Art and Life: Pain and Sorrow

Art and Life: Pain and Sorrow

Pain and Sorrow

The last 4 months have been rough ones full of 24/7 pain and sorrow. Constant nagging pain has me in a weakened state and extremely emotional. The loss of my little Duffy, the best Westie ever, is very hard to deal with in my present state. One day at a time.

This painting was done for an exhibition with a colour limitation of reds, blues and white with black being allowed only for mixing.  This is what evolved.  It was done totally intuitively and I see a reflection of my consciousness.  I see my spaced out emotions and the jagged edges of pain, both emotional and physical, spinning slowly, going on and on.

Interesting what happens on the canvas when you don't think and just let it happen.

Life is Change

The past 6 months or so I have been very busy working away trying to find a way to create that cohesive 'body of work' that has always been so elusive for me. So many techniques are calling to me and I find it hard to stay on track for more than 4 or 5 paintings in a row.

In the midst of re-working paintings that I was not happy with I have stumbled on some works that I am liking very much and that say what I want to say.

I have always been interested in life's cycles and how a 'new'  discovery is something 'old' that has been uncovered or found. I truly believe that our planet has been through every possible change many, many times before and will continue forever in a state of change as well as the entire universe and whatever else is out there.

These thoughts are coming out in my latest works with  circles, grids, layering and scraping away to reveal a hint of what has gone before.  I am excited to stay on track and get many more pieces of work done in this theme!

My favourite quote:  "Life is Change, and to have Lived is to have Changed Often" (Goethe).

A New Direction

I have been working away for many months on combining collage pieces that I am creating with random marks and lines with even more intuitive painting done with scrapers, pouring, spraying and finger painting.

The resulting works are, to me, very expressive and loose.  These are done from the heart and both fun and scary at the same time.

Exhibiting them will be a whole other thing too as they are quite different from my creations of the last few years.

I am happiest when learning new things and stretching myself in new directions and that is the main reason why I paint in the first place.

It's the putting them out there in the open for other people to judge that is the part of this art-making that I am not particularly fond of.

I know most artists share this feeling - that's just the way the cookie crumbles!

Alone Together

Because I work alone at home in a rural setting, it can get lonely and uninspiring, especially during an exceptionally long and cold winter. 

I recently joined a Thursday morning group of 6 people and this is what I produced on the first day.  I am very happy with the results of combining collage and paint in a very loose and gestural manner.  I've even got some great blues and blue-greens that come close to a robin's egg blue, one of my favourite colours!

The square one is 12" x 12" x 1.5" and I think a black float frame will jazz it up. The series of 4 will be framed in black frames with a white mat.

 After a winter of being frustrated and non-productive it is wonderful to be creating again!!

New Work

Finally!  Some new work!! I have been sick with Bronchitis for such a long time!  Today I actually felt like trying to make some new artwork and like what evolved!

This has been such a dreary winter - cold, lots of snow, but sunny!  Everyone is counting the weeks now!
I think the time has finally come for me to plant some heritage tomato seeds that I have saved.  It will be fun watching the tiny seedlings grow and the snow melt back!

I have started a 20" x 20" canvas and that will also be fun to see how it turns out :)

Focusing

This was a very busy and rewarding week - almost two weeks actually.

I've decided that a blog post each and every week is too much so I have geared down to twice a month. This way it gives me more time to finish things and possibly have something to say!

One of the 6 white canvases has turned into a vase of flowers.  It started out as an abstract but morphed along the way.  I'm thinking the deep freeze we have been in here this winter must have something to do with it.  Two more 8" x 8" canvases have been started - it would be nice to have three similar ones to be a little series but I won't know until I get going which direction they will take.  I am hoping for more vases with flowers!

This week also been a crocheting and knitting time. It all started with a friend wanting me to teach her how to crochet an infinity scarf.  I now have completed two of these scarves in different patterns and colours.  Turquoise for one; chartreuse for the other!  Next on the go is a knitted dish cloth - why I'm doing this is a mystery - the yarn just called out to me in the store!

I also read Neil Young's autobiography "Waging Heavy Peace" - an exceptionally good read!

So the next two weeks I will be on a mission to focus on more vase with flowers paintings with the goal of keeping my head in 'series' mode and not flying off in all kinds of other directions!

Happy Days

My goal has been reached this week!  Two new pieces have been finished which makes me very happy!

It feels very uplifting to have peaceful, creative time and get rid of that 'artist's block' anxiety that was wearing me down. Being able to create something from that relaxed, happy place of being in your own head and letting whatever is in there  come forth onto the canvas in it's own way is such a fun experience.

Starting another one right now!

Artist's Block!

So my goal of doing something artsy every week has kind of hit a snag - Artist Block!!!!
I have succeeded in working and re-working 2 small collages to the point that they are now in my trash bin.
The other 6 canvases shown above have been worked on and gessoed over quite a few times!
Now I have them all lined up staring at me with their blank white faces - not a happy sight!

This week has seen way too many interruptions - one of the major downfalls of having a home studio with a retired husband and a very senior dog.

I won't have time now to try anything artsy for a few more days.  This is making me very anxious and antsy as I want to DO something!!!

I know I can find my 'happy place' and concentrate on creating something just for my own peace of mind - one of these days!

I think some time on my treadmill will be useful right about now!

My consolation is that I know all creative people hit these roadblocks from time time and it will pass.  I just need this to pass quickly!!!

A New Year

Happy New Year!

This little painting is called "It's a Party" and I am featuring it here because it makes me happy!

It's so cold my mind has gone silly - -35 C with the wind chill today and for a few more!  Time to hit the Studio!!

Today is "tidy up day" - a little ritual I seem to need to do before doing something creative.

I have gessoed over two 12" x 12" canvases that I didn't like and am ready!

I thought today was Start Day but it seems the tidying up extended to replying to e-mails and making to-do lists.  So now it is tomorrow!!

No problem - No guilt - No expectations.  I have a play date with myself for tomorrow!!

I am going to make a new post every Thursday this year and report on my artsy goings-on for the week.

Even if I am the only one following my blog it will be good to document so I can see something happening!

That is my goal for 2014 - Make Something Artsy Happen Every Week!!!