I love that Flora uses the terms “spiraling in” and spiraling out”, referring to moving in to the canvas and getting lost in the details of the process and then moving back away to get a bigger and much different perspective. This process parallels what is occurring for me in my work. And what I recognize is that most of what I do is spent spiraled WAY in. I often have Magni-Focusers on my head so that I can see minute details just inches from my nose. So it is no wonder that a process that has me stepping way back and loosening up is a good challenge for me…and it has many uncomfortable moments. The first few steps in this process were relatively easy as I did not have to make any sense of anything, but rather just get some layers of paint on the canvas. It was fun. Now I am getting to the place where I need to start making some decisions about where I go with this. And I feel a bit perplexed. I want to accomplish two things – to bring some of my own style and imagery (which is very precise and tight) into the process AND retain some of what I am learning in this new and very loose style. I think I have quite the paradox on my hands. These shots show week 3 and 4 in the Bloom True class:
Some details from this last painting that I am liking:
In the midst of painting all these big canvases and learning to loosen up I had the opportunity to attend a calligraphy class put on by our Warmland Calligraphers group. The wonderful Barbara Close came to visit from California and shared with us her Textured Letters process. So, I found myself with my nose just inches from the page yet again. And, it is very apparent this is my comfort zone. Feels like something I can do with my eyes closed….just SO familiar. Now…if I could only figure out a way to combine the two! Must work on that.
Gifted with a perpetually curious mind, I am always enamored with learning something new. And given that I have bemoaned my inability to loosen up when it comes to painting, I was thrilled to find that one of my favorite artists was offering an online version of her painting class. Flora Bowley is a creative sage hidden in a young woman’s body; an old soul. I know this now, having had the opportunity to participate in her Bloom True e-course. The wisdom that she shares goes far beyond a painting process to uncovering the depths of our intuitive voice. I marvel at this from such a relatively young person. I share here the progress made so far on two large canvases. While the process has been very enjoyable – intuitive play at it’s finest…it also has pushed my critical, analytical mind to take a back seat. A good thing. There really is no value in judging these canvases in the state they are in all along the way. It only drives you nuts to try and make sense of them, to evaluate and make plans for where they are headed. So, just as Flora encourages….we must “trust the process.” Any attempts to critically examine, are a frustration…and an intrusion, quite frankly, on what is pure creative joy and abandon.
The first canvas began with fluid acrylics dripped on and then sprayed with water and allowed to run. Then we alternated with cool and warm layers. The last layer shown is the addition of value contrast by way of white and black.
Canvas 1 – Layer 1
Canvas 1 – Layer 3
Canvas 1 – Layer 4 – Adding Value contrast – Black and White
The second canvas began with a blind-folded painting session to music, painted with our hands. Subsequent layers followed the same process as above.
Canvas 2 – Layer 1
Canvas 2 – Layer 3
Canvas 2 – Layer 4 – Adding Value contrast – Black and White
And now the adventure continues. Another layer to follow involves the addition of transparent paint. And the next exercise has us digging out our sketchbooks. Great creative fuel. Many thanks goes to Flora and Beth of Do What You Love for bringing this creative journey to us all. It’s not too late to join the fun – the next one starts June 11/12. You can find more information here.
“If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you, and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.”
- T. Alan Armstrong
My lovely new friend Lesley has this quote in her email signature line. I love it. I am trying to live it at this very moment. I say “trying”, because following your passion is scary sometimes. No guarantees, very little idea of what the future holds, lots of unknowns and fears. It’s not necessarily a secure feeling place. Yet, I feel it is a necessity for me. Like breathing. And so, I AM making choices to follow my passion. I AM executing the “steps” I believe are involved in this endeavor, however slowly it seems to me at times. It’s just my mind (substitute ‘ego’) that gets in the way…and claims to be “trying” to follow a passion. I am on the path….my mind is slow in catching up to the idea. Kind of like dragging along the unwilling.
