How I clean my paint brushes and palette knives

An artist should know how to treat paint brushes and palette knives with care.  From the class of Ed Furuike in Honolulu, I learned how to paint with a palette knife and how to clean it. I first wipe off the excess paint in a newspaper or an old phonebook page, then clean it with a baby wipe sheet.  Works like magic!

When I'm finished painting with my brushes, I dip them in turpenoid and blot them on newspaper or paper towels.  Then, I clean each brush with Lava soap and rinse it clean, then rub it on Octagon soap to soften the bristles.  Rinse thoroughly and let the brushes dry upright in an empty container.  Taking care of your brushes and palette knives will assure a longer life.

New Art Website

I have transferred most of my posts to my new WordPress website (http://paintingsbycynthia.com).  Please check it out and let me know what you think.

Dune Shadows Update

I mentioned Dune Shadows in my post of 12/27/11.  It is now hanging on the wall of our friend's home in Oswestry, UK.  It looked very much at home there, I must say, and complemented the rest of her decor. 

MY NEW ART WEBSITE

Just to let you know that my art website http://paintingsbycynthia.com is up and running.  Matt Howell of Webbrewers.com converted my Office Live Small Business Website into a WordPress site and I'm really pleased with it.  Do check it out! 

More Apologies!

I am sorry it is taking time to get my art website (www.paintingsbycynthia.com) published.  It is being reconstructed by webbrewers.com.  I have seen it, worked on it, and it really looks cool!  I will let you know as soon as it is ready.  Thanks again for your patience. 

Do I Want to Exhibit?

Of course, every artist wants to exhibit his/her artwork.  But I am no longer that keen about getting to exhibit in galleries.  A male artist I met didn't seem to care much about it so I asked how he sells his paintings and he said nonchalantly, "Just word of mouth."  True, not many artists actually sell during an exhibition but I was touched by his attitude.  He was more animated talking about what paints he uses than where or if he sells his work.  A true artist, I thought.

MY APOLOGIES!

My website http://paintingsbycynthia.com is under construction so it won't be available for several days.  I moved it out of Microsoft Office Live Small Business (MS OLSB) because they are converting to Office 365 in May 2012, and will start charging $6 a month.

I will let you know as soon as my website is done.

WELCOME 2012!!!

Happy New Year everyone! My painting "The Winding Road" placed first in Best-of-the-Rest for December 2011 at Barebrush Gallery; "Trapped" took third place in December's Favorite Nude of the Month!  Not a bad way to start the New Year!

Dune Shadows

Dune Shadows

A former house guest who lives in the UK has expressed interest in purchasing this painting.  It is a minimalist piece, featuring the undulating curves of the dunes in the Skeleton Coast of Namibia, almost touching the endless sky.  Looking at it takes me back to that moment years ago when I was standing on one of the dunes, feeling lost and small among the grandeur of nature.

I don't know where to start!

Autumn Magic II

Autumn Magic II took 1st place, People's Choice, for Best-of-the-Rest, November 2011 at Barebrush Gallery.

The Winding Road

Another painting, The Winding Road, was curated for December 1, Best-of-the-Rest, December 2011.  Here is what Barebrush founder Ilene Skeen said about it:

"There are many portraits in December, but the Best-of-the-Rest begins the month with an appropriate “big picture” of the human condition. The Winding Road is an oil painting by Cynthia Angeles of Washington, DC. Although the road appears straight in the image, the trees are overwhelming and the human tiny. The future, implied by possible twists and turns beyond the horizon, is unknown. Undaunted, people keep going. That’s what we do, and sometimes we have a great time doing it. There may be regrets, but also no turning back and few do-overs. Ms. Skeen added, “To me, this painting represents the indomitable human spirit, and in particular, the spirit of Barebrush Artists.”

And, finally, my nude painting below, Trapped, was chosen as Nude of the Day for December 25, 2011 (nothing to do with Christmas).

Trapped

My studio, my gallery

I have fixed up my studio to showcase most of my paintings on the walls.  The space is limited but I managed to tidy it up such that it looks less cluttered now.  I can now easily invite anyone interested in seeing my art to come in and look around without falling over canvases and boxes.  

