Monday, March 30, 2015

Sketching on Location Using My Phone

Colors of Spring
Digital Media (phone art)
Copyright Mary Gravelle
It seems we cannot live without having our phones with us at all times. I know I am guilty of this. Even when I hike, I feel better if I have my phone with me. I very rarely leave home without it. Heaven forbid some sort of emergency would deem it necessary to call someone.

I have been creating art on my phone for several years now. Up until a couple of weeks ago, it was never about capturing the world around me.

Capturing the Imagination

It was about capturing the creative muse's musings and letting my imagination run wild on the phone screen to see what I could create from my fingertips.

It's been a delight to fill up hours in the middle of the night when I could not sleep. It's been fun to discover all the colors, tools, and brushes that are available for experimentation. I have enjoyed these escapades into fantasyland.

I doubt I will stop creating from the well of my imagination mixed with the tools of technology upon the blank screen. Something has shifted inside me, however.

The Longer View Beyond the Shorter View
Digital Media (phone art)
Copyright Mary Gravelle

Capturing the Scene

Maybe it was the blossoming colors of spring. Maybe it was just me staring with wandering mind and eyes softly upon the world around me. All of sudden the need to capture the colors and the scene before me felt important, almost urgent. I wanted to get those colors down. I wanted to see if I could capture a small fraction of the beauty I was experiencing in the moment.

I took my crapas to the mountain a couple of times. Both times the sessions left me uninspired and disappointed with my ability to sketch what I was seeing. I wrote a blog article on one such sitting. You can read it here.

Capturing the Colors

Then, I had an aha! moment or something like that. I picked up my phone while drinking coffee one morning to see if I could hold onto the scene across the street as the new season gave way to new colors. Pink, sage green, forest green, blue; all of these colors are a new pallet for me as I usually use brighter colors. And I use a lot of the warmer colors like red, hot pink, yellow, and orange. So, this feeling of wanting to experience laying these new colors down was kind of exciting.

My GPS Location
Digital Media (phone art)
Copyright Mary Gravelle
On another occasion, I hiked to one of the GPS locations I had written up in my proposal that I wrote about in last week's blog about my dream to bring painters to the mountains. I sat in that spot feeling like I owned it. I imagined other painters gathering around and how that would feel. It felt great. My sight focused on one spot, a very lovely spot. It had a good feeling essence to it. I grabbed my phone and sketched it.

I have made two sketches so far while drinking my coffee in the morning outside my front door. This is a way of sketching that brings delight instead of admonishment for my lack of drawing skills.

Capturing the Drawing

This is silly nonsense, by the way. I can draw and have done some wonderful charcoal and conte drawings. So, I take it that crapas / oil pastel is not my media. I ran across my soft pastels the other day. They are waiting to go the mountain with me sometime. Perhaps I'll have better luck with the dryness of the media.

Where this newfound need for sketching on location, whether on my phone or with drawing media, is leading me, I have no idea. Maybe it's simply another creative outlet. Maybe it's new sight emerging.

Two Shells, Conte Drawing on Paper, Copyright Mary Gravelle.
Available as a print , greeting card, or throw pillow.
If you like drawing media, consider looking at my Two Shells drawing for sale as an art print or throw pillow.


Capturing the New

I do know that a new series of paintings is bubbling up from inside me and just about ready to burst onto new canvases. I anticipate much excitement once I begin.

Until Next Week

• Create art
• Appreciate art
• Buy art
Mary Gravelle
(Brianna Rush)
Sir Kitty
About the author: Brianna Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist and writer who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved cat, Sir Kitty.

Monday, March 23, 2015

My Dream to Bring Painters to the Red Rocks Might Get Fulfilled

"Paintbrushes" collected at Bell Rock, Sedona, Arizona
My dream to bring painters to the red is underway.

My proposal is in to the Red Rock Ranger District Coconino National Forest. Since moving to Sedona about a year ago, I knew I wanted to bring painters to the red rocks. If you believe in woo-woo, the red rocks told me to.

Bring the Painters

One day while hiking last year at Bell Rock, I heard my intuition or the energy at Bell Rock tell me to "bring the painters." Then, I found all kinds of "paintbrushes." Watch the video below and hear my excitement. See the inspiring views!



