Adamson Studio

ART LIVES!

2009-06-24T17:40:00.000-07:00

I'm off to the auction. I'm excited and afraid at the same time. I hope someone purchases my painting. I really don't care for how much but I want to raise money for the fund.

It's awesome to participate in any way to support the arts in any community. Your kids need art no matter what your school district says. (art and music is always the first to go...sports last!)
It shapes them into more complex human beings and helps them throughout there life. They will be able to make better decisions based on themselves and the outcome of their environment.

Art lives and art is life. Please support it.

Donation for First Friday Done and Done!

2009-06-23T15:43:00.000-07:00

Delivered my piece this afternoon and I'm pretty happy with it. The background is based on a piece of fabric I have had for a long time. The dark, oxblood color in the background is very nice. I wanted it to be reminiscent of the 1920/30's and the figure is based on Betty Bronson who acted in films during that time.

I'm hoping it will bring some funds to support the arts in Las Vegas. We need all the help we can get. Maybe I should start bending neon!

Father's Day

2009-06-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

When I was little...

we would go to the woods. I don't know where that was but it was fun. We lived in the North of England and in summer we would spend weekends at a cabin and sometimes take the caravan (trailer). I was stung by a bee on my bum on one of these outings. I'll never forget that!

Here's to you Dad. I miss you and think of you all the time. I'm sorry about the last time we spoke but it's your fault, you gave me that damn temper :)

I love you.

Support First Friday in Las Vegas

2009-06-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

First Friday is a big deal. Well, at least to me. I got my first taste in 2005 when 100 artists were given space in 100 tents which were set up in the streets of the Arts District. These tents were paid for by the city to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of Las Vegas and all an artist had to do was apply. I displayed some portraits of founding fathers and mothers, plus some other art that was pertinent but not awesome.

The 'District' is between downtown and the Las Vegas Strip (sort of) for those who are not familiar with the dynamics. It's several blocks of run-down apartments intersperced with small galleries, antique/second hand shops, used furniture stores and radiator repair shops. You'll see old and young alike dressed much as you might find in Venice Beach or Greenwich Village... 5th Avenue or the Sunset Strip. An eclectic group to say the least. Many folks who love art, maybe can't afford to buy it, but, when the doors are open, they love to come out and share the experience of original stuff... lots of which is amazing and a little is, well, not. The thing is, it gets people out to explore something that nourishes the soul if not the pocketbook.

Food stands and live music. Beer on tap and bottled water no end. Nothing better on a hot summer night in the desert.

Sadly, First Friday has lost city support which provided closed streets and security for live bands who could set up and play until closing at 10pm...food vendors provided the pungent scents of Thai food, BBQ Chicken and burgers on the grill. A smokey wonderland in an otherwise world of cement and gambling halls.

The private supporters of First Friday known locally as Whirlygig, (AKA Friends of First Friday), are asking local artist to donate a painting to raise funds to keep this awesome happening alive.

The photos I'm displaying today are of the piece I started this morning as my donation. The donated pieces will be sold in silent auction style at Dino's Bar on Las Vegas Blvd. and Oakey on Wednesday, June 24, 6pm. If you are local, please come down and spend a few bucks for an awesome piece of original art made by the local artists in the community.

Thank you for your support :)

Summer Mornings

2009-06-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

I love my yard early in the morning before the sun gets too high. The air is cool and actually feels moist which is unusual for the desert southwest. Those who sleep late miss this because, even though they may stay up late, the air doesn't cool until the earth (and cement) release the heat they have absorbed during a hot day in the great basin.

I have decided to make a small painting of my fig tree. The leaves are huge and provide shade for the sweet figs. I took these pictures from under the tree as the sun is rising in the east. I like the way it enhances the vein structure of the leaf. I'll post the painting when I'm finished.

Figs are very sweet and I love to eat them warm off the tree as an energy snack when I'm working in the yard. I have never actually cooked with these figs but I'm sure they would make an excellent Newton. I pretty much leave them for the birds to enjoy...and trust me, they do!