BAREBRUSH GALLERY BEST OF THE REST

Barebrush Gallery has a new exhibit – Best of the Rest (non-nude art). My artwork above, Autumn Magic II, was chosen for Nov 3. There is voting (again) for People’s Choice and if you feel like it, please click on the link below, make your choice and click on vote. Thanks!
http://www.barebrush.com/NOTM/Archives/BOTR2011_11.php?calendar_nbr=2

A Matter of Choice

At the 17th Street Festival, a gentleman looked at my work and asked why I had such a range of styles.  I told him I enjoyed trying different things.  He seemed displeased and left.  Days after, I thought about that brief encounter and deemed it unfair.  He hadn't seen my portfolio.  I had only several pieces on the table which was a tiny fraction of my body of work.

I also realized that most galleries expect a single theme and style from each artist.  Much as I would like to get the attention of galleries, I would be bored doing just faces or trees or stripes.  I'd like to challenge myself and do something different every once in a while.  Nothing shocking, mind you.  I guess, it all boils down to one's personal choice.

17th Street Festival - A blast!

Saturday was cloudy but it didn't rain! It took a bit long for the tents to be set up but the festival went well. It was very well organized, many thanks to the committee members and volunteers.
Sitting around was not much fun, especially with the mosquitoes out in force, but people-watching on 17th Street was a blast. A few friends came to visit and help, and I met some interesting personalities. Maybe I'll join again next year!  

17th Street Festival Update

Well, another friend who is participating in the same art show at the 17th Street Festival has offered to give me a ride and take me home.  Bless her heart.  We'll just help each other unload our stuff and take them to our assigned spots.  Hope we have good weather on Saturday.

17th Street Festival Art Show, September 24, 2011

I was accepted to participate in the art show of the 2011 17th Street Festival Art Show in Washington, DC on Saturday, September 24, from 2 - 6 pm.  This is my first time to join the festival so I am excited and nervous at the same time.  My husband will be away on a fishing trip so I dared to ask a friend to pick me up (and tons of stuff) and help me set up.  She was very kind to agree but she'll have to leave at 3 pm.  I will be on my own after that.  Then there is the problem of getting me and my stuff home.  I plan to take a cab, of course.  Hopefully, some of the art festival people will help me lug my paintings and stuff to the cab.  Oh dear...  What a big worry!  I hope all goes well.

Two more recent paintings

Early light was based on a magazine photo which inspired me to paint it with the subtle colors of a hazy, cold, morning just starting to get lit up by the sun.

Early Light

Flaming Lava was the piece I did during a knife-painting class in Honolulu with Ed Furuike.  I chose the model from one of Ed's magazine photos and bravely started what I have never done before, with his guidance and help.  Then he suggested that I add a white bird to the scene.  When there is a volcanic eruption, Hawaiian legend says the lone white bird is Pele which travels alone and is protective of its domain.  The photo doesn't do justice to the actual colors and the textures in the painting.  I am really pleased!

Flaming Lava

Recent Paintings

Blue Eyeshadow

The Red Boat

Nature's Tapestry (Sold)

The above paintings are three of my recent pieces, all done in oil on canvas.  To see more, here's a link to my website:  http://paintingsbycynthia.com/

Juried Exhibitions

I apply at juried exhibitions periodically just because I always look for opportunities to exhibit.  Most of the time, however, I get rejected.  I have tried to look at my work objectively to see why.

I am aware that juried shows are subjective but I also need to be honest about my work.  Is my art so bad that it gets nixed by curators almost all of the time? Would I change my style to get in at galleries? Should I do shocking work to catch the attention of jurors and curators?  Will doing any of that make me happy?  The simple answer is no.  I like what I do.  I try to improve by taking art workshops periodically but my style is more or less unaffected.  And as much as I'd like to exhibit and sell, I am just not willing to create art which doesn't come from the heart - my heart.    

Painting with a Palette Knife

I just got back from a 4-day stay in Honolulu which included a 3-hour art class with Ed Furuike on oil painting with a palette knife.  I had so much fun in his class, despite the fact that it was my first time to paint exclusively with a palette knife.  I was doubtful I would finish the painting in time but I managed and had fun doing it.  Ed provided the canvas, all the paints, paper palette, etc. and will mail my finished painting to me when it dries completely.  I really enjoyed the class and meeting his students who welcomed me so warmly.  I look forward to putting what I've learned in 3 hours into practice.  We'll see what happens.