artescape

Like everything in life; there are postives and negatives to all artists' studio situations. When I first moved to Brevard County I had a small studio in my home. It was a big corner really... and it didn't take long before I outgrew it and knew I needed a bigger space.

I currently have a large studio space; Artescape Studio,  where I have gathered all kinds of supplies and inspirations over the years. I am messy! I love that if I drip paint on the floor... it's okay.

Having a home studio meant I could work throughout the day and evening; in between my daily tasks of raising a family. Working away from home means organizing myself to have ample studio time...  making sure I get there regularly.

There's nothing like walking through the doorway and getting out the paint and paper and glue... turning off the world and escaping through the creative process.

I am loving the challenges of the new techniques I am "playing" with; balancing design, texture and pattern. I have so many new ideas for these mixed media pieces... exploring many of my past "subjects" in a very different way. Sea turtles and lush tropical landscapes and koi ponds...it's difficult to stay focused :)

 

Artists should always challenge themselves. We should never be afraid to make new discoveries.

Mystery of Birds 18"x24"

new work in progress 8"x10"

Pretty Paper

Girl with Papaya

It's been a very busy time lately... I'm just finishing up a project that has been "challenging" but extremely rewarding. I organized What A Difference A Day Makes; 24 Hour Art Challenge for my gallery; Fifth Avenue Art Gallery in Melbourne Florida. (March 1-31, 2013), go see . This exhibition challenged 24 artists, including myself, to create a piece of artwork within an assigned 24 hour period... oh, and just so you didn't pre-plan everything down to the last stroke, you were given a list of prompts the morning of your workday. One of the most exciting parts of the project is the collaboration with a local creative marketing and branding company; Brandt Ronat & Company. They partnered with us to videotape a portion of each of the 24 artists workday and created an incredible video documentary all about the project, see it online. Our goal, along with the experience of the project was to raise money and awareness for Very Special Arts Brevard. They bring art to children and adults with special needs. It's a great local organization playing a very important part in enriching lives through art.

I used the challenge to push myself not only to complete a piece of art in 24 hours, but to use the techniques I have been "playing with" over the last year or so. I love the work of Anne Bagby and also love printmaking! The process includes aspects of painting and printmaking with texture, stencils, stamps; designing patterned paper by hand then using the paper as a element of the composition. I am enjoyed the tactile experience of layering with gesso and paint... getting very messy in the process and then playing with the design of the composition. My finished piece, Girl with Papaya was definitely challenging to complete in 24 hours... I looked up the list of prompts and chose the three that I would work with: rare, metamorphosis and flourish, then starting working on ideas for the composition. I am happy to have finished it... in 17 hours, and happy with the comments I have been hearing about the work;  it's very encouraging.
I'll be finishing my second piece soon and working on many more ideas for this new direction... I still love working with paint, and the stencils and patterns are finding their way into that work as well.
Prints of Girl with Papaya are available here.

Summer Inspiration

"How hot is it?" "It's really hot." Well of course it's hot... it summertime. Along with the heat comes bits of childhood memories of wonderful summers. And August... well August is great, it's my birthday month. I just returned from my annual week away at "art camp", and I am so inspired to get to my studio and paint everyday. I am pretty sure it is a combination of the two... summer and art camp. Spending a week with 80 or 90 artists who are so excited to making art and enjoying the natural beauty of the mountains has a way of renewing your spirit.

I am painting away... wanting to share the beauty I see, in a unique way, my personal voice through paint and sometimes paper and ink.

landscape in progress

day 2

New Directions in Bits and Pieces

on the "drawing board", work in progress

I know that change and new direction is healthy for any artist. For me, art and the art-making I do is all about my view of the world around me. It would certainly be boring if "the view" never changed.

Any artist who has ever tried to "ride the wave" of past masterpieces knows that a fresh perspective of the subject leads to growth and success. Some people love change...my mom was one who moved the furniture in our home just about weekly. Walking in the dark was definitely not safe. I very rarely, "move the furniture". Change for change-sake...is dumb.

I am however, very excited about all the "changes" and exploration going on in my art studio. I love texture, it has been a part of my art for years; working on canvases and board textured with gesso and collaged elements. After many years of collecting bits and pieces of the treasures that capture my attention I am venturing into more mixed media. I just know for sure, that I want to be excited every day to get to my studio and work.

I like complications...how to take all those bits and pieces and share my vision of the subject...or lack of subject. It is not easy...pulling so many possibilites together in a cohesive and artful way. That would be boring.

Stay-tuned...I am working to finish some new pieces. I hope they will convey my excitement and passions for the "treasures" that are here for our taking, everyday.

Art = Happy

It seems like months have passed since I settled in at my easel. I have paintings waiting...calling my name... "Real-life events" can knock you down for sure. I miss my mom, everyday :)

I realized a lot of things this summer... I Love making art, I love strange and silly things, I love the element of surprise that comes with printmaking and paper...nice paper. So I gathered up all my inks and brayers and some of that lovely paper and got busy! I have been smiling for 3 days :) printmaking. Making lots of prints, and planning books, and series... I always get carried away.

