New Respect

As of yesterday, I have a new respect for all you non-representational artists out there. It's a lot harder than it looks to design and create a truly interesting, engaging painting out of pure imagination. I learned this by trying to do it myself. On a very large canvas. I'm now heading to the art supply store (in a snow storm, no less!) to buy a very large jar of gesso and a few more tubes of paint. My next attempt will be much simpler.

New Book

Looking for some solid advice on developing yourself as an artist? My friend Sam Adoquei has just published a new book called How Successful Artists Study. Sam is a fantastic painter and teacher, with a long and successful career in both areas. His book is full of insightful, thought-provoking advice for artists of all levels on how to move forward as professional artists. Some of the topics he covers include the stages of artistic development, finding a mentor, drawing, color, style, taste, and so much more. It's also loaded with dozens of wonderful paintings by Sam and many other contemporary and historical masters. I recommend adding this book to your art library by contacting Sam directly through his website (http://www.samadoquei.com/books.php) or ordering from Amazon.

How Do You Make Your Art Personal?

I had a really interesting conversation with my dear friend and art guru Tina last night, which brought up a lot of questions in my mind. We were talking about the qualities that make some works of art feel really personal, as if they came right from the artist's heart. What are those qualities? When I think of the pieces that move me the most, it's rarely the degree of realism or the technical proficiency demonstrated by the artist. But what are those elusive qualities?

This brought us to another point of discussion: What questions should an artist ask herself or himself while painting, especially when finishing a painting, that will make the work truly personal and meaningful? Obviously, the questions What did I want to say with this? and Have I effectively said it? must be asked. But what else?

I'm curious to hear your ideas!!

When Technique Becomes Gimmick

I think we all enjoy discovering new techniques, and when we find one that yields great results we love to use it again and again. It's especially easy to do with watercolors because that adaptive medium lends itself to so many innovative paint applications. Personally, I'm in love with the palette knife--I can find so many ways to use it to add texture to my oil paint.

Awhile back, though, someone said that my reliance on palette knife work had reached the point of being a gimmick. What?! Me?! Gimmicky?! I was mortified to think that my work was becoming cliche. I immediately stopped using the tool I loved, and pushed myself to explore other techniques.

Recently, however, I picked up my beloved palette knife once again, only with a new depth of meaning. Without going into a lot of detail, I feel that this tool and the ways I'm using it actually contribute to the content and message of my paintings. The technique has purpose beyond making the surface look more interesting. And that, I've decided, is what will keep any technique from becoming a gimmick.

To Life, To Life, L'Chaim

Artists are natural-born observers, and from our observations we make art. But that doesn't mean we can sit on the sidelines, only observing. We have to immerse ourselves, dive in, get dirty, wade through all life's many complications to make truly great art. Barbara Kingsolver says it best in her new novel The Lacuna when she has Frida Kahlo say these words: "[An artist] needs to go rub his soul against life." 

All that life has brought me I'm thankful for. I've rubbed my soul against it, and I'm ready to make some art. You?

Words to Ponder

I just wanted to check in with everyone and say hi! Still working on setting up the new apartment and studio. I'm going to need better lighting. Any ideas? And before I go, here's a good quote to consider:

A sincere artist is not one who makes a faithful attempt to put on to canvas what is in front of him, but one who tries to create something which is, in itself, a living thing.

--William Dobell

On the Move

In case you're wondering why I haven't blogged in awhile, I've been busy moving to a new apartment. Now, my friend Rosemary says that moving is one of Dante's levels of hell, but I'm actually enjoying it. This move, like everything else this year, is proving to be wonderfully cathartic.

I actually started preparing about two months ago. With past moves, I've usually waited til the last minute and then had full-blown emotional meltdowns from the stress so I was determined to do things differently this time. So after finding my new digs, I started collecting boxes and packing up things. When I got down to it, I realized I could pack at least half the stuff in my apartment because I could easily live without it. That gave me pause. If I can live without something for two months, why do I need it at all?

Then came last Saturday, when the movers discovered that yet another slew of boxes (containing stuff I just had to keep in the last move but that I've been living without for the last three years) came out of the storage unit in the basement crawling with mold. Several of the boxes went straight to the trash, and you know what? It turns out that I didn't need that stuff either.

So now I'm sitting in my new living room, barely able to get to the computer desk with all the piles of stuff surrounding me, and I can't wait to open every single box. I'm looking forward to pulling it all out and going through it and sending a good chunk of this stuff on to new lives with friends or strangers or maybe the nearest recycling center or dump. Because I have a new lease on life this year, and it's given me a powerfully new way to look at everything in my life, be it stuff or thoughts or beliefs.

This year I have learned to ask, Is this serving me well? And if not, why am I hanging on to it? And if I'm not ready to let go of it right this minute but I know I should, what do I need to do to prepare myself to let go? It's so easy to go from day to day, not really examining what's stuffed inside our closets, our drawers, our minds, and our hearts. It's so easy to walk the same steps we've always walked before without ever asking if there's a better route. But this year I was forced to stop that, I've been forced to look and listen and change and let go. And I'm so much better for it. I'll be even better for letting go of a lot of this stuff.

When you free up space, there is room for better ways, healthier thoughts, more creativity. I'm clearing a dance floor in my home and within myself, and baby, I'm ready to dance.