New Show in May

Hello all-

The past 2 months have been mostly about taking care of my family as the colds and flu of the season pass through. I'm hoping my son's ear infection and terrible cough is the end of it and we can get back to the drafty studio again with a clear conscience. The show I was in at Ryerson Woods: Aviary, was a wonderful experience. The opening was well attended and even had appearances by live birds of prey. I sold a painting to another one of the artists in the show- it is a 4'x5' oil painting. It's the last oil painting I made before Phin was born and it was always his favorite to look at. I'll miss it, but I'm happy it's going to a good home. Thanks Don!

Happily, this sale will help me fund a solo show this May at Matrix Gallery in the Zhou B space in Chicago. I'm really excited for the opportunity to see all my birds together and will be harassing all of my friends, family, students, and strangers to come to the opening on May 21st.

And now for some images.

First, some unfortunate bears whom I chanced upon in a dream:

Now, some of the newer paintings/ newer versions of paintings:

18"x18" acrylic on canvas

12"x12" acrylic on canvas

2'x3' acrylic on canvas

And, of course, the cutest thing going on in my studio. Thanks for making this fantastic movie, Jane!

Happy beginning of Spring, all and hope to see you all in May!

-melanie

Dreaming

So I've had a lot of dreams about sewing my body:

And trading feet with someone so I could take care of her infected toe for her:

I have been more prolific with these dream drawings in the past- I'm having more vivid dreams again as my son gets older and we all get to sleep through the night again. The idea of getting up early to do this has not happened- I still remain hopeful.

The studio of late has been a good experience- Phin is still with me most of the time and paints with tempera on a big piece of paper on the wall next to me. He also sometimes sits in my lap as I paint and tries to tell me what to do "mommy mix dark blue. little white. make goopy! Put right there." I started my newest painting by allowing him to guide my color mixing and also allowed him to make some marks on the blank canvas for me to play off.

Here it is:

And here is what Phin was doing while I painted:

It's strange, but having him with me all the time has helped to focus my work. I can't sit and think and sip my coffee if I want to get anything done- I just have to do it and do it now. That directness and speed has really served me well and I'm just pushing on with the bird imagery as far as it can take me.

I am very excited that I will have every Thursday without him and can begin printing again- I have begun a new etching and am looking forward to posting new prints in the near future.

I have also been working on these two pieces- mostly done:

Acrylic on canvas 18" square

Acrylic and ink on canvas 3'x4'

I'm beginning to realize that while I make all this work I don't necessarily know what to do with it once it's done. I have decided to show as much as I can this year and have already had a group show at the Robert Wayner Gallery and will be showing elsewhere early this Spring- you can check my website for details as they come. It's not a part of art making I've been concerned with in the past, but I'm feeling more of a need to have the work seen and am now willing to part with some painting time so that framing, postcards, and proposing shows can get done.

It is coming up on midnight, so I will now go and dream and perhaps draw about it in the morning.

Best,

Melanie

Winter in the Studio

I need to work on larger works, so I started the above yesterday. It's 3'x4'- not huge, but much bigger than the 1 and 2 foot squares I've been painting on for most of the year. I'm still concentrating on using the "stuff" of acrylic paint. I began this one on the ground by covering it with matte medium. I then sprinkled dry pigment in spots and then used a giant piece of charcoal to move the medium around and to find marks. I'm hoping I don't finish this one too soon- it's been a good couple of days. I'm missing Winston (see the rat paintings/drawings on my website). He may need to make an appearance.

I'm still working on small works, too. In the one below I'm remembering the Grand Canyon- it's a 12" square.

My 2 year old studio mate is also doing work of his own- he has been given red, yellow, blue, and white tempera paints and a new mixing palette. He is thrilled and has figured out how to make gray on purpose. He also likes to tell me what colors to mix, "A little yellow here" and "now more white". Eerily it's often what I had planned to use next. I suppose he's been in my studio since he was 2 weeks old and he probably knows my habits by now, so perhaps it's not so surprising.

Here he is sitting on my chair with me and giving instructions:

I'm hoping for some dreams to draw soon- I have done so few since the birth of my son. I suppose I need to be able to reflect upon waking rather than immediately be needed as mommy. I hate the idea, but I may need to get up extra early to get an hour jump on the kid. It may be the only way.

