Ancient Wisdom

'Ancient Wisdom' Acrylics & Inks on canvas 24 x 48"

I've been working on something that I kept seeing in my minds eye while completing a triptych for a client, called Ancient Strength.  Using a similar design layout, I could see it in more muted, fall like colours.  Although there are numerous things alike, from the branching tree like design, to the use of crackle and inks, the results are shockingly different.  I consider the new piece another break out piece and only hope that I will be able to get pictures that capture it's quiet elegance.

Is it shameful to call my own work elegant?  Perhaps I should explain myself. I only compare my work to 'my' work. Where had I been, where am I now and how does this piece compare to those that came before.  Should my gaze shift to others work and begin to draw comparisons I'm sunk, so I don't go there :-)  I am hoping that my talented daughter will be able to get some good quality pictures of Ancient Wisdom, but in the meantime this is what my limited camera and abilities can produce :-) I love the random clocks tumbling through space in the piece, (see below) I guess there's a story behind this piece when I consider the choices I made. Tree's have long been a love of mine, they speak to me of the ages, of time passing, ringing us with life's experiences, marking us with all that it brings, the seasons of abundance and the seasons of blight, just as a tree shows it's life's map within itself, so do we.

"The creative process is a bottomless reservoir of expressions.  As we try to do the same thing over and over again, we realize that exact replication is not the way of human expression." S. McNiff

Ancient Strength

'Ancient Strength'-Three 12 x 24" canvases

This was a special memory piece I created for a client.   (My apologies for the poor quality of the photos but the piece left the studio before I was able to get better shots, but it gives you an idea.) Working with the client I was able to incorporate some special elements beginning with the abstract tree running across the canvases as well as their up coming wedding date, along with other elements that helped to make this a meaningful piece.

Basic layout

Break Out

Just putting the finish on the triptych I've been working on the past week or so, the owner picks it up tomorrow.  They're happy and so am I.  It's some of the best work I've done to date!

Although it has been a major challenge, this new piece has turned out to be what I call a personal break out piece.  We all have them, that 'One' that pushes you, taking your current abilities and blending them with new inspiration and techniques that takes you to another level in your art.  When you stand back and look, you know you've gone to a place you've never been before and it does feel good :-)  Those that know you well and know each piece that you've created recognize it too.

You were right, my artistic blogging buddies, there was something just simmering away while I struggled with illness and being 'stuck' in January.  You encouraged me to just hang in there and in its time things would break open.  Thank you for your wisdom and encouragement, it's wonderful to have the support of those who've been there.

I've taken a lot of pictures with my little camera, unfortunately that's the best I can do before the piece leaves the studio for it's new home.  In time I'll share them with you, but I've got to wait for the big reveal before I can do that.  So for now this is just a snippet and a word of encouragement to those who are out there pushing themselves for their own break out piece or struggling through a slump, you will get there! Key to this happening for me has been a willingness to embrace my inner critic, allowing the questions to arise within that push me to go further, to try something else, something new, to risk what is for what can be.

"In order to improve, the process has to be able to look at itself and make adjustments. As I create there is a critic who accompanies each phase of the process. I embrace the critic as a companion, a necessary aspect of creative expression..."  Shaun McNiff  Trust The Process

Aussie Violet & Facebook

I've had a lot of fun with my Aussie Violet piece and like how it's turned out, although getting an accurate picture of it is near impossible for me! The red is a rose red and quite beautiful.  Not sure what to name it?  Since my last post I've made progress on the Triptych and have gotten another commission for a 3 piece that I am really excited to start work on it.

For the sake of making things easier for people to find and follow my artistic endeavours on Facebook, I've created a fan page.  I have a badge on my left sidebar that will take you to it and from there all you need do is click the 'Like' button for my artists page to show up in your news feed.  Although I've made my personal Facebook page open to the public they still had to go through the process of sending and waiting for approval of their friend requests, pain in the you know what!  Anyway, I've uploaded pictures of more recent works with details now co-ordinated with my 'Art Gallery' page here on my blog.

I don't know if you ever get use to the wonder of having people not just like your work, but who are willing to invest in it and in effect in me.  It's very humbling and gratifying and in truth I hope I never loose this sense of wonderment.

"The creative spirit demands persistence." S. McNiff

It's a Start!

Although progress has been slow this month, due to my health, I did manage to get started on a few canvases.  But before I share those, I want to thank all the wonderful artist bloggers who stopped by and left words of encouragement and some helpful insights into this whole concept of being 'stuck' or blocked artistically.  I appreciate the greater wisdom of the whole, it keeps me grounded when the pain levels get to be more than I can handle.

Got a new commission for a triptych, 24 x 44" I'm finding I really enjoy creating pieces with my clients impute in mind. Knowing what they love about various pieces I've done, having some idea of preferred colour palette, all helps to make it an enjoyable experience.  I've altered some of the glue lines on the left since taking this and am letting it set so I can move on to the next stage of texturing.

In the meantime, I jumped in at the deep end and started painting a canvas I'd had textured and prepped for a few weeks.  It's a colour combo I've never used together before and it's proving to be a very dramatic piece.  Matisse Transparent Umber, Q Nickel Azo Gold,  touches of Van Dyke Brown  and for punch, Australian Red Violet! Matisse has created a line of paints that reflect the unique shades and vibrancy that is Australia.  From here I'll begin layering in details and highlighting focal points.

