Heeding the Creative Call

splash
(12" x 6" on canvas)

I am bursting with creative inspiration. New ideas, ideas revisited, ideas in the making... they're all coming up in the form of insights, dreams and journal entries. It's creative momentum at its best I tell ya, exhilarating and scary all at once!

I've been here before, but this time I feel a renewed energy and optimism - a whisper of belief that maybe, just maybe, I can make some of these ideas happen.

It's time to heed the call.

What whispers are calling you?

A Work Complete

Midsummer Blooms - a work in progress

I show you many works in progress here, but I realized that I rarely show you the same piece once it's finished. That's probably because most of the time it never reaches that point.

Up until now if I didn't finish a piece in one paint session the chances of it ever being finished went from slim to none. Why? Because I was afraid of screwing up what I had.

Last week I took my unfinished Summer Solstice piece (above) to my art class and decided that with the intrinsic support of the group and my teacher I would walk out with a finished product. My frustration of having unfinished paintings sitting around the studio outgrew my fear and I decided to trust the process.

Turns out it really didn't take much tweaking for me to pronounce it complete, but the experience of pushing through and the satisfaction of getting it done were tremendous. Here's the end result:

Solstice in Bloom - a work complete
(see how I even changed the name in the process?)

How do you create? Do you usually finish a piece - whether it's a painting, a sculpture or a short story - in one session or is your work spread out across time? Do you find it difficult to pick up an unfinished piece for completion?

Welcome Summer

work in progress: Midsummer Blooms

Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world.
- Ada Louise Huxtable

Happy Summer Solstice. I wish you many days of jeweled balm and drunken belief.

Stephanie
xo

Adventures in Abstract Painting

I'm taking an abstract painting class and it's pushing me out of my comfort zone both in my painting and in my ability to call myself an artist.

The good news is I'm slowly feeling that comfort zone grow with each class and each new painting as I learn different techniques and glean knowledge from my more experienced classmates. It's been good.

I'm still discovering my style and preferences. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to settle on just one and I think that's ok. Or maybe a preference will eventually show itself as I continue to play.

I thought I'd show you what I've been learning...

bloom blue
(8"x8")

flight
(14"x10")

this is a work-in-progress replica of a piece in
Rolina van Vilet's book The Art of Abstract Painting
(16"x16")

unnamed, a work in progress from my last class
where we practiced image transfers
(10"x10")

On Fortuitous Doubts and Insecurities...

something about Mary

I signed up for Kelly Rae Roberts' e-course, Flying Lessons: Tips & Tricks To Help Your Creative Business Soar, and resisting it greatly.

I love it. I know I want it. I believe it's the next step in the path I want to forge in both my artistic and work lives. But I've been blindsided by fear almost to the point of tears and all I can say is WTF?

This is not about the course. The course so far is amazing.

I suspect it's more about resident doubts and insecurities at even thinking that I could be a successful artist or a businesswoman. I knew they were there, I guess I just never gave them such a perfect opportunity to all show up at once. I guess it's time to deal.

Wish me luck?

How I Experienced "A Vision of Squam" 2009 (or On Pushing Through Your Fears...)

A Vision of Squam 2009 promotional postcard

Liz Kalloch from Athena Dreams Design is posting wonderful write-ups from artists who submitted work to last year's Vision of Squam art show to describe their experience. A few of us were first-timers dealing with fears, insecurities and joyful courage throughout the process.

I invite you to head on over to see what yours truly had to say...

Creative Trigger #3: Nature

This post is the third in a weekly series on personal creative triggers: places, people or things from which I draw creative or artistic inspiration. Week 1. Week 2.

OK it's hardly original, but it's still worthy of its own post here because there's no denying it's one of my creative triggers. But how can I possibly reduce Mother Nature's creative inspiration to a bulleted list?

I won't try to include it all. I'll tackle only a fraction and focus on a few ways Mother Nature triggers creativity in my small world of visual art with the hopes that you'll find something valuable to your specific medium or practice. Here goes:

1) Nature's textures, colours and composition provide fodder for painting and photography. Think lines, patterns and colour juxtapositions for abstracts; vistas with mountains, water and sky for landscapes; and don't forget the birds and the bees - literally.

stillness reflected

fortuitous photo fluke of autumn colours

ice patterns with negative effect

2) Following the lead of shadows and sunlight (see week 2), nature exercises the imagination. Have you ever caught yourself cloud gazing or building fairy houses in the woods? Or maybe you see hidden shapes and images in the bark of a tree, the textures of a rock or the curves of a pepper?

3) Finally, nature instills the humility and stillness necessary for me to return to my Centre and connect with, among other things, my creative essence. Although not directly related to the canvas, the restorative qualities of nature do wonders for my spirit which in turn feeds my creative process. A hike in the woods or an afternoon by the sea can be the ultimate Artist Date.