So for me, to read stories of others who bravely crash through their own minds’ limitations and follow their passions, is a soothing and inspiring balm for my skittish mind/ego. Perhaps a bit like a hot Rusty Nail on a cold and stormy night.
Lesley has done just that…written a book about the creative women in the Cowichan Valley. There was not one woman who’s fascinating story did not make me want to meet them if I had not already. I feel so fortunate to live in a place that is teaming with creativity and independence and non-conformity and strength and sustainability and inspiration and, and, and…I’ve said it before, I feel like I’ve found my tribe.
If you are in need of some inspiration, check it out – Lesley’s wonderful book is here:
“You’re not the creator of a painting…you’re the creator of the moment of being a painter…” Profound words! Sit back, close your eyes, and listen deeply. Let the words sink in.
A New Year brings new thoughts, reflections, ideas, and focus. I use the word “focus” lightly, as I’m not one to get focused easily. For me, the things I do are completely organic. Like they have a life of their own and no matter how much I want them to get done, sometimes it feels like they conspire against me to be completed. And so, in previous years when I think of what I want moving forward, of a word I might choose to focus on, the word “Begin” has been rattling around for me for the past 2 years. The thinking for me has always been that I can avoid putting things off by just BEGINNING. “Jump in and dig your way out,” my family would say. Ironically I’m quite good at beginning….not so good at finishing. I start projects, and then things happen and sometimes I don’t get back to them until much, much later..sometimes months, sometimes years, sometimes not even yet. So perhaps “begin” is not the word to overcome procrastination. Upon reflection I also note that “begin” is a “doing word”. I am cursed with the “Doing Sickness”. Always obsessing over what I must get done. Feeling like I’m not doing enough. It’s brutal pressure – all this doing, doing, doing. No time for just BEING.
So, as I’m ruminating on all this, I notice that a project I started in 2010 to paint my “Word for the Year – BEGIN”, based on Jill Berry’s Artfest project, can also be rearranged to “BEING”. That’s a far better energy to put oneself in. I know this of course from practice. My creative work, once I settle in to it, is always from a place of mindful “being”. It’s just the rest of my life (mostly my “monkey-mind” thinking) that is too easily hung up on doing.
Today as I was pondering all this I inadvertently stumbled upon a blog post – a project really, by Lisa at Life Unity. It’s called the Wild Elephant Project. She is working her way through a book called “How to Train a Wild Elephant and Other Adventures in Mindfulness” by Jan Chozen Bays. It looks intriguing, and maybe something good for me to try….so I read on. The first exercise is to “use your non-dominant hand for ordinary tasks each day.” And, instantly resistance roars in my head, I feel my guts get tight. My mind protests, “That’s ridiculous. I don’t have time for that. I have things I need to get done. I guess I’ll just have to skip this exercise and wait to see what the next one is.” Sigh…what can I say – I’m a work in progress. I’m encouraged by the simple fact that at least I am aware in the moment of the nonsense of my own monkey-mind, and I catch it before it derails me….this time. Determined, I will hang out with Lisa and her Wild Elephant Project for awhile and see what it might teach me…after all, I need all the help I can get…and there is such inspiration in sharing a journey with others. Care to join me on a Mindfulness trip?
I’ve needed to put together a portfolio for some time now and I keep putting it off. Probably because I had in my mind only the typical portfolio book with lined pages full of photographs and paper based CV, Bio and Artist Statement. It just seemed like putting together a scrapbook – really uninspiring for me. I have purposely avoided scrap-booking. Too many expensive supplies, and well, the whole thing makes me feel terribly inadequate with regards to how I display my photographs. Anyway, I digress. I stumbled upon a deal with Blurb and was intrigued. I heard about them before, but didn’t make the connection to creating a portfolio. This time I explored the idea a bit more and decided it would be great to try. So, I used their 7″x7″ format, chose a high quality gloss paper and soft cover, and decided to try their downloadable software to create the book. BookSmart turned out to be really easy to use. There were lots of pre-loaded text and image templates to start with and lots of flexibility in manipulating those templates. So, it made the layout and design process really quick. I had considered creating my own design with Adobe Indesign which would have given me complete control and flexibility, however it would also have taken me a ton more time.
