m mason painting notes

What makes you stop?

2011-07-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

Just a short note. I've been working away on paper pieces for the Give Me That Dog project. I have more great stories to paint, but I also feel that I need to do some larger canvas pieces. After the Carnegie Art Center show, I came to realize that my wonderful Safari Van was not only great for hauling dogs to the lake ...it was also my way to transport large paintings. Once the van became a "clunker" I was forced to trade it in. I got a great Honda with amazing gas mileage so that we can travel back and forth to KC without too much cost...but I could not haul large paintings...so I stopped creating them. It's very difficult to find a van although pick up trucks are every where. ....just not the best vehicle to move art around. I'm now sure that I will be finding some van that runs well even if it doesn't look great! In anticipation of this event, I'm starting work on some larger canvas pieces. Stay tuned!

Give Me That Dog project Continues

2011-06-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

I caught myself rounding a corner yesterday when I reviewed all of the great stories and photos that people sent to me upon my request. The first 10 paintings and stories were in a show in Leavenworth, Kansas and visitors really enjoyed the work. Hopefully the stories will encourage others to rescue a dog when a chance comes their way!
Now I have time to get started on the yet to be painted stories. I'm thinking of using a smaller paper format and possibly drawing the stories rather than painting. I hope the drawings will capture the essence of the story in much the same way the paintings have. I'll be sure to post some here on my blog when I get started!
In addition, we have a book with the stories and illustrations that have been completed. Find it at http://www.Bellacompany.com

dog story auction

2011-06-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

Give Me That Dog show at the Carnegie Art Center in Leavenworth was good. Folks really enjoyed reading the great stories I received from fans. I hope the stories and paintings give folks the courage that the story writers had in just pulling a dog out of a "ditch" and into their hearts and homes!
Some of those paintings are being auctioned off on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/BellaandCompany
If you like my work, you might take a look!

Yard Work and art work

2011-06-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

Spring is such a wild and unpredictable time on the planet. This spring is no exception. Here in Weston, sandbags are being filled in anticipation of the rising Missouri river which, in turn, causes some local creeks to overflow their banks. We live up the hill from the flood plain so our home is not in much danger. Even though I credit myself for the flowers in our back yard, mother nature has her hand in that too. Warm sunny days mixed with cold rain days has really made the difference! All the work we have completed in the past four years seems to have made a difference. Even though we have four dogs, they very dutifully follow the paths I make for them! I'm sometimes tempted to return to my flower painting years. I gave it a try with a few small watercolors, but felt like I was just repeating myself...so, I'm headed back to dog stories I've received but haven't started yet. June 12,2011

spring cleaning

2011-04-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

I've moved some of the larger stretched canvases to the Carnegie Arts Center for my show in May, so I've had space to really repaint and reorganize my studio. With the help of a good friend, I've added a wall so I can hang more work. Of course I had to move everything in the studio from one location to another and then back again. When I get in this re-organizing mood, it's tempting to toss a lot of art....and I have tossed some! It's difficult to imagine how my work will end up when I'm no longer here. What if anything will someone do with it and will it have any value in the future? It will certainly be a collection for someone to figure out! UMB bank in Kansas City, Mo has given me some great guidance in organizing my art, and a place where my art might be stored for some future interest. I'm hopeful that some distant relative might not only take an interest, but also benefit in some way from my work.
The current paper work for my new show has been interrupted by my urge to get this studio cleaned up and reorganized, but I think it's been worth it.

getting organized!!

2011-03-24T09:45:00.000-07:00

I've been working away on some of the many great stories I received from dog rescuers. I have about 10 paintings completed so far. This morning I sat at my desk for two hours just sorting through all of the many great stories I haven't even had time to get started on yet!...Several folks submitted a story on my blog, but did not send photos by mail or e-mail...Dogs names:Peanut, and
Tess. If this applies...send me photos ....bellaandcompany@kc.rr.com

It takes a village...

2011-03-09T14:22:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it takes a village. This painting was inspired by a story sent to me by group of women who decided to rescue some feral dogs from their cardboard box home on the edge of town. They did lots of planning and plotting to capture this wild group, but they were successful in their venture and all the dogs found new real homes.

A Painting a day

2011-03-09T14:06:00.001-08:00

I seem to be pretty good at setting goals that are so far out there...I then fear that I might not reach the goal. Of course, I'm writing about painting goals....not life goals...although painting is now back in the center of my life. We are experimenting with an I-photo book to see how it comes out before we get too far down the road with this project. Even though that program has some limitations and probably was really designed for weddings, anniversaries, and reunions, it seems affordable and a pretty good program to work with.
I'm just posting a couple of paintings here instead of the story that will accompany the painting. Dog lovers have sent me some truly amazing, heart breaking and heart warming stories. I may have found the project to last me a life time!

