SHOW OFF

SHOW OFF by PAULA PRASS 

Between the normal busy of life and the unexpected things that fall in my lap I am always a few steps behind, usually by a month or so.  All to say, I went to a week long plein air workshop with Robert Burridge back in October on Maui.  It was crazy awesome and tough at the same time, as Tim's mom passed away.  

The workshop focused on painting abstract, fast and free.  Just between you and me I was stretched until it hurt my brain, but that's what I wanted.  I came back home with several pieces I planned to paint over, some I'm still pondering  and out of about a dozen or so, this one above was my favorite.  Not exactly "abstract" as it was nearly impossible for me to stand in front of the incredible views and not paint that what I see and love so much.  I aptly named it Show Off.   

STILL WATERS by PAULA PRASS

Here's another piece I was pretty happy with.  I thought at the time I'd race back to crank out more like these.  Has yet to happen. 

One hallelujah is that after several months and $4500 later all the "lost" files from the studio flood have been retrieved.  Yeah, OUCH is right.  What a relief to be reunited with the bazillion folders of images, artwork and photos.  I was starting to doubt I'd ever see them again.  

THE EPHEMERA OF OUR LIVES

CHARLOTTE JACKSON PRASS 1925-2013

Tim's mom has lost her long battle with Alzheimer's.  We were so thankful to be able to visit her one last time in Michigan recently.  I chose this photo of her back when she was Charlotte Jackson, the Snow Queen in college.

PAUL N PRASS, JR WWII

And here is a photo of her then "future" husband, Paul Prass, who named his P-38 QUEEN JACK.  Not that I want a fighter plane named after me, but that is so cool, don't you think?

I have been swept away as I sort through, organize and scan the boxes of family photos, albums and letters that Tim has inherited.  The wealth of his family history compared to the half filled manila folder that contains my entire past leaves me breathless. 

So I got this idea to turn some of these photos into collage artwork.  I started with Char, but was not pleased with my initial experiments.  So I changed gears and played with a photo from Paul's childhood that really makes me smile, especially knowing him as an adult. That rifle has to be twice as tall as Paul.  I'm guessing he's only about three years old here, living on a farm in Texas.  No siblings, his friends are the animals.  He had two cows Pete and Repeat.  So I made copies and applied the notes from the backs of photos, maps, paper rifle targets, pages from his children's books and any ephemera relating to his life on the farm in the 1920's to a 12"x30" canvas as the foundation.

Then I began painting over top of the foundation, letting some of the background peek through.  I'm still painting and adding layers to this piece that portrays my father-in-laws early years but something really hit me about the process.  I began thinking about the ephemera of our lives; those things that were meant to have no lasting significance, but in fact, became the foundation of who we have become.  It's those words scribbled on the back of a childhood photo that instantly transport us to that time or place.  Or how about the invisible cruel words that still impact us years later; they all become part of our underlayment, our foundation.  We can't choose the background, but we have the ability to design what our self-portrait will look like.  So it's true when someone says, "You are a piece of work".

ephemera:

things that are important or useful for only a short time  : items that were not meant to have lasting value

1  : something of no lasting significance

2  : ephmera plural : paper items (such as posters, broadsides, and tickets) that were originally meant to be discarded after use but have since become collectibles.

On a side note: I took this into my abstract class to work on (it's as close as I have been able to get to abstract) and one lady told me she found it disturbing on several levels.  Tried to explain this was Texas in the early 1920's, no other kids around, etc.  Then she said, "You're not going to try and sell this, are you?"  This is the same class that encourages creating what pleases you and not others.  I'll just add that comment to my self-portrait background.  Sigh.  

REFLECTIONS

REFLECTIONS by PAULA PRASS  6x6 oil on board

I haven't been able to paint as much lately because life keeps getting in the way.  It started when the air conditioner quit draining outdoors and decided to drain into my studio instead.  We had to pull everything out, throw some furniture, fabrics and books out, deal with mold, etc.  That happened at the same time we were stripping and resealing the saltillo tile on our back patio so the whole house was turned upside down.  When we put things back together in the studio Tim unplugged our modem and router to move them and when he plugged them back in the router was dead!!!!!!!   I mean DEAD.  I store almost everything on the "share drive" so I can work from different computers.  I have been crippled.  I had been working on a new website and business cards.  All my photos, artwork are locked up and even my MacGuyver can't fix it.  On top of that it seems other things decided to kick the bucket.  Let's see; both cars have been in the shop.  I was ironing brand new curtains for the back patio and as I walked over to the sink I thought I heard a popping sound.  I came back and the moment I placed the iron on the curtain it instantly melted a hole through my outdoor curtain.  What's even funnier is Tim hung the curtain anyway. 

The modum died last week, the grill went kapoot this week.  I'm telling myself, "This is a test.  This is only a test".   I know these are all just inconveniences in the scheme of life and this curtain is a reminder to not take things so seriously.

PAPYRUS FALL 2013 BABY COLLECTION

PAULA PRASS for PAPYRUS

It was almost a year ago in October that I was cleaning out emails and seriously had my finger on delete when my eye caught the words Art Director and Papyrus.  I read the email a couple times before I realized it wasn't spam.   One year later we walked into a Papyrus store over the weekend and there it all was.  The sales people were so excited to show it off which was fun.  Looks so much more glamorous in person than all those flat digital files I stared at for way too long (which, by the way, were so large they crashed my computer!)  I bought a gift bag and gift enclosure, then took Tim out to dinner to make up for us sitting at the computer last Thanksgiving all by ourselves; no turkey, no mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie.  In fact, on Thanksgiving night I literally laid my head down on the computer desk while Tim was trying to figure out CS6 and fell asleep without any dinner at all.  I'm sure other licensing artists find themselves under huge time crunches and just like childbirth...it takes about a year to know it was so worth it.  Here's a few proud shots:

 The collection is embellished with tags, ribbons, glitter, rhinestones, layers and includes 3 different size bags, a gift enclosure, thank you notes,  counter card and tissue paper.  Will you let me know if you see them and where?  

