Reframing a goal……

 

Sooooo, my goal was to have all 100 Pantone cards done by Christmas! Silly me! My new goal is 50 by Christmas (finished #48 today). And then (maybe) the rest finished by June 1 next year.

At my age this is not a failure-just an adjustment. Did I mention I have an art journal to finish also? Actually, the challenge is to find subjects I want to paint. The creativity meter is low. I need holiday rest and refueling. (And maybe a transatlantic cruise, wink)…..

Love for now and enjoy the holidays…di

Four out of 5 canvases

I purchased several stretched canvases at an estate sale quite a while ago and they have just sat quietly in my studio gathering dust.. They probably would have sat in my studio until I died because I usually prefer to work on larger size canvases. However, I have made it my goal to utilize these blank slates.

I have now done 4/5 12x12s and have started the 5th one. Then I have three 9x12s  and two odd ball sizes.  So probably in February i will actually go out and buy a new canvas! I suspect it will be on the larger spectrum.

Did I mention I have an art journal to finish and a ‘Pantone’ project half done? Oh well…it is good to be busy

Calling this one ‘Mirage’

I am calling this one ‘Mirage’. Titles are funny things-they can either focus the viewer or limit the viewer! I feel that the expression of the image should not be so overt that someone else’s imagination can’t take their own journey. 

I like this piece because of the merging of forms, richness of color and the emotional feel of it. It is a small piece (12x12) but a strong one.

It is of course available on www.Difergi.com …

 

The Magic of the Village

 

New small piece (12x12). Someone gifted me 5 12x12 and 3 9x12 canvases. I usually like working a bit larger but free is free! So a promise/goal has been made to myself to not buy another canvas until I have used all of these canvases up.  It is actually a fun little project. The main deterrent is that I seem to tighten up a bit-not as much abstraction in the work.  Will have to get over that.

Naming this piece-Magic in the Village.  It is available in my web store. Www.Difergi.com.

Enjoy…..di

Still life….

 

I don’t usually do ‘still lifes’ but sometimes it is fun to switch gears for a day.  When I do observational work I do not get the same rush as I do when creating something one of a kind.  I like the thought of uniqueness.

However, replicating something pretty is fun too.

“Holding Onto Life”

 

This is my newest piece in my ‘circle of life series’. It’s highly symbolic in that the orbs are our spirits, woman is the vessel and of course we need man. The gift of life is such a special blessing.  I am always amazed, as I walk along in my aging body, how lucky I am to have lived in a physical form

This piece is 20”x20, acrylic on canvas.

Always working…

Always working though I am calling myself a ‘retired artist’! ( that’s bs because artists don’t ever really retire) It just makes conversations easier.

Am painting smalls that are available on eBay. You just search ‘Difergi’ and I will pop up. Since I am obsessed with faces and obsessed with color, this is what you get. 

We all have our paths and this is mine at the moment.  Enjoy the faces-they seem to be on the serious side today….hmmmm, go figure! Di

No title yet….

 New little piece, no title.  Thinking of something like …my peeps….peers…..my social group…will have to think about it!

I think it’s a sweet piece ( whatever that means). It is one of those that you just relax and let the painting unfold and let the paint speak for itself!

“Thoughts”

 

This is 22”x30”, acrylic on heavy art paper. It is part of the 2023 ‘ Circle of Life’ series.  I am pleased with this one. (Artists do have favorite pieces!)

The piece is visually textural, loose and emotive.  Those are three qualities that mean a lot to me.  The other quality that matters to me (the most) is that the style is uniquely mine.

All is good in the world-di

No title yet!

 This is an 11x14 on paper-no title yet. It is part of this year’s series which I have titled ‘the circle of life series’.  The orb represents soul/life and has appeared consistently through my work whether I want it to or not! I am also using an unbleached white in all of the artworks. Which is just a parameter that I set up for myself.  It helps them pull together for a show.

My next piece is larger so will take a while. It has named itself already. ‘Generations….’.  Will talk at you later-back to work.

Pantone post cards—

 

This is a ‘new to me’ fad right now. It is painting on Pantone postcards. They come in boxes of 50 or 100 and artists are painting on the color portion of the cards. The area is only 4x4, so a card is not a major commitment. The process offers up the opportunity to paint outside of my normal subject matter and color choices.  It doesn’t hurt that the cards come in a cute box. 

Of course, I ordered the box of 100 and have to tell you they are very addictive.  So wish me luck on completing them in a timely manner. Christmas 2023 is my goal. Di

The Girls

 Sometimes, one is just not happy with a painting. There is nothing really wrong with it BUT you just don’t like it. Such is the case of a painting called Three Sisters (scroll below a bit) which is now The Girls! I think I just needed more color and stuff going on. Any how, in its final rendition (I hope), here it is.  It is on eBay for a very reasonable amount. :) 

So

No title yet-but I like it👍

 

If you are older/mature/wise you will recognize the pink tape above as an early product for the huge computers in the 60s.  This particular tape allowed the computer to determine the distance from any two points on the globe.  Since this piece is an ode to ‘space/science’,  I decided to use the dot sequences for the patterning on the blue.  Thought it was appropriate….I am going to attach a piece of the tape to the back of the painting because I think it is ‘cool’.

