Painted Monkey Head

Daily monkey is a 4"x4" canvas I picked up at Jerry's Artarama on sale the other day...I love these! The usual monkey head on black gesso with red, gold and a smattering of blue and white acrylic. I went back in with my scratchboard tool and took out some color and gave it a little texture. I am busy scratching out a large 3 monkey 'no evil' theme(can't remember the size..larger than 16"x20" though)Ampersand Scratchboard of course http://www.ampersandart.com/. Started it last night, adding a tremendous amount of back ground detail...shapes that will be painted some undetermined colors...It's funny, the monkey heads are interesting to me, but mostly just for 'holding' the space. The background is always my most favorite part of doing this.

All is good, 4 emus are gathered outside my studio, 'booming' at me, the birds are singing, two deer just ran by and I am happy to be in this moment.

Speak No Evil Monkey

My Daily Monkey today is a 3"x5" Ampersand Art scratchboard (http://www.ampersandart.com/) Red is acrylic paint. The 'Speak No Evil' monkey. Which makes me wonder now...what is the origin of the Hear no, see no, speak no evil monkey theme? And why a monkey and not an elephant, or emu etc... I'll have to google it. Unless someone out there in blog-land knows and can enlighten me??

Today is a better day for me. Yesterday I just wanted to 'eat worms'...everything was wrong, beginning with how I slept (or didn't sleep)! Maybe that's part of it, not sleeping well. But I do believe the other part is the planet Mercury being retrograde. I'm not going to go into it here, google it, I'm a believer! Soon this phase will be over and I can get out of this 'holding pattern'.

See No Evil Monkey

Having a lot of fun with this series of Monkeys....Today is 'See No Evil'. It's a 3"x5" scratchboard from Ampersand Art, http://www.ampersandart.com/. This is their sample size, I just happened to have a few left over from my demo at Jerry's Artarama. I added some red acrylic paint. Will spray it later with Krylon Workable Fixative and then put it in the 'Daily Monkey' stash. All is good, I'm a little grumpy at having fewer hours to spend in studio because of dog/house sitting in town and this redwood deck project that is just about to kill me! But this too shall pass, I really have nothing to complain about. My life is good.

Hear No Evil Monkey

This is a small 3"X5" Scratchboard from Ampersand Art, http://www.ampersandart.com/ . My daily monkey today was suggested by Suzanne Lewis, a fellow artist (love her work!) at Wally Workman Gallery, http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/ . So, I'm doing the Hear no, See no, Speak no, evil monkey theme. I intend to do all three together on either a 16"x20" or larger scratchboard. This is just a 'sketch' for that, the other two to follow...I will add red acrylic to the fez and vest, but just wanted to get this out early in it's raw form.

Blue Monkey

Today's monkey is a small (3"x4") acrylic on panel. Not too much monkey scratching going on these days. Need to change that soon! Promise.

Going off to do a 6 day dogs/house sit, I usually get a lot of artwork done while living in someone else's house. And this house in particular is a bit like a 'spa' get away for me. Pool, soaking tub...cable TV etc...

4 New Scratchboards

Dropped these 5"x7" scratchboards at Wally Workman Gallery http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/ the other day. The scratchboards are an Ampersand Art http://www.ampersandart.com/ product.

Monkey Monkey Monkey

Another one of my pencil on paper drawings based on photos I took last year in New Mexico zoo. Size is approx. 8.5"x11". I'm just about a month into this 'Monkey a Day' project. I'm enjoying it and it's a good exercise. It makes me do and think about art every day. Which is helpful when I get sidetracked by the plumbing or construction jobs that fall into my lap. Those, while profitable, are just a means to the end...the end being making art as much as possible. I've got 4 new scratchboard pieces to deliver to Wally Workman Gallery here http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/, will post images of those later today.

Monkey a Day

Whipped this little monkey panel out. It's half inch birch plywood with black gesso and acrylic paint. The usual monkey shape for me. My simplified version. I'm working on some scratchboards for a group show in Dallas at Dahlia Woods Gallery http://www.dahiliawoodsgallery.com/, and continue to do the 5"x7" scratchboard for Wally Workman Gallery http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/. The scratchboard product is my favorite from Ampersand Art http://www.ampersandart.com/.

Weather is still cooler than usual here in Austin. My holiday will be spent fixin' plumbing for a friend, then off to the neighbors for burgers and dogs and visitin'. Hope all have a lovely day!

Just Another Monkey Day

Just a quick monkey sketch....I've got BBQ to eat and relaxin' to do. Happy Mem Day everyone!

Monkey Day

Happy Holiday weekend! Today's monkey is yet another pencil sketch from a photo I took at New Mexico zoo when I was visiting last year. Rather than drawing from life I find it much more to my liking to draw from photos. So I shoot alot of them.

