Dreaming Lotus Studios

Changing of the Guard - A different Blogspot

2012-02-12T12:01:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone!

I realized I have too much going on, and I have been neglectful of this little blog - I am now posting on a more regular basis on:

www.danaaldis.blogspot.com

So please, "like" or join me there, I will be posting my new projects and new pieces.

I look forward to seeing you there, and don't forget to comment and say hi!

Warmly, Dana
aldisdl@gmail.com
danaaldis.blogspot.com

A Wedding & A Guest Book

2010-07-18T19:07:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate to witness my friends Hugh & Nora's wedding yesterday at Lone Tree Point, near La Conner, WA. It could not have been a more gorgeous day. The skies were cloudy in the early afternoon, but by the time the ceremony started, the sky was clear and the water sparkled in the afternoon sun, with a light breeze... And Nora's dress was divine, she looked radiant, Hugh looked dashing in his suit. A lovely couple.

Hugh & Nora commissioned me to make a Guest Book for the Ceremony/Reception - after much deliberation I picked a lovely japanese woodblock print. I did not want it to be too feminine nor to masculine, but something that reflected their calm demeanor and personalities... I feel that I came to a happy medium. The album is ribbon bound, with lined, cream colored pages. I am hoping the guests filled the entire book. That would be wonderful!

Warm Up 2x3s, Part Deux

2010-07-10T19:05:00.001-07:00

From the top - Dogwood Flower, Apricots, Old Man in the Ball.
2"x3" Oil on cardstock.

Warm Up 2x3s

2010-07-08T20:09:00.000-07:00

A couple days ago I started a series of 2"x3" paintings on cardstock - I think they would qualify as ATC size pieces. Just for fun. They are quick pieces - under an hour each. Interested? Email me. More tomorrow.

Win A Bronze Mouse - from Steve Worthington

2010-06-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

One of the artists I love to follow is Jelaine Faunce. She's a wonderful artist. She just completed a project with sculptor Steve Worthington. Now Steve is having a contest - to name his new sculptures - three exquisite turtles. The winner will get ... a mouse!

Check out the contest on his blog:
http://www.steveworthingtonart.blogspot.com/
(I also posted the info below)

and also check out Jelaine Faunce's blog:
http://www.jelainefaunce.blogspot.com/

(from Steve Worthington's blog)

So I thought I'd have another contest and give away a mouse. But wait, there's more! I'm going to give away two mice.
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First way to win...

I've just had my new mid sized turtles finished and photographed. But they don't have any names. So, whoever comes up with the trio of names for these turtles I like best wins a mouse (the winner can pick any mouse from Sprightly, Nosey and Chubby).
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You have to post your names as a comment, or email them if you have trouble with the comment thing working (put 'name that turtle' in the subject line).
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They can be any kind of names you like. Descriptive names, like my mice, or actual names, like my tiny bunnies.
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As you can see, one turtle is minding its own business, one is quite bold, and one a bit shy.
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If, by some strange coincidence someone comes up with the same names as someone else, the earlier poster wins.
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If I pick 3 names from 2 or more posts, I'll give it to the person with 2 names I picked, or roll a dice for the winner if it's a name each from three posters.
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If it's 3 names in one later post, all of which were posted earlier by separate people, the all in one gets it.
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You can have 2 tries each, 3 names per try. So you can have an early go, and hold off for a bit for a second go.
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If some other permutation of unforeseen strangeness prevails requiring a judging decision, I'll decide as fairly as I can and my decision will be final (hey, it's my blog after all!).
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So what are you waiting for! Name that turtle (and that one, and that one...)! Deadline is my next post, when I'll announce the winners.
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Second way to win...
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If you have a blog (it must have existed before today!), you can enter by posting an announcement of this contest with a link to this post on your blog.
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Let me know by commenting on this post, or email me ('blog entry' in the subject line) and you'll be in the blog draw for a mouse of your choice (from Nosey, Sprightly and Chubby).
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Any bloggers who enter before the end of this weekend (before June 14) gets a double entry - their name goes in the hat twice!
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So there you go! Have fun and good luck! I'm looking forward to naming my turtles next week (deadline is my next post, when I'll announce the winners).

