U100 - 2019

Yes, its that time of year again, U100! I’ve lost count how many years I’ve been accepted into this exhibition, but I think this is the 7th or 8th. The number of artists submitting each year has grown massively, so where previously I was allowed about 15 paintings, this year I only need to deliver five, plus some extra for restocking. The gallery is expecting 600 to 900 new works for the first hang, so  my aging body is extremely grateful that I’m not helping this year.

It was difficult for me to choose small works this year, as I took so much time off to care for my Mum, and spent most of my spare time working on Frida VII, but the 30 day gathering in September helped boost my small works inventory. I love my new explorations with iPad drawing added to my photographic images, so most are from those sessions.

To prepare the mixed media pieces, I printed and then added a satin brushstroke finish and a little extra acrylic paint and sparkle. These features don’t photograph well and are best to see in person. Each piece is matted in soft white and mounted in a black or white frame. The white bird is for the feature wall, which this year is going to be mostly black and white.

Prices start at $55, which is a steal and I ship at cost. Let me know if you would like to order, as these special editions are only available at the U100 exhibition in Lake Country, BC, or by contacting me directly through this blog.

The exhibition starts with an exclusive dinner on November 22nd and continues till Christmas. This is the largest and most important fund raising event of the year for LCAG, so if you can visit and support, every little counts. More on the U100 fund raising events as the exhibition unfolds.

CAT VIII

Artfinder has just informed me that my one finger drawing CAT VIII has been included in their PICASSO collection https://www.artfinder.com/staff-picks/pablo-picasso/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=transactional&utm_campaign=selfservice_featured_in_marketing 

I have many more one finger drawings in my Artfinder shop that I would perhaps consider more Piccasso like, but this cat is supet cute, he’s still on the lookout for mice even when sleeping

More can be seen and purchased via my Artfinder Gallery www.artfindet.com/sea-dean

If you don't see the size you’re looking for, I can print a limited edition in various sizes or even take a commission to turn the drawing into a large painting.

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SPIRIT RIDGE - THE LITTLE BLUE HORSE

I finally managed to make it to a photo walk group I’ve belonged to for a couple of years. I simply had to go because the organizer had arranged a group session at an equestrian center. I grew up near a racing stud, so horses hold a special place in my heart. 

I also wanted to compare the cameras in my 2015 and 2019 iPads and see their quality next to my 12.5 MB Sony point and shoot. The day was cold, grey and dull and the interiors were very dark, so 

this was a true test. Over the next few weeks I will share some of the images from the day and how I 

am using them in my work.

A digital image digitally embellished with Markup tools. I could probably lighten this a touch as I didn’t overlay much transparent white on this one. It was very challenging to create and redrawn a couple of times because Markups don’t save in a backup file. However, I like its quirky nature.

SPIRIT RIDGE - BLACK KNIGHT MOUNTAIN

The September 30 day challenge is over, but October is going to be another full month, however, I will continue blogging at least a couple of times a week. I’m going to be completing my large commission of Frida this month, but I’m also preparing for the November U100 show in Lake Country.

This is an altered digital image from a group photo session at SPIRIT RIDGE last Saturday.

I finally managed to make it to a photo walk group I’ve belonged to for a couple of years. I simply had to go because the organizer had arranged a group session at an equestrian center. I grew up near a racing stud, so horses hold a special place in my heart. 

I also wanted to compare the cameras in my 2015 and 2019 iPads and see their quality next to my 12.5 MB Sony point and shoot. The day was cold, grey and dull and the interiors were very dark, so 

this was a true test. Over the next few weeks I will share some of the images from the day and how I 

am using them in my work.

ALIEN WORLD - DAY 29 - 30 in 30

I spent some time sketching rainbows using a digital image as a model and this was my favorite, funnily enough I almost erased it and then luckily decided to keep a copy. I slept on it and in the morning I decided the other versions were too busy. On the way, however, I did learn a new way to use the eraser tool, it’s just like waving a wand and things you touch disappear. Fun!

ECHO - DAY 28 - 30 in 30

I started this as an exercise in finding the color in the image of a rainbow. I like it so much that it now has a catalog number and will appear in my Artfinder Gallery Shop. It has a mysterious feel to it don’t you think? I tried a version without the ghost rainbow, but it definitely lost something.

I didn't enhance the original image, merely cropped and rotated. I then went in with Markup and tried all the tools until I hit on the colored pencil. I love that you can change the width of the line and the transparency of the tools, but the colored pencil can be used in such a way that it mimics pastel. No wonder Degas was enthralled by this medium, it’s simply yummy.

I purchased some simple white frames today and I will be mounting some of these one finger drawings in them for the upcoming U100 show ay Lake Country Art Gallery. I can’t wait to see how they will look.