Story of Buddy

2011-02-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

We had just arrived at an event for a newly established rescue group when I saw him. We were already volunteers at two local shelters when we stumbled across this new start up rescue group and offered to assist. I was struggling with the loss of my sweet, but difficult shepherd/dobe mix that we had fostered for 15 years because we couldn’t find a home to take him!

We weren’t out of the car yet when I spotted Buddy. Without thinking, I said, “I want that dog!”

We didn’t need another dog, but Buddy had other ideas. We spent the day together and then had to say goodbye, as hard as it was to leave him. We weren’t home an hour when the rescue group called and asked us to come pick him up! He was busting out of crates and clawing through doors. Buddy had already bonded with us! We fostered Bud and took him to many events. He was a crowd pleaser due to his antics and a head turner due to his size and stunningly handsome good looks. After a few weeks, we adopted him and he is the biggest, goofiest, happiest full of life dog anyone would ever meet. He’s known as the giant cartoon character, but please don’t tell him that. He thinks he’s a lap dog. In addition, he’s well named. He truly is the buddy of everyone he meets.

Give Me that Dog project step 2

2011-02-03T13:26:00.000-08:00

Wow, have I received some great stories and photos from folks who responded to our request! I've had some difficulty keeping pictures and stories straight, but I think I've got a handle on it now. I am rewriting stories and beginning to make some small drawings for paintings. The stories are amazing and inspiring. In a world that is a little dark and definitely more than a little cold these days, my heart and hands are warmed and I'm ready to get painting soon. I'll post paintings from time to time so that those who enjoy my work can take a peak at the progress.

reminder

2011-01-31T14:05:00.000-08:00

Cold icy snow is on its way kind of day, but I've been warmed by so many great dog rescue stories and photos! I should have underlined that 250 word deal somehow to keep my editing job to a minimum! But, I plunge on. Those who have posted comments on my blog need to remember to send me a photo that is clearly identified with your name! how do those folks who work in shelters keep track of everyone?

Great Stories incoming!!!

2011-01-31T09:21:00.000-08:00

Finally some great stories coming our way with pictures too. I have selected some of the stories to create paintings from...I'll save some stories and photos for a later project. I will attempt to send rewrites to the people who have submitted stories. The paintings that have resulted from my request will be exhibited for sale at the Carnegie Arts Center in Leavenworth, Kansas. The show is in May. We also hope to publish a small soft cover book. Part of the funds earned from the show and the book will be donated to a local shelter, and of course, part of the proceeds will go to the Arts Center for their continued support of artists like me! Thank you for the stories and the pictures.

2011-01-25T12:41:00.000-08:00

I haven't received any great stories yet, but Helen is contributing stories in the meantime. Two days ago, I thought she was on death row. She wouldn't get up, eat, or respond to me at all. But, today she's back! A trip to the emergency room on a cold and snowy Sunday and several days of close observation and she's back. Her life always has seemed to be one lived on the edge! More about that later. For now, a couple of paintings about her and my assurance that she is always by my side or at least close by. Since we adopted her 4 years ago from a shelter, she has had the amazing ability to fall apart and recover in record time.

Rescue Dog Stories

2011-01-20T13:34:00.000-08:00

I'm looking for more stories like this and some photos too so I can create some illustrations and put together a small paper back book called:

Give Me that Dog!

here is an example of what I might be looking for:

I visit the local shelter as often as possible to find out who is up for adoption. You never know when someone might be looking for a particular dog!

That’s how I met Luna. She banged around her cage like some crazed beast. After several visits, I’d had enough. I said, “Give Me that dog! “and drove her home.

The pack accepted her and we all adjusted to the third dog pretty well.

Luna got healthy pretty quickly, but she did have one problem….she had severe separation anxiety. I usually took her with me on sales calls and to the office where I worked. After Luna had been with us for about a month, I took a chance and left the three dogs for an hour to run an errand. When I returned, I was greeted by three stalwart dogs waiting anxiously for me to appreciate or go ballistic over the deconstruction of a rattan footstool they had accomplished in my absence.

I walked past them and continued with the day as if nothing had happened. I guess the shunning worked, because that was the last piece of furniture they ever deconstructed. I could now travel without my constant companion if I chose to.

