The Scenic Route

 

Happy May!

It's a whirlwind in the Curry household as we count down the last month until our daughter's wedding in Bermuda, but I am taking a breather to share with you my latest stencils from StencilGirl.  The three releases are part of a collection I am calling The Scenic Route and all three stencils have been recreated from my original watercolor paintings.   Floral Carpet, Sojourn, and Solitary Tree  showcase particular moments in time that stay in my memoy from the last decade.  Along with some inspiration projects on how to use these stencils, I also included the original painting in the sample area. Join me directly here or  as I introduce the series and entertain you with a watercolor video tutorial.  It's always a pleasure designing for StencilGirl and I very much appreciate the opportunities to share my story through my art. 

  Solitary Tree         

Sojourn

                      

Floral Carpet

 

I've been very lax during the last couple of years keeping up with this blog.  I promise I am still enjoying my studio practice and do a much better job posting my art on Instagram.  My store is now on my website here. To keep up to date with new releases, go here for my low volume newsletter. 

I'll check in once again after our wedding extravanganza. 

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, mentors, and nurturers.

xoxo

Nancy

Life in Pieces

 

 

L I F E    I N    P I E C E S

"When art imitates life."  I am really happy to be back on the StencilGirl blog with projects that are out of my wheelhouse and even happier that I was able to get the projects finished well before my StencilGirl team deadline and my surgery date.  These larger sheets don't lose their interest when sized down and put together for a series of wall art pieces. Even though I'm known for smaller format work, it was exhilarating working with so much real estate.  Head over there to see the process and definitely watch the slideshow.

I'm a week out of meniscus root tear repair and so far it's been a humbling experience.  I am largely sedentary for the next six to eight weeks.  No one is sure how or why this occurred but I had mentally named this project before that moment in late June.  I had some teaching responsibilities that I wanted to attend so I spent July working ahead and prepping for Cincinnati.  The day before the surgery I packed a tote with substrates, watercolor and alcohol inks that I hope to pop open in the coming days.  So far I've only managed some Procreate art made out of my paintings and sketches.  Stay tuned.  In the meantime, you'll be treated to some work I completed in July/early August including the new crop of ornaments.
 

2021: Still in the Covid Abyss

 

 

Golly, we're in February and the world is still turned on it's back and kicking and screaming.  I hope this entry finds you navigating the next evolution of Covid and that some of you have even had your first vaccine.  I'm on many lists but the lists are huge so until then, I hang out a lot in my studio and do art.  It's the safest place for me.  And keeping busy is mentally the best for me.  February is a busy month with lots to get involved with.  I'm working on three challenges at once, two old ones and one new one.  This is my fourth 100 Day Project and my second #28februaryflowers.  This year my focus of the 100 Day Project will be #100daysofwatercolor so many of my florals will be watercolor also.  The third challenge is #pyh2021 or Paint Yourself Happy and is all watercolor theme explorations.   I have some other commissions so I don't guarantee participating in all three everyday, but I'll do my darnedest.  All of my pieces will be in real time on my Instagram. 

HOT OFF THE PRESS:  I was again given the opportunity to do a feature project for StencilGirl  so I put together a non-watercolor piece called "Jungle Love".  It's here for you to enjoy.  Here's a teaser snippet.

I can't say enough how much I've enjoyed Creative Jumpstart this year.  The projects have been amazing and very doable.  You can deep dive into them or just try some of the ideas.  I can honestly say that I've learned a lot.  I'm sorry it is coming to a live end.  But it's not too late to watch the 45 videos and over 8 hours of video.  Go here to find out more. Videos are downloadable and are available until November 2021.  It is not too late.  Here's a recent photo of a piece I did after it was my project day.  I'm really happy with it.  I don't have it anymore but here it is for posterity. Happy early Valentine's Day to all.

Yet

 

If you've followed me for a while, you already know my wordsmithing passion. When it's time to decide my focus for the new year, I mull over many choices.  Usually one comes to the forefront during the mulling period and when this one did, it surprised me.  Yet is a small but powerful word.  It can be applied in many circumstances, positive and negative.  Who can forget the "Are we there yet" from the backseat of the car or in my case, out of my mouth in the car?  Merriam-Webster has two entries for yet.  It can be a conjunction substituting for but.  I remember those papers where teachers said that my verbiage was redundant.  I'm sure that at some point I substituted yet. Studying the dictionary, the far more interesting usage is as an adverb and that's how it spoke to me as I leaned in to what I want out of my 2021 life. Don't worry.  I am not going back to my roots to present an English usage review, but I was interested in how such a little word can change how you think about something.  In 2021 I am looking to yet as a door to possibility rather than a focus on the fact that something hasn't happened.  This way of framing may teach me some patience in my artful and personal life.  Yet will be a precipice of sorts in my head. Something out of current reach but not completely out of the realm of possibility.  I'm going to try that thinking on for 2021. It's a little word as I said, but little words can pack quite a mental punch either way.   I'll let you know how it goes.  I'd love to hear what your words are so please comment back any time. 