How?

After that experience, I scouted out how to go about doing this. I really thought it would be simply a matter of marketing. Wrong! I discovered that the U. S. Forest Service here in Sedona strictly regulates the use of red rock country for business use. Anyone is free to go to the red rocks for personal reasons. If you want to charge people and make money by going out to the red rocks, that is something entirely different.

I live in the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. In doing my research and visiting the local ranger station / visitor center, I put myself on a mailing list to receive news of the next round of permits to be issued. They had not issued permits for eight years. It was my first step.

Then, I asked around and found out that the Sedona Metaphysical Association owns a permit. If you become a member you can use it. I attended one of their meetings only to find out that I would have a six-month probation period. They had folks who had used the permit and were fined for misuse. Now, they are careful and skeptical who they let use it. Understandably so. They also required joining the Chamber of Commerce. Too much fuss. And too much money at that point for me. While Wisdom Painting can be a spiritual experience, it does not fall in total alignment of the metaphysical realm. Onward...

Proposal is In

Fast forward almost a year later after scouting out different opportunities, I received the email I needed. I jumped through all the hoops that the paperwork required. I got my fee paid through a few generous donations. And, got it in on time! Now, I wait to hear if I got approved. If so, they will issue the permits in the fall.

Below is a video I created out on the trail in one spot that I have selected to take painters. Enjoy.


Until Next Week

Brianna Rush (Mary Gravelle)
• Create art
• Appreciate art
• Buy art

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



Monday, March 16, 2015

Studio Set Up on Vacation in Pinetop Arizona 2007

Temporary Painting Studio set up in Pinetop, Arizona.
Painting in process: A Commissioned painting for
Diamond's Gym in Silver City, New Mexico.
22 x 30 inches, Acrylic on Canvas.
I do love painting in a studio situation, whether in a permanent or temporary set up. Since moving to the southwest in 2006, it seems that most of my painting studio experiences have been in temporary spaces.

In November 2007, I wanted to see what Pinetop, Arizona had to offer. I had a commissioned painting to work on, so I took my paints and supplies and drove from Silver City, New Mexico where I lived at the time to the northern part of Arizona to settle in my beautiful vacation rental for a week. Pinetop, being in higher elevation is, as it name implies, a place to mingle among the pine trees. I have an affinity for pine trees so this was perfect for me.

I set up my studio in the kitchen so I could have access to water. To protect the surfaces, I covered the counter and floors with plastic and a drop cloth.

Temporary Painting Studio set up in Pinetop, Arizona.
Painting in process: A Commissioned painting for
Diamond's Gym in Silver City, New Mexico.
22 x 30 inches, Acrylic on Canvas.
I was painting a commissioned painting for the local gym I where I was working out. The owner gave me full leniency on what to paint. I really enjoyed painting in this location. It takes me no time at all to get set up.

Temporary Painting Studio set up in Pinetop, Arizona.
Painting in process: A Commissioned painting for
Diamond's Gym in Silver City, New Mexico.
22 x 30 inches, Acrylic on Canvas.
Would you like to commission me to do a painting for you? Contact me at mary@maryfineart.com to discuss the details. In the meantime, check out my websites to see paintings and prints that are for sale.

Original Paintings
Original Paintings and Prints

I would love to hear from you. Post a comment or question in the comments section below.

The finished painting. Helping me hold the painting in the gym it was painted for is my friend, Larry. This was my "black hair" period... lol... A Commissioned painting for Diamond's Gym in Silver City, New Mexico.
22 x 30 inches, Acrylic on Canvas.
Painted in a temporary Painting Studio set up in Pinetop, Arizona.

Until Next Week

Brianna Rush (Mary Gravelle)
• Create art
• Appreciate art
• Buy art

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

Monday, March 9, 2015

Two New Venues to Exhibit My Art

Exhibiting my Paintings at Yavapai Small Business
Development Center, Pictured Left to Right:
Jazz, Mixed Media on Wood, 12 x 12 inches, Framed.
Hiways and Biways, 18 x 24 inches, Acrylic on Canvas
The Natural World, Mixed Media on Wood, 12 x 12 inches, Framed
Paintings available for sale at:
Business Assistance Center
821 N Main St Cottonwood, AZ 86326
(928) 340-2740 or Contact me at: Mary@MaryFineArt.com
I am so very pleased to announce that last week, I was able to hang my paintings in two different venues.

