The Traveler (working title…)

I just finished this piece yesterday and I am rather pleased with it. It is mixed media and I used acrylic, sharpie and paper ephemera.

Am I done? I don’t know yet. I think if this piece is “completed” it is actually going to be a part of a series. I feel there is more story here than this one canvas.

I posted this on my Facebook fan page
 and I was pleased to see what people said…

“…like maybe she was a being that was once made up entirely of light, but she gave it all away to others who she thought needed it more. And now all that’s left is bones and brain, and she’s about to give up the last of her light.”

“I see worry…like, the person is striving to keep the fire lit, putting part of their inner energy to fuel the candle.”

“It makes me think of a mechanical being/robot fighting the realization that they have no soul and trying to compensate for it.”

“…I see a person overthinking – the brain/thought bubble – but they keep on pushing through the darkness anyway because they’ve got a nice big light to lead them”

“I see a human searching for the eternal flame“

 

What does this make you think or feel when you look at it. What story does it tell you?

I am still working on the title as it seems that I always have problems coming up with those. Are any of you artists? Is there a master plan for a title? What helps you?

Art for Therapy

So lately I have been really painting a lot. I have really turned up the fire and I know it is mainly because I am still off work.  I will be getting some more therapy soon, hopefully. The doctor with the second opinion said that we were not treating a few of the problems that are creating issues. One of the main problems is ocular and that is why after a short amount of time I start to feel sick looking at this big computer screen. For some reason my phone doesn’t bother me much but I am thinking it is because the device is little and my eyes do not have to do much work. At least I can walk around without sunglasses now, as I literally wore them for months!

Art is therapy for me I swear and it is keeping me from going stir crazy! So after all my rambling, how about we get to some of my recent abstract pieces!

I really hope you like them!!! As always, if you would like to purchase my art, let me know! I am always really reasonable as I feel art is to be owned by others!!!

Reaching for the Light
Watercolor 8×10

Feathers
8×10 Watercolor

Awakening
8×10 Watercolor

Gestation of Light
8×10 watercolor

Summer Light Form
8×10 Watercolor

Blades of Grass
8×10 Watercolor

Relating an Abstract to Actual Figure

I have spent my time off of work in deep contemplation about my life and my art and the direction I want to go. Now that I am feeling much better I have been trying to spend more time on the computer because it seems to be the last roadblock.  I start to feel ill after looking at the screen for too long, so this is why I do not post all the time. That little life bit being said…

The Sounds of Color

I am searching out the feelings that abstraction brings out. For me there has been so much focus on line and color. How does the paint move me and what feeling does it invoke?

While working on art I like to typically listen to music. I feel there is definitely a soundtrack to my work (life too). I worked in silence on this piece. I focused on the actual sound that the paintbrush makes when you shake the brush off in water in a glass. There is a sound the paintbrush makes when you drag it across the paper and even when you mix your paint. I found it to be so relaxing and I feel as if I was really in tune with the work.

Abstract to Solid Imagery

There are plenty of artists that work from real imagery and then produce the abstraction. When you look at a real tree and then an abstract artist rendering of the same tree, there are relations to look at.

In my work and exploration I paint the abstract  first. There is a color palette that forms and awakens ideas for further interpretation. I also  become interested in the shapes that the free fluid movements produce. There is a story that needs to have form.

Using the image above I felt this was one of the stories to come to life.  The color combinations came together like fire and ice. The feminine shapes created circular and flowing lines.

I showed these images to another artist that shows his work in large venues and he felt that the pieces needed to be painted MUCH larger than contained in my sketchbook. They should be shown side by side and he said that much of my work is the same way.

 

 

Would people buy Portraits?

So I have been thinking about trying to grow my visibility and the steps I need to do to be able to do that. One of my thoughts is to gather enough art to do a fair OR to join in an event called Hunt and Gather that takes place about 4 times a year.

Hunt and Gather is a really cool event in Crown Point, Indiana and they have a room full of artisans and antiques for 2 days, four times a year.  It’s not just a small room, it is HUGE! People that make hats, soaps, jewelry, art, refurbished furniture and people that sell antiques. That being said, I have talked to a few of the artists that are there and none of them have much luck selling their art. WHY?

