just playing around trying to figure out where I can upload my photos from. this is an old mixed media piece, 22x30, for an invitational show entitled Take A Seat.

Last Three from the Souq Series

#9     "One Hump or Two?"

The Last three in the Series of  The BAB Souq.  I think these last three are my favorites.  I don't know though I like them all for different reasons.  I actually eliminated the real #7 and that made all the numbers off a bit as I did 12 prints in all.  #7 just lacked too much. Although, you never know I guess. I just have been into more detail and busy-ness lately. #9 is an encore of my original favorite camel photo that I fashioned my original camel stamp from which is also included in this print.  There are some of the Bahrain Postage Stamps featuring among other things a photo of the King.  I also like to include the local paper written in Arabic which I cannot read so I try to put it in such a way that the viewer understands that the artwork is not about what is written in the article. 

  "With Blessing"#10, is two views of a blind begger that is a constant in the Souq. The Arabic writing says "with blessing".

  #11 "Open"  is another breakdown of some of the graffiti I found.  I love these cartoonish images and the cartoon key going into the real lock.  I should just keep going on this series as I like each new one better than the last.  I guess that's a good thing.  I've been told that the BAB fest will extend into April.  My show was only for a week though so if you happen to go you will see a new artist each week. Be sure to check out the Festivities from 4:30 to 10 PM Thursdays thru Saturdays in the archway of the BAB Building, Gate way to the Souq.  My Last print workshop is next Friday and Saturday, the 29th and 30th of March.

#10   "With Blessing"

#11   "Open"

Pop Up Gallery In the BAB

 This is the "Pop Up Gallery" in the middle of the BAB Building where all the Monotypes I have been working on are now on Display.  I love the concept of this movable gallery.  It's very open and sits in the middle of the walk area and invites you to walk through in a way that a more conventional gallery space does not.  It's hard to photograph but it is shaped somewhat like a big spider.  You can just walk through or walk around inside to see the art.
  If you are in Bahrain come check out the BAB at the Souq.  Festivities are Thursdays thru Saturdays 4:30 -10:00 untill the end of March

The sign you see is the info about me and the work. The red lettering
is the logo for the BAB renewal fest (its in Arabic)

7 & 8 in the Souq Series

#8     Queen of the Corner

I never really understand why I cannot get the photos in the order I want them to be except accidentally.
  Falconry is quite popular here and I have been keeping a falcon series in the back of my mind to do.  I need to get more photos however before doing that particular series.  #7 is just a nod in that direction.  They often have someone standing out in public places, especially festivals, dressed in traditional Arab attire and holding a falcon.  These are hired people as the owners are not likely to stand around for you to gawk at their falcons. They do however give in to charity pressure and lend the use of their falcons for public display.  There is also a poem in this painting by Qassim Haddad from his book of love poems. I really like the look of the Arabic writing as it is so pretty but if you don't read Arabic you really never know what you are putting into your artwork using collage pieces from the newspapers etc.  I usually place the writing upside down and or backwards so it's meaning is irrelevant and it is the pattern that shows through but I really don't like the idea of putting negative stuff in my work. I figured I couldn't go wrong with love poems so I bought this book and  have been tearing pages out of it to use in my art work.  I hope he doesn't mind.      
  #8 is another ferrel cat from the Souq; actually a really pretty cat with brilliant green eyes and quite the brave and casual display of confidence laying out on a very prominent and busy corner of the sidewalk.   The fur was a little bit dirty looking but otherwise a pretty healthy if a bit thin looking cat.  I was able to get some good photos as the cat seemed comfortable and unconcerned with passersby.  I sort of imagine and  whole community scenario  of cat-dom in the Souq akin to Watership Down. This cat, I imagine, would be the queen of the Souq.
  The Art pieces just got picked up today by the Museum staff due to some delay that I didn't quite understand but am assured the show is being hung as I write this so if you went there early today expecting to see the show, I apologize, however if you attend the festivities tonight I'm sure the show will be up and staff on hand to answer any questions. The show will be on display in the main BAB building until the 25th of March.  My last workshop on printmaking is the 29th and 30th of March.