Size is approx. 8"x10" and is plain old pencil on plain old sketch pad paper. Tomorrow I've got to do something different with the 'daily monkey'...not sure what yet.

Monkey Friday

Quick sketch of a monkey I took photos of in New Mexico zoo. I'll use it in a scratchboard someday I'm sure... It's pencil on paper, approx. 8"x10". That's it for today.

Thursday Monkey

No drawing or assemblage today. I have a lot of photos I've taken to use for future drawings and some of them are monkeys...I took this one in the zoo in Abq. New Mexico last year. No special camera...digital. I was attracted to his/her steady gaze. What a terrible thing to put such a being behind bars for us 'curious' folks to walk by and stare at. Then again...maybe he/she thinks we are the caged ones. It all depends on attitude and perspective I guess. He/she probably thinks how interesting it is that we look so much like him/her...

Life is good here in the woods. The peacocks are calling, emu is booming and birdies singing, what more could I need?

Monkey du jour

Monk du jour is a slap dash collage I just knocked together. You can see in the photo nothing on it is even dry yet! It's on a 5"X7" panel which was painted black. Vintage papers and red acrylic. My typical monkey shape and design...

Had a delightful spontaneous afternoon at Jerry's Artarama. They had a last minute encaustic demonstration with a wonderful visiting artist, Gina Adams. Learned that a lot of what I had tried before with this medium was totally wrong...including ventilation and heating up toxic things. Oh well, hope I haven't done too much damage to my lungs. Soon, of course, I will do an encaustic monkey.

Still uncharacteristically cool here in Austin. Blissful time before the hellish heat!

Quick Monkey

Was in the studio this morn painting scratchboard frames black and had paint left on the brush I was about to pitch...this monkey just 'popped' out on the paper that was on my table. Not too much thought went into this....which is fine by me. If you have to spend too much time thinking about making monkeys the fun of it just slides away. Size is approximately 8 1/2"X11" Paint is black Rustoleum enamel. That's it. Nothing more to it.

Delicious cool weather here in central Texas. I love the feel and the smell of the cold air. Reminds me of my ancestral homeland (Indiana) and also the cool/cold mornings in the August summer of Michigan north of Grand Rapids. I spent many years camping there while installing plumbing at the Michigan Womyn's Music Fest. That is a whole other blog/story...

Monkey Assemblage

Here is the other version of the Monkey assemblage from found objects for today's Daily Monkey. I was walking in the woods along the creek and found these round stones, rusty metal piece and the deer jawbone. The ears are a wooden heart that I cut in half a while ago. The tree that used to belong with this stump almost fell on my studio a few months ago. Whew! Close call.

Austin has had the most beautiful weather for the past few days. Cold front blew in bringing rain and real spring like temp. Soon it will be unbearably hot...I am savoring this current condition for as long as I can.

Nightly Monkey

The day got away from me so I'm posting my 'daily' Monkey this evening...I changed my usual daily pattern so it threw me off a little. Had a lovely visit this morning with a friend, met up with my neighbors and took a walk down by the creek (we had considerable rain so it was up!) While walking I found some objects that I decided to incorporate into a Monkey 'assemblage'. Fun stuff. Hope you enjoy. I photographed two versions of this. Will post the 2nd one tomorrow.

Daily Monkey Time!

Today's Monkey is a 3"X5" scratchboard by Ampersand Art. http://www.ampersandart.com/ What can I say? It's a happy monkey, with a halo, with little red diamonds on the vest....

I stopped by Wally Workman Gallery www.wallyworkmangallery.com and dropped off 4 more 5"X7" scratchboards. Will post photos of those later.

Austin is dark and rainy today. Just what we needed.

Square Monkey

Here is a small departure in the Daily Monkey series...Monkey with a Square Head! This one is a small (3"X5") scratchboard. http://www.ampersandart.com/. I'll probably add some red to the hat, shirt and dots but I wanted to get this one up and out. Had lots of fun doing this one. Reminds me a bit of some Mad magazine characters...not that I really ever read this mag...well, maybe once or twice in my youth! Anyhow, I keep pulling Monkeys out of my head and hands so I'm going to keep it up until 1. I become so incredibly bored with them and myself I run screaming down the dirt road like a crazy woman or 2. All y'all become so sick of this you beg me, for the love of god, just give it up already! In either case, sorry, forgive me,I'll probably just keep making these.

Morning Monkey

I sketched this out quickly this morning. Pen and ink and markers on paper. Measures 4"X5". Funny little Monkey Girl/Queen with a red tie. I usually think of my Monkeys as males...don't know why, I just do, and they just are. Decided to put some boobs on this one. Probably a result of me having a mamogram this morning!

