Kelly Jeanette Swift

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EncR_T0faKM&list=WL0A3117ED5606BEB7  I tried this once. Placing my canvas on the floor and moving around it dipping and splashing paint like Pollack did. I found it fun and freeing, but also frustrating because the paint wanted to pool too much. I guess that had to do with the way the canvas was produced. Paper is much better to use. But not just any paper. Water color paper buckles too much, so I recommend Arches cover paper.  http://www.danielsmith.com/Item--i-G-159-370 (For some reason the video will not load, so just click on the link.)

My newest attempt. I really loved the process in creating this painting. So, I am starting another one and hope for similar results. Beginning a new painting is always a scary but exciting event. At first there is a image in the head of what you want. Then it takes on a life of it's own and does what it wants. Sometimes you fight it and the end result is unsatisfying if not downright ugly. Sometimes, I go with the flow and turn out something awesome. Sometimes neither works out well and it's time to re purpose the canvas. One can only take a deep breath and hope for the best .

A guest post about measuring success by Victoria Rose Martin What is your measure of success and how will you know if and when you’ve achieved it?  Have you actually thought about what being a successful artist means specifically to you? We always hear about people “making it” in the art world, but what does that even mean? And more importantly, what does that statement mean to you? Whether you’re on an artistic path or not knowing your measure of success is a really important question to address. Read the rest here  http://www.createmixedmedia.com/blogs/measuring-success-for-artists

Here is a great article about artists seeing patterns. Just click on the image or the link to read the it. http://www.clothpaperscissors.com/blogs/clothpaperscissorstoday/archive/2013/08/14/where-the-art-is-finding-imagery-for-collage-and-more.aspx I find myself watching for patterns all the time. In the trees, pathways, shape of rocks and horizons. How about you? Do you see patterns?

Title-“Wild Flowers” Bartered 24 x 30 on stretched canvas Acrylic and mixed media (for a larger view click on image) I begin this painting as a simple abstract, but to my delight flowers began to appear. I kept adding to the painting until it became a field of wildflowers. The fields around my home are filled with wildflowers of all kinds. They inspire me with their color and texture every day. This abstract modern painting was painted on gallery wrapped acid free canvas with acrylic paint. Texture was achieved with the use of a palette knife. A final coat of fine art varnish was applied to preserve the painting. It is signed and dated by me the artist on the side and the back. I do not sign on the front to preserve the aesthetics of the artwork. Only fine quality art materials have been used and it was created and stored in a smoke free pet free environment. The edges are stapled free. No need to frame and is ready to hang upon delivery. This painting is not...

Well, I have had an interesting afternoon. I decided to make a video of a drawing exercise I was doing for an online class. Easy, right? I soon found out differently. First, I concluded that trying to draw with one hand and video tape with the other was not easy. Then the video I made refused to load. Found out that the program that came with my camera sucked. So, what do I do when things are not going right computer wise? I yell for Cory. He determined that I needed a different editing program, found one, and downloaded it, while also deciding my computer needed cleaning, so loaded something else. Wow, no wonder my computer was slow! It runs better now. Then the stupid video wouldn’t load again, so we had to convert it to another type of file. That worked. AVI does not work for me. He taught me how to do all of that on my own. Then he showed me how to change the speed on my videos. So I uploaded it to Youtube and Cory showed me how to add music. I did not know that Youtube had mu...

I found this painting technique very interesting. There has been much talk  about the pros and cons of using house paint among my artists friends lately. I am still up in the air about it myself, but I can see it's attractiveness.