I'm pretty sure this is what art-making should be about, at least for me, for now.


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The Wild Life

Wildacres Retreat Wildacres, North Carolina

My annual week at art camp is sadly over. I will miss my fellow artists; new friends and old friends. It is wonderful to be immersed in a rich environment of art, artists and art-making; collaborations are inevitable, and force one from their comfort zone. I have been attending Ringling College of Art's continuing ed summer program for 11 years.
My printmaking class was made up of a range of art students; young and old, professional and new explorers. By day two, we are the "printmakers"... we cut, chisel, carve, scratch, ink and press. There are four types of printmaking; Intalio (printing the ink below the surface; etching, drypoint), Relief (printing the ink above the surface; woodcut, linocut collagraph), Planographic (lithography; printing the ink on a flat surface by means of the principle that grease attracts grease and repels water) and stencil (silk screen, serigraphy; forcing ink through a design of tiny holes onto your surface). We explored 3 of them through linocuts, drypoint, and monoprints. I enjoying working with smaller projects this year which allowed for more exploration and experimentation. I must be getting old...my latest printing session this year was only till 2:30am, in years past I have found myself there hard at work till 5:00 am.
Printmaking is elusive and nearly impossible to truly control; this is what I find so appealing about the medium. One missed step or slip of the hand and your "masterpiece" might make a background for some mixed media artwork, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The next time you see art made via a printmaking process...show some love!

The creative process expands

Last night at dinner we were talking about possible creative avenues we might explore for the evening. I had mentioned my families often unscripted, spur of the moment, movie making escapades ... Of course if you are an artist, you call them "short films".
So after a crazy night of writing a script, casting actors and filming... Jere I sit trying to edit our clips to make a movie. All in the name of ART.



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Location:Wild Acres Rd,Marion,United States

So Many Techniques...So Little Time

Printmaking encompasses a multitude of techniques. We have working hard, trying new things and new approaches to methods practiced in the past. There is always lots of removal of ink before the paper and ink meet. my friend and table mate Lind is working to prepare her plate for a run through the press,



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Location:Wild Acres Rd,Marion,United States

Dirty hands...finally

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We have been working with black ink only, until today. These are 2 of my Lino cuts of fruit bats. Today we have incorporated color and I have been working to make small abstract pieces. Now to draw out my next piece...another relief, trying to decide on wood or linoleum.

Location:Wild Acres Rd,Marion,United States

Late Nights in the Studio

It is already day 3 of the workshop... Actually day 4 since it is 1:30 am and I am just getting back from the printmaking studio. Tuesday and Wednesday are late nights, but Thursday nights can easily turn into Friday morning, since it is our last night to work. I had some success today with relief and intaglio...Lino block and drypoint etching. Tomorrow, pictures of some finished prints.


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Location:Wild Acres Rd,Marion,United States

Arrived

So wonderful to be in the mountains again! Everything is refreshing. Memories of this special week, for the last 11 years... Friends that have come and gone.


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Location:Wild Acres Rd,Marion,United States

How big is Elkin?

Elkin, NC population: I don't know specific numbers, but small.
It does have the most wonderful restaurant though...always a stop at Twenty & Main on my way to Wildacres. My nephew Jeff Gibbs is chef/owner along with his fiancé Erika.


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Location:S Bridge St,Jonesville,United States

Travels to the Wild

Another year has slipped by, not so smoothly as many past. Too many sad times lately, so up to the mountains, to the "wild"...Wildacres. The back of my Suburban is stuffed with art supplies, therapy :) two hours to drive to get to my nephews for a phenomenal meal, I am sure.


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Location:Richburg,United States

Inspired...again?

I am going to describe myself as a "Southern Expressionist"...yes I am. I heard that term several years ago, when I was putting together answers to interview questions for the Artlist's artist of the month. I was describing myself as an artist...where my inspiration comes from. My artwork is heavily influenced by my southern roots and my love for the southern landscape. My friends in Alabama, where I spent the first 8 years of my life, would say that "Florida isn't truly the South". But I disagree...Florida is the oasis of the South. Along with magnolias and fried okra...we are surrounded by sandy beaches and lush tropical gardens...and alligators...they are Southern :)
My husband and I travelled to what he called the "Trinity" of all things Southern recently; Savannah, Charleston and New Orleans. Truly 3 magnificient cities. And the inspiration thing, it is on overload. I love the South! I am sorting through all the images I captured digitally, and hanging on to the emotions tied to them. My goal is to get to the canvas as often as possible this summer, and share them with you.
First...let me get a coke and a moonpie...no, an oyster po'boy, left-over fried chicken from last night and some fried green tomatoes.
Happy Summer

Looking Back

I have been thinking back on a very special group of paintings created for "Roadtrip, Impressions of a Memory", the solo exhibition about the trip I took with my dad. The trip was about re-connecting with my father's past...the people and places of his childhood in rural Appalachia.

