The Beast

I'm working on a 3/D project right now that I'm really excited about and I'm documenting the process . . . so a work that is in progress.

I decided to work on the Sad face first so I could really flow with the piece and just let it happen. And I did and it did. It was spontaneous and fresh, exciting and fun.

And then while journaling . . . while journaling this morning and looking at the piece so far, it became quite obvious that she is no longer Sad, she has become The Beast.

22 x 15

Watercolor

How does one become The Beast? Slowly over several years her friends and family neglect Beauty. She then suffers from massive loneliness. Like an old dog scavenging the streets a dog everyone avoids and no one wants. Sitting in the shelter counting down the hours.

Old and useless, alone friends and family going on with their own busy lives, forgetting her and how lonely she must be. No one is reaching out, forgotten and cast aside. Many relate to this pain and grief and look away not wanting to really look at themselves.

22 x 15

Watercolor

Years later after many tests of love and letting go the beast has once again returned to love – this time with boundaries and familiar yet foreign love – allowing and encouraging beauty to blossom.

Beauty blossoming and living a life she always dreamed of.

A life dreamed of and so much more. A life where Beauty is well loved and nurtured for who she is. And encouraged to grow in the direction of her dreams. Beauty grows and thrives as an artist of the spirit. Love is an amazing healer and Beauty now lives with a very powerful love and healer.

Today I was able to work just a bit on beauty, life is in full gear today in my life and I will be taking a few days off to celebrate Love and Life.

The Artist Way - Week 7 and a Jealousy 4th step

The Artist Way - Week 7 and a Jealousy 4th step

Week 7: Recovering a Sense of Connection

This week is a practice of right attitudes for creativity.

The emphasis this week is on receptive skills as well as active skills.

We can learn not only to listen but also to hear with increasing accuracy that inspired, intuitive voice that says, “Do this, try this, say this . . . “

Being faithful to my journaling is teaching me that it is a powerful tool. Journaling three pages every morning (almost every morning) helps me to listen and hear my intuitive voice. And I am learning to recognize my intuitive voice and learning to hear it and act upon it. Writing out my problems or fears and coming to an understanding of them. As well as finding a solution or acceptance them, in my personal life as well as my artistic life.

Following this intuitive voice and really acting on it – has so much juice to it. Encouraging growth and confidence.

But all is not well in the land of TAW. I am so guilty of not taking my artist on dates. And when I do I see how inspiring it is and how it feeds me full of creativity and curiosity.

The following is a quote from the book as well as a wonderful reminder.

EXPECT THE UNIVERSE TO SUPPORT YOUR DREAM.

IT WILL.

PERFECTIONISM I always thought was about getting it right. Now I understand how perfectionism can be a ball and chain for me. And what I heard was make mistakes make lots of them. Stop trying to make it perfect and follow the flow of whatever it is I’m doing. Don’t get me wrong there are still lots of decisions to be made and things to mull over regarding composition, color and so on but once I get started I now let go and stay in the flow. Not worrying about if it’s right but more about enjoying the process.

Michael Angelo must have been deeply in touch with his intuition and followed this as he released The David. I’m not comparing my work to that of Michael Angelo just the experience maybe.

And then came JEALOUSY a normal human emotion. The book asks us to do what looks like a 4^th step on jealousy. Racking my brain trying to think of an artist or a friend or even celebrity that I was jealous of! I came up empty handed. Until I thought of the relationship someone close to me has with her grandchildren. And then I remembered how much it is costing her and I couldn’t be jealous of her either.

Also I’m starting to notice some synchronicity. The one that is screaming at me is this. This chapter is about letting go of perfectionism and learning and growing from our mistakes. Several days ago or maybe a week ago or a bit more I came across a wonderful quote by Neil Gaiman.

It is so appropriate for the time of year as well. And so here it is

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2011/12/my-new-year-wish.html

Keeping the brushes wet,

Teresa

It's challenging being your own boss ~

Light & Dark

3/D in watercolor

Sometimes it is quite challenging for me to be my own boss! It's been raining and I've been cooped up not really leaving for anything.

So today when the there was a break in the clouds - I went for a really nice long walk. Felt so good. The ground is soaked and muddy so a lot of vegetation I think got a good drink.

