There's No Such Thing As Too Many Owls

New Wisdom for an Old Soul          Painting by Cindy Silverstein

Painting Workshop with Tracy Verdugo

I went to a terrific workshop last weekend at Art Is You Retreats in Stamford, CT.  I spent two days painting with the sweet and talented Tracy Verdugo, who generously shares the knowledge and techniques she has developed that allow her to experience great freedom of expression and joy as she paints. Tracy teaches the art of play. This art is alive in us as young children, but we tend to lose the necessary spontaneity as we grow into adulthood. We become goal oriented, and judge ourselves and our art harshly. 

The tone of the class was felt as soon as we walked into the room and breathed in the happy, soothing energy.  But it was the long tables laden with canvases the size of your average soccer field that stole our attention.  Some were concerned about working with such a large canvas, but felt more confident as we started playing with the first layers of the canvas.  Tracy has all sorts of clever ways of getting us to allow ourselves to play.  And it's all fun.  

I am very pleased with my Owl painting from the class, and I can't wait to begin my next canvas.  For some time, I've wanted to loosen up and enjoy the process of painting more, and I found that the time was right in Tracy's class. I saw beautiful paintings in that room of eager and grateful artists, and I have gained a renewed sense of excitement about my artwork.  

Tracy's brand new book, Paint Mojo, is available for pre-publication order on Amazon.com.     

Pink Polka Dot Dreams

Who could be more happy with himself than this royal cat? Pleased with his polka dots, and glowing in his orange suit, he poses proudly against a bejeweled turquoise sky.

I guess you've noticed a recent cat fixation. I do have two adorable roundish sort of cats that inspire my artwork, but I promise to show more people, plants and animals of a different order. But for now please endure one more cute kitty.

This picture is a detail of a much larger painting, but I love the simplicity of this little corner, not to mention the adorable character depicted. I used a stretched canvas, Arches watercolor paper for the cat body, acrylic paint, and dimensional paint for the outlining and stars.

The cat's body was painted pink, then covered with circle stickers and painted over with orange. The circles act as a resist, and when peeled off, reveal polka dots. The cat stands out dramatically from the background because the orange and blue are complimentary colors (opposites on the color wheel). The blue I use most frequently is pthalo blue. I love the intensity of it. I do tone it down with the addition of white and perhaps some pthalo green to make that gorgeous turquoise.

My Etsy Store is Open

My new store on Etsy.com is now open for business. You may purchase prints of some of the artwork you have seen in these pages. I will continually be adding more prints, note cards and greeting cards, big buttons, and jewelry so stay posted. Click on the links at the top right side of this blog to go straight to the shop. Many thanks for your continued viewing of these pages.