New years promises

2011-01-09T13:47:00.000-08:00

My 2011 resolution: to spend 3 hours in my studio every day....I could just sit and do nothing but watch the clock....or, I could work on something! So far, I've found all kinds of things to do....and one of those things is painting!!! yahoo!
In order to have some new pieces for my show at the Carnegie Arts Center in Leavenworth, Kansas in May, I'm hoping to have many pieces to choose from. As I complete work, I'll post them here on my blog.
I've been looking for a bloggers art group that I can join so I can get some visibility! any suggestions? I spent my three hours yesterday just trying to answer that question, but didn't find exactly what I was looking for.

Terrier in the Moonlight

2010-09-07T18:47:00.001-07:00

I received some paintings back from the Strecker Nelson Gallery in Manhattan, Ks. and it was like the return of old friends. I painted these works earlier this summer. I'd forgotten all of this work was available. I'm happy to post this and more on my blog. I was feeling that I had run out of work to show!

Aug.31, 2010

2010-08-31T13:54:00.000-07:00

Last day of August. Time to enjoy the yard. Painting today,"Small Summer Yard Dogs"...acrylic on paper. Also a couple of small canvases started. Canvas always takes more time...

2010-08-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

One more completed paper piece. I'm taking the weekend off to start working on some canvases for a show coming in 2011!

2010-08-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

Attempting a painting a day. No one is holding me accountable for a painting a day, but perhaps someone might. I certainly will. This painting caused me a restless night. I'm trying not to illustrate, but to paint. Creating Luna Toons has changed my focus, and now I'm trying to go back to my less illustrative self. This is a record of my attempt.

Work and Play

2010-08-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

Paper paintings continue. I've made a rule that I will do one painting on paper a day. I usually put painting at the end of the day because it seems more like play than work, although it certainly becomes work in the finishing stages...so I always feel that I "should" get everything else done and then paint...I'm trying to turn that around in my brain and get the "should" right! Aug.25,2010

works on paper

2010-08-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

I have been working on Luna Toons over the summer. Dog owners order a Luna Toon on my website or from The Company of Dogs catalog and then send photos of their dog and I create a Luna Toon for them. Drawing Toons has taken me away from my painting time and also given me a "literal" mind set. I've been feeling a little "restricted" in espression, but at last I'm back at the easel creating some paintings . Some of these paintings will be available in Salt Lake City at the La Caille at the Save a Stray Soiree on Oct.9th.
I've just started down this path using some submitted photos of rescued dogs, and already my mind feels better not having to illustrate, but just have fun painting! Some of the paintings shown will be auctioned in Salt Lake, other paintings will be auctioned on our bellacompany face book page or displayed in a 2011 show I'm working on at the Carnegie Art Center in Leavenworth, KS

lessons from Helen

2010-06-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

Helen, our blind dog, has led me down many paths since we rescued her 3 years ago...despair, anger, joy, quiet reverence, etc. In an attempt to get her more settled, I recently have been working with Linda Farris who had some great observations about Helen. She suggested using Urban Wolf dog food to get Helen's stomach and general disposition on some kind of even keel. OK, it's more work than I would normally spend on feeding dogs (Helen is 1 of 4 dogs), and I can't just treat one dog without treating all!! So, I'm mixing this soupy goop about every other day...but...
The results have been fairly remarkable. I believe that Helen always had a stomach ache because of the grain in her normal food...
She's still a tough customer, but she's feeling better, her coat is soft and silky. She is much more patient with my inconsistencies. She still knows when 4:30 feeding time is, and she's pretty rigid about her daily routine. Her internal clock is impeccable! In addition, she's lost some weight!
Our next move is to an Evo no grain dry food to see if that will work. We are keeping the habit of adding water to all the dogs dishes to make sure kibble is very moist and soft before they eat.
Wish me luck!

A Chair for Helen

2010-05-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

I've been hand writing a journal about Helen, our blind dog, and some of the challenges of adopting a dog with special needs. Maybe someone will find this diary of my "Helen" observations interesting and maybe even helpful. Maybe some reader will just decide to rescue a dog that presents some interesting challenges!
Helen always likes to climb up in chairs, so I'm calling this blog "A Chair for Helen" 05/16/10
(The photo was taken this past winter )

Ever More Complicated

2010-01-22T09:48:00.000-08:00

I should not complain about the complications of technology. But, it seems like once you learn one technical item or way of communicating, it's replaced by another! I am currently working somewhat diligently on my Bellacompany Face Book to get some friends and then launch art auctions for some of my many paper pieces. You can check out our progress by going to http://www.bellacompany.com. With any luck at all there will be a link on the front page that works! I do plan to share any reasonable income from auctions with local shelters. It is a work in progress, but I will get there.
The generous spirit of Luna guides me.

