Pressure

Today's post is about pressure and how to (try) and work with it.

I have started a 30" x 48" collage/mixed media painting on canvas for my son and his wife for their new house.

 This painting will be a Christmas present so there's the time constraint.

  The size is dictated by the wall on which they would like this painting.

 The shape is not a friendly one for me as I prefer vertical or square.

 Then there is the colour of paint in the room itself which is a very dark mud colour. I don't mind the colour - it's the fact that it is dictating to me! (If you look at the left side of the canvas you can see the paint chip taped on).

All of these limitations have my mind in a knot!  I'm not feeling the creative juices flowing like they should be!!  What to do???

I have a big jar of Gesso.  I am not afraid to start over, and over, if need be.  After all, collage is about layering - right?! But I don't have time to do that!!!!

I have a first layer down and I don't really like much of it, but at least the white is gone.  Maybe I should re-introduce some white, or at least a cream colour.

 I know I am over-thinking this and that I should just get to the ping-pong table and get going on it.

It's too dark now - tomorrow morning!

Procrastination!  I can't let this happen!  Tomorrow I positively will get to it - I might make it better - it just may get worse - whatever happens I just have to work through it.

I can't resist a good puzzle!

Change

Change - sometimes good, sometimes not so good!  That's life though!

My favourite quote:

 "Life is Change, and to have Lived is to have Changed Often" - Goethe.

I was updating my little blog this morning, trying to make it better, and ended up losing my original design, which I liked!  I have been trying and trying and can't seem to recover the original.  I'm guessing I didn't save the template - My Bad!!!

Get Over It!  Move On!! Actually, I don't have a choice.

I can feel my blood pressure receding a bit now that I have faced this fact and I think I'm  ready to go about my day.

Just needed to vent!!

Have a Nice Day Out There  :)

Positive Reinforcement

The life of an artist, myself, as a part-time one at that,is a bumpy one. It seems a bit manic quite often!

There are highs such as having a successful show, which is always a treat. Another plus is having a particular piece turn out to be a gem after a fight most of the way through.

Such is the case for the last painting 'Connections' posted here a while back.  That one almost got gessoed over many times but I managed to pull through and be happy with the result.

It was entered into a juried show and I was very pleased to be accepted.  Working intuitively is always a guessing game and it is a good feeling to get affirmation.

The icing on the cake was an award!! In my 20 years of painting this is my second ribbon!  Juror's Choice Award!  Feels good - like a child, which is what I feel art does for me - brings me back to the simple pleasures of just doing.

That little high was followed by year one of a new studio tour - two days of nice comments and no sales, only cards.  The inevitable down side of the coin!

Next came the purge - days and days spent sorting through years of accumulation of art supplies and old works - what stays and what goes.

Now, is the starting over, again.  A big canvas awaits - 30" x 48". Colours have been chosen and I'm ready to get going on this one.

A theme of circles and spirals has always been popping up in my artwork.  I've accepted that this is the way it goes - ups and downs and starting over and over and over again.

I'm really looking forward to seeing this next one!

Determination

Today's writing is about determination.  This painting was started many months ago and had to wait to be finished until I had recovered firstly from the Christmas season; secondly from a concussion; thirdly from a frozen shoulder and rotator cuff tear and lastly from an incredibly hot few months which left my brain pretty much fried as far as any creative impulses were concerned.

My injuries have healed and the weather has cooled off resulting in a welcome spurt of energy yesterday and today.  This one is now as finished as it's going to be.  A coat of varnish remains to be added and then the final touch which is a float frame with a natural clear finish and black interior.

Many times I have wanted to get out the gesso and start over completely.  There is something to be said for sticking with something until it tells you to stop.  Working on an abstract painting with no pre-planning is like doing a difficult puzzle.The spark of accomplishment feels good and I'm now looking forward to the next challenge.

Hot! Hot! Hot!

30" x 30"

12" x 12"

Well my plan of posting more often has melted - my last post was almost 2 months ago - My Bad!!
My excuse is TOO HOT!  So far this summer I have been spending most of my time trying to stay cool and keep my plants alive watering constantly.  We are lucky to be living on a very large river and are able to pump river water for irrigation AND jump in to cool off.

The oppressive heat and humidity has taken it's toll on my brain and any creative thoughts have been very few and far between.  Yesterday I had a day to myself and in the cooler temperature I did manage to get a first layer done for a 30" x 30" collage piece. It's not talking to me yet but at least it has been started.  The smaller one at 12" x 12" is almost finished - just needs some more contrast and oomph!

It feels good to be creating again and I am hoping to get a day or two this week to continue.  I am working on getting my own "oomph" back too!!!

Perseverance

This painting is the third one in a little series of small test paintings for a new technique to add to my collage works.  All three were done on board and then matted and framed at 8" x 10" and this one at 10" x 12".

