May 30, 2011 June 1, 2011

I have been MIA for several days. We have had holidays, sick dogs, heat and medical appointments. I hope to have more time this week although I am already a little frazzled. I think the heat makes it worse but it looks like it is here to stay…

Ken had his stem cell harvesting procedure yesterday. If we get a good vaccine this week, this run will finish the program. YEAH!!!! Keep your fingers crossed. As I thought, worried, fretted, behaved like a typical wife, I was caught up in the drama and significance of this program. I saw the machine running with its flashing lights, turning wheels, blood flowing. I saw blood carrying warrior cells  and cells being separated. All of those thoughts led to this painting.

Cells 4

I think you can see the tension and emotion I was feeling. The painting is 12″ X 16″. The processing, after a bumpy start, went well so we are hopeful. I think you can see our hope and optimism in some of the colors and spots that glow.

March 31, 2011 April 1, 2011

OK, I am really bad about leaving a painting alone. I can’t stop fiddling. I made more changes to my last painting and I think it “feels” more comfortable to me. I didn’t like the linear feel of some of the lines – too spidery and sharp – so I rounded them out and made more interesting curves and shapes in the lines. I’m not going to post the update right now because I just finished a new collage I want to share.

Collage 5 (Machine)

This collage was inspired by the blood separation machine used to harvest Ken’s stem cells. It is what they describe as their workhorse and has been chugging along steadily helping patients for years and years. I wanted to show some of the geometric shapes but with an organic feel and a warm color scheme. I used a technique taught by Peggy Brown – she is a master at this approach. You soak your paper, use torn or cut shapes of paper that you’ve soaked and work in layers applying color liberally and wettly (is that a word?). You let the whole stack dry and then see what you have to work with. I then collaged many shapes from the pieces used in the stack up. I used a hole punch to punch out shapes that I could use to look like rivets or screws. Then I did some final touch up with my watercolors. I love working with sepia and payne’s gray so I used these two colors plus vermillion, cad red, yellow ochre and Winsor green. This was loads of fun to make. I hope you enjoy seeing it as much as I did making it.