Creation of a Phoenix ~ The Reveal

Rising
24"x36"
Click HERE for a larger view

Finally the moment you've all been waiting for has come!  
Meet Rising.
At least for the moment that is her working name.  Funny how sometimes a title or name comes to either myself or muse #2, aka my husband, easily and other times we struggle to name a piece.  With my last piece, Calliope, her name came to me as I was just starting to paint her.  Rising has been completely the opposite.  There are 2 other names in consideration.  Seraphine which stands for Burning Fire and Katness from the Hungry Games ~ Girl on Fire.  Please feel free to comment which of the 3 names you like the best.
 
The interesting thing when I first started painting the Phoenix a year ago this is what I had in mind from the beginning.  However, it took 7 tries to finally get there.  With each one of them I learned something different which eventually culminated in Rising.  She was not without her challenges.  For instance the blue background was repainted 5 times till I finally got the "right" blue.  Looking at the left hand wing I struggled on that for weeks where as the right hand wing seemed to just flow.  There were a couple of other spots that definitely had me swearing more then once!  In the long run she emerged just the way she was meant to be.  One thing that kept going through my mind as I was getting close to finishing her was this strong feeling she may be the last Phoenix I paint   (at least for a while).  I felt like as an artist I had finally had my "rebirth" and was ready to move in a new direction that I've been longing to explore.  As I was closing in on this painting the universe gifted me, literally, a free spot in a 4 week online painting course called See.Feel.Paint Expressive Faces and Figures which started in mid-November of last year.  It was an incredible course which pushed me out of my comfort zone and brought my hidden desire of painting the face and figure front and center. Now I am not so intimidated by the subject and have begun to explore the it wholeheartedly!  I'll be sharing my creations from the course with all of you in my next few post. 
Until then, please enjoy "Rising"!
Don't forget to let me know which is your Favorite name 

by commenting in the comment section below?
Rising
Seraphine
Katness

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Creation of a Phoenix ~ Part Three

Fear not, this will be the last bit of teasing.  I think?

As I painted this 2 foot by 3 foot piece there were times and sections of the painting that just magically happened.  Then there were times and sections that gave me labor pains for days on end!  They say each new painting is like giving birth and at times it sure felt that way!  
It is actually quite uncommon for my paintings to have more then one layer.  Which is a rather an uncommon way to paint.  But that's just how I do it.  Most of the time.  On this painting however, there are a few sections that have 5 or 6 or more layers on them I repainted and repainted and finally the muse released what she was looking for.  Hence, one of the reasons this painting was in labor for a very long time. 
Now you can understand why I had to tease you just a wee bit.  
I promise that I will unveil her with my next post.

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Creation of a Phoenix ~ Part Two

Part Two: The Head
Yes, I am going to tease you and only show you bits and pieces.  

It took me months to paint this one, so I need to slowly expose her.
What I will tell you is that the 3 pictures above come from the face and head.  If you have been following along all year (2014) then you might notice a few things are different about Phoenix #7.  As you may be aware, each Phoenix has morphed and changed.  This one is no exception.  The more astute will recognize that the beak has changed.  Some of things that have morphed are; around the eye has gotten more elaborate. The Phoenix seems to be flaming just a bit differently.  Oh, and there is more yellow in this one.  To see how they've morphed over the year, Click Gallery. 

At this point in the painting things were moving along quite quickly.  Each day more and more of the canvas was being covered.  I was thinking to myself, at this rate I'll be blazing my way through this painting in no time.  One must never assume the Muse has the same idea as I was soon to find out......
Yup, this is where I am leaving you.  As they say, leave them wanting more. :-)

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Creation of a Phoenix ~ Part One

Part One: The beginning
I must confess.  I've been holding out on all of you.  I started this painting back in April and didn't actually finish it till the first week of November.  I didn't realize it had taken me so long to paint this Phoenix, but........... I guess it did. Apparently I am a slow painter! :-)
It is 24"x36" the largest painting I've done in about 2 years.
Of course I am going to tease you a bit before I unveil the finished painting.  It took me 6 months to paint.  I can't share the full monty right off the bat.  That just wouldn't be fair.
This piece took me about 3 weeks of sketching and decision making, such as what size canvas to use before any paint touched the canvas.
Starting with a clean palette and my favorite colors of paint. I picked up my beloved palette knife, crossed my fingers and hope for the best.  Starting with the eye (yes, I always start with the eye) I put down a mark of paint, stopped thinking and let the muse take over. It is usually best for me to stop thinking.  Thinking just gets in the way and reeks all sorts of havoc!
With that, this is where I shall leave you hanging till the next post.  Which hopefully won't take me 6 months to write. LOL

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Phoenix Series Continues

Meet Calliope

The latest Phoenix in my series

and

the one I've been teasing you with. 

Calliope
24"x24" Original Palette Knife Oil Painting
on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
Click for a Closer Look

"Calliope"
The muse of epic poetry and Inspiration.
Almost from the very beginning of this painting
I knew her name was going to be
Calliope.
I don't know why?
I just knew that had to be her name.
Calliope is usually depicted with a tablet, writing scroll
or wearing a gold crown.
The gold/yellow light around her head was
already painted before I looked up the
meaning of Calliope.
So yes, she was always meant to be
Calliope.

Apparently she also wanted swirling
fiery tendrils
and the first to have claws and talon.
She took a bit longer then I expected
but I think she was worth the wait.

Sorry this is not the best of pictures
but if I waited till I had her
professionally photographed
you might be waiting a very long time to see her.
And we couldn't have that!

As always, thank you for letting me sharing
my art with you.

If you haven't seen it yet,
I have a Brand NEW Website
Please feel free to go have a look see.

You can also find me on
Pinterest and Instagram

Just a Tease

Just in case everyone out there is thinking that I've been 

slacking when it comes to painting. 

I'll give you a little tease to the piece I've been working on 

for quite some time now.

It's 24"x24" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

and of course being created with my beloved palette knife.

Lots of wet paint here which can become 

a bit of a hazard as you'll see.

Sorry that the photos are a bit blurry.

They are taken with my phone and my left hand.

Not the best combination for great pics! :-)

Thanks for letting me tease you just a bit.

Just another day of swirls

Closing in on corner #2 and just a little peek of blue

Tendrils and Talons, oh my!

Corner #3. Only a side and a corner left to go!

This is what happens when you're  right handed
and you decide to paint from right to left.
Not the first time that has happened nor the
last, I am sure. 

Also be on the look out for the unveiling of my new website!

Just another little project that I've been working on. 

My goal is to have it up and running July 1st-ish. 

In the meantime, feel free to visit my current website

or follow my painting progress on Instagram

En Fuego

En Fuego
16"x20" Oil on Canvas
Available

Another Phoenix has risen.
I never know when I start painting what
the outcome will be.
I just start with a rough idea and go from there.  
Sometimes that can be a bit frustrating during 
the birthing process. 
Most of the time I love the  surprise 
of the outcome.
This Phoenix decided that it wanted to be wrapped
in a cape of fiery wings.  
Hence the name, "En Fuego" on fire.

If your interested in this painting, please email me.
It is not presently available on my website 
as I am in the process of creating a new website.
I apologize for any inconvenience. 

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