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Thursday, 05 November 2009

  • Bonzai

     
    Bonzai
    Acrylic on Canvas
    10"x20"

    Small Bonzai
    Acrylic on Canvas
    6"x6"

    These are a couple more of the pieces I completed to hang at Coffee and Chocolate. I really enjoy making simple compositions - trying to express something simply instead of cluttering the space.
    Today I have many adventures on my plate... as usual. It gets redundant to talk about all the adventure going on. It's just par for the course. I keep things busy. The idle mind doesn't do good things for itself in my opinion.
    Time is getting away from me. It's 11:15 already. I should have been on the road by now... but it'll all work out fine I'm sure.
    The sun is shining and it's not too cold.  Hard to believe it's November again, but I'm getting used to the fact that time goes faster and faster every year. This is sad in some ways, but also somewhat comforting. The winters seem shorter each time I endure them. Staying busy makes the cold less irritating.

    What I learned yesterday: Being a good human is sometimes far more important than following the rules.

Sunday, 01 November 2009

  • Gathering


    Gathering
    Acrylic on Wood (Framed)
    about 45"x20"
    Assorted materials added for texture

    This piece among other new works (and a few old pieces) are going to be hung in Coffee and Chocolate off Market Square in Knoxville today. I'm just putting together my paperwork for the show. Thought I'd post something new while I was on the computer anyway.

    I'm moving in the next month or so. Adventure adventure... Life is change. I think many people operate under the semi-functional delusion that stability exists. To some extent we have to believe in it, but change is the constant. Sometimes it's more obvious and aggressive than others. Right now I'm going through another phase of extreme change. It's all good. It's all in line with the master plan etc... but that doesn't make it any simpler. The stress in change is not that it takes something from you really... it's not entirely about the loss of the old. Sometimes it's just the energy expenditure required to adapt to a new pattern. We want something to hold on to- a security blanket.

    If one can make the "security blanket" something that truly does not change, one avoids a great deal of stress and pain. I have discovered this year that I'm constantly surrounded by people who want to help me and take care of me. People who are not related to me biologically, but are truly family to me. Some of them are strangers... but still help me with great kindness and generosity.

    I know some people are going to instantly respond that the world is full of assholes and people who will take advantage of others. Yes. This is true. This is why I have spent a great deal of time in my life studying psychology and sociology. This is not blind faith. This is a process of screening people and dealing with them with honesty and integrity.  

    The truth remains that life is filled with many great single serving friends and kind strangers. That's my security blanket. That's why I can say my grandfather died and I got evicted in the same week and keep a big ol' shit eating grin on my face. I know it's all ok. I know that every change brings me closer to the great goals I hold in my head and my heart. That makes all the discomfort worth it.

    Onward and upward

Friday, 30 October 2009

  • Assorted Landscapes






    These landscapes all have a destination so they're not for sale. They're all either 5x7" or 6x6". I've made some more of these small pieces for another show I'm hanging on Sunday. Some will be for sale. Since they're fairly quick to produce (compared to a 24"x36" or something like that), I can sell them for between 45$ and 55$. It's nice to sell big pieces, but good to have some bite sized goodies out there in the world as well. I think it makes a show more interesting to have a range of sizes.

    Halloween is happening again and I'm ignoring it... again.  I'm just more interested in being in my studio than in playing games with no productive result.
    I hope you all have a fun Halloween. 
    Will return with more new work soon.

Thursday, 22 October 2009

  • Good news


    Clouds (3)
    Acrylic on canvas
    16x20

    Good news. Paintings are selling. Was asked to hang my work in a local coffee shop: Coffee and Chocolate here in Knoxville for the month of November. I'll be hanging on November 1st and the work will be up for the full month. I'm thinking of taking in a bunch of these cloud paintings. I'm really enjoying doing these pieces and have been putting all my spare time in on the project. I'm really enjoying doing the same subject over and over - exploring different techniques and textures. Very relaxing, meditative, yet still intense and exciting.
    Good times.

    I guess I'm kind of thinking about nothing but the work these days. I'm feeling well and sharp and inspired most of the time these days - rare for this time of year for me.

    Difficult to stay warm, but I am getting used to it again. I just want to sleep and eat more like a good mammal. Trying to resist and maintain productivity. DISCIPLINE!  yar...

