Primed, Ready, and Waiting

The buses are rolling as another school year begins here in Middle Tennessee. I am reminded of all of the excitement and anticipation that a new year brought...along with the anxiety and questions. I feel that way looking at this baby grand top. It is primed (photo tomorrow) and ready for the next step. Now if I only knew for sure what that step actually is supposed to be! For me, this stage of the creative process is filled with anticipation, excitement, questions, and anxiety as I ponder whether to do this or that. Deciding on palette choices, texture, style, etc can be the most anxious moments of a piece. So, I'll leave with you with this... Sometimes the right thing to do is sit, stare, ponder and muse. I believe it is in rest when true inspiration shows up: in the quiet moments of life when we are primed and ready and waiting.....

Scratching the Surface

Yesterday I finally began my Steinway Project: Encore! Recover the Sound. This is a joint fund raiser for the Steinway Scholarship Fund and The Arts Council of Williamson County. We artists of the area were offered a myriad of piano parts to choose from to create and recreate artistic masterpieces. My choice was the hinged lid of a black lacquer baby grand piano. It has been standing in my studio since April. Yesterday I finally began the process necessary for turning it into a piece of art: I sand papered the beautiful lacquered surface. It was painful! I began to ponder how many times the hand of God has had to use a little sand paper on me in order to create or recreate me into His masterpiece. Something to think about as we face difficult times and decisions...what are we being prepared for? Just around the corner could be a masterpiece!

How About Some Still Waters?

This painting represents just what I need today....rest and recovery. It has been a long haul since I last wrote as we took to the highway and traveled to two art shows in Chicago, came home to out of town company, and a grant deadline for the Arts Council of Williamson County. Now normally, I love my full life with all of its diversity. However, there are times when juggling all of the hats that I wear can be a little exhausting. And isn't that where good art comes in? A place that we can linger and take a breath; a place where our heart rate can slow and we can take deep breaths of refreshing air. This piece (titled Still Waters) does not hang in my home, and in fact it will soon hang in the home of customers, but it symbolizes what I'm talking about. These two days off (my normal Sunday and Monday) have given me what I have needed for about a month now. Still waters and a restored soul. May you find a little in your day as well.

English Please

Just a note to say that I love the world wide web, but I am limited to reading only in English. If you'd like me to read your comments, would you mind translating them please. Thanks!

The Rest of the Story

A matter of time. A matter of timing. Recently I sold a painting to a customer who had first seen it (and fallen in love with it) a year ago. Meanwhile, most recently it had hung on my gallery wall at home and I had decided that it needed more work. So, I brought it in (it was time to rotate my gallery wall pieces anyway). The very day that I brought it back to the gallery/studio, the customer walked in. By the end of the day I had delivered it and sold it. And the piece in its new home didn't need anything else. Perfect timing!

Ribbon of Light

This is the first piece birthed in my "less is more" season. It is a re-purposed canvas which had so much texture, that I added more to actually smooth the lines out. Paint added with palette knife, the brushed with a wet brush, then removed with a damp paper towel created the base from which the rest of the painting evolved. It feels like I should call this the phoenix collection since thus far all of the canvases used to be something else. Out of the fire, a phoenix arises. Hmmmm. Someone yesterday used the phrase "fire-bird" and I immediately saw a new painting. Can't wait to see what develops.

A Matter of Time

Sometimes it is JUST a matter of time. Naturally that can be interpreted several ways as in if you have all the time to create imagine all of the painting you could get done. Or the reverse, if you had double the hours to put towards your business think of all the marketing ideas that you could complete. However, that was not what was in my mind when this phrase came to me the other day. Nor was it the point when another interesting thing happened in the gallery.

What was in my mind? I was painting, actually repainting a piece. This particular piece has gone through several transformations as I continued to see more and more clearly how to develop my vision for it. What I realized over the past several weeks was that the wrong part of the painting was pulling focus. So, back on the easel, paint brush in hand, pink became dark red, and spring green became dark olive. That allowed the bright center to shine...just where I want the viewer to concentrate. Stare at something long enough and in a matter of time, you'll know what needs to be done. Part 2 tomorrow as I share the rest of the story

What's it Worth?

There are few questions an artist has to answer that are more difficult than "What is it worth?" Pricing work is on the surface of that discussion and is so personal and subjective it seems that no two artists approach the subject in the same way. I had an amazing experience Saturday night that totally bore that out.

I sold this painting. Awesome, right? And I would agree. The rest of the story is this...

I painted "Abiding Presence" four years ago specifically to hang in out home over the mantel in our great room which is sort of the center of the house. It is in my book "Heartbeat of God" which was sort of my way of sharing its story and had prints made (8x10 limited edition) to enable others to share in its beauty. The piece however is 40x60.

