Our weekdays are filled with medical appointments and caring for our home and pets. Jerry is a wonderful spouse, doing the shopping and I help when and where I can.  He likes food shopping and I find it a chore, so he does it. I love shopping for gifts, clothing, shoes, household and gardening things, anything except food, so it balances out.

 

I also work on my volunteer and paid projects during the week. Writing and practicing my performance poetry and other presentations as well as managing Friends In Art, Inc, is part of the weekday habit.

But Saturday is an art day. I spend most of the week going over what I will work on, where to begin, and what the daily goal is. For example, today I painted in edging on two small canvas pieces, prepped an 18 x 18 heavy duty paper and  Jerry sprayed three clear coats of sealant on another finished piece.  I plan to begin a Vlog on YouTube at some point talking about what is like being blind and also being an artist and author. I hope I don’t put folks to sleep.  😉

 

Mixed media techniques are probably a far cry from a classically trained fine artist. We paint with brushes as well as fingers, old credit cards, palette knives, sponges, paint pens, and other impromptu tools with great results.

 

I use masking tape and Scotch ™   magic tape for blocking edges. I use tape to map out key points within my painting or gluing area. I like brushes that are easy to hold and have an indent in the metal nearest the bristles. This helps me direct the brush tip for the best results. I love scraping, rolling or pressing textures into gel plates, and letting my mind direct the creative play. I rely on my smart speaker to assist me with contemporizing paint colors and use a handheld color identifier and an app on my phone to help me.

 

I go into my work with no expectations. I plan the best I can and accept the outcome. When the outcome isn’t what I planned, I shift it into the learning experience bin and move on. Many of my mistakes are used in new, dynamic compositions. The more art I create the more confident I become.

 

 

aesthetic pheromone

 

Ann Chiappetta

 

 

the scent of pigment and polymer unlatches

 

the gate to the garden

 

the act is breath

 

and breathing

 

bold gloss glides

 

the dip of ideas

burst bright

 

upon the paper

thankful it is

 

no longer white