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

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

New Blog Name

I have decided that my blog needed a more relevant name - From Here to There (And Back Again) only has meaning to me personally. In attempting to sign up with Feedburner I took their advice on having a name that actually relates more to the content of the blog - it's a bit boring but all I could come up with today.

We have been inundated with skunks and racoons in the last few weeks digging up the lawn while searching for tasty grubs. My dog has been sprayed and I have been busy putting sod back in place almost every day. The installation of an underground sprinkler system, a new furnace, repairs to a deck, building of a BBQ shed has meant many extra people hovering around each day which does nothing to spark my creativity, hence, no new prints, which really ticks me off!

I am going to try, once again, today to run at least one, if I can get a few hours to myself. It's duct cleaning day - more workmen in the house. I'm getting very anxious! Please, please, please let me get in "the zone"! I should have called this entry "Crabby, Anxious Artist"!