Images

In the Studio

Image | | Renee Decator
L- underpainting with collage, Center- developing the composition R- more progress

Things are gearing back up, I’m happy to say. Fifth Avenue Art Gallery, the artist co-op I’m part of is re-opening next week. I’m back to teaching my painting class (following safe distancing guidelines). I’m finding less time to be in the studio… which is the downside to returning to “normal”. I’ve been so inspired lately with lots of time for reflection and to take a creative deep breath. Since January I’ve started 9 new painting; some with lots of collage and others that are mostly paint. It’s exciting to get to the studio and explore the progress, then choose what I will work on that day.

This mangrove piece is from a photo I took while on a boat ride down the Indian River. I manipulated the colors on my computer till I had an exciting palette then used that image as a reference. I’m hoping to finish this one up within the next couple of visits.

Thanks for taking a look!

Time for Inspiration

Image | | Renee Decator

Well… it’s day 11 or maybe 9, #social distancing #covid19 #saferathome.

I’ve been really inspired since the beginning of the year. 2020! Time to get some amazing artwork done. Then… a pandemic? It’s a challenging time for sure. Artists need an audience. Most sales are in person and with outdoor festivals cancelled and my gallery temporarily closed to the public, it’s easy to get discouraged. Then inspiration prods and I get down to my studio and get busy! I Love the quote attributed to Picasso; “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” I’m trying to make that my motto everyday.

I LOVE what I’m blessed to do… hope you will enjoy! Be safe, wash your hands, no fear!

mangroves with some collage, work in progress
abstracted tropical, work in progress

Other Work

I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to explore my passions through art. From a large series of sea turtles and tropical subjects to my jungle of a backyard. Prints are available and original art is listed.

ROADTRIP, IMPRESSIONS OF A MEMORY

  • After Sunset, from the Roadtrip Series
  • Aunt Betty’s House, from the Roadtrip Series, prints available
  • My Mother Sister Was a Cow, from my Roadtrip Series. Prints available
  • Big Blue Chair with striped floor
  • Big Blue Chair with Bird
  • Big Blue Chair w/round pillow
  • Cruel Punishment, from the Roadtrip Series, prints available
  • Flying down the Mountain
  • Lord of the Weens
  • Gnarly but Nice, prints available
  • Outhouse Guard, from my Roadtrip Series prints available
  • Snowball in the Garde
  • Spike
  • Stitches, from my Road Trip series. prints available
  • The Ween
Most of the animal pieces are from “Creature Comforts” a two-artist show exploring the significance of how we relate to animals… family stories.
  • Flying Solo, triptych 36″x60″ on canvas $1400
  • Golden, prints available
  • Turtle Watch, prints available
  • Turtle Parade, prints available
  • Swirl, prints available
  • Surface, Surface: Two turtles swim to the surface among a school of orange fish and sunbeams. This image was used for the 2010 Images; Festival of the Arts poster and t-shirt.
  • Plunge, prints available
  • Pink Ladies
  • Pie in the Sky
  • The Other Side of the Fence, 32″x48″ framed $900
  • Ono Mala, (beautiful garden)
  • On the Reef, (my first turtle painting, it’s been featured on magazine covers and posters. prints available
  • Off Elbow Cay, prints available
  • noun: a short composition of a romantic or dreamy character suggestive of night, typically for piano. ART: a picture of a night scene. from my girl series. Layers of torn paper with a luminescent glow. prints available
  • Nani Mala (lush garden) prints available
  • My Florida
  • Morning Koi
  • More Love, from a local scene, grafiti on the railroad bridge over Crane Creek in Melbourne, Fl prints available
  • Lovely Day
  • Heliconia Garden
  • Chase, prints available
  • Champion of Birds
  • Claude & Nadine, Nadine…another long-winded tale; tree gossip Claude called it. He was annoyed with the constant chatter, suspicious of her so called “reliable sources”.
  • Berry Treasure
  • Berry Pickers, 30″x60″
  • Banana Garden
  • Banana and Bamboo
  • 5 Koi, prints available
Click on image to enlarge

Dreams & Wishes, Birds & Fishes

Dreams and wishes…
My dad was a dreamer. He forever had plans and projects. He was hard-working from a young age, having grown up in Appalachia during the depression. A man of great fortitude. I loved being a part of his dreams.

He was always a vegetable gardener like his mother before him. If he wasn’t planting or harvesting, he was making a list of the seeds he wanted to order for next season. I still remember the last order we made together. When he died at 94 and 3/4 and his home and property were sold, I realized how special those times in the garden together had been. I had an overwhelming desire to find my “garden” in this world. After an extensive search, and numerous circumstances that were blessings in disguise, my husband and I found 3 acres of property and we are going to have a farm of sorts. I’m looking forward to spending time with my dad and grandmother in my garden.

Dreams and Wishes, Birds and Fishes will showcase the artwork that has been inspired by all the blessings in my life and the big dreams that make each day exciting and full of possibilities. I wanted this collection to be dreamy and full of surprises, with love and hope and lots of fun 2D and 3D art that expresses the wonders that I encounter each day.’

