Wedding gowns for artists

Here is a blog featuring dresses designed by Carolina Herrera based on women artists from the past. I cannot imagine Virginia Wolfe wearing the dress designed for her. She hated dressing up and clothing was not very important to her. Even when she earned enough money to buy good clothing the people in the small town where she lived made fun of her clothing combinations.

It is a wonderful idea to base a clothing line on wedding dresses for women from the past.

Quotes

I've been working on a new artist's statement for the critique group's Salon Show this week end. While doing this I sifted through my store of quotes about art and thought the two below were both very good. Here is information about the show.

Life beats down and crushes the soul,

and art reminds you that you have one.

Stella Adler

Kandinsky’s view, “One begins with a theme chosen in nature,

and calls that representation.

If one moves a step toward the inner perceptions of nature,

one might call it abstraction”.

New paintings & Salon Show October 2nd and 3rd

"Rose Essence" 30x10 gilding, metal on board

"Green Flash" 30x10, gilding, metal on board

"Copper Angel" Diptych, gilding & mixed media on board

The three paintings above will be at my critique group's Salon Show, October 2nd from noon to 8 PM and October 3rd noon to 5 PM. The address is 6905 SW Ventura Dr. in Tigard OR. Here's the mapquest link: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Tigard&state=OR&address=6905+SW+Ventura+Dr&zipcode=97223-9166&country=US&latitude=45.447775&longitude=-122.747073&geocode=ADDRESS

The show is also a benefit for the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp with a portion of each sale going to the camp. The six members of the critique group each started a 20x20 canvas in the spring. So we each had our turn and the finished work will be part of a silent auction with all proceeds going to the camp. We also will have a display of photos of each step along the way. It was a very challenging and fun experiment.

Recycled art

Take a look at Sayaka Kajita Ganz's reclaimed art! Also go here to see the horses that appear to be coming through the wall. Just amazing work. Be sure to click for the up close views.

Don't play it safe

Artist Keith Bond has written another good article on FineArtViews about taking chances as an artist with a list of suggestions. I liked the suggestion to talk about your art, try a new medium but especially learn more about your own medium. The way you learn about your medium? Show up and work every day. The showing up part can be the most difficult for me. Seems like all the "dailyness" of life interferes or trumps painting way too much. That's why I read the short articles Keith writes--as a reminder to keep working.

Kick start and play

Some days you just need a little kick start to begin painting. And some days nothing I paint pleases me and the harder I work on a piece the less I like it. I'm talking about the three or four paintings I've been working on off and on--mainly off. The last colors I put on will now again be gessoed over.

So today when I read Robert Genn's twice weekly newsletter it was really written for me. It's time to play. It's time to start a new piece and turn the starts to the wall for a while. I'm stubborn and will not give up on the earlier paintings.

My critique group has a salon show in a member's home October 2nd and 3rd. I wanted to do some smaller pieces on paper and mat them for the show. It isn't going well and I have more trouble with smaller pieces so I'm not going to force it. It hasn't been fun and if it isn't fun then why am I doing it at all?

Here is the link to the Genn newsletter.

Yesterday I read a blog about a woman who liked to travel and was solo now. Her thought matches mine for travel and painting both: "While I can, I will".

Go paint.

Lilies

I wanted to show you some of the lilies that are just blooming away in my yard. With all the cooler weather earlier I really wondered if they would bloom this summer. The hot temperatures this week have been hard on them but there are more blooms to come and the yard smells wonderful!

Not much time for painting currently. I have a chance to visit New York City in less than a month and I've been reading guide books and checking airlines and hotels on line. I don't want to buy the hotel room, just stay there a few nights. Talk about sticker shock. So much to see and do.

Artist's studios

I haven't been painting too much lately. Just the usual busy summer activities. I recently returned from a trip to Eastern Oregon with my brother. If you are anywhere near Baker City do not miss the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Great exhibit and you can go to where the wagon wheel ruts still show up through the sage brush.

I'm always curious about artist's studios and found this wonderful site, so go have a look and enjoy it. I'm going to stop complaining about my 10x12 room now. OK, I'll complain less than usual!

How matters more than how long

Here is an article by Clint Watson from FineArtViews. Very good advice from today's newsletter. Near the bottom he talks about two rules so you'll know you're on the right track. And boy, am I on the right track right now! I do feel less confident over time and I do know there is still so much to learn. And number two I really am embarrassed about some of my older paintings. I'm thankful for white gesso so I can start over time and time again.

Now, as Clint says, go change the world.