We did get a new pup for Noodle (our terrier) as she had no playmate when Luna left us. Why do people get puppies when there are so many grown up dogs needing homes? It's a mystery. However, she is my first puppy since Bella and, we got her for free from a local Weston person. She's an education in why adopting grown up dogs is such a good idea and, at the same time, she has brought smiles and laughs into our lives. And, she's added some exercise routines to our day
On another note: The Artist Coalition of KC is having their annual auction on Feb. 13th. Lots of great art to see and buy.

public art

2009-10-05T14:35:00.000-07:00

I've been too busy to blog...
running Bellacompany.com, getting my art ready for Open Studios and life itself leaves me little time to sit and even seem intelligent.

We lost our big white dog, Luna. We found a puppy to keep Noodle company and to brighten our spirits too. That's working well.
This last weekend, I visited Salt Lake City to participate in a No More Homeless Pets of Utah fund raiser. What an inspiring event it was. These Utah volunteers are highly organized and put on a spectacular event. The best part was that people got to bring their dogs with them. It was great fun and I drew quite a few Luna Toons to help their cause. At the same time, I wonder what the world would look like if we all got some dogs and cats and took good care of them so that all of these devoted highly skilled volunteers could use their nohow to help with other causes on this planet! Being responsible for ones pets seems like a no brainer...but I'm somehow not quite right about that!

Blogging student

2009-08-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

I saw " Julie and Julia" yesterday, and in addition to being a wonderful film to watch, I learned about blogging! So, if I could improve my blogging efforts and my cooking efforts, I'd really be on the path to heaven on earth!

Our household doesn't spend as much time as we could on creating great meals. The excuse is the same old same old...not enough time. But, we do have time if we plan ahead. Now that our kitchen is remodeled we don't have too many excuses for not eating well. There are lots of great vegetarian websites with wonderful recipes, so I'm on the path. ...even if the approach is a little slow. By the way, I'd love some suggestions for vegetarian recipe sites!

As far as my blog subject matter, I just need to keep on the art path. (Being "discovered" is a whole other arena.) What's enjoyable is viewing my own comments and paintings as I move along to each new painting. Hopefully I can learn to slow down my multi tasking gene (way over active), and sharpen my "stay in one place" gene some. This blog began as a way to organize my art, so I'm feeling pretty good about showing new work as well as a few pieces of work from 1960....and all of the stages in between then and now.

The artist coalition event, Artists Sudios: KC, will be happening in Oct. My studio will be open Saturday, Oct. 24th from 10-4 and Sunday, Oct. 25th from 12-4...or by appointment.

July of my Dreams

2009-07-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if it has ever been like spring in Missouri
...in the middle of July! A chance to not only get the garden into some kind of mid summer order (without a heat stroke)...but also, to paint. I'm sketching outside and painting in my studio.
Getting ready for Open Studios at the end of October.
I hope to have many new dog/garden paintings for visitors to enjoy and buy too!

When I first moved to Missouri, I was thrilled to paint flowers. There were so many in summer! I was raised in Seattle where flowers were abundant, so, in some ways, it was like returning home.
July 19, 2009

Spring to Summer

2009-06-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

Spring is such a great and difficult time. It's nature's "e" ride at Disney World! Great to be on, but I also realize I'm already missing the contemplation of a winter day. Everything beckons! The yard gardening, the longer dog walk, the necessary home repairs. Like the fall season before winter, spring seems like the perfect time to get too many things done before summer. I did take several days away from other work to go out in the yard and draw some flowers. My studio is next to the garden so it's amazingly easy to get back in the cool and bug free environment to work on some small mixed media paintings! Enjoy.
ps. roof project done, new porch working, kitchen remodel turning the corner to completion!
In addition, I need to be working more in my studio as the Kansas City Artist Coalition is gearing up for another Open Studios event this fall in mid October! Folks visiting my studio in Weston will probably want to see some new work! More about that event later

learning about blogging

2009-06-08T07:05:00.001-07:00

I'm trying to teach my old brain some new tricks, but it takes a lot of patience! Big Shamu is my only friend out in the universe of Blogging and she really keeps up with me somehow. So, now I can't figure out how to e-mail her, or where to make a comment! ...hence this blog!
Meanwhile, we are undergoing a kitchen redesign and on Wed. we're having our back porch and essential entrance to our backyard repaired. We seem to have nerves of steel when it comes to home repair, but our dog Helen who came to us with macular degeneration is not so understanding of each change in any part of her day, so the back porch repair is going to be traumatic as the back porch is her way to the backyard.
Top photo is our yard in early spring. We've had a cool rainy spring, so even the day lillies haven't bloomed yet! 2nd photo is of Helen relaxing in the backyard last summer.

