Monday, December 28, 2015

In Process Painting – Waters of Birth

First in process after a fews days
of pouring and then overnight drying.
I began a new painting last week. Right now it looks like a sequel to the Transmutation painting finished before it.

This one is looking like "Waters of Birth". We'll see how it shapes up. Below are in-process photos of this experimental painting.

I love experimenting with watered down acrylic paints. For this one, the canvas was laid on the table. I poured the liquid paint on it and let it sit overnight and repeated for several days until it felt ready to be placed on an easel to paint.

What do you think?

In Process painting is now ready for the easel.

Paints and brushes at the table with the painting on easel.








This is where it is right now after yesterday's
painting session. It is beginning to shape up.

Until Next Week

• Create art
• Appreciate art
• Buy art


Mary Gravelle (Mary Rae Rush)
About the author: Mary Rae Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist and writer who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved assistant, Sir Kitty.
Sir Kitty



Monday, December 14, 2015

My Art Notes: Making Big Art in Small Spaces

My Art Notes: Making Big Art in Small Spaces: Reorganizing and cleaning by studio. I think it needed it. Do you have a small studio in which you are creating? Do you think you need a...

Making Big Art in Small Spaces

Reorganizing and cleaning my studio.
I think it needed it.
Do you have a small studio in which you are creating? Do you think you need a large space to create large paintings? Are you not creating because you are waiting for that large studio space? What size do you consider large?

I have been moving around since May 2012 and finally feel fairly settled in Sedona. I have been praying for a larger living space that would include a spacious, light-filled studio. Alas, after living in this small studio apartment for 1.5 years, I have no idea when that will happen. I have been making do.

It's actually not as hard as one might believe to create and paint in a small space. You just have to get creative and live the artist's life. What that means is surrendering to the fact that you will live, eat, and breathe your art. There is nowhere to put things away. It all has to stay out in open view. You have to live with the mess of your art supplies being seen in plain sight. This takes organization to the max and a new mindset.

Relocated my art supplies to a
shelving unit leaving my
tabletop free.
If your visitor's find this arrangement not so savory, they need not enter. Make no excuses. Your space is a sacred creative container. Anyone who does not understand this needs to stay away. Meet up with them in other places.

Inspired by last week's completed abstract expressionist painting, Transmutation, I undertook a reorganization of my studio. It's time to create!

My paintings and blank canvases are in storage about a half hour away from Sedona in Cottonwood, Arizona. The space is too crowded and too far away for me to get to my blank canvases easily. This had to change immediately, especially after my excitement of creating more large abstract paintings.

I spent the good share of Friday splitting my 10 x 10 foot storage unit into two 5 x 5 foot storage units. One of these units is now in Sedona. It contains my paintings for sale and my blank canvases. Phew! This feels fantastic.

Aha! Room for a blank canvas.
Saturday and Sunday I spent cleaning and reorganizing my space. My art studio area benefitted by a shelving unit that I brought out of storage. This allowed me to get art supplies off my table top. I have room for a 36 x 48 inch blank canvas! I'm so excited.

Relocating my studio spaces over the years has me comfortable in setting up my art studio anywhere. I also know that I love having my paints and other supplies in a shelving unit and close at hand.

Do you have your art space organization down to a science? Do you know how to arrange it so it makes creating art a breeze? Is your space large or small? How can you organize for either size? What size of art do you like to create? Can you accommodate that size no matter what size your studio or living space?

Talk to me about your thoughts and how you create in your studio space.

Until Next Week

• Create art
• Appreciate art
• Buy art


Mary Gravelle (Mary Rae Rush)
Sir Kitty
About the author: Mary Rae Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist and writer who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved assistant, Sir Kitty.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Newest Painting–Transmutation

Transmutation by Artist Mary Gravelle
Transmutation, Acrylic on Paper,
36 x 48 inches.
Copyright 2015 Mary Gravelle.

My latest painting is an acrylic abstract painting. It became an action painting after I laid out a large piece of paper on the floor. Using diluted, liquid acrylic paints and a large brush, I had a blast allowing the paint and brush to flow across the page as my body gave way to the movement.

This painting might seem a departure from my normal style, however, I felt like I was returning to my roots.

When I began painting, before attending art school, I painted large abstract paintings on paper. I fell in love with Stonehenge paper at the time with the two deckled edges. The smooth, almost cushy surface of the cotton rag paper delighted my senses and seemed to take the paint with ease without buckling.

The paper I used for this current painting was a mixed-media paper I purchased from The Art Store in Prescott, AZ. While it feels sumptuous, it did buckle a teeny bit under the soaking of the water and gel medium diluted acrylic paint. It looks fine.

I don't know if I love this painting, but I love the process. It's a painting that is fun to look at up close because of the layering of color, shape, and expressive, overlapping brush strokes causing variations in texture and color.

I can't wait to start the next one!

This painting is available for sale.

Flat Stanley, my painting assistant.
I had a couple of painting assistants during this project, Flat Stanley and Sir Kitty. Flat Stanley is part of a literacy program who came to visit me from Florida where my niece lives. Her son, Aidan, is part of the Flat Stanley project for literacy at school.

Flat Stanley, my painting assistant,
gazes at the immensity of the painting
before him. 
Sir Kitty is more accustomed to painting with me and gives me pointers along the way. :-)


Sir Kitty advises me on my next move.

Until Next Week

• Create art
• Appreciate art
• Buy art


Mary Gravelle (Mary Rae Rush)
Sir Kitty
About the author: Mary Rae Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist and writer who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved assistant, Sir Kitty.