What about the area of carpet on the other side of our bed that our dog Gabe owns, which you can't even see from the doorway? Did the reverse osmosis water filters really have to be changed TODAY? and take all morning? Bob, you aren't seriously going to make a Mexican Chili for lunch to serve these people...we have to be together for two whole days! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I have to move things around in the studio to make more space available. I hope this computer will pick up the router signal from the other side of the room. I love this large desktop but so many times I have wished I had opted for a laptop when I was computer shopping five years ago. This iMac works perfectly and does everything I need it too so I have absolutely no excuse (or budget) to get a new one. I was secretly considering a refurbished mini laptop - I can get a nice one for under $300 - with the money I make this weekend from the workshop. However, my car insurance renewal bill arrived in the mail yesterday, which will eat up the whole works and then some. I am trying very hard to appreciate being able to pay my insurance bill, which would be more difficult without this weekend's income, but somehow the excitement is missing.</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-56109592288399945292012-09-21T17:09:00.001-07:002012-09-21T17:09:17.765-07:00Continuing in the Forest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Feeling a bit better about this now. I have to wrap my head around the idea that it's ok to let shapes and colours just kind of land on the surface and not worry if it isn't perfect or is completely correct in proportion, etc. It would be too easy to get lost for weeks on end in all the little leaf shapes for instance; a recipe for insanity. This is what I ended up with today. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This was yesterday's work with closeups below. I am allowing one small figure in the piece. This was a little girl who was part of our group who sat working on paintings of her own. I think it's appropriate since this IS The Children's Forest!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The figure is so tiny in the painting that there is no way I can add any facial detail, but that's ok. I just like having her there.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Bruce, am I getting the hang of slapping it on yet?</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-22898351590597922872012-09-20T11:42:00.001-07:002012-09-20T11:42:34.344-07:00Losing the "big picture"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H3_vzKPiXRU/UFthDwnyLfI/AAAAAAAAA6c/Q8xVeFkiqLk/s1600/landscape+on+the+19th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H3_vzKPiXRU/UFthDwnyLfI/AAAAAAAAA6c/Q8xVeFkiqLk/s640/landscape+on+the+19th.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coming along, coming along, and nail biting being avoided. Yesterday I made the mistake of losing the "big picture" and spent too much time picking away at a very small area:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Studying the work of a few landscape artists whose work I admire is helping me to get back on track; artists like Bruce Sherman and Brian Buckrell.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We'll see what today's session brings.</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-50770944166476279302012-09-16T16:49:00.001-07:002012-09-16T16:49:44.022-07:00Taking Advantage of Perfect Weather<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Day Two</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The weather has been so beautiful I decided to pretend to be a plein aire painter and took all my gear outside (but I'm working from sketches and photos so it isn't <i>really</i> plein aire:-) I meant to take a photo of my outdoor setup and then forgot, so I'll try to do it tomorrow if the weather persists in being so perfect! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This piece is 20"x30" which is a decent size to be attempting this landscape. I need to get it done within a couple of weeks so I intend to keep at this daily if I can.</span></div>
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Day Three</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This is interesting for me because I am so accustomed to working with the figure or portrait and knowing just what steps I need to take, whereas here I am stumbling along trying to figure out the best procedure. As it turns out the steps I'm taking are similar to my approach to portraiture, laying in basic values and building up layers of colour. I guess painting is just painting, eh? I have to admit I'm not entirely unhappy with it so far but the ol' "what if I ruin it?" syndrome is in the back of my mind. I have to keep telling myself, "it's only paint, it's only paint," but I have the same fears no matter what I'm working on, and I am fairly good at ignoring them.