So, Saturday.... A woman comes into the gallery who had fallen in love with the painting from seeing it in the book at a mutual acquaintances place of ministry. The longer we talked and discussed artistic options, the more she came back to "Abiding Presence". Here's the point. It was clear at one point that I was to offer this piece for sale when in my heart it has always been a NFS (not for sale) piece. Was it about money? Absolutely not! Rather it was an answer to my heart's cry that my artwork would break through

Stop Thinking, Start Painting

I love the question "What if?" In fact, I include it as part of my inspiration as I push boundaries and explore new territories at the easel. I also love to sit and ponder and meditate. It brings me closer to God, opens my spirit to the unusual, brings new perspectives and directions. However I have also discovered that thinking too much can deter me from inspiration and "What if?" can paralyze creativity if either is focused on the negative rather than the positive. "What if I don't get into this or that show?" "What if I don't sell anything?" "What if it rains all weekend for an art show?" Are just a few of the questions that the enemy of my soul wants me to dwell on.

This morning I caught myself going there so I did the thing that works best to silence the voice of doubt. I got up, got dressed, and got to the studio. Starbucks in hand, music playing, I began three new paintings. I stopped thinking about anything other than what I was doing and truly began to enjoy the process and the day.

Whatever your life medium, my advice is this: when you find yourself thinking too much, get up, get out, and get going to whatever it is you enjoy. You will find that the doing overtakes the thinking and you'll be on your way to feeling better.

What's Pulling your Focus?

Okay, I won't be in the studio/gallery tomorrow so I wanted to write this today while it was fresh on my mind. " What's pulling your focus?" is a question I ask my students as they are completing a painting. It is a question that is meant to ensure that the focal point of a painting is in fact where the eye is being drawn. If anything else is competing with the focal point it is "pulling focus".

Lately, as I have been broadening the whole "less is more" idea to include my professional life, I have realized that there are those things in my work life that are pulling my focus away from what I feel I should be doing. Recently I have come to the end of the season of grace for a commitment I made and have followed through with for 4 years. It is time to release it. A good sign that it is time is I lack the passion and motivation I once had. I also find myself putting off what I should do for my career in order to fulfill the commitment.

It is good to evaluate our time commitments every so often. Sometimes we wake up to see that we're not looking at the focal point of our life; we are in fact focusing on and spending valuable time and energy on a distraction. Less is more. What are you focused on? I hope it is the true focal point of your life.

Free to Play

Since I have a difficult time writing once I get to the gallery, here I am on my porch. The problem with that is that I have not taken the photo of the piece I want to speak of. I will try to do that when I get to work this morning. It is not so much the end result that matters as the journey to get there.

Freedom to experiment is what has been on my mind lately. Several weeks ago, when the transition to less is more began, I took about a dozen canvases and primed over them. Since much of my work is very textural, I needed to add modeling paste to the canvas to even out the surface of the design, but still left a highly textured support to work on. So last Saturday I took one of the canvases and began to paint. The point was simply to use up leftover paint from a creative expression workshop and play a little. What ensued was a process I am working to duplicate because I liked the effect so much. First applying texture to the canvas, then a thick layer of paint mixed with gel medium, then brushing it with a wet brush, then sponging off, and finally smoothing out areas with a palette knife. And that was just the background.

Here's my point. Give yourself freedom and time to simply play at your easel. The artist in all of us is a child and given too many adult responsibilities that child can become stifled. Explore, have fun, enjoy the reason you became an artist in the first place. You know what they say, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." It holds true even when you love doing what you do for a living. So have some fun today!

Part 2: Which voices to you listen to?

The more I thought about my last post, the more I realized that it was only a part of the equation. Another part (not sure the equation is complete even with this part) asks the question, "Which voices do you listen to?" Now I'm not saying to exclusively surround yourself with those people who love and adore you, but I am saying know who is in your corner, hearing your true voice, and encouraging you on your path. In other words learn to recognize The Voice of Truth from wherever it comes. While at an art show (that ended with no sales by the way) a while back I was feeling a bit discouraged. Then a boy of about 10 walked up to my paintings and couldn't stop staring. He said to me as his mother called him away, "You are really good!" At that moment for me that was the voice of truth (as they say, out of the mouth of babes). You see for me it wasn't the source of the voice that mattered, but the message. My Creator knew that I needed encouragement for my own creating; so He sent a boy to pass on the message. Do I really believe that? Yes, I do!

