Mollie February 26th, 2008 Painting , Show Comments(0)

“Look of Love Show” deadline for submission is this weekend; and of course I mistakenly thought I had two more weeks. That means that I have to double time it. Unfortunately I have a really busy week, and full weekend… so it should be a real photo finish.

Below I’ve got two more images of “The Look of Love” in progress. In the one directly below I focused on the heart-shaped box that the bear is holding, part of the wine bottle, and some work in the red fabric in the background.

This one shows the work I’ve completed tonight, the jewelry box and Love Potion.

Mollie February 12th, 2008 Painting , Show Comments(1)

I received word this past weekend that Genny Glosier’s centerpiece was the winner of Best of Show for the Marti Gras Charity Event. Of course I wish mine had won, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was so much fun to make, and it reminded me how much fun it can be to work three dimensionally. Oh, and did I mention it was for a good cause.

I’ve been working on some concepts for “The Look of Love Show” at Framations. The show is next month, so I’m putting the “Puppies are Biodegradable” paintings on the back burner until I get something together for that. I’m thinking either a digital/photographic collage series with a different symbol focal point in each; or a painted still life with different items that are typically associated with love. I’m leaning toward the latter, but who knows. I got the suggestion of painting cute and cuddly puppies, but I just don’t think I have it in me to paint more puppies right now. Maybe a different, but equally cute animal… I’ll keep you posted.

Mollie February 7th, 2008 Mixed Media , Painting , Show Comments(0)

This is a detail of the St. Bernard painting after I’ve worked on it a little more. I still have a bit of work to do on the head, and I had to get more reference to piece together to get what I have so far; but he is nearly there.

Close up you can see some of the layering and texture of the background;some of the layers are slick, others are very flat, and when the canvas shows through it’s very textural.

Mollie February 6th, 2008 Drawing , Mixed Media , Painting Comments(0)

As promised, here are some images of the pieces I’ve been working on for the “Puppies are Biodegradable Show.” Please note that these images are of pieces I recently started and are thus still in progress.

It might be hard to see, but the background consists of paper glued on and painted over to create texture. The angry red-orange slash in the middle of the painting was part of the original piece. I thought to take it out, but now looking at it, I might try and make it work. The sketch in the bottom left corner is the start of the keg and the surgical supplies will be strewn about on the ground in front of the dog.

This seems a little lopsided, which might be a product of me skewing the image to cut out the wall behind the picture without cropping anything out. As you can see, it’s pretty basic pen and ink over color washes. I really need to introduce some contrast in the color area, it’s a little brown on brown right now.

More to come soon.

Mollie February 4th, 2008 Mixed Media , Painting , Show Comments(0)

I’ve been working on the pieces for the “Puppies are Biodegradable” show, trying to expand on some of my original ideas. Here is what I have at this point.

St. Bernard the Rescue Dog: I’ve gotten as far as roughing in the St. Bernard and working out the overall layout. This piece is going to contain a textured background (care of an old collage painting that I’m re-purposing for this project) with the St. Bernard as the main focal point taking up nearly 3/4 of the right side of the painting. The bottom third of the painting will be the surgical devices and tools of the trade and the background will be dark with the hint of dogs in cages.

Puppies Don’t Grow on Trees: I haven’t done much work on this one yet.

What’s a Puppy Mill?: This one is an experiment, please bear with me while I try to describe it. On a piece of clear thin acetate-like paper I’ve thinly painted an image of a scenic grain mill. In order to preserve the transparency most of the details were drawn in with ink. The affect is a little cartoony, which I’m hoping to use to my advantage, by lending it an artificial or unreal feel. Then I will paint a second piece depicting the horrors of puppy mills; that when complete will be placed behind the first image so that only part of the second image shows through. Hopefully, the viewer will first see a picturesque grain mill, but upon closer examination discover the second image peeking through.

Triptych: For the sake of simplicity and wall space I am going to try and get all the iconography into one painting. This piece has been personally difficult for me to conceptualize, therefore it will probably be the last in the series. It will depict the poorest, most miserable, and emaciated dog nursing her pups inside a cage that I can possibly depict; with each pup having a dollar sign shaved into the fur on it’s back to represent it’s worth to the Puppy Mill. I’m still trying to decide whether the cage door is open to keep the image un-obscured, or if I want the image to be scene through the bars to add to the horror.