A hearty thank you to all of you who came to my online sale.  It was the most successful one since I started selling this way.  I loved sending art to other continents.  I still can't believe that happened.  My show I spoke about in the last entry has done well considering the lockdown situation here and I am happy that so many originals went to people not only in Missouri, but in other parts of the country.  I was so honored to be part of Green Door's Signs and Wonders exhibit. Check out their site to see the resident artists' works.  They are fabulous.

Today is the last day to get the December reduced rate for Creative Jumpstart.  It starts tomorrow.  Holy Moly. I've talked about it for a month but if you want to get in at the reduced rate,  click on that link.  It will blow your mind.  

Well, I must get ready for dinner and champagne.  I leave you with a hearty thank you for supporting me and enjoying my art, my poodles, my ramblings, etc.  I appreciate all of you.  

xoxo

Nancy

Coming Up For Air

Who knew that 2020 was going to be full of chaos, mayhem, worry, enforced solitude, frustration, worry, anger, helplessness, intense faith, worry, renewed focus, and a partially overhauled studio?
So many emotions exist in limbo.  I speak my emotions through my art when I'm overwhelmed. I also tend to head further into the whimsy spectrum as a brief getaway. 

In between searching for toilet paper and Clorox wipes, I've spent about 75% of my time in the studio, sometimes working and sometimes decluttering and reorganizing.  I also had some deadlines and commissions to keep me fairly focused.  Some of you may have noticed my return to watercolor.  I've become obsessed with improving my technique and upgrading my paint stock. Some of my recent adventures can be found on the StencilGirl blog today.  I won't spoil the surprise, but here are a couple of my recent meaderings. 

  Who are these masked marvels?

Matchy Matchy

While on the subject of masks, here's a scoop for you.  I have a couple of art friends who are putting your art on masks.  I just ordered three tonight and can't wait to get them.  Message me if you're interested in wearing your art and I'll send you the deets. 

In the midst of all of this world chaos, I had my six month oncology visit with Giancarlo in May (yes, that really is his name) and yearly cancer check this month.  I am happy to say that I was cancer free and we're all working together to help me with the drug side effects.  While I was waiting to hear, I headed back into alcohol inks with a trial of a relatively new manufacturer, T-Rex inks. I was really pleased with the movement, saturation, and price point.  It was a nice distraction for me and I can't wait to play with them some more. 

 

I also have taken a lot of time during the pandemic to work on my Citra art for an art show later this year.  I postponed and then taught two classes (social distanced w masks) this month and it was so much fun watching them discover how interesting it is to work with the random backgrounds.  All went home with extra papers to play with, too!  I hope to teach the follow up collage class later this year at Checkered Cottage here in Kirkwood, MO.  A reminder to those in my classes (online or in person, contact me to be added to the Citra art facebook group.  More shameless plugging:
Subscribe to my newsletter here to be the first to know about classes and art sales.  It's very low volume. 

 

Stencil by Cecilia Swatton

 

Art Foamies stamp By Nathalie Kalbach

I plan to teach at Stampaway this year again unless something changes in the newly open Ohio.  Class size will be limited to allow for social distancing. As always, for daily art, follow me on Instagram.  I also put art on my facebook personal and business page as well or go to my website for all my links. I plan to continue with the last 20 days of #the100dayproject and flow into World Watercolor Month on July 1.  Lots of art coming your way.  Stay safe this summer everyone. 

Catch up: Cyber Sale on Nancy Curry Art and StencilGirl

I really hadn't intended to wait almost another a year before writing, but the year slipped by with a couple of twists and turns that slowed down my well oiled machine.  The year started off great with the debut of my Merry Everything class at Checkered Cottage in February, an online alcohol ink project class for the Alcohol Ink Society Facebook group,  and the acceptance of three classes at Stampaway in May.  Oh, and I completed my second #100dayproject and this year the topic was achieving negative space in acrylic pours.  Yes, a targeted dalliance for sure, but I had great fun doing it on Yupo and other flat surfaces. 

