the painting that went terribly wrong

Occasionally I wake up thinking that things may not go my way. Yesterday was one of those days. I spent five hours in my studio creating this incredible mess. I don't even get why it took that long to come up with a bunch of blobs on my painting. When I stood back at the end of the day and looked at it all I could muster was ....... *!*#@!!!



Once I got over it I took it home I set it on the easel and covered it with gesso. I just purchased a bucket of the stuff and transfered some of it into a smaller container.

Now I'll be honest with you, my mom has always maintained that I've had a problem closing jars. As a child I didn't close the mustard container properly and when my mom took it out it of the fridge it splattered all over her new kitchen carpet. Did I mention that it was her birthday that day? oops! ( Who puts carpet in a kitchen anyway? lol)
So yesterday I started to fix this painting and I went to grab the gesso and guess what? It wasn't closed! !#@*& !! It was all over the floor and me...yikes! I hope my mom doesn't read this post because I'll be getting a call!



Time it took to paint that mess = 5 hours
Time it took to clean up that mess = 1 1/2 hours
How I felt at the end of the day ......... out of my mind

fill your heart with art

-manon

a bit of this and that

After disclosing my love of hearts the other day I thought I'd share the beautiful cuff that was made for me by jewelry artist Hoss Rogers. Hoss worked with me to personalize this piece. The red parts of the heart are pieces of glass from my studio that I cut for him. One side says fill your ...... and the other side say with art. So the middle is the heart and all together means fill your heart with art. That was probably the most ridiculous explanation I've ever attempted...lol!
It' a great piece and Hoss is a very cool guy! Check out his site.





I want to talk about my favorite fruit.....cherries! I can't seem to get enough of these babies. I told fellow artist/ blogger/ friend Kelley Macdonald about my obsession a few months ago when she painted a wonderful cherry painting. When I lived in Canada, my friend's family owned a fruit market. One day I bought two pounds of these red juicy cherries and as I drove home I ate every single one. Yup.... things haven't changed. Whole Foods have the best ones this year. I'm always sad to see them go at the end of the season.



Last year I was fortunate to be involved with Jill Beninato's project to raise funds for Bernie Berlin's A Place to Bark. Somerset Studio Gallery Summer 2009 edition has featured all the artists involved. It was a great project!!



Tank, the Bulldog, has become famous! I hope his mother, Mary Monica, doesn't let it go to his head!!

fill your heart with art

-manon

my heart

7" x 10" mixed media journal page

“For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.”
-judy garland

I just love to put hearts in my work. You can call me a romantic and I'll most definitely agree. I know I should stop but honestly I can't. They always seem to fit.



Progress report...... not much progress! I got frustrated with this piece today so I decided to work in my journal for a couple of hours. I put countless coats of gesso on the face area and the canvas is still coming through. Ugh! I'll clear my head tonight and get back to her tomorrow with love in my heart...lol!

fill your heart with art

-manon

pics from Ottawa

I just thought I'd show a few pics from my Ottawa trip to all of you!

On Friday my mom, sister and I decided to visit the National Art Gallery of Canada! It's really an amazing structure full of windows that lets the light through everywhere you walk. A nice guy was kind enough to take a pic of us in front of the building! Gotta love that huge spider sculpture!!



We ended up seeing this exhibit first and it was truly amazing! The sketches and paintings were from the 1500's and the 1600's. The preservation of these pieces was truly astonishing! We weren't allowed to take any photos......they watched us like hawks.



This was the quote going into the Canadian art exhibit! Love it! I got to see works by the Group of Seven which were incredible!




I had to pop by and see some of the work of Yousuf Karsh. He was a very famous celebrity photographer that my dad knew. His most famous portraits were of Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, and Georgia O'Keeffe, (just to name a few).



An incredible piece by Karsh capturing Ernest Hemingway. Karsh recalled Hemingway as "a man of peculiar gentleness".



My dad gave me his book when I started college and this is what Karsh wrote to me.



My friend Jo and I. It was great to see her.



Two little angels...... Nathalie and I. Even though we live far from each other she's always in my heart.



So long Ottawa....... I'll be back soon!

Can't wait to start painting tomorrow!

fill your heart with art

-manon

going on a little vacation

7" x 10" journal page

I was painting this journal page yesterday while listening to this. Ain't life sweet!

I'll be leaving for Ottawa, Canada tomorrow to visit my family and friends for a week. I'm not lugging my laptop with me but I'll have access to my parent's computer so I'll keep in touch. I hope to visit the National Art Gallery while I'm there so I'll act like a tourist and get some good pics.



Sending everyone positive energy for the week!

fill your heart with art

-manon

journal page and start of a new painting

7" x 10" mixed media journal page

"A hundred days had made me older since the last time that I saw your pretty face. A thousand lights had made me colder and I don’t think I can look at this the same. But all the miles had separated, they've disappeared now, when I’m dreaming of your face."
3 Doors Down



This is the new painting I'm working on. Today I put down some initial color. It looks pretty bad but I thought I'd show it anyway. I'm using canvas but I really do prefer wood or board. You'll probably notice that the moon was done with crackling paste and the rest of the piece has a ton of molding paste on it, (everything except the face). I'll post a progress picture soon!

I just love this song by Damien Rice! Check out 9 Crimes if you've got a moment!

fill your heart with art

-manon

just chillin

7" x 10" mixed media journal page

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.”
-ansel adams



Today I just want to chill. I've done a little work but it's gloomy out and my body just wants to hang out and do nothing. It's not easy to reveal to people that you don't want to do anything. Honestly, I'd rather not come across as being lazy but a mental health day is great sometimes. So... the rest of the day I shall put up my feet and relax....lol!

fill your heart with art

-manon

feeling something new

mixed media journal page

Made up my mind to make a new start. Going to California with an aching in my heart. Someone told me there's a girl out there
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair.
-Led Zeppelin
(Goin' to California)

Last night I had a dream about mixing two art forms together. The feeling stayed with me all day. Ok ..... I'll tell! I know I've told many of you that I'd never do another mosaic...lol! After four months with the Brutus Buckeye mosaic.... burnout set in. I won't be doing a 6' 2" statue any time soon but I was thinking about breaking out some smalti. My idea was to do a painting and incorporate some mosaic into it. I'm working on a fairly large piece right now but when I'm done this will be my new project. It's either going to work or it's going to crash and burn! Stay tuned!

fill your heart with art

-manon

Are you stuck?

7" x 10 " journal page

“I am like a book, with pages that have stuck together for want of use: my mind needs unpacking and the truths stored within must be turned over from time to time, to be ready when occasion demands”
- seneca quote

The truth is that sometimes I feel stuck. It can be that I'm stuck with my artwork or even myself. In these moments I have decided to step out of my comfort zone and find another way. Sometimes it's hard......... really hard..... but there is no other way that I can grow if I don't. I resolve to find a truer way.

fill your heart with art

-manon