A Primal Energy

I decided to take a quasi-break from flowers (though not truly...I still painted them while I was painting this different piece) and get back to my animal/wildlife roots.

About a month ago I did a quadtych art card set entitled "African Wildlife." Another artist mentioned that before seeing the size of the piece (each of the four paintings was 5" x 7") he thought that it was larger, or at least wanted to be. I had that impression as well, so I developed my triptych Savannah around the image of the mother elephant and her calf hurrying back to her side. I used the colors of the art cards as a base for the abstract background to create a sense of the African savannah--it's energy, wildness, and yes, peacefulness. Various waterfowl (not necessarily a true to size ratio!) added the tranquility to the scene I needed, which helps to balance the energy of the elephant calf panel. Each primary figure in the end panels (the heron in flight in Panel 1 and the baby elephant in Panel 3) are moving towards the middle panel which helps to keep the viewer's eye in the image. All figures are drawn toward the central figure of the mother elephant, another symbol for Mother Earth.

The tree canopy created a particular challenge for me, as I was stuck here for some time trying to determine how to develop this area of the painting. It went through several changes until I settled on using mixed media. To do this, I cut sections of fine art paper with real bamboo leaf inclusions into large-ish palm leaves and glued them in place. The color was still too bright for the painting, so I applied a gentle orange wash to stain the leaves before adding cobalt teal for more depth and contrast. I then sealed the paper with a gloss gel medium.

I love the background of the first panel--its contrasts, textures, and translucency--all off-set by the crispness of the sillouettes of the water birds. I think I may very well explore this theme another time :o)

Rhapsody In Violet

Ah...back to some good ol' YUPO paper. Love this stuff. It is marketed as a water color paper, but it does not absorb water like traditional water color papers do. Instead, water and color sits on the surface which results in THE most vibrant colors possible. The results are incredibly gorgeous.

Rhapsody In Violet is a highly textural piece. It is not mixed media, but simply acrylic paint on YUPO. This piece is 11" x 14" and comes with a free 16" x 20" white mat, so it easily slips into a standard size frame. If you love your purples and blues, then are sure to enjoy Rhapsody In Violet.

Blue Florals On Lemon

Here are the latest 5" x 7" paintings in my series of florals, titled Blue Florals On Lemon. Each painting may be purchased individually, or in a diptych or triptych. My personal favorite is #1. Check them out--you are sure to get an early taste of springtime!

Florals on Cherry Vanilla

Ah...here they are, three more of my Flower Blossoms On Cherry Vanilla. They are available as single 5" x 7" paintings for $12.00, or in doubles (diptychs) for $20.00 per set, or as a triptych for $30.00. If you would like to purchase more than one in a different combination than I have listed on Etsy, just click on "contact" beneath my avatar to use the Etsy convo option and I will create a listing especially for you!

Coming Soon To Etsy...

Floral Blossoms On Citrus...

Only available in my Etsy Shop

I'll let you know as soon as these beauties post.

Deep Midnight Florals

I normally do not offer framed paintings, but with this set I have made an exception. Deep Midnight Florals are my latest pieces. They are 5" x 7" abstract floral mixed media paintings on canvas board. Each painting is on a double black mat with a white frame, making these very simple yet elegant floral pieces. The canvas board is wrapped with fine art paper containing real bamboo leaf inclusions--love this paper!--and I designed the flowers on that backdrop. Each frame is approximately 10.75" x 12.75" x 1.25", with total dimensions for both about 21.5" x 12.75" (if hung vertically; if displayed horizontally, dimensions are about 10.75" x 25.50".) Price is $110.00 for the set, shipping included.

Another Egret?

Yes, I admit it: apparently I have a "thing" for painting egrets. But hey, in my defense, egrets have fantastically graceful lines that swoop, curve, and can move from bold to delicate in one mere brushstroke.

So here it is...another mixed media piece whose central figure is offset by papyrus paper and paper made with bamboo leaf inclusions. This piece has a bit of an Asian feel to it. Originally I planned to feature an Asian elephant abstract but in the end the figure of a flying egret demanded my attention. I decided to heed the call.

Of Water And Air is a 16" x 20" mixed media abstract, representing the grace and power of a great egret in flight. I will post this piece on Boundless Gallery tomorrow (1/15).

Secret Garden

Here is my latest piece, Secret Garden. As you can see, this is a continuation of my affair with fine art paper :o) This work is truly an exploration of mixed media and collage, as I have utilized my own hydrangea photographs, fabric, paper, acrylic paints, and molding paste.

Secret Garden is 18" x 15" on hand-stretched (by me) gallery wrapped fabric, which was archivally treated prior to beginning the collage. The fine art paper has real flower petal and bamboo leaf inclusions, making for a wonderful collage "springboard" of ideas. Some of the paper is tissue-thin, which I took advantage of to add interest and allow the pattern of the fabric background to show through.

As I worked with the collage, the hydrangea photos became graceful trees, with their stems twining like tree trunks, alluding to the roots below. It seemed to be similar to the way a child might see these gargantuan flowering shrubs in a garden. The rest of the piece evolved from the hydrangeas, with various textures and shapes positioned to lead the eye through the imagery.

This piece was incredibly experimental for me, and I had quite a bit of fun finding my way through it. Secret Garden will post for sale tomorrow (Sunday Jan. 11.) Be sure to stop by Boundless Gallery and check it out!

Serendipity--Mixed Media Diptych, 2009

As promised, but just under the wire...Serendipity is my first completed art work for 2009. Serendipity is a diptych (2 canvases) on gallery wrapped linen which has been primed with clear acrylic gesso, allowing the color and the texture of the linen to come through. Each panel is 20" x 16" x 1 3/8"; total dimensions are 20" x 32" x 1 3/8" (panels may be hung farther apart to cover more space.) Each piece is ready to hang (hanging wire is on back.) Price is $275.00; shipping is $30.00. If you live in St. Louis, contact me for reduced or even free :o) shipping charges.

http://www.gallery-zoo-art.boundlessgallery.com/

Midnight Beach Abstracts--New Art Card Series

Happy New Year!! I am starting off 2009 by hitting the ground running (and not just after my toddler ;o) My latest art card series is now on Etsy, titled Midnight Beach Abstracts. You know how the beach looks late at night with the moonlight gently caressing the surf? That feeling of complete calm that seduces you as you breathe the tang of the salty air and get lost in the rhythm of the tidal dance? Those are the feelings that emerged as I put brush to canvas for these small abstracts.

There are three paintings in this series: each one is an original 5" x 7" abstract acrylic painting that presents like a card, allowing for a written message to personalize the back. Each painting in this particular series may be purchased separately for $12.00 each, or the entire series of three paintings can be purchased for only $30.00. Stop by my shop on Etsy and check them out!

http://www.galleryzooart.etsy.com/

The Heroine's Overture

Here is my most recent posted piece, The Heroine's Overture. It is my first triptych, where one image continues across three separate canvases. I enjoy the dramatic quality creating across multiple canvases brings to a piece--I will definitely be exploring more pieces such as this. Each canvas measures 20" x 10", for a total size of 20" x 30" (canvases may be spaced farther apart for a larger size.)

So what is this painting about, exactly? For me, it is an exploration of line, color, and movement--an abstract visualization of the type of music used for a heroine. Here I see energy, life, courage, determination, yet something larger than herself that she must face or overcome that will mold the change or shape the destiny of the heroine. This piece depicts the triumph of the heroine. All of my art at this point reflects the positive element in life, nature, and the human character.

The Heroine's Overture By Catherine Jeltes, GALLERY ZOO ART

http://www.gallery-zoo-art.boundlessgallery.com/