Jewcy Feature

Well, it's official. My spring show, "Ancient Illuminations," will be at Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment in late April. I was interviewed for Jewcy about the project. See the article here.


Below are a few samples of the series. Prints of the completed pieces can be purchased here.

Lowe Mill Show

I’ve been working on a new series that you’ll be able to see this spring at Lowe Mill. More details to come! 

Valley Planet, January Edition

Check out my painting on the cover of this month's Valley Planet!

Dr. Seuss Class Art Project

This week, my students will re-imagine classic paintings in the style of Dr. Seuss. Here is my example, based on Picasso's "The Old Guitarist."

Alabama Flying Machine

When you were a kid, did you ever try to build a flying machine? 

Did you want to? 

Almost everyone I know has a story that involves falling from a tree, tall rock or rooftop during a failed flying experiment... But what if it had worked? If it had happened in Alabama, I suspect it would have looked something like this: 

"Alabama Flying Machine" 15x22, Watercolor on 140 lb. Arches

Remember James and the Giant Peach? Roald Dahl describes the characters being carried through the sky by birds as the glow worm provides light. If  Roald Dahl had grown up in the Deep South, the birds would have been june bugs and the glow worm would have been fireflies in a Mason jar. Oops, I mean "lightning bugs." Oh, and the travelers would never leave the ground without the supplies to make sweet, iced tea to celebrate a successful flight.

Here is the process for creating "Alabama Flying Machine."

First, I organize my ideas with quick sketches in my sketchbook. 

Now I draw my design on some 140 lb. Arches watercolor paper. I actually want some of these pencil lines to show, so I don't bother to draw lightly. 

This is different from my other watercolor paintings. This time, I only want to pour the background. I mask out the bugs and the flying machine and pour the paint.

After removing the drawing gum, I'm ready to use paints and watercolor pencils to fill in the images. 

Painting the june bugs is my favorite part. I have lots of childhood memories involving these critters.

I continue to add details...

And now I'm ready to fly! 

The original of this painting is currently available for sale. Contact me at starrwd@gmail.com to discuss your purchase or order this image on laptop skins, shirts, travel mugs, totes or phone cases from Redbubble. 

 

Commissioned Work Special

To encourage early orders for the upcoming holiday season, through November 14, commissioned art will be 20% off the standard $1.60 per square inch. Sizes from 5x7 to 22x30 available. Email starrwd@gmail.com for details. 

Watercolor. 22x30

U.S. Space and Rocket Center Winter Masquerade Ball

Earlier this month, I was selected as one of ten artists to create a mask for the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Winter Masquerade Ball. The masks are being auctioned off to support STEM education programs and projects such as refurbishing the A-12 Blackbird stealth aircraft at the center.

For this creation, my signature poured color technique takes on a slight steampunk feel with gears, eye loupes and watch parts. It's reminiscent of the work I did for Mary Crowell's Acolytes of the Machine cover.

Your winning bid buys the mask and admission to the ball (tickets are $100).

  Place your bid!

Curious about what the other masks look like? 

Illuminations in Poured Color: Paintings by Starr Weems

February 27 - April 11, 2014

Birmingham Public Library 4th Floor Gallery

Opening reception, March 2, 2014 3:00-5:00

Free watercolor pouring class on March 30. Space is limited.

starrwd@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/starrweems

Bless You and Keep You

"Bless You and Keep You" 22x30 Watercolor on 140 lb. paper. Sold

For more information, contact starrwd@gmail.com

1st Step: 

First pour: 

Second pour:

Third pour:

Removing masking:

With masking gone:

After touch ups:

"Separation" Watercolor on 140 lb. European-milled, cotton rag paper. 11x16

Autism in Art

"Pieces" Transparent watercolor on 140 lb. European-milled, cotton rag paper. 11x14

Original currently available. $246 Prints can be purchased through Fine Art America. 

Contact starrwd@gmail.com for inquiries or connect with me on Facebook. 

Commissioning Art

Happy client Janet Stubblefield holding a portrait of her granddaughter. "Samantha Grace" 14x18

Mothers Day, graduations, weddings and baby showers... spring is a popular time to commission paintings for gifts and keepsakes. An artist's schedule fills up quickly during this season! Each year, I find myself having to turn people away, so don't wait until the last minute to look for a super special gift. Now is the time to think about commissioning a piece of art for spring or summer, so contact me at starrwd@gmail.com to reserve your painting. Information below.

Value based on $1.60 per square inch, plus tax (if applicable) and shipping. 

5x7  $56

8x10 $128

11x15 $264

16x20 $512

15x22 $528

20x26 $832

22x30 $1056

To see more work, visit my website at www.StarrWeems.com or connect with me on Facebook or Instagram. 

Painting Memories: Ball, Kerr, Atlas and Mason Jars

My childhood memories are full of colorful jars. 

Vibrant jars of produce cooled on my great-grandmother's kitchen shelves. Jars brimming with colored water cast red, blue and yellow shadows on our butcher block. My grandmother's button collection sparkled at me through a jar on her dresser. Sometimes on warm summer evenings, I fell asleep by the light of a Mason jar shimmering with fireflies.

I guess you could say that I like to paint jars because it gives me something to store my memories in.  Below are some of  my watercolor paintings that depict the colorful jars of my childhood. 

"July's Harvest" 22x15 

"Alabama Summer Day" 8x10 Collection of Alexandra Ragland.

"Labyrinth" 12x15

"Night Lights" 22x30

"Plans for Pancakes" 22x30

"Summer Magic" 20x26

"Summer Sparkles" 20x26

"Small Harvest" 5x7

"Little Night Lights" 5x7

"Mint Julep" 5x7

For information on purchasing prints, originals or to commission a work, contact me at starrwd@gmail.com or connect with me on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/starrweems.