Quazy for Quail

OK, I know I shouldn't put up a picture of an unfinished painting, but I can't resist. I love quail! Love them, you hear! So, I'm doing a series of quail paintings, probably 4, and will have note cards made.

This one is called The Watcher. I've got the next number sketched out. It's going to be a close up of two quail, male and female, with the male in his breeding plumage and looking like he's strutting his stuff.

Sometimes one can't fight where their head is, and right now, I just can't get mine out of the way enough to work in abstract. So a quail series it is.

And, in another area of creative endeavor, I just made a vegetarian paella for dinner. My husband found the recipe in a bicycle magazine of all places! It's got a bunch of ingredients, takes many steps, uses several pans, took a full hour, and is totally worth the effort!

Out of my mind

I so much want to work in an abstract way, and I want to paint feelings rather than things. But, I've only managed that semi-successfully a couple of times. Usually when I start out to do that, my mind gets in the way and I end up forcing what that busy body wants me to see.

I'm giving thought to painting when I'm exhausted, painting in the dark, painting with my eyes closed, etc., etc., etc., as a way of breaking out of the control of my mind. Of course, it's my mind that has come up with those ideas. Hmmmmm.

Does it have to be Art with a capital A?

When people talk about ART it often takes on the feel of awe - think Michelangelo, think stuffy museums - and the eyes of many glaze over as they quickly lose interest. It doesn't have to be like that! If one can let go of the idea of making a mess, or worse yet making a "mistake", art can have a small A and enter all aspects of living.

For example, these candle holders are made from old water valves found for a quarter each at a garage sale. My husband cleaned them up, attached them to a board and affixed a nail to the handle portion of each. Viola! Love, love, love the idea of fire and water combined.


And this plant rooter, marble holder gizmo - a technical term if ever there was one - was created from parts of a broken chandelier. One of my oldest and dearest friends sent the chandelier for use in our home as we were building. It broke in transit, and we had to get another. But a few rescued pieces combined into this creation, and yes, it is waterproof!


This piece could be called Rock Around the Clock or possibly Doing Hard Time. In the area where we lived in New Mexico this type of red rock naturally breaks into thin slices. The splotches are lichen. After getting my husband to drill them for me, I created several clocks that were used as Christmas gifts that year.


And this little piece is a wreath made of succulents - easy to do, hard to kill, and just plain fun. It's now blooming. The two old wooden wheels were purchased at a junk store.


The thing is that giving my imagination free reign now and then takes me to interesting places and comes up with pieces of small-A art that can grace my life in unexpected ways. This in turn can jump-start the creative process to get me back painting! It's all connected.

Living the Artistic Life

I have a painting stuck in my brain that is about ready to start pouring forth, but first I have to put my studio back together. A family visit with more people here that would fit in the guest room turned the studio into a kids' room for the duration.

I seem to be stuck, mired even, in a place of too many ideas rushing through my head. There are several outdoor or garden art projects in there, and of course the gardening itself to be done. There is the book that needs work before sending off to one or more agents. And, there is a new painting idea.

That other life, the one with laundry and bathing dogs and cooking and cleaning, keeps intruding.

If you are so inclined, check out my web site at www.artbyeddie.net. Click here.