Tag Archives: painting on aqua board

September 14, 2013 · 6:14 am

Cuttyhunk Life

Cuttyhunk Island

Sometimes the best way to show a most wonderful experience is without too many words. I was blessed to go to Cuttyhunk Island for a 5 day retreat with 11 other incredibly wonderful women.

Paths crossing into town.

Hilltop

Cuttyhunk Church

Island View….Golf Carts only on the paths!

Nashawena Island with an official population of 2.

View of Gay Head from My Room at the Avalon Inn. Rumor is Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra spent a night at the inn.

General Store and Me. Funny that we often don’t know what our fellow bloggers look like. I hope to meet may of you in my lifetime.

Cuttyhunk Library

Fisherman's Club, the only place that serves any food in the summer and that is just breakfast!

Cuttyhunk Fishing Club, the only place that serves any food in the summer and that is just breakfast! And the place where president’s and rich New Yorkers went to escape the crowds.

Making party attire.

Yes we were having a birthday party for Lucy who turned 69!

The Joy of women together.

And Lucy turns 69! with our venerable yoga teacher and massage therapist, Mary Ann, and retreat co -organizer Teri Bordenave.

Dottie and Curtice

Getting a tour from Kathryn, the director of the Cuttyhunk Historical Society.

Part of a painting!

Loved making some small paintings.

Cuttyhunk Chapel as I struggle with the process of trying to complete it.

Going Home.

And Back to life at home.

Well I was told I would fall in love with Cuttyhunk and I did. The co-organizers of the Artist’s retreat, Teri and Ellie pampered us in ways that left us free to spend our days following our own artistic path. The joy, the laughter, the beauty. Thank you to each of the woman who brought their gift of themselves to the island to share with one another.

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Filed under Art, Artist Retreat

Tagged as Artists retreat, Avalon Inn on Cuttyhunk Island, Cuttyhunk Island, Elizabeth Islands, ink and watercolor paintings, jungle painting, Painting My Way Through, painting on aqua board, pig on aqua board, Susan Medyn's watercolor's, View of Gay Head, View of Martha's Vineyard

August 8, 2013 · 5:34 am

Egyptian Jungle and Bitsy Update.

I have always loved looking at Greek objects especially those that have creatures in the Egyptian Orientalizing style. We were fortunate to see many at the Antikensammlung Museum in Munich, Germany. I only had time to make a few sketch’s as we had so much to see. I was able to incorporate some of my drawings into this 12″ by 9″ Ink and watercolor on Aqua Board. The owl is listening in. Maybe he will get to hear about our trip. I promise I will get to that in a future blog post. This painting has sold.

I am happy to report that Bitsy is feeling better. She is moving around more and needs such careful watching. Keeping her from jumping onto furniture is quite the challenge.

Thank you everyone who has participated in my cart sale. It was a tremendous success. I have mailed out all the paintings and cards and have heard that some people have already received them. I just need to arrange delivery of 2 paintings. I cannot tell you how thankful I am by the outpouring of love for Bitsy and our plight. As I type she is resting her paw on my hand.

I still have a few more paintings at special Cat + Art sale prices that I will be posting soon. Joanne Grant will also be doing a special cart blog post on Monday August 12th so hop over to her site and take a peak. Her pastels are not to be missed. And of course open studios is coming up August 17th and 18th. The South Coast is absolutely gorgeous this time of year and the ocean swimming is great.

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Tagged as bird, cat in jungle, Egyptian orientalizing, Fantastical Creatures, Greek Oriental Period, Greek vase images, Henri Rousseau type painting, Naive Art, owl painting, painting on aqua board, poppies painting, primitive style, Stylized Art, Susan Medyn, using aqua board, Visionary Art

July 18, 2013 · 4:12 am

GOSSIP!

SOLD

Oh my, so much to talk about, so much going on. Just like in high school. Even my creatures can’t keep from gossiping. The red horned guy is asking if the elephant is going out with the Slouch, but his friend doesn’t know. I can tell you though, all the little cats and snakes know the answer. What do you think?

And, goings on….

I am again participating in South Coast Artists Open Studios this Saturday and Sunday July 21st and 22nd from 11:00AM until 5:00PM .

I am stop # 11 on this wonderful tour. 77 artists are opening their homes and studios to visitors this weekend. For a brochure and map, click here. Down the page a little ways you will see the link for the information and directions to my location. Please come visit and see my new work.

And I am in the Little Compton community center Juried Summer Art Show opening this Friday evening. http://www.lccenter.com/

As well as a wild 3 person exhibit at DeBlois Gallery in Newport, RI that goes through the month of July.

And….I have new work at The Art Stable Gallery, Westport, MA along with 7 other artists.

And if you are in Poland…well stop in and see my work at the Szyb Wilson Gallery. More on that trip in another post.

But most importantly I have some wonderful new works for open studios so I hope you will come on down and see the beauty of this area and the wonderful art being shown this weekend.

I am off Route 24 South if you are coming from the Boston area.

Exit 5 in Rhode Island which is Tiverton/Little Compton.

