“Strive with thy power to paint thy likeness on the pages of the hearts with such beauty as to brighten the minds. That beauty is the splendor of the Merciful and the glad-tidings of thy Lord, the Clement, whereby the faces shine with an eternal light in the course of ages and centuries.”
-Abdu’l-Baha
Just to let you all know where I am coming from. Everyone has a bias, and an agenda. Here’s mine.
I guess I am really inspired by the seasons. I have been painting these tree paintings, and autumn just seeps in somehow. I’m not complaining though.
I chose to incorporate a line-drawing from my comic-book influence. Its looks autobiographical, but I hope its also somewhat universal. I actually really love what this little drawing has brought to the painting. I mean, it was always about a walk in the trees, but this makes it fool-proof, and adds personality. Like a blog. You like to hear personal stories, and know about the person writing, or you just can’t relate. This painting became infinitely more approachable with the figures, and I like that. It makes me want to make more like this.
Although apart of me wonders if this might be a little gimmicky, and cheap. Like the painting may have been enough without it. I really liked the painting with only the trees, but somehow it looked lonely, and needed some personality. I want there to be more than a breezy, pretty picture…some narrative is good for that. What do you think?
I cant wait to talk about this one with Mark on the podcast. He hasn’t seen it yet. I’m hoping to surpise him. What do you bet his first response will be something like: “I, for one, like it.” Actually I think he will dig the comic book reference. And that’s cool.
“Painting is the most beautiful of all arts. In it, all sensations are condensed; contemplating it, everyone can create a story at the will of his imagination and.. with a single glance.. have his soul invaded by the most profound recollections; no effort of memory, everything is summed up in one instant. A complete art which sums up all the others and completes them.”
Paul Gauguin
I have always wondered about the time element in visual art. We actually talked about this in our Comic book podcast – how the thing about a graphic novel versus a movie is that you can take as long as you like to read it. And its the same with a painting. A movie, a piece of music, a dance performance, theater, all include a sense of pacing within it, and the viewer is required to take a certain amount of time to view the work. A painting, on the other hand, can be digested very quickly. Almost too quickly most of the time. I am very guilty of nearly running through art galleries, trying to see everything. I also get this sense that when I am looking at a great painting, I am gorging myself, trying to stuff it all in, so I can move on. Or I feel I am skimming the surface way too often. An image can be consumed instantaneously and perhaps therin lies our demise. One glance can be all one needs to read a painting, and then the artist has not too much more to draw you in with. Or maybe not? Maybe thats why contemporary art can be so confusing – we need to get folks to stay a little longer!
OK, Im yammering on now. I’ll save that for the podcast.
I’ll be Back Wednesday as tomorrow is a Holy Day for me. Have a lovely day.
I finally have another painting to post. In the past week I’ve started another painting frenzy.
This one is called “House in the Forest.” (yeah, I’m not so original with titles.) Watercolour on paper, 20cm x 30cm.
I started the whole tree thing while out on the coast. If you remember the paintings I did last winter, they were mostly orange and brown and had a definite “Prairie” feel. There is something profoundly different about being surrounded by trees, than out on an open field. Trees become a filter for light, they hide stories, and mysteries. Forests were enchanted, or haunted in fairy tales, and I can see why. When you are in a forest it is easy to get lost, to feel disoriented, to be followed. I am sure there were times when to be in a forest was even dangerous. Now though, to be surrounded by trees, for me, is an amazing feeling. Having grown up in Rain Forest environment – Vancouver Island and New Zealand, I feel comfortable in wet, moist, light-filtered, green, and mossy forests. There are days that I yearn for them.
I am happy that this painting seems to keep all these stories, the magic and the beauty of the forest within it.
“Why do you try to understand art? Do you try to understand the song of a bird?”
Pablo Picasso
Sometimes I do need to get out my head. Granted, I do think that you need to THINK about art, and about what you do, but we train our brains to think in only one way, I think we miss out on a lot of the potential our mids can provide. Art, creativity, meditation, prayer, exercise, nature, human experience, struggling through difficulties, practicing virtues, you know… all those other ways of learning, open whole universes to us. And there is learning in simply being witness to something beyond us. This quote reminds me that instead of always trying to figure stuff out, I can simply stand witness to the beauty of a bird’s song, and acknowledge its sweetness. And I can do the same with art.
I also wanted to provide the link so you can get all the recipes we were talking about last week from Real Simple Magazine. Go here.
Oh, and if you want to eat something yummy, try this recipe we talked about in the podcast. Goat Cheese Omelette
I wanted to share a little of what has been going on here on Thursday evenings.
Our little class has been going for six weeks now, and it has been a wonderful experience for me. I have been spending time, getting the space set for a class, tweeking here and there, adding lights, canvases, materials, easles. It now pretty set up, and its one of may favorite places to be.
