Coffee And Paint Drips Blog - Dora Sislian Themelis Art

Making Room for New Work

Clearing the studio to make room for new work is on the to-do list. For me, moving work around, discarding the trash, organizing the space gives me inspiration. Sometimes it’s so hard to even walk into my work space, but the idea of cleaning helps.

Available small works

Every piece of artwork has meaning to me. Each one has special meaning, helped me grow and moved my work forward. These were done during the time I discovered I could handle watercolor paints in all their loveliness.

Kassos, 9×12 Watercolor on paper

These works came from places in Greece that I wished to visit, and one that I did visit. The images of Greece have such a pull on my psyche that can only come out with these heavenly deep colors and blazingly bright whites.

Kalymnos, 9×12 Watercolor on paper

Clearing the studio of these small pieces of work is cathartic. It means there’s room for growth, for more, for abundance.

Amorgos, 10×8 Watercolor on paper

©Dora Sislian Themelis, Amorgos, 10x8 Watercolor

Moving these small pieces to new homes won’t bother me a bit either. They were my process. They were my focus. Now they can shine in a new space and make it happy.

A Beach Watercolor For Motivation

A few years back, when I had more time with my first granddaughter, we liked to visit the beach on an off day. I think she was in nursery school or maybe pre-K. I would retrieve her from school and off we’d go.

We would explore the empty seashore, make tracks in the sand, examine the seaweed, shells, and spent carcasses of old horseshoe crabs. It was always such a great feeling of freedom on these little breaks. Seeing the world through each other’s eyes gave us a great bond. Laughter, smiles, chasing the tide line, watching our footprints dissolve into the ocean and tracking our day in photos.

An autumn beach day watercolor sketch and the first pass

Flipping through some of these photos to give myself a bit of motivation to paint, I settled on this view. Easy enough to pull out the watercolor paints and a small Arches paper block to work. A little drama in the sky, the dark of the sand, and the small, but significant figure to ground it all felt right.

Two days work and this autumn beach scene was done. Is it perfect? No. Did it have the motivational effect I needed? Maybe. Right now there’s too much going on and Mr. Resistance is pulling me in other directions.

That guy is miserable.

The Sketch Group Day

Last week during my travels I was chatting with a woman who said she was also an artist. We swapped stories, education, and photos of our work. She was retired, much older than me, and was involved in different activities, one of which was a regular Friday morning sketch group. Like me, she made art since a kid. Cool.

Sketch #1 of model, black, brown, white conte crayons

As she inspected the photos of my artwork on my phone, she critiqued each piece with more and more enthusiasm.

“Look at the composition, how you made the eye travel in and around this work! What interesting shapes! The colors you used in this piece draws me in!”

You get the idea, right?

“I know..” I answered. “You’re not humble at all, are you?” she replied.
Well, I do know my stuff. I do have my BFA diploma. How I work isn’t happenstance, it’s planned. I switched my reply to “Thanks!”

Sketch #2 of artist working, black and white conte crayon

When she mentioned I should visit the Friday sketch group, I thought it’d be a good idea if I could get myself to check it out. A model, a company of artists, a new environment, why not try it? I cleared my Friday and took a ride.

Sketch #3 of the organizer, watercolor in Moleskin

The group

When I arrived I found 10 people at work with a male model sitting against a dark fabric as a background. The woman I had met was thrilled to see me, the others, not so much. It seems there’s a limit of 20 adults, but if I joined them regularly it’d be way too many bodies jockeying for a spot. No problem! I was there on a quiet day, and maybe I won’t make another class.

Yikes!

I set up my travel easel in a corner with a view of the model, got out the conte crayons and sketched away. When I was done with the first drawing I next did one of a student at work. After that quick sketch I took out my small watercolor palette and sketched the organizer of the group. Done there, I decided one more sketch and I was out of there so I did a watercolor of the model as my last sketch. Quick and done!

Sketch #4 of the model, watercolor in Moleskin book

The loud, 1950’s music they played was just not for me. The sing-along they all did as they worked was also not for me, “On-ly youoooooo….”

I need quiet. If not quiet, then low volume classical, or talking, like a pod cast.

