Stephanie L. Gillette's Bright Art

Do I want to be famous?

2009-07-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

Someone asked me the other day if I wanted to be a famous artist someday. I thought about it. I mostly want people to love my beautiful paintings and take them home. Does that mean I will be famous? Maybe... But I always want to paint for the wonder of painting.

So, my wishballs are coming along - this little one's base is done, so the wish fluffs will go on Monday. This is going to be a gorgeous painting - I can't wait until you see it complete! Now I just want to paint all the time on it to see it finished - but life happens too.

My granddaughter is visiting and we are having a tea party with crystallized rose petals and homemade cookies this afternoon. Then tomorrow I am driving her home to Chico. It is wonderful for grandchildren to know their extended family.

Little wish

2009-07-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

Dandelion wishballs are for little wishes. You pick a wishball, think of a little wish, and blow! If all the seedlings blow off, you get your wish.

This wishball is partially blown and one seedling clings to the side of the fluff. Soon a gentle breeze will float it away to some fertile soil so that it can grow.

My painting is coming right along and it is exciting to see the progress and parts get completed! Tomorrow I will finish the large complete wishball and begin the partial one which looks like a little girl's tutu.

COMMENT: Looking at the last couple days of your blog, the wishball painting is looking FANTASTIC!

background first

2009-07-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

It is easy to want to see the final result and rush through things to get there. But we need to get the background information to have a framework from which to work.

So, in painting my wishballs, I do the same thing. I started with the framework of this wishball. Then I painted the fluffs which are actually on the backside first. Although my final wishball will cover most of what I have painted so far, without these details in the back, it wouldn't have the fullness it needed.

I am eager to see this develop and it takes a lot of patience to do the background work first! I love the rich colors behind the white fluff.

Dandelion base

2009-07-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

There are many types of dandelion wishballs and they each have their own patterns! These are from the fields near Portland. They have a base in the middle with wider white pedals radiating outwards. The delicate "fluffs" cover the whole thing. So, I began with the base and started to paint the edge wisps today.

Many things in life are like that - there is an almost hidden framework with the soft stuff showing. For example - women are often taught to show only their fluff. But without the strong framework beneath they could not do all the amazing things they do - work, being wife and mother, home, socializing, and SO much more! In the South they call them Steel Magnolias. It will be nice when someday women can show more of their spine and be considered strong and wonderful instead of a B---. Maybe a few generations more...

patterns of touching

2009-07-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

I think about our lives being as complicated as the wishballs. All the individuals as the central spots with lines radiating out to touch others. Some have parts which touch far across the dandelion. Some even float away to touch others somewhere new.

I have been working on my background dandelions in the painting. I turn my real dandelion this way and that to get the right angle I want - and go from there. Next I will work on the various buds before beginning the large dandelions in the foreground.

Wishes begin

2009-07-09T11:48:00.000-07:00

I have begun painting my dandelion wishballs into my painting. I decided to paint the background wishballs first. They are a little smaller and softer than the ones in the foreground. I love all their delicate patterns and seeing the grasses behind them. Many of the white wisps have a brown seed pod at its end.

It is SO exciting to see my painting develop!! To see my other dandelion painting, go to my website at www.MyBrightArt.com.

Painting from life

2009-07-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

I often paint from photographs when I am doing animals because they don't pose for long! But with flowers, I love painting from real life the best. I can see the tiniest details when it is a real flower.

But dandelion wishballs are difficult to bring home whole! However, I have some for this painting I am beginning. It was tricky to get it out of the baggy without touching the sides and into a vase. But I am starting on the whole wishballs in the background first. They are intricate and magical!

duck freckles

2009-07-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

I finished most of my "Sweet Duck" painting last night at the art demonstration. But I waited until this morning to add her little freckles on her beak. Then I signed it and it is completed. I love her sweet expression. (I know I have wavered between it being a boy or girl - sometimes I think of it as one and sometimes the other.) But either way, it is a very sweet little duck.

sand scape with driftwood

2009-07-07T11:25:00.000-07:00

I finished my SandScape V! The waves rush to the shore, foam kissing the seaweed and driftwood along the shore. When the wave withdraws, the foam stays. It is a memory of a kiss...