Speaking of Australian, Kel of The X Facta  posted a great entry on making time for the things we love.  She's a diversely gifted artist, writer and woman, so do check out her blog!

Oddly Stuck

I feel stuck!  A new year is suppose to be about fresh starts, renewed energy and determination.  Blogs and articles abound on tips, hints, motivations of how to get yourself going in 2012.  But I'm afraid I've hit the skids instead, and of course when that happens you start looking for reasons why, because hey we all want to at least 'feel' productive :-)

It doesn't help that my body has been going through an intense time of flare ups, the pain is acute, sleep is brief. (that's why I'm writing this at 3:30 in the morning)  There are a number of artist friends out there who suffer from various chronic conditions, like fibromyalgia, arthritis, back/neck pain and others. Living with chronic pain is a challenge to our artist endeavours, and I wonder how others handle these intense times when everything seems to slow with the pain?

The desire to create bubbles away inside you, but you have little energy or directive to begin and I'm trying to be okay with that for now.  This battle is fought and won in the mind and spirit so I focus on keeping them strong until my body begins to quite down.

These are not new pieces, but when bringing them home from Bistro 610 (formerly called Fusion) this is how I choose to put them on the wall and was quite struck by how they 'go' together without having been painted to do so.  In fact it was a potential client who brought my attention to how well they complement each other.  Which now has me considering doing a series of individual pieces that will co-ordinate with each other.  I know not a new concept to most of you, but this is my third year of painting and something I've not consciously done to date :-)  Something to let percolate.

"The creative spirit demands persistence."  Shaun McNiff

Interview & New Painting

24 x 24" acrylic & ink on canvas

Time to let this one sit a spell.  I've got some issues with this little piece, and when I do, I like to take some photos and let it hang out in my studio where it will catch my eye , stirring my subconscious to figure out the solution.  I find the photo taking very helpful in gaining perspective and noticing issues in certain light or angle that I don't always see while standing in front of it.

As I think about it, that seems to be the way most things get worked out in other areas of my life as well.  I have to let things rest a bit, mull it over, see it from different angles and then illumination will come.  Interesting, the things you discover about yourself, your own inner workings when considering your creative process.  I've said it before, many times actually, I love the process of creating. It works on me, while I'm working on it.  Speaking of process and understanding yourself and your art, Crystal Cook recently interviewed me for her blog and in the answering it makes me think more deeply. Chrystal is an amazing water colourist, creating portraits that are luminous with life.  You can check out my interview with Chrystal here, and see her amazing art as well.

First Canvases For A New Year

Just finished this 24 x 48" piece that will serve as a headboard.  I delivered it to my daughter this week and it's going to look great in her room, and in time she will have pictures that I can share I'm sure.

Love how the crackle turned out on this (see below) I used it along some edges and corners as well as in the various circles.  Though my pictures don't do it justice, I quite like how it turned out and again using colours that are not my usual colour palette.

Post Christmas Pre New Years

Had a wonderful Christmas with the family, but my photos are a bust!  While I've got some great video footage, my family would hunt me down if I posted it for all the world to see!  It took me some time to restore order to my home and the loft, everything goes slower when you have fibromyalgia.  But it's put together enough for me to get back to painting.   I've got to make some modifications to a large table I use, lengthen the legs and add rollers.  I like to paint standing up because the nature of how I work requires a lot of moving around, tilting the canvas this way and that.  Speaking of which get a load of this amazing windmill easel, it tilts, lays flat, takes a 60" canvas...someday maybe, a girl can dream!

I've been able to start on a new commissioned piece for my daughter.  I had painted a triptych that was to serve as a headboard for her queen size bed.  Though she loves the piece, we decided the depth was not substantial enough so I'm doing a new one that is 24 x 48".  This will be a great warm up to another commissioned headboard I'll be doing, 30 x 60".

My work is still on display at Bistro 610, (formerly called Fusion) and I am delighted to say pieces continue to sell. What an amazing experience all of this has been.

NOTE: To those who are interested, I created a little video trailer of our Christmas morning and posted it on my facebook page, and yes I am currently in hiding, my family are hunting me down as we speak! But it was worth it :-)

Cherish The Fun!

Xmas @ The Farm

Just put the final coat of varnish on the last commissioned piece for the holidays.  It has been an amazing journey and I have enjoyed it fully, even though my head has not fully wrapped around it all just yet.

Because my commissioned pieces are meant for Christmas gifts I've not been able to share them here on my blog, but I am hoping to have some happy people on Christmas morning!

Xmas Eve @ our house 2009

So now I'm clearing away the big table of it's art supplies and getting it ready for gift wrapping.  It's time to turn the studio into Santa's workshop for a few days!  I can hardly believe we are in the home stretch for Christmas!  In no time, my younger sisters will be home and the marathon of family gatherings will begin.  I love it.  I am blessed with a family that I adore. We enjoy and cherish one another and although we are all very unique individuals we love and laugh and call one another, best friends. It doesn't get any better than that!

To all of you I wish you all the wonders of the Christmas Season and a belly full of good food and laughter!

Bren