Shine Baby Shine!

Reef  - acrylic abstract on 24" x 36" gallery wrapped canvas

Reef  - acrylic abstract on 24" x 36" gallery wrapped canvas

Well my daughter, Olivia, took some great shots of the latest canvas I'd been working on.  It was the first experiment with insolation foam for texture and it took a lot of work to get the mess I'd made down to something I felt I could work with. I've learned how to control the application of the foam better now, thank goodness.

As I worked with the cool colours it reminded me of a bed of coral and the deep blue sea.  I choose to varnish it using a hight sheen because I wanted to make those metallic and variances in colours pop.  Between the metallic and the hight gloss shine it made getting a good picture of the full canvas harder, but oh those macro shots she does, yummy!  

Reef Macro

It was a big hit with my grand-daughters they immediately wanted to know if I could do one like it for their rooms, in colours that would "go" of course (this from the 7 year old!)  So I said they could work with me and create their own, which was a big YES! They wanted to start working on it right away but had movie tickets so it had to wait.  Should be interesting.

One of the macro's is now my new blog background with others to follow when I'm ready to change it up.  Boy do I love having some great photographers in the family.  Thanks Liv, you make my art look spectacular!

Reef Macro

New Mixed Media Website

I just have to share the news that Artist/Author Mary Beth Shaw posted about on her blog (do check out her blog.)  She is a contributor to a new website for Mixed Media artist, called, Create MixedMedia.  There are so many resources available on this site I can't even list them all.  Videos, podcasts, projects and more.

And be sure to check out Mary Beth's new book, Flavor For Mixed Media, available through Amazon or you can get a signed copy from the author when her supply of books arrives.

Enjoy!

Your Artist Voice

I've been looking at a book online called 'Finding Your Visual Voice.'  But before I ordered it I decided to do a little journaling about knowing my visual voice.  As I reflected using backgrounds that were test runs on some new colour combinations I wanted to try using, I made a few discoveries about myself.

It seems I love the Old Masters deep rich colours and tones, at least on canvas.  I've tried very hard to move to the more modern, vibrant, bright colours and I could just never seem to leave them there, they always wound up going deeper, and ultimately changing the look of what I thought I wanted the piece to look like.

Just this week I tried to do a modern, sophisticated look using greys, black, silvers with a touch of deep purple for contrast.  I could see it in my minds eye but when I got it onto my textured canvas, I just didn't like it.  Now I know another artist could take these and make it all work, I've seen and admired their work but I just can't seem get past the disquiet I feel using these kinds of colour palettes.  This all lead to the realization that I may well have already found my artist voice, from the moment I began to create textured abstracts on canvas.  There's a shock!  Instead of realizing it, I've been fighting with myself and therefore getting hung up over colour more than anything else creatively.

After writing a draft of this post I got out Nita Leland's book, The New Creative Artist. As always this wonderful lady's writing helped me out.  

"Pay attention to the inner voice that tells you when something feels right. Much of your creative problem-solving occurs at an unconscious level.  If you persist in ignoring your intuition you may find yourself stuck in a permanent holding pattern..."   

Thank you Nita! All I have to do is look at how my creativity returns when I stop fighting what I guess is my unique visual voice.  By the way, I have every book Nita Leland has written all of them are excellent and ones I continually go back to for help and guidance.  I hear she is updating and republishing her book, Creative Collage Techniques, you can bet I'll be buying it just for the added insights she will bring.

Young Artists

Just had to share this, my grand-daughter Grace took second place in 'Coloured Art,' for the Carleton County's Royal Canadian Legion Colouring & Essay contest.  It included entries from grade levels 4-6.  Her picture will be entered in the provincial and from there the national if she places and will be displayed in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.  She received a certificate, a print of her picture, ribbon & pin plus a cash prize.

She was thrilled as am I.  When I asked her if she felt like a real artist, she said yes! I also pointed out that at the age of 9 she received her first payment for her art :-)

Picture quality is poor, but that's my girl in the middle and the second in from the right in large group picture.

Art That Changes Lives...

I need to follow up on the quote by Jim Robbins I posted last time.  It's one of those things that you know when you read it that it's important but your not sure exactly how or why.

"an artist is someone who refuses the tired and mundane scripts being offered, in exchange for the chance to actually change people's lives.  Really change people's lives.  The artist intends to reveal something through his art.  There is a declaration behind it. (Otherwise, the art becomes merely self-indulgent).  The art is the access point to a deeper, somewhat veiled reality.  It provokes us, stirs us, and tells us rumors of another world."

For real?  Do we, as artist believe our art can 'actually change people's lives?  I'm struggling with how on earth my abstracts could have that kind of impact.  It's something I've not really thought about and it's a little unnerving.  I see how the written word has that kind of effect, or music or realistic or more 'image' laden art, but abstracts...I had just never thought about it, or maybe I've just brushed up against it until now.  

Chaos & Calm (almost finished)

Like a large piece I did called 'Chaos & Calm' I gave it to my daughter for Christmas, because she found herself in it's forms.  There is that part of her that blazes with adventure and being out of control and then there is the linear, perfectionism that is equally a part of her.  I have to tell you I was shocked when she explained this to me, I just never realized that my art could echo in a viewers heart so strongly.  

So I wonder and ponder this and thought of all my blogging artist friends and their various artistic expressions, how do you feel about your art & what you create?  Do you hope it will impact lives with the kind of strength Jim talks about?

