The ATC

Today, I've been doing a million errands and small jobs. And as it is officially "Be A Total Jerk At the Grocery Store Because YOU Are The Only One Who Still Needs Something For Thanksgiving" season, I've needed to do small things to make me happy. Today I worked on a few ATC's in between laundry, raking leaves, shopping, etc etc. If you're not familiar, the ATC is the Artist Trading Cards. There are a lot of ways to go with this little buggers. The only rule is that they are of a uniform size (2x3 inches) and that they are NOT for sale, they are for trade. Of course, there are artists out there who create such MAGNIFICENT works that they simply MUST sell them (note sarcasm) that you can sell them as limited edition some sort of nonsense or other.

Also, people do all kinds of things with these. From textiles, to collage, painting, sewing...you name it. I of course, just paint mine. And almost always in watercolor for the simplicity and speed.

Like my rant on 'journaling for journaling's sake, where people get so caught up in creating this masterpiece of work in a journal that will earn a spot in great libraries like Da Vinci's codex...again with the sarcasm. I think I'm hungry. Anyway. I think that the ATC should be a quick outlet to create something transient. After all, the point is to trade them away. Sometimes I work out compositions for larger works, or just play with color, or...whatever.

So, here are two that I did today. Enjoy.

A small one for warm up

Many of the artists I admire do several paintings a week. This can be a crutch in itself not unlike my little rant on sketchbooks and ATCs, but those whom I admire paint this often because thier style lends itself to it. My paintings can take anywhere from a week or two to a year. But I try to complete a few small ones once in a while to keep loose and reconnect with color and just have fun with paint. Here is yesterday's.

Small Pears (Oil on canvas 5x5)

The holiday rush begins

The fall weddings are over. The Halloween party is over. Thanksgiving is a week away. If we wait until we have 'time' to paint, it will never happen.

I find myself jumping between oils and watercolor (didnt I ever learn that oil and water dont mix?). Also, I find I waffle between works that take weeks and 'paint a day' type work. I have the time, I wish I had the tenacity to finish a work, even a small work, every day or two.

Here is one of my latest. I rarely paint anything with a thought to it's given ending location. Usually I dont paint for myself anyway, but in this case, I needed something to go over our couch. The room has a lot of roses in it. I am also spoiled in that the house itself often has roses as I have the most generous husband in the world. So, the subject, the color, the size...all came together. Sure, I'd include it in a show and even sell it if the opportunity arose, but for the time being...it's already found its home. I hope you enjoy it.

(Olive Roses. Oil. 36x36)