Have a new 5"X7" scratchboard to work on. New dog face for some folks I met at my neighbors house a few weeks ago. Love this dog face, can't wait to get started on it. But first I have to take care of some business, go to the gym and go to the Art House at the Jones Center www.arthousetexas.org. fundraiser artist party tonight. I donate several pieces of art to this every year. I enjoy seeing what other artists do with the 5X7 format.

Monkey or Not?

This Monkey is an odd one...not really sure if it looks like a monkey. You tell me...kind of looks more like a lion. But hey, I'm in charge of the monkeys here, so I'm going to say, "it's a monkey damn it!!" It's pen and ink, and prismacolor markers on acid free board, measures 3"X5".

Plumbing job in San Antonio is done...my pipes held water. What more can I ask for? That's a very good thing indeed. Now, back to the art studio!

Monkey With A Bow Tie

My Daily Monkey today is a 5"X7" Scratchboard. Product is made by Ampersand Art http://www.ampersandart.com/ Not sure it's finished yet, but thought I'd put it up here anyway. The color on it is acrylic paint. I haven't sprayed it with Krylon Workable Fix yet...waiting to see if I need to do something else to it. I'll take this to Wally Workman Gallery when it's framed. http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/

Spent most of the day repiping the plumbing in a friends little rental property in San Antonio. A 'handyman' he had hired did just about everything wrong. I really don't understand how people can say they know how to do something, mess it up completely, still ask for payment and then leave it messed up and unfinished. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I did that. One more day doing that and then back to the artwork. Whew.

Monkey Day

Here is today's little monkey. Measures 4"X5" on paper, ink with prismacolor markers.

Good day here in the little house on the prairie. Lots of outdoor chores, big thunder clouds this afternoon...no rain though.

Monkey Scratch

New day, new monkey. I scratched this out yesterday while doing my demo at Jerry's. Finished it up today. It's one of the sample boards provided by Ampersand Art. http://www.ampersandart.com/ Measures 3"X5".

Had a pleasant Sunday...lunch with friends at El Sol E La Luna and then to the Blanton Museum to see the 'Birth of the Cool' exhibit before it leaves. All good in this part of the world.

Daily Monkey Scratch

Here is a not so great photo of my most recent Monkey scratchboard. I had just sprayed it with workable fixative so there was a bit of a glare. I worked on this while watching tv last night, then put the paint on it today during the demonstration at Jerry's. It's kind of based on the 'flying monkey' idea...only it's not flying but it does have wings! It's a 5"X7" Ampersand Art Clayboard Black http://www.ampersandart.com/

Scratchboard Demo Jerry's Artarama

Here are some shots from the scratchboard demo I did today at Jerry's Artarama. Had a total of 10 folks who dropped by and tried their hands at scratchin'. Several stayed almost the whole 3 hours. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and they went home with multiple pieces of art. What more can you ask for? I learned a lot from watching all as they had their own style and interpretation. I love scratchboard and I'm doing my best to convert people!

More Scratchboards

These are the other 3 scratchboards I dropped off at Wally Workman Gallery yesterday. http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/

Monkeys in Space

This is a 5"X7" scratchboard 'Space Monkey #1'. Just dropped this off to Wally Workman Gallery http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/. I had a commission to do a monkey in space theme and so I googled monkeys in space. Unbelievable what we did to these poor monkeys (and other animals...Russia sent up several dogs). This piece was inspired by a photo of a monkey looking like he/she was not very happy about being wrapped up and strapped into a rocket!

Today I will run by Ampersand Art http://www.ampersandart.com/ and pick up supplies for tomorrow's free demonstration at Jerry's Artarama Austin, TX. I love going to the factory, it's fascinating how they make their products.

Nice cool wind blowing this morning. Record high temps predicted for today. Time to go to the gym and sweat!

Gearing up for group show at Dahlia Woods Gallery http://www.dahliawoodsgallery.com/ Dallas, TX.

Monkey, monkey, monkey

Another day, another monkey. I'm going to stop counting because I've already screwed that up...I'm not sure it even makes a difference. The goal is to do a monkey a day for a year. So I'll do around 365 of them...more or less, probably more. The monkey of the day is a combo of pen and ink, marker and colored pencil on a 3"X5" acid free board.

Just dropped off 4 more 5"X7" scratchboards to Wally Workman Gallery http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/ because she sold 4. Amazing. 28 of these types of pieces have sold there since January. I originally made 12 for the group show 'A Grand Affair' and now here I am 4 mos. later still churning them out. Love it. Glad to collect the checks too.

Life is good here in LindaLand.