Our class has started with working on raw canvas, that we stretch ourselves. We were talking last night about the stretching process, and how in art there needs to be some aspect of “labour” and work. You need to manipulate and handle a piece without having to actually “express” yourself, or really be painting the whole time. Its also nice to learn to do, incase you want to stretch your own some time later.
The raw canvas also gives a unique surface to work with. We are using acrylics, but as washes, so they resemble water colour. This way there is an aspect of chance involved, which allows you to remove your inhibitions about whether or not you can “paint”. We also reduce the colour palate and work primarily with a grey that is made of the three primaries. This is a great subtle lesson in colour mixing, as you find out how many versions of grey you can get, and you can tweek the hue by varying the proportions. I find it also creates more sophisticated looking paintings that are rich and subtle in colour. As you can see for yourself.
The students have not really painted before, but it doesnt show in the work. Its so fun to connect, and be creative together.
I look forward to the evening all week, and when I am there it delivers. We have art, we have paint, we have classical music, we have the occasional goodie, a little philosophizing, and lots of tea. Really, how could it go wrong?
I am so excited to introduce this group to you. I want to introduce it, though I may be almost as new to it as you are. But hey, we can learn together right? (oh, and above: that is a pic of some sea shells on the window sill, yearning for summer….)
I want to showcase local Calgary artisits on my blog more. Both so that I can learn about them, and also so I can promote their work. Last week we talked about “the New Gallery” in Eau Claire Market. This week I want to let you know about a local artist group called “Riverview Artists Group”
I am so intrigued by the idea of an artist group. That they support each other, organize shows and push each other in their work. They also do group paintings, where they each start one, and then switch work, so that it becomes a collaborative piece. I love that. They show every month in different places around Calgary. They will have a display up at the Trans Canada Building downtown Oct 19 – 23. I am excited to see it.
I met Terri at the Calgary Mom’s trade Fair. She introduced me to the group. Its so nice when I meet other artists. Working on my own, I get little chance to connect with other painters…
So, here it is, check out the site, the artwork and the show. Let me know what you think about it, leave a comment – and we will be talking about the work on our podcast which will be recorded this thursday night, and online, right here, this friday.
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead.. his eyes are closed.”
Albert Einstein
The mysterious. How I love this idea. “The Ancient Mystery”. When we sit down to paint we are opening our inner spiritual and creative door to that infinite wisdom. And it is mysterious, awe-inspiring and soul stirring.
I dont know what it is in our daily life that forces this feeling out, but it has a hard time keeping afloat it seems. Maybe its a fear of being swept away with wonder, and loosing ourselves in the mystical and superstitious. Or maybe we just dont have time for it. The laundry just is so much more pressing. I think culturally, we prefer the practical over the spiritual or emotional. And that has led us to a society that can’t support artists, that can’t solve its own garbage problem, and well, builds big box centres from hell. (I digress.) But then, the alternative? Absinth, art orgies and buildings that fall down because the architect wanted the “feel” the structure rather than calculate it?
No. No. No. Must we live with such extremes? I think we are beyond that no? Lets put our heads on, and screw our hearts firmly in-place, where they can connect us to the other worlds beyond, can inspire us, and remind us of the beauty of being human.
My friend told me yesterday of something she witnessed while travelling in Rwanda. A young girl had made a violin out of junked tin cans and banana leaves. And she played exquisite music. It speaks to the rising, yearning, pulsing, urge within us to CREATE! and to MAKE! We are driven to love, and to hold, in awe the beauty that we can produce, even if, external to us, we find that mystery lacking.
Find some mystery, and some ancient wisdom today. It is calling you.
truth be told, I haven’t done much painting recently. I go through little spurts of art madness, and then I clean my house. for a few weeks. Right now, Im cleaning.
But that doesnt mean we are not making art.
We did charcoal drawing with the neighborhood kids today. Charcoal is fun. Messy, but the mess can be washed. I used vine charcoal, which smudges better than compressed, but it is more delicate, and doesn’t get as dark. We used ripped paper for negative spaces, tape and eraser. The smudgy part is definitely a hit with all ages. Emery thought the charcoal tasted OK.
I recommend also masking out the border with tape. It makes any drawing look pro. And thats what we’re after – right?
So. You want to go see some art at an art gallery in Calgary – and you’ve got two kids in tow… where can you go?
Said question is one I pose daily.
This weekend we were able to find a little solution.
I have always thought the “Eau Claire market circuit” in an under utilized aspect of Calgary’s core. It just doesnt seem to work into people’s routine… but everytime we go down there, I am always thinking – “wow, why doesnt everyone do this?”
The secret is to park on the north side of the pedestrian bridge off Memorial drive. Its free evenings and weekends. Most people don’t know that. Its so convenient, you can even do an evening picnic and stroll, or its a great way to do a little breakfast on a weekend.
So, you can play in the park, stroll across to Eau Claire Market, play at the indoor park in the food court, and then hit the Artist run center called “the New Gallery” – on your way to get your morning coffee and head home.
