I'm a 60 year old artist in Memphis, Tennessee. I spend my life trying to catch stories, give them form, color and light, then send back out into the world.
I’ve spent the last month recovering from my Open Studio and spending a lot of time outside. I’ve also been adjusting to my new progressive lens glasses. I’ve had them for almost 2 weeks now, so I decided to try a detailed drawing from a from a few references online. It’s still a little difficult, but I’m getting used to the process. I drew a wing:
The paint coverage is uneven, but I’m pleased with it and my progress on the progressives. I’m ready to start painting again.
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This blog is brought to you by the generosity of people who support me on Patreon , buy my art, and who support me in so many different ways.
Cards and prints on some of my art is available on Redbubble.
It’s been a month now since my Open Studio. I was pretty wiped out afterwards, then I got a sinus infection. I also got my first pair of transition glasses and they are hard to adjust to — though I’m glad to have my distance vision back. I now need help with close up, middle and distance vision, therefore transion lenses. Thanks to all the people who support me by buying my art and my Patreon supporters. I couldn’t have afforded the glasses without you.
I’ve been spending a lot of my creative energy on my front porch garden. I have a friend who has planted a garden beside the porch. Both gardens are doing well. We’ve had a very wet spring and summer, and the plants are loving it.
The garden by the porchAn explosion of phloxHibiscus enjoying it’s place on the porchGeranium and snapdragonCannas all abloomThe elephant ears are trying to take over the whole garden, but the hardy hibiscus is blooming anyway
I planted morning glory and moonflowers late, but they are slowly catching up with the other plants on the porch. I was dismayed to find something chewing on their leaves, though. If you grow plants, you have to tolerate some insect damage. Of course, you also get bees, butterflies and the occasional humming bird.
I investigated the leaves, looking for caterpillars of some sort to pick off the plants. The first leaf I turned over, had a little mound of gold on it. It looked like the leaf had grown three golden warts. Shiny gold, too, like jewelry. I tried to get my camera out but the little mound disentangled itself, revealed wings, then flew away. They were small and shaped like little lady bugs
After my astonishment abated, I looked for more golden bugs, but there were no more. That was a few days ago. I check every morning and afternoon, but no more gold.
The beetle has a clear shell around it, so that’s where the tortoise part of the name comes from, but I didn’t see it. The ones I saw just looked golden. They are prismatic, like many birds and beetles. Sometimes they are orange and can turn brown.
Anyway, I was so delighted by my discovery, I got out my visual journal and tried to paint the magical little creatures.
An actual leaf on the left and a watercolor sketch on the right.
I don’t think my metallic paint shows how shiny they are, or their actual size — everything I do is a little (or a lot) out of proportion. But it was good for me to spend some time drawing and contemplating the range of nature’s web of life. And these little bits of flying gold aren’t a real danger to the plant. They take a few nibbles and move on.
Although, I do hope I get to see them again. I know they are still visiting. Holey leaves tell me so.
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This blog is brought to you by the generosity of people who support me on Patreon , buy my art, and who support me in so many different ways.
Cards and prints on some of my art is available on Redbubble.
I’ve been working hard the last few weeks getting ready for an Open Studio Art Show and Sale. My son and I showed our work. I’m lucky that in my studio/apartment I have lots of wall space and good light.
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Tim and I did well. We started hanging the work a week before the show, and since it was at my apartment, the clean up can go at a slow pace, too. We had a few difficulties but it mostly went smoothly. The show couldn’t have happened without Tim’s ability to hang the show, since I can barely stand now:
A friend provided the food, another provided the wine. We’re so fortunate to have good friends who act also as patrons in various ways. The show could not have happened without them.
We had a good turn out, too. The other nice thing about having it at my studio, is that it felt intimate, a party, with time to talk to friends and people interested in our art.
Frankd Robinson, a beloved Memphis artist, came and I got to give him the painting he inspired.
Frankd and Joy with the painting How Does Your Garden Grow?Frankd Robinson
In the week before the show I got two small pieces finished. For this piece, I had been attempting to paint a tiger lily the day before. I also had an encounter with someone who was complaining a lot about his life. From where I sat, I felt he had it pretty good — home, health, loved-ones. I believe that sometimes your troubles are what bring out your strengths and resilience. I literally woke up with this image in my head:
Our Crosses to Bear by Joy Murray 8×10″
Earlier I worked on a series of 5×7″ paintings called Peer Pressure:
Peer Pressure by Joy Murra
My intention was to do individual faces, but then the idea of them all reacting to one another emerged. So I did one more stand alone piece on a different theme:
Let Your Dreams Guide You, 5×7″ by Joy Murray
In the next week, I’ll add the new pieces from the show to Redbubble for cards and prints.
Thanks to everyone who came to the show, and to those of you who encourage me from afar.
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Thanks for reading my post. If you like it share it. If you find a typo, please let me know and I’ll send you a thank-you postcard.
You can get prints and cards of some of my work on Redbubble. They also print my work on lots of other items, including phone skins, tote bags, shirts and journals:
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joy murray art~stories~life 