This little 10x10 inch oil on canvas is the fifth of a series of sand patterns. They are ones you see when you go to the beach. Each is a memory of one of your warm weekends of walking along with a cool breeze ruffling your hair. Check out the other 4 on my website at www.MyBrightArt.com.

The great news! My grasses I painted last week are dry! Now I get to paint the dandelion wishballs. I can't wait!

But tonight I am doing a demonstration at the Heritage Falls Galley in West Linn, Oregon and finishing my "Sweet Duck". So much to do - I love it!

Why I do a blog...

2009-07-03T12:50:00.000-07:00

The Blogspot is celebrating its 10 years, so I thought I would write about my blog.

Three years ago, I quit my full-time job and started my life as a full-time artist. I paint about five days a week and am very dedicated to developing my skills and career.

Why do I do a blog? I originally started a blog to hlep promote my website: http://www.mybrightart.com/. Each day I paint, I take a snapshot of my painting in progress and run upstairs to post it on my Blog. I decided early that my blog would be my thoughts and progress of my art.
Through my blog, I have seen my style develop as an artist. It is my history and is very personal. I use it as a reflection time and to focus on my art. When I do a commission for someone, they can get onto my blog to see my progress on their painting and share it with their friends. They can read my thoughts and even make comments! Some of my galleries read it to find out what new paintings they may want to show. I love it! - thanks

Sea foam

2009-07-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

While waiting for my grass to dry, I am working on another Sand Scape. This one, SandScape V, will explore the sea foam. It sweeps up the beach and covers seaweed, shells, and driftwood along the way. Before I can add the beautiful white foam bubbles, I had to paint the sand beneath.

So far, this is the "backbone" of my painting. You can imagine where the foam will be as it kisses the driftwood before withdrawing to the ocean. On Tuesday, you will have to check to see if it matches what you thought!

This one is my fifth and I thought my last; but I find that there is another sand texture I have yet to explore, so I think there will be one more. To see my other Sand Scapes, check out my website at www.MyBrightArt.com.

preparations for art show

2009-07-02T09:47:00.001-07:00

No matter how careful you are, sometimes paintings get little scratches and dings when they are in shows. It makes it important to carefully look at eat painting before it goes out to another show. This isn't a sexy part of being an artist, but it is an important one!

So today I looked at the paintings going to the Heritage Falls Gallery this afternoon. One had a scratch on the side of the gallery wrap. (They are nice with no frame but very vulnerable to scratches in transport and handling.) Then I realized that the 3 Dogwoods still needed wiring to hang. So today is a preparation day...

And tonight I will be at the First Thursday Art Walk in Portland at the Gallerie Rene on 304 SW Pine Street. If you are in the area, drop by! If not, check out my other paintings at www.MyBrightArt.com.

paint shirts

2009-07-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

People ask me why I change clothes when I go to my studio to work. As you can see, I often wipe the excess paint from my brush onto my shoulder when I am really concentrating.

So, Voila! My shirt matches the painting! Although I am not 100% successful in containing my paint to the studio, my paint clothes help. Someone said that maybe I should sell my shirts to go with their painting. Maybe someday when I am famous!

I have the grass painted for this wonderful painting! Now I need to wait until it dries - and work on something else for a few days. I can't wait to begin the dandelion wishballs!

Taking breaks is good

2009-06-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

It was good to take a break from my grasses to paint the duck yesterday. I returned to my grasses refreshed and ready to work more on them. I have worked to have variance in the grass so that the painting is fluid and lively.

The top is lighter than the bottom and there are more browns on the right side. Tomorrow I hope to have the basic grass finished. Then I can begin to work on the finishing touches over the whole painting before starting the magnificant dandelion wishballs! This is going to be a striking painting!

A face to love

2009-06-29T13:05:00.000-07:00

On July 7th, I am doing an art demonstration at the Heritage Falls Gallery in West Linn, Oregon. It goes from 5-9 so isn't enough time to complete a painting. So, I started this little duck at home and will paint his bill and feet there.

Doesn't he have a sweet face? His patterns are strong on his white body, and they were fun to paint in colors from brown to ultramarine blue. They will look pretty against his bright orange beak and feet!