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Working outdoors on such gorgeous days is such a treat. All of us here on the north island are taking advantage because we know that the rainy season, (rainy, chilly, windy, there-goes-the-power-out-again season), will soon be upon us. On the other hand, that means it will be time to fire up the woodstove and enjoy cuddling under blankets, reading good books, lighting candles and oil lamps, and making wonderful dishes from the fruits of our garden put up in jars or the freezer. I need to get back to that afghan I started last year when I broke my ankle...it's only about half finished. Simple pleasures really are the best.</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-69885648053515274952012-09-14T14:32:00.002-07:002012-09-14T14:32:31.955-07:00Delving back into the fray<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I am the champion procrastinator at times but finally I started on the painting for the Cortes Children's Forest fund a couple of days ago. My start is ok but now what? Landscape painting is not my cup of tea and so I will probably be struggling with this as I add more layers. Just looking at things as shapes and values is helping so I need to plunge in and get some real colour on this baby.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> My week has not been a total waste of time,however. I caught up on paperwork, housework, laundry, and cleaning up the studio. After the weeks I spent silk painting my dress I returned to find stuff everywhere! I am normally a fairly neat worker but my frenzy to complete the outfit in time overcame my natural tendency to clean up as I go along. Now all is in reasonable order again and that provides peace of mind for me to at last delve back into painting. I even rearranged paintings on the walls.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> There is good news regarding my upcoming Portrait Workshop...so far I have five students! There was a sixth but she backed out yesterday because she realized some of us (including me) will be using oil paint and she has a very strong allergy to oils, even when working outdoors anywhere near an oil painter. I have looked at her work and I know I could help her with what she is doing, but I also completely understand her problem. I have allergies to many strong odors, although not as bad now as when I was younger so she has to do what is best for her health. Maybe I could work out a future workshop for portraits in acrylics, since so many people use those. I used to paint with acrylics but don't really think they are as wonderful for subtle shifts, blending, and luminosity as oil paints. What about water soluble oils? I have some that I bought a few years ago when they first came on the market and hated them. I am told there are better ones out there now that really are much closer to the feel of regular oils. Perhaps I should try a few colours, just primaries and black and white, and see how I feel about them now. I wouldn't mind a bit if I could put solvents, even the pretty good odorless ones, (my favorite being Gamsol), out of my studio permanently.</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-36786815363191739132012-09-06T15:48:00.001-07:002012-09-06T15:48:11.237-07:00September Portrait Workshop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">detail from "Tristan Traveling Through Time" oil, 36"x36"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am giving a portrait workshop the last weekend of September here at my Sayward Valley Studio. Several people have asked me about when I would do this again as it has been quite a while, so I decided early Autumn was a good time. Here are the details:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">September 29th & 30th</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cost: $125 </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">organic vegetarian lunches included</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Basic structure of the skull and planes of the head will be first morning; drawing in graphite</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Afternoon work from live model and begin to discuss skin tones, hair rendering, lighting, poses</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Second day continue colour work from model</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in Oil, Pastel, Color Pencil, or Acrylic</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can put up four people and there is a very nice B&B and a hostel nearby; also dinner available at Cyprus Tree Inn; breakfast available at Cable House.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I stated previously lunches are part of my fee, made with loving care by my wonderful husband, Bob:-)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have two signed on so far and need at least two more, but four to eight students would be ideal. Anyone interested should call </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">250-282-0134</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">or email:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">karen@karenmartinarts.ca</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I understand completely that this is not going to be possible for most who read this blog but just thought I'd mention it anyway; I also know it is a bit short notice. I think I have to get better at long term planning for these things!