I’m open to any and all ideas expanding on these concepts or ideas for creating new ones. I’m going to try and post some images of the pieces in progress as well. Hopefully, I will get some images of the two I’ve been working on tonight.

Mollie October 15th, 2007 Painting , Show Comments(0)

I received a letter from Art St. Louis telling me that my work has not been admitted into the XXIII Show. It was a standard form letter from the gallery (not the juror), at the bottom was a handwritten note saying that they loved my work and that I should contact them and set up something to exhibit my work at an off-site location. As one door closes another one opens! Now I just have to build up the nerve to contact them.

Jerry Thomas demonstrated alkyd oil paints at the Oak Leaf Meeting last week that really inspired me. Not only was he is a great artist, but friendly and down to earth; not to mention a fountain of information. Hell, I might even give oil paints another try. Apparently, he hosts an “Art Clinic” on Friday afternoons that I’m going to try and go to while I’m on vacation next week. Maybe I can get some feedback on how to create comic style art for some graphics I’m going to do for my husband’s video game.

Mollie September 2nd, 2007 Mixed Media , Painting , Show Comments(0)

Below are some of the pieces I’ve been working on. I’m not quite happy with ‘Rome’, it needs something to tie it all together, I’m just not sure what yet. ‘Swan’ could be done, but I may decide to go back in… it’s so hard to pronounce things finished when there are things that you aren’t quite sure about… which is always. Lastly, ‘Curious’ is nearly done, I have some work to do drawing everything together, but it shouldn’t take long. Hopefully that wont prove to be my famous last words.

I’m thinking to enter Blue Arches’. ‘Queen of Hearts,’ and ‘Direction’ in the Oak Leaf Show; and for Art St. Louis ‘Curious,’ ‘Swan,’ and something else.. not sure.

‘Rome’

‘Swan’

‘Curious’

Mollie August 28th, 2007 Painting , Show Comments(0)

I’m spread a little thin due to the work I have at Framations, but in the next week I’m entering two juried shows (listed below); and unlike the fiasco last October, I’m entering different pieces to each show. I’ve been working like crazy to get ready, but if my work is accepted I’ll have my work in three different places congruently. How cool would that be!

• Oak Leaf “Fall Show”: Up to 3 pieces completed anytime.
• Art St. Louis “XXIII Show”: Up to 5 pieces completed in the last two years.

One of the three pieces I’m entering for the Oak Leaf Show is “Blue Arches” which currently resides above my fireplace (see: Painting Gallery). I’m still working out the other two, maybe a couple of mixed media pieces.

For the upcoming Art St. Louis XXIII Show I’m trying to finish up the piece below (shown as posted on January 26th, 2007). I added a cityscape to the background, some niches in the foreground, and I’m thinking about adding at least one more subject – not sure what yet. Wish me luck!

Mollie January 26th, 2007 Painting , Show Comments(1)

It’s past time that I start thinking about the shows for next month, and here is what I’ve come up with. The two pictures below depict two paintings that I’ve started in the past year, but never finished. I plan on re-working and/or finishing both of these and enter the Renaud Spirit Center Show. Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks because I’m going to show my progress on these two as they progress.
For the “A Few of My Favorite Things” show I’m planning on entering Camel, Circus, and one other, perhaps one of the mixed media panel pieces.

Mollie January 18th, 2007 Painting , Show Comments(2)

I’ve been laid up this week with a sprained my ankle. It might be a flimsy excuse for not painting, but honestly I haven’t figured out what to paint yet.

I don’t plan on painting anything new for the “Just a Few of My Favorite Things” show because I can enter anything I’ve ever made, so long as it depicts my favorite things (opportunities to show work done in the past doesn’t come around often and I want to take advantage of it).  I’m definitely going to enter “Camel,” but I don’t know what the other two should be. I’m open to ideas (hint: that means please go to my gallery and choose something and email me or post your choices – Please & Thanks)