Deadline looming...



I'm going to try to get this 18x24 pastel painting on (white!) Colourfix done in time to photograph it and send the image to Austin for the 2008 Austin Pastel Society Exhibition. The reference photo is one I took at Skyharbor, the Phoenix airport on my way home last September. You might remember that I did another painting from photographs there the year before. I thought this woman looked so self-contained, absorbed in her book. I pretended to be showing my sister images on my camera, but was really taking photos of this woman reading. I did some cutting and pasting in Photoshop to reorganize the elements and have eliminated some things and changed a few others, but the main subject matter was there. It's unconventional and bit 'dangerous' to add the figure on the left looking out of the painting, but I thought he added something to be there. Still not sure what to do about the shoes. I picture them scattered, not tidily placed, but will have to go get some shoes to model. I'll post progress images as I go.

Oh! I got the call today that I get the keys to the new gallery space on Monday! I'm so excited!
So much to do but I'm planning that it all will be a fun adventure.

I went to my first meeting last night with a group of women artists who've formed a group based on the book "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. I felt like I'd found sisters I'd been separated from at birth! I promised to complete one of four paintings for next Tuesday that have haunted me for over a year. Another member promised to bring three of her 25 thesis pages that have been similarly haunting her. So I'd better get the painting above done, and fast!





6 comments:

Regina Calton Burchett said...

Susan - this looks like a great start and I can't wait to see the progress. A friend gave me "The Artists Way" for Christmas, and I have been doing the morning pages and reading along.. have you been doing it a while?
Regina

Sharon said...

Good start and glad you will get the keys and be on another adventure.

I read "The Artists Way" a long time ago. Wonder where it is? Storage in Texas or gone? Hmmmm

Jo Castillo said...

Yah, you better get paintin'! I finished mine today and will photo them in the sun tomorrow morning. We will have sun, won't we? I changed one today and may do a slight change more before the photo. :)

Sounds like you have a good new group. Congratulations on the keys. Have a painting (wall painting) party and we will come down.

Susan Carlin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Susan Carlin said...

Regina, morning pages are the hardest thing for me, but always worth it. Glad you're reading it, too! Sharon, it might be worth getting another copy just to keep the flame of your artist-self alive up there in the care-giving tundra. What do you think?
Thank you both for sending your encouraging words!

Susan Carlin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.