#7           Poetry and Flight

Remember, Thursday thru Saturday 4:30 to 10:00 for all the fun, art, food and music in the BAB AL BAHRAIN Souq.

#'s 3 & 4 In the Souq series

#4   Hand pulled Cart   Mono type with Chine' Colle' 

#3  9 lives in the Souq  Mono type with Chine' College'

The top print is the 4th in the order of pulls and
the Cat print is the 3rd in order using the ghost from each previous print and adding more ink and textures etc.
  Just to refresh your memory on what "Mono type with Chine' College'" is... It is basically making a mono print with collage pieces except the collage pieces are actually applied at the same time as the ink onto the paper through the press process.  Once you have reached this step it is possible to add more ink but not more collage pieces because it is difficult to stick them over the ink. The collage piece sticks directly to the paper and the ink prints over that.

The show of these pieces and the rest that I am working on will be up in the BAB building in the Pop up Gallery from March 14th - 20th.

Some of the pieces in my current show.

Youth and Beauty 14X18 Gouache and collage on paper. (sold)

30X24 Mixed Media on Yes Canvas

Red Muse 22X30 Mixed Media on Paper (sold)

Girl in the Window  30X22 Mixed Media on Paper (sold)

An Odd Mix. Some Works in Progress.

Reworking an older painting on Bristol plate paper 22X30

 Happy New Year to everyone!  I wish you all a creative and prosperous 2012.

I have in the last couple of years been in keeping with the idea of working on a painting until I like it myself and would want to keep it and look at it everyday if it was hanging on my own wall.  In fact I do actually hang them on my living room wall and live with them until I either think of something else they need, get sick of looking at it and take it back to the studio to figure out or "that nice boy I married" gets sick of looking at it and asks if I have anything new to look at.  If no one is tired of it and it sits there until there is something else to take it's place, I deem it satisfactory and don't mess with it anymore.
                                                                                          That probably seems like the logical process               now that I say it that way but what I used to do was get an idea for a painting, execute it, evaluate it for content and completeness according to the original plan and then call it finished.  If I didn't like it or think it turned out as planned I just gave up on it.  I never wanted to, for example, add acrylic to a traditional watercolor or collage to a painting of any medium unless it started out as a college project.  I would never crop a painting to make it better or add line or anything that wasn't part of the original plan.  My new attitude is if it's not working, start thinking outside the box and use whatever necessary to make it a better painting. I was very hung up on "Well it's a watercolor so I can't fix it or that is cheating."  I like Chagall's quote of "I work with whatever medium likes me at the moment" and I will add my own "I like whatever process and medium gets me to an image I am satisfied with in the end"
  I find that I am confusing people by doing what they perceive as several different styles of work but I am actually using abstraction to make my mind think differently in my figurative work.  The abstractions started out as a means to an end but I discovered that not only did they help my other work but I really like the process and the paintings  themselves and other people like them too.  I usually have up to 10 paintings in the works at the same time so to me they all seem like they relate as I go from one to the other depending on which one I have figured out what to do next on.  My methods are working for me and I am finding that I'm not that concerned if I fit into the basic "artist" mold.  By letting go of some of those restraints and rules, I am finding the fun and excitement of painting again which I had lost for a while. What's your story?

Watercolor on Coldpress paper. Abstracted realism 22X30

Mixed media on Hot press watercolor coated with gold gesso
14X18

Actually, another older painting that was unfinished
on Yes! Canvas 30X24 

Like Birthing a Baby!

I don't know if this is any better but I like it better now.  I am reminded of the saying "when you don't know how to paint, painting is so easy.... the more you know, the harder it gets!" LOL!  Okay, I paraphrased.  Your thoughts are welcome as always.  Mixed Media on Canvas 30"X40".