Some of the art created for Dreams & Wishes, Birds & Fishes

Small Assemblages

  • blue 6×6″ $95
  • Where the Alligators Live, 5×7”, $110
  • shelter 6×6″ $95
  • 7 Stars 8×8″ $125
  • bowl of moths 5×7″ $95
  • bowl of stars, 5×7″ $95
  • golden moon 6×6″ sold
  • Original 4×6” on paper
  • original 4×6” on paper
  • Original 4×6”. On paper
  • original 4×6” on paper
  • original 4×6” on paper
  • The Art of Losing, 6″x6″ sold
  • SMALL WORKS
    Thin Blue Line, sold
  • Original 4×6” on paper
  • Original 4×6” on paper
  • blue wheel 5×7″ sold
  • blue and black, 6×6″ sold
  • Sold

Small artworks created using bits and pieces of painted papers, found objects, fine art papers and sometimes beeswax.

NEW WORK

My Very Latest Art

ORIGINAL ARTWORK THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR SALE IS PRICED INDIVIDUALLY AS LISTED. ALL MY WORK IS AVAILABLE IN FINE ART GICLEE REPRODUCTIONS. PRICE IS DETERMINED BY SIZE.

TO INQUIRE OR MAKE A PURCHASE CONTACT ME AT: DECATJR@AOL.COM

Small Works; beeswax and all

Image | | Renee Decator

Driving is a must for the annual “art-camp” adventure. The morning I was leaving my husband was helping load my suitcase and tiny cooler only to discover very little space was left due to the amount of art supplies I had packed the day before… I told him that if for some reason I didn’t make it to the mountains that I could always open an art supply store instead. I drive a Suburban. It holds a lot!

I’m happy to report I did arrive safely for my week of fresh mountain air and creativity! Several days I spent 14 hours in the studio… and by day 3 the creative juices were flowing. I tend to work on a smaller scale when I’m out of my studio due to both space restraints and a desire to experiment with new materials, techniques and ideas.

blue wheel
7 Stars 8×8″ $125
blue and black, 6×6″ sold

Some themes definitely repeat in my artwork over the years… I LOVE moon and stars, hearts and vessels. All of the small artworks I did at my workshop use beeswax as either the final layer or as the “glue” in multiple layers. Working with beeswax requires specific techniques for both safety and archival properties. I love challenges and problem solving in my art so I love working with beeswax.

the art of losing
golden moon 6×6″ sold
shelter 6×6″ $95

I brought most of my materials back with me… I shared some things with my fellow artists and as always with workshops, lots of creative information and inspiration is exchanged. Most artists love to share techniques and resources… there is so much to try!

bowl of moths 5×7″ $95
bowl of stars, 5×7″ $95
bowl of butterflies, 5×7″ $95

 

 

 

Preparing for Inspired Results

Image | | Renee Decator

I LOVE to escape into creativity!  it’s why I named my studio “artescape ” Lol. Escape…  Lately… Not a, chance!  I’m sitting at my studio this morning, oh so briefly, wondering when in the world I’m going to spend 3, 4 hours… the whole day, making art! Everything (nothing fun) lately has prevented that from occurring. Sometime or another, life is overwhelming, everything sort of stinks…  Reflecting back to the 80’s of my young adulthood… it’s like Roseanne Roseannadanna says: “like I always say, it’s always something, if it’s not one thing it’s another “.

I’ve decided to embrace preparing for those glorious opportunities to be free,  to be creative! So I’ve been painting papers, again. It’s amazing how much painted paper one needs to create a large mixed media piece, like a cow or a goat or a sea turtle. A lot! So when I don’t have time to fully escape, I enjoy playing around with my art stuff. Paint, rollers, stencils and paper, along with a fairly clean table (sometimes the floor) and I’m happy.  It’s wonderful to turn on some music and just start painting with nothing particular in mind.

Like a lot of creative people, I’m messy… so every so often, when I’m spending too much time looking for the one thing I need but can’t find,  I stop what I’m doing and organize to some degree. This is another way of preparing for future creative opportunities. I find that “thing” that I saved or a scrap of something I painted a while back, and ooooh, it leads to spotting another bit of something that is so perfectly paired with the first thing and so it goes. I start little piles of gathered items and eventually, they will be used together to create a piece of art, like the 2 square pieces in the photo below. (Works in progress) Just imagining the possibilities… I feel better already. Preparing can be creative and often times more enjoyable than finishing a piece of art. Soon, very soon, you’ll find me at my studio :)

 

Pinky and Sophie

Image | | Renee Decator

They didn’t stick around long… Pinky and Sophie both sold at the Melbourne Art Festival last weekend. It was fun to work with the animal theme… especially farm animals. I also loved the bright and cheerful color palette and plan to do a few more pieces to add to the “collection”.

Chickens are a favorite… such personalities, and oh my, thinking donkey :) such sweet faces. Thanks to all for your encouragement and nice comments! Parting with art is not always easy, but seeing other people excited and smiling about my art makes all the effort worthwhile.