Go south off the exit for 2 miles to Nannaquaket Road. ( right next to a beautiful pond )

Right onto Nannaquaket and a right to 90 North Court.

Blue South Coast Artists signs lead the way!

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Filed under Art, New Work, Studio

Tagged as Aqua Board, Art Naif Festival In Poland, Art Stable Gallery Westport, bird, DeBlois Gallery, Gallery Szyb Wilson, imaginary landscapes, Ink and Watercolor Painting, jungle painting, Little Compton Community Center, Little Compton Rhode Island, Naive Art, painting on aqua board, poppies painting, primitive style, South Coast Artists, Stylized Art, Susan Medyn, Whimsical Art

May 29, 2013 · 5:03 am

Rebirth of Venus

Titles tell us so much. I first was going to call this “It Would Make A Cat Laugh”.

Then I thought about how beautiful the planets were in conjunction last night and wanted to call this painting “Waiting for the Stars”.

But Venus with her earrings reminded me of Willie Marlowe‘s series Peggy Guggenheim’s Earrings so in a round about way (since my lovely Venus is wearing earrings and maybe is as promiscuous as the wonderful Ms. Guggenheim) I thought, “One can’t be born with earrings, but one can make a reappearance, thus my title.

While you are here take a look at Willie’s website. Her works are influenced by Persian and Indian miniature paintings. Her use of color and reference to ancient art awes and inspires me. I feel so fortunate to have acquired one of her paintings in the series of Peggy Guggenheim’s Earrings. It hangs appropriately in our bedroom.

I love making my creatures appear and disappear. How many can you find?

This is an 8″ by 10” ink and watercolor on Aqua Board. I have been working and reworking this for the past two weeks. These paintings are slow going.

Rebirth of Venus is SOLD.

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Filed under Art, New Work

Tagged as after the style of Henri Rousseau, Aqua Board, cat in jungle, cat in trees, Chimeras, Fantastical Creatures, Ink and Watercolor Painting, jungle painting, jungle painting on aqua board, Naive Art, painting on aqua board, poppies painting, primitive style, rebirth of Venus, Susan Medyn, Willie Marlowe

May 3, 2013 · 6:22 am

Elephant Walk

Sometimes I want there to be lots of interaction going on with my creatures but in this painting I decided to let the creatures speak for themselves.

Although my work looks “childlike” to most eyes, I spend a long time on composition and work out color values on paper copies before I watercolor my painting. I often do my work on aquaboard and varnish the finished work rather than use watercolor paper. I can go through 10 to 20 revisions of my drawing before I ever get to the inking stage. Once I do ink in my paintings, I am using the old fashioned technique working with a crow quill pen dipped in indelible ink. More on my process and intent in the next post.

Today I hope you enjoy the tamed wildness of sea anemones intersecting with jungle creatures and giant sized poppies.

SOLD

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Filed under Art, New Work

Tagged as after the style of Henri Rousseau, bird painting, elephant jungle painting, elephant painting on aqua board, giant poppies, Imaginary Art, jungle painting, monkey in painting, Naive Art, painting on aqua board, primative art, primitive style, Stylized Art, Whimsical Art

April 27, 2013 · 7:12 am

Sheepish and just hanging around.

I love painting dramatic imaginary foliage and poppies so here they are combined with a family of creatures.

This painting is getting framed in a beautiful maple floater frame. This is the style of framing I did for 8 paintings I mailed to Europe today. (Ask me about the complexities of that task!).

This is on top of being woken up at 3:31AM by my cat Arthur who jumped on my head 5 times, swatted his tale on my face and cried repeatedly. I thought maybe he saw an animal as the light was pouring in from the full moon, or we hadn’t left the basement door open but when I got up to investigate, just sat at the head of the bed crying. My phone is right nearby and I had the sound turned down to one notch. At 3:39 my 86 year old mom called me from the hospital. She had been taken there by ambulance after falling.

Sometimes I know things are just coincidences but I have been reading the book Making Rounds With Oscar that my dear friend and amazing artist, Kelley MacDonald lent me. This is the story of Oscar the cat at Rhode Island’s Steer House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center who goes and curls up next to patients destined to die within hours in spite of what doctors state or predict.

I am not saying Arthur is an Oscar, and my mom is already home, with a small fracture in her neck and a few bruises but thankfully nothing more. He is a smart and intuitive cat who came into my life when I most needed to have a kitten to help me refocus my energies on joy and playfulness. And he woke me up in time to see my phone light up and be there to talk to my mom when she really needed someone to help her talk to the ER staff.

Arthur is in orange, Bitsy the calico.

And if you know of anyone who might like to sign up for my blog, I am giving away an IPhone 5 cover with one of my wild leopard paintings on it to one of the next 5 people who sign up for my blog. So, please pass this along if you think someone might be interested.

This painting is 9″ by 12″ on aqua board, varnished, framed and going to go to a new home.

