Puppet Annimation

I am learning how to do animation using puppets in my wall book called "The Balloon Man". New Years Weekend we should be done!

Painting On Raw Canvas

A vision of new paintings crossed my mind today. They include squares of raw canvas, a flow of gesso, thinned acrylic paints almost like watercolor. I want to play in paint for a week. I can't wait to start ripping the canvas into squares.

I also want to do a big white canvas. The canvas won't be just white. It's hard to describe what I saw in my mind but I am intrigued.

Alizarine Crimson Warms Up the Blues

The first layer of oil paint that I put on the canvas to create "Oklahoma Fields" was pure Alizarine Crimson, which gives these cool blues and greens a surprising amount of warmth.

Photo Shoot

We are planning a photo shoot for Wednesday night. If all goes well, soon, you will see photos of my artwork with their owners at home and in offices. Stay tuned!

Getting Up Early-Progress Report

Another title option: Problem Solving 101 - For the Artist Who Works Their "Day" Job And Needs More Energy To Paint After Work

A third title option: Warning! Processing Here.

I promised to keep you posted on my progress for going to my "day" job at 6am in order to get off by 2pm and head over to the studio to paint from 2p - 6pm.

It sounds so doable, but I have yet to pull it off. I work for an accounting firm and now we are in the thick of it. Accounting is definitely a thinking (wo)mans career. My brain is full of numbers. I never knew that thinking could make you tired! And, whoever said accounting was boring never did accounting before. Every day, something new. Every year congress changes laws and the IRS set new rules.

Still, even though I didn't get out of bed today until 1 hour 45 minutes later than scheduled, I am optimistic. It's spring. The days are getting lighter, longer. I have options.

One idea (and it may sound crazy) is I am thinking about changing my diet. I am wondering what foods are the absolute energy boosters; a smoothie instead of coffee, a boiled egg instead of a scone. If I ate energy boosting foods for a while... It's a thought. Which leads me to more options...

• Meditation. Empty the brain.
• Visualization. Fill the brain with images of painting and running my art business all day.
• Actualization. Be the change you want to see in the world.
  

The last sentence a quote from Gandhi. It's a perfect quote for me in my life right now. I am so inspired in the mornings to be the change I want to see in my life. The trick is to be inspired right after work. Right after work is my weakest moment of the day. I spend a little time in the morning meditating and visualizing. I can try it right after work too to see if that helps. Another thing that might help is:

• Exercise...

If my weakest moment is right after work, it makes sense to exercise right after work before painting. Exercise is the absolute best thing I can do for rejuvenating the mind and spirits after a full 8 hours of numbers.

Ok - so here's the newest new plan: Still work at getting up early. Eat energy oriented foods throughout the day, then right after work spend an hour exercising. Spend 15 minutes meditating and visualizing. Eat a healthy energy boosting meal. Then, get to work on painting.

I bet after doing these things, I will get my three to four hours of daily production time in during the week.

Painting Over Underpaintings

These are about to change. What have been paintings for six months are now considered under paintings. After I finish the sandwich board sign for a friend that I promised to do, these paintings are next on my list.

My studio mates are getting use to me painting over paintings, though I am not sure they always approve they totally understand the process. I love changing a painting that I have lived with it for a while. Something better always comes along. It's like the first painting breaths mystery and intrigue into the final work of art. The viewer knows something is there, though they may not know what.

Art & Training Like An Olympic Athlete

I am very excited to get to the studio and paint this week every day by 2:30pm. It means getting up and being at work at 6am. Last week was my first week with this new schedule. Getting up early was really tough. My stomach was queasy all week but I just think about the Olympics athletes that have gone for the gold for it these past few weeks and I am inspired.

In my former life, I taught aerobics. I loved it, especially when I reached a point where felt amazingly strong. Initially, it was tough. The first week of training I felt queasy all week. But I kept pushing through that stage and in less than a month, I could teach classes without getting winded and in two months, I was totally in shape.

I only have one life. My life's goal is creating a fantastically successful, extraordinary art career. In order to create anything fantastically successful and extraordinary, I have to train like an Olympic athlete.

Wine Bottle Label

Look what's going to be a wine bottle label! Very exciting.

Julia Clifford - Artist - Clifford Creation

Time Producing Art

Finding time to produce art is a challenge when you work full time in a "day" job. I struggle with making the time to create. With an eye on being a fantastically successful artist and business owner, I am on a new journey though where producing art is now a priority, a second job if you will, with set studio hours (2:30pm - 6:30pm weekdays and 10am - 4pm most Saturdays.)

There is an adjustment period as this time commitment means I have to get to my "day" job at 6am so I can be off and at the studio by 2:30pm.

I started this work schedule this week and on my first day I had to come home and take a nap. Still, I know my body will adjust and now I am on the road to producing my next new body of work. Life can't get much better than that! I will keep you posted on my progress!

