Hello! School is out for the summer in San Francisco, and it feels like everything is slowing down just a little bit. The weather has been pretty pleasant here, so I've been outside as much as I can - I hope you've been able to take advantage of it too.
Last time I sent you email, I'd recently finished series of small pieces, but for the past couple of months I've been mostly concentrating on a few larger panels. These big paintings take me so much longer to finish, but the end result is very gratifying. I wanted to share a few in-progress shots with you:
This painting is just about completed, but doesn't have a set title yet - its working title is "Summer Smoke." What do you think it should be called?
Sometimes, pieces get resolved in relatively few layers. Other times it takes a lot more building up complexity. This ocean-and-sky painting below has been through a lot of changes since I started it. I feel like it's getting closer, but isn't quiiiite there yet:
I'll be thrilled to be able to finish it and share it with you in the coming weeks.
Lastly, I've been busy with reworking an older painting that I was never quite satisfied with. This was from a mixed-media series that had inclusions of lace circles that I crocheted by hand.
It's been a challenge to keep the textured elements intact while creating a new composition, but it makes a nice change from the other paintings, since it's so different. This piece feels a little softer and gentler to me, and I'm trying not to lose those qualities:
The feel of summer and the transitioning weather is really inspiring my work! So I plan to be at the studio as much as I can in the next few months, apart from taking a few days off here and there for some family trips.
Do you have exciting plans for the summer? Are you looking forward to something this season? Let me know.
Warmly
Heather