Hit the Ground Running in the New Year

I have hit the ground since the new year started, but not necessarily running in the direction I would like to go.  This is the morning of my third day off since starting tax preparation work on Monday the third.  Was not this time consuming last year. I have been in a shock about it.  But, for now,  I am rolling with the punches and thinking about my art goals as I run along.  I have made a list of the art festivals to which I want to apply and their deadlines.  The Columbus Arts Festival is a really big one, I did apply in their Emerging Artist category, the jury is public and I am looking forward to attending on February 6. 

I do plan to make a list of goals and a business plan for this year as well as picking a word for guiding my intentions this year.  I know one of my goals will be to work with a consultant/advisor on the business of art.  I do have someone in mind, but still mulling it over just a little bit.  I will formally look at my goals from last year and see how I have done, but I do know that though I met some of them, the results were not what I had hoped for.  I had hoped that going to more festivals, even if not lucrative in sales, would help with commissions, this was not the case.  I do think that perhaps becoming a regular at some of these shows could help with that, but that is something I may be consulting about.

On this glorious day off, I am running to the big city to get the last three feral kitties spayed/neutered.  They are five and half months already,  must not have anymore.  It will be a relief to release them tomorrow, hopefully healthy, as well as infertile. 

I took a better picture of the red-tailed hawk portrait when preparing my images for art festival applications.  So I decided to share it here. 

Thank you for visiting and reading despite my long absence.  I WILL be back soon.

Wishing You All a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 Frankie, one of the several kittens born in the garage this year, a real sweetie!

Thank you all so much for reading this blog, I truly wish you happy holidays and a great new year.     Angela

Tasha and Chiaroscuro

I certainly enjoyed do this portrait -- loved working on the strong contrasts!  I have lightened the dog's right eye more than was true to the darkness of the reference/lighting conditions.  I am being urged by a related onlooker to do it more for the recipient's sake.  It is a gift,  I don't think I will, if the recipient does not appreciate it as is, I will offer to do another and keep this one.

This is only 5x7, but I sure did enjoy working on it.  There are alot of colors in it, even if that is not apparent overall. Tasha does have a skin condition which leaves her thinned hair and hairless in places.  I have only hinted at it in the portrait, but did lots of layers of colors to capture it.

The use of strong light and dark contrasts in art is referred to as chiaroscuro.  If you would like to read more about chiaroscuro, you can click this link: chiaroscuro.  I could not recall how to spell this term, but first went to the Wikepedia site to look at Rembrandt, hoping to find the term, and I did.  I am surprised that Wikepedia says the Expressionists often used chiaroscuro, I always think of the Renniasance artists,  when thinking of this term.  Since the Expressionists are my favorite grouping of artists, I will have to look at this connection between chiaroscuro and the Expressionists more.

I am not sure wether or not I will do more to Lokie's portrait.  After I do some more getting ready for Christmas tasks, I may do him over if there is time. I have to clean up some dust on Tasha's background, but I think I am calling her done, also.  ( P.S.  after posting and looking at this a little more, I may be modifying Tasha's nostril's just a little to make it a little more aligned.)

Though busy getting ready for company for Christmas and a second gathering the day after, I am enjoying every day of being home lately.

Have a great weekend, thanks for stopping by!