Now it can dry for next week...

grassy depth

2009-06-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

I woke up early this morning so I could sneak in a few hours of painting before my Saturday began. My first few layers of grasses are coming along. Once I have the basic grass there, it will need to really dry before I come back in with the top layer and the dandelion wish balls. This is a large painting so each step along the way takes a lot of time. It is progressing and I love the subtle patterns of blades upon blades of grass.

Tah Dah - another painting delivered!

2009-06-26T17:25:00.000-07:00

Commissions are exiting! I love painting something for a special someone which I know they will love. It is fun to work with someone on their ideas and incorporate them into a painting. I have been working on this portrait on and off for awhile and just delivered it yesterday! She loved it!

It was so rewarding to see her face when she saw the portrait of her son. And it makes the hours in the studio even more worthwhile to know that she will cherish the painting I did for her.

And his freckles are multicolored. Don't you love a light dusting on freckles on his masculine face? It softens his features just enough.

The music of grass

2009-06-25T12:32:00.000-07:00

Grass reminds me of classical music. It has its own rhythm and is always dancing. Usually I listen to Charlie radio when I paint to keep my energy up. But with these grasses, I listen to mellow music and blend the colors of the music with the grasses I paint. The graceful chords sway with my grass blades. I am as mellow as laying in a field of sunshine on a summer's afternoon.

proportions

2009-06-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

Funny how we see proportions. (I love that word by the way - it has the mirrored pro and por.) Anyway, I realized that the grass I painted yesterday was too small for the size of the future wishballs in my painting. SO, I returned to that part of the painting and added some larger grasses on top.

It is fun to have the dandelion wishball buds showing in the grass before there are any wishballs! I think the grass is beautiful and magical all in itself. And I am working my way across the canvas - growing layers of grass as I go. This is a slow process and I don't want to rush it.

Grasses are what allows most animals to survive. The desserts which have little food, get a shower, and VIOLA! Grass appears to feed the animals. Magical!

beginnings of grass

2009-06-23T12:18:00.001-07:00

My painting had begun! I want the grasses to have many layers to give it depth. So, I started by doing some base lights and darks over the underpainting. Then I begin painting the grasses on top. I want to have the top of the canvas be a little lighter than the bottom, so put more dark greens and blacks nearer the bottom. This will weigh the painting correctly, since it has no horizon line.

I love the multicolors of grasses. They have everything from black/green/browns to golds and whites. So I will take my time on this to have them come out with the feel of a field.

dogwoods

2009-06-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

These graceful dogwoods seem to dance among the dark leaves. Each petal forms elegant curves. I decided to finish this little painting today before I begin my large painting of the wishballs.

The large canvas is ALMOST dry so I will either start it this afternoon or tomorrow morning. So hard to wait!!

To see other Bright Art flower paintings, go to www.MyBrightArt.com.

Composition

2009-06-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

I think this is my final composition for my Field of Wishes painting. I can't wait to get started! Waiting for the prepared canvas to dry is the pits! (It has been muggy here lately and it is taking longer than expected to dry.) Maybe by Monday. To see my other Wishball painting, check out my website at www.MyBrightArt.com.

Meanwhile, I decided to paint a little dogwood study. I began with the rich, verdant leaves behind the blooms. I love the curly edges of the leaves and their patterns of light and dark. The dogwoods are some of my favorite flowers. So elegant!

A field of wishes!

2009-06-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

30 x 48 is an interesting shape. 5/8 is a wonderful proportion for the eyes to see. While my prepared canvas is drying, I am working on the composition for my Dandelion Wishes.

So far, this is my favorite. I like that the partially blown dandelions are prominent because the others are all full. I think I will play with my field of wishes a bit more to see what other patterns emerge.

If you could have three wishes, what would they be?

comment

2009-06-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

Comment:
Your Duck painting is going ot be so cute! Fun choice for the Palate to Palette!
Also love your violin case - bet you get some commissions from fellow fiddlers to paint their cases as well.

Color study

2009-06-17T12:59:00.000-07:00

For my Dandelion painting, I was asked to do a color sample for matching the other colors in the room - window dressings and the like. This seemed fun to me and something I hadn't done before. Yesterda I did the swatches of colors on two pieces of watercolor paper. THen that seemed too blah. So, I went back today and added in some dandelions! How fun! But I can't decide which I should take to the gallery for the client tomorrow. Which do you like best?