Creating abstract art is akin to a visual conversation, a sensational dance. Today is the first day of a new series of blog posts which I plan to continue almost daily for the next month.

(Transitions #3, 30x40, acrylic on canvas)

Each painting begins with patches of transparent washes intermingled with opaque passages, a continuous give and take, to and fro, between colors, textures created with bristles or scratching...a process, a development, a discovery unfolding before me...and before I start to edit and stiffle the moment, the mood, the experience, I stand back and sense the peace and satisfaction of the creation.

I hope you join me on this journey, this visual conversation as it unfolds...

This past weekend the 5enses participated in the 2nd annual North Shore Art Crawl in North and West Vancouver. Although the crowds weren't huge, maybe because of the gorgeous weather, there was constant traffic of interested crawlers.

 

At the crawl, it was great to be able to exhibit our work and share some business know-how with other emerging artists and art appreciaters!

 

I joined Catherine Fields in her studio where I come weekly to paint. Her beautiful studio has great light, open space, an outdoor patio where we eat in the summer and a window seat to relax with your tea as you take in a painting in progress.

 

We also displayed some of our pottery and our gift cards...the dark chocolate was a big hit!

 

Lori Bagneres (center), another 5enses' member, joined us on Sunday, with her moon series and nest series of paintings.

 

 

Thank you to all those interested visitors and young artists who attended. I know as an artist how important it is to get into the public, show your work, connect with people about your process and your journey!

 

 

I'm amazed at the parallels between the teachings I just received in a directed studies with Steven Aimone and John Daido Loori's inspiring book The Zen of Creativity.

(Musings, 12x36 Acrylic on canvas)

According to John Daido Loori each artist expresses through art their unique way of experiencing life. Steven Aimone's version of this is "art is a metaphor for life".

Steven Aimone teaches in his book Expressive Drawing how to free up your mind, and intuitively let go and draw/paint automatically, without thinking. Make your marks, then step back, look at what you have done and when you feel the urge to move in again, continue adding, masking, veiling, then retreat, and continue in this manner until you are satisfied with your work.

Loori defines 'chi' as the energy contained in us, the breath, the spirit, the power and how in the act of expression, the artist steps out of the way and let's the art happen by itself. He says that in the creative process, as long as the energy is strong, the process continues. It may take minutes or hours. As long as you feel chi peaking and flowing, let it run its course, allow the flow without attempting to edit, judge, name, analyze, understand.

Both these teachers emphasize the need to trust yourself and trust your process. Your way of experiencing the world is unique and you are trying, as an artist, to give voice to this unique experience. Powerful stuff!

 

I just returned from a wonderful week-long workshop with Steven Aimone, thanks to Mary Stewart at Vancouver Island Art Workshops.

It's difficult to put in words my experience last week, though thought-provoking, nurturing, challenging, uplifting, community-building and special begin to describe it. Steven encouraged us to develop and pursue a mission for the week and also dig deep to find the essence of why we make art. My new artist statement under my photo to the right is the current draft.

My discoveries and resolutions from the workshop: Own my process. Develop a practice of daily painting. Trust my work. Be present. 

My good friend and fellow 5enses artist Catherine Fields and I set up our "studio" spaces side-by-side in the large community hall and started to work.

The creative energy in the room was palpable as the 12 artists creating alongside us inspired, provoked and revealed.

Here the effervescent Eve Llyndorah layers her large canvases and Helen Webster adds details to hers. 

From gestural drawing the essence of the horse was mesmerizing in Jeanne Aten's work,

while Susan Stitt's more graphic designs bursted forth!

Across the room Lisa Danesin created what felt like spontaneous flowing work from controlled drawing. Amazing!

The lone American in the group, poetic and grounded Leslie Miller produced textured meditative beauties!

Barbara Scott worked non-stop producing wondrous works that took my breath away,

Gabriola Island artist Mary Tougas' black and white gestural work sang

and Port Alberni native Gale Cyr's varied works touched my heart!

I wish to thank the whole group for their help, their words of wisdom and their encouragement on my journey of discovery. Namaste to Steven for creating this atmosphere for growth.

 

 

 

(At a crossroads, 8x8 acrylic)

I just got back from a week in Laguna Beach, California...what a great artist colony, filled with sun, heat, blue ocean and skies, and loads of Art!

My holiday was nestled perfectly in time between a busy winter of painting and an upcoming week-long intensive workshop in Nanaimo with one of my mentor's Steven Aimone (hence the appropriately titled work above, which will be showing at U8 in Kelowna April 5-15).

Apart from relaxing with family and friends and reading a great book about a young struggling artist in Paris (Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda, 2004), I spent a few days walking the gallery strip and stumbling upon some wonderful artists' work.

The JoAnne Artman Gallery was exhibiting beautiful work by America Martin.

In the Sue Greenwood Fine Art gallery I found a number of artists whose work I really loved.

This is an example of Amber Goerge's luscious encausetic work.

Maurice Gray's mixed media work was mesmerizing. I especially loved a little 3-D house he'd done.

At Salt Fine Art I discovered Panamanian artist Olga Sinclair's colorful mixed media works

and Mexican-born LA artist Victor Hugo Zayas' oils and sculptures.

The Laguna Art Museum was also having a retrospective of Zayas' paintings and gun-metal sculptures and an interesting exhibit of Postwar Era From the Collection 1945-1980.

Last but not least, I ventured up the Pacific Coast Highway to Newport Beach to visit The Orange County Museum, which just happened to be showing one of my favorite American painters Richard Diebenkorn's Ocean Park Series. What a thrill to see his huge canvasses up close!

I love his wide open spaces, his layers and underlayers, his philosophy of trial and error, process, and discovery, and am in awe of his versatility as a figurative and abstract artist.

