Hello there! I have been creating almost every single day in the studio during the Corona Virus Pandemic Quarantine. Our state has partially opened up but I don't feel a strong need to go anywhere yet. In a funny way, the virus has not affected me that much. I still do the same things, I work on my art, on my biz and I go to the grocery and post office. Then for fun the hubby and I go on hikes, long ones, short ones. That is where I gain inspiration. 

I am struggling with my art at the moment. I find it very, very difficult to get to that place where I can combine representational art (critters in my case) with the abstract principles I am learning in Art2Life CVP. In case you did not know, this is my second year of taking CVP and I am still learning, but it is a much more relaxed atmosphere since I know so much more than I did last year when I first began. In the class we strive to know what it is we like and work to create just that. That sounds so easy! But my problem is I like totally opposite things. It is an interesting journey for sure! My other problem is I am not being as prolific as I used to be. I guess that could be a good thing since I have so many pieces right now. 

Since the first time I took the course, I decided to go back into my old work and "fix" them. In some cases the old things were completely painted over and were changed totally. In other cases it took a tweak here, and addition there. But I find I am in this circle of continually changing the older work. They get painted over and reworked again and again as I learn new things, and as the mountain of new information slowly sinks in. It is kind of funny! I just want to be surrounded by a body of work that I am really proud of and that I really like. I am very close to finishing. I look forward to starting a new series of 4 16" panels and then 4 16" x 20" panels and then 4 18" x 24" panels. I am learning to scale up so that I can get to those 4 large, clank 32" x 48" panels I have in the guest room. They are very intimidating!

Meanwhile, I get sidetracked with little experiments and projects. 

This Raven painting is one of them. I am trying to use limited palette with heavy collage and lots and lots of layers to create interesting shapes, translucency/opacity and by making the painting really interesting to look at. The raven actually has a chicken feather adhered into the paint so it is quite tactile. I have just finished a second of these "tactile" paintings.

Another series I am sidetracked with is a Covid19 Wildlife series. I find it fascinating all the stories of wild animals roaming cities, towns, villages, and just showing up in places that are now not filled with humans due to the quarantine. The best two ways to follow what I am doing, practically in real time, is on Instagram: @wrendreamsart and Facebook.com/wrendreams. On FB I am currently holding a #Crovid20Project just a way for quarantined folks to acquire discounts, free videos, free pdf's and sales on my artwork. I also post new products there and do little virtual art fairs where I display products that I sell that you can purchase! On Instragram there is a program called #Artistsupportpledge where artists sell their work for $200 and under and once they reach $1000 they pledge to purchase a piece of art from another artist! I plan to go through the end of the month. 

I hope that you all are staying healthy and things are getting easier. Stay well!