Wish me luck, world. This late sleeper is going to set up for tomorrow morning and try it. (Stop laughing, Mike.)

-Melanie

Mike is off this week, so I get to paint alone in my studio. I had my first solo session in quite a while yesterday and worked on a couple paintings. I love having my son with me, but it is quite different to be alone with my work. I kept stopping after 10 minutes, since that is usually how long I have before I have to help Phin with something.

Well, here is what happened:

It's an 18" square and the pink in the sky is actually a bit more orange in person.

Here is a detail:

I also began a new piece:

detail:

detail:

More and more I am starting completely abstractly with no plan of where the birds will go- more of just an idea of color and what kind of space the piece will have. I then "find" the birds and paint out what is unnecessary. I have always enjoyed letting a painting reveal itself to me- I actually can't imagine painting any other way. To me a painting needs to be alive and changing- a constant dialog between us.

I will be showing at Chicago's Black Walnut Gallery in January, but before then you can come visit me in my studio Dec. 5th and 6th during Lillstreet's open house. I'll be there from 12-5 both days.

4401 N. Raveswood

60640

3rd Floor

There will be free kids activities from 12-5 on the 5th, so feel free to bring the younger members of your family.

Enjoy the Holiday week!
-Melanie

An all-image post for my friends I haven't seen in a long time.

First, the little urchin in my studio- he's a pretty good studio mate.

I made this painting with Phin on my lap. He's a good muse.

These are the drawings I did right after I saw crows eating baby robins.

My last oil painting before Phin was born. It was his favorite as an infant- he still likes yellow. It's a good size- about a 4 1/2 feet- maybe 5.

Take care all- and go see this show if you're in Chicago: http://lindawarrengallery.com/

Melanie

Summer is Ending

After a summer of art and children I am always left feeling very creatively nimble. Being around the children who still make anything into art and haven't yet compartmentalized genre (collage, sculpture, painting, etc.) and just make is uplifting. I have enjoyed the summer and all the energy of said children, but I am looking forward to more time in my studio. I have been able to get some work done the last couple of months:

Thanks to a former student who moved across country and gave me a large bag of many pre-stretched canvas, I've been able to just walk in to my studio and make things. I'm really enjoying the small squares.

I'm still working with bird imagery, but letting the imagery fall to a secondary role to the language of the paint. It's acrylic mixed sometimes with wax and/or gloss medium. I'm happy with it now, but it was a big change from oils.

Here is a larger work also from the last couple months:

I haven't been able to get a good photo of it, but I do believe it is finished now.

As you know, I can't do a post and not include something about the little guy who is with me most of the time in the studio and otherwise. My son will be two at the end of September and he is putting my drawing output to shame. Last week we had a wonderful morning in the studio- he and I both making our own work. I gave him brushes, black and white tempera, charcoal, (and he found a pen). I put up a large piece of paper taller than he is and he made this gorgeous painting:

It seems so funny to me now that I was worried about being an artist and having a family at the same time. I'm not saying that it's easy, but the difficulty makes me seize moments I do have with much more focus than I used to when time was easier to come by.

Here's to the end of summer and to crisp nights, sweaters, and more time in the studio!
Be well,
Melanie

Just a few photos of what has been going on lately in my studio. I've been keeping a large piece of paper up as a sort of brainstorming piece.

Here are a couple details:

Keeping a large drawing going is something I've done a lot in the past. I use it both as inspiration for new paintings as well as a way to draw from old paintings as a form of investigation. I've been keeping with the bird theme but am trying to get further away from forming actual birds but rather capturing the fluttering of wings and different atmospheres. I'm really using the material to find where the birds are.

Here is the latest painting in progress.

I started with raw canvas with a ground of acrylic medium. I used some dry pigment and ink on the wet medium to try and find new space, mark, and color.

This weekend I've gotten a bit further on the painting. I've continued to use ink- even rubbing it over and into some of the places in the painting- as well as wax medium.

I hope to update again very soon- I've been full time at my job this summer and I absolutely love teaching art to children and being part of that kind of creativity. But wow, it's hard to carve out a time to paint- I just want to be with my son at the end of the day.

Be well!
Melanie