journal page

hello friday!

this week i started a collage series at a workshop 

held by kathy leader.  the prompts were to first use

three colors of acrylic paint, then to one, add collage, 

to another, use a complimentary color and the third,

do your choice.  here are my three.

this is how the center piece looks after i worked it. 

i can't wait to incorporate the other two pieces 

so that all three the piece can be hung together.

(the color on this single piece is more accurate)

i admire picasso's tenacity to work the same piece

over and over again until he liked it.    the norton 

simon museum in pasadena has a series of his 

lithographs that shows this process so on a 

clear day, i visited.  i must say that this is one of 

my favorite museums.   not only is it beautiful

but it is just the right size for a visit and i love the

impressionist selection.  this time, though, i only

had enough time to see the picasso exhibit.  

here are a few picture.  i will post more in the future. 

i am inspired by van gogh.

and could not miss this special exhibit of 

his bedroom borrowed from the chicago institute of art.

oh, the colors.  i wish you could see the  vibrancy !

i would love to hear who inspires you!!

i am posting today with paint party friday, 

a weekly online community of artists

hosted by eva and kristen.

i braved a first this week.   armed with a fellow artist, i attend a live model 

drawing session.  i even sat in front and did this using nupastels.  the 

instructor suggested that i start by blocking in shapes and 

use three colors, a dark, medium and light.  i discovered

that pastels are forgiving and allow lots of layering.

i visited the norton simon as I mentioned last week.

it was a perfect spring day.  

the entry with sculptures on either side of the grand walkway

we had lunch here next to 

the lily pond and another sculpture garden

the reason for my visit, the  mulberry tree by van gogh.

and other amazing art

i felt transported for an afternoon.  the collection is just the right size to

be able to enjoy and not feel overwhelmed and photographs are allowed.

there were no crowds.  i stood in front of these masterpieces and more

imagining the artist, brush in hand, paints at the ready.  to see their 

brushstrokes, the colors no further than inches away....   the experience is 

still with me.  as for the mulberry tree, it was a troubled time in van gogh's life.

after his argument with gauguin and another breakdown.  he admitted 

himself into a hospital for rest again.  he painted many paintings

of the landscape and this was one of them.  i have begun reading

his letters to emerse myself even more.

happy paint party friday.  if you haven done so before

please visit these dedicated artists by clicking on their sites.