1st Venue


Exhibiting my Paintings at Yavapai Small Business
Development Center. In the Boardroom:
Hiways and Biways, 18 x 24 inches, Acrylic on Canvas
Painting available for sale at:
Business Assistance Center
821 N Main St Cottonwood, AZ 86326
(928) 340-2740 or
Contact me at: Mary@MaryFineArt.com
The first one is the Yavapai Small Business Development Center in Cottonwood, Arizona. They are helping me expand my business knowledge and reach a larger audience.

They also show artists work in their office. They were happy to exhibit five of my paintings and have excitedly invited me to exhibit more.


2nd Venue

The second space is the Marketplace Cafe in Sedona, Arizona. There was only one vacant spot on the wall at the time. So, I hung one painting. I'm invited to switch it out anytime for a larger painting or add a small second painting.

Jazz, 12 x 12 inches, Mixed-Media on Wood,
Framed. Painting available for sale at:
821 N Main St Cottonwood, AZ 86326
(928) 340-2740 or 
Contact me at: Mary@MaryFineArt.com
















Casey Rooney,
City of Cottonwood Economic Director standing
beside my painting, Flowering Heart, mixed media on wood,
12 x 12 inches. Painting available for sale at:
Business Assistance Center
821 N Main St Cottonwood, AZ 86326
(928) 340-2740 or
Contact me at:Mary@MaryFineArt.com









Pictured here is Art Coordinator and
Master Photographer, Beverly Kievman Copen.
My painting is top center:
Magic of the Saguaro, 16 x 20 inches,
Acrylic on Canvas. Original is available.
The Marketplace Cafe
6645 State Route 179
Sedona, Arizona 86351
(928) 284-5478 or email me at
Mary@MaryFineArt.com.


























Until Next Week

Brianna Rush (Mary Rush Gravelle)
• Create art
• Appreciate art
• Buy art

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

Monday, March 2, 2015

The Completed Paintings in the Studio Views

Gold and Delicious, 54 inch triangle, Oil on Canvas.
Copyright Mary Gravelle.
Original painting is for sale.
As I was writing about my art studio setups over the past several weeks, I became aware that most of the photographs contained paintings-in-process. So, this week and perhaps over the next few weeks, I'll post the final paintings along with the studio set up.

Vernon, CT 2004

From my first post, Studio Setups Past and Present, the first studio set up I shared with you was from my basement in Connecticut in 2004. The final painting was from my triangle series, Seeking the Truth of the Triangle. This painting was a "female" triangle titled, Gold and Delicious.
Studio Set Up, 2004. Still Life.
Gold and Delicious painting-in-process.












Oracle, AZ 2006

Passage, 16 x 20 inches, Oil on Masonite.
Copyright Mary Gravelle.
Original painting is not for sale.
Studio set up at Rancho Linda Vista.
Oracle, AZ. "Passage"
painting-in-process.
In 2006, my first studio painting experience in the southwest was a two-week stay as artist-in-residence at Rancho Linda Vista Artists' Ranch in Oracle, Arizona. The painting to the left is the result of that visit. It turns out to be a transitional painting from abstract to the landscape. At the time I had never painted a landscape and had no interest in it. That was until I began a mutual love affair with the land of Oracle, Arizona.



Studio set up while painting
"Paradise".


Paradise, 36 x 48 inches,
Acrylic on Wood. Copyright Mary Gravelle.
Original painting is for sale.

Oracle, AZ 2007

After the landscape of Oracle, Arizona just absolutely wowed me, I had to paint it! The photo that was in the first blog post about my studio setup showed the eighth in a series of paintings of the southwestern landscape of Oracle, Arizona.


Collect My Art

If you want to buy a painting from me, contact me at mary@maryfineart.com to discuss the details. Thanks!








Until Next Week

Brianna Rush (Mary Rush Gravelle)
• Create art
• Appreciate art
• Buy art

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