</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-58622328733843260432012-09-01T11:41:00.002-07:002012-09-01T11:42:16.265-07:00Wedded Bliss and a Motorcycle Accident<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The deed is done! My son and his beautiful bride, Rachel, are married!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The trip back to Hilton, NY was long and tiring but so worth it. Unfortunately Tristan had an accident on his motorcycle six days before the wedding and broke his right tibia and ankle very badly. He had to be put in a cast up to his upper thigh and on tuesday (after the wedding) he had surgery. A metal rod the length of his entire shin and a plate with six screws around the ankle was inserted, and another cast going all the way up the leg. The cast can come off and a new one below the knee put on in a couple of weeks if all goes well. Neither Tristan nor Rachel let this setback make a dent in the wedding plans and the whole event was truly beautiful, taking place in the back yard of her parents' home, four acres in the country! A large tent was put up and included a dance floor, many round tables, chairs, etc. lights, and beautiful table settings with floating candles and tea lights all over, and sprinkled with red and white rose petals. The ceremony was small with only immediate family but at 9 pm the 100 invited guests arrived and everyone had such a good time that no one left until 2am! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> You probably notice that Rachel is wearing black. It is her favorite colour to wear and she didn't feel constricted by our present day convention of the bride being in white or a soft pastel colour. She had a friend make the dress and this picture does not do it justice. Gorgeous! In fact, the picture of Rachel does not do my new daughter justice either...she is incredibly beautiful! And sweet, and smart and most important, she truly loves Tristan (as he love her) and is SO good to him. Also her family and I hit it off immediately, which was a big relief as we had never met before. I stayed with them for several days and felt completely at home.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As you can see my dress was a success (the "backup dress" was with me but stayed in the closet:-) and got a lot of compliments. For being 67 (I had my birthday while I was away) I suppose I looked presentable and enjoyed being in something other than jeans/sweatpants, t-shirt/sweat shirt, and gum boots, my usual apparel for up here in the semi wilderness. I took several nice things with me to wear which hang ignored in my closet most of the time and it was a treat to go out looking civilized. Now they are back in the closet no doubt for quite a while until some other special event comes up.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I will get back to posting about what I'm doing artwise pretty soon. I have to start the painting for the Cortes Children's Forest fund auction this month. Oh yes, I just found out that "Spanish Shawl" was accepted into the FCA AIR show (Annual International Representational) so must ship that off in a few days. </span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-77047089942028947902012-08-13T12:08:00.001-07:002012-08-13T12:14:29.456-07:00Dress Unveiling!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Another quick post...I couldn't resist showing off photos of the dress which is finally about completed. I have a few straggly fibres to trim off the hems and may add some extra hand embroidery to the neckline, but otherwise I am finished! And with a week to spare! And, to my amazement I have discovered that I am down to 112 lbs. and I wasn't even trying...I haven't weighed so little in about 20 years. (I guess that shows what a bit of stress and hiking around wilderness forests will do for you.) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Now I have to get back to sanding and refinished the rest of my studio deck. Can't wait to get out there...sigh.</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-66719185935796380842012-08-12T15:14:00.001-07:002012-08-12T15:14:30.832-07:00Hello From Cortes Island<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This is just a quick check in as I haven't posted since mid July. I have been SO busy and will continue to be so for a while. And it's only nine days until I leave for the east and my son's wedding. (The dress is turning out great thank goodness!).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I spent three days last weekend on Cortes Island with a group of other artists and those who live on the island trying to arrange financing to buy a tract of forest there to keep in perpetuity for future generations. They are calling it the Children's Forest and have many of the island children involved in this. A logging company has plans to come in the next few months to start logging much of the island and it will be a real shame if they take everything! Those of us who were invited artists spent the time photographing, sketching and painting to come up with ideas for finished artwork that will be auctioned off on SaltSpring Island in October (they have a bigger potential for lots of buyers there). I cannot begin to tell you how well we were treated...and fed! It was an amazing experience and I want to delve into this more and provide many more photos in a later post.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> My Mother-of-the-Groom dress is very close to completion and has been through a few transformations (i.e. ripping out and redoing). I will also post photos of me in the dress at the wedding at a future date.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Cheers to all of you and I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!</span></div>
