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!