Its a perfect morning for everyone, and a great way to see some contemporary art. The gallery is small enough and friendly enough that your kids can come and see the work, without risk of the baby getting lost and eating something valuable.
The show we saw was by Ted Hiebert :” Unbecomings”. It is an interesting photographic work by a First Nations artist. It inspired some discussion with Marcel about animals, myths, and the spirit world.
Oh, and I am going to record my first podcast about art, Calgary and family life. It will be posted this friday.
“Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence. “
- Henri Matisse
I sometimes like to think about the difference between drawing and painting. I am not sure that there is one, but at times I am convinced that I dont want to “draw” with paint – but I want to “paint” with paint. So, then I think, maybe there is.
“Expressive Gesture” sounds like dance. I did a lot of dance in the first half of life. My mom is a dancer. I danced in Vancouver for a spell at the “Western Front” with Peter Bingham. That whole experience was profoundly transformative for me. It was the best therapy, and I felt like I became a full person during that time. The thing I remember Peter saying to me during that difficult time in my life, when I was applying for Grad school, and trying to figure out my own identity was “Never let anyone jeopardize the integrity of what you do.” I was so stunned that a person could formulate a sentence like that in casual conversation, and I wasn’t really sure what he meant, that I remembered it, and reflect on it still today.
Anyone who has done some improv dance may say that it had profoundly affected them. Improv dance, or acting, is like practice for living. And I guess, painting, or drawing, is improv, with the advantage of being able to keep a record of it. Thats a lovely thought – Matisse. Thanks.
And, yes. The socks were his choice.
there are days, like today, that I cant believe how lucky I am to be doing what I do. I mean for a job. Somehow, the universe has created a little micro-planet on which I can paint, be with my babes, teach art to amazing people, design projects, and just live my dream…(and receive an income from it.) Growing up in a family of artists and creative visionaries, who didnt always fall into the 9-5 salaried reality, I feel so much more comfortable living like this. And I find so much joy, knowing that my work is valued, needed, supported, and funded by amazing souls who I have connected with.
I love what I do…(did I just say that?)
I am gushing… Im sorry – did I just gush all over this post. Well, sometimes it just has to be done. Lets leave it at that.
(man, I love this…)
so I finally birthed this one.
It took me all week. Thats what that last post was all about. I repainted it twice. I bet you didn’t think you could do that with watercolor did you? Well, neither did I. But I am glad I did, because I am really like the aged, warm affect it gives. I actually think it will replace one of the other ones I did for the Happy Harbor show.
Nature-mom gets energized in a tree. I was going to call this “sometimes I need a break” but mamma looks more heroic than when I started. So now its something like “My mom loves nature”. I like the way she sort of resembles a U.S.S.R. propaganda poster. Thats just rad.
There’s lots going on around here. Em has a new tooth, Marcel new shoes.
I think Im gonna go for a well-treed walk tonight. I love nature too.
a big pile of soft wool to sew all our winter clothes. in the above colors of course. Im dreaming of raw edges, simple lines, soft fabric and lots of layers. no hemming, or surging, just straight lines. we’ll all match.
wishing for world peace.
(If you dont put that near the top of your wish list, you wont get anything else. Its Karma.)
wishing for a few more days of summer before snow.
wishing for lots a birthdays with my boys
wishing for happy births and babies for all my pregnant friends
wishing for the sweet cuddles in the morning with my babies to never end
wishing for some good paintings to come out of my hands, heart and mind in he next few weeks.
wishing to make good, heart felt connections with people at the trade show tomorrow
theres this zing, when I am paitning, and its going so well, and it happens so fast, and it feels so great to just get the paint on, and every stroke just…uh…
every stroke just feels so… uh…
AAAAHHH, no!!! I dodnt meant to put that there!
no!! erase, erase, earse, EERASSE!!!
OK, its OK, I can just get it wet, and rub it off…
there.
Now just paint a little more colour – ugh! no! ITS ALL GOING BLACK NOOOO!!!
take a look from a distance.
yup. Its smudged, it looks flat, black. Its ruined. I ruined it. I cant paint. What’s everyone going to think? WHy do I even bother trying to do something like this?
YUP. I have been there. I get there all the time. The cool thing is the recent times I have been there, I have been able to calm myself, from ripping the paper up and trying again. The urge is to just look away. Especially if its a painting that I was loving at first. Actually I always love them at first. Its rare that I don’t ever get to some “OH @$#@$” point in a painting. I’ve been finding ways to get creative with the mess. Take new risks, seeing as its pretty much looking awful anyways. Find ways to work the darks darker, even rub out an entire piece. Working through these panicky feelings can take a few days, but so therapeutic. Its so lovely to face oneself like this. daily. What’s that saying? “Do something everyday that scares you.” There’s nothing more scary than a blank piece of paper, and sound of the incessant internal voice. I dare you to face it.
Thats why I love watching Marcel paint. He’s absolutely fearless.
