Past

 Recently my husband asked me if I remembered when I first had a studio. He could not place when I really began this creative journey and neither could I. Delving into the past we stumbled around in the dark for a while.

 

Celebrating the past 39 years

Considering we just celebrated thirty-nine years of marriage, the stumbling is not especially surprising. In spite of the effort, a look at the past is valuable in that it can give us a new perspective. I tend to be quite negative about my accomplishments and what I feel I have yet to do. It has been quite a ride.

Constructing an easel

In the beginning I was very determined to be what I was told was a waste of time. I remember constructing an easel for myself shortly after I left my family of origin. I found giving myself permission to paint was an entirely different and more difficult task. The past can be a prison.

Painting the past

Once I met and married the love of my life, he encouraged me to re-enter the creative world. So I stepped into a few workshops and was told I ought to be teaching them rather than taking them. Gaining more confidence, I allowed a small corner table in a bedroom where I was more concerned about soiling the linens and the floor than about painting. Here I produced a vignette of my husband’s past and gave it to him as a present.

 

Photo (Empty Dreams/le vainqueur)

More teaching than painting

We moved to a different community in which I allowed myself a day off per week from running a household and taking care of our four children. In this place I took on a space, an old classroom in which I could paint and teach. I entered a few competitions with some of my past paintings and won some prizes. My creative space, however, remained more of a teaching venue than a studio.

 

Overwhelming past issues

Past issues overwhelmed me in our next town. Only another small corner in a rented room gave me the space where I could paint a little. I took on a small watercolour commission and taught a few community classes.

 

Moving past limitations

Ten years into our marriage and in a new province, I moved into the garage. Another ten years brought a rented space where I could paint murals. My own work began to grow from small studies to large canvases as I had discovered big! The past had less of a hold on me and I paid for everything with teaching and commissions. My personal production rate remained one or two paintings per year.

 

Mastermind

What kicked me into gear was my mastermind whom I met in 2010. They challenged me to move past my wounds and step into professionalism. Seven paintings in seven weeks. Thankfully, I had just stared planning my first series. Seven paintings in six weeks proved not to be impossible. Most of them were large pieces, 40x60”, 56x40”, 30x60” for example. I was flabbergasted. Although my desire had been to be a professional artist, I had never given myself permission to be.

 

Happy in a garage

I am still in a garage. As a result, I do not pay rent. I have regular hours with a display space and a workspace. My dream come true. Unlike past years, I do give myself permission to be and it is a wonderful place to begin a new year. Happy New Year everyone!

Attitude

Our state of mind often determines whether we receive challenges with ease or with trepidation. Fortunately, our attitude lies within our control.

To begin with, it seems as if reactions are uncontrollable. first of all, I must recognize the consequences within me of the thoughts and ideas around me. I get to choose which wolf to feed. My attitude depends on whether or not I feed the wolf of fear. 

While I recognize the long period of time it has taken to change my attitude from fear to confidence, I celebrate the peace I enjoy today. I welcome this period of isolation as it gives me time to reflect on the most important issues of the day. I get to choose where to put my energy. 

A global pandemic awakens the world to new possibility. We could build a new world instead of rebuilding the old one. Obviously, the old one is not working anymore anyway. Yet in order to rebuild we need an attitude of adventure embracing possibility.

Certainly, in the art world things are changing rapidly. There is little doubt it will never be the same. It could be better. Amidst the closing museum, galleries and festivals new venues are opening. For an interesting discussion on these topics listen to the Art Angle Podcast.

The attitude of solidarity grows as we reach out to connect in new ways. People have power in solidarity. The solution lies in the ground swell of those demanding a more equitable distribution of wealth. Protecting our planet and its resources also comes to the fore. Creating a circular economy becomes priority.

We live in exciting times. Let us embrace the new and the miracle of possibility. A positive attitude will lead us to new ideas and new solutions. In the meantime, rest. Reconnect. Open to the possible. Celebrate. All is well.

