Messy mushrooms

I don’t know how it has become the middle of December already. It is passing by in a blur of feverish activity.

The Christmas commissions are finally done and off to their new homes. Sadly, I can’t share any of the images with you for fear of ruining someone’s holiday surprise.

However, in and among the commission craziness, I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to take a seminar with Alexander Viazmensky. An incredible botanical artist from Russia, he is particularly well known for his mushroom paintings. He spent three days at the Minnesota School of Botanical Art trying to help the rest of us absorb some of his knowledge and amazing painting ability.

I will admit that not a lot of it took in my case, but I did learn, and am trying to absorb. Here is the portabella I painted during those three days:

I did come home very excited about mushrooms, and in and around the holiday commissions I did this painting of Shitakii. Which, I will openly admit, is somewhat heavy-handed. It always takes a bit before something new settles in with what you already know. So once I recover from the insanity, I shall try more mushrooms. In the meantime, they are more than a bit messy. Learning! Always learning.

Now I am back to prepping for the February show. I have two more calligraphy pieces to complete, so those shall probably be next, and then I may have an opportunity to breathe and do something just because I want to. At this point, with the entire show being all water-based painting and nature subjects, I am feeling like I may want to do something dark and brooding with inks and resin. I am not generally good at dark and brooding, but I could probably write some very poorly done poetry or something as a consolation prize. Beware the new year! I have no idea what you are going to get!   😉

Thanks to everyone for their patience during what has been an amazing roller-coaster year. You have all been so supportive and encouraging. I know the bestest people.