The Workshop

2009-05-30T19:17:00.000-07:00

Decided to share some inside info on the pendants. I know some sellers glue (decopage etc.) to scrabble tiles and I considered using these machine made tiles or glass squares but it just wasn't a good fit for me. I'm a control freak and don't much like stuff that's machine made. Too darn perfect. I like the flaws I get with the handcut wood.

Sometimes, when you cut, a bit will splinter off making the piece irregular. I like that. It makes a thumbprint. Something unique. I sand everything really smooth and I just love the feel of it. It's like a stone you pick up at the beach that is all soft and worn on all it's surface. Like worry beads. You can carry them in your pocket and if you get stressed you can hold this little piece of wood and it makes you calm. You realize that whatever it is will be OK somehow. Calm.

I do a series of sketches and then just jump in and draw one on the tile. The painting part is pretty fun but I love adding detail with pens. I found some Prismacolor markers that you can get in .005 size. The are great for detail but I still wish I could get a finer one for these little pendants. They are still a little thick but if I use color, that's right, they come in colors, I can make more subtle lines with a light brown or red that aren't as glaring.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy these little works of art and don't forget to visit my Etsy :)

Thanks for reading.

Iddy Biddy Art to Wear

2009-05-19T20:40:00.000-07:00

I've started making pendants. I tried this on polymer clay and just wasn't happy with it but had a furring strip and thought maybe wood would be a good idea. My daughter is an artist in Portland and she paints on raw wood all the time. Her work is beautiful. I figured this may be a way to do small pieces that are affordable to my buyers.

I did several over the weekend and am very happy with the outcome. I want to take custom requests without putting too much detail into it. Easy to add a name on the banner if it's a pet or friend. All I need is details to identify. Pets need breed and colors. People.... you know what to do :)

It's a grind...

2009-05-06T20:57:00.000-07:00

I was sitting having a great time on my laptop. Chatting with my Etsy friends... checking my email.... surfing facebook, .... tweetin' on twitter and telling them what 'i'm doin' right now!!!

Then this noise starts coming out of my precious laptop. My mac... My MacBook Pro for God's sake!!!! I shook it and hoped it would go away... Nope. It actually got worse.

I started thinking about all the stuff I had on my drive that I hadn't backed up... Holy crap! I started to sweat. I was afraid to even open it. Last year I lost an entire hardrive! It just died without any way of recovering... OMG! Could it happen again.

My darling man made an appointment with the genius bar at our local mac store and it turned out to be a cooling fan!!! Yikes. $300 for them to do it. Of course they go through the entire unit and check it out.

We chose to do the home repair for less than $50. We had already replaced the hardrive last hear so it was not part of the "checkup" ... Well, what else is there besides using a can of air on the keyboard? We did that too.

All better now and I can sneak in my Etsy fix at 2a.m. and not disturb my partner :) Life is good (and quiet) again!!!

On the light side, my patio poacher, the humingbird, has hatched her eggs. Tiny, tiny, tiny babies :)

A Breath of Fresh Air

2009-04-30T08:29:00.000-07:00

I got a spark of inspiration the other day while enjoying a late morning in bed (that means sleeping in until 7:30 at my house). I've been trying to come up with a way to make some pendants and, not being a jewelry maker, have made some sad attempts. It came to mind that I could do some small original paintings on pieces of wood and figure out a way to string them. The first picture here shows the sketches I doodled on the pad I keep near my bed.

I was quite pleased with a couple of these and decided to paint some of them on small 6x6 canvas until I can get my workbench cleared off to deal with cutting and sanding the wood for the pendants. The pictures that follow show the progression from the underpainted treatment of the canvas, then the first layer of color and finally the end result.

This last photo I took in my back yard. She seems to fit in this spot and only needs a tall glass of ice tea made from the yummy black currant teabags I purchased on ETSY from my dear friend TeaMan. Check out his awesome teas here...
http://www.teaman.etsy.com
He has a wonderful selection of every flavor you can think of. If you don't see your favorite, contact him. That's how I got my black currant :)

Thanks for stopping by and if you have any questions, please feel free to stop and convo me at my ETSY shop. I'm there every day. Or you can leave me a note here also. I'm happy to make a custom painting for you. Just send me your info. More details regarding custom work is available in my ETSY shop.

