Influenced by the squirrels that live in the Moss Cottage environs, a squirrel painting party seemed like a good idea for this week's art playdate on ZOOM. To prepare I painted a whole bunch of squirrels for anywhere between 2-5 minutes. Then I added colored pencil for an additional 5 minutes. A couple of the squirrels also had gouache added. My sister helped me work through all of this earlier in the week.
If you attended yesterday, I loved seeing you and your awesome squirrels. If you didn't, no big deal, but this is what we did. If you're suffering from depression, feeling blue, or just need a jolt of play in your life I highly recommend painting some squirrels. See what you can do in 5 minutes. You're going to laugh and laugh and be very fond of your child-like creations.
Going fast eliminates second guessing. You just do your best to get the big shapes painted with a limited palette. I used matte acrylic.
Speed painting is also endorphin-producing. Kind of like jogging I think. Except I don't know for sure, but I felt a little bit high.
I love every single one of my squirrels. Especially the ones who look troubled or awkward or scared or like bears or rats.
They also happen to remind me of Eric Carle's art. When I taught 2nd grade for many years I had so many of his wonderful books in my classroom. he is a collage artist, but the squirrels with colored pencil made me think of him. I found this old video of him with Fred Rogers and thought it was dear.
All of this is to say that art is terribly fun. I think when you work quickly and think less your marks become more intuitive.
Does this mean fast art is better than slow art? Nope.
Is loose art better than "tight" art? Nope.
Inside the pages of a sketchbook there is room for everything under the sun. Let's welcome all of it and say hello.
While I Zoomed, Otto & Iris were chasing each other around the house, knocking things over, sliding on the floors, opening closet doors to find the cat fishing pole, rolling in the bathtub, quacking at birds, and all sorts of other things.
Once the Zoom ended they decided to crash and take naps.
Otto was the sleepiest for some reason.
But Iris was also worn out.
Thankfully they didn't get their paws in the paint palette, knock the tripod over, or jump on top of my head. This time.
We'll see what happens on Sunday. We'll be doing portraits. Thanks Joan M. from S.F. (if you're reading this) for the original email asking about the Zoom sessions. I would never have done it if not for your original inquiry. I'm constantly amazed at how ideas are born and realized.
This morning, I awoke at dawn, checked the tides, and zipped out the door bound for the coast. I can get t0 this place in a little over an hour.
The sea air was fresh & cool. I walked and walked. Pausing in front of this house as I always do, to admire all of the outdoor seats and their collections of turbans shells.
I watched 2 big black sea mammals cavorting in the waves - seals!
Gulls, snowy egrets, pelicans, and all manner of shore birds.
I got this new usb Baseus lamp ($45) from you-know-where, to better illuminate my work space. So far, so good.
Otto has just jumped on the desk to help me type this. I am off to paint gulls and snowy egrets, shorelines, and trees. The night is young.
Over and out from Moss Cottage. Where all the women are strong, all the cats are good looking, and all the ideas are above average.
No comments:
Post a Comment