Periwinkle is coming! Periwinkle is coming!

Last summer we opened a small shop called Periwinkle. Periwinkle is below our studio spaces right across the alley from the Farmers Market. We opened our shop on Saturday's right along with the Farmers Market. It was a blast. I painted in the alley. Marybeth worked the shop and greeted all the customers. Harmony and Marybeth had the vision and colors. Wow!

Harmony found a pillow with great words and exactly the colors we talked about. We call them Marybeth colors as she uses them regularly in her art. Beautiful!

Periwinkle. Come and visit our shop this summer! Its right across the alley in downtown Bellingham. See you there!

Colors Sit On Grass

This was a fun painting to paint. I started out with colors everywhere. Then tree shapes began to emerge. The sky came third and the light sage green grass was last. Random and playful.

Harmony's Work - Studio Mate

Harmony is the third person that shares the igallery. Her work (seen here) is bold, with brilliant colors, textures, words, symbols (literal and figurative) collage. Right now Harmony is creating a healing arts space downstairs, assisting Marleen in opening a raw food cafe next to the main gallery, showcasing Marybeth and my work in the main gallery, working on her artwork and working on her other two locations. She and her husband Loren own three buildings in the core of downtown, all of which incorporates the arts in some fashion or another and I am VERY lucky to be a part of it all.

Inspiration in Spring

This scene in my sweethearts orchard is an image of inspiration for me. I love that spring moment the day before the leaves on the trees burst open. You almost see the leaf buds vibrate. Is the vibration caused by their excitement of breaking free and opening up to the sun? (That's a fun idea for a children's book!)

Clifford Creations - Art by Julia Clifford

This Weeks igallery Tour Wrap-up

This spring at the igallery, we are planning "April Showers Bring May Flowers". After three months of creating new work, the igallery embraces new images in a delightful evening with friends, patrons and art lovers galore.

The igallery Tour Part III

More of the tour of the igallery. All the work you see is hand produced.

Clifford Creations - Art by Julia Clifford

My Studio Mate

The tour of the igallery continues with my large painting of a single apple tree in front on a group of large evergreens. Marybeth's work surrounds the large painting.

Marybeth is one of my studio mates. She loves quotes that resonate with her and her life experiences. She produces work that is very complicated. She hand paints paper, cuts out, reduces, paints some more, floats pieces on top of other pieces, collects letters and crafts it into magic. The picture below is a hand made greeting card. Big (Me) and little (Marybeth) and oh so fun.

The igallery Tour Continues

A little bit of my work "Orhcard In Spring" and a little bit of Marybeth's work. Marybeth loves letters and wonderful quotes as you will see this week during the igallery tour.

The igallery is located at 1107 N State Street in Bellingham and is open on Saturdays and Gallery Walks.

The igallery Tour

Periwinkle is the showcase for work produced by three artist that share studios located in the igallery building (1107 N State Street in downtown Bellingham WA). The building also has healing arts and workshops downstairs and a new raw food restaurant opening soon. (I tasted some...Marleen the chef is REALLY REALLY good!)

Marybeth Vital produces colorful cutout multimedia magic, hand painted, hand done amazing work! Harmony Kellogg, creator of an artist and healer dream space, produces multimedia delicious paintings. And I paint color!

This week we tour the igallery.


Clifford Creations - Art by Julia Clifford

Painting Hollyhocks

This painting "Hollyhocks" is about half way done. This time, I am trying something new by painting the last few layers in oil right on top of an acrylic paint. I have heard of other artist doing this mixed media but haven't tried it myself until last night.

You can paint oil on acrylic but you cannot paint acrylic on oil. The oily surface just doesn't allow the acrylic paint to adhere. I'll keep you posted on how the experiment goes.

Thanks so much Marybeth for taking these photos!!!

Clifford Creations - Art by Julia Clifford

The Poppie - A Fave

The poppy flower is one of my favorite flowers to paint. They slip into paintings even when I may not intend them to such as in "Garden Illuminated" below. These were the last flowers to appear and they are the sweet sweet frosting on a yummy cake. After these flowers appeared, I knew the painting was complete.

Clifford Creations - Artwork by Julia Clifford

Painting Sunflowers & Light

This painting "Sunflowers & Light" I took from memory. Last summer I planted some so I can study their personalities closer. The group of sunflowers I grew seem constantly to be talking to each other. This is where children illustration and story come to play.

Clifford Creations - Art by Julia Clifford

Painting - Memory or Photograph

Most of the time, I paint from memory or from a feeling. The image of the evergreens below is a great example. It's the view I see looking out of my sweethearts kitchen window. With apple blossoms, I used a photograph like the one above. Below on the easel is the end result.