Next Time

I timed out at 1 1/2 hours, 4 sketches in2 different mediums, 3 poses, sort of. As I looked around at the other artists, also much older group than I am, retired sorts, but they were there 3 hours working on 1 piece in 1 medium, and the following week were going to continue on the same piece in the same pose.

While a good idea, and a change of pace for me, this sketch group is not for me. I’ll have to think of something else. Next!

The Latest Work on the Easel

New oil painting on the easel is this Greek island seascape

Getting to the easel to paint has been both a struggle and somewhat easier than usual lately. Of course, it’s the thing I most want and need to do. Then there are so many things that need attention. Don’t forget that my art studio is at my home, and everyone thinks I’m totally free.

I’m not, but Mr. Resistance is always hanging around, talking non stop, telling me what to do and not do.

Besides, Grandbaby #4 arrived recently and that has been a glorious event. Grandbabies #1, 2, and 3 need attention, too. However, this artist needs to pay close attention to herself. Since this week has been kind of free for me, I was able to put this open schedule to good use. Doing me!

The Greek monastery painting was waiting for more work, but I needed something new. I decided to start a new scene with fresh colors like this Greek island seascape. Having two works going at once could be a good thing, I thought.

The twitter art exhibit postcard was sent out to Edinburg, Scotland. Done!

Armed with new oil paints to try in these amazing turquoise and blue colors I went right in sketching the shapes, darks and lights. It just had to happen like that, without too much thought. I let my instincts take over my actions at the canvas with the brush and paints.

It felt really good to work like that, in a mindful, process only method, using the reference photo for the colors and direction.

I’ll tell you a little about the new oil paints I recently purchased to try. Besides the Gamblin paints I’ve been using, I bought Rembrandt and Michael Harding oils. Buttery feel and vivid colors from both of these companies makes painting with them an absolute joy. Keeps me at the easel longer than I think I’d paint. That is big.

Before I could ruin the progress I made in this work I stopped. Things could get ugly if I get too much in the details. Tomorrow is wide open and maybe I can finish this and move on.

The Twitter Art Exhibition 2019

The Twitter Art Exhibition postcard sized artwork for 2019 is underway here in the studio. Again I’m using watercolor on paper for my submission. This year will be the fifth time I’ve participated.

This year the exhibit and sale is being held in Edinburg, Scotland for a charity called Art in Healthcare, opening night is May 11.

As you can see by the photos of the work, I’m revisiting a favorite seascape I’ve painted a few other times. It makes me feel comfortable. The sun and the deep blue sea. The little fishing boat is adorable. I like the sense of distance with the village in the landmass across the bay of our Greek island home, Patmos.

It’s interesting to see the progression of work in these photos. Sometimes I can end up overworking the details. I just have to stop myself or I’ll ruin it. I may soften some lines in the boat. A little more attention and it will be finished.

Postcard watercolor painting for the Twitter Art Exhibition 2019

Last year my watercolor landscape painting was sold and I was thrilled! Maybe this year will be a lucky one and my work will find a forever home.

Fingers crossed this one sells too.

Working on Something New

As I try to decide where best to push my blogging/artwork efforts, here at WordPress or at the old Blogger, since apparently now I have 2 blogs.

Winter being what it is with ugly weather, holiday season, the new year, artwork just wasn’t making it to the schedule. Mr. Resistance is always around the corner and laughing at me. It’s not fun.

Still, I have various paintings in different stages of work: ideas, sketch, half painted, completed. Inch by inch work gets attention. If I could figure out this blogging thing I’d be on my way! But not happening, so I slog around on the last two social media platforms I use these days, twitter and IG.Posts of artwork in their stages make the grade. Here and there a finished piece and some people like or comment.

One lovely lady I’m following on Instagram is a chef of Greek origin with a cookbook of regional Greek cuisine under her belt and some really great recipes. We will occasionally like each other’s photos. She’s so nice to say she loves my paintings and just asked me if I would do cover art for her second cookbook. Well, yeah, I would!

Watercolor sketch for cover art ©Dora Sislian Themelis

She gave me an idea of how she’d like the artwork to look and I went with it in watercolor on paper. I was glad to move away from the oil painting I’d been working on for a breather like this. A quick sketch of a table top with a Greek seascape scene in the background and I was off to work.

