Shine a light...

So, I'm pretty sure the painting portion of my lighthouse lady painting is done now. I am letting it sit on the easel for a few more days within sight just in case I have to make any additions. It's always good to live with the work for a bit before calling it finished and of course, my gut has to agree too...and it is taking it's time mulling it over. I may be in possession of a found object that needs to be added. We'll see. Sometimes less is more.

Meanwhile, I will try and settle on  a title. Usually I have one early on but I'm a bit torn this time. I originally thought I would call it " Love on the Rocks" but now I'm thinking "Lighthouse Keeper"

Next steps will be to hand this off to my fellow artist Shari MacLeod. She has agreed once again to brainstorm with me and create a frame for my painting. I am excited about this! Shari has a a wonderful imagination and oodles of talent. 

So what will I work on next? I will start 3 new paintings so I can work on whichever I like, depending on my mood. Think: totems & forest.  Thieves. And Jellyfish. Hmmmm...

Here are the last 4 progress photos  for my lighthouse lady. I will photograph the piece again when it gets it's frame.  

Hmmm not quite done

Fin?

A Storm is Brewing - Progress

My painting is starting to really take shape. Skies and the sea and even the Lady herself, are exhibiting a bit more turmoil. "The sea was angry that day, my friends - like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli!"

( to quote George Costanza). Stay tuned....and maybe next time I'll have chosen a title too.

A little stormier

A little stormier, yet

A change of expression

Summer Studio 2014: Here we go...

Finally the Summer Studio is set up and work has begun. I do have a goal of completing several paintings by Labour Day as I think setting a number helps me to keep the whip cracking. Last year I completed 18 paintings between July 1 and Oct. 25th. That number reflects paintings that were to my satisfaction and ended up on the walls of a Gallery. It does not include the half dozen or so that were scrapped at some point and faced the the electric sander. I have no plans of being so prolific this year in the Summer Studio, but will do my best to turn out a small collection.
 I prepped all the boards I hope to paint  at the beginning of the month, but a wave of heat prevented me from working further on them as the temps in my loft were quite unbearable no matter how high I powered my oscillating fan or how tight the blinds were pulled against the sun. A wall of windows over the work space, two on either side and two skylights behind me proved too much even when covered and threaten to cook me alive up there. So, darn, I had to go to the shore to swim instead. Poor me.
Temps have been cool in the evenings now and I'm back on the horse. Started a painting 2 days ago (no title yet) but will post the progression for fun. I started with a board which has been coated with gesso and it's been sanded and a transfer of an antique photograph has been applied. I have been altering the scene with acrylics. So far, so good.
 Take note: I have been asked repeatedly as to why I bother with using a transfer as I do demonstrate my skills as a painter and could paint from the photo. Allow me to explain. I do so because I'm in love with the photograph and I want to give that subject another 'life', as it were. The transfers are grainy and 'ghostly" -further motivation as I do like a bit of dark to come through in the work-, and they are used as an underpainting. Hardly a bit of the transfer escapes my brush, unless I feel it must stay as is...that's creative license. I paint on top and change (sometimes drastically, sometimes minutely) their expression, clothing, pose and even the twinkle in their eyes. Doing this is my 'schtick' at the present time. No doubt at some point I will paint portraiture of my own, and I do have the chops to achieve this, but right now, I wish to give these nameless faces an encore in a theatrical presentation painted by me. The guestbook at my last exhibit had a few direct and almost terse comments about my decision to work this way. A short response would be: because I want to.
A wordy post, to make up for lack of posts in some time. Here we go...

work by Teena Marie Fancey in progress #1

work in progress by Teena Marie Fancey #2

work in progress by Teena Marie Fancey #3

work in progress by Teena Marie Fancey #4

work in progress by Teena Marie Fancey #5

work in progress by Teena Marie Fancey #6

Spring. Watch and Wait.

Spring in Nova Scotia requires a bit of patience. It can be slow to show that it's actually arrived. I saw a crow gathering nesting material today, and Robins and Juncos foraging in the melting snow.  
It's here, Spring is. It's just taking it's time. 
There's a Lesson in here somewhere :)


Young bud, resplendent

fresh cheeked and tender green

not a worry

in no hurry...

Flora and the Hours
mixed media painting by Teena Marie Fancey
12"x12"
NOW AT THE CB CENTRE FOR CRAFT AND DESIGN

The Cure for a Slow-starting Spring?

After a successful showing at the Craig Gallery in November and a long winter's nap on my spare bedroom's walls, the characters from Altered Egos have now come out of hibernation to appear in the exhibition space at the
Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design.

Once numbering 22 works, the exhibition is compiled of the remaining 16 works
( 6 works found new homes while they were on view at the Craig--thank you to all of you who made that possible!) and I am thrilled to be able to have the opportunity to show them to my hometown crowd!

If you want a bit of comic relief from this long drawn out winter or to take in some colourful characters as opposed to looking at the snow that just won't go, head down to the Gallery at 322 Charlotte Street. Gallery hours are 10am - 4pm  Monday thru Friday and Saturdays 12 - 4pm.

"Boundless" by Teena Marie Fancey
vintage ephemera,acrylic, paper and handpainted embellishment on board
 4" x 5"

Lionhearted

I had a lot of fun working on this piece because I'd finally found the perfect opportunity to use some fur that I was gifted and I knew it was a piece that could be looked at or petted...should the viewer need to pet something.

Lionheart was inspired by my oldest daughter, who is a Leo and is brave and strong but has heart so big, it could crush this town. The Strength card in the Tarot deck also influenced this piece, noted by the lemniscate floating above the subject's head.

Lionheart can be seen at the Craig Gallery in Dartmouth NS at Alderney Landing until day's end this Saturday, Nov. 30. Drop in and meet her and her 21 Altered Egos friends.

Lionheart by Teena Marie Fancey
8" x 10" mixed media painting
upcycled fur, vintage curtain pins, acrylics