Belief Is Magic

Still-life at midpoint

2012-02-03T12:43:00.000-08:00

I've managed to get my still-life with lilacs and cat to the halfway point. The cat's face needs to be a bit darker, and of course, the bottom half is hardly touched. I have venues coming up where this could be displayed; and several new ideas I want to start -- and it's February already!

Short update

2012-01-24T12:49:00.000-08:00

Last week's artist league meeting was canceled due to large amounts of snow. Things are back to normal now and most of the snow has melted in my area. We were suppose to switch the artwork at Central Market last week, and that was delayed until this past weekend. So - I have two new pieces up in that location - as follows:

Eyes Over Stomach

Treasure Hunt

First project of 2012

2012-01-08T12:35:00.000-08:00

I've decided to work on something larger than usual. This piece is almost a full watercolor sheet. Hopefully that doesn't mean it will take a lot more time. I was setting up a still-life to photograph; and our flame-point Siamese decided to help. This is the photo.

So far I have in the basic tones for the whole piece. I used mask-out for the flowers so I could drop in some darker color behind them. This photo is with the mask removed. I admit, it was a lot of mask-out, but I was going for detail and this was the best way to do it that I know. I wanted to get to this stage right away and get the mask removed in a timely manner. I have noticed the longer you leave the mask on the paper, the harder it is to get it off.

Last of 2011

2011-12-27T12:32:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had - or is still having - a wonderful holiday season. It's been a busy month - cooking, shopping, visiting and the usual holiday business. The Artist League had their party the first week in December. We do a miniature painting gift exchange, which I also use for my Christmas cards. So now I can finally get around to posting that piece of art.

See you in the new year.

November activities

2011-11-14T08:49:00.000-08:00

The art league is gearing-up for the holidays. We have a holiday luncheon every year, the first Wednesday of December; and then that is the last meeting for the year - usually because everyone is too busy with everything else. Part of the activities at the luncheon is a miniature painting exchange. Anyone who wants to take part, makes a 5" X 7" painting - mats and frames it - and we draw numbers for the exchange. I have mine started but won't be posting it here until after the luncheon. And....I usually scan mine before I give it away and turn it into my Christmas cards for the year.
Coming up on the "busy" time of year...as if it could get any busier. Thanksgiving in a week and a half, family coming home - and the leaves sure are beautiful!

Poulsbo City Hall Show

2011-10-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

The art league show at City Hall went up a week ago. I have three items on display.
Beach Creature

Croak-cosmia

Gardener's Nemesis

The last one shown here is a slightly different from the one on display. I did not get a chance to photograph that one before the hanging; so - this a recreation done in Photoshop. I'm actually pretty happy with this version as well.

Zazzle

2011-10-24T08:01:00.000-07:00

Check out what you can make on Zazzle! I water-colored an autumn leaf pattern; and they let you add that design to canvas shoes. Here is the pattern:

And here is the first item I created:

I'm definitely going to experiment with this more - have lots of ideas.

Central Market Show

2011-10-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

The Poulsbo Artist League show at Central Market is up! Central Market is an "up-scale" market and local social gathering place. We are displaying in their balcony lunch area. Great exposure! I have two pieces there:

Earl Gray for Breakfast

and Mmmocha

The show will be up for three months.

October already!

2011-10-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

Too many things going on in September...!
The arts fair mentioned in my last post went well. The weather cooperated and there was a pretty good turn-out. I have to state that we had the lowest amount in sales that I can remember in the last four years. Sign of the financial times, I guess.
The Poulsbo Art League also had our yearly business meeting the last week in September. It looks like three of the four officer positions are going to be filled with people who have done it before. I was secretary for two years a couple of years ago - and it looks like I am doing it again, for at least another year. Our group does not meet in December and, honestly, I could use the break. Between health issues and other distractions, I haven't found time to paint for several weeks.
Hoping that improves.

Art Show Weekend

2011-08-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

I will be spending two hours this morning helping hang artwork. Haven't had time for new art this week; with the "business" of art to deal with (logging in artwork, discussing new art league officers for the following year, and framing things for the show). I will be at the art show from 10am to noon on Saturday (20 Aug.). The forecast is for warm and sunny weather. Should be a good day.

Croak-cosmia

2011-08-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

Well, I believe I consider this one finished. Just in time too. The Artist League has an upcoming display at the waterfront park on the 19th to the 21st; and I don't have many new things to display this year. Come out and visit us though, if you get a chance.

Another current work

2011-07-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

Still working on the frog painting; however I just finished up a different piece that I'd also like to mention.
This was another idea I had for store items. The first pic is the original watercolor.

And the second is after scanning it into Photoshop and adding a drop-shadow and graphic color bar. Both versions are turning out to be useful in different applications.

New Products in my store

2011-07-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

Belief-Is-Magic winking bunny pin, magnet, keychain and mug.