Happily, my Greek chef was pleased with my work and I’m going ahead to add details. I’ll have more info on everything soon.

This work is almost finished and it feels really good.

Top Nine of 2018 A Review

Check out the post here...

The Latest Work With Permission

©Dora Sislian Themelis, Watercolor on Arches Paper 11×14, Patmos Sunset

The latest work is from another person’s photograph. Don’t worry, I asked permission to use it. I just had to, it was too beautiful to me not to. The photographer agreed to let me depict this scene in watercolor paint. I was thrilled.

Of course, the view is stunning, and it’s from one of my favorite places, our Greek island home of Patmos.

I find it dreamy. Maybe you do too.

The misty look of the distant hillside from the sheltered patio with potted flowers and the blue metal chairs and table give me comfort. I could be sitting right there, in that very spot, and breathe really deep. Perfect for a watercolor application and my supplies were ready to go.

The steps in the work. The finished piece is available for purchase.

The photo above shows the steps I took from photograph through the initial sketch and first wash of color. As I go about the work I add detail, more color, try to follow the forms and edges to get to the finished piece.

I took my time to develop the scene slowly. Believe me I could go to far and have it trashed. That’s not so hard for me to do. Lately I’ve been able to pace myself, not make a mess of things.

Also, the process is important. The act of painting takes me out of my head to a far away place where there is nothing except the work in front of me. Time and space mean nothing. I am gone.

But then there’s dinner to make, and I’m back in my head.

New Work

New watercolor work of this Greek island harbor

All the trouble started when I decided to switch blogging platforms from Blogger to WordPress. Over on Blogger I began my online journey, gained some readers, learned a lot about online art making sites, joined in on some very interesting challenges, made “friends” so to speak with other like minded individuals.

Then WordPress came along, with all its hype and flash, and I moved it all over from Blogger. Not realizing that when I did that I then had essentially two platforms to blog on. Gone were the fun “friends”, the challenges, the readers, the excitement of writing a blog.

Here on WordPress I write my post, link it up to Blogger, where if anyone is still reading my musings, they get whooshed here with a click of the link. However, I don’t think anyone is doing all that. There’s no time left in anyone’s day to be going back and forth, looking for little old me. No comments show up anywhere anymore.

Ho hum..

But all along I’ve been working away on all kinds of things, and no one knows about any of it. Today I decided to once more pop on here and throw some things around, make the place look “lived in.” You know, messy up the living room table so it looks like people actually are present, not like a showroom with only pretty things. A book here, a pen there, nothing too sloppy, just like a good, comfy pair of worn in jeans. That kind of messy.

Messy with a purpose, if you like.

Pictured above is a montage of steps in the latest watercolor painting I just finished yesterday. See? I am at my desk working!

It’s a Greek harbor scene, surprise! I liked the sunny aspect of it, the misty mountain behind the sun splashed pavement, the houses and shops in the morning shadow. Lots of details that I’m not sure I wanted to depict, but sometimes I can’t stop working.

Maybe I’ll repost all of this over on Blogger. Maybe I won’t. Not sure how I’m going to proceed. It’s a process, and Mr. Resistance will surely let me know just exactly in which direction he’d like me to move.

Or not.

Sketching at Clark Botanical Garden, NY

On one of the last nice days of autumn I revisited a beautiful place near me, Clark Botanical Garden in Albertson, NY. I’ve visited here many times to find some serene, calm moments.

It’s just such a lovely place for calm and meditation. A place to “bath in the forest” as I’ve read. This particular day I planned to paint in watercolors here instead of the other favorite place, the beach. That day the beach might have been a good choice, but I wasn’t sure if the weather was warm enough. At the Gardens the sun was really strong and hot. Maybe it was better that way.

I found a bench at one of my favorite spots at this sunny, turtle filled pond with reeds and lily pads. Ate the lunch I brought with me and then got to work. The first attempt was a little tight. Another garden wanderer approached and we chatted. She loved this one.

The next watercolor sketch was somewhat looser in style. I always start out getting down every detail and this time was no different. Deciding to paint the negative space instead of each item I saw was helpful to keeping my hand and brush free.

Onward!