SUNNY - DAY 26 - 30 in 30

This did have a base of a digital image, but it has many layers of Markup on top, so you probably don’t see any of the original. Red can be overwhelming in quantity, but yellow is always a good choice for monumental art. I can quite see me using this as a study for a large painting.

Below are the original image and a black and white version.

DAWN RAINBOW - DAY 23 - 30 in 30

There are two magic hours for artists and photographers. Most people find it relatively easy to view sunset, but the other special hour is at dawn. Every morning I get up around sunrise to enjoy the dawn light and wildlife. It’s a whole different world out on the lake around dawn. Ducks and Geese enjoy breakfast, bobbing under the water to feed, before flying off for their day in the fields, Seagulls and Crows scavenge the beaches and the odd Eagle or Osprey catches an unlucky fish. It’s mesmerizing.

So was it luck that I captured this dawn rainbow with geese, or was it dedication?

LEAF LIGHT - Day 22 - 30 in a30

Started with a digital photograph and enhancd with various digital Markup tools. The original image is below.

RAPUNZEL - Day 21 - 30 in 30 Challenge

I started this drawing with a thought and a song: The thought was an image of uneven yellow lines, the song was “I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair” I wasn’t really thinking of painting hair, just how would I draw the song. This is the result. The title of the song was long so I mused on the golden fleece, spinning straw into gold, Shirley Temple and RAPUNZEL The latter seemed most appropriate.

I drew this in the Notes app and was exasperated by the sipe function continually removing my page and popping up things. I couldn’t find a way to turn it off. If anyone has the answer please tell me.

I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair,
Borne, like a vapor, on the summer air;
I see her tripping where the bright streams play,
Happy as the daisies that dance on her way.
Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour.
Many were the blithe birds that warbled them o'er:
Oh! I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair,
Floating, like a vapor, on the soft summer air.

I long for Jeanie with the daydawn smile,
Radiant in gladness, warm with winning guile;
I hear her melodies, like joys gone by,
Sighing round my heart o'er the fond hopes that die:—
Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain,—
Wailing for the lost one that comes not again:
Oh! I long for Jeanie, and my heart bows low,
Never more to find her where the bright waters flow.

I sigh for Jeanie, but her light form strayed
Far from the fond hearts round her native glade;
Her smiles have vanished and her sweet songs flown,
Flitting like the dreams that have cheered us and gone.
Now the nodding wild flowers may wither on the shore
While her gentle fingers will cull them no more:
Oh! I sigh for Jeanie with the light brown hair,
Floating, like a vapor, on the soft summer air.

Steven Foster 1854

UNDER THE SEA - Day 20 - 30 in 30 Challenge - One finger drawing

I duplicated yesterday’s drawing and took it into black and white. Then I added more Markup in the Photos app. It looks much more impressive on a large screen.

PRIMORDIAL SOUP - Day 19 - 30 in 30 Challenge - One finger drawing

These intuitive abstracts are almost a meditation for me. The first steps are fast, but then each color and line takes a great deal of thought and concentration. It’s impossible to create a one finger drawing while being distracted or thinking about something else. Often many thoughts arrive and are dismissed in favor of another, but sometimes I can pick them up again to create a series. To,orrow you will see one such inspiration.

LISTENING - HEARING - Day 15 - 30 in 30 Challenge

Another in the fluid line drawing series.

ORIGINAL

HEARING

 

LISTENING - RESTING - SEEING - LOVING

QUO VADIS - Day 14 - 30 in 30 Challenge

My friend Sheila asked if I was going to make SMOOTH from a few days ago into a series. I didn’t plan to, but when I sat down today to create my submission for 30 in 30, I thought why not? This is what happened.

Simplicity is fabulous and for some reason it’s easier for me to capture with iPad drawing. I often mock up ideas on my iPad for commissions, but it is also a wonderful art form in itself. Once I have created a one finger drawing I sometimes like to turn it around to see if it looks better configured differently. I usually end up thinking that the way I drew it in the first place is best. Here are a few versions of QUO VADIS ... what do you think?

I like that the original version is placed off center. And I like the second version because it has a human form.

SOLITUDE - Day 12 - 30 in 30 Challenge

This is a digital image to which I have added some color and a bird for interest. It displays the simplicity that I’m always trying to capture in my art. This is also one that will make its way into my Artfinder gallery soon. www.artfinder.com/sea-dean

DOTTY LANDSCAPE - Day 10 - 30 in 30 Challenge

I fell in love with the clouds in this image, again as I was driving. So many good shots whisked by before I could find a place to pull over. Sometimes you just have to grab it while you can.....