Monday, Monday....

2009-04-13T18:58:00.000-07:00

Another week. Yesterday was Easter and I cooked a big dinner. It was very fun to have family around. My kids are grown so it was relaxing to not get into the obligatory easter egg hunt etc. I loved it when they were little but really enjoyed just cooking a good meal and having fun with them as adults.

Had a great surprise this morning when I went into the yard to water and was surprised by a Hummingbird flying around on my patio. An unusual experience.

Then I saw the wee creature land amongst the beams of my patio cover and, low and behold, a tiny egg shaped nest had been built above a string of sparkle lights I had hung last summer for a pool party.

We just bid bon voyage to a pair of baby Mockingbirds yesterday who had taken up residence in our olive tree. Now we are incubating two hummingbird eggs on our porch.

My dear partner Brian got out his "oops I dropped it" tool which is a stick with a mirror and a little trigger thing you can bend it with (guys know this tool) so we could peek into the nest when mommy was off looking for food.

Now I get to worry about another pair of babies making it without falling!!! Yikes, I'm a worry wort.

2009-04-09T16:46:00.000-07:00

Spring and I'm busy in the yard along with trying to get some studio work done. I wanted to share a couple of projects from outside because I find they clear my head for creating stuff. I started clearing the side yard on the east side of my house. A long stretch of hedge died last year and had to go and we want to make a veggie patch here.

Had a visitor this past weekend. I was working in my front yard and turned around and came face to face with a Roadrunner. No coyote however. He trotted around looking for a snack and moved on. They are such big birds. Almost scary. I had a pair of falcons in the back yard last week. I did a head count of cats and dog after they left!!!

This weeks excitement is a nest in my olive tree. A pair of Northern Mockingbirds have set up housekeeping and the chicks have hatched. The parents are diligently divebombing my pets on a daily basis and this will last for the next 2 weeks until the chicks fly the proverbial coop. AWWWK!

Sorry about the fuzziness. I snapped too quickly and focus was on the shrubs in the background :)

On a final note, I'm back in the groove on my commissioned portrait of Ashleigh. She's the Tortie Kittie I've been blocked on for a month. I started her pretty much over and am much happier with the result. I was getting way into to much detail and it was driving me crazy. I was painting in hairs!!!! That's not the way to go with this style of painting.

I'm so much happier and almost ready to start the last painting in a series of 4, the beautiful Kayla.

2009-03-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a few new pieces but haven't had my camera. Finally got it back from my wayward daughter and managed to snap a few before listing this new one in my Etsy shop ( http://www.adamsonart.etsy.com )

I love the color of the cat hood on this one. The way the turquoise and green fell together so easily. I didn't want to overwork it so left it rather raw. The dark blue details are left from the underpainting and I just refined the lines with an indigo blue colored pencil. The waxy softness of the Prismacolor pencils lend themselves easily to applying over the acrylic. I like to make sure I put a clear acrylic glaze over the final piece to protect the delicate strokes of the pencil. They will smear if brushed against over the acrylic as opposed to how the react on paper. You have to be gentle when brushing on the glaze however or the wax will move. Practice makes perfect.

This is the original thumbnail sketch I started with. The bud of the idea.

The two pics above the doodle are ACEO's and are miniature works meant to be the size of a trading card, 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches in size. Artists and others buy and trade them like baseball cards. Very collectible. I only make originals at this point. They are too much fun to mass produce :)

I think my next piece will be the sketch to the right of my Cat girl... It is a woman relaxing in an overstuffed armchair with one cat on her lap and the other on the back of the chair. I like the composition.

This last pic is my drawing table in much disarray but it makes me smile and want to work more. Hope this little post inspires you to go make some art or at least buy some:)

Livin' la vida loca...

2009-02-21T12:49:00.000-08:00

Very noisy at my house today. My neighbor is having his trees pruned since 8 a.m. I can't complain because I love the shade in the summer. He has two very large Mulberry trees that shade my driveway and kitchen patio. I love those trees.

To compensate, I have two televisions on. I like to drift into other peoples lives via the airwaves. I love a good romance or thriller!