Clifford Creations - Art by Julia Clifford

Painting Multimedia

Painting in multimedia for me starts out with layers of paper placed abstractly and secured to a wood panel using matte medium. The paper is covered completely. Pastels come next again sealed with matte medium. Then layers of acrylic paint thinned with matte medium. The texture of the paper adds mystery to the piece.

Clifford Creations - Art by Julia Clifford

Painting Inspirations

My sweetheart has an orchard right outside his dining room window. Over 30 trees grace the field and inspire me winter, spring, summer and fall. I can't help but be inspired!

It's great fun to see where the artwork I produce finally comes to rest. Here, Norm and Megan show their Orchard paintings hanging in their dining room.

Art - Vision Statement

Clifford Creations Vision Statement

"I am a master artist who produces extraordinary art. Collectors, interior designers, art directors, publishers and distributors constantly pursue and purchase my work nationally and internationally. I create a positive, world wide impact using art as my tool. My art gives the viewer an experience of awe and delight they remember forever.

Clifford Creations -- Art by Julia Clifford. Art that takes your breath away ...now and for generations to come."

This vision statement is a work in progress. It's a tall order and I am up for the challenge. Focusing on the desired outcome helps me to actualize and live my dream business.

Fall Orchard Painting

This is a snapshot of "Fall Orchard", part of my orchard series. This one is 6'x8'.
Clifford Creations

Painting First and Last

Another example of first layer and final layer. This painting is about 6'x8'. The final one is hiding a bit behind furniture and a couple of smaller apple blossom paintings.

Clifford Creations

Painting Calm Exteriors Mask Dynamic Interiors

Underneath the calm exterior is a dynamic interior, layers underneath that swirl and glow. Best seen in person but hints reflect through even in this low res image.
Julia Clifford

Painting the Foundation

These two images are great examples of how the foundation or first layer placed on the canvas can dictate the final outcome.

The "Field of Daisies" started out completely as an abstract. I just put down colors not knowing what the final piece would be. Daisies emerged much later and the sky was added last.

The "Trees Through the Forest" was inspired by an actual place I witnessed driving up the Mount Baker Highway. The first layer on the canvas mapped out the composition and every layer from that point forward focused on capturing that magical moment.

Garden-Walk Right In

"Garden Illuminated"
6.5' x 8.5'
(big enough to want to walk right into)
See more of my work on my portfolio.

Paint EVERYWHERE!

I keep adding dabs of paint all over, layer after layer.

As you look at the painting, you can see dabs of pastel purples and red and blues in the pink. You can't make a mistake. And check out the leaves below. Orange and reds sit on top along with pale blues and purples.

The painting shirt was a gift. I love wearing it but most of the time I forget to put it on. Luckily, I am not a messy painter.

Garden Grows with Layers of Paint

This painting is stapled on a frame that is 7 x 9 ft. The first coat of paint is actually chalk pastel panted over with matte medium. The first layer helps to sketch out the composition of the piece.

I use golden paints that are more translucent in nature rather than opaque. Their tube of paint makes an easy distinction on their labels that help determine if they are more opaque or more transparent. New layers of acrylic are mixed with matte medium to add to the translucent quality of the paint.

I love painting all over the canvas all at the same time. Dabs of color everywhere! I usually use a little brush too. It's practically impossible to mess up with this large of a canvas and that small of a brush. Different colors just adds more interest to the piece. A leave is green, add dabs of purple, orange, yellow, blue and red. Suddenly, that leaf is looking alive! Check out colors in finished paintings to see what I mean.

Painting Beginnings Can Differ

While the Orchard started out as nearly pure abstract, Garden Illuminated begins with more structure. I still use pastel and matte medium to map out the composition quickly but the first layer is much more tight, the colors are more restricted.

As you get a look below, you can still see the same technique of placing chalk pastel on the canvas covered in matte medium wash is still used but I stay more within "the lines".

The Orchard went from bright to more realistic colors. This painting was reverse, starting out muted then going bright! This garden definitely grows! Future blogs will add on the layers and colors. If you are curious about other completed works, check out more images on my portfolio.

End Chapter 1 - Painting -"The Orchard" Hot Lights

This snapshot demonstrates the softening of the shadows in the grass, tree trunks and apple blossoms. I soften and lighten the background using that technique of scrubbing mentioned in an earlier blog in order to give more air, more depth, more distance between the orchard in the foreground and the forest in the background.

The painting is finished!

Yet, there is one more step! Get it professionally photographed. This photo is a quick snapshot demonstrating technique but there are hot spots of light overhead and everything look yellow and dingy or dull, distorting the image somewhat. Wait till you see what a professional photographer can do. In a future blog, I will show you just how different the two can be. It will knock your socks off!

Visit my portfolio and see if you can tell which photos are professional and which are not in the oil painting section.

Contrast Give POP!

Another day at the Farmers Market and I am getting close to finishing the painting!

Adding more shadows, contrast really will make the blossoms POP!