Frog Painting Close-up

2011-07-18T12:10:00.000-07:00

This painting is moving slowly (!), but I did get the frog painted in this week. (Close-up view)

Main Website

2011-07-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

I've finally managed to get an update completed on my home website. It was originally created in Adobe GoLive. When I upgraded all my graphics programs recently, the new version is now called Dreamweaver. I pretty much had to start from scratch with the design; and there was a couple of weeks of learning-curve. Thank goodness I've had a "little" experience with the actual page code. Still a lot to learn. So -- if you visit and see any major errors or broken links, I would appreciate the "heads-up".

New Online Storefront

2011-07-05T06:28:00.000-07:00

I've taken the step of opening a virtual online storefront on Zazzle. It's a work in progress and I will be adding to it and rearranging it for a while; but I would be honored if you were to visit.
http://www.zazzle.com/maggiehuft

Farmer's Market Show / Frog painting stage two

2011-06-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

A few brief comments about the Farmer's Market one-day show the Artist's League had last weekend: We only planned on entering for one day; and for only four hours of having artwork on display, I question the effort-to-sales ratio. However, it was a huge learning experience; and I have a new appreciation for the folks that make this a regular event every weekend. Our crew of at least six, took an hour to set up the tent and display panels and hang the artwork - and although I didn't stay for the entire tear-down, I'm sure it took just as long. In addition, the last couple of years, I've noticed sales for original art is way down to a few years ago - the "economy". We did have sales on a few prints and several cards. Three of my cards sold. The Market takes 5%.
I also wanted to post the next stage of the frog and flower painting. I've started to lay in the flowers - still a long way to go. I haven't worked in a yellow/orange range for quite a while and am finding it refreshing.

Painting Stage One

2011-06-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

Didn't manage to post last week due to illnesses and other obligations. I did want to upload the first stage of the frog painting before I move on with it. This stage is just a preliminary background which will likely have more done with it before I'm done. I've used (Pebeo) Drawing Gum applied with a brush to block-out the frog and plant material. That way I can just paint in background colors without worrying about going around all the detailed foreground items. If you haven't used liquid masks before, the tip-of-the-day is to saturate your brush with liquid soap (like dish-washing soap) before you use the mask. The brush cleans up so much easier and you don't end up ruining a lot of brushes. I've also found it's best to do the masking stage - do the watercolor - dry it quickly with a hair-dryer - and get that masking fluid off the paper within a day or two. If you leave it on for too long, it gets more difficult to remove.

The Poulsbo Art League will have a booth this Saturday at the Farmer's Market - one day only. There isn't much room, but I hope to have a few items there -- and I will be there bright and early to help set up. Hope the weather is nice.

New Painting Set-Up

2011-06-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

Time to start a new piece of art. I've had this photograph for half a year - meaning to do something with it.

We had a guest speaker at art league meeting several weeks ago discussing using computer graphics programs to plan out paintings. I've been using Photoshop to do just that for years. In this painting, I wanted the frog larger to make him easier to see. I cut him out with the polygon lasso tool and moved him to another layer. Then I made him a bit larger - rotated him just a bit - and blended him back into the background.

From there I did the pencil drawing. I tend to make detailed pencil drawings before I watercolor.

I like to work with my watercolor paper securely taped to a drawing board - so that will be the next step. This one should be quite a challenge - putting a background in around all the detailed foliage.

Paint Swatch Exercise

2011-05-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I finally got around to doing a paint swatch table of all the watercolor tubes I've been carrying in my supply bag for over a year. I think what prompted this was the trip to Daniel Smith's last week. What an eye-opener! I have had the tendency to use the same colors over and over; and have been missing out on some of the other beautiful colors I have available. On the other hand, I've noticed I have several colors that are very similar. For example, I have 10 - 12 different reds of which at least three can be eliminated because they are too close to other shades. I've been meaning to do this for quite a while; and now was a good time, while I am between paintings.

Field Trip

2011-05-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

My ongoing concern about having a blog is whether I'd be able to get back to it on a regular basis. I see that it's been a week since my last post. Hopefully I can revisit here at least once a week.

I'd like to discuss a field trip that a dozen of my fellow art league members and I took this week to the Daniel Smith art supply store in Seattle. I've ordered from their catalog numerous times; but I don't think I've been in the store for, oh, at least 20 years.

This was a scheduled visit. We were suppose to have a tour of the paint production area; and were disappointed to find it had been cancelled. But we were given a two hour hand's-on demo and the opportunity to try out some of their new PrimaTek watercolors. Honestly, that was my main reason for wanting to go. And we had the time to do some serious shopping for supplies.

For over a year now, I have been in love with their Kyanite Genuine which is a rich blue-gray with granulation and dazzling, glittery sparkle.
During this trip I've discovered three other colors that I had to pick up. I was on a budget, or I would have ended up with more.

From the left: Fuchsite, Sugilite and Red Fuchsite - all with that sparkle I'm crazy about.

First Post

2011-05-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

"Mmmmocha"

I thought it would be appropriate to start my first blog post with my latest piece of artwork. It is a submission for a food illustration publication; which, I believe, comes out later this year. I'm a big fan of coffee drinks and chocolate; and have always felt that chocolate is a sensuous experience. Hopefully this piece reflects that idea.