And so I didn't really get started on a new painting or sketch. At least I'm not a slave driver.

I would really like to have a piece accepted in the Los Altos Town Hall Show through the SCVWS. I thought I might do a 3/D piece. Any thoughts for a complimentary piece? I did this one a couple of years a go. Complimentary type of scheme.

Keeping the brushes wet,
Teresa

Walking the Road

Walking the Road

Purchase

15 x 22

Watercolor on Arches 300lb cold press

  Making so many moves in the past few years has put a strain on me as an artist and in other areas of my life. It has also given me the knowledge of how and what to do to establish one’s self in a new community.

  Being in the middle of the holiday season and at the close of yet another year I found myself walking through so many emotions while remembering so many people. And cried the tears of a clown for those loved ones that I have lost.

  No one see’s the emotional pain and grief we suffer, that we alone carry.  Why hold on to something or someone that controls us, or tries to. Letting the decisions of others haunt and control our otherwise well being and beautiful life. A life filled with friends and family a promising road of companionship, love and laughter.

  A life filled with creativity, and travel?

  Let it go – let go of that – that doesn’t serve. The sorrow and anger, it serves no purpose but to poison the spirit.

  Let it go – and join those who celebrate life! A life with me in it.

  Walking a road less travelled is at times very lonely and difficult. We each have our own path, this path our individual experiences and the way we respond is what grows us into who we are meant to be.

  That small voice inside – our little GPS the intuitive voice. Listen to it. It is the accumulation of generations of wisdom.

  Finally – I am home. Home now in the Bay area the Silicon Valley in Northern CA. Living with a powerful healer and lover. Surrounded by friends and family and my four legged furry family.

  Creating and establishing myself AGAIN!

Currently I have several pieces hanging through December 31’s at;

The Original House of Pancakes

420 S. San Antonio Rd

Los Altos, CA 94022

650.559.9197

And I will be hanging from May 1, 2015 thru June 30^th 2015 at;

The Bean Scene

500 Castro

Mountain View Preforming Arts

Mountain View, CA 94041

650.903.4871

I am the lead photographer for the –

Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society aka SCVWS and I am also the Events co-chair. The two volunteer positions offer several things. The opportunity to contribute to the community, meet other artist and jurors, as well as the owners of several venues. Should be fun.

The SCVWS has a juried exhibit coming up at the Los Altos Town Hall. This is a juried event. On line registration begins January 2^nd 2015 thru February 13^th 2015.

Thank you all for taking the time to be a part of my journey.

Walking the road of a happy destiny.

Purchase

Keeping the brushes wet,

Teresa

White Flower Companion

White Flower Companion

15 x 22

$345.

Watercolor

Teresa Beyer

This was my first go with my new pallet of Daniel Smith Paints, Prima Tek’s. I painted this piece with a limited palette using Purpite Genuine, Aurelian, New Gamboge and Sodalite Genuine. I know really weird names, basically red, two yellows and a blue.

They were easy and fun to use and as you can see the mixture of the blue and yellow really created a strong granulation yet watery. I didn’t really get the range of grays that I would get using lets say Indigo and Alizarin. And I didn’t get to really use the full palette. I know I’m kind of shy but hay this is a pretty much all-new color palette.

This is a soft and beautiful piece. Wanting to understand the new palette I thought I would paint a familiar piece. A companion to this one, “Blooming where planted.” I look forward to seeing them hung together.

Blooming where planted

22 x 15

$345.

Watercolor

Teresa Beyer

The Artist Way

 Although I haven't shared on a regular bases about my journey with The Artist Way. I have been journaling and taking artist dates. I am on week six "Recovering a sense of abundance" and I'll be a little honest. I had some real issues come up (in weeks 4 and 5) for me that made me slow down and really work through them. Hard core letting go . . . and I haven't been sketching I do some but not much so that needs to change.

  I'm comfortable enough with myself that if I don't have the week completed it's okay to extend. After all I'm doing it for me.

Website

Keeping the brushes wet,

Teresa

Artist Quote:

“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist will answer you: I am here to live out loud.”

Emile Zola

Blooming where Planted

Blooming where planted

22 x 15

Watercolor

Teresa Beyer

$345.

This piece is so languid and sensual.

