Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Blurry Pictures
I did this as a fun and experimental piece. We are so obsessed with perfection that I went with imperfect that could be interpreted as a success. What's your opinion?
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| Blurry fun |
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| Daddy and daughter |
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| Large bolder |
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| Stones underfoot |
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| Do you know what it is yet? |
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| Shells in a bag |
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| Close up |
Fun on the Beach, Deep Cove, North Vancouver
I love this place - I could live here, it reminds me of villages I vacationed in England as a child, Cornwall being a favourite. Here are a few snippets:
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| Stone beach. |
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| Water covered stones |
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| Ships ahoy! |
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| Waterfall |
Languages
One of my goals in life before I kick the bucket is to speak a second language. I find it so frustrating that I can not speak another language particularly now that we live in a multi-cultural society. In the art world you are encouraged to be able to speak one other language if not multiple, particularly as a curator. I have dabbled in French and German but I have spent most of my time travelling to France, when I lived in England that is. I intend to go back and forth to Paris and Provence when I move back to England but I found when I spent time there I was picking up French (the accents could make it a challenge). I can read some French and I can listen to some if spoken slowly but my poor language education in the English school system had it all wrong, English speaking teacher teaching French and we were taught to translate not learn the language itself and to add to the confusion we were taught what was feminine and masculine, all I really needed to know was the correct words not he history behind it and what sex the word is - it really did not help.
My four year old has already been exposed to Chinese, Spanish and French and can sings songs in the languages which is far superior to where I am now, but that is what the schools are like, she has learnt by playing and listening to friends and taught by instructors who's second language is English.
So if there is anyone out there who is fluent in French and can help please contact me.
My four year old has already been exposed to Chinese, Spanish and French and can sings songs in the languages which is far superior to where I am now, but that is what the schools are like, she has learnt by playing and listening to friends and taught by instructors who's second language is English.
So if there is anyone out there who is fluent in French and can help please contact me.
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Stephanie Matthews |
Break the rules (Keri Smith)
This was fun to do - it was like being a defiant, naughty little girl, reminds me of the good old days. There is a sentence I wrote (I will do as I please) but you can't see it in this pic.
Keri Smith's book Mess. I will not publish all my adventures it would spoil the surprise.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Make a Mess with Keri Smith
I had to buy this book, perfect for me. I am not used to making a mess so doing this is freedom in a book. Very liberating. My kids, who I am constantly telling off for making a mess are bewildered by the fact that I am doing the complete opposite and now they can't wait to make a mess. Oh my what have I done? It is not a good time for the family to be making mess. But mess it is and more mess it shall be, beside I am on holiday. This week come rain or shine I hope to go to the sandy beach to go seashell hunting - yippee!!
Now it looks like this...
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Long time - Residency, (Kesha Bruce)
I know it has been a while since my last post (at least for me) but have just finished with the reno's on the house the realtor's have been in and viewed the property and have come in at the price we are looking for so yet again we are in line with the market price. We have selected the person to represent our property and now it is time to get selling. I can't wait to get potential buyers in, giving us offers and getting the house sold ready for our new adventure. Change is exciting but can be scary at the same time. I know I have talked about this in previous postings but I can't help it.
To celebrate the end of the reno I will drink wine and finish my painting off and get it posted. I am excited to get it finished and start my art journal again. Plus I have next week off, holiday, vacation time, rest. Yeah!
To celebrate the end of the reno I will drink wine and finish my painting off and get it posted. I am excited to get it finished and start my art journal again. Plus I have next week off, holiday, vacation time, rest. Yeah!
It needs a few touch ups - it will be complete soon.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Learning lesson
The painting below has been an incredible learning experience for me. I wish I could say all of my paintings were like that but I am not sure as to why this one strikes a note with me. I was looking for a painting that would stand out and I think once it is completed it will do just that, well, you can't go wrong with black, white and red.