In the end I was happy with what I created with BookSmart. I ordered a few copies to have available whenever I need to show my work to anyone interested in seeing what I’m up to. I’m really happy with the result and the quality of the end product is fantastic. It’s a really professional looking little portfolio.
The one thing I would have liked to be able to do is create a pdf version to have available electronically. Adobe Indesign would have given me the ability to save it in pdf format. BookSmart, however, only saves a pdf version with a non-removable watermark through all the pages. What Blurb has done recently though is to add the option of an ebook purchase on their site. So, you can purchase the epub file, readable on iBooks or other epub readers for 1.99 – a great price. The conversion is still not perfect though. Some of my fonts were substituted, which isn’t a huge deal for me, but the images I had saved as png files (in order to have a transparent background) printed all funny. I’ve sent a note to the folks at Blurb, but have yet to hear back. Not sure how much control they have over that issue.
So, all in all, I’m really happy with the paper copies of my portfolio and those that have seen it have been quite impressed. I think it’s a great option for an artist’s portfolio, and it sure is easier to carry around with you than the standard full size black binder-style portfolio. You can see a few more of the inside pages here on the Blurb website.
Busy day in the studio yesterday. I completed this new copper, glass and leather piece just in time for Christmas sales. (Drop me a note if you’re dying to have it before it hits the show! I’ll have it up on Etsy too in a week or so.)
It wasn’t without a little trepidation and breath-holding though as I built the copper rivet to hold the glass heart in place. Thankfully, it worked beautifully. It began the day before playing around with flat, disc-like glass shapes. And then continued yesterday forging the copper components once the idea found me.
Detail - focal and bale
All copper was then patinated and buffed and polished. Finishing touches were added to the back of the pendant to add a bit of character from behind.
Detail - Clasp
I have this in my imagination….that some terribly romantic guy will be thrilled… (completely OVER the moon I tell you,) to find such a treasure to give to the love of his life…and tell her, “I Love You To The Moon and Back.” *sigh*
Yes, some part of me is completely sappy…and that’s OK.
I recently participated in an event organized by Victoria artist Cathy Key called YouCube. Artists from ages 5 to 67 joined together for community, creativity and inspiration. My kind of event. 108 artists in total took on the challenge to paint a cube, and in the process considered 6 reflections. These are the questions posed and my response for each:
1. What stops you?
2. What inspires or nourishes you?
I’m inspired by a lot of things. But lately, the writings of Joseph Campbell have my attention. I’ve recently taken several DVDs and his book, “Hero of a Thousand Faces” out of the library. And I can’t wait for the movie “Finding Joe” to hit theaters here in Canada. (Lucky you in the US – it opened Sept. 30 Go now and see it!) This includes several Joseph Campbell quotes and an image from the movie’s site:
3. Who or what has had a negative influence on your life?
4. Who or what has had a positive influence on your life?
I am fortunate to have parents that provided an incredibly positive and stable environment for me to grow up in. To this day, my dad is full of stories that uplift anyone who has the patience to listen. One of his long time quotes he often shares is, “You’re A Long Time Dead” Translation: Carpe Diem! Don’t wait to do the things you’ve always wanted to do….get doing them now….why?…because, You’re A Long Time Dead, of course.
5. Create a self portrait
Funny…..I’m always so much skinnier in my self-portraits!
6. What is your biggest dream or aspiration for yourself and/or the world?
I am encouraged by and a bit in awe of the work of Brene Brown and have shared her work often with corporate groups I have presented Wellness Workshops to. She is a researcher and story-teller who looks at shame, empathy and vulnerability (to name a few), and found within her years of research that vulnerability was both at the root of shame, fear and anxiety, and it was also the birthplace of connection and joy, creativity, and love. I believe her work to be a profound insight for us all, and so I wanted to reflect that here:
Some details from this last painting that I am liking:
