Friday, August 28, 2015

A little about my ART Process :


I haven't posted much about art my process recently.

These are a few close-up photos highlighting
my love for texture on my paintings!

 It all starts with a trip to my favorite art store

On a recent shopping spree at the Blick in San Francisco,
I couldn't resist a pic of my favorite isle...

From the gooey molding pastes
and yummy gels to the gorgeous fluid acrylics,
I love them all!
And frankly, I've tried them all.
I have my favorites for the effects
and techniques I use on my art.
Over time, through experimentation
there are results that I like right now.
Next year, it will probably be different!

A shot from my studio, some of my favorite colors.


 Mixing with Golden's Fluid Acrylics and High Flow
paints is just plain fun, when creating my palettes.
I really push the pigment by adding way too much water,
but I throw in some Glazing Medium to make up for it.
It becomes like a watercolor, even more fluid
and transparent, which is great for layering.


 So why all the fuss with the glazes?  
The thinner and watery my paint is, 
the nicer it settles into my textured "base" on my canvas.
 
 
It really shows off all those nooks and crevices 
that I created with the molding paste.
Depending on the type of paste I use,
the paint may get "soaked" up or it may
simply "lay" on top of the surface.

 My line work defines where I will apply color, and
defines the organic and abstract botanicals 
that I've "drawn" onto my textured surface.

 
Here is my drawing from my sketchbook,
where my inspiration stems from
when starting a painting.

This is my "line work", or my designs.
My lines are loose, but structured.
The shapes are organic, but stylized.
 
They are Me.

Setting out time to just draw or doodle
in my sketch book 
is an important part of my
art process.  
If I don't make that "time", I can get kind-of grumpy. :)
I need to constantly create,
my mind is always thinking of what to try next.
It doesn't have a switch.
 
Designing is what makes me the happiest.
 
Another blog post on that later!
 
 
My art to yours,
Yvette
 


 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

San Jose ART BOX - in the Rose Garden :

   




It's always a fun challenge to take on a project.
So that's just what I did!


This past Spring I painted an Art Box.

Whats that, you ask?
In my home town we have a wonderful program called
the San Jose Art Box Project
for artists to paint one of the many electrical boxes throughout our city. 


I was lucky enough to paint one inside the
historical Rose Garden.
The electrical box is actually located inside the grounds
of the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden on Naglee Ave.

My design concept was based off roses, ofcourse!
I was also influenced by the history of the garden
and incorporated a 1930's theme.

 I wanted to capture the different stages of roses
and designed those elements within my overall concept.
Each of the four sides and the top of the electrical box
would have a different rose found in the Rose Garden.


Staying true to my aesthetic, the roses needed to be
drawn in a style that represents my artwork.
Obviously, creating texture was not in the cards. 
But I still wanted them to have some sort of
structure and line-work, that I love.

The following are the final designs done with markers,
that I presented to the Rose Garden. 



Then I began my "templates" drawn to scale,
for the each of the sides of the box.



The family represents the 1930's theme, I was inspired by 
postcards printed at that time.  
The parents and young girl are taking a stroll through
the rose garden possibly on a Sunday afternoon.

So now the prep-work.  I taped and primed the surface of
the electrical box before drawing on my designs.




I thought it looked pretty cool after the first
side was drawn on.  It took longer that expected, ofcourse.


Here's a view from the street outside the Rose Garden.
  
I started painting the leaves, keeping it monochromatic.


Besides the occasional bug crawling in the paint, 
and the wind drying my palette,
It rained a few days as well...


 One day I painted inside a pop-up canopy.  
It worked until the wind picked up again!

 This is where I spent every weekend that I had free,
between two big art shows, family-life and a part-time job.
Just a stop a Starbucks for my Iced-Soy Latte
and I'm good for a few hours!
 
The yellow rose on the top, was one of
my favorite designs for this project.
My husband gives them to me on
our anniversary. :)

Here are some completed close-up details
showing my line-work which defines the
shapes and structures of the 
rose petals, leaves and thorns: 
 

 Rose-hips and Thorns!

 English Roses are another favorite of mine,
all those petals!


So here it is all completed. 
I wanted to keep the background soft and neutral,
so it would not compete with the rose designs.
It was finished with a few coats of varnish.
 


 This is my Joseph's Coat Rose, there is one just beyond
the box climbing on a fence close by. 


 So now it's off to a new project!
I hope my Art Box in the Rose Garden stays for many years,
and brings joy to those who visit!
I feel very fortunate to be so lucky for such an honor.
It was all worth it!



My art to yours,
Yvette



 

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

New Artwork :

When you have art shows coming up ...

you create art!!

{ Be sure to check my Shows & Exhibits Page for dates }

So here's a look at some brand new paintings ...



Azurine Blossom



Madison's Garden




Sunset Flora




Tayla Botanical




Violeta Botanical



My art to yours,
Yvette 




Friday, March 6, 2015

INSTAGRAM :

Have you been on Instagram?




It's where you'll find me most of the time.

I will post on my Instagram just about twice a week or more!


I'll share a new painting in the works :







 Here's  a favorite selfie of my girls :



Then here's me giving it try :


I'm not always consistent posting here on my blog,
so I invite you to pay a visit on my
Instagram - autumnlanestudios






My art to yours,
Yvette