Sketching & Art in 2018

Fortunately I was able to remember how to upload to this long-neglected blog. Even though I haven't posted over the last few years, I have not been a total slacker in the art department. I teach art, I make art, I do tons of needlework projects, and my cake business is still ongoing. Lately the majority of my art is oil paint, so my watercolor set has been a little neglected. Some new assignments from MATS Bootcamp 2018 will be a fun way for me to be the student instead of the teacher, and work with several mediums in the process.

Painting Again

"Donut Tempt Me," by Melissa B. Talma, 11x14, oil

2015 welcomes me back to my first love, painting. I had wonderful intentions to paint regularly in 2014, but other hobbies, work, and the usual in and outs of daily life had a way of taking up that precious art time. Several sketches and gift projects were completed of course, but not posted here (though I suppose it's never too late...)

After taking a wonderful "alla prima" solvent-free oil painting class last spring, I became inspired to try oils again, 20 years after I put them aside due to their repellent smell (mainly of the linseed oil and solvent). But now with the solvent-free method, I have loved every bit of it. The paint texture and application is so different than watercolor, yet the color mixing is all the same. I completed the above painting in four sessions, I was so excited to work on it. I cannot wait to do my next painting.

I plan to set up an Etsy page soon to sell my completed paintings, as yes, they will most certainly be for sale. But if you're interested in purchasing any of my work, by all means contact me directly.

Black and white January

Naturally curly.

January, ah, new beginnings. Simple, clean, fresh, new. This blog is going to be all those things in the hopes of a burst of creativity in 2014. I couldn't find one artwork/creativity challenge out there that spoke to my goals for this upcoming year, so I'm just making my own [Creativity 2014]. Anyone else who would like to join me, feel free - I've been so inspired by the work of others lately I couldn't resist breathing new life into my own endeavors!

Though I often distract myself from a single project completion by the sheer variety of artwork/crafts/projects I do, I no longer feel limited to watercolor or sketchbook drawings (though they are still very relevant to me). Photography, embroidery, and mixed media of many kinds has taken over so much of my creative life it would be a shame not to include those. To jumpstart the creative drive, here's a list of broad topics I'll be working on:

January & February: black and white, any media or subject
March & April: music (tune) or song lyrics-inspired illustrations, drawn or embroidered
May & June: people/portraits, any media
July & August: buildings/architecture, any media
September & October: scary/horror/nightmares/fears, any media
November & December: food, any media

At the beginning of each new topic (roughly every two months), I'll put a brief explanation of what that subject or topic means to me. If there's a kindred soul or several who'd like to do this with me, I am open to adding your interpretation as well as your artwork.

I look forward to Creativity 2014 - the Syncopated Sketchbook renewed.

Peach Delight - Color Fun!

I say this painting is color fun, because there's nothing better (to me) in art than complementary colors that play so well together. Ripe peaches have such gorgeous warm color tones; dark maroons, bright reds, oranges, school-bus yellows, and of course, the actual "peach" color... there's no way to combine them wrong. The complements to those warm colors are cool - royal blues, periwinkle, purples, and even some muddy greens. I haven't been keeping track of my painting time so vigilantly anymore, but I know this painting took less than 30 minutes to complete. Peach Study, watercolor, 6"x9".

Summer Painting

Back in early July, I painted this yellow daylily, which we have growing in a very non-conspicuous place on the side of the garage. The true color of the flower was eye-poppingly bright, but paint can only do so much to render those amazing colors found in nature! I enjoyed painting much larger than my usual sketches, this was on 9"x12" thin (too thin) watercolor paper. I am still used to working smaller but enjoyed the splattering and other fun effects I can  use more to my advantage on a larger painting. Daylily, watercolor, 9"x12".

Paul Bielewicz here! This is an illustration that I made for my daughter Natalie for her second birthday. Natalie loves tigers, so I thought it would be fun to create a "special" illustration for her (note her name hidden in the tiger's stripes!). She loved it!

The illustration is 5.5" x 8" and is ink and watercolor.

Banana Muffin

"Banana Muffin," watercolor, 6" x 6"

A tasty homemade banana muffin, captured with some wet-in-wet technique and splattering. I am not sure how long this little painting took, but I bet it wasn't much more than 20 minutes. The color scheme is a little lackluster, as the flavor of this little treat does seem to warrant some brighter colors!