Wood you challenge yourself?

Isn't this red pear amazing? It was so red and stripey that it almost didn't look real. But the thing that really challenged me was the old wooden box it's sitting on. I've had trouble making wood look like wood.

Wood's brown right? But it's more complex than that. This brown is made with raw umber, ultramarine blue, transparent oxide red, cadmium yellow medium and a little white. After a good bit of experimentation I think I got that rusty brown old pine look.

It turns out capturing texture is all about observation and patience! You know the saying: the devil's in the details. Slow down, look at each detail and see how it fits beside the next.

Red Anjou Pear ©2013 Dorothy Lorenze

In the past I've just painted a sort of neutral background in the grey/brown family. Like this:

Cabbage Peach ©2012 Dorothy Lorenze

It's OK in this painting because the peach is the star and the paper wrapped around it is busy  and adds interest. That's what I tell myself.

But the truth is... I've had a tough time rendering wood. So I am working on it, hence the wood challenge.

I hope you are challenging yourself to grow creatively this year.


I'm happy to say the Red Anjou Pear (on an old wooden box) will be donated to a fundraiser for the Taghkanic Chorale. I hope there are lots of bids!

 

make art... lose weight!

 

"Amazing Weight Loss Attributed to Daily Painting"

Hey, it's January - isn't weight loss the only topic of interest?!! Unfortunately, this is one headline you won't see anytime soon. How do I know? I've been painting almost daily for more than a year. And weight loss? ... not so much.

During the summer my painting regimen did include many trips to the farmers market for luscious fruits and vegetables that were memorialized in still life, and eaten.

Here are a couple of examples:

Tiger Eggplant ©2012 Dorothy Lorenze

Fig 'n' Friends ©2012 Dorothy Lorenze

But the best I can say about my winter routine is that I have painted more and more and have not fallen prey to the current trend of painting pastries and oversize donuts. You see, I know myself. If I had to face a sweet confection over the hours it takes for even a small painting I'd be in my car heading to the bakery.

Wait, I could paint pastries on Mondays when the bakeries are closed! Nah, McDonalds is always open and their Mocha Frappe is a good stand-in for any sweet.

(Another favorite activity this summer was finding the best Mocha Frappucino. It was a challenge, but I was up to it! Since I'm not actually a "coffee" drinker, my vote goes went to McDonalds frozen Mocha Frappe, which is more mocha and less coffee. And boy did I indulge... until I looked up the calories! Anyway, it's too cold and NY is frozen enough without adding frozen beverages... hmm, there is always "naughty coffee" like Mocha Latte... but I digress)

So painting may not help with weight loss but it certainly feeds the soul. Works for me.

Here's a recent painting called "Sunny and Clear" as I look forward to warmer weather!

Sunny and Clear ©2013 Dorothy Lorenze

joy + peace + love + thanks

This whole holiday-season-of-giving... it's very nice.

Running around trying to find the most unexpectedly perfect gift for the important people in our lives. Ho, ho, ho, deck the halls. Take a breath, grab a latte... It's awesome and we can only sustain it for a few weeks, because seriously, it's exhausting. But that's ok.

Truly. I am grateful for the merriment, joy and energy people put into being kind and jolly and magical at this time of year. It's a complicated mix, no doubt. The season roars in with so many activities that can't be ignored: parties, concerts, cookies (seriously), decorating, eggnog sipping and so much more!

Hence, you may have noticed a lack of blog presence on my behalf. (blog or eggnog?)
Sorry. But I'm actually ok with that. BIG PICTURE. Spread joy.

Once upon a time I would have felt badly about not fulfilling my "responsibility" (self-imposed though it may be) to stay on top of a "commitment" (that I only made to myself). But now I'm a grown up and I get to decide what's really important for me.

So I'm taking a break from wrapping and figuring out where everyone will sleep... because what's important right now, is to say

Thank You!

A huge, heart-felt thank you to everyone who has "liked" my Facebook painting page, commented on a blog post, reached out via Twitter or LinkedIn, recommended my artwork or in any of many ways encouraged me art-wise.

You have bestowed an incredible bounty of positive energy that I know will be apparent in my creative endeavors going into 2013. I am truly grateful and appreciative of all your support and encouragement.

And although I have been absent in the blogosphere, I've been experiencing lots of artistic wonderment and I hope those of you who have missed my blog are also spending time celebrating the season and enjoying family fun. More art adventures to come. I promise.

Meanwhile, let me share with you the exuberance of some little people who are very special in my world. This photo is a few years old but the giddy happiness of the season is as bright as ever.

I wish you and yours the same joy that lights up these sweet faces, now and throughout the coming year.