Don't forget the Free demonstration at Jerry's Artarama 0n I-35 here in Austin Saturday from 12-3. I've arranged to have free samples and tools for scratching etc..thanks to Ampersand Art. http://www.ampersandart.com/ Have I mentioned how much I love these folks and their products?

Daily Monkey Scratch

I just realized I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. Was I worried I would have a hard time making daily monkeys? Yes. Are those worries foolish? Yes. As I was putting monkey #7 image into the folder on my computer, I looked at this blog and realized I'm only on #6 today. So it's a daily monkey to you, but more monkeys are popping out of me than I care to say!

This is a larger scratchboard from Ampersand Art (11"X14") http://www.ampersandart.com/ It is based on a photo I took of a monkey carved into the arms on a chair. The color, the background etc is all out of my head. I stamped X's and O'x on the red body part. Why? I don't even know, except to say it seemed like a good idea at the time. And it was, I like it a lot.

I'm delivering 4 more 5"X7" scratchboards to Wally Workman Gallery today. http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/ She keeps selling and selling them. I'm a happy, happy scratching gal.

Scratchboard demo at Jerry's Artarama on I-35 in Austin this Saturday from 12-3..Free. Please help me convert the world to the wonders of scratchboard!

Monkey Day Again!

Monkey #6. Colorful and strange...if anything this project is causing me to use more color. And that's a good thing. This is a 4"X5" pen and ink, prismacolor markers on acid free board.

I find myself for the most part,sticking with the black and white scratchboard, inserting some red or blue now and then. Speaking of scratchboard...just talked with Ampersand Art folks this morning about getting my samples and tools for the free demonstration at the Austin Jerry's Artarama this Saturday from 12-3. If you are in town come on out. We all had a great time at the last one. Love their product. It's the best black scratchboard I've ever used. I'm hoping to get a gig working with them on demo's around the country. We'll see what happens. I was amazed at how much I enjoyed teaching folks at the last demo. Who would'a thunk it?

Today I climbed a magnolia tree (like a monkey) and cut out some dead branches and put them on the burn pile. Nice breeze blowing out here in the country. Not too ungodly hot yet...but soon it will be!

Monkey a day keeps me smiling

Monkey #5. Plain old pencil on plain old sketch book page. Paper is 8.5"X11" image is centered on page and measures around 5"X6". From a photo I found somewhere on the web. "Pencil Monkey on Paper" is the name I guess. Beautiful cool (unusual for here) morning in Central Texas.

Don't forget my free scratchboard demo this Sat. from 12-3 at Jerry's Artarama in Austin TX.

Happy Monkey, Blue Eyed Monkey

Just dropped these two 5"X7" scratchboard drawings at http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/. Since they are both monkeys I will count them in the 'daily monkey'...and yet, wait, there is more. I have a pencil drawing to post tomorrow. So I guess this one is 'twice daily monkey'. Will I ever run out of monkey inspiration? Could I possibly get tired of monkey drawing? We shall see. In the meantime, a monkey a day makes me happy!

Daily Monkey

Monkey day #4. This is a smaller monkey on acid free board. Measures 3"X5". Mostly Prismacolor magic markers and pen and ink. Looks like Boo Boo the bear to me. Cartoony. Well, I'm thinking the next one needs to be a little more realistic...just to show I can indeed draw from nature! Beautiful day to be in Central Texas...warm, with hint of rain. I'm a happy monkey!

Daily Monkey

Number 3 in my new daily monkey series. 4"X5" acid free art board with prismacolor magic markers. I knocked this out pretty quickly...but then realized it was pretty dark, so I added my favorite white gel pen on top. I love the way the color shifts and changes when I spray it with Krylon workable fix.(my most used finishing spray) Well, three down, a boatload of monkeys to go.

Next Saturday from 12-3pm (May 9th) is my free Scratchboard Demonstration at Jerry's Artarama here in Austin TX. Last one I did was a success, everyone who showed up enjoyed themselves and walked away with a little piece of art!

Song Bird and Royal Black Cat

Just so you don't think I've gone over the top or around the bend with the monkey thing...here are 2 new scratchboard drawings just delivered to Wally Workman Gallery here in Austin, TX. http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/

These are both kind of new image types for me. 'Royal Black Cat' and 'Song Bird Time' were both inspired by a couple of old ads from a vintage magazine I had in the studio. The Gallery is selling these 5"X7" pieces like crazy. I am a happy scratching gal! Need to scratch out 3-4 more in the next few days.

New Day, New Monkey! Daily Monkey Project

Here is a new monkey for you. It's prismacolor magic markers on a 4"x5" acid free board. Not sure if this monkey is singing or screaming...I prefer to believe singing! Hope you enjoy. Keep watching for a new monkey every day. I will also add some scratchboard info along the way so I don't go 'monkey crazy'!