Forget Spring

2009-06-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

There's so much to do in the spring, that I almost don't feel like doing anything! Some time need to walk the dogs swiftly past all the new insects waiting for me on the path, some time for the garden which grows everything good and not so good in abundance, some time for public events to attend here in Weston, Bella Company activities including shipping and ordering shirts more this time of year (not complaining), a kitchen remodel in our house (which includes all kinds of activities you don't think of when you decide to have the work done (don't ask how many times we have been to Home Depot the past 3 weeks!),...
Do any of these activities have any connection with each other? it's like walking from movie to movie during the day. A Myspace and Facebook development project that is fun and confusing all at the same time has taken another time chunk to, but hopefully it's making my brain bigger too!
And painting...how about painting? I did manage to paint a small mixed media of this great pink poppy that's been showing off in our garden...and I have managed a couple of Luna Toons cartoons for customers. I hope to remember all of this when it's middle of winter and there is not much to do but paint!
And finally I "figure out" how to upload a photo of the hypnotic poppy! I must write more often and also find some other garden artists to share photos with...My next adventure begins!

trying something new

2009-05-07T14:15:00.000-07:00

I'm getting ready to participate in a local "Woof to Weston" event. It's a fund raiser for a new rescue site in the north land. The name of the organizing group is NAWS. Mother nature is always cooking up some surprise, so having t-shirts and caps on a table just right in the great out of doors is risky. I've decided to start a new side line...called LunaToons. For a few bucks, I will cartoon individual dogs at the event! All will be simple. I love drawing dogs, so I don't know why I've never thought of doing this before. Who knows if it will be popular or if my drawings will be good enough...but I'm willing to give it a shot and I'll have some dog illustrations to bring home and put on a t-shirt or a card, so either way, I'll end up with something.
I practiced doing a toon of my neighbors dog this AM to see what I'd need to set up and how long it would take me to make a reasonable "toon"...I'm going to draw our dogs so I'll have some more samples of my work so folks will know what they're in for if they say yes. I guess I'm trying to make my life a little more simple and fun. Hope this is the right direction to go. I'll find out soon enough! the drawings shown are just a couple for practice run to get a feel for how things would work and to see if I had enough supplies with me to work with. The illustrations are of Tucker (bichon dog) and the girls, Star and Hannah...little long coated chihuahuas.

Revising the revision

2009-03-01T13:58:00.000-08:00

Re-vision...maybe what painting is. After following Gainsbourgh down
the path of 4 paintings, I learned some...but I revised the last three
paintings back to M.Mason (me). It was a long journey and lots of
paint, but it's nice to be back.

Lessons from Gainsborough

2009-02-09T13:23:00.000-08:00

I haven't done a very good job of posting anything on my blog spot, but I'm beginning the new year with some hope of working into this at least weekly. I enjoy reading my own blogs! It reminds me of thoughts I've had or processes that I've begun that I may not be totally conscious of!
I've discovered a local woman who collects vintage clothing. I was intrigued by the idea of making some paintings about her and her dogs in the Gainsborough style I played with in creating Blue Boy last summer. I'm dedicated to making three paintings using that style and form. I find it difficult to write all my processes because I'm not sure really what the process involves. For instance, last night I came to my studio to work on a pet portrait commission. However, I found it necessary to straighten up my bookshelf and then I found it necessary to rearrange my studio and put my sketch books in some kind of order. Finally, an hour later, I could settle down and work on a sketch. I'm not sure what this process is, but I just need to allow the rearrangement time as part of my time to paint.
Posted is my 2nd painting in this series called Walk in Winter

Keeping Records Straight

2008-06-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

It seems obvious now, now that I've poured over photos, digital images, and unrecorded work, that an artist should be constantly recording, filing, and perhaps destroying old work. I found duplication X 3 and then no records too. My choice could be to dump it all and start over or dump most and keep working. After trying out an online record keeping program, I decided, with the help of the Kansas City Artist Coalition, to keep just an actual copy of each painting in actual notebooks. Old info is sometimes hard to find, but if I have the painting, I can photograph it and write comments if necessary. I've been working on this project for 4 months. My work has been packed up, unpacked, packed, moved, stored, lost and found. It's a discovery of myself and how I've spent many hours of my life. It is the most personal of collections. The first painting in my "collection" is my city scape painted when I was a senior in High School. The painting got a Golden Key award in Seattle in 1956. I hope to get the work cleaned up and added to artbymariemason.com soon.