Bird In A Cage . . .

© cathy bueti

Here's hoping you had a good holiday weekend.  Thank you to all the supportive words on my last post.  I go back to the doctor today to see how the wound is progressing.  I have to say that I do believe I may be experiencing a bit of post traumatic stress from my cancer surgery 10 years ago.  The way I am reacting to this whole arm cyst thing is abnormal given what I have been through already.  I spent most of the weekend in a state of "high anxiety"  as my grandma liked to call it.  

I had not been in photoshop for awhile so the other day I decided to try a photo I had shared on here recently of a seagull and wondered how it would look if I used some of my scribbled artwork for a digital collage.  I layered the scribbles over the bird photo and inverted the image.  I kinda like it.  Maybe because I feel like I am trapped lately.

Scribbles and Bandages . . .

As I write this post I am hoping that all of you are having a better weekend than I am.  Most of you know already about my arm cyst debacle and that I had surgery 4 weeks ago.  I had my stitches removed 2 weeks ago and yesterday I ended up at the doctors office for an emergency visit. I am so thankful that she was home for the holiday weekend.  Long story short my incision became abscessed.   So she needed to clean it out (OUCH!!)  pack it and bandage it.  Today I was able to remove the bandage and packing.  I am so exhausted tonite from complete anxiety.  I was shaking as I was removing it and was freaked out at the open hole in my arm.  I have begun 10 days of a super duper antibiotic different than the one I took 3 months ago when this BS first began.  I go back to see her Tuesday find out where we are at.  

So, now that I got that out of the way, I wanted to share this scribbled page I did for Alisa Burke's abstract class.  I found a face in this one as you can see and went back in with my markers to bring it out.  Looks pretty weird and I hesitated sharing it.  Maybe I am not crazy about this one because it feels like my state of mind lately!  lol

xo

See Yourself . . .

"see yourself as you are"
mixed media on 5x7 watercolor paper
©cathy bueti


I was inspired by the colors used in the landscape I shared in my last post.  Its something about reds and blues lately that draws me in.  I usually stick with neutrals or earth tones.  Nothing too bold.  Maybe I need the bold colors to help get my angst out.  I may have overscribbled on this one but I don't care.  It is still my favorite part of the process when I work on these pieces.

The question mark in the top left appeared in the red paint all on its own as I was fingerpainting.  I brought it out more with black marker and the white out pen.  The words I wrote around the circle say "see  yourself as you are".  And at one point I do recall scribbling "who are you?"  Its really how I am feeling these days.  Not knowing who I am anymore.

I had a truly difficult day yesterday full of anxiety and tears.  It was mentally as well as physically exhausting.  My arm is not healing as well as I had hoped.  More anxiety over this issue that is now in 3 months of development.  I just want some relief, mentally that is.  I was on the phone yesterday with the doc again and she calmed me down.  I may end up seeing her again on Tuesday.  Apparently I have a deep stitch that may be working its way out when it should be dissolving.  I guess it doesn't like me.  I will try not to obsess over it this weekend but she assured me that she will be available by phone if I need her.  At least I have a really patient and nice doctor as I continue to deal with this arm issue.

Hope you have a great holiday weekend.  Here it will be quiet, hubby is working for the next 3 days. I will be on my own trying to stay calm and keep anxiety at bay.

I am sharing this piece today at Paint Party Friday.

Its always fun over there!  Come and join us.
xo

Arm Update and A Landscape . . .

I don't know about you but things out in the universe feel unsettled to me.  I have always been very intuitive and more so lately.  The energy feels weird.  And when I feel this way it makes me anxious.  It seems like alot of people around me are going through tough stuff and I know that kind of stuff happens all the time but lately it seems as though its all at once.  I am having lots of trouble keeping myself in the moment.  

My arm saga continues.  I went to the doctor yesterday to have her check my incision site.  For the past few days it has been getting red and I felt a lump forming.  I have never been a good healer from scars but this redness worried me.  Its not looking as good as it had last week.  So she said it was ok, just a bit inflamed.  The lump apparently is scar tissue.  I was shocked to hear that it would be forming so fast.  The stitches just came out 2 weeks ago.  I am now 4 weeks post surgery.  Anyway she said if there is any pain that develops to come in otherwise I will go back in 3 weeks for her to see how it is progressing.  So needless to say my anxiety is increasing with regards to that situation.  

In the meanwhile I have been watching a new DVD by artist David Dunlop.  He is an amazing landscape painter and I love the technique he uses.  Very different than how I have painted landscape before. He does mostly oil painting but he had a lesson dvd on acrylics.   I am following along with the lesson painting the same scene as he in the same color palette.  I feel like it is the best way for me to learn.  This piece started out with a textured background using alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue.  A new color for me is cerulean blue which I have used for the sky.  I really am liking the color and see me using in in other abstract pieces.  

I was reminded how much more difficult it is for me to paint something this structured after doing so much abstract mixed media.  I am not sure how far I will go with this as I got pretty frustrated.  lol  The perfectionist in me goes to town and it isn't good!  If I continue with this piece I will be sure to post its progress. 

Hope you have been up to lots of good things!

xo

The Girl With Scribbled Hair . . . Sunday Sketches

I grabbed a simple lined notebook the other day and wanted to try a quirky face. I am a fan of Mindy Lacefield at Tims Sally and that is what inspired this girl.  Mindy is offering an online class called "Paint Your Story".  I have been thinking about taking it. 

The only words that came to me as I finished her were "she knows".  I shared this pic with a friend and she asked me "what does she know?" I didn't have an answer.  I guess she is keeping it to herself for now!  And since I am in full on scribble mode these days I added them to her hair.  lol  

Something about being simple that is fun.  

Sharing today at Sunday Sketches

xo

Addicted To Scribbles . . . New Clayboard Art

 

"Amazing Soul" 

9x12 mixed media on clayboard 

available on Etsy  

Its hard to believe another Friday is upon us.  The weeks fly by so darn fast these days  I cannot seem to keep up.  Haven't done much painting except this new one on the other piece of clayboard I had purchased to try.  

 I did keep to a similar color palette for this piece but added in some blue. I used a combo of water color crayons mixed with gesso and also some  acrylics.  The clayboard really soaks everything up.  But it is easy to wipe away while it is still damp.  

Nothing to me is feeling complete these days without scribbles.  I don't know what it is about it but I feel I just have to add it.  Maybe it is the intuitiveness of the process that I am drawn to.  When I grab that sharpie or white out pen everything stops, my mind shuts off and sometimes I don't even know what I am writing or scribbling it happens so fast.  I am trying not to question but to just go with what feels right.  

I am sharing this today at Paint Party Friday.  

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!  

xo

New Watercolor And A Winner!! :)

"Love forever"
watercolors, crayon, marker on 5x7 watercolor paper
©cathy bueti

I have not played with my watercolor paints in a while and I had been wanting to try the crayon resist technique.  Of course anything I can scribble on makes me smile too.  lol

I used just two colors here with the white crayon and finished it off with black sharpie.  Watercolor is more difficult for me to control so I cannot imagine ever painting something tight and neat with it!  As long as I can be messy I am good.

Now for the giveway I posted last week. .  . Since only 2 people entered I have decided to give one set of 2 prints to each person!!  So you both win!!

Congrats to Rona and Debbie!!