Like most of you, strategizing meaningful chores to fill time at home is a daunting task lately. Up until now, I’ve been clearing clutter, tossing dried-up paint tubes, cleaning closets, washing brushes, washing my hands, and oh the horrors – watching re-runs of Bob Ross’ Happy Paintings on PBS.
Idle Hands and Demons
Much more appealing is undertaking more inspired projects or doing something beneficial for others, such as efforts that will help or distract in some small way. By nature, my hands must be busy and my mind engaged, or going stir-crazy is surely just around the bend. To ward off those restless demons, I have developed a new painting project.
Iso-LACE-tion: A Thirty Day Painting Project
For the coming weeks, or months, or longer (who knows?), I will be working on a new series of paintings. Most will be modelli on copper, gold leaf, linen, or panels in sizes 6×6, 5×7, or 6×8, but there could be some a little larger also.
The one commonality is each will have lace of some fashion in the composition, as you guessed from the title of the project, Iso-LACE-tion.
Bewitching Modello, at left, is the first in the series. As you know, lace is one of my favorite things to paint. Over many years wandering through dusty antique shops all over the world, I have amassed an impressive collection of doilies, collars, cuffs, antimacassars, tablecloths, table-runners, and even aprons. Each one intricately woven into staggeringly delicate designs.
One Stitch at a Time
As much fun as the maker had while crocheting, I have making one-stitch-at-a-time strokes on the canvas. The trick is to paint a dark warm color as an underpainting. When dry, paint the light tones atop and follow the pattern of the light and shadow.
More images will be posted as the days pass and more stitches are made on the canvas. Stay well and remember, we are all in this together.
If you want to help artists in need, or if you are an artist who needs assistance contact the National Endowment for the Arts. In the Portland area contact the Regional Arts and Culture Council.
Namaste
Oh, what a glorious idea and painting! Your commentary is always appreciated. I love your work and YOU for sharing it with us.
Stay healthy, my friend!
Glad you like my idea, Joy! Sometimes it is good to wallow in solitude and isolation just to see what surfaces. I call it the ‘thinking’ phase of painting which is just as important as the actual act of tossing the paint around. Stay well.
Nice
Thank you Annie!
Being a needle worker, I absolutely love your method of painting lace. My husband went to buy one for me a few years ago in Cannon beach, the man right in front of him was buying the last 2! So he bought me one of your lovely sailboats. I’ll be watching this series and keeping my fingers crossed, one might be in my future.
Oh my gosh! I did not know you did needle work. The delicacy of the stitches are astonishing in some of the pieces I find. If they have pulled threads or frayed edges, they can be even more fun to paint. It really gives the painting a real ‘old world’ look. If you could, send me a picture of what you do. I would love to see your work.
Looking forward to this project. I love the detail of the lace in your paintings!
So glad you like the lace detail, Holly. As you know, it is one of my favorite things to collect and paint too.
As usual this was informative and interesting down to the last penned word and drop of paint.
I can’t wait to see the whole collection as you guide me through your home painting gallery. Stay well my friend and at home.
Thanks Joanny for your comments. This project will be fun and a nice distraction from current issues that we are all facing. You gave me a good idea to take pictures of my studio and post them too. I have to do more de-cluttering first!