My Blog is Moving!

Hey Friends!

Since I built my new web site more than a year ago, I've been maintaining two blogs: the one at my new site, and this one. Well folks, this takes me a lot of time and I'd much rather be creating art! So from here on, I will no longer be posting to this blog. You can find all of my future posts here.

I want to thank you so much for keeping up with me here for the past nine years and I hope you will continue to follow me at my new home!

All the best,

Christine

P.S. You can also find me elsewhere at these links. Hope to see you there!

Facebook
Etsy
Instagram
Pinterest
Flickr
Christine Brallier Art
Christine Brallier Mosaics

Exciting News and a Discount!

 

I'm sending my quarterly newsletter out tomorrow. If you'd like to receive it (with exciting news I haven't announced yet and a special discount inside!) sign up here.

Kitty Studies

 

Experimenting using Golden fluids with acrylic paints, ink pen and gel pens. Working on lights/darks (top one not so much) and being loose (bottom one was the loosest).  What are you working on with your art?

Cat and Dog Painting

 

My newest painting with acrylics. This one is on a 5x7" canvas so I painted the edges to match so it can be framed or not.  I've always loved working small, but I am gradually increasing the size of my art as I get more comfortable with working larger. This one is in my Etsy Store if you'd like to add it to your art collection.  :)

 

More Painted Cat Magnets

 

They look so fun together!  Find them in my Etsy Store.  :)

 

 

 

 

Painted Dog Magnets

 

Find them in my Etsy Store :)

Painted Kitty Magnets

I found some little blank canvas magnets and these kitties magically appeared on them! I painted random marks of color and then looked for who or what wanted to be painted within the shapes and these guys showed up. They are 2 1/2 inches and are painted with acrylics. I rather like them and can't wait to do more!

 

Paint Lab 4

I took my inspiration from Paint Lab 4 and used some foam board (rather than a squeegee) to spread paint in a few layers. I saw a teal window (below) and so added a few more.  Once I did that, I saw almost the entire painting!  Can you see it?

 

Here were the next steps that led to the final painting.  For some reason, it took until the very end to create a face on the second person.

 

 

Paint Lab 2

 

Paint Lab 2 began with pouring fluid acrylics but my initial result didn’t look anything like the book’s example. I’m not sure where I went wrong, but I went with it. After I filled in the spaces with watered down paint and let it dry, I saw creatures beginning to emerge. The one on the right was initially hovering upside down, but I realized after stepping away from it for awhile that it didn’t really read that way. I made a couple of changes and then it felt done!

Exploring Paint Lab

I've had this book called Paint Lab by Deborah Forman for six months or so and finally decided to get it out and try some of the 52 different exercises to explore new (to me) methods and techniques. I have very limited experience with acrylics so I think this will be a good starting point for me. I already can see from the very first Lab that I will be changing things up and expanding upon an exercise to reflect more of what I want to paint.

In Lab One, I was instructed to begin with a circle and some intersecting lines, and then fill in the spaces with a different field of color. Once that was dry, I was to layer on mark making with different colors. I did the first part (sorry, forgot to take a photo of it) but then altered the "mark making" part as I'm not interested in creating abstract art. I used the opportunity to just play with layering the paint, and this is what came out of the process.

I really enjoy drawing without a plan and letting the images appear as I go, so painting in this way really appeals to me. I'm looking forward to the next Lab and will continue to share what I am creating!

Framed Cat Painting

I love this wooden off-green frame I found for my new little painting! You can see from the photo below that I started with green and I didn't veer too much from my initial sketch. By the way, I just discovered how wonderful watercolor pencils are for drawing over the dried paint. So easy to just wipe away with a damp towel until you get it just right!

Sleeping Cat Painting

 

Another little painting I finished for the Goleta Valley Artist Tour last month.  Acrylics on sassafras wood, 5x5".  It was inspired by the sleeping cat I painted for Pianos on State.

Purple and Yellow Cat

 

I finished this cat in time for the artist studio tour last weekend!  It's 5" in diameter and was painted with acrylics on a sassafras wood slice.  It's interesting to me to see how it began as an unidentified creature and with a very different color scheme.

 

I never have a plan for my art.  I just start and see where it takes me.  Painting is still relatively new to me and I am trying to get a feel for painting in layers, while at the same time, trying not to stress about what feels like wasting paint!

 

 

GVAA Artist Studio Tour

Art by Christine Brallier

 

This weekend I participated for the first time in the annual Goleta Art Studio Tour where members of the Goleta Valley Art Association (GVAA) open their studio doors to the public to share and sell their art.

Art by Christine Brallier

This year more than 20 artists participated at five locations. I was grouped with three wonderful artists, Marie Arnold and Judy and Warner Nienow, at Marie's home. Marie showed her fabulous abstracts in acrylics as well as her super adorable knitted cactus pin cushions!

Art by Marie Arnold

Art by Marie Arnold

Marie Arnold and her knitted cacti

Judy brought her beautifully expressive animal paintings and still lifes in oils and Warner, his wonderful atmospheric urbanscapes, nocturnes and still lifes in oils.

Art by Judy Nienow

Art by Judy Nienow

Judy Nienow and her art

 

Art by Warner Nienow

Art by Warner Nienow

 

Warner Nienow and his art

 

My artwork included some of my stained glass mosaics, my newest paintings, and a few embroideries.

Art by Christine Brallier

Art by Christine Brallier

We had a steady stream of visitors with lively conversation about art, cacti, travel, and more art! I made many new friends and sold one of my mosaics (thanks Warner and Judy!) as well as some of my books and cards.

Sold! To the Nienows

I haven't been very active with GVAA for the past few years, but I am excited about participating much more this year and in the coming years!