Rachel Steely : Indianapolis Artist : Art Class Instructor for Painting, Photography » Art in Progress http://www.rachelsteely.com The goals of this blog and portfolio are to network and share ideas concerning my art. I plan to present what I am reading and thinking into the void of the Internet and hope a response will resound out. Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:12:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Captured through a lens: III, Sunrise over Mountains and Lake http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/captured-through-a-lens-iii-sunrise-over-mountains-and-lake/ http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/captured-through-a-lens-iii-sunrise-over-mountains-and-lake/#comments Mon, 24 May 2010 14:30:32 +0000 Rachel http://www.rachelsteely.com/?p=652 4501_Med_Dark_Light_1_web

]]> http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/captured-through-a-lens-iii-sunrise-over-mountains-and-lake/feed/ 0 Captured through a lens: II http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/captured-through-a-lens-ii/ http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/captured-through-a-lens-ii/#comments Mon, 17 May 2010 13:34:09 +0000 Rachel http://www.rachelsteely.com/?p=648 4628_6_7_tonemapped Kootenay National Park_B&W_web

]]> http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/captured-through-a-lens-ii/feed/ 0 Captured through a lens: I, Clouds http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/captured-through-a-lens-i/ http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/captured-through-a-lens-i/#comments Wed, 12 May 2010 13:30:36 +0000 Rachel http://www.rachelsteely.com/?p=644 4446_B&W_Clouds_web

An expanse of clouds, July 2009.

]]> http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/captured-through-a-lens-i/feed/ 0 Beauty of Process or Anatomy of a Butterfly http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/beauty-of-process-or-anatomy-of-a-butterfly/ http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/beauty-of-process-or-anatomy-of-a-butterfly/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:52:25 +0000 Rachel http://www.rachelsteely.com/?p=464 There is something beautiful about the process of forming of ideas, thoughts, and art.  At a gallery or museum one can sometimes see the development of a series by viewing its parts, but this process is still fairly opaque with only a showing of the final work. Thankfully artist blogs are full of studies showing their process.  Below I have a series of images showing a glimpse of my process as I created three of my recent butterfly paintings.

Inspiration in Munich

About a year ago, in the Alte Pinakothek, in Munich, Germany,I saw a series of paint sketches by Rubens.  They were quick unfinished swirls of color full of energy.  I began thinking about how some walk by the sketches and see nothing but mere studies, while others eagerly take in how they visually represent the artist working out issues of form and narrative.

Images of my process

Like so many things, my painting process changes. The process of how I paint is in constant transition and the next three in the series have been painted in a slightly different way, although the result will be similar.

Images of the stages of painting #4-6 of my Butterfly series:

A sturdy frame to stretch the canvas on (via 2x8s and lattice) A hand-stretched and primed canvas. Laying out the motion Outlining the wings patterns Adding detail An increase in detail and color. Adding a touch of value Adding a touch of value Definining the stages Finishing with touches of value, color and form The finished product. ]]> http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/beauty-of-process-or-anatomy-of-a-butterfly/feed/ 0 Trio of Painted Lady Butterflies http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/trio-of-painted-lady-butterflies/ http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/trio-of-painted-lady-butterflies/#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:00:38 +0000 Rachel http://www.rachelsteely.com/?p=369 butterfly-tryptic1

These three paintings are inspired by the painted lady butterfly.  I have entitled them temporarily (left to right): After Thistles, Fluttering Cosmopolitan, and Cynthesis.  These titles have their roots in scientific classification, common association, and/or metaphors.  Ideas and intellectual direction for the entire butterfly series are still taking shape.

What do you think? Please offer me feedback and take a look at the first three paintings in this series.  At present their potential titles are Flight of the Painted Lady, Vanessa Made Up, and Seeing Past by Present.

]]> http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/trio-of-painted-lady-butterflies/feed/ 2 New Paintings: Butterflies http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/new-paintings-butterflies/ http://www.rachelsteely.com/blog/new-paintings-butterflies/#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:21:33 +0000 Rachel http://www.rachelsteely.com/?p=145 Recently, I finished the first three experimental paintings of Butterflies.  Last autumn, I raised 12 Painted Lady Butterflies.  I studied these beautiful little creatures as they developed from larvae, to caterpillars, to cocoons, to butterflies. Unfortunately I missed their emergence from their cocoons because they came out over a holiday weekend when I happened to be visiting relatives.  Please look at the first three paintings and let me know which one(s) you like the best!

Oil painting with animation showing motion over time.

Oil painting with animation showing motion over time.

oil painting with animation of the wings

oil painting with animation of the wings

watercolor where you can see through the top layer of time/ The view of the present is obscured by the views of the past

watercolor where you can see through the top layer of time/ The view of the present is obscured by the views of the past

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