As usual for me, I got excited about the possiblities and pushed myself for four or five months to express it all...the stories, his memories, the ties to my childhood memories; a plethora of material to process. 15 paintings, 13 monoprints, a book and a video later... a wonderful exhibition. I can call it wonderful... I am happy when I get a BIG idea, and can work out all the crazy details and plans, and hold true to the original sentiment.

It is nice to look back...to that magical trip with my dad, to the stories I will forever treasure and to the artwork that was my attempt to capture many moments in time.

I will be talking about my artwork and the exhibition to a group at Brevard Art Museum tomorrow. My personal take on my creative process is that I am always striving to share my passions through my art. Some of my process may change over the years..but I hope the passion always shines through.

You can read more about "Roadtrip, Impressions of a Memory" at http://www.shop.reneedecator.com/collections/road-trip-impressions-of-a-memory

Sharing a Bath With You

Back to my bird friends! My newest painting was inspired by the outside garden at Eau Gallie Florist, here in the Melbourne area. I collaborated with two quilters; Ellen Lindner and Lynn Greenberg for an exhibition of quilters and artists. We chose to each use Eau Gallie Florists and my color palette as our inspiration.
I took a canvas that I had previously textured and covered with color, to transform into my expression of a garden. It's springtime! and if I am not painting or creating...I am gardening.The blue-jay in the painting was not there when I took my reference photos, but I am sure he is a regular visitor.
(the original and prints are available)

All 4 Love

All 4 Love is on the walls! We had a wonderful opening last Friday night (March 4th). Hundreds of artists and art lovers checked out the 80 artworks that make up the show. We still have tickets available for the March 19th reception and the books are for sale too. All for a great cause...we're helping raise money for Sentinels Of Freedom Space Coast. They assist the needs of severely injured vets returning to live in Brevard County, with a 4-year life scholarship. Buy a ticket and take an original artwork from the exhibit home with you...

The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery is located at 1470 Highland Avenue,
321-259-8261. http://www.fifthavenueartgallery.com/

I Promise I Have

I promise I have been working...painting, collecting, pasting, reading, looking, planning, dreaming...lots of dreaming. It's all art stuff, artist's stuff.

I wish I had the 10 new paintings that are in my head, on canvas...but I don't. I will though, the Good Lord willing. I have been focusing all my creativity toward a project; a big project. "All 4 Love" is an art exhibition extravaganza I am putting together to raise money for a wonderful organization called Sentinels of Freedom Space Coast. They assist the needs of severely injured military personnel returning home; to Brevard County where I live.

80 artists are creating 80 works of art. 80 tickets will be sold and the ticket holders will take home the 80 works of art! An exhibition book will also be available for sale, including images of all the artwork and more.

I am finishing up my little artwork for the show, it's called "Momma's Boy". My little dachshund Spike, waiting for my return...or maybe he saw a squirrel...no, definitely waiting for his "mom".

All 4 Love opens on Friday, March 4th at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery. Tickets to the March 19 reception are now on sale at the gallery. Buy a ticket, buy a book...it's All 4 Love!
read more on our facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119355798133455

I Promise I Have

I promise I have been working...painting, pasting, collecting, reading, looking, planning, dreaming :) lots of dreaming. It's all art stuff, artist's stuff.

I wish I had the 10 new paintings that are in my head, on canvas...but I don't. I will though...the Good Lord willing.

I have been focussing all my creativity toward a project; a big project.

"All 4 Love", is an art exhibition I am putting together to raise money and awareness for a great organization called Sentinels of Freedom Space Coast. They assist the needs of severely injured military personnel who are returning home...in this case, to my home; Brevard County, Florida.

80 artists created 80 works of art and 80 tickets will be sold to a reception on March 19th where the 80 ticketholders will take home an original artwork from the exhibition. You can go to our event page on facebook to read more about it. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119355798133455

An exhibition book will be available for sale, images of all the artworks are included.

I am still finishing my little piece for the show entitled, "Momma's Boy"; my little dachshund waiting for my return, or maybe he saw a squirrel...no, definitely waiting on his "mom".

All 4 Love opens on Friday, March 4th at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery. Tickets to the March 19 reception are now on sale. Buy a ticket, buy a book...it's All 4 Love!

blackbird sun

blackbird sun
Originally uploaded by Renee paints

Fall is here and along with it comes the wonderful magic of great flocks of birds in the sky. Florida is the destination for many species, this time of year.Some winged visitors are heading even further south, but resting along the way. I love the sight!
My fascination with blackbirds is shared by artists all over the world. In the western part of the country they are revered... a good luck symbol. I have been including them in my artwork for many years. I feel a connection with birds in general. They are one of my favorite of God's creation. Blackbirds are cocky. I love their attitude, their strut!
"Blackbird Sun", is a combination of acrylic and collage using a selection of Japanese papers (washi).
Don't forget to look upward this time of year!