Keeping the brushes wet.

Teresa

Me and Simba

Me and Simba

14x11x2

Mixed Media on Clayboard

NFS

Teresa Beyer

Every now and again I like to do a self portrait. This one expresses a languid sensuality, self confidence and peacefulness. And all the while holding the gaze of my beloved old kitty Simba.

It is so hard to establish a true color of an image because our monitors are all calibrated so differently. This one seems to be a bit truer to color.

Celebrating 57 years and born in 57 this must be a golden year for me. 

Keeping the brushes wet,

Teresa

Original House of Pancakes

Dear friends and family,

  I am so excited to share with you that I'm hanging at The Original House of Pancake's in Los Alto's.
  Mostly florals with a few portraits and one landscape. There is room to hang a couple of more so I'm going to. Once I have decided which two will be added I will share with you what's hanging. No reception and they are not open in the evening.
  So grateful to have a place to share my work and get to be know in the community.
  I'm hoping to do one or two Art and Wine Festival's next summer in 2015 here in Mountain View..

 
  The daily sketch that I said I was going to do? Well I have several excuse's, but my best one is that I have absolutely no studio routine. None! So I get busy in the house. And adjusting to my new life in the Bay Area.

  I'm feeling really good! Good about who I am. My health. My health! I am getting into better and better shape by walking and practicing yoga. My love offers me healthy organic well balanced meal's.

  I can't make any promises about a routine right now but as my day's and time in the studio take shape I will better know what I can be accountable for.



  And The Artist Way? Well I have incorporated the morning pages and the artist date. I'm stuck on week 4 needing to do half of the tasks at the end of the chapter. And back on the horse!

Keeping the Brushes Wet,
Teresa

PrimaTek Best of Show

  I bought a smaller pallet to work with in my studio and some new paints. I'm really excited to start working with them! I'm really loving my new a permanent work space. Things are slowly finding there home. But enough about that. I wanted to share the artist candy. I think that's what the fresh squeezed paint looks like to me. That is the color chart for my last pallet that I was using is a little metal one with some great Schemenke paints. The other thing this will allow me to do is work on two paintings at once.

  So here is the yummy description of the this set. Explore Daniel Smiths intriguing straight-from-the-earth pigments. From the quiet earth tones of Minnesota Pipestone and Tiger's Eye Genuine to the rich jewel colors of Amazonite, Purpurite, Rhodonite and Lapis Lazuli, they bring the subtlety, depth and complexity of the natural world to you palette.

Here's to keeping the brushes wet,
Teresa

The Palace of Fine Art's

The Palace of Fine Art's

15 x 22

Watercolor

The grounds are so captivating. The Palace of Fine Arts - houses art from the Renaissance to Modern, and is the work of California architect Bernard Maybeck. Maybeck's fantastic creation is inspired by a Piranesi engraving featuring a Roman ruin reflected in a pool.

The painting was completed by me today just in time to enter it into the Pacific Art League's October Exhibit. The theme for October is

Landscapes, Seascapes & Urbanscapes

I will know by September 22nd if the piece was accepted.

Keeping the brushes wet,

Teresa

#17 Dancing

# 17

Dancing

Dancing in the moonlight

#16 Wenda from behind

# 16

Wenda from behind

#15 Wenda

#15

Wenda

#14

#14

Sensual Lines

#13

#13

#12

#12

#11 and The Artist Way

Having started several things one at a time but not enough time to have created a habit. So maybe they were started all at once.

So I started doing this daily drawing, quick sketch, painting whatever it is that I do that day. So I started.

And then I stopped

BUT while stopped I did complete a painting and framed another.

Completed

Framed

And then so I started again today 09/03 with #11.

#11

And here are the others that for some reason (me) never made it on the blog.

#10

Distracted

#5

#2

Shoes

Tonight I start the workbook “The Artist Way” by Julia Cameron

The Artist Way (TAW) is a spiritual path to higher creativity. Week One starts with, “Recovering a sense of safety.” It sounds like a lot of work we’ll see. Tonight I’m reading Week One and for the rest of the week, for the following 11 or 12 weeks, for the weeks to come I will be reading on Wed. night  and every day I will be journaling, taking myself on an artist date, reading the Basic Principles and working through the weeks selected tasks.

