Saturday, June 9, 2012

Happy Weekend!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

I am steadily painting for the upcoming show, and have truly missed blogging ~

 I had to participate in "Pink Saturday", though, and I definitely have something PINK to show you...

First, I want to apologize to all who have left me comments and messages that I have yet to respond to...for days I have not been on the computer AT ALL...not even for a minute; (not to check e-mail, not to check the bank balance, no Facebook ~ nothing, nada, ZILCH) which is a "first" in a very long while!

 I used to be a much faster painter...with increased acceptance of boo-boos and such, it seems I am so much S-L-O-W-E-R getting the actual painting done... I used to drive myself crazy, being such a perfectionist and SO picky with what I was painting; now, not so much ~ however, this particular painting had a corner that was just NOT working...everything else was transparent (watercolor) and going well, but one corner (which I had not drawn anything in, really ~ I was just kind of winging it, but it was leaves, so I didn't think I could mess those up...(I did).
...To make a long story short, I totally changed colors a couple of times and it just got heavier and heavier looking.

 It didn't look like it belonged with the rest of the painting.

 Pickiness re-surfaced, and I was ready to throw it away; then I had an idea ~ collage might save it.

And collage it I did.

 I'd recently bought a little French pamphlet from 1877 on eBay ~ (an almanac, not really a piece of history that would be missed if I tore it up) ~ thinking I would use parts of it in a painting of the stack of cups I photographed earlier this spring...it would work with this! The pink of the lilies was so intense; HOT pink, really, that I got the phrase "Hot August Night" in my head...and it got me to thinking what a hot August night in Southeast Missouri would be like...(sans AC) ~ I had already painted in a firefly (I'd recently read that fireflies were disappearing from some areas, and have been kind of on a firefly-kick; check this site out ~



 What else?... CICADAS...by mid-August here they start their droning by noon (earlier on they're only sounding off in the evening, and it sounds pretty cool, for a while) ~ getting louder and louder, enough to drive a person a little batty ~ so along with the watercolor-painted cicadas collaged on, I put in text from the almanac that had to do with cures for insomnia...melancholy...the phases of the moon, and so on.

 I also put in a big golden moon, painted with Lumiere acrylics...

 I had fun.

SO ~ all that said, I will show you the finally finished painting that was visible in my photo of my painting space last weekend...

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Here is the detail of the firefly...(we signed up to log our firefly-sighting...only one so far in our yard this year! (That we've seen; for this Museum of Science survey you only look for 10 minutes or so once a week.)

So sad if this little beacon-of-summer does disappear...


Have a great Sunday, everyone, and upcoming week !

I'll be in the basement painting if anyone needs me ~ (just yell really loud) ~ ;^)

♥ ♥ ♥

40 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, this is gorgeous, I absolutely love it! Amazing to think you were almost on the point of throwing it away.
    I've never seen a firefly. It is sad to hear that they are disappearing. What is the reason for that, is it known?

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  2. Looks like it is going to be very interesting! Can't wait to see the whole thing!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  3. Your painting is lovely. I love the collage bits. I have never seen a firefly in real life and it would be terrible if they died out. They must be majical to see.

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  4. LOVE the painting!

    I have not had much time for Blogging either but am trying to get caught up this morning!

    Happy Sunday!
    LuLu~*xoxo

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  5. Anne, That is a wonderful painting. I love the colors of it. You are a true artist:):) Smiles, Susie

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  6. Anne, this is absolutely stunning! Wow! I love it.♥ The details are glorious.

    Do you ever paint minis - about 5x7? I am gathering a few to lean on the built-ins in our den, and I love this. Please let me know if you would be interested in painting and selling something like that.

    Thank you so much for sharing this, and Happy Pink Saturday. I appreciate you making it a special day.

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  7. Love the decoupage addition to the painting. The black and cream was the perfect balance.

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  8. What a fun idea and I love the painting! You are so wonderfully creative.

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  9. I love the painting, and love how you rescued it with collage. I think it's the most fun part of creating-the problem solving that is involved.
    I also LOVE lightning bugs, we call 'em, and have seen a few here lately-but it's been too cool for the huge number we usually see. It would be horrible if they disappeared...Going to visit the link about them.
    Love, Debra

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  10. Sounds like you got very creative. Glad to hear you didn't ditch the whole thing. It's no longer a painting -- it's mixed media. Bet it looks great.

    Very sad about the fireflies. Maybe everyone needs to stop catching them and putting them in mason jars just to see them light up. Better to watch them in their natural habitat -- the great big world out there.