Naming Work

There is some discussion about whether or not one should name a painting or a drawing or an installation. Abstracts are often numbered. I like choosing a name. Often, I am told, it allows the viewer to get in the door. Sometimes is closes it. This image came to me while I was meditating one morning. Having a sketchbook beside my bed I leaned over to record the inspiration before continuing contemplation. It stayed in my sketchbook for some time, incubating. This week I decided to develop it as a linocut. I printed around forty images. They are all different. I am in the process of editing (ripping up the less desirable ones). My intention is to enter a certain competition, an ongoing occupation. And the name? To begin with I chose “Never Alone”. Having sat with that for a while I became increasingly aware of the negative energy around ‘never’. Although the image can be challenging my intention is to share the hope. Sometimes I feel all alone, even in a crowd. I am sure everyone experiences this at various times while living life. I have come to know, however, the feeling is fleeting and false. I am not alone. I am “Beloved”. Life is good. 

P.S.

Don't miss the JazzArt event at Bonnie Doon Community League (9240 93 St Edmonton) this Saturday at 7pm. Should be fun.   

Final Touches

Adding code number for each painting

Checking for unwanteds under the glass

Securing the image and adding the wire

My husband is my biggest fan. He is also an analytical mathematician who loves working with numbers. When I announced I had finished my eleven paintings for CAVA he celebrated with me and thought I was done… Last Friday he asked me what framing all involves… Indeed. Watercolours need protection. The framing does not take long if one has all the ingredients at hand. I had checked some time ago and ordered ten new frames as I already had a few on my shelves. Most of them were silver and I wanted to show them in black. It looks far more professional if all the frames are the same style and the same colour in a show. The glass was abundant. There is a case on another shelf waiting to be emptied. I had forgotten about the matting until last week so I cut some scraps and had them belevel cut at my frame shop. Should be everything… Luckily I did have the other needed supplies such as acid free tape, window cleaner and bandaids. Glass is sharp on the edges and I usually get at least one nick. So everything is ready to deliver on Wednesday and I can turn my attention to other things… like mixed media! Life is good.

Just a reminder:
Two concurrent upcoming shows this week!

En plein air

The French language uses far less capital letters than English. What does the title mean? One translation is: out in the open air. That is where I have been spending a lot of my time lately, capturing the lovely fall colours around Edmonton. We live in a very beautiful city, the weather magnificent. That being said, what does one do with rain when using watercolours for en plein air? Watercolours are my favorite medium for outdoors at present… Eventually I decided one of the essential ingredients for the exercise is my camera. Once I have located what I consider to be an interesting spot (usually having to do with negative spaces!) I take a photo. I never know if I will be able to finish the painting while on site or not. Usually it takes me about two hours for a quarter sheet of paper (11”x15”). I have been rained out, timed out and chilled out (yes, I am a wimp!). In the rain, the first thing I do is protect what I have already painted. I carry an empty plastic bag for the occasion. My equipment is simple and therefore very easily packed up for the trip home. Takes about five minutes plus the walk from wherever I might have wandered… In my studio I load the picture I took onto my computer and install full screen. This is much better than a print. Now if only I could glue the shadows in place so they would not move… Life is good. 

P.S. The en plein air paintings are the ingredients for my upcoming show at CAVA, opening November 6th. Yah, I know... last minute.

After Frame

Some artists wonder what to do with a drawing or painting after it has been taken out of the frame. With watercolours and mark making it is a frequent occurrence. I am in the midst of preparing my own work for exposition without a frame. The local hardware store is questioning my sanity as I purchase quantities of shrink wrap (used for insulating leaky windows). Perhaps it would be better to get new windows…. The pieces I am enclosing in plastic are quite large so I purchase the largest roll which happens to be just the correct width for the length of the matted work. Once cut I remove the artwork and open the folded plastic then replace the art face down so that the messy taping is done on the back. Using clear packaging tape I draw the plastic as tight as possible without creating too many wrinkles then I begin to blow dry it. The heat from the hair dryer causes the plastic to shrink. This takes quite a while as I begin at the edges under the tape where most of the sheet is gathered. After it has been tightened to my satisfaction on the back I turn it over and again work from the edges into the centre. I now have a substantial inventory to display in a rack rather than on the walls. Things are coming together. Life is good.