More Tiny Paintings

2010-06-06T18:48:00.000-07:00

*Money Tree
MetroCard size painting
2 1/8" x 3 3/8"
Oil on Cardstock

*Jade Cicada
2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Oil on Matboard

Single Fare - Painting on NYC MetroCards

2010-04-30T20:54:00.001-07:00

Well, it's last minute, the paint is dry, I'll mail it out tomorrow. I just couldn't resist trying my hand at painting ATC size - rather, NYC MetroCard size. 2 1/8"x 3 3/8". It's for a show in NYC - opens next week. I was planning to do more pieces, but life just got in my way.
Check out the website. And they have an event page on FaceBook.
www.singlefare.blogspot.com

HOW TO FEEL MISERABLE AS AN ARTIST

2010-04-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

Thank you, F. Lennox Campello - for your wonderful blog, www.dcartnews.blogspot.com - and thank you for posting this:

HOW TO FEEL MISERABLE AS AN ARTIST
(or, what not to do, underline any that currently apply)

1. Constantly compare yourself to other artists.
2. Talk to your family about what you do and expect them to cheer you on.
3. Base the success of your entire career on one project.
4. Stick to what you know.
5. Undervalue your expertise.
6. Let money dictate what you do.
7. Bow to societal pressures.
8. Only do work that your family would love.
9. Do whatever the client/customer/gallery owner/patron/investor asks.
10. Set unachievable/overwhelming goals, to be accomplished by tomorrow.

Before and After

2010-04-18T19:45:00.000-07:00

In grad school at the New York Academy of Art, one of our teachers once told us, never be afraid of re-working a piece. I have many unfinished pieces around the studio, languishing in that limbo of being close to completion, but not quite there. Here are two pieces that I either re-worked or "finished" (aka brought to a level of completion) - at least, for now.
Both are 8"x10" oils on Canvas Panel. Both are Available for purchase. Please contact me if you are interested.

Expressive Figure Painting - First "Long" Painting

2009-10-18T19:27:00.000-07:00

I am taking a class at Gage with Barbara Fugate - (again) - Expressive Figure Painting. It's nice to have a class because it's more in depth than the workshop. I feel that I have learned a lot about color, and that there is still much more to learn! Thankfully we have another 5 sessions left in the class. Enough time for one more large painting and some quick studies. Yay!

This painting took four (three hour) sessions - though we spent some of the time in lecture and demos. 30x36 inches, oil paints on stretched cotton canvas.

The goals of this painting were: Use a unified color harmony - I chose a Secondary Triadic color scheme - orange, violet, green - with Oranges as my dominant color. I also chose to neutralize my colors as my primary "mixer", though I also tinted (added white) and shaded (added black). And finally, compositionally - I used multiple diagonals to lead the eye, cropped the figure on at least 2 edges of the canvas - and also used elements of the negative space surrounding the figure to engage the viewer and support the figure/subject.

Sweet Tooth

2009-09-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

12x16 Oils on canvas. Again, a mask painting. I just love my masks. I can paint them over and over again. This time I put a Javanese Batik in the background. In retrospect, it was more of a challenge than I expected. But the overall result is alright. I still have to work over the mask and the fortune cookies.
This piece now has me thinking that I would like to do eleven more - same format - and publish a calendar. Now all I have to do is paint, paint, paint.

Whitney - Gamblin Torrit Grey Competiton

2009-08-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

This is my entry for the Gamblin Torrit Grey Competition. Gamblin creates the Torrit Grey Pigment from waste pigments throughout the year. The rules are you are only allowed to use White, Black and Torrit Grey. The Torrit Grey pigment shifts every year, and it is not sold in stores, but given complimentary when you purchase Gamblin paints or mediums. I got my tube at the art store at the Lyme Academy in Connecticut.

This painting is a portrait of Whitney - I just loved her unique hairstyle - 12x16 oil on panel.

Torrit Grey 2nd Pass

2009-08-03T19:56:00.000-07:00

Second Pass on the Torrit Grey Painting. I added a graphic/spray paint-y background - as my friend Debra says, "urban" element... Cleaned up the hair a little... still a ways to go.

It's all about Torrit Grey (Gamblin)

2009-07-25T19:56:00.001-07:00

This is the 1st pass on a painting I am doing using Torrit Grey by Gamblin. If you haven't heard of it, check out Gamblin Paints website: http://www.gamblincolors.com/torrit.grey/index.html
The deadline is August 15th. The rules are: you can only use white, torrit Grey and black. So basically, you are doing a "grisaille" - that's French for "grey" painting. (it sounds so sexy in French) Or also known as a monochrome painting. It's all about values. I first toned the 12x16 inch panel with Torrit Grey cut with thinner. Then drew the portait head, mixed up a bunch of value mixes of greys. It feels good to paint again. Even though I admit to the guilty pleasure of listening to "Eclipse" on audiobook while I paint.
The model is a girl named Whitney. This portrait head is from a photograph I had in my archives. I just loved the hairstyle. Now I have to consider - what to do about the background?