I have been bouncing from one project to another today. Woke early, 4:30 a.m. again. Played on Etsy for a while and then worked on my painting of Ashleigh until I got frustrated with the noise outside.

Started thinking about my long gone parents. I did a few drawings from old photo's several years back. When I create a drawing from an old photo it gives me time to think about what their lives must have been like back then. The one I'm sharing here was from a day trip in England they took with my dad's best friend. This was from before they were married and this guy was the best man. I'm thinking this must have been late 30's or early 4o's. Before the kids and the war.

A bright shiny day to work...

2009-02-17T11:36:00.000-08:00

Lots of sunshine today so I really got in the mood to create. Wonderful light streaming into my work area from the north side of my house.

I'm about halfway finished with my first little subject Ashleigh. Her buddy Kayla will be next.

The Tortie pictured is my own fur baby Poopy. She is my helper in the studio while her sister Cleo is out in the yard attempting to snare a bird.

The painting of Ashleigh is still a bit on the red side but will tone into more orange and black hues eventually. It will still be primarily the warm tones of the photo which includes the terra cotta and warm wood tones of the floor and step. This is the fun, punchy stage before I get into the detail. I tend to be a bit anal about details and can get carried away as you can see in my colored pencil drawings in my etsy shop.

Well, back to work for now. Hope you enjoy watching this piece come together. More to come.

2009-02-11T18:04:00.000-08:00

Well, it's about time to start again. Not that I have anything pertinent to say at the moment. I just want to open the door. I would love any comments that are pertinent to the post. I've had some off the wall random crap that seem to come from a juvenile mindset... mostly I delete those.

I'm working on some new pieces and have the time to chew on ideas. My day job was canceled due to lack of interest so I'm doing the good stuff now. I will post new photos soon and will have some juicy tidbits to share with those who are interested.

Thanks to those who choose to read :)

Get back to it...

2008-06-26T21:32:00.001-07:00

OK, I think I am ready to get some paint on. I haven't painted in ages. Too much going on at home. I think I may get another set of portraits going this weekend God willin' and the creek don't rise. Please come and visit and let me know what you think. I've done a few small pieces for my Etsy shop to keep interest up but nothing substantial. I think it's time.

Home Stretch

2008-04-19T18:58:00.000-07:00

This weekend my mission is to finish these paintings.

My daughter is getting married next weekend and I want to get everything finished so I won't worry during her big weekend.

The second painting is Tiffany. The photo shows mostly the underpainting so more paint will be layered on.
This is just a quick update as the paintings progress.

New Colors for Binky

2008-04-07T18:43:00.000-07:00

Time to start adding some realistic tones. I want to keep the brights showing through so I have to be careful not to cover too much. I like the variety of colors that are appearing in the white fur. It's like seeing the light bouncing around in the hair without showing too much distracting detail.
Still much to do but this is a good step. Should get the other sweet kitty underway in a day or two so stay tuned.

Crazy Colors

2008-04-05T14:59:00.000-07:00

This is the underpainting for Binky, a terribly cute kitty that I am so pleased to paint.

The outcome will, of course, be somewhat more subtle. I love this phase. I go a bit crazy with the color here and it will sneak out in the final. I just love to archive this step because once it's finished, this phase is lost. Under the final. I just love the freedom of the underpainting. You are not committed to making it perfect, or trying to get the photo image of the subject.

At this point it's about the emotion. The energy of the subject. It's my favorite part.

New work

2008-03-30T21:56:00.000-07:00

Started a new project a bit ago but is now my complete focus. Portraits of two gorgeous kitties.

Sketched out on 12x12 museum wrapped canvas. Then I have stained the canvas with a first coat. More layers to come. this is just a start.

BUSY...BUSY...BUSY!

2008-03-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

Lots of work going on right now. I have an illustration for a local magazine due this week as well as two kitty paintings that must also be finished. I completed the painting of Lady Bear, the Sheepdog, and she has been safely delivered to her home. It was commissioned as a birthday gift and the buyer was pleased with the end result. The gift was happily received also.