When I had saturated the color and played a bit more with contrast it needed something more, so I kept on going. I love dots in fabric and Australian indigenous art, so that was a no brainer. A whole picture of dots is too hard on the eyes, so I did some outlining and then went in with a transparent highlighter tool. I’m very happy with how this turned out. It feels a bit like a country quilt.

This one will probably make its way into my Artfinder gallery for sale.

Original digital image before enhancement

Here and There

HERE AND THERE is another painting currently on show in the “Going to the Dogs” exhibition at Lake Country Art Gallery. The one finger ipad drawing is collaged on a backing of soft silver embellished with acrylic paint. Its always a challenge to create an image which has special effects, but the original is so much more impressive.

Here and there, 16” x 20” collage mixed media on silver paper $295
As it is currently on exhibition, please reserve by contacting me through this blog.

ADVENT GIFT - Inner Peace

Available ay artfinder.com/sea-dean

I used to live 20 mins out of town in a fruit growing/farming area with few facilities, but over 40 years it grew into a busy town. A few years ago I moved into the nearest city, which used to be a minor tourist destination and has turned into a metropolis. Make the mistake of driving the hiway between 2pm and 6pm and add an extra half hour to the trip. It’s one of the fastest growing areas in western Canada and city planning is stressing to keep up. Life is hectic.

In my life I have my Art business, my private business, caring for my mother, my health issues, her health issues, preparing for retirement, renovating two condos and trying to have a social life. It’s crazy! At a time when I should be slowing down and smelling the roses, it is speeding up and full of mental and physical polution. Ahhhhhhrgggggg!

Recently I heard the saying “Don’t let it rent space in your brain”

Isn’t that lovely. Just uttering the words takes me down a notch or two. I used to be a big believer in affirmations, a la Louise Hay, but I’ve come to realise that dealing with modern life is not about cancelling it out, or stomping it down, it’s about honoring each moment and processing as it occurs. I think this may be more of a Buddhist viewpoint than a Metaphysical one.

Being in the moment allows a person to adjust as life comes at you. Sometimes traffic is crazy, the baby is throwing up in the back seat, the dog is barking at nothing, the cell phone is ringing and its all about Triage. Triage is a hospital term referring to taking patients in order of urgency. So, you signal and creep into the exit lane, pull into a parking lot, baby is messy but OK, dog gets a pat, phone gets answered or turned off and suddenly peace ensues. BREATHE! BREATHE deeply again, open the window and BREATHE some more, give yourself an inner hug, smille and gain some inner peace before you clean up the mess. Treat yourself as the most important part of your life, which you are! You are the conductor in the orchestra and without YOU it will all come to a horrible and unharmonious end.

So your advent gift today is Inner Peace. Practise it every moment of each day, reject the static urgency of life and allow a sense of calm in. BREATHE. Practise often and it will become habit.

ADVENT GIFT - Simplicity

One of the best ways to chip out a chunk of relaxation from your busy day is to get organized. A little pre-planning pays back over and over again throughout the year. Use “Search“ in my blog to find tips on cataloging and organizing. I came across an artist this week who sells limited editions of some of her work and she has them all pre-packaged and ready to ship. I was inspired!

SUNRISE OVER THE BAY by Sea Dean - Pastel ACEO in Mat

I spent all weekend adding mostly miniature and small paintings to my Artfinder Gallery. I 
scanned and tweaked older listings. At the same time, I packaged and organized all Artfinder listings in a special section of my studio so I can ship them immediately, in time for the holidays. And I can pack several in one stiff mailer to save on packaging and shipping. So if youre doing some last minute shopping I have my skates on.

Any questions please feel free to contact me. 
Visit https://www.artfinder.com/sea-dean

KITTY One Finger Drawing - Now in limited edition bamboo print at my Artfinder Gallery

One helpful Artfinder artist has compiled a collection of miniatures here. 
https://www.artfinder.com/u/nathan-jones/collections/miniatures-from-af-artists/

BLACK FRIDAY SALE - Artfinder One Finger Drawing Prints

ANNOUNCING AN UPDATE OF MY ARTFINDER SHOP AND BLACK FRIDAY WEEK SALE

I’ve had quite a few sales on Artfinder lately, which is very gratifying. It has inspired me to load some of my latest ONE FINGER DRAWING PRINTS and launch a Black Friday week sale. If you are reading this, up until 30th November you can get 20% off selected paintings and a 15% Artfinder voucher. New art being added daily so if you have a painting in mind that you dont see, contact me to add to your choices.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY ARTFINDER GALLERY (AND 20% OFF SALE)

CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE YOUR 15% OFF VOUCHER
Just click on referral and add Sea Dean.
This applies to any art nt just mine, but I also have a sale to add it to.