</div>Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-39193579972061415632012-07-26T17:20:00.000-07:002012-07-26T17:20:35.455-07:00Will it be the Back Up?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The dress in progress - mostly pinned together here!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I know it's been a few weeks since I last posted and I can hardly believe I let so much time go by. My excuse is extreme busyness and many nights of falling into bed exhausted. You see summer finally arrived up here and there were so many outside jobs to tackle, although Bob does most of the really hard stuff:-) But, also, I realized time was slipping by very fast and I needed to get started on making my Mother-of-the-Groom outfit. I had planned something similar to a design I liked a lot by Ivonne Dome, a designer for Mon Cheri. I ordered Peace Silk (they don't have to kill the silk moth!) and began a long, tedious process of relearning how to dye silk and how to make it into something to wear other than a scarf or shawl.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I started with many drawings and little watercolours. Then I had to find a pattern that was reasonably close to what I had in mind and then alter it to meet my requirements. That is a long story in itself...long and boring. Anyway I then moved on to figuring out how to stretch such large sections of silk and getting the pattern onto the fabric without having it move all around, mark the area with a special pen that has fade-away ink, draw Gutta resist around those lines, let it dry, then apply the dyes. That meant experimenting with dyes on fabric samples first since I wanted this to be fairly subtle. The dyes are quite strong and intense so I ended up adding a lot of distilled water to them and only had to mix the colours a bit - the turquoise had a bit of royal blue added and the leaf green had a bit yellow added.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I decided to go with a seaweed theme since there are so many beautiful specimens of these plants and you can play with the shapes. The above photo shows how the colour looked when first applied, and it was just what I wanted; soft and subtle.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This, however, is what it turned into when dry. All the green migrated to the edges of the gutta and left the yellow showing. You see, I had painted the blue first and didn't steam it, I just let it dry and then painted on the green seaweed shapes. That made the dye mix in with the underlying blue, and thus the migrating green occurred. At this point I was days into the project and very tired. I decided to go with it. I just didn't want to be dying and steaming the same pieces of fabric twice. I just use a big canning pot and cook up the silk on a hot plate sitting on my studio floor. (Silk isn't just crammed in...it is carefully wrapped and placed on many, many, many layers of round cut newspaper and a shield of foil). Steaming for wearables is approximately four hours. Check that water level every half hour or you could end up with ashes to wear...</span></div>
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French Seams are Good! When you turn them over they disappear!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The next phase required some sewing tutorials. I have sewn a lot over the years but don't have a lot of experience with such delicate, slippery, fussy fabric as this. I was getting very frustrated with puckering and snags and general this-is-so-home-made looking I could die syndrome. Finally found an article that discussed my problem and voila! French seams and other techniques that allow you to sew delicate fabrics beautifully. All the puckering went away and I felt rejuvenated, because, you see, I had almost decided to GIVE UP this effort and go with another option - namely, to wear an outfit loaned to me by a friend. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Ok, I'm not there yet, there is still a ways to go but I stand a good chance of actually coming up with a decent result, something I, and more importantly, my son, won't be ashamed of. As I progress I will post the further efforts. And that picture at the top is not the finished product...that is still just a partial finish. Most of it is just pinned together so I can see what is happening.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At least I have a backup outfit and I strongly believe in backups.</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-29274893219825416692012-07-01T10:01:00.001-07:002012-07-01T10:01:02.052-07:00It's raining good luck in work and actual water!