We had the opportunity to experience something truly unique last night. The band Gungor played at Grace Chapel last night. Now there is a worship experience truly out of the box. Amazing! Check out their website, buy their cd Beautiful Things and see them live if you can. Breaking out of the box, following their true voice, no doubt about it. www.gungormusic.com

Finding Your Voice

One of the main thing I tell emerging artists is that they must find their own style and create their own story. Some are even tired of hearing me talk about "a cohesive body of work". At the center of this advice is something that each artist must find: their own unique voice. Some will find they harmonize with the mainstream audience. Their art is "accessible" and easily fits in with today's decorating trends. Others will find their voice away from the crowd. Like the high pitch sound of a piccolo that rises above the sound of the symphony, or the deep base tones of the timpani/bass drum that undergirds the harmonies of other instruments, each style of art has its place.

This piece is called The Music of Embrace. Today it will remind me to embrace my place in the grand scheme of visual art. Whether you fly higher to explore the heavens, dig deep to discover the mysteries of the earth, or sing in harmony with your audience, may you too embrace the voice you've been given and sing it loud and clear.

Art and Flowers

This is "Cotton Candy Memory". It is a painting inspired by my memories of sitting on a beach on Florida's west coast as a teen (yes, I had the privilege of living just an hour away from the beach through high school) watching the sunset with the boy who would become the man I married. A return to Florida's west coast for an art show precipitated the memory and painting earlier this year. This Friday it will serve (I hope!) as inspiration for a florist to create an arrangement which will then be offered as a silent auction item at the Art and Flowers event in Nashville. You can go to the event section of the website to get the details. Needless to say I think it will be a great night as 25 artists and florists are paired, food and wine flow, all serenaded by ALIAS Chamber Musicians. Maybe I'll see you there!

How Can You Let it Go?

I am often asked how I can let paintings leave my studio. It is an interesting question. As an artist each piece is in fact an extension of my heart and my spirit. That is true. As a professional artist, each piece I create for my inventory is painted to bless someone else's heart and spirit. I am humbled and honored when a customer is willing to part with their hard earned money to purchase something I have created.

I am a mother of two adult boys. I delight when I see them doing what I know they were created to do. It is the same with my paintings. When the person for whom I created a painting takes it home, I know it is doing what it was created to do. In fact it fascinates me to see just who it was that I painted a given painting for. "Oh you're the one!" Is it difficult? No, it is a joy and a privilege. Thank you to all of you who have given me such delight as you have carried a painting out of the studio/gallery/tent. May it bless your heart and spirit!

Transitions

This morning I have been thinking about my hair of all things. I am going through what they call "transition" as I let my natural (silver) color grow out without coloring it. Right now I am beginning to look a little "skunky" as that silver line along the part becomes more apparent. Like my hair, so my artistic expression and my life in general. I realized that although I am excited and anticipate my new look, I also am impatient to get to the end of the process. Yet, every now and then I catch a glimpse of what is to come.
My paintings are in the same mode as I transition from "creating inventory" to being more deliberate about my inspiration for each piece and carefully develop every inch of every canvas. I have glimpses of what the whole collection will be like as I can point to several pieces and know they fit the bill. But I also need to wait until the inventory turns over to see an entire collection of newly inspired paintings.
Interesting that what we in the general public call "roots" as our hair grows, stylists and professionals call "new growth or regrowth". I like that. Look to your new growth to see where you are heading and you might just catch a snapshot of your future. Happy transitioning!

A New Song

New songs have unknown harmonies and never before heard melodies. It can be a challenge to break out of the box of conformity and preconceived notions to "sing a new song". I found that to be particularly true as I began to paint this piece. The overall image had come to my mind's eye while in quiet meditation about Psalm 33. My mind's ear heard "Sing to the Lord a new song. Let all the earth break forth in singing." I saw the image of the rocks breaking and cracking as new shoots rose to glorify God. Then, in the midst of the painting I hit a roadblock; what I saw in my mind was not translating effortlessly on the canvas. I was forced to retrace my steps, pause and ponder how to proceed. As I sat at the easel and worked things out I heard a whisper, "You're singing a NEW song; it will be a challenge".

Yes, new songs are a challenge, but if we are to grow and keep learning there will always be new melodies to learn and new harmonies to recognize. May your day be filled with fresh sounds!

Less is More

Less is more; that is a concept I have been pondering ever since I returned from an art festival in Louisville last month. Since that time I have taken a good long look at each and every painting in my inventory and have even "repurposed" nearly a dozen canvases. That means I primed over them and they are ready for new paintings. Anything that did not meet my current level of expertise and vision was gessoed over. Amazing how liberating that was. I have decided that I am going to be more purposeful with my work, creating only those pieces that I am truly inspired to paint. The task can be daunting when you are in the art business, but I believe the universe will smile because I believe the heart message will be more noticeable in each painting. There you have it. Less is more...unless you are talking about keeping up to date with a blog, to which I am rededicated. Just ahead: turning the top of a Steinway baby grand piano into a piece of art, hitting the road again...this time to Chicago, and getting the word out there that I'm available for speaking engagements. Until tomorrow....