The last Donation - Floating Bridge Press - The Great Art Party

2009-07-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

This is my final donation for this year - I say that now, of course.. But I think I have donated at least 4 pieces to various causes this year. I enjoyed this piece. It's approx 6x8 inches, acrylic on panel. It's one of my balinese masks. I was considering doing a layer in acrylics, but then due to the deadline crunch (yes, I completely procrastinated) I just went ahead and kept going just in acrylics. It made an interesting challenge, trying to blend. My parents sent me a bunch of masks to work off of - which I LOVE to do - I had forgotten I had left some of my favorites with them. My dad has graciously lent me a series of Japanese wooden masks from his collection as well. I'm really looking forward to do a series. Can't get enough of masks.

ArtHouse Co-Op Canvas Project - Five Words - Five Visual Interpretations

2009-07-02T19:25:00.000-07:00

Top to Bottom: Reverence, TopStar, Density, Snowman, Order
My five interpretations to the words - Acrylic on 3"x3" canvas. Art House Co-Op Canvas Project - they sure do have fun projects. It was more of a challenge than I anticipated, the canvases are really small compared to what I was working on this past weekend, when the smallest size was 16"x20"!

Intensive Painting Workshop at Gage Academy!

2009-06-30T15:33:00.001-07:00

Here are the final results of a whirlwind painting workshop I took at Gage Academy this past weekend. The instructor was artist Barbara Fugate. The title of workshop was "Painting the Double Model Composition". It was a two day workshop. On day one we painted 3 studies (16x20s) 45 minutes each. One in cool tones, one in warm tones and one in warm/cool tones. The final painting was done on stretched canvas - the minimum size (!) was 24x36. We had some minimal drawing before we launched into about 7 hours of direct painting - most of it done on the second day.
It was a very good workshop. I would like to take her again. Barbara Fugate's style is very different than mine - she is also a great teacher. I learned a lot, and I'm still trying to process it!

March Theme - Pig

2009-04-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

Here She is... My March Pig! It's our lovely brass pig at the Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle. Fun challenge. I'll revisit this painting in a couple days or so. I feel it could use a little more tweaking. But overall, I'm pleased. Now on to April.

Project 12 - January Painting Theme - Obama

2009-03-16T20:19:00.001-07:00

Well, this is a little late... but this is my debut painting for a group project I started with 5 friends. We are doing a 8x10 painting a month, based on a theme decided by one artist (per month) Suzanne picked "Obama" for January. Debra picked "Candy Hearts" for February, and Kim picked "Pig" for March... And yes, *cough* *cough* I'm a little behind on posting. But I am definitely going to get February and March finished by the end of... well, March.

Gone, Baby, Gone

2009-03-16T20:11:00.000-07:00

I finished the 6 sketchbooks and mailed them off this weekend. They are off to sunny California. It was nice to do some bookbinding. I think I'll work on some sets this week. Photo Album/Guest Books in matching box. I have to make at least one anyway, for my new niece - her babyshower is next month!

Oh.. and before I forget (again) my etsy site is www.dreaminglotus.etsy.com Unfortunately nothing is up now... I had to pull the inventory for some local shows over the holiday season. But I should have more up soon! Really!

Back to BookBinding - Silverpoint Sketchbooks Commission

2009-03-13T22:54:00.000-07:00

I've returned to bookbinding for a little while. Can't seem to get it out of my system. There is something comforting about knowing the process, the end result - and just focus on the craft. I am making 6 sketchbooks for a good friend of mine. The paper is clay coated for silverpoint drawing. I used decorative japanese papers for the covers.

The photo shows the beginnings of the journals. Tomorrow they will be assembled and sewn.

And this all reminds me.. I need to start making more work for my Etsy site too. So much to do!

Drawing Workshop @ Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle

2009-02-17T16:33:00.001-08:00

My drawing workshop is a "GO"! I have 5 students! wooo hoo! I'm sooo excited. I'm really looking forward to teaching again. It's a 3 day workshop, so it will be a long weekend. But so worth it.

In this Portrait Workshop we will use a technique called "Trois Crayons" - it involves using white, black and red (sanguine or terra cotta) chalks (in this case, Prismacolor pencils) on a toned (Canson Ingres) grey paper. Above are two of my "trois crayons" drawings. "Trois Crayons" is French for "three pencils"- it's a beautiful drawing technique used by Fragonard, Watteau and Rubens.