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Completed (I think) and leaving me ready to go back to the other two small floral works I started two months ago! I still might go in and pull a few more petals out into the foreground, but for now I am reasonably happy with this. I can't think about it any more.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I received some excellent news on thursday...all three of my entries into the Sooke Fine Art Show have been accepted. Considering there were 1335 entries and only 163 artists made the cut, and only 19 of those had all three of their entries accepted, I feel especially honoured and pleased! Now I need to pull together 12 copies of my bio (they have bio books about the artists laying throughout the gallery display area) and print up some new art cards (we are encouraged to have cards and prints of our work for sale in the gallery gift shop), and pack up the work to deliver next saturday. It is about a 4 1/2 hr. drive and I was so happy that Bob immediately suggested we deliver the work in person rather than shipping it. It is a chance to visit daughter and grandson who live down that way; maybe even pick up Tyler to bring back with us for a few weeks. Here are the three pieces that are going into the show:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GRvqdSrqirU/T_B8qjrj0nI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/EYaMMtbG_08/s1600/girl+in+a+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GRvqdSrqirU/T_B8qjrj0nI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/EYaMMtbG_08/s320/girl+in+a+garden.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gxkqMzkShHA/T_B8vzgOdPI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/wiO4J6MCYUQ/s1600/S+Shawl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gxkqMzkShHA/T_B8vzgOdPI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/wiO4J6MCYUQ/s320/S+Shawl.jpg" width="125" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T8UJSsu8RNs/T_B80rDLMHI/AAAAAAAAA0g/CDM9hdauBHY/s1600/To+tell+a+story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T8UJSsu8RNs/T_B80rDLMHI/AAAAAAAAA0g/CDM9hdauBHY/s320/To+tell+a+story.jpg" width="127" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I am also taking Debbie Reusch's piece "On the Gauntlet" (she is my neighbor up here in Sayward valley) for her as this was accepted into the show. Due to some misunderstanding about the dates of production on two other of her works they were disqualified, unfortunately, as I think they stood a good chance of also being accepted. Debbie does beautiful watercolours. You can see her work at <a href="http://www.debbiereusch.blogspot.com/">http://www.debbiereusch.blogspot.com</a>; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know she would love you to visit. Her work is delicate and sensitive but with a very strong underlying feel; each of her pieces is carefully thought out and constructed yet not static or cold...they offer a sense of quiet satisfaction and appealing comfort.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We continue to live in our rain slickers over sweaters while the rest of the continent seems to be baking and thirsty. Sick as I get of so much wetness I realize we are actually lucky...I could not work in all the heat and humidity and I very much dislike air conditioning. Today, Canada Day, a bit of sun maybe? Hard to tell at 9:52 am, but at least it is not currently raining! Good thing we live on the lower slope of the mountain as all the water slides past us rather than filling our basement and it is not at flood stage in the valley floor although the river is quite high. It's hard to find a wetless enough day to cut the grass and soon it will be kneehigh again if it doesn't dry out a bit soon. My gumboots are holding up well at least.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-45310660167142727372012-06-24T12:53:00.001-07:002012-06-24T13:00:51.240-07:00Hydrangeas and Seafoam Outfits<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I know, I know, it's been quite some time since I last posted. I suddenly kind of lost all my momentum. There has been a lot of activity in my daily life, but not much of it centered around my studio or painting. It always feels like there are endless chores to be done once decent weather arrives and while much of it is actually enjoyable some of it is, also, tedious, and backbreaking. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I finally have returned to working on the florals that my collector back in Ontario has requested, including this hydrangeas painting. It's is very similar to the smaller one I did a few years back but it has some looser, softer edges, and is not so geared to photographic rendering. I intend to paint a false frame around it and allow a blossom or two to come over the edge of that frame. One of the things that especially attracts me to hydrangeas is the variety of colours and tones that can be found in even the same blossom group. Depending upon the maturity of the blossom the colour advances through a series of fascinating changes, and these are also dependent upon the chemical makeup of the soil. It can get finicky, however, and I seem to be losing my patience for fine detail. That is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact, I think it is a sign of my own maturation artistically speaking. In any case, Joanne, if you read this, I will let you decide which hydrangea version you prefer and that will be yours! (Every artist should have a Joanne in their life!).