I used some techniques I was inspired to use from painter Paula Insall who lives in Portland, Oregon. She uses a lot of texture, collage and stamping in her paintings of women. The end result is a very rich and deep painting. Check out her work on etsy.com ( paulainsall.etsy.com ) you can also link to her blog and website from their. Very cool stuff. She offers online classes in her technique if anyone is interested. This new piece has no collage work in it but does have some stamping in the background. I really love the look of the stamps.

Another piece I finished a couple of weeks ago uses quite a bit of collage. I used some old photos as well as copper wire to communicate the feeling of connection.

Also completed and up for sale in the gallery I am a member of is Dream. This was the first collage piece I did and was very happy with the results. I'm sure I will do more in this style, I really have a lot of fun with it.

Thanks for visiting.

Starts and stops...

2008-03-13T17:24:00.000-07:00

Finished some pieces and getting ready to start commissions. It's an in-between time when there's nothing on the easel. It's like an empty feeling in your heart. I need to get new work started. Ideas are rumbling in my mind so I need to get them down on paper before they are lost.

I've planted new annuals in pots off the kitchen. A real inspiration to get something germinating inside myself. Next will be herbs for cooking.

That's all for now. I'll post again soon.

I Hate Self Portraits

2008-03-03T08:37:00.000-08:00

I belong to a B&M Gallery and a group show is planned for First Friday in March. As I'm sure you can guess, the theme is self Portrait. I don't even like my picture taken never mind recreating my likeness on canvas. I tried to treat this challenge objectively but I think the end result was too kind. My hair is not that big.

I had fun creating the background then kind of rushed the face onto it as quickly as possible. A few hours at most. I'm on to new projects to flesh out my space in the gallery by the end of the week. I'll take some pictures to post next week. Stay tuned.

2008-02-14T18:58:00.000-08:00

I have started some new work that is very exciting for me. I'm using some collage techniques that I have considered for years and have never been brave enough to try. I was always worried about ruining the canvas (what?). I'm jumping in and having a wonderful time.

I would love to hear your comments. Please don't be afraid to be truthful. I will take all comments as constructive and try to make the information work for the painting. Thank you for taking the time and I will try to be more regular with my posts.

Bringing Life to Angus

2007-09-30T10:11:00.001-07:00

I'm about 3/4 complete with this portrait. I really like the colors and have to make sure I don't overwork it. I don't want to lose the graphicness (is that a word?) by refining the countours into gradations. I'm going to work on the details of the couch and back wall today and then I'll be almost finished.

I plan to ad a very subtle leaf pattern to the back wall. I'll keep it if it looks ok. Sunday is a great day for painting. The house is quiet and I can really focus. Plus it helps when you are really in the mood! More later.

Can you see my kitty in the background. She's in her tree :) Sweet!

ANGUS: New work

2007-09-15T21:20:00.001-07:00

I'm working on a new commission that I'm very excited about. I've done the sketch and will begin work on the painting tomorrow. I have high hopes for this piece. The subject is very nice and should be a very creative project.

New work on board (canvas)

2007-09-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

Working on a new piece for First Friday. Today's Wednesday so better get busy and finish this. I think I'll make it if I apply myself tonight. I've found a new site called TalentDataBase.com and it's a great source of fabulous artists including musicians, culinary arts, actors...almost any avenue you can think of. Anyone interested in art and viewing some really tallented artists should check this site out.

Gotta run and paint now. More later.

Progress on Queenie

2007-08-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

I spent some quality time with this piece last night and decided to make the tree above her highness a fruit tree. Big juicy oranges now hang heavy from the branches. Lots of glossy green leaves and tonight (hopefully) I will add a sprinkle of orange blossoms like pretty stars. It's so frustrating to have to be working on advertising when I could be painting. Guess we do what we have to in order to indulge our pleasures. :)

Back to the Blog!

2007-08-21T17:15:00.000-07:00

Well, it's sure been a while since I posted. I'm glad I remembered my login! Ha. I've been very busy of late. Am exhibiting in a gallery in the arts district in Las Vegas. City of the World Gallery - http://www.cityoftheworld.org

I have been doing some digital color on pen and ink drawings and that is fun. My focus at the moment is pattern, texture and color which is exhibited in the work in progress show here called 'Queenie, Queen of Cats'. I think I will be very happy with it when it's complete. Love some feedback if anyone is in the mood to critique.

