Mary Kay Wilson 2012 Art Calendar Available

Mary Kay Wilson 2012 Art Calendar by MaryKayWilson
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"Rural Remnants of the San Fernando Valley" at La Galeria Gitana 11-19-11 through 12-24-11

"Matilija Poppy" 16" x 20" Watercolor & Acrylic on paper mounted on canvas

I am happy to be included in another show at La Galeria Gitana in San Fernando:

La Galeria Gitana

120 N. Maclay Avenue Ste. E

San Fernando, CA 91340

(818) 898-7708

Gallery Hours:

Tuesday - Saturday noon to 6 pm

The opening is next Saturday 11-19-11 from 6-10 pm.

Three of my paintings are in this exhibit, including Matilija Poppy. The director of the gallery, Karen Nichols, thought of me for this exhibit because of my painting "After the Rain" a watercolor of the orange tree in my backyard. As I contemplated other possible paintings that might fit the "Rural Remnants of the San Fernando Valley" theme of the show I asked friends and family "What could I paint that represents the rural San Fernando Valley? And it has to be something that I would paint..." I don't paint tractors or trucks... at least I haven't felt the need to do so yet. This was kind of a test, and only a few brave souls were willing to play with me. Brian suggested the Matilija Poppy, a native of the area. It was the perfect suggestion. I had an abundance of photographs of the poppies that I drove by daily each spring for the last few years. They spring up from nowhere and simply take over. They demand attention. I have wanted to paint them for awhile. I liked this particular composition with the chain link fence because it felt like a "rural remnant".

"Gaze" at The Happening Gallery through October 9th

Mary Kay's wall @ The Happening Gallery in Marina del Rey 

Visit Bob and friends through October 9th

Felix is my newest painting... I will post the process of his creation soon!

Press about the show in The Argonaut Newspaper, September 22, 2011

Hope to see you at The Happening Gallery on Saturday September 24th 6-9pm.

The exhibit includes six of my paintings.

Please RSVP to this event by emailing your name to:  info@TheHappeningGallery.com

The Happening Gallery
4047 Lincoln Blvd
Marina del Rey
CA 90292
310 305 ARTS (2787)

www.TheHappeningGallery.com

NEW HOURS
11-6pm Wed thru Sat
noon - 5 Sunday
Monday/Tuesday by appointment

Purple Flower Stage Ten

I wasn’t altogether happy with some of the background color… and the acrylic in that area was beginning to feel a little heavy to me. Luckily I had some of Daniel Smith’s new watercolor ground on hand. I used it to cover the offending area on the right hand side of the painting. Applying it was like priming with gesso but it promises to accept watercolor.

Purple Flower Stage Nine

After a long silence, I am back. I still am very excited about this painting but finishing it has been a challenge...
It is too busy. And while I truly love the red that I started with, I think it needed to be at least toned down. So I am back to using acrylic, trying to tie it all together.

Purple Flower Stage Eight

I've done a fair amount… still so much to do. The biggest challenge I am faced with at this point is adding the detail I want without making the painting just too busy. It has a lot going on. A lot of shapes and a lot of color. I am a color freak and I have a feeling that may become more and more apparent in future paintings.

Purple Flower Stage Seven

Despite my expressed desire to paint faster now that I am doing the watercolor part progress has slowed to a snails pace as I add layers of paint to the flower.

Purple Flowers Stage Six

I am also painting on a different paper than I normally use, Fabriano 140 lb cold press. I generally use Arches 140 lb cold press which I love. But since I was using the acrylic I wanted the paint to sit on top of the surface a little more. Worked well for the acrylic part. It is a little frustrating now that I am doing the layered watercolor stuff. I thought about painting the entire painting with acrylic but I have so much more control with watercolor… funny right? Most people think of it as so unforgiving. But it is what I know and love. I love the brushes and the paper.

Purple Flower Stage Five

Well, I did paint the background fast. And I really like it. Maybe a little too much as I am concerned about messing it up… not where you want to be when you are trying to explore & experiment.

Purple Flower Stage Four

Continuing to paint the background with acrylic.

Purple Flower Stage Three

Words of advice to experiment & explore play through my mind like a broken record. I decided to paint the “background” soft-focus areas with acrylic treated like watercolor. I have incorporated acrylic into several of my recent watercolors. But mainly to get flat even skies. I am not concerned about following the strict rules of transparent watercolor that have guided me in the past. But this painting is a departure. I wanted to paint the background wet-into-wet, something that I don’t do a lot with watercolor. I am more of a layer upon layer painter. But I really wanted this to be freer but with the colors very bright. I also want to paint faster!

Purple Flower Stage Two

The flower is from the garden at the Getty Museum. It is a small but lovely garden. It always inspires me. That was last summer. This summer the flowers were all over the place. It seemed to be a particularly abundant year. The jacaranda trees seemed to be in bloom longer this summer too. All the purple reminded me daily of my desire to paint this painting. But I was painting for another show… Finally got to it.