Colorful Art on White Walls
I’ve been working with color palette’s that look good on white walls. I am loving the look of Neutral colors with pops of warm hues like pink, orange, reds.
Lessons from Mary Oliver (American Poet 1935 - 2019)
12 × 16 Acrylic on Canvas by Donna Skonning 2025
“The most regretful people on earth are those who felt the call to creative work, who felt their own creative power restive and uprising, and gave it neither power nor time.”
Creative work needs solitude. It needs concentration, without interruptions. It needs the whole sky to fly in, and no eyes watching until it comes to that certainty which it aspires to, but does not necessarily hate atone. Privacy then. A place apart - peace, to chew on pencils, to scribble and erase, and scribble again.
By Mary Oliver “Of Power and Time” 2016 page 23
Do I like my own Art?
Lately, I’ve had the rare gift of time to paint. I stepped away from working and teaching for a year to explore what I truly enjoy creating. I’ve come to believe that discovering a subject is the most difficult—and most essential—part of the creative process. Free from the need to please others, I now sit in my studio with the freedom to follow my own instincts and curiosities. Three months in, this is what has emerged. I have a hard time focusing on one medium. I enjoy both acrylic and oil painting and the outcome from each is so different, and beautiful in their own way. Therefore, this process will take me twice as long.
“A Self Portrait”. Acrylic and Wax on canvas
The first month I dedicated my time to acrylic painting. The fast drying time and ability to layer easily causes my style to become more abstract. I tend to focus on geometric shapes and apply techniques to edges that pulls me away from reality. I totally enjoy the process. It reminds me of doodling in high school. The paintbrush moves without any thought of representation.
“House on Water” Acrylic and Wax on Canvas
The past two months have been dedicated to oil painting. First thing that I notice is that clean up is so much easier. No mucky water to dump! No worry about clogged drains (even though I no longer dump water in drain, I pour it over paper towel in my studio garbage can and throw it away). My tendency with oil paining is blurred edges, and more organic shapes. This technique produces a more realistic image. Also the drying time is so much longer that I have difficulty with any spontaneous layering. I also enjoy the process very much.
“Cottage Road” Oil on Canvas
I am not sure where I will go from here, time will tell I suppose. There is something that I have noticed through the process. While decorating my new house, I am having a hard time deciding which type of paintings that I want to hang on my walls. What will blend nicely with the color of my walls and also be something that I want to look at on a daily basis. My walls are painted white to allow for colorful artwork. Now, I am not sure if I want colorful artwork or minimal colors. I enjoy painting with color, does it not match my taste for decorating? Every finished painting is propped up against the wall for a while to see how it fits. I have not been able to commit to one yet. I am leaning toward a more realistic oil painting on my white walls. Good thing I have the time to figure it all out!
Why Do Humans Create?
Venus of Willendorf
Humans create because it’s woven into who we are—biologically, emotionally, and culturally.
At a basic level, creation is how we make sense of the world. When we paint, write, build, or design, we’re translating experience into form. It’s a way of saying “I was here, this mattered.”
Emotionally, creation helps us process feelings that don’t fit neatly into words—joy, grief, wonder, confusion. Making something external gives shape to what’s internal, which can be grounding, healing, or exhilarating.
Socially and culturally, humans create to connect. Art, stories, tools, rituals, and symbols allow us to communicate across time and space. Creation builds identity—personal and collective—and preserves memory.
There’s also a biological drive: our brains are wired for problem-solving, pattern-making, and play. Creating releases dopamine, reinforces learning, and gives us a sense of agency. It’s not just expression; it’s survival and adaptation.
On a deeper level, many people create to reach beyond themselves—to touch beauty, meaning, legacy, or the sacred. Creation becomes a conversation with something larger than the self.
In short, humans create because it is how we:
understand
feel
connect
survive
and seek meaning
For artists especially, creating isn’t optional—it’s a form of breathing.
Changing Spaces…Learning to create in a new space.
In October I moved from a studio that I worked in for 2o years. It was a small basement studio that was well lit and had 3 good sized bay windows. The heated cement floors kept me comfortable and unafraid of damaging the floors with paint.
Basement Studio in La Grange
My new Space, in which I call a painters loft, is the loft above my lake house living room. The room has large picture windows looking out onto the Lake. The windows allow afternoon sunlight which fills the room with a warm light on sunny days. On cloudy days I paint in a dull gray light which I am finding challenging but I am learning to deal with it. My second challenge is to not splatter paint on my new LVT floors or flick paint over the railing onto my white couch. I’m learning that the view influences my everyday painting. The rectangle picture windows are a built-in picture frame that continues to show up in my studies. It will be fun to see what this studio inspires as the months continue.
Painters Loft at Diamond Lake
Living Room at Diamond Lake
Talking About Negative Space
Spring Session Started today in my Abstract Class at LGAL. Tonight we examined the use of Negative Space in Abstract. The exercise included using lines on the palm of your hand to prompt a composition. Then we focused on leaving negative space in specific areas of the composition. Here are some examples…
Palm Reading Exercise by Carol Barrett
Color Palette: White, Black, Magenta, Burnt Siena, Oxide yellow, China Marker
End of Session Wednesday Night Acrylic Class at La Grange Art League.
This 6 weeks went by fast. Time flies by when we are painting. Thanks to Eduardo for Providing the music on our last night. Back to work in 2 weeks. Have a nice Break.
Sunday in Studio
It all begins with an idea.
Working on Abstract Landscapes today. Lesson Learned “Keep it Simple”
“Road to Fremont” Acrylic on Canvas 8” x 10”
Student Show at La Grange Art League May 2025
It all begins with an idea.
Looking forward to curating the student show next month. Every year LGAL celebrates our students with a judged show in the month of May. The show is open to the public. I have 3 painting classes showing this year. Can’t wait to see all of their hard work and beautiful paintings hanging in the gallery. Reception Saturday May 3rd at 1pm.
La Grange Art League, 122 Calendar Ave. La Grange Illinois. Open 10-5pm Tuesday - Saturday.
Friday Afternoon Oil Painting class LGAL
Paint Filled Saturday
It all begins with an idea.
Long Studio Day. Having fun figuring it out.
Acrylic and China Marker on Canvas Paper
Art Fills My Days
It all begins with an idea.
Practicing the art of Abstract and Mark making in my Beginner Acrylic Class at La Grange Art League.
Students Create their own patterns and colors in this two and a half hour class. Completing works in a batch painting style helps to give each painting some time to breathe. See some examples of the finished paintings.