    Onward and upward

Monday, 19 October 2009

  • Retreating to the Right


    Retreating to the Right
    Acrylic on Canvas
    16x20
    This one has some added texture in the form of a medium I applied before the painting. I've been experimenting with some different textures than the normal textile tricks I do. I've fallen in love with painting these clouds at the moment and have several more to show in the coming days. I've also done another knot painting. It's very close to completion. It's funny how sometimes I won't paint a stroke for a month and then go on a mad spree.
    It's cold here, but sunny. The leaves are turning. Things are going exceptionally well for me these days. Maybe that's why I'm painting blue skies heh.

    Onward and upward

  • Visit oceanstarr's Xanga Site
    • Name: oceanstarr
    • Country: United States
    • State: Tennessee
    • Metro: Knoxville
    • Birthday: 7/20/1981
    • Gender: Female
    • Member Since: 2/24/2005
    • True

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Another place to say things (32)

  • @LaDawntheartist - Hey there. I'm just incredibly busy. I've moved and changed a lot of things around in my life. Just haven't gotten the time to do a proper update yet. I do have new work to post as soon as I get some time for myself. Things are good. I'll ask around about the dog. I promise I'll c
  • Hey Ocean! How you doin' girl? Love your work, your so creative and original as usual. I was wondering if you would ask around if anyone would like a yellow lab, male, approximately 1-2 years of age...very sweet, gentle, minds well and leads wonderfully. I picked him up off the road before he wo
  • Ocean...when you do the pointsilium (sp?) be sure to glue your resin paper that I gave you to a board or a piece of foam board. I once went to a lot of work of doing a piece and accidenaly knocked it against the edge of the table. It broke right in two! I could not even glue it back together....di
  • hey its Schickles Thoguht i would say wats up ncie to see your artwork is doing good my is still really at same level as before but ama keep trying ^_^
  • Starr...I just love the new profile pic. You are certainly a beautiful young women
  • Hi there. I ran across your page, and I'm totally inspired by your zest for life! You seem to be one of the most productive and enthusiastic people I've run into in a long time.
  • Hi Starr it's EV3RY. Glad to see you still have that infectious exuberance for life. Good to read that the painting,language learning and keep fit are going well. The cone flower and fish paintings are some of the best that I have seen from you yet! Keep it up Girl
    • Posted 6/4/2008 12:44 PM
    • by EV3RY
  • I see you are featured content!  Way to go. 
  • You had asked a long time ago about doing volunteer work.  See my post today and come visit sometime.  Check us out, okay.  Sorry to take so long to get back to you.  I wanted to be sure we were up and running before you came over.  
  • @knitsteel - I like the lightbox idea. I have really limited space so it's hard to come up with ideas within that. The lightbox seems like a real winner. I use indirect sunlight a lot too. Usually turns out easiest when I have a glossy painting or multiple textures. Thanks for sharing the ideas w
  • I've never used the chatboard before... ryc- I have a lightbox that I use for the smaller works- just a plastic storage bin with some translucent white poly fabric draped over it. I use fluorescent spiral daylight bulbs and set my camera for fluorescent H to get the best white balance. I still hav
  • thought I might try chatboard. . .I NEVER use chaboard, lol. I liked Echoes and Memories the best of the digital art. I liked the leaf over-the-breast in Lantern Fly (as well as the title of that) And I liked Red tree sunset.
  • So sorry about not getting connected with you about that paint frame.  My wife gave it to a friend of hers.  We have been fighting the flu too and put our art purchase on the back burner.  Cheers
  • kuddos on your burgundy starfish. snazzy ! oh frogger is an amazing game it has the same meditative feel as tetris kinda. cheerio.
  • http://www.convergence-journal.com/ Have you ever checked out this journal? Interesting, I think you might like it. I'm planning to submit some of my poems there. Might be a good place for some of your work. Cheers, Bill
  • Please come and visit anytime.
  • i like your art. have you heard of www.wreckedfortheordinary.com? you should submit a piece to them. it's a free online magazine.
  • I saw it in 2003. I didn't find it terribly impressive either, but felt like I ought to look since it was so rare.
  • Oh yeah, I saw the eclipse of the moon a couple of weeks ago. It disappeared then it went all red. The blood moon I think they call it. It was trippy. It took about an hour for the whole thing to happen.
  • I saw the Mars thing a few years back. It wasn't that big. It was just a bit bigger than usual which is small. It was when I lived in Newport,Victoria,Australia.