I am going through yet another process of change, selling my house is a big adventure, renovating, repainting, selling furniture etc, leaving my home. Also, when I am feeling 'out of sorts' I look back to home as a child, worry free. Home for me is England in a small city called Stoke-on-Trent. Mostly known for its pottery industry and once upon a time, mining. Sadly the pottery industry has declined, it seemed to happen rapidly (I did my dissertation on the the declining industry and why it was happening, mostly because of cheap imports from China and a lot of other reasons which I will not delve into). Anyway, I painted the Gladstone Pottery Museum a few years back and it has appeared again in this painting (perhaps using my artistic creativity). The black area is dark and mysterious, there is a visual but it is so dark it is a little hard to interpret. The tree is bare and ready for the cold winter spell to end, so it can blossom, or perhaps the tree is dead but for me, it is trying to survive. The red is 'home' but it is tainted and not sure if it is a good place or a bad place and to venture is to take a big risk.
What I learnt from this piece was that a painting can conjure up emotion in surprising ways, it can be different for each person. Also, my painting technique, I was having an issues with the tree and I realised one thing I had not done that I would normally which was to paint the whole canvas beforehand which makes it easier doing finer details like the branches of the tree. I had challenges with the red portion of the paining because I did not want it pink but I wanted to keep the deep red (I still am working on it). The black was the easier part for me, can't go wrong with black gray and white.
I will post the final version shortly.
I am going through yet another process of change, selling my house is a big adventure, renovating, repainting, selling furniture etc, leaving my home. Also, when I am feeling 'out of sorts' I look back to home as a child, worry free. Home for me is England in a small city called Stoke-on-Trent. Mostly known for its pottery industry and once upon a time, mining. Sadly the pottery industry has declined, it seemed to happen rapidly (I did my dissertation on the the declining industry and why it was happening, mostly because of cheap imports from China and a lot of other reasons which I will not delve into). Anyway, I painted the Gladstone Pottery Museum a few years back and it has appeared again in this painting (perhaps using my artistic creativity). The black area is dark and mysterious, there is a visual but it is so dark it is a little hard to interpret. The tree is bare and ready for the cold winter spell to end, so it can blossom, or perhaps the tree is dead but for me, it is trying to survive. The red is 'home' but it is tainted and not sure if it is a good place or a bad place and to venture is to take a big risk.
What I learnt from this piece was that a painting can conjure up emotion in surprising ways, it can be different for each person. Also, my painting technique, I was having an issues with the tree and I realised one thing I had not done that I would normally which was to paint the whole canvas beforehand which makes it easier doing finer details like the branches of the tree. I had challenges with the red portion of the paining because I did not want it pink but I wanted to keep the deep red (I still am working on it). The black was the easier part for me, can't go wrong with black gray and white.
I will post the final version shortly.
Friday, March 18, 2011
This could be my favourite this year - Residency (Kesha Bruce)
From conception...
To canvas...
Thursday, March 17, 2011
A new painting in the making
I have a project that I will be starting this weekend. I am hoping it will be finished by early next week.
My time this week has been consumed by painting and cleaning the house so I have done little in the way of art but that, I hope will be rectified in the coming weeks ahead. I hope for a quick sale so that I can make a new place my home. In some ways I find that designing and repainting a house is artistic - interior design is something I looked into a few years ago but decided that I would not make it a career move. I don't regret my decision but in someways I wonder what my working life would have been like it I had entered a creative field. I still have time I guess but starting a junior position does not thrill me either. Anyway, I will stick to painting for now and maybe I could have a future as an Art Director (eventually) or become a rich painter like Picasso. I can dream!
The remainder of the year I will focus on painting and then I will see what happens next. A new home in my old country seeing all my friends and family (it has been seven years since I lived there) is exciting and is all I can think about, the career move will be my next step.
Home sweet home and home is where the heart is.
My time this week has been consumed by painting and cleaning the house so I have done little in the way of art but that, I hope will be rectified in the coming weeks ahead. I hope for a quick sale so that I can make a new place my home. In some ways I find that designing and repainting a house is artistic - interior design is something I looked into a few years ago but decided that I would not make it a career move. I don't regret my decision but in someways I wonder what my working life would have been like it I had entered a creative field. I still have time I guess but starting a junior position does not thrill me either. Anyway, I will stick to painting for now and maybe I could have a future as an Art Director (eventually) or become a rich painter like Picasso. I can dream!