I welcome any and all feed back.

In gratitude,

Teresa

Degrees of Abstraction

Degrees of Abstraction, is an open invitation to all artist living in the United States. An online invitation and juried show by the Santa Cruz Art League.

I don't consider myself to be an abstract artist, however I do have some pieces that I have painted this year that I thought (fingers crossed) might fall into that category.

This first piece was painted in late March. Painted in a vibrant yet delicate palette - offering the feeling of movement while keeping your eyes on the page. It has a solid composition and offers the viewer a nice repetitive motion throughout the painting.

Floral Energy

30 x 22

Watercolor

Teresa Beyer

I have challenged myself to draw something everyday. Through the end of 2014 thinking that I could do a little drawing in 15 or 20 minutes. What has happened is that I've been painting instead of sketching. The following two pieces came from an experiment - creating textured paper by soaking it, adding some paint and crumpling it into a ball and letting it dry. 

Two hearts - a soulful embrace that created this heart shape. And yes I know abstracts are for the viewer to decide what they see. So I developed the heart maybe pushed the outcome to read as a heart. 

The textured paper reminds me of a distressed metal of some sort and offers a rich texture. Studying the piece my eye stays on the paper meaning that my eye isn't led off the page. My eyes land on the shoulders and then my eye travels down to the abdomen's, then over to the left and up to the necks and chins. Circling around. Maybe more cubist than abstract.

Two Heart's

15 x 11

Water soluble graphite

Teresa Beyer

This third piece is curious because one of the lovers is upside down. As I paint I turn the painting on the different sides so I had to decide which end was up. It can be changed of course. A beautiful yet delicate piece, almost feeling their breath. The texture in this painting is a bit subdued. Offering the viewer a bit of mysticism. Again this piece may be a tad more on the cubist genre than the abstract.

The Kiss

15 x 11

Watercolor

Teresa Beyer

So now I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that one of them is accepted. All who entered the show will find out on the 19th. 

As always, keeping the brushes wet,

Teresa

#10 Distracted

# 10 Distracted

15 x 11

Watercolor and graphite on

KMJ 140

Teresa Beyer

Her mind became filled with details of society life and her thoughts strayed to all kinds of desires and dreamed outcomes. She noticed how she had become distracted from pursuing her spiritual life.

Keeping the brushes wet,

Teresa

Entry #9 Cyclops

Being a cyclops is sad. People don't want to be friends with you because you are so different.

Family members reject you because you are so different.

Keeping the brushes wet,

Teresa

Entry #8 The Kiss

Entry #8

The Kiss

15 x 11

Watercolor on KMJ 140

Teresa Beyer

Keeping the brushes wet,

Teresa

Entry #7 Two Hearts

Entry #7

Two Hearts

15 x11

Water Soluble Graphite

Watercolor

KMJ 140

Two Hearts beating as one.

Keeping the brushes wet,

Teresa

Entry # 6 Embraced

The Artist Way

Reading through the basic principles and tools, formulating what is expected. So here are the basics.

• Read the Basic Principles everyday being aware of any shifts or changes in consciousness regarding the principles.
• Three pages of long hand journaling everyday for the next three months.
• A date with my artist self once a week. A play fun date.

Sounds like a lot but totally doable and I'm certain that it will all be worth the time to make these wonderful discoveries and recoveries, to explore the mystery not to be confused with mastery.

Starting on Wed. Sept. 3rd, I will be reading and working through the first of twelve exercises. Follow along with me, I would sure love the company.

Week1: Recovering a Sense of Safety
Shadow Artists
Your Enemy Within: Core Negative Beliefs
Your Ally Within: Affirmative Weapons
Creative Affirmations
Tasks
Check-In

Entry # 6

The paper was soaked with water and some paint was introduced while dripping wet. Then the paper was crumpled into a ball and left to dry. Creating this wonderful texture.

Entry # 6 Embraced

22 x 15

Water-Soluble ArtGraf Stick

KMJ 140 coldpress

textured paper

So I had this beautifully textured paper, that I drew on with a water-soluble grafite stick. I then wet the graphite with a brush, creating this warm and protected embrace.