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Another side tracking effort has been designing and considering how to make my Mother-of-the-Groom outfit to wear to my son's upcoming wedding in late August. It has almost come to be expected of me that I will make something of my own design and I find it challenging, exciting, and also tiring. The designs are not completely original...they are based on outfits I have seen elsewhere that I think might look ok on me and then I reconfigure and alter to work with my own ideas. I had wanted to take a pattern making course when I was in my early 20's but it wasn't feasible then so I had to learn by trial and error how to modify existing patterns. Now it is possible to take pattern making courses quite easily but at my age I don't feel the inclination to get too involved. Haute couture is an art form in itself and requires a great deal of time to properly develop, time which I don't really have any more. I have made outfits for others, even redesigned and remade an old wedding dress once for someone else with lots of hand beading, etc., but I never wanted to go into the business of fashion design. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Silk is my absolute favorite fabric but as a vegan I have begun to have some serious qualms about the boiling alive of the silk worm cocoons in order to reel off the silk without breaking the cocoon. Thousands die this way in order to make a single yard of fabric. I found a company called Aurora Silk in Portland, Oregon that sells silk that has been taken only from cocoons where the moth has allowed to break free and live it's short, but happy life. Cheryl Kolander is the company founder and uses a method that can still weave a beautiful, smooth silks from the broken cocoons and offers a variety of weights and weaves. She also deals in cottons and hemp fabrics and all products are fair trade where families in Asia are encouraged to use no-chemical methods and are fairly paid for their work. Some of the silks are the traditional type from unbroken cocoons. More details and information are to be found from her website: <a href="http://www.aurorasilk.com/">www.aurorasilk.com</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I worked up some quick watercolour sketches after finding a design from Mon Cheri that I really liked, designer Ivonne Dome. Basically a loose fitting dress with layers in the skirt (she uses three) and some cut at an angle and on the bias. These include a lightweight soft jacket, which those of us "mature" women need to cover the upper arm which is often less than firm, shapely, or attractive! I am considering going with only two layers for the skirt as I am short (and getting shorter with age...sigh) and don't want to be overwhelmed by the skirt. One layer of silk is the l.8 oz weight and an overlay is the half oz. weight, so the whole thing is floaty and soft...I hope:-) I made a quick mock up after spending days altering the two Quick Sew patterns that I found to be closest to the design I want. The dress is just in broadcloth I had in my stash and I used cheesecloth to work out the jacket drape, not bothering with the sleeves at this point. The cheesecloth is the perfect weight! The mock up is, of course, kind of stiff and heavy so does not represent the nice soft drape that I will get when I use the silk. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I've pretty much decided to go with the undersea design, using a pale turquoise (my friend Diana calls it a Seafoam), blending into a soft and light version of Sap green. The light overlay will have carefully painted wavy seaweed like shapes coming up toward the light turquoise and just painted fairly free form on the jacket. Light, light, light I have to remind myself since dyes on silk can be incredibly potent and bright, which is beautiful, but not what I want for my outfit. You can see the picture I am basing the design on, the lovely mauve dress made by Mon Cheri. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> For anyone interested, the black and red scarf design above is an idea I have for a gift to give my son's future Mother-in-law, MaryAnn, as I will be staying with her and her husband when I am back in upstate NY for the wedding. I think I'm going to change it to some blue lilies with gorgeous green stems and leaves on the black background as I have noticed that she wears a lot of black and blue clothes in her FB photos (she is very elegant looking) but also has a wonderful, easy going personality so I hope the scarf will reflect these things and that it will be something she will enjoy wearing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I am very lucky to have an alternate outfit to fall back on. My artist friend, Diana, has kindly offered to lend me the pretty dress she wore for her daughter's wedding a couple of years ago, (that Seafoam colour she noticed in my watercolour sketch) and since we are about the same size I will take her up on it if for any reason my creation turns into a disaster and I have no time to make something else. It's always good to have a plan B.</span></div>