The remainder of the year I will focus on painting and then I will see what happens next. A new home in my old country seeing all my friends and family (it has been seven years since I lived there) is exciting and is all I can think about, the career move will be my next step.
Home sweet home and home is where the heart is.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
A note for me
I found this website and I may give it a go. Would love to do a full on residency but they also have great competitions too will have to look at this nearer to the time.
http://www.jerwoodvisualarts.org/page/1/Home
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Moving
I am currently in the middle of getting my house ready for sale and it is all starting to move quickly so the time for painting is very business like and I only paint when I need to or have 5 mins to spare. Consequently my art journal paintings are very sketchy and raw but I do find that most of my work is best raw it seems to have a passion that I rarely display out in the open. Once my house is sold and I have settled in my new place I will plan an exhibition or two and focus more on canvas paintings and building up a portfolio and I will get a website up and running. In the meantime I continue on and am having fun in the process. I hope to do some artwork tonight but I am a little exhausted today after many visits from people buying items I know longer require and another house and spring clean. My house is by no mean cluttered but somehow I keep finding things that I really don't need.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Starbucks
Starbucks leftovers. I spend way too much there, so I decided to make a memento and cut and paste a paper bag and used the cardboard cup holder/sleeve and then painted my own mug with mocha inside. Yum! Now I want one.
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Stephanie Matthews |
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Childrens art
I just love this blog: http://isaacgracelily.blogspot.com/. Three children creating art and their dad who is also an artist/illustrator posts their work. The work that they create is truly lovely and I will try a few things with my kids too and I might even set up a blog just for them so when they are old enough they can continue with their work.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Art in Residency Challenge
I came across a website by Kesha Bruce. Kesha has come up with a challenge and I can't resist a challenge. It is the 2011 In-house ART FIX Residency Challenge. The residency happens in your own studio since most cannot afford to go on residency or have rejection after rejection and who has time to fill out paperwork? Since all my work is done on location (at home ;)) for me it is the perfect time to take stock of what it is I have at home get creative with the materials and everyday things around me and come up with something that I would not otherwise do. Brilliant!
Margaret Tryall at http://margaretryall.blogspot.com/ is also taking on the challenge and she writes a nice blog about what she is working on.
Check out the sites it may inspire you.
Margaret Tryall at http://margaretryall.blogspot.com/ is also taking on the challenge and she writes a nice blog about what she is working on.
Check out the sites it may inspire you.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Triptych - Abstract
Artist in residence. Something I am working on...
Finished!
I can't wait to see it hanging on the wall.
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Stephanie Matthews |
Friday, March 4, 2011
ARTParis Showdown - Sacchionline
It is time once again for another showdown this time to exhibit in Paris. Oh how I would love to exhibit in Paris.
My Current Showdown Standing: 527 out of 3777 entries. I need to be in the top 128 to get to the next round. PLEASE vote for me via the link:
http://www.saatchionline.com/showdown/match/showdown/5/artist/175023/art/1234397
To vote you will need to sign-up.
Thanks once again.
xxxx
My Current Showdown Standing: 527 out of 3777 entries. I need to be in the top 128 to get to the next round. PLEASE vote for me via the link:
http://www.saatchionline.com/showdown/match/showdown/5/artist/175023/art/1234397
To vote you will need to sign-up.
Thanks once again.
xxxx
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Moooooooooooooooo!
This was loads of fun. Like the Klimt inspired piece below, I have used magazine clippings, painted over it with white acrylics then painted my cartoon cow. Loads of fun - love it.
Klimt inspired
Gustov Klimt inspired tree. Next time I want to do more detail.
Sorry for the poor picture quality, I am photographing at night with poor lighting (only time I can do it) so there is a lot of light bouncing.
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