Et voilà, three ways Mother Nature inspires my artistic play.

Sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle, Mother Nature's subjects are as endless as the artistic visions through which she is honoured. Surely she inspires in more ways than those captured here.

How does nature inspire you in your creative practice? Tell me. Show me.

Paints, Paper and Play

After a five-week hiatus I returned to the art table for play. It felt good. Here's one of the results:

Step 1...


Step 2...


Et voilà...


I don't know her name yet. Any suggestions?

Creative Trigger #2: Shadows and Sunlight

This post is the second in a weekly series called Creative Triggers. Click here for the first one.

I have an inexplicable fascination with shadows - shadows on the wall, shadows on the furniture, shadows on the floor... I love how they paint a pattern out of nothing, how they sometimes dance and how they can transform themselves from one moment to another.

Capturing the elusive state of a shadow at a specific point in time with my trusty point & shoot can bring me great satisfaction. Sometimes I lose myself in a Saturday morning household walkabout with my camera, seeking visual interest by following the sun's rays as they grace surfaces with patterns of all kinds.

This creative trigger is twofold:

1) shadows and patterns themselves are fodder for abstract painting




2) photographing shadows exercises my imagination, like cloud gazing

can you see the face?

I see a woman's profile and neck - sort of
what do you see?

Plus sometimes shadows are just plain fun.


Do you play with shadows? If so I'd love to hear about how or why they inspire you in the comments - or even better, leave a link to your own favourite shadow photos.

A Journey of Artistic Discovery

experimenting with tar gel

I am swimming in artistic inspiration, playing with colour, tools and style. I am thirsty for knowledge, reading, learning, discovering the work of artists who came before me - of artists who are there now. I am enamoured with creative possibility.

I tell myself that it's an unnecessary indulgence, struggling with feelings of selfishness and arrogance: "Who am I to think I can paint anything interesting or worthwhile?" I tell myself I should hold back. But luckily an even louder voice tells me to just forge ahead and see where it goes.

So will I forge and play without expectation. I will study and show up and see what comes, feeding my curiosity and enjoying the journey as it unfolds.

A Little Bit of Different

I must have been inspired by the Canadian landscapes I've been reading about these past few weeks, this is a new result for me in creative play. I foresee a bit of tweaking here & there, but I like where they're going!

newlyweds - work in progress

bygone era - work in progress

An Enhanced Art Viewing Experience

North Shore, Lake Superior (Lawren Harris)

I sat on the lone black leather bench positioned in the middle of the room and took it all in: straight ahead through a doorway, on the far wall of an adjacent gallery, Emily Carr's The Welcome Man and Fir Tree and Sky; to my left, Tom Thomson's Pine Island; to my right, Lawren Harris' iconic North Shore Lake Superior (above). It was all so beautiful I suddenly wanted to cry, tears welling quickly and unexpectedly.

I'd seen these pieces before, but never did they trigger such intense emotion. I blame three things:

• a spontaneous library find called Great Canadian Painting - A Century of Art (published in 1966) through which I'm learning more about Canadian artists with whom I'm already familiar and discovering artists I never even knew existed,
  
• Emily Carr's Hundreds and Thousands: The Journals of an Artist, and
  
• my taking up painting.
  

With just the little bit of knowledge gained through the first book and the glimpse into Ms Carr's interior landscape through the second, I felt a more intimate connection to the work in front of me.

I imagined Tom Thomson painting in full woodsman garb and a canoe; wondered if Emily Carr was dealing with turmoil the day she painted those two pieces or if she felt peaceful and content. I was drawn by an inexplicable spiritual quality coming through in Lawren Harris' piece that Ms Carr so admired in his work.

I also looked at colour, composition and brush strokes with a new perspective. I leaned in close and studied the paintings at different angles to observe textures and layers, taking mental notes to emulate some of it back in my studio, anxious to learn even more through practice.

Frankly it all took me by surprise. I had no idea that satisfying an artistic curiosity would have such an effect.

The moral of this story you ask? Learning about art - and artists - has the potential to enhance one's art viewing experience tenfold, adding depth and intimacy where before there was merely interest and admiration. I believe it; today's experience was my personal proof in the pudding.

On Showing Up... (or Defeating Resistance)

For the past several days I'd been itching to paint, but for some reason was resisting in a very big way, finding every excuse in the book to avoid showing up at the table.

Finally, yesterday I decided to just go. I walked to the table, picked up a canvas and chose paint colours.

The results were all over the place (see for yourself below) and although I'm not entirely sure where they'll end up, I'm not sure it matters. What matters is that I showed up and THAT's what'll defeat resistance.

Here's to showing up - one day at a time. [clinking glasses]

unfinished and untitled
(sorry for the glare - bad lighting)

unfinished, inspired by Riopelle