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</div>Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-71557576946608158262012-05-25T12:56:00.000-07:002012-05-25T12:56:59.234-07:00You Can't Always Get What You Want...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">"Spanish Shawl" oil on canvas 40"x16"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Completed this painting by the May 25th deadline, but haven't entered it yet as I had a connection problem for a day and a half with my router/computer. I think the lush new growth of all the trees, including a large willow and several fruit trees between house and studio have gotten in the way. Bob says that shouldn't be the case since he gets his connection in his office at the other end of the house through two walls from the kitchen. I still maintain it isn't quite the same. The studio is a good 150 feet from the house and the connection just isn't making it through now - it had up until the trees filled in. At least it isn't a problem with my computer as I really cannot afford a new computer or even a repair job right now. So I sit in the kitchen at the table, but that will have to be temporary...where can I set up here without being in the way? I use the computer in my studio quite a lot - my printer is also out there and my camera, etc. These are the times when I wish I had gone with a laptop instead of this desktop - but the desktop was so beautiful and the screen so large, and it called to me! I love this computer! But it is a real pain to cart around...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> One of my paintings in the FCA Still Life show in Vancouver has been purchased but I don't know which one. Bob took the call while I was in my studio and can't remember if they told him which one it was. Doesn't matter, the extra income is very welcome and I will know eventually when they send the unsold one home in a few weeks. Here are the two entries:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This is the first time I've sold anything from being in a FCA show in Vancouver. I was beginning to wonder how much traffic the FCA Gallery actually gets as I don't many who do sell in the shows, but then, I don't personally know that many FCA members either - they are from all across Canada. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The timing is good since the same day this work sold our Rural Property Tax bill arrived and is approximately the amount of renumeration I will receive after the gallery takes its percentage. I still hope to get a new camera eventually but I have to remember that you can't always get what you want but, if you try, you get what you need...and it's one of my favorite Rolling Stones tunes.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-48785779706332689252012-05-21T14:17:00.000-07:002012-05-21T14:19:59.563-07:00Back in the FAV15% - is three times a charm?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> "Listening For A Nightingale" was selected as one of the Bold Brush competition FAV15% on the FineArtViews site for last month. This is the third time I have had a piece chosen for the FAV15%. Keep hoping for being a finalist someday when I grow up:-) Then return to ideas about never entering anything again...what is the point, I ask myself, even knowing as I think this that I will be entering another competition sometime soon. Actually today; I entered it in the Artist's Magazine annual art competiton. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A8u9LyPfsE8/T7qtjillJiI/AAAAAAAAAx4/ZtDjtiCAM1Y/s1600/Kim+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A8u9LyPfsE8/T7qtjillJiI/AAAAAAAAAx4/ZtDjtiCAM1Y/s640/Kim+21.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The current work is very close to completion now, sitting on my easel awaiting ministrations but I'm finding it hard to do this last part for some reason. Once again the fringe is driving me a bit crazy. I want to add the embroidery on the shawl and that might even be fun, but can't get started. Maybe it's that I'm feeling hungry right now. I don't work well when I'm hungry. Maybe I should go back to the house and make some lunch, although it's after two...ok, early supper? It's so gratifying when a simple solution to a problem presents itself.</span></div>
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Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-77231518591788957562012-05-16T15:01:00.000-07:002012-05-16T15:01:57.856-07:00Cameras are not edible.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qpL2VXZDwQE/T7QfTpOfOrI/AAAAAAAAAxk/mp_ehmOWrxI/s1600/Kim+today.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qpL2VXZDwQE/T7QfTpOfOrI/AAAAAAAAAxk/mp_ehmOWrxI/s640/Kim+today.