Many of you know that I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in May.  That will stop anyone in their tracks, including me.  I am happy to say that my "Bird Brain" series of Citra collages came out of that dark time.  They were highly addictive and very distracting so while I was waiting for news, I had my birds to keep me calm.  I worked on them for about 10 weeks, almost all the way through radiation.  I treasure each one and the story it tells.  I am happy to say they go on sale on my Nancy Curry Art Fbk Page at 7pm tomorrow night, along with much other art. Instructions will be on the album as they were last year.  Prices will be 20% off of $35.00 for originals and $28.00 for prints. 

    Two    of    my   favorites          

In the midst of the summer, my daughter graduated with the highest GPA in her doctoral class.  It was a long journey for us to get there, but the doctors cooperated and let me skip a day of radiation.  Proud mama moment for sure.  She has relocated back here with her significant other and both are gainfully employed here in St. Louis as PTs.  Oh, and both are named Sam.  It's quite something when there heads both turn.  We celebrated by taking her to Australia after my radiation was over.  It was a lovely 12 days down under.  

The fall brought a little renewed vigor although I am still not entirely myself.  I was able to attend a fantastic weekend class at Ephemera Paducah given by Jacqueline Sullivan on Eco Printing.  I'd been wanting to do it for quite sometime.  EP's hospitality is second to none so it was a fantastic weekend all around.  It was nice to see old friends and make new ones as we all watched our botanicals arrive.  I made over 40 pieces that weekend and have sold a few here locally.  There will be some in the sale tomorrow night as well. This month I taught three ornaments classes, a class for my local club and made over 200 ornaments myself. After my last class of the year on Monday night, I can rest, relax and renew throughout the Christmas season.  I am looking forward to it.  

Before I go, here's a little teaser for the biggest sale StencilGirl has all year.  Not only are my stencils on sale, they all are.  There are bonuses along the way for you, too.  Don't forget it.  It starts at midnight tonight. 

I so appreciate those of you who have done so much to boost my spirits throughout the difficulties the last couple of years.  Art heals as do friendships. Merry Everything!!!!!!

xoxo

Nancy

Merry Everything!

I spent last night reworking and updating my website a bit so thought I would take the three hour late night drive to update my blog and fill in the blanks since I last wrote. Healthwise, it’s been a long road back, but at least I’m on a straight stretch of road and not taking detours. I feel mostly good but every now and again I hit a wall and need to take a breather. Creatively speaking, I’ve been in a burst most of the year. But even that has worn me out at times. The first half of the year was almost exclusively Citra artwork as mentioned in the last blog post. The cherry on top was the filming of my first online class in March for StencilGirl’s new class platform. Citra Solv Art debuted in August and has been well received. I am posting bonus material for those taking the online class and for those who have taken my in person class, Transformations. Message me if you are interested in knowing more about it.

Madcap

Imperfection

October also saw the release of my first club stencil kit for StencilGirl. For those that don’t know, StencilGirl has a monthly subscription service that I’ve participated in since its inception. It was fun to design for it and then even more fun to see them in use by others.  The best part is that if you join you can always order past month's stencils. 

Into the Woods

                              

                                   Umbrella

                                       

Alcohol ink work has dominated the second half of my year. It started with my incarceration at St Luke’s. I had no idea said incarceration would occur so I was unprepared and my anxiety went through the roof. It didn’t help that we were all wheeled into the hallway for a tornado warning during my first few hours there. My husband saved the day and brought the only art supplies I had packed. A new series was born that week. I’ve had two small batch sales and I am so grateful for all the support for this new direction. I was even more grateful that my work caught the eye of Dick Blick and I had a featured demo there in November.  Into the Woods and Umbrella are fall additions to the series. The rest are not up in my gallery (updating over the Christmas holiday) nor Etsy yet but if you follow me on Facebook and Instagram, you’ve probably kept up. The next pop up sale will be the first week in February. Newsletter recipients will get sneak peeks and other perks. Sign up here.

In between paintings, I’ve become obsessed with making ornaments so much so that I’m adding them as a class opportunity next year. I’ve got some special tips, tricks, and tools to share with everyone. I’ve had a blast and there are several time lapses and lots of photos sprinkled on my social media to show my enthusiasm. This is my new favorite done on a navy glass ornament. True confession:  my favorites come in and out of focus because they all have different vibes.

I’m sure there will be many more to come as I explore the possibilities. I’ve been very blessed to have sold quite a few from Instagram and local queries and I love sending them out into the world. The most interesting commission so far has been the order of a blue and a pink to become baby reveals for  the grandparents on Christmas Day. 

For those interested in non-art sightings, here are the boys dressed to the nines for the holiday season.  Angus is on agility hiatus until January 5th.  I've been told they're crowd pleasers when they run.  

