Category: VENTERS series

Defining Venters. The Palette.

Each season, in each place, has its own palette and I find that each informs my work, wherever I happen to be. We’ve spent our spring and summer on the Puget Sound where I’ve been soaking up the way the water glistens, the seagulls call, the foghorns sound.

While here, in addition to the #100littleartworks project, I’ve been painting my VENTERS coastal series. Initially inspired by the wildness of the Oregon Coast and my memories of the beaches and marshes of North Florida, I wanted these paintings to have the palette and reflective transparency of sea glass and sunsets.

top image found here; bottom image by me

As I do for each series, I put together a Pinterest board for my palette inspiration, printing and referencing these images as I worked in the studio.

painting knocking on heaven’s door, 2016, acrylic on canvas, 40x30x1.5

right image found here

painting how she moves, 2016, acrylic on canvas, 15x19x.75

bottom image found here

painting make me an angel, 2016, acrylic on canvas, 30x40x1.5

left image found here

As I look back on the completed series, I see the way the work and the palette shifted the longer we were here on the Sound. I’m looking forward to finding my way through the Fall and the changes it may bring in my palette and my way of seeing.

PS– I’m shipping the last of the VENTERS paintings out to Art & Light Gallery very soon! Then onto the next!

September 1, 2016
True. Artistic Identity.

Soft, moody. Bold & brushy. Which am I?

Once, in a job interview, I was asked what my favorite fashion brand was. I told the interviewer, I would love to be a Free People girl. But I think I’m more Anthropologie. And I think it’s the same with painting. I’ve gone through this questioning before, a few years ago, and thought I’d come to a happy conclusion.

But voices come in from all directions and we give them heed, perhaps we should but more than likely we shouldn’t.

Am I making work that makes my heart sing, that challenges me or am I making work that focuses on the way other people respond to it?

give me your forever, 2016, acrylic on cradled wood panel, 12×12

available at art & light gallery

I’m a quiet person. I’m not loud or brash or even sparkly. I’m introspective. Some might say mysterious, since I usually keep my cards close to the vest. Why would I try to make work that doesn’t reflect who I truly am?

As I was beginning the VENTERS series, I experimented a bit with slightly bolder movement and texture and while successful, the more quiet and soft paintings that have come lately feel more “me”. I just finished up four more small coastal inspired pieces and am starting on larger canvases this week. They are turning out beautifully and sharing them will feel like sharing my heart. As art should be. I can’t wait for you to see, stay tuned!

Image by me.

May 25, 2016
Finding Venters. Inspiration.

It seems like one coast or another has always been a part of my life. Growing up in Florida, I spent a lot of Saturdays collecting seashells with my mom on white sand beaches. Then five years ago, Mr. F and I crossed the country and I was introduced to the Pacific Ocean and the beaches of the Northwest.

I carry both with me and both coasts have inspired this new series, Venters. The title of the series, Venters, is the word for what the wind or tide drives in from the ocean upon a wave.

I love the way the light bounces off the waves, how the sand glistens in the afterglow of each kiss of the waves upon the shore.

And at the breaking and closing of the day, the coastal waters light up like the sea glass jewels they wash upon the sand. At those times, it seems that the ocean quiets and the earth revolves a bit more slowly. It is that feeling that I hope the Venters paintings capture.

All images by me.

May 16, 2016
New. Venters.

As I was finishing up the work for my LATITUDE show, my mind was already overflowing with ideas for my next body of work. But I was having a hard time narrowing my scope. Then my hubby and I took a weekend trip to the Oregon Coast. And my new series, VENTERS, was born.

A dozen new paintings in my VENTERS series are now available at Art & Light Gallery in Greenville, SC! You can also see all of the work on my website. More on the inspiration behind this new series, coming soon! I can’t wait to see how our new spot near Puget Sound influences what is to come.

May 9, 2016