still life Archives - Dora Sislian Themelis Art

Word on Wednesday is Abstraction

Well, lookie here, another painting found it’s way out of my brain. Imagine that? How quick was this one? I almost can’t believe it myself. As I was finishing the last still life watercolor painting, this one was calling me to be worked on.

Three Peaches ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
9×12 Watercolor on Arches cold press 140lb paper

After I found a small section of those photos that seemed pleasing, and as soon as I released the last work from the watercolor block, I started in on this piece. There was a bit of a challenge keeping the white of the paper as the highlight on the fruits, but I did my best. I’m comfortable with the outcome, and painting this was work.

The colors feel different than the last few pieces, as well as the shapes. Something is changing, I can feel a difference. Abstraction seems to be taking hold as the shapes get larger.

I’m just going to go with the flow.

Thankful for Finished Work

Every once in a while I think we have to stand back, take a break, and just do nothing. When there’s too much going on it seems to me the only way I can move ahead is to stand still. The craziness of the last event had me standing still a little longer than I would have liked. Things eventually work out.

The latest watercolor painting I started working on was waiting patiently to be finished while my brain rewired itself. There it was, sitting on my desk, waiting. I waved hello and got to work. Patience pays off in the end, and it is finished, finally.

I don’t know what the big deal was, it’s a small piece after all, but brain cells were missing, having gone AWOL. When they returned, so did the motivation.

Big Tomato ©2012 Dora Sislian Themlis
9×12 Watercolor, Arches cold press 140lb

Waiting to continue..

And there you have it. I worked on it until I decided I’d had enough of it. Maybe an hour to get it where I thought it should go and then I dropped it like it was HOT.

The thing is it’s finished.

Back to Monday and Painting

Monday could not come soon enough this week. What a busy, hectic few days I’ve had. The traditional Greek dance competition this weekend made my head spin with everything going on. Plus which the kids I teach had to perform, so making sure they knew their stuff was on my mind. They were great, though. I really didn’t need to worry. As they say, practice makes perfect!

And that leads us back to painting! Practice, process, same thing.

The next painting was started last week, when I had a life. Okay, I’m being dramatic, but really, painting is the thing that ends up being pushed aside. Now, I don’t want to get into the “if I had to go to a real job” thing. However, the reality is that painting isn’t the priority, nor am I the person bringing home the bacon with my artwork. Maybe some day, but not now, so it has to wait.

It’s first on the to-do list and it will happen. Just not exactly when I want it to happen. It’s fine.

Another work begins

Here’s the next work on deck. Another still life watercolor painting of veggies. Shapes and colors if I squint at the small section of reference photo.

Darks and lights. Small size, short and sweet. Works for me.

Finished by Friday

After I read The Artist’s Way a while back I knew I was on to something when the author, Julia Cameron, wrote that artists need quiet. Now maybe that statement isn’t as true for some as it is for others. I am one of the others. I need my quiet. Sorry, I don’t even want to hear the radio. My brain has enough noise.

Right now is the calm before the action begins. I’ll take it. I like calm, quiet, nothingness. That’s probably not even a word, but it feels good to say it.

During one of the latest online classes I just took, it was suggested we ditch the paper to-do list for an electronic one. I’ve been using the Notes feature on my iPod Touch thingy and it’s been fun.

“Paint today” is #1 on my every day list, every day, and paint today I did. Process is key.

I found myself thinking about finishing the last work before falling asleep. It is so weird, but it’s been happening more often lately. It’s finished, and it’s a good thing.

Carrot ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
9×12 Watercolor, Arches cold press 140lb

Stopping before trashing it was also key. What’s with that? At a certain point I had to stop working on this. I guess when I feel the frustration coming, my insides get crazy and I know I’m done. It worked itself out, is all I have to say.

Yes, there are areas I could have worked differently. I don’t care, it’s over.

Too Busy to Breathe

The next time something comes up I just have to say no. Enough with the word yes. How is it that I get myself involved in things where I find myself so busy? Busy is not even the word for it. One thing after another, and there’s no breathing room.

But how can I say no? It’s too late, I’ve already said yes. Just go with it. It will pass and there will be time for me soon enough.

This weekend is a Greek dance event I agreed to help with, so now I’m busy with that. Maybe once it’s over I can relax, until our annual festival comes up. Another thing I say yes to.

Can’t I just paint in my little art studio? Can’t I just sit and knit in my cozy corner? Or read my book? Or daydream?

Well, I did find an hour or so to paint. I’m so dizzy with to-do’s I couldn’t decide what to paint. Whatever comes from the process of painting will have to do until I can think clearly and focus.

I played with those veggie photos again and came up with this small section to paint. Interesting colors and shapes in a weird composition, but let’s see where it leads. I’m too busy to paint larger than this and it’s fine. Then again, if I did start a large piece I could work on it a little at a time.

No, too much pressure. We will keep it simple for now.

Finished on Friday

Finished! Done! Next!

This watercolor painting had me going, I almost trashed it, then I decided to just stop working it. There comes a time when you have to stop yourself from going over the cliff when I can’t help myself. I am notorious at painting way too long on a work.

Bouquet ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
9×12 Watercolor, Arches cold press paper

It’s finished.

What’s next? I have no idea right now. I’m just so glad this one is done, I can’t even discuss this any further. Blah.

Painting is Addictive

There is something about painting, for me lately anyway, that makes me want to keep doing it. The more I paint, the more I want to paint. It’s addictive, like knitting socks. Yeah, you sock knitters out there know what I’m talking about. Painting is like knitting socks. Is that weird?

Painting. The action of painting draws me in and keeps me there. The house could burn down and I wouldn’t be able to stop painting. Well, not really, but you get my idea.

I finished this last work in the small amount of time I had between dinner and a meeting I had to attend. Maybe I spent twenty five minutes on the last details in that time. Then I was done. That was it. No more working it, or it would be trash, as usual.

Peppers ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
9×12 Watercolor, Arches cold press paper

After I uploaded the finished painting, I thought I’d just show you the start that I posted on another day. While I was looking at this photo I began to imagine painting the whole scene, unfinished painting and all the rest. It was such a strange feeling, that pull to paint even my desk and brushes. Weird.

It’s not like I haven’t done that before. Like the times I draw my own fingers holding my ink pen and sketchbook as I draw while waiting at the allergist’s office. It feels as if I’m looking in a mirror and seeing not only my image, but everything around the mirror. Okay, that’s enough of that.

The point is, I’m working the process. Those affirmations I look at every day must be summoning the Universe so that It is favorable to my creative thoughts. The thought becomes the thing.

Yeah, that’s it.

Get to Work

And now to get back in business, I started the next watercolor painting last night after the kitchen was cleaned up. Mind you, I’m juggling too many apples right now and don’t know how I even managed to walk downstairs to my studio. Some internal messaging was happening. Maybe it’s all the art business classes I’ve been taking? The bad girl inside my head is being knocked down by good intentions I guess.

Keep working!

The to-do list, or task list as we’ve been instructed to call it, had quite a few things on it for yesterday, but I was able to mark each one off and move on. I purchased the tube of paint I wanted and now I can continue.

There’s no way you can mix colors without the primaries. Nope. I needed a yellow, and I couldn’t remember what my paint was called. Permanent Yellow Light? No. I ended up with a Cadmium Yellow Lemon.

Okay, I know cadmiums are toxic. I will not be eating the paint.

Also, not thrilled with the latest brushes I purchased. I keep turning back to my old sable Windsor & Newton brushes. When I wet the large Issabey brush and paint with it, it gets mushy. There’s no spring to it. That was a pricey brush even on sale. You can’t try a brush in the store to know how it will respond. So, stuck with it.

Enough drama for today. Time to get to work.

Finished for Friday

Watercolor painting has become a good thing. I always loved oil paints, but there’s the long drying time, the wonderful odors that are toxic, and the pretty high cost of the paints and canvas. Using watercolors in the past, I wasn’t such a fan.

The quality of materials just didn’t hit it, I guess. Remember those little discs of hard, dry watercolor paints in a tin box? They just never worked right for me.

The ease of using these professional quality watercolor paints makes up for what I missed about oil painting. They clean up easy, dry quick, and I am using wonderful paints and great papers as the surface. I had no idea watercolor paints could be so creamy and vibrant.

In oil painting I painted from dark to light, adding light colors to the shadows, but in watercolor I learned to go backwards, leaving the whites and moving in layers to darks. It wasn’t an easy lesson to learn. I’m applying the watercolor almost like the way I used the oils. I mix a bit on the palette, apply to the area I want then add straight color and mix on the surface. Works for me.

Beginning the next work

Depending on how you mix mediums into the oils, the painting could take long, or dry a little faster. So far I haven’t used any mediums to retard drying the watercolors so it’s not an issue unless I need an area to dry faster. I’m not a fan of painting wet on wet.

For this latest work I cropped another area of a photo that had a composition I liked. You can see my fond pebbles helping to block out areas by holding down paper around my subjects. This time I sketched in pencil, took a lunch break, and returned to start adding color. It happened to be such a day that I could do this.

By the time the day was over this painting was finished. I almost forgot to take a photo of the progress!