This trip has put me in a great position for my workshop...open to new ideas, new discoveries and space on the canvas!

Stay-tuned!

 

 

 

 

 

(Here and Now, 36x36, Acrylic)

It's amazing to me the power and energy and momentum that gathers when you think and act outside of the box!

The box I'm referring to is the studio, the room in which most artists spend a great deal of time working at the easel, chiseling away, honing their craft. And yet if that's all you think there is and you don't "move outside the box" you will miss out on so many opportunities to share, connect and help or be helped by others. 

I came across two amazing sites this week about artists helping other artists on the internet. The first of these is called Daily Paintworks hosted by Carole Marine and her husband David.

They have created a website where you can view artists daily works, you can post your own daily works which appear in your own gallery on your blog or website and their latest addition which is called ArtBytes.

ArtBytes are lessons in bite-size formats that are either free or for a reasonable cost that once you buy are yours to keep. They include text, photos and videos. Right now the ArtBytes are all by Carole who apparently is an amazing teacher, and they want to include other artist-teachers' lessons in the future. A great concept for anyone interested in learning, whether you live in the US or afar...that's thinking outside the box!

The other site I've been enjoying this week is called Artists Helping Artists hosted by Leslie Saeta. This is a free online weekly art show on blogtalk radio. Leslie shares ideas for selling your work online, interviews other artists, gallerists, and those savvy on the business of art.

Last week's episode was a topic close to me on starting your career later in life. I also listened to a conversation with Carole Marine about her website and her new ArtBytes (!) and to one with the infamous Robert Genn. Next I want to check out the one on understanding the new Timeline on Facebook and internet marketing faux-pas.

Most of the shows are about an hour long, so can be listened to while you prep canvases, tidy your studio or edit your photos!

Lastly I wanted to share the video my fellow 5enses artist Therese Joseph made of our group when we ventured outside our boxes and into Delany's for a show.

Do you venture outside your box?

 

 

 

 

(Queen for a day, 48x36, mixed media)

A couple of weeks ago I decided I needed some help with an artist statement for my latest series, so I purchased and downloaded Alyson Stanfield's Nail Your Artist Statement and began the 20-day journaling course. It really set me in motion to reflect and examine where I've come from as an artist, who my influences are and why I paint what I paint!

What I found really interesting was that for day 13 and 14 we had to arrange to meet and chat with at least one person (the more the better!) who wasn't that familiar with my work so that I could see what their reactions are and questions as to why I do what I do. This really opened up my eyes to how others might see my work, how they understand or don't!! Thanks Alyson!

Coincidentally I happened upon Seth Apter's blog and new book entitled The Pulse of Mixed Media, wherein Seth interviews and highlights the secrets and passions of 100 artists. I plan to purchase the book because as I read about some of the artists he's spotlighting on his blog, I connect immediately! Two in particular: Donna Watson and Bridgette Guerzon Mills I love and have been following for a while.

Why do you do what you do?

 

 

 

 

(Joie de vivre, mixed media, 24x20)

This past weekend we had a little visitor stay with us, 2 year old Zoe and her mom, from Calgary. It's been a while since a tiny person has inhabited our walls now that my sons are 6 feet plus following suit with my husband. What it made me realize is that there is so much to discover with a little one around, so many new mysteries, new words, new foods and glorious, precious moments!

This is the true essence of the art I am trying to create...one that exemplifies discovery, mystery, journey, process. Connecting with life, really. The everyday moments that are captured if you pay attention, focus on the little things in life. The joys of discovery...the joie de vivre! That is what I would like people to enjoy in my work...the mysteries of color contrasts, translucency and opacity, the emotion related to color and the invitation to see something new each time you visit a painting.

What do you see in my paintings?

(Dark and Dreamy, 36x36 acrylic on canvas)

It's been a bit of a dreary February here in Vancouver, however my house is filled with color! Last week for my birthday I received tulips from three sets of friends, white roses from a visiting cousin and today a beautiful orchid...I love it!! I think it's at times like this that it's so important to stimulate the senses!!

As you might know the 5enses, with whom I paint and exhibit, are currently showing in two venues on the North Shore of Vancouver, trying to stimulate both Centennial Theatre-goers senses during intermission and Delany coffee lovers over their daily java!

According to the latest issue of my favorite magazine Whole Living it's important to awaken your senses to boost your brain power! "Throw open a window, take in the sounds and smells of the world around you...and by doing so you are actively using the sensory parts of our brains, which means blood is flowing to those areas, keeping them robust."

(Joan Mitchell, Before, Again II, 1985)

Then today while reading Patricia Albers' Lady Painter A Life, I learned a new word: synesthesia. It's an involuntary neurological condition, unlearned and hard-wired from birth, whereby there is sensory cross-wiring in the brain. So some people with this condition see smells, others smell sights, taste shapes or experience pain as color. Fascinating and mind-boggling! And famous Abstract Expressionist Joan Mitchell is apparently one of these synesthetes who saw colored letters. I can just imagine how that would affect your whole experience of life!

So smell the flowers, listen to the birds and stimulate your brain!

 

 

Red is the color of the month.

It represents love and passion. For me the connections to red are endless as Valentine's Day is so close to my birthday. Every year my mother made me a heart-shaped cake. It's been my favorite color for a long time. I wear red lipstick everyday and my wedding cape come-Vancouver-winter-wear is crimson. My hair is auburn.

I love the vibrancy of pyrrole red, the warmth of cadmium, the coolness of rose-red and the joy of orange red ...they have all made their way into my art work as captured in the medley of paintings I "released" last year!

I love Henri Matisse's Red Studio,

Richard Diebenkorn's Small Red abstract

and Seated Woman in red,

and Robert Rauschenberg's abstract collage.

Happy Valentine's Day to all!