BE STILL

BE STILL by PAULA PRASS 6x6 on board

It's been a very busy week so I'm happy to be able to fit another study in.  BE STILL is something I don't do much;  when I try my mind revolts.   But lately after a tough workout we are asked to empty our minds and just be still.  Maybe it's that I'm thrilled that it's over and I can hardly move, but it's the one time it works for me.  It feels surprisingly good and freeing to stop and calm my mind even when everything around me is screaming for attention.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend.  We will be be stripping and resealing saltillo tiles in the heat, just as we've been sentenced to for the last few weekends.  Keeping our eyes on the goal set before us...can't wait to reveal the before and after.

IN THE STILLNESS

IN THE STILLNESS 6x6 oil on board

I really enjoyed painting this one and would almost entertain painting this scene multiple times.  For some reason I found it easier than my cloud pieces.  I took some time away from the oils for about a week to work on an abstract using acrylics.  I like mixing it up and have so many ideas floating around up there that I find myself in overload.  

I am seriously considering building my own art website.  Anyone who knows me knows I will probably pull all my hair out in the process, but I will never pay again what I paid about 10 years ago and then couldn't even manage it by myself.  Things have changed drastically in the last couple years and I'm exploring the many possibilities of building my own site and managing it myself.  I think I can, I think I can.  So I might just become a bald but self-sufficient web designer!  Prayers and advise are greatly appreciated.  

SAFE HARBOR

SAFE HARBOR 6X6 OIL ON BOARD

Yet another cloud study, this time it's a Safe Harbor.  Not sure how many more I'll complete in this Cloud Series as I have done a couple that don't meet my expectations.  Love, love doing these, but am also itching to paint things like, say for instance, marshes.  Makes me itchy just thinking of the potential mosquitos if I were painting air.  I just took several photos this weekend of a nearby marsh and so far I am still free of bug bites!!  I started the underpainting of my first marsh last eve as I was cleaning up my paint brushes and am really liking it...until I overpaint it, of course.  I might add clouds; maybe not.  Depends on my mood, the current paint on my palette, and whatever the painting says.  I hear paintings speak to the painter; I'm trying to listen, but afraid I'm still a bit bossy with the brush.

I haven't taken any classes for the last few months but I just signed up for two.  I do not mind painting alone, but there's an wonderful energy when you are with other creative types.  I'm going in opposite directions; one class in abstract acrylics and another in oil painting from Jeff Yeomans.  He's one of the artists in that awesome book California Light.  

DISTANT RAIN

DISTANT RAIN 6X6 OIL ON BOARD

Here's the next in my series of cloud studies called Distant Rain.  I like the reflections on the wet shoreline and the transparent cloud in front of the sun.  I actually had a tougher time with the waves so I reworked them.  My goal is to go simpler and less fussy but it takes me twice as long to achieve.  

I've been thinking long and hard about what to do with the art I'm creating.  I want to have enough pieces and then come up with a plan.  Some of you have asked if I will be selling my art and I do intend to, I just want to make some decisions on how to do that.  

I have more finished pieces, so let me go photograph those for another post.

SKIES PROCLAIM

SKIES PROCLAIM 6x6 oil on board by PAULA PRASS

Finally was able to paint today and so very glad I did.  Can you believe after all these years of having a long distance love affair with the ocean I have been transplanted near my life-long obsession?   This is where I get lost for hours absorbing the glory of each wave and cloud.  While I moved here under duress; the ocean has been such a calming and welcoming friend, for which I am eternally grateful.  

HOUSE AND HOME; BACK PATIO SNEAKY PEAK

Our efforts these days have been focused on our back patio and I'd hoped to be be further along by now.  Between us only working nights and weekends (extra careful not to do noisy construction "after hours") and now Mini MyGyver is sick in bed and I'm just way too excited to wait one minute longer.  Quicky shot.  I'll do another post later showing the painful Before part.  It's coming together and can't wait to have it filled with friends and family.  

This sectional is from Eurolux Patio right here in the San Diego area.  Picky Paula couldn't be more pleased with the construction, options, price, in stock pieces and customer service.  Believe me, I did the research!  We can easily move these pieces around for different seating options.  Sorry, I'm in my interior design mode again. 
   
Doesn't my Patchwork Landscape look awesome out there?   It's not technically an outdoor piece, but can't say it won't appear for a special occasion. 

Patchwork Landscape by Paula Prass

I spent the last couple days studying how to keep up with the latest gadgets on the web.  One long day just to add Pin It buttons to my images.  I'm a huge Pinterest gal but have yet to link to my boards.  I also over studied Google+ and after too many hours of uncertainty I blindly made the leap.  Hope against hope, I pray there was a benefit to that time wasted, er; spent.   

Any info or advise on how to make Google+ work best for an artist/designer I'd surely be interested.  Might not sound like a big day to you, but my brain is about to explore in HTML jargon.  Gotta love blogs with step-by-steps though.  I read all 237 of them.  Gotta go recover on the patio right now!