Gallery Preview

The Singer Swan
oil & fabric on canvas, 4'x5'  $3000

Loon Song
oil & fabric on canvas, 4'x5'  $3000

Henrietta
oil on canvas, 18x24"  $600

Tag & the 88
oil on canvas, 22x28"  $750

Under Her Watchful Eye
oil on canvas, 18x24"  $600

Sewing a Luna
oil on canvas, 16x20"  $525

Tea Time
oil on canvas, 16x20"  $525

 These new oil paintings (along with all the watercolor work in my Etsy shop) will be featured this month at the David Strawn Art Gallery in Jacksonville, IL.  You are all invited to attend the opening reception tomorrow evening October 6th from 6-8pm with my gallery talk at 6:30pm.  Normal gallery hours (for those unable to attend the opening) are listed here.

Next week I'll feature each piece individually on the blog with detail shots and descriptions.  If available they'll all be listed for sale in the shop at that time, but if you'd like to reserve a specific piece now, please email me at Michelle@TheArtofMichelle.com or Kelly Gross (the gallery director) at strawnartgallery@frontier.com.

Happy Friday to you!  I'm so happy to finally have a day off!  :)

Whales

Here's my whales in progress...more pictures to come!

Oh, and some pretty exciting changes in my Etsy shop...

Soon.

Painting: Steps 3-4

After showing you the first few steps to complete a painting Michelle style,

I'm happy to share this next step:

adding detail.

Once all the paint has dried from the first two washes of color,

I go in with a pencil and refine the edges, add swirly details, 

and give my characters some character (if you know what I mean).

I work through this stage pretty quickly before I move into the next step:

adding collage.

I've got a vast collection of materials to pull from: old piano music books, discarded book pages that have fallen out of their binding, and song music with words.

I cut and tear and rearrange until it feels just right...

Then I glue!

The very last step is coming up next, and this painting will be ready for sale!

Happy friday to you all!

Painting: Step 2

After the initial drawing and first thin wash of color,

I begin to add the darker values and brighter colors.

I use Arches 90 lb hot press watercolor paper and mount it on Art Board.

If I don't first mount the paper, I have to stretch it while I paint in order to keep it from getting wrinkled.

Mounting is much easier!

The first step to painting...

...is to sit down.

I have this terrible habit of never sitting still.

But last night, I ignored the laundry basket next to me full of clothes,

and I painted.

It was wonderful!

I lay down the brighter colors first in thin, uneven washes so that later on,

if I want to make a color darker, all I have to do is add another layer or two.

It's much easier this way.  Watercolors can be tempermental.  If the bottom layer is too dark or dull, there are very few things you can do to change it.

So, bright colors first and dark ones last.

The 12x12" painting on the right will be a male Queen Alexandra's Birdwing Butterfly.

It's one of the largest butterflies in the world!

Here's a few shots from my sketchbook...including a sketch for my current painting

and a huge list of ideas for upcoming ones.

I've really got to get back in there and do some more drawing.

Currently my studio is undergoing some changes as I'm trying to think practically about how I can utilize all the space.  I'd like to have about 10 paintings going at once which would require adequate space for palettes, water, brushes, paper, etc.

More pictures soon!

Another new one in the shop...

Although I finished this drawing several months ago (sometime last winter?), I'm just now getting it in the shop!  I realized while wandering through the studio a few nights ago that I have work lying around everywhere that I haven't posted on my blog OR added to my etsy shop.  Eeks! 

So here's my effort for the day!  :)

As the Wind Moves 22x28" Graphite and acrylic on paper

Click here to purchase or simply to learn more about As the Wind Moves.

I've started thinking more about prints lately...in order to make my work more accessible to the general public.  I'd love to find a place to make prints that I'll sell in the shop for under $50 (hopefully even less than that!).  Does anyone have any suggestions as to the better online printing companies?  I'd love to see As the Wind Moves as a print.  Wouldn't that be nice?

Oh, and don't forget about my June giveaway! 

Happy Thursday!

Her Faithful Friends...

Just dropping in today to share the latest addition to my etsy shop!

Her Faithful Friends, 8x8 round, Watercolor on paper

Click to purchase!

The piece was inspired by the little girl who modeled for me named Sydney.

She has the brightest blue eyes and is just as adorable in person.

I knew I had to paint her.

Thanks Sydney for being a great model!  

Resting eggs...

Here's a new painting on sale in my shop!

(I think you have seen this one before?)

Resting Eggs 5x5" Watercolor on paper

$150 USD

Once I get my scanner hooked up to my new computer

(which means I have to find my desk first...I know its under those

stacks of paper somewhere), I'll be able to share some of my latest work.

And finally I can begin freshening up my shop!  (It needs it huh?)

enter to win!

Can you think of a clever name for this painting?



watercolor on paper 8x8"





If so, leave me a comment below.  If I choose your title you will win my original painting...

He made his grand escape 5x5" watercolor on paper

The contest starts now and ends in one week (friday May 6th). 

Good luck!

turning the page...

I feel I've turned a page in my life...or maybe I'm about to turn a page. Either way, things are happening. I can just feel it. I've been doing quite a bit of painting and drawing lately...not to mention buying. New pencils, new paper, new art boards. Plus a new palette of my favorite watercolors! 

So exciting...

But I'm not finished yet with the work. 

Just think of this painting of a birds nest has a preview...

Brand spanking new work...

Remember the post when I showed you the 4x4's I had started?

Well, here's one I finished.

Ooooh! I am so excited about these little guys. I was able to go to the studio for a WHOLE day this weekend. I had so much fun that my back hurt by the end of the day. :)

 

If you like these, you will LOVE Crystal Neubauer's work. 

She is very inspiring for young gal like myself.

Hopefully these can be up for sale on ETSY soon.