Grab that brass ring!? Um, not so much.

You know how it is - if you don't try, you can't fail. Fear of failure? Fear of success? Either way, it causes inertia and limits progress.

I'm happy to say that "maturity" and expanding horizons have gradually imbued a sense of "can-do," or at least a dose of "what-the-hell" in recent years! Boundaries have been stretched and that brass ring is beginning to seem like a more attainable target.

If you've been following my blog you know that this has been a creative year with wonderful new experiences, adventures and relationships. From workshops in Provence to an abandoned prison, I've been artfully inspired by poppy fields and pockmarked plaster. I've been able to take advantage of some amazing opportunities.

And it's all been in pursuit of mastery. So this year, my goal is to simply do more artwork. That's it. Be disciplined and paint more. It may not sound creative but a commitment to painting more is a commitment to getting better at it.

In the words of Pablo Picasso,  

"Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working."

I have some specific plans about subjects to tackle and venues to approach this year, but it's all about committing time and feeling ready to take on new ideas. And just getting down to work!

There is a great article on the Oil Painters of America blog on the subject of Artistic Goals by Roger Dale Brown. Rather than quote his practical no-nonsense advice for artists, you should just click the link and read it! It's the first of a series of three articles and I'm looking forward to further inspiration.

So here's the focus: no matter what your interests and responsibilities may be, take charge of your life to the greatest possible extent. That's all.

My wish for you all is to create a Happy New Year in 2014!

Green Roseville and Plums ©2013 Dorothy Lorenze

treasures and keepsakes

The crazy, hectic, frantic part of the holiday is over - let the festive and fantastic part begin! Time to relax, savor the fruits of your labor and enjoy the company of family and friends. And be thankful. Once again, my heartfelt thanks go to all of you who have supported my creative journey with your kind comments. I hope this holiday season brings you more joys than toys and you treasure memories with those whose smiles warmed your heart throughout the year.

Merry Christmas!

This is my first official Christmas painting and the subject is a family keepsake. A holiday painting is something I have always wanted to do, but never got around to. You know how it is at this busy time of year. Adding an oil painting to the seasonal preparations was never quite doable. The answer, this year, was to bake less and paint more! Not a bad trade-off in my book.

Somehow when you put something off and then finally get around to it, there seems to be more pressure to do a good job. (or is that just me?!) Well, it took awhile to come up with a composition, but I'm happy I chose these ornaments. They are real childhood keepsakes - perfect for the sentiment of the season. The red one is actually from my father's Christmas tree when he was a boy! Even though it's a bit tarnished, it's always been my favorite.

Christmas 1945, 8x8" oil on canvas panel © 2013 Dorothy Lorenze

A Painterly Village

Among the shopping-wrapping-gifting-deliveries, frames arrived! So I took a break to dress up these studies in their new finery and set up my painterly version of a gingerbread village.

These are the most recent small poster studies for my paintings. They are meant to be roughly blocked-in color studies that indicate value and color in a poster-like way. Master painters like Ted Seth Jacobs and Tony Ryder (and my painting guru, Todd Casey) use this step in their representational painting as a prep for the real painting. And their work is amazing so you know it's time well spent!

But the studies are supposed to be quick, rough and slightly abstracted. I'm not so good at rough, abstract or quick. Details are so hard to ignore! Maybe it's a carryover from graphic design where every point, pica and pixel makes a difference. (or a painter's version of micro-managing?) Whatever. I tend to get "involved" and end up with mini paintings. Hence this painterly village.

I may try to work looser, but for now it's good to work this way. Time spent on studies is time spent observing and becoming better acquainted with the subject. It helps to discover subtle variations that distinguish an object.

And it's kind of a test. Like speed dating. (Not that I have personal knowledge of such things.) But think of it this way: if it's no fun to spend a relatively short time on a small painting then why paint a large version of the subject? Now that may not be what Ted Seth Jacobs had in mind, but I think it's a good point! So far all my test studies have progressed to larger canvases.

Grey Roseville ©2013 Dorothy Lorenze, 8x16"

While the "grown-up" versions of these paintings are available in galleries (in Guilford, Bedford, Croton Falls) and online, the little ones are hanging out with me in the studio as a reminder of recent compositions that made me smile.

Just like old friends.

The is "Grey Roseville" and the larger 8x16" oil on linen can be purchased from my studio. Please email if you are interested. The little study is not for sale as it has joined the family of my painterly village for the time being.




Note: the small frames are from Custom Frame Solutions, an excellent online source for quality frames at reasonable prices.