 I am happy with the outcome and am now working on two canvases at 12" x 12".  There will be more to come in progressively larger sizes.  The first one is done but I will wait and post them both up together.

It is getting easier for me to stick to a series for a while.  I've always gotten a little bored with the concept of the same theme but I am enjoying exploring an idea for a bit longer each time. 

The end result of a cohesive showing of works is a good reward for sticking it out!

New Works

Still working away with collage.  Drawing is starting to creep in.  These two are studies for larger ones to come.  I'm having fun!!!

Frustration

Today has been a very challenging day spent with my pile of scraps and handmade collage papers.  Trying to make a design out of  randomly ripped up pieces of paper is not an easy task and has proven to be a frustrating one this time.

As I chose my main colours and started out it seemed important to leave white spaces with pathways to the edges.  Now that I am almost at the boiling point trying to make that work my focus is about to change.

I was making decisions too soon and not leaving enough options open.  Tomorrow the white spaces will be obliterated - no biggie.

The decision making with this style of 'painting' has to be loose, tightening up only near the finish.  I was rushing these ones.

Maybe it was the music choice - mostly U2!  Tomorrow I will make a calmer choice and see what happens!!

Time to go for a walk and think about supper!

Time and Clutter

My topic for today is 'Clutter' and the idea began Friday morning when I started searching my house for my i-pod Shuffle. When it wasn't to be found in all the spots I thought I might have seen it last, the intense search began.  I looked in every drawer, closet, cupboard, shelf, basket, purse, jacket pocket etc. etc. and the more I looked the more intent I became on finding it.


While I was searching in my bedroom, I cleared out clothes from my dresser drawers and closet that I didn't like anymore.  In my art room I compiled  a box of art supplies, papers and canvases that I no longer needed. In the storage closet in the lower level I gathered two huge bags of clothes, shoes and purses as well as two 'mother of the groom' outfits from weddings 4 and 5 years ago.

Then I took a lunch break and while standing at the sink mixing my cottage cheese and apple I suddenly remembered where my Shuffle was!  There is a treadmill in the corner downstairs, facing the TV, with shoes and Shuffle at the ready just in case I actually want to use the machine.  Problem solved!

I took a drive  to town and delivered all the 'clutter' I had gathered to the Goodwill shop.  What a wonderful, euphoric feeling!

The subject of 'Time' came to mind - the fact that everyone always wants or thinks they 'need' more and the fact that we all have all the time that there is.

My project is now to continue clearing out unnecessary objects from my home; simplify my ideas as to what I want to accomplish with my art and also to pare down commitments to this and that, keeping only the ones that are important to me.

With less clutter crowding me I know I will be able to focus and concentrate on anything and everything much better and enjoy myself along the way.

“Yesterday is but today's memory and tomorrow is today's dream.”
― Khalil Gibran

Birthday Post

Today is the day I count my blessings.  I am grateful for my wonderful husband, my family and friends, my special buddy MacDuffy,  my health, my gift of being a creative person,  the magnificent view outside my window, the great and beautiful country I get to call home and the fantastic world and universe out there.

Each day is a gift and my birthday wish for this year is to not waste a single day!

It's OK to Re-Think

Something was bothering me about this painting for a long time.  It is called 'Courage' and I found the section around the Chinese symbol  upsetting to me.  I finally decided to give it a good look and try a few options.  Blue and a calmer area called out to me.  I have a tendency to forget about leaving some quiet spaces in my paintings.  I am very happy with this one now - courage does need a calm attitude and the blue space does seem to be resonating outward amidst the chaos.

Another thing I am working on is more blog posts and making them short and sweet.  I will try and have something to say again tomorrow!

My Mind Has Returned

I have been neglecting my blog entries lately mainly because of a concussion which had me in a very slow, dopey mode for the last month. There is still a bit of a bump on my head but I have returned to myself otherwise.

The painting that is posted was started two months ago and in a few days I will get to work and get it finished. This one is 30" x 30" and there are five 12" x 12" and two 16" x 16" canvases in the wings.

Another project that I have been working on is organizing a studio tour for my part of the world. It's been quite the learning process! There are now 10 stops and 21 artists and hopefully, by the end of next week, the brochure information and photos will be ready for the graphic designer. It's been interesting finding and meeting artists who live in the small town of Arnprior and the surrounding countryside. When you live in a rural area and there is no art organization to give you an idea of who is doing what and where, it's a tough go to get started. Meeting one artist at a time and getting referrals is how I've found people.

The river has melted, the geese are gathering, robins are singing - Spring is just around the corner! Now we just need the temperature to start rising!!

More Minis

Two more minis for the Art Delivered project. Working so tiny (6" x 6") with collage is a bit fussy but they turned out well. They look good hanging in a vertical row.

New Venture

A new venture has started up and I am happy to be part of it. It is called 'Art-Delivered' and is a subscription service. These are my first two of four paintings which will be in the 'Art Delivered' gallery.

For more details, please see www.art-delivered.ca