I plan on adding some butterflies. One on the pillow cat-left, viewer-right. One or two up near the birds which are not complete as is not the crown of her highness.

Mother's Day

2007-05-13T18:31:00.000-07:00

Here it is again. 365 days later. I'm home relaxing, my man is off working as he usually is on Sunday. My youngest called to say HMD...so far the other 2 haven't checked in. No problem here. I'm relaxed and having a glass of wine. He'll be home soon and will take his mom and I out for dinner. Lovely. no cooking or cleaning up. Yup. 365 days later.

Don't bug me!

2007-05-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

I live in a warm (in the summertime) climate and like to have the doors open whenever possible. Fresh air...ahhhh! As I work days, I only have the pm hours to work on my drawings. That's ok with me. I have a great table near the TV area. I can still watch Lost and do my creative thing. Here's the rub...Door open, dark outside, light inside. Especially the BIG O LIGHT over my drawings. Those crazy little night-flyers just love to help out. I think they just like my art. They're like a little fan club come to visit. Want an autograph little greenie?

How do I get them out? Don't want to close the door...75 degree air feels tooo good. Can't squish em. If it was oil or acrylic I could just paint over it. Paper and pencil tooooooo delicate. What schmeer that would make! Plus, I really don't like to kill things. Can't help it. That's why I don't fish!

Anyway, I deal with it until I can't stand it another moment with the fluttering wings and flying at the light!!!! Arrrg. turn the dang thing off and go read a book! Problem solved.

Finally have something to get my teeth into!

2007-05-06T14:23:00.000-07:00

I was working in my garden and letting my mind run rampant (which I often do!) And started thinking about the connection between flora and fauna, consumers and environment. How we affect and effect each other and the world around us. The earth is the mother and we feed from her yet we treat her badly. Like teenagers going through transition.

The first pic shows the noodle doodle (the seed that popped into my mind) I have to get it down immediately in case it fades so this book is always nearby.

Then the sketch paper with the tissue shows where I am at right now (2:30 west coast May 6, 2007). Did a basic drawing then added more detail on the tissue layer. Next I will transfer to a board and start the ink work. I'm excited about this piece. I hope it turns out the way I see it in my mind. You never know. I have a large envelope in my garage with all my aborted efforts. I visit them occasionally. Sometimes one gets revived.

Trying to get creative...

2007-04-24T21:18:00.000-07:00

I've been doodleing for days but can't quite get that itch. You know what I mean. When the idea comes it just tickles till you pour it out onto the paper or canvas. Then you feel good. You go with the flow. First you have to get the itch and satisfy it. I'm waiting for it to hit me...Starin' at the box...

What to do with these?

2007-04-23T22:41:00.000-07:00

I found these frames in the clearance bin and they just really screamed out at me. They are some kind of molded whatnot! Can't tell. They have this really ugly brown glaze effect to make them look like wood. I think I'm going to paint them white and then do like a tea stain antique.

I need to come up with a triptyce type of drawing. 3 pieces that relate to each other. Any input on this project would be greatly appreciated. The window size is 4x6 inches and, obviously, they stand alone.

New art just created

2007-04-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

I'm starting this blog fresh with the idea of inviting guests into my virtual studio. I will post projects on the drawing board as they progress and hope everyone enjoys their evolution. I created this one today in hopes of posting on Etsy but, no go. The site was down most of the day and even though it's up an somewhat running, it is very slow and posting is impossible.

Regarding this piece:

HEART TO HEART

The connection between mother and child begins long before birth. Even before her belly starts to swell, a pregnant woman will unconsciously place her hand on her abdomen where she knows her baby lies. She feels the baby in her heart. Sometimes this feeling is so strong it seems as though her heart may burst. Beating so loudly, as if it were a lullaby to keep the baby comforted.

This drawing is done with pen and ink and finished in PrismaColor Pencils. The support is a cream colored mat board.

The drawing measures 8x11. The board measures 14x18.

The artist retains all rights of reproduction.