Tribeca Ball donation - Final

2009-02-17T16:23:00.001-08:00

Here it is.. the final piece. It's as "done" as I could make it. I could have used another pass or two, but that's it - packed and shipped today off to NYC. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

The Tribeca Ball will take place on March 2nd, 2009 at the New York Academy of Art in TriBeCa - 111 Franklin Street. All donated artwork will be sold at a fixed price of $350, split between the artist and NYAA. The artwork will be on display on the 5th floor of the Academy and will be available for purchase during the Ball.

NYAA Tribeca Ball donation

2009-02-16T19:23:00.000-08:00

And here it is, the 1st pass (oils) of my donation to the New York Academy Tribeca Ball. It's on 12"x16" stretched canvas. I need to put one more layer on it and then it's off to NYC! It still has some quirks to fix, but overall it seems to be working alright. I think.

The Toad and the Cicada - 1st Pass (Acrylics)

2009-02-11T15:40:00.001-08:00

Another 6x7-ish painting on 1/4" mdf panel - from objects in my vast collection of knick-nacks. The Toad was a gift to my husband - it opens up and there is a flower (waterlily and lilypad) inside... It was supposed to be part of his grand scheme to propose to me, but he didn't end up using it. And the Cicada - it's cast (I think, since I have seen other pieces like it) from Black Clay. Got it while I was in Bejing, China.

And the driftwood was found on one of my daily dog walks.

New Blogspot!

2009-02-04T17:35:00.000-08:00

So, I went a little nuts - I set up another blogspot - http://www.danaaldis.blogspot.com/ - I wanted to post my "Fine Art" work there - check it out if you like. It's all a work in progress. Here's my most recent little work! And now that I have downgraded my Cable to just basic, that means (hopefully) more productive time in front of the easel. Hopefully. Unless I start surfing Etsy more.

Painting #3 10/13/08

2008-10-19T21:17:00.001-07:00

Painting #2 10/12/08

2008-10-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

The Forgotten Works - 30 Paintings in 30 Days

2008-10-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

30 Paintings in 30 days! Here's the first one - Done on Oct. 11th, 2008
8"x10", oils on canvas panel.

Thinking Inside the Box - Angle Gallery, Seattle

2008-10-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple images of a Box I made for the "Thinking Inside the Box" Show at the Angle Gallery, Tashiro-Kaplan Building, Seattle. Each artist purchased a wooden box ($20) and everything else was left to them. Kinda like a shadow box. Some boxes were more square in format, about 6 of us had the older model, a little more rectangular, and deeper.

My Box has been gilded, painted with oils and acrylics.

Thanks to Greg McCorkle of Gallery OK for setting up this show.

Final - Lana & Pheny

2008-08-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

Finally - I found the time to finish the painting, or at least bring it to a conclusion. In painting you sometimes reach a point, either to leave it for a while, or keep going ad infinitum. I chose the former. For now.

More images are on my webalbum with Picasa.
http://picasaweb.google.com/aldisdl/Chronology

Evolution Mask Painting

2008-08-09T09:58:00.000-07:00

Evolution, the 3rd Painting I did for the Art Anonymous Auction is in my sister (and her husband's) collection.

Stay tuned for more pics of the Lana & Pheny painting. It's almost done - still have to finish the lacework on Lana's dress. I've clocked around 48 hours on this one painting. So far.

Second Pass, Day 2

2008-07-25T16:52:00.001-07:00

Second Pass on the clothes... Faces tomorrow...

Underpainting 2 & Second Pass, started

2008-07-24T17:29:00.001-07:00

I finished the Underpainting and moved on to the "Second Pass" on the background.

Lana & Pheny, Stage 1&2

2008-07-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

24"x30 stretched Canvas - Oil painting

Drawing done with Philippe Devaud's handmade "black" pastel. Background "blocked-in" with oil paint thinned with Liquin and mineral spirits.

Sold!

2008-05-25T19:17:00.000-07:00

2 out of 3 of my donations to Art Anonymous sold! A good home to Grumpy and to Venice.
Yay!

http://www.corcoran.org/membership/friends_events.htm

My three are #269,272,275!

