The Helium Burden Blog

I have started back at my other blog The Helium Burden with regular posts about my brain cancer diagnosis. I decided to share that blog here with you, my fellow artist and friends. I love dialogue and welcome it, so don't hesitate to share your thoughts and comments.

Here is the CaringBridge site my husband keeps updated.

Recently, I was approached local artist friends offered to put together a benefit to help Craig and I with medical expenses accruing from my recent diagnosis. I am overwhelmed, humbled by and grateful for the generosity of artists and volunteers who have committed to be a part of this act of service and sacrifice. The event will be on November 5th from 4 to 6 p.m. here in my town of Fredericksburg at my church, New City Fellowship. I am speechless, to be honest.

My hope and desire is to get back to the easel once radiation is over early October.

Until then, I have a few paintings left from the "Birds" show at FCCA if you would like one. As always I can work with you on payment.



"Sparrow"
5"x7" oil on panel
$300



"Black Swan"
5"x7" oil on panel
$300


"Osprey"
5"x7" oil on panel
$300



'Magpie"
5"x7" oil on panel
$300



"Dark Eyed Junco"
5"x7" oil on panel
$300



"Ruby Throated Hummingbird"
30"x24" oil on panel
$1200



"Osprey"
5"x7" oil on panel
$300



"Great Tit (UK)"
5"x7" oil on panel
$300


"Bald Eagle"
30"x24" oil on panel
$1200


"Cedar Waxwing"
5"x7" oil on panel
$300



"Hummingbird"
5"x7" oil on panel
$300

Artscape and "Birds"

"Artscape with Bill Harris" is now online. You can see the episode here.


The reception for "Birds" is this coming Friday, July 1 at 6 p.m. at FCCA.

Here are photos of installation.

Bird show and Artscape

The "Birds" show page is up on the FCCA website.

I have been varnishing paintings and staining frame wood. Most of the paintings are framed and ready. We hang on the 26th, so the work will be open to the public from then on. The reception is the following Friday, July 1st at 6 p.m.





I was on "Artscape with Bill Harris" last week. I will have the show online as soon as it is available, so stayed tuned.

Newton's Arrival

The portrait of Newton finally arrives home......


"Sir Isaac Newton" with Sir Isaac Newton and Kathleen.

On the easel....

Many thanks today to the almighty Sharpie......

On the easel and other things....

Paintings for the bird show are wrapping up. All the fine details are almost complete. I am beginning the framing, labeling and pricing along with a few other goodies. I do plan to have a drawing for one of the paintings. Yes, you have to attend the show to be entered.


"Bald Eagle"
30" x 24" oil on panel


"Peacock"
30" x 18" oil on panel


Sir Issac Newton was shipped home to Colorado yesterday. Kathleen says she will get a photo of him posing with his painting, which would be awesome....I am so proud of this painting. Thanks to her husband Dan for providing a great photograph. So often I get the old Polaroid shot indoors....almost impossible to work from....


"Sir Issac Newton"
20" x 16" oil on panel

Not much painting this week. We have dear friends who are being relocated, so Craig and I have committed to been spending with them weekly until they leave. I did do another study, though. If you have Facebook, I have a few up still available and add weekly. Any subject ideas for these?


"White Peacock"
5" x 5" oil on panel
$75 framed

"Overcoming the Seeds of Doubt" has been sold. I am so honored and humbled when someone spends their hard earned money on one of my paintings. You can read the narrative at the link.


"Overcoming the Seeds of Doubt"
18" x 24, oil on canvas

Update...

Last painting for the bird show...


"Peacock" oil on panel, 36" x 18"

And a few studies....


"Swan" oil on panel, 5" x 5", $75 framed


"Cardinal" oil on panel, 5" x 5", SOLD


"Deer Study" oil on panel, 5" x 5"
$200

On the easel...in the sketchbook

sketchbook...


Peacock
oil on panel
18" x 36"


oil on panel....

New painting on the easel..

Peacock
oil on panel - 36" x 18"

Study Painting

Peacock Study
5" x 5"
oil on panel, $80
message me if you want it...

On the easel

On the easel.....

On the easel...

All the work for my FCCA bird show in July is about finished and then I will move on to varnishing, framing and getting all the details done. I am planning on having a drawing for one of the paintings. I just need to plan how I want to do it.



As that body of work wraps up I am beginning to shift focus back to New Mythology for the show in November. I have several paintings waiting to be completed and begun for the series, including the one at the bottom.

Etsy

New small oil paintings available on Etsy.


"Grackle"
oil on panel

Portrait of Newton...

Newton is done except for a few last touch ups.....
oil on panel 20" x 16"



...contact me at tracey@traceyclarke.com if you are interested in a portrait....

On the easel

Today I had physical therapy and I had my weekly Skype chat with mom, so I only worked about three hours. Tomorrow is Craig's RDO (off day) and unfortunately, we have to go to court because we were witnesses to in a case now going for a second round.....may or may not get to the easel.

Today's work......oil on pane, 30"x 24"....

Bald Eagle on the easel....

On the easel....

I picked up my paintings from the Small Wonders show at FCCA. Just a few days ago, Tufted Titmouse was sold online, so I called FCCA where the painting was hanging to let them know it was sold and they informed me it was already sold to someone who came into the gallery. So....sold the same painting twice to my surprise. Can you say "Paypal refund?"

Today on the easel....


Bald Eagle....


Newton....

On the easel

"Newton"

This is about half way finished. A few have asked about portraits since I started posting in progress images of Newt...if you are interested in a portrait of your dog, send me an email at tracey@traceyclarke.com.

On the easel....in the studio

My painting time is still rather effected by ongoing, but improving neck and shoulder issues. Still at two physical therapy appointments a week, so painting hours are still cut back to 15 to 20 or so hours a week. Twenty is a good productive painting week if it happens. Even as I sit here in front of the computer I can feel my neck begin to burn..fun times.

This afternoon there was a short stretch when I became unaware of my physical issue and realized that I had six paint brushes in my right hand and two in my left. This is a great sign of the rhythm of "being in" a painting. A nice change from squirming and adjusting to relieve the pain.

I have about twelve to thirteen paintings lined up for the next New Mythology show in November. About half are done and another half are either started with paint or in my mind. I have sold several of the series' paintings, so I have work to do, but I don't need to really start wrapping up actual painting until August or so. Let's see what sort of magic happens until then...the state of the studio today is a fantastic mess with paintings in various stages of completion.





"Newton" on the easel...coming along beautifully....


...and Reuben, my giant snoring dog....who is totally worthless, apparently.