    Have a great day. Tammy

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  11. What a beautiful piece of art!
    I'm concerned that the pesticides people seem to be using more widely are affecting our firefly population, as well as the honey bees.:(

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  12. Hi Anne,
    we have some fireflies in Germany, too. But when I saw them once in a meadow in Maryland, it was amazing for me. As far as the eye can reach, glooming fireflies went up und down. Would be a pitty if they disappear.
    Your Lilies are wonderful and I love the little firefly and the cicadas. Thank you for sharing your art work.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  13. You are quite a talent! Thanks for sharing.

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  14. Gorgeous painting, definitely worth while staying away from the computer to concentrate on producing such beautiful art.

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  15. Wow, gorgeous Lillies !!
    I didn't know about the firefly's, I have never seen one in real life. I hope they rally back.

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  16. Exquisite! Love it, and adore the sweet firefly detail. I hadn't realized there was a firefly sighting site. I will have to go check it out. We eagerly await firefly sighting at our house. We have been seeing them for about a week now, which is fairly early for us. Such fun!
    Kate

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  18. Anne..
    what a talented artist you are!!

    I would have never even thought of how to balance the painting out like that. Charming!

    Have fun painting.. and be sure to share your beautiful works with us.

    Smiles :)
    Kerin

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  19. Anne your painting is absolutely gorgeous - love the creativity you tapped into - making something work. We have lightening bugs here but they usually don't arrive until around the fourth. I have seen a few but it does take warm nights to call them out. Must check your link out. Thanks for showing how you made your painting a success. XO XO Pixie

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  20. Did I tell you every time I see your page load and I see the pic of your Mom I think of Maureen OHara. So very pretty! Your painting is gorgeous, and loving the firefly details. Maybe I should stay away from my computer for a while! Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration with Sunday's Best!

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  21. That painting is amazing. How clever - wish I could create something like that. Really enjoying this blog.

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  22. Hi Anne! Oh, you paint a lovely bug! Well done! All your work is magic.

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  23. Your blog is beautiful, I love your art and your header is gorgeous!

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  24. Your blog is beautiful, I love your art and your header is gorgeous!

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  25. Hi Anne! Just wanted to tell you how much I love your painting! My Mom loved lillies and we have several kinds here. I haven't heard any cicadas up here near KC, but we have lots of fireflies out and about. They've been here for over a month I think. I'll definitely check out the firefly count, too!

    Heather

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  26. How lovely to imagine you working on your creative work.... your lovely creative work... oh my... truly lovely.

    Hope you accomplished much this past week.

    Wishing you furry glimpses....

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  27. the red flowers are beautiful! I can't imagine creating a painted piece like that...it's so vivid and striking!
    I have your potholder towel ready to mail, I just need an address. Email me at ballpark001@gmail
    Thank you for placing my blog on your site. I didn't know that was possible. :-) Very kind of you.

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  28. What a lovely painting. You are very talented. Love the detail.
    I don't see near as many fireflies as I did when I was young.

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  29. Hi Anne, that painting looks gorgeous. I just love it! I always admire people, who are able to create something like this. Are you still painting in your basement? Just asking because there are no more posts ;-)? If you are I hope you are "in the zone" and have fun!
    Christina

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  30. This is impressive! I think the collage a brilliant idea, too - plus you had FUN: most important!

    Keep up the good work!
    xxx H

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  31. Hi Anne! Very, very pretty!
    Congrats!
    I love pink...
    xo
    Luciana

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  32. How did I miss this post--I've got to pay better attention! :-) But I love this painting! When so many would just give up, you stuck with it and made it a piece of art! I love your adding the details, especially the lightning bugs (my summertime favorite) that really make this special!

    I hope you're having a good week and doing well!!

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  33. Beautiful painting! We have had quite a few fireflies this summer, so I smiled when I saw the close up of this familiar and much loved part of summer!

    Love the name of your blog!

    Holly

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  34. Absolutely love your painting and so appreciate your talent. Being off "the Blogosphere/Techie grid" seems like a prevailing occurrence these days; aren't there just a million things going on ?!?! :-o

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  35. Wow, what a beautiful painting! Lilies are my favorite flower and yours are so beautiful I can just about smell their scent from here!

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  36. Anne, I've been missing you, and I just wanted to send good thoughts your way. Hopefully all your preparations are going as you wish.

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  37. HAPPY SUMMER! Been on an extended vacation and away from the computer, myself - playing catch-up on my reading of favorites, now. LOVE the new painting - I SO missed the fireflies when we moved from St. Charles - didn't know their numbers were dwindling...how sad. Also, I had Cicadas going crazy in my trees here in Vegas, two nights ago...JULY 11th! REALLY early this year. XOXO Tanya

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  38. Stunning! I really am glad I came here from Pink Saturday! :)

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I love your thoughts and comments, and I read each and every one! Sometimes life gets in the way, though, and it takes me a while to respond...Thank you for understanding! ♥...Time is precious, and the time you have taken here is truly appreciated!