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....