Do not have a title for this piece yet but I have to admit I really like it…. I have been reading  alien books lately….now you know!

“Life”

 

Calling this piece “Life. Life is a positive and challenging experience so hopefully, I captured that feeling.

My last piece was a bit somber so I decided I wanted to do something a bit more positive this time. So this is it. Enjoy!

Having fun!

 

Sometimes cute is enough. These are ACEO cards I paint to sell on EBAY. They take me probably 45 minutes each and I do not make a lot of money off them BUT I am developing collectors.(at least that is what I tell myself) So, it is all good.  They are created without purpose and no beginning plan. I think that is why they come out so fun. They really are a great exercise for me…I teach myself a lot as I do them.

Generations

 

Not sure how I feel about this piece-which is ‘artist speak’ for this did not come out as expected but it is done. there is a lot of character in the faces but it is too sweet?, too generic?, too something! Chalk it up to the journey and we will see what happens next. Di

Your way, My way

 

Just finished this piece.  The jury is still out on it. I think I really like it but it is a bit somber. The title, “Your way, My way,” just popped into my mind. I am not sure why but it did. So for now that is the title.

Lately, I have been doing small/average size pieces but this one is 30x40, so it’s a decent size piece.  They seem more important when they are larger.

Onward….

Several titles in mind…..

 

She is definitely putting the stop to something…last time I named a painting too soon and one of my followers came out with a better suggestion. So this time I am going to wait for a bit before settling on a title.

Am not sure she will fit like I want in the new series but she wanted to be here. Sometimes paintings have a mind of their own!

Searching

It is so hard to create new habits. I just finished my fourth ‘getting looser’ piece and I find myself reverting to my love of form….and using my older perspective. That is not all bad if I continue to lengthen the stretch and I will!  I think my goal is 20 pieces and then a serious critique and refinement of where I am heading. 

The title of the new piece is ‘the dreamwalker’.

 

“The princess bird walker”

 She does have a title! And a certain questionable charm!

Small 8”x8”

 Continuing in the ‘pursuit of looseness’.  Looking for that feeling/intensity of being.  No title yet.

The boys club…

 

So…I feel/felt like my last series was too ‘tight’.  This year is going to-be about loosening up.  It is a hard path to figure out where the line of perfection is for each individual artist. I suspect I will have to ruin a couple thousand paintings (a little drama but true) before I can arrive at my somewhat unknown destination. How finished or unfinished , how raw, how objectified, who knows??? I just know my journey is not over yet.  So, here I go again….

Singing to the city night….

 

Fourth small piece (9x12) for the ‘Behold the Night’ series to be shown this June.  I always try to have some smaller pieces for smaller pocketbooks.  Not everyone has the place for or purse strings for the larger works.  I guess it is tacky to discuss such things but reality exists.

I really like the mood of this piece. Have not named it yet..I hate trying to come up with clever names. Some pieces name themselves and some not so much!  The titles tend to get redundant especially when doing a themed series.

Back to work…hello and then goodbye.

Showing in the communities…

 Haven’t posted in a while. Had COVID despite getting boosters etc. I am back to normal finally and getting back to doing arty thangs! Today, I went and hung 9 paintings in the Etowah Carnegie Library in Etowah, Tn.  My local art guild rotates solo artists and their artwork through our 5 surrounding counties. It benefits our public spaces and as artists, we do love our art on display as opposed to sitting in our studio spaces.

Hopefully, I will be posting more in the near future…d

Collectible Art Blocks

 

My Art Blocks can now be found at Sweetwater Market at the Mill, in Sweetwater, TN and at Fullers Frame and Gallery in Athens, TN. There is also an ever growing selection onEbay. On EBay just search Difergi to find them.  

These are small (2 1/2 x 3 1/2”) prints mounted on wood that liven up a bookshelf, mantle or office cubicle and are just a perfect gift. Very affordable and unique. All, of course, of my original artwork. 

Always working and learning….

 Signed up this year for Paint Your Heart and Soul 2023 class. There are 50 different lessons and 25 different teachers. I love the exposure to different artists and their techniques. I try to do most of the lessons for the techniques and mediums but I do individualize the subject matter and compositions because that is just who I am.  I love the opportunity to just not have a goal for a piece other than learning and exploration. these are done in a sketchbook sometimes or just-on paper. They are not precious and that is what makes them fun.

Music

 Working small equals more posts. This is a 9x12 on canvas. It will take me two sessions normally, so that equates to two days.  I am pretty sure it is done but there is always a possibility of tweaking…..it is a strong piece IMHO visually.  Now I need to do some eBay stuff so I can fill the coffers. Later—

‘Duet’

 Starting  a new sub-series..if that is even a real thing! These works will be on paper and all 11x14, acrylic paint and mixed mediums. They will have to to do with music and song. Hopefully-My ‘behold the Night’ paintings should show perfectly with these.  These smaller ones will be for sale on Etsy. Enjoy-di

“The Night Out”

 

This is the eighth piece of the ‘Behold the Night’ series. There will probably only be two more pieces. One of those will definitely be a musician-maybe both and they will be smaller. The series will be shown in Knoxville in June, more info as we get closer. 

This piece is collage and painting. The collage was the basis for the graffiti walls and I went from there. It is 24”x24”. I would say it depicts a slow mid-week night.