            

and the best for last..... DPT White Coated daughter.  I also call my dear husband and her #myeverything. She's about to finish her first of three clinicals in Knoxville.  Next up in January she heads to Virginia Beach and finally to Annapolis for the summer.  Then it's time to graduate and take her boards.  She's my inspiration. 

If you've stuck around this long, I'll let you know I've already picked my word of the year for 2019.  It's actually two words and it's very important to have both.  "Live inspired" will be the focus next year.  It's one thing to inspire.  It's another to model living inspired.  The components are mind, body and soul.  Stay tuned.  My teaching schedule will be evolving so stay tuned for that as well. 

I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season and to look upon the new year with expectation. 

Anatomy of a Painting 101

It's been a long time since I blogged.  Life got in the way for about seven months last year so I spent this fall catching up with myself again.  Instead, I've used more immediate ways of communication, fbk live and videos to bring you along on my journeys and give glimpses of my process.  I've spread my wings even more on Instagram.  I love to incorporate my art  digitally and infuse it with words that speak to me.  But those platforms don't always illustrate my artistic uncertainties and decision-making midstream.  I've picked a new painting to talk about it, but first a little backstory. 

Thanks to Jodi Ohl's Zenpainting class that I treated myself to this fall, I've really enjoyed the exposure to working with a predominantly neutral palette.  It is alternately challenging and frustrating because you don't have color to set your tone or mood. These are two of my first   

attempts.  The one on the left was made up of four 6" square panels and is all graphite and neutral Golden High Flows.  The one on the right used the same palette but added Titan Buff.  I really enjoyed exploring Jodi's abstract style, but mine kept peeking through and luckily she is very accepting of my walking off the regular path.  I worked in color next and loved that, too (not included here), and then heading back into my interest in high contrast black and saw how it meshed with more neutrals and bronze. 

My own teaching deadlines hit along with the holidays so I didn't return to painting in mid-January. My biggest mistake was not taking photos of this process because it was wild and woolly just hours into it.  I had started with a cruciform composition without any representational intent in my mind, but midway through I saw the iris in front of me.  The rest took care of itself.  (In fact, I'll show the painting both ways so you know I am not pulling your leg.)

Cruciform skewed left.

Finished

Last week I continued my explorations and boldly committed to a large arount of black very early.  That go-getter posturing is both a positive and a negative.  On the positive side, it helps you commit in a direction, but on the negative side, that commitment can limit other choices you'd like to make. Here you see in the left picture, I've broken up the gessobord into two parts and I do have a vertical division as well.  That quickly goes by the wayside in picture two.  Here, also, I have committed to the bold, black statement.  Whatever I do now has to balance out that black so I chose to dominate the white background with the palest of neutral florals.  So you ask, where did those marbles or bubbles or pea pod groupings come from?  I don't have a clue.  Well, I drew them.  How did they relate?  They didn't, but I kept leaving them, hoping I would figure out a way to make it work.  Well, the third picture (ignore the cast from the dreary day) Gessobord.  It is the bomb.   No paint except the Golden Carbon Black High Flow.

shows my solution along with the background work I did up top.  I took as much of the circular objects out as I could with a baby wipe.  Luckily the background at this stage was all stabilo and graphite so leftover staining was minimal. 

 Below, I began reworking the center section that I had decimated.  The center became a populated "zebra" area to support the black and break up the areas that showed the remnants of the removal.  Larger flowers were added to link the original smaller flowers to the larger ones near the top.  Areas were darkened with thin layers of graphite and the beginnings of heavily watered down neutral paint.  The high water content allows for a painterly shading that, when dry, works perfectly for this painting.  I drew branch lines to support the original lines that divided out the blackened background areas, plus they broke up the zebra sections.  White was also added to make the centers pop and in places on the petals. 

 

Pitt pen was added to define the flowers and areas of black were cleaned up and used to further separate the flowers where needed. 

So midstream this painting was going to have one flower tinted with a quote (I'm saving for another piece so mum's the word on it).  I auditioned (with my sister's guidance) both text and tint and rejected it.  It's strong enough to stand on it's own in person.  Who knows what various computer imaging will do to it.  My point is..... you never know where art will end up.  Be loose enough and brave enough to change midstream if you need to.  You never know where it will end up if you do, but each time you are brave, you'll get more confidence to do it again.  

What's up next for me?????  Well, Artiscape for starters in April.  I have three classes on tap there.  I'm really excited for them and to return there.  It's a fab event.  I'll be at Stampaway in August as well with two classes.  Those haven't been published yet.  Who knows what else!!!! To be decided........  Follow me on IG and Facebook at Nancy Curry Art or if you like poodles, find me also on fbk here.  As always, my regular site has links to it all.  PLAY. ALL. THE. TIME.