My New Web Site

I am SO excited to share my new web site with you. I have spent the first two months of 2014 not in the studio, but at the computer doing lots of not so fun stuff. I really enjoyed building my new web site using Weebly.com though. They make it really easy. So please go visit it and tell me what you think? I would LOVE to hear from you! Here is the link: http://www.heatherhaymart.com/

Screen shot of my new web site.

Also this week I am thrilled to say that I am back in the studio. I prepped lots of boards and have begun working on four new paintings. I am re-inspired and so excited to create a new group of work to share this year.

Prepping new boards.

Digging in to some creative fun!

I hope you are easing into 2014 and getting re-inspired too!

Inching My Way to Finished

This morning I had my kids' things on my mind and it was kind of taking up a lot of my day, but I did manage to get some studio time in. I worked a little more brown into the background of this painting, added gold, and did a few other things. I am finally pretty happy with it, but I need to visit it again on Friday to decide if I think it is finished. That is all the painting I will be getting in today though. The three other paintings are taunting me, but they must wait.

I meant to mention yesterday that I listened to Elizabeth Gilbert's Ted Talk yesterday while I was painting. She is the lady who wrote "Eat Pray Love" (which I still haven't finished). The talk was so good, she talked about the creative genius within us. You should give it a listen. I think I will listen to it again.

Blogging after each day in the studio is fun and difficult. It is hard to keep up with, but I am loving the feeling of marking my progress publicly. Thank you Bren, Kathryn, Karin, Mary, Karen Jo and Sandy! Your comments are really helping me.

Trying Something New

I'm Back! This summer I gave my blog time up so I could spend more time focusing on my family and painting. I am glad I did, but I have missed it too. It is great to be back at it again. So as usual, I have decided to try something new. That's what happens when you take a break, new ideas come up.

I am going to try and post every day that I work in the studio and maybe some of the days that I don't. Not sure about that part though. This may sound weird, but I want to experiment with the idea of sharing my "real time" creating on my blog. In the past I have been sharing past, present and future; depending on what I feel like blogging about, but right now, I am feeling the urge to blog about RIGHT NOW. I don't know if I can keep it up, or if it will even be interesting to follow, but I am going to try it. We will see. If anything, it will be a great exercise in living in the NOW.

This is the first 24"x48" painting I worked on this morning. I laid down Wood Icing texture paste on Wednesday and let it dry, then today I began more color work. I think the top half is going to be off white or cream, but I began with an undercoat of raw sienna to give it some warmth and depth. This is a city scape in the making, probably influenced by my recent trip to Chicago. Looking at the city lights as we drove away on Sunday night took my breath away.

Chilly the helper...looking for a drink.

My second piece I am working on is a 12"x48" painting that I also started on Wednesday earlier this week. I challenged myself to make a painting without a horizon line and this is what I came up with. I love horizon lines, they are very grounding. They make me feel comfortable and balanced. So this was a little scary for me. I like it though. It's kind of like grown up confetti without the mess. We'll see where it goes.

Here is the third and last piece of the day. I began with texture and color and some awesome silver flakes on a 32"x24" board. I do know where it is going, but I don't want to say yet, in case I change my mind. Or in case the painting changes my mind for me. Sometimes when I come back to a painting, it has a way of telling me "your plans mean NOTHING and now you must do THIS" and I listen.