Monday, February 17, 2014

Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies

I recently returned from an extended visit with family and friends out west. It was wonderful to see them and spend some quality time together, but I have to say that I'm happy to be back in my own studio. It has been a rough winter for many people across the country. We missed a lot of the bad weather (so far) by being in Phoenix for a few weeks. The highs were in the 70s most of the time. People laughed when I said I was looking forward to going home! I love the smell of fresh snow and how it seems to clean the air. I wish I could bottle it!

Here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan our winters are longer than most. I love this time of hibernation and painting studio works, as opposed to plein air paintings outdoors. Not that I don't paint outdoors at this time of year... just not as often as during the summer.

Here is a painting I completed in Arizona. I think it reflects the brightness of the climate there.

Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies
Available at
DCF Gallery
19571 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe, MI
313.881.6922

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Playing with Color

This is an interesting phenomenon. Most people don't realize how color interacts with other colors. This swatch contains only 3 colors - blue, yellow, and gray. When the gray dots are placed on the blue background, they join with the color and rest comfortably in a value that is slightly lighter than the dots. But when the same color dots are placed on top of the yellow background, they vibrate and appear to turn almost lavender. The dots did not absorb the background color, since the background was completely dry when I placed the dots on it. Artists must pay attention to the colors they are using in comparison to the surrounding colors if they are attempting to make a particular statement.