Summer has arrived! It’s wearing a cold grey sweater right now, but I’m expecting it later this week. Alex and I have been spending our weekends wandering around local gardens. Noses in flowers, musing about why leaves are certain ways, and watching bugs live. I’ve recently noticed that most flowers have a complementing green stem. A bright orange flower had a cool and almost green stem and leaves. Nature knows the color wheel.
I purchased my first wood panels last weekend. I don’t think I can go back to paper now. I started to work and felt a weight lift off me. I don't have to worry about making mistakes as much because I can paint right over them. The texture is a slight grain, but I can still make smooth lines. Unlike watercolor paper where I feel that I have to either have smooth lines on smooth paper, or wonky lines on rough paper.
The composition was inspired by Charley Harper’s impeccable layouts of animals and plants. What was in my head didn’t quite come through, but I’m glad for more of my own flare. The focus of the painting process what not to white knuckle my brush. hahaha! Every time I take a video of me painting I notice that my fingers are completely white. I’m stressed about getting everything right and I need to just vibe.
Alex and I have been getting interested in photography together. That’s what these photos are. We have a long ways to go and lots to learn, but we’re super proud and excited about these so far. For a poem about spring, bugs, and love it feels fitting that we collaborated on these photos.
The blue and star background is a huge thing for photos that I painted over the weekend! I’ll tell you about it soon. I think it deserves its own post!
I made a studio vlog this week! I feel so much more confident on camera recently and just truly want to start making videos again. They feel like an extension of self expression this time around.
Talk soon,
Alex :)))