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> A quick posting today; just found out that the deadline for entering the Sooke show has been extended into June! Good news, although I am fairly certain I will have this done by the May 25th date they did have, but at least I can breathe easy about this and not feel rushed. So much to do outside right now - and inside too - feeling pulled in multiple directions. No time for sitting in the sun with a good book and a big glass of lemonade:-) It's still a bit chilly up here for that sort of thing anyway. And the wind! We have had major wind for about three days even though the sun is out, no clouds in the sky - gorgeous really but kind of hard to work outside with stuff blowing around. It happens up in the area some years and I'm told the wind can last all summer! When I traveled down island yesterday it was calm and lovely but up here in the mountain valley, well, make sure things are battened down!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Yesterday I went to meet with my art group friends in Comox. We were at a lovely home overlooking Comox Estuary, with snow capped mountains in the background. We were able to be outside to paint and socialize. Needed that!! Vicky has a new DSLR camera and showed me all its great features...couldn't help but covet just a little, even though I have decided I don't really need a full DSLR. A good Canon bridge camera would do for me I think. Been researching this for two years but still using my 12 year old Canon G2. At least I HAVE a camera. Get over yourself, Karen...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So you can see I am making progress. I redid that background three separate times. This painting will have a different feel from the first version but that's ok. It's time to concentrate on legs and fringe stuff next, and the bottom section of the shawl needs to be reworked a bit. I feel too distracted though by all the chores needing to be done. Bob had 10 yards of beautiful, black soil with fish compost delivered for the newer, bigger, higher raised beds he built in the vegetable garden and it has to be shoveled into those beds before we can plant. Growing some of our food in summer definitely saves on our small budget. Ah, the money spent on soil and delivery could get me a lovely new Canon G12 camera - but you can't eat a camera:-)</span></div>
<br /></div>Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81858631124842925.post-39355502464347009342012-05-05T12:52:00.000-07:002012-05-05T12:52:15.172-07:00Progress on the new version...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-idI1dyV_zW0/T6V-HNhfYuI/AAAAAAAAAxA/cjZx6HR-4dI/s1600/Kim+yesterday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-idI1dyV_zW0/T6V-HNhfYuI/AAAAAAAAAxA/cjZx6HR-4dI/s640/Kim+yesterday.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q8G9Oyi7KBU/T6V-LoikIDI/AAAAAAAAAxI/hJo7tL13e60/s1600/Kim+today.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q8G9Oyi7KBU/T6V-LoikIDI/AAAAAAAAAxI/hJo7tL13e60/s640/Kim+today.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> First two days of the new version of Kim wearing the shawl but I felt very blank about the whole thing. I put off working more on it for two days and wondering if it is worth doing. Then I got back to work yesterday and saw it beginning to gel for me. I think it's going to be ok. The variation of my moods is sometimes a wonder. Is sanity really a push-pull machination? Just interacting with other living, breathing souls seems to help all the confusion I often feel; yesterday I got a call from an artist friend whom I haven't seen or spoken with in a few months and felt elevated and upbeat all day. This morning I felt the need to hear my son's voice and when I called we had one of those wonderful conversations that goes all over the spectrum. Keeping it together is really pretty simple when there are others you care about to connect with. I have to remember not to become too insulated up here in Sayward.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I began yesterday's session by premixing skin tones and then slapped them on in a very general, unfussy manner. Allowing my hand to do it's own thing often works well for me but I do have to be in the correct frame of mind. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_N1Yb3VG4VM/T6V-ej1Fg0I/AAAAAAAAAxY/0Vq2hm2GAvU/s1600/back+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_N1Yb3VG4VM/T6V-ej1Fg0I/AAAAAAAAAxY/0Vq2hm2GAvU/s640/back+2.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I'm a blender by nature. I know many artists who lay down colour and tone and leave it alone. Can't do it myself. There is something sensuous and deeply satisfying about combining the colours smoothly together attempting to have the blend so perfect that it is impossible to see where one colour/tone begins or ends. You'd think the airbrush would be my tool of choice but there is a slickness from that technique which I do not care for. Somehow the use of my own hand and a tiny fan brush and all the imperceptible squiggles and overlappings give the work a one-of-a-kind look that is very appealing to me. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The painting of "Listening for a Nightingale" arrived safely in Orangeville Ontario at it's new home just before a major storm passed through the area. The storm actually damaged the wall where it was supposed to hang so for now it will be placed elsewhere. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Still have to think about a title for this new painting. </span></div>
<br /></div>Karen Martin Sampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15180294856179918446noreply@blogger.com6