2008-04-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

Here are the three panels I donated to "Art Anonymous" - A show that will open in May at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington DC.
Each Panel is 5x7 inches, painted in Acrylics and gilded. "Evolution", "Grumpy" and "Venice"

Corcoran Show - May 2008

2008-04-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

I just finished 3 pieces for a show at the Corcoran School of Art in DC. They will be part of a fundraiser.

For more information check out www.dcartnews.blogspot.com.

All three pieces are done on Ampersand GessoBoard. They are painted in Acrylics, with a layer of gold leaf. I antiqued the leaf so that it would not be too bright.

Pictures coming soon!

Recent Commissioned Boxes

2008-04-14T16:36:00.000-07:00

Please disregard the Date listed on the image. These pieces were created this month. Always a work in progress!

So, this is my other life - just can't seem to be able to decide which I enjoy more. These are pictures of some recent commissioned boxes. The First set of pictures are for a presentation Jewelry Box. The inside Dimensions are 8x10 (inches). The box cover paper is from my trip to Italy two years ago. The paper is either Florentine or Venetian. Can't remember which. The lining of the box is a deep blue teal bookcloth, and it is tied with a black satin ribbon. It is a lovely box.
The Second box is a take on the Business Card Case for a friend of mine. I inlaid a picture of his logo to personalize it. The coin in the tray of the box is a nickel, just to give an idea of scale.

Sara's Fundraiser

2008-04-02T19:43:00.000-07:00

This painting was completed for a Fundraiser for Sara Chroussis. She one of my students at Shepherd University, in Shepherdstown, WV. She succumbed to a respiratory illness on New Year's Eve - she was engaged and a semester away from graduating. We will miss her very much.

Painting is in acrylics, with gold leaf background, on 5x7 Ampersand Gesso Panel. The frame is cut from pine strips with grooves cut into them to fit the panel.

Alizarin Glaze

2008-02-14T09:48:00.000-08:00

I added a glaze of Alizarin Crimson to the the warm reds of the flower, to cool the petals, and deepened the shadows of the leaves with the Alizarin as well. Still have a ways to go. Each step of the process brings new questions- how do proceed, to get the results you want?

Phase Four

2008-01-28T18:00:00.000-08:00

What a difference a glaze makes!

Second Thalo Glaze

2008-01-24T09:12:00.001-08:00

I felt that the first pass with the Thalo Glaze was not intense enough, so I added an additional layer.

Lotus - Phase 2

2008-01-15T18:35:00.000-08:00

Glaze of Thalo Blue.

New Painting - Stage 1

2008-01-10T13:47:00.000-08:00

Under Drawing for a new painting - done in pastels on an 8"x10" Amperdand Clayboard panel, with 3 coats of acrylic gesso.
The handmade pastels were made with Philippe Devaud's technique of handmade pastels. I used "venetian red" for the flower petals, and the "black" pastel for the leaves and surrounding. I manipulated the pastels with pastel brushes, a paper stump, kneaded and hard erasers.
This piece is based on a photograph by a Virginia Photographer, Joel Boches.

What I did in New York

2007-11-13T13:42:00.000-08:00

Well, the workshop I was supposed to attend was cancelled, but no worries. I ended up with private lessons! Philippe and Ciara turned it into a vacation. Debra put Philippe to work in the studio. Philippe put me to work on a copy of a P.P. Prudhon copy. Needless to say I was thrilled with the results, and so were my parents - AND it's not finished!

This painting is 11"x14" on Ampersand Gessoboard. It is done in oils using powdered pigments, an alkyd/linseed oil medium. I used Philippe's set of Devaud Brushes to manipulate the paint and blend, blend, blend.

Philippe plans to return to New York in the summer - still needs to set up the dates. I highly recommend this workshop. I have learned a lot in the process. Philippe is very generous with his information and really wants to spread the word. This workshop is great for artists interested in the more technical aspects of painting, be it oil, acrylic or watercolor. A good foundation in drawing as well as painting experience is preferred.

Check out his website: www.artofdevaud.com

Evolution Series

2007-10-11T19:26:00.000-07:00

I have always enjoyed masks. I picked up three in Bali, Indonesia. They are painted in oils on 5"x7" MDF panels. Then I gilded the background and antiqued the finish. I am entering them into a show in NYC. Going to visit some friends.

Space Needle

2007-10-09T17:09:00.000-07:00

I'm a recent transplant to Seattle. I arrived in May 07 - so I enjoyed the beautiful summer weather, and now I'm experiencing Fall weather in the NorthWest... bring on the rain. The building in the picture (if you don't recognize it) is the Experience Music Project, with the Space Needle in the background.