Keeping the brushes wet,

Teresa

entry #4

A quick and simple little drawing of a glass rocking horse on a glass table. Home after a long and wonderful day in Golden Gate Park. So it was a quick study. It is a favorite piece and I will do it justice. What I did learn from last nights piece, is that I have to spend time on my daily piece so that I'm proud of what I have done and not embarrassed.

We went to the Academy of Science Museum in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. There was a very interesting skull exhibit. I wish I would have taken more photo's but here is one of a Black Rhino.

My SO (significant other) has a skull collection and his brother has an even larger one. Needless to say we will be seeing skulls in the Daily Drawings. 

The other part of the museum which is a permanent part is a three story rain forest with plenty of moths and butterflies birds and frogs and more.

At the bottom of the three stories is an aquarium that can be viewed from above below and side ways. Allowing the viewer to get up close to our CA waters.

So gorgeous 

More pictures to follow somewhere.

As always,

Keeping the brushes wet,

Teresa

Entry #3

Knot

Last night on the internet I came across recent photo's of my 4 and 5 year old grandchildren. I went through them one by one and came across a couple of video's.

They are getting so big. Again I don't know my own grandchildren. I cried as I went to sleep. It will be a while before I do that again.

And don't forget! I'm going to start the Artist Way on Sept. 03 and would love to have you follow along with me.

I'm at the Basic Principle's - I have to remember to start reading them everyday.

#3 was done in charcoal

As always keeping the brushes wet.

The Palace #1

The Palace of Fine Art

7.5 x 11

watercolor on KMJ 140

A sweet little watercolor, a painting of The Palace of Fine Art in San Francisco, CA.

This was a projected piece, yes. The size of The Palace in general. As you can see I did do quite a bit of drawing in and painting in the piece, and yes! you see! It is still at an angle.

So I have a second larger piece already projected and ready to go. With very little detail drawn in. I'm going to get started on it today. Decide on which palette I want to work in. A limited palette of three colors, red, yellow and blue. So many choices in each color.

The other thing I have been struggling with for the last year or so is the development of my own style. So lets see where the end of the year takes me. I can see my style in this little piece and I like it.

Art Quote
You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere, and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles. Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost. What I am looking for is not out there, it is in me.
Helen Keller (1880-1968)

Entry #2

And here is my beautiful second entry. Truly so much fun to just do it! To paint and draw for the fun and not worry about the out come.

"The most potent muse of all is our own inner child."

Stephen Nachmanovitch

As always,

keeping the brushes wet,

Teresa

Coming Clean

Coming Clean

When I began painting, I lovingly would create a grid on a photo and with just as much care would recreate the grid to scale on my watercolor paper.

            I would draw out my drawing. And because I was working from a photo I would include way too much detail. The eye doesn’t pick up that much detail – mine doesn’t anyway.

            This would take several hours, maybe a day or two. Sometimes it would become a drawing instead of a painting.

            It was difficult to find a delicate balance of when to stop drawing and start painting.

            Then I was introduced to projecting!!! What a time saver. I could quickly project the photo onto the paper, no longer worried about proportions or scale.

            And so to this day I project. Cropping and no longer including detail, eager to get the proportions in and develop the painting as I paint. Yet somehow I have felt guilty about projecting for years. Thinking (that stinking, thinking) that somehow this made me less of an artist.

            This summer I went to a SCVWS artist demo. Ted Nuttall a very talented and successful artist. While giving his demo he casually mentioned that he projects. I felt as if I had been released of my bondage. Only to quickly slide back into the guilt and bondage.

            I want to learn how to draw and see again. To feel good about how and what I do. I have a wonderful new online friend and muse Nancy Scoble who has gently nudged me the past couple of mornings via email. Thank you Nancy.

            The other thing I have wanted to do is “The Artist Way” by Julia Cameron, to get into a routine and to define a workspace. (The desk at the top of the stairs is my new studio space. The light here is absolutely magnificent.) “Just do it!”

             So at the very least I promise myself to do a sketch everyday through the end of the year. Everyday posting my sketch and really learning how to use my new Samsung s5 camera phone, to work through the “Artist Way” and share with you whatever may come up.

            So today’s sketch is of a left shoe overlapping no erasing and a little projected piece of  “The Palace of Fine Art” SF, CA.

Keeping the brushes wet,

Teresa