Abstract in Progress

Mixed Media on Canvas  30"X40"

This is mixed media on Canvas.  Still working on it.  

Apple of my eye

this is from a Saturday model session

Colorado Monument

Its so strange how these paintings look pretty good to me until I see them on the blog. Then I want to change them.  I like the colors in this but I'm wondering about some of the marks now.  I have a pretty big mac monitor and I wonder how different monitors show the color and depth of layers.  I am particularly questioning the dark squiggle in the lower right.   I called this Colorado Monument because it reminds me of the view of the Monument I can see out the front door of my temporary home. Although I didn't have any such thing in mind while painting it. I guess I have a pretty good imagination! LOL!

The Monument

This is the painting progression  .

Changes on go fly a kite

After living with this painting I felt it was too busy so I changed it quite a bit.  It seems to work in every direction now.
Mixed media on Arches cold press  30"X 22".

Go fly a kite...

It started out like this... now it looks like this.  I really like this in person but am not liking the thumbnail version of it.  Seems like it should work well either way.  Hmm.... will have to ponder that.

     The other thing is I really liked the first version and let it sit for a week and then I got bored with it over the weekend and worked on it some more.  I'm thinking of Nick Simmon's words..."first do no harm"... I like both versions so don't know that I helped the painting any but I definitely removed the simplicity of the first, so did I do harm or did I make it better?

Have several Abstracts in the works

Here is another small painting I have in the works.  Sometimes I sort of like the organized messiness.  I find if I try to clean them up too much, they lose the spontaneous parts and the nice textures.  I'm liking this one so far but it can always change when I live with it for a few days.
  I've been thinking of trying to incorporate some of my figures into the abstracts.

14 x17 Mixed media on Bristol plate

Get on with it already

This is the latest version of the little canvas from a few days ago. I think last you saw it sort of plaid looking.  I may still want to soften some areas.  The lower right corner is standing out a little too much maybe.  I'll let it stew a while and take another look.

14 x 11 Mixed Media on canvas

I entered these two paintings that I had recently been working on into the Woodlands Art League juried show and was pleased to be awarded a first place in watercolor and an honorable

mention in Acrylic on canvas. It was really nice to get the feedback on these two since they were

so experimental for me.

Just to catch you up as to what I've been up to...

I reworked the color on this piece that I like so much...different that it is. I don't know that it makes a big difference as I really don't know why I like this piece so much in the first place. according to my site meter I get a lot of people viewing my blog each week...I would love to know what you think about this piece. Please feel free to comment even if you don't particularly like something. Cheers, Tonya
sold

Been busy!

I've been busy getting stuff ready for some shows etc., got an abstract into the Watercolor Art Society of Houston (WAS-H) Annual Member Show. Judged by George James.

while recovering from Ike...

I did this odd little painting that came to mind from one of my Wednesday model studies. You can scroll back and see which one if you're interested. It's done on a 13 & 3/4 inch square gallery wrapped canvas primed with gold gesso which peeks through the paint. It is definately different but I'm really liking it in it's oddness. It's sort of mysterious. It seems like a good cross betweem my abstracts and my figures. let me know your thoughts on it.

obviously life goes on!

I see I am not doing so great with keeping up with this blog but I am doing what I do. If you want to know what the life of a working artist is ...this is it.
Today I went to the WASH model session and we had a fabulous model from Brazil, classical beautiful blond. She was a very good model too in that she was still and setteled into nice poses.
I had the classical problem though, where my camera was with me but then I realized that I didn't have a memory card. I did however take photos with my camera phone...whoo hooo! But then, stupid me, I didn't have the setting on fine! So I have these photos that are severely pixilated! No details at all. So disapointed. That's the way it goes though. I got some great starts for watercolor paintings. Will post later.
I did finish one of my abstract paintings from the Virginia Cobb workshop. Not sure if it needs anything else. let me know what you think.