Productive Painting Time

                                         
                                           "Mind Games"

Summer weather is still here - the garden is calling to me BUT so is painting!  This 12" x 12" x 1.5" painting came together rather quickly for a change.  It is a relief to get a little one that I like in the middle of struggling with a large canvas - 36" x 48" x 1.5" and 3 works on paper to go with it.

The large one and companions are beginning to take shape and my mind is in the right place to tackle that big project.  My paintings are intuitive and emotional and a fairly clear head is needed to work out the puzzle that this kind of painting is!

A little diversion is sometimes needed - this painting was diversion #1 and a thorough house cleaning today was diversion #2.

Tomorrow it is Onward with the Brushes!!!!

"Huggie Bears"

I've been busy this past month or two enjoying summer weather, gardening, visiting with friends and family and creating!

These little bears are something new for me - amigurumi crochet bears. I am making them and donating them to CHEO - Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.  I love to keep busy and these are fun to make.  They are given to children in need of some extra comfort by volunteers at CHEO. These bears are a good size for a small child up to a teenager and are very soft and cuddly.  I'm hoping they will help some kids get through tough times.

Celebration

I am mourning the loss of a very dear friend who has left this world suddenly and way too soon.
We shared a mutual love of gardening, nature and art and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her beautiful smile,  sparkling personality, kindness and compassion.

I am titling this new painting "Celebration".  It is a joyous, colourful piece and it is a tribute to my wonderful friend and her sunny disposition and outlook on life.

Distractions

This is the result of over two weeks of painting away at this 30" x 30" canvas. A thick coat of Gesso over layers and layers of collage and paint and many, many hours of trying to work.

I love my home studio space but the open concept with no door is not working for me.  My dear
husband means well but doesn't understand the mindset of an artist working on a non-representational intuitive painting.  Constant interruptions and noise has made me think too much about something that should have no thinking whatsoever.  Impossible to do without peace and quiet.

My only solution is to buy some noise reduction headphones as my frustration level has come to a breaking point.  I now understand why studio space away from home is important. Not going to happen so I just need to relax and find a solution.

Perseverance

The title of this painting is "Patience" and it sums up my attitude towards my painting experience.

I have been on a journey of learning and discovery for 26 years now. It all started with classes in drawing, life drawing, graphic design, illustration and layout, black and white photography and development, oil painting, pastel painting, watercolour painting, intaglio and relief printmaking and various mixed media techniques and workshops.

Along the way I've been involved with many art organizations, co-op art galleries, outdoor and indoor art shows and a few studio tours.  My paintings have been shown in many small art galleries and gift shops in Ottawa and other towns and cities in Eastern Ontario.

Recently I have had the good fortune to be asked by the owner of a major fine art gallery here in Ottawa, Koyman Galleries, to show my work.  I am now a 'gallery artist' and have a permanent display space in this beautiful venue.  My challenge now is to create more artwork in 'my style' on larger canvases. Here's hoping 'Joe Public' will like what he sees enough to buy my work.

In general, I think creative people have to build a hard shell against negativity for what they do and why they do it. Pursuing a subject for the simple love of learning and enjoyment of the process is what is important to me and I want to keep that freshness of attitude in my mind going forward in this new direction.

Heather Assaf
Koyman Galleries

A New Series in "My Style"

These two paintings are the first in a new series I have been working on lately.  This style combines collage, printmaking and mixed media painting on canvas. For years I have been experimenting with many mediums and techniques and this is the end result!  For some artists, myself included, it takes a long time to develop an individual 'style'. I now feel that all the time spent learning is coming together and I'm very happy and relaxed painting in this way!

More to come!

Office Decorating Experience

Office Decorating Experience

I am writing this 'artist experience' in the hopes of helping other artists in their awareness of what I deem to be unfair practices.

Approximately 5 months ago I was contacted through my website to provide artwork to decorate the walls of a suite of offices. Having never done this before I was unsure how to negotiate. The value of all of the paintings was $4700.00 and I proposed a small rental fee of 3% per month  ( $140.00 per month ) and a commission on sales of 10% back to the office owners on paintings sold. This offer was refused and I decided to hang my artwork anyway for a period of up to 6 months on a trial basis.

Recently,  I went in to the offices to collect my artwork.  I received a 'thank you' from the receptionist. Neither of the two professionals  whose office space had been decorated for free for a total of 142 days bothered to venture away from their desks to acknowledge my presence and offer a 'thank you'. I find this inconsiderate and very rude.

I am sure this same office space is being cleaned on a regular basis of at least once per week.  I have my house cleaned on a regular basis (2500 sq. ft.) for $60 which would be $240/month.

When comparing these two services the art rental cost comes out to 58% less than the cleaning cost.

What makes some people  undervalue original artwork?  Why was my experience, education, time and finished 'goods' deemed to be of no value other than free decoration?

Artists are constantly asked to donate artwork for fund-raising auctions and other events of a similar nature. I am wondering why the services of  Doctors, Dentists, Accountants, Engineers, Plumbers, Carpenters  and many other 'professionals' are not usually on these fund-raising lists of items and services to be auctioned off for  good causes? What makes original artwork the 'go to' item to be donated or given away for 'free'???

I have learned from this venture  and will be careful  from now on to only  put my artwork out with either  a consignment contract,  rental contract or bill of sale.