This is in Northwest Indiana and it is NOT Chicago, though we are close (40 min drive on a bad day) and most people lie on their Facebook pages and say  “Chicago” when  they are really from some town in Indiana. The people at these events are trying to sell their art for $500.00 + and it is hard to sell art, period. when I purchase a piece, even if it is $100.00 I have to really like it. Mainly because I am not loaded with cash. When I was looking at houses  to find one to purchase I saw the ‘art’ that hung in those homes. People in this area do NOT spend money on art, and instead go to Kohl’s or Target and buy prints.

I feel in order to sell art at this show I need to tailor make art FOR that show. Make some cool pieces that can go with people’s furniture color scheme for a decent price. Even if I have some small canvas pieces or paper that isn’t framed with a price that people do not think that hard about.

My thought would be to have a booth selling my art and to maybe to have a set up where I do quick portraits. I feel that people will buy them because honestly people are vein. Though I don’t know if people would buy portraits the way I do them.

This is my Husband and I thought it didn’t really look like him but everyone that knows him says it does. This was a fast portrait (7 min) and I think it is pretty neat. It was fast and needed some dry time so it took longer. They have electric units at the event so I could hook up a blow dryer.

Before I can do this event like this, I need to have people sit for me to practice.

This image is of a friend and honestly it looks nothing like her. I was told it carries some of her features though.

By the way, drawing portraits is NOT like riding a bike and you can fall out of touch without practice. It is very frustrating. These portraits were both done last week. Maybe I should do portraits like Picasso and really abstract so no one says it doesn’t look 100% like them? OH or I could do a portrait and say I am connecting with the spirit world and painting their soul? Okay, maybe that would be a hokey schtick but what if it worked? I mean people are always interested in their horoscopes right?

I need time and some people need to bear with me and I need to work out the kinks. I haven’t really done portraits from real sitters in front of my face since I was in art school, circa 1997.  To give you a reference, here is a series of portraits from class with sitters. Well the 2 women at least. The middle one is from a blown out photograph of a relative.

I was doing quite well, I thought. I think the only thing that is missing from these are FUN and FREEDOM. They were drawings that were imposed on me. This is how you are supposed to draw, this is the shadow. I know this is what makes them look more like who they really are. I need that structure with some freedom.

Next is a series of images I drew from photographs, mainly because I have no access to famous people for some reason. I wonder if it has to do with the restraining order from Ian Somerhalder? Just kidding… I don’t have one from any celebrity, but he is devilishly handsome and I would love to draw him in real life if I got better.

Marilyn Mason, Billy Corgan from the Smashing Pumpkins and Tori Amos. I think I captured their likeness well except for Tori, that could have been better. These were more fun and I was more loose here than I was when I was in the classroom.

Do you ever bend from what you normally do in hopes of bringing in more cash flow? Lord knows I will never make more money in my current job, but it does allow me a lot of extra time and I have plenty of days off.

Inspiration for the Month ~ What is your Artistic Confirmation?

“You can be Creative only if you Love Life enough that You want to Enhance it’s Beauty!” – Osho

I am an artist, not a dabbler in the arts but a student of creativity. One is never a master as there are many things to learn. I long to be more free, like a child with less restrictions. My road block is my self-judgment of feeling my artwork is inferior to others. I never fully appreciate my level of skill. Sometimes I admit that I am jealous of other people’s creativity. I have in the past felt competitive instead of nurturing others. It is out of my own self-fear that I am not good enough and being an artist doesn’t make me special in any way if others are doing it.

I must remember some core things, truths that I have written in the past and must align myself with! You can answer these thoughts too for yourself! Make your own confirmation when you feel down! I have bolded the things for you to reflect on.

I make Art because… I cannot imagine a time that I cannot write, draw, paint or dream. It is part of my Visual Spirit to communicate and it is essential to my well being.

I am creative because…  I am alive, praise God for my gift! I want to create more beauty in this world and want to make the art that I love.

I must express my Unique Vision… I am an individual and though there are other artists in the world, NO TWO OF US ARE THE SAME!! We have different pasts and styles that have shaped us as individuals. I must stop the thought that my art is not as good as others. I just have a different vision!

“You cannot use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” ~ Maya Angelou

Need an amazing book to guide you?  Creative is a Verb, If you are alive you are Creative by Patti Digh. I really enjoy this book that I am reading and working through she has writing projects as well as artistic projects to focus on. I have had this book for a few years but life got in the way. I am going to start some of these projects and answering some of these questions in her book here in my blog.
If you end up picking up this book or answer some of the questions I post here let me know! I would love to hear your Artistic Confirmations!!! I will also post about the projects so you can follow along with my progress or you can join in!