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Filed under Art, New Work

Tagged as after the style of Henri Rousseau, cats in the bushes, cats painting, egret painting, Fantastical Creatures, Imaginary Art, imaginary landscapes, Ink and Watercolor Painting, jungle painting on aqua board, Naive Art, painting on aqua board, painting plants, primitive style, sheep painting, Stylized Art, Susan Medyn, Whimsical Art

April 22, 2013 · 4:45 am

Monkey Business or How to Eavesdrop!

This painting has gone through several revisions over the past few weeks. I was pleased with the drawing but have darkened and lightened some areas to make a more harmonious painting. I continue to be in the poppy business.

It has been a very busy few days. I am trying to get work ready for several shows and have encountered those old framing challenges. I have several at the framer and am changing frames I originally was going to use by sanding and varnishing them.

I also hosted a meeting for South Coast Artists, an artist group I am part of on Thursday. There was such great energy at the meeting it felt like a party.

We have begun gardening and I planted 7 rhubarb plants in the lower 40. It is my favorite fruit for pies and I am hoping these plants take off and give me years of pies. I used Skype to chat with my daughter tonight who is in Hawaii for work. Now that job has some wonderful perks. She is staying at Waikiki Beach. I wish I were there. I could use some warm weather.

This painting is 6″ by 6″ and framed in a shadow box frame. It is for sale for $250.

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Filed under Art, New Work

Tagged as after the style of Henri Rousseau, Aqua Board, Fantastical Creatures, flowers on gold, imaginary landscapes, Ink and Watercolor Painting, jungle painting, Monkey Business, Naive Art, painting on aqua board, painting with luminescent paints, poppies painting, primitive style, Stylized Art, Susan Medyn, Whimsical Art

April 15, 2013 · 5:22 am

Flower Jungle and Joy

OK, I hope you smile. This is my way of making someone happy. Art gives me joy and joy is happiness.

I have spent several days working on this picture. It took quite awhile to work out the patterns and colors. Swirls and spirals always intrigue me and I like to see them in my paintings. The bunny is offering flowers to the elephant and my cats are hanging out in the tree. I often add a Mother Goddess to my work. She takes care of overseeing each little world. This time she is communing with the flowers oblivious to the curious cats and the animals paying homage to the wonderful elephant. This continues to fit in my jungle series although the creatures are tamer. I do love the color combinations and the sky full of poppies.

Here is a close up of this curious constellation. And we did not get to see the Aurora Borealis here due to cloud cover. My former office mate lives in Fairbanks, Alaska and I would love to see what the sky is like there. I also hope to go back to Iceland to see the Northern Lights (which we did not see when we were there both times we went).

If anyone out in the world of painting is working on aqua board, I would love to hear how you are framing them. I have searched the internet, watched videos on framing them and haven’t quite come up with a good solution. I am going to try a suggestion by Kelley MacDonald and see how it works. I will have to get more creative on the best way to frame a flat varnished board in which the painting goes right up to the edges.

This is a 9″ by 12″ Ink and Watercolor on aqua board. It is varnished and framed in a black and maple shadow box frame. This painting looks really lovely and is for sale for $600.00.

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Filed under Art, New Work

Tagged as after the style of Henri Rousseau, bunny painting, elephant jungle painting, elephant painting, Imaginary Art, ink and watercolor paintings, Luminescent paints, Mother Goddess painting, Naive Art, painting of cats in jungle, painting on aqua board, poppies painting, primitive style, Stylized Art, Susan Medyn, Whimsical Art

April 8, 2013 · 5:15 am

The bunny part of a new work.

I have been working on a few pieces, taking time out from each to let them sit before I continue to work on them. I haven’t finished any recently as I have been moving in between them but thought I would post part of a 9″ by 12″ work on aqua board.

Thanks to all who signed up for my blog. I have a winner from the last 20 blog followers. It is a lovely woman who bought my photo through Etsy. Well that is a nice surprise.

I love seeing the April daffodils and the early white forsythia blooming in our yard.

Happy Monday to all.

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Filed under Art, New Work

Tagged as Aqua Board, cat in jungle, Dreamlike, Fantastical Watercolor, Henri Rousseau type painting, Imaginary Art, jungle painting, Naive Art, painting on aqua board, poppies painting, primitive style, rabbit in jungle, Stylized Art, Susan Medyn, Visionary Art, Whimsical Art

April 4, 2013 · 5:06 am

Petting the Human

I am working on a new piece with some of my imaginary creatures. I have figured out the color scheme and am doing something I haven’t done before. I am painting the background in first. This is the most tedious part of painting on aqua board as the strokes all need to be in one direction and with the same consistency of color. I look forward to posting the finished piece later in the week.

Happy Thursday to all. Yesterday it was breezy all day and then last night the north wind blew for hours. I hope everyone stayed warm. We lit a fire which kept the house very cozy.

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Filed under Art, New Work

Tagged as after the style of Henri Rousseau, bear in jungle, bird, cat in jungle, curious creatures, Fantastical Creatures, Fantastical Watercolor, Folk Art, Henri Rousseau type painting, Imaginary Art, Ink and Watercolor Painting, jungle painting, Naive Art, painting on aqua board, poppies. sky of poppies, primitive style, Stylized Art, Susan Medyn, Whimsical Art