Just A Brief Introduction and Recent Work

JUST A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

This is my very first blog, ever, anywhere.  To more experienced bloggers and readers this may look a little rough around the edges.  I'll get better over time, I'm sure. I can tell you I am composing this "on-the-spot".  

I'm an artist and I live in Central Oregon.  Although painting and drawing was something I always wanted to do, I had to put it off until I was done with corporate American and corporate America was finally done with me.  I began by making simple pencil sketches while we were backpacking or camping.  In 1997 a friend gave me some watercolors and papers that had been her mother's.   I began taking drawing and painting classes at community colleges in the Seattle area, where I lived at the time.  I volunteered time to the Northwest Watercolor Society because I wanted to understand the artist's world and meet other artist, see fresh ideas.

An artist's journey is as individual as the person.  None of us travel identical paths.  When we moved to central Oregon about 10 years ago, I joined the Oregon Watercolor Society and began taking week-long workshops instead of classes.  I find the world of competition in art intriguing and I paint for that arena.  My goal is to have some of those initials after my name and I'm getting close.

Now you know me - and you don't, unless it's possible to know someone by reading three brief paragraphs.

I have spent this past week playing with shapes and symbols and departing from my usual approach, staying as simple as I can and working with suggestive shapes.  I'd like to share these paintings with you.  I called them "Wishes" (II, III and IV) as to me stars are the symbol for wishes.  In the first a figure contemplates a book or magazine (myself looking at a competition show catalog that I'm not in!) and is calling her messenger, Bird (trickster as well as messenger).

In the second, the figure (me) receives Bird (messenger, trickster) who has a chain of stars (wishes) as the figure is wearing.  You take it from here.  Is the bird offering or accepting.  The catalog has been diminished by the figures and perhaps has become a window or door.

In the third, Bird and the figure share a chain of stars.  A waxing moon shines.  The hands now touch a star or part of the chain.  Again, your story takes part here.  

These were fun to create and paint.  It was an exercise in taking shapes to their simplest form and still be recognizable, in keeping the colors to three values and two tones for simplicity, so as not to distract.  My artwork can be seen on my website www.sandraneary.com and on Pinterest.

Let me know how I'm doing.  I understand blogging can be a bit like shouting down an empty tunnel so I'd appreciate (positive) feedback.

Sandra Neary, November 25, 2014