Able='having the power to do'

Good thing I didn't promise myself I'd create a page a day, this spread has been a three day process, mostly because of issues with being 'able.'  That's a big word for me and has a huge impact on what happens in my daily life.  Traci had put out as a prompt, 'today I feel...'  When I began the page I was having a very good day, the fibromyalgia was under control and life was good.  Before I knew it the word, 'able' took over the page.

We all have issues with 'being able.' A fuller definition of this little word is, "Having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something."  A lot of the time my issues with able have to do with my health, but I can also struggle with my perceptions of being able, my limitations and the like.

Jim Robbins, author & creative artist wrote,

"an artist is someone who refuses the tired and mundane scripts being offered, in exchange for the chance to actually change people's lives.  Really change people's lives.

The artist intends to reveal something through his art.  There is a declaration behind it. (Otherwise, the art becomes merely self-indulgent).  The art is the access point to a deeper, somewhat veiled reality.  It provokes us, stirs us, and tells us rumors of another world."  Jim Robbins

And we wonder why we struggle with feeling ABLE some days!

Dreams Goals Under Wraps

I have to chuckle, after posting about Traci's journal prompts I decided it was time I took the time to just set down in ink some of my dreams, hopes and goals for the year.  I did as Traci suggested and got out my dip pen because I love fountain pens of any sort and just scrawled across the pages.  Then came paint, stamping, images and a film of vintage dress patterns over all.  My pages look nothing, and I mean nothing like the work Traci does, I just don't seem to have that wonderful graffiti style in me.  My blogging friend Mary does though, have a look what she got up to following Traci's suggestions!

Still I loved the process and that is what it's all about, self expression and taking the time to value your own dreams enough to write them down.  For me these pages aren't about pretty, good thing, they were about the words, the promise, the imagery that took over as I worked.  It does feel strange though not to be able to go and read a nice little list of goals they are all covered up in a thin film of tissue.  I expect that the list will get done in my catch all notebook, better known as being over 50, you need lists or you won't know what the heck your doing day by day!   

I cut my art journaling teeth on Traci Bautista's work and her book, Collage Unleashed. She never ceases to inspire and amaze me with her unique free flowing style and use of colour.  Many of you probably already know about her new 'art journaling daily' blog posts so I may be sharing old news with you.  If not, then do check out her blog and join in the feast of inspiration she offers.  And be sure to get her free download of inspiring art journaling images and helps, just looking at them make you want to go splash paint!

Deep Impact

Since my last post and all your wonderful encouragement and wisdom and insights I've actually had a decent day and night!  It feels wonderful to actually be able to do a few things and not suffer serious setbacks because of it.  I take your words to heart and consider them and quite frankly am astonished at the knowledge and perspective they offer.  I do believe I'll be creating some journal pages around those insights.

The Caspian quote has made such an impact on me and has struck a note with a lot of you as well.  I wound up creating another journal page using the quote.  Then I just puddled in Dr. Martin's ink & radiant watercolour and created a brilliantly coloured journal background.

Longing

January has not been the productive month that I had hoped for, or that many of you are having.  I'm afraid some nasty virus grabbed my immune system and decided to wrestle it to the ground.  I'll spare you the details.

When I can I've been working on the large abstract with all the spray foam texture.  Adding small strokes of metallic through out has really enhanced it, rather reminds me of a bed of coral in blue/green oceans.  My camera just won't pick up the halo effects of the metallic but I'm hoping my daughter can do some shots for me soon.

Worked on a few journal pages, something I've not done much of this past year.  A quote really grabbed me by the gut and wouldn't let go.  I pondered it's truth for me long and hard, it's from the Narnia movie, Voyage of the Dawn Treader.  Caspian said words to this effect,

"I've spent too long wanting what was taken from me and not what I was given."

Life if full of hard knocks, and great losses and we can get stuck there, because we don't know how to take the hard knock walk...

Digital Journal Magic Giveaway!

Talk about an exciting give away!  Marie Otero of Lost Aussie is running another on line workshop using Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.  Her friend Carla is hosting a give away of two spots in Marie's class, 'Digital Journal Magic.' So hurry on over to Carla's blog and enter and then be sure to check out Marie's amazing digital artwork.

Hurry now, contest ends Saturday Jan 8th and good luck to us all!

It's a Beginning

Macro 24x36" Abstract

Macro 24x36" Abstract

It's a start, a move towards getting unstuck.  Long way to go but at least I've got a base colour pallet down that I'm willing to keep.  Two months of redo's it's encouraging to have something to at least study, ponder and work on.  So this canvas has some deep texturing, the insulation foam, gorilla glue, texture paste, tissue and gels.  When I got a brief glimpse of how to paint this, I grabbed up my Golden Fluids and got started, relieved just to have an idea to follow felt good.  I still don't have a camera that will give me a good overall shot, just macro's turn out half way realistic, so that's what I'm posting.

I also got my other canvas a little further down the track, but nothing to post just yet.

Macro 24x36" Abstract

Taking a Peek at a New Year

A new year, crisp and fresh.  The old year went out like a slug, I've had some nasty flare ups with fibromyalgia that has knocked me around for the last few months, so I'm ready for a change and renewed hope that a new year brings.

My wonderful friend, Aussie chick, Kel has written a beautiful New Years Blessing over at Xfacta.  I'm lingering over it now, for she asks, "what took your breath away and how can you create more of that this year?"  I love that, moments that take my breath away...now that's something worth chasing in this brand new year.

Like my friend Mary, I've been having a fight with colour these past months.  I've done more covering up with gesso than painting I'm afraid.  Got some great pieces ready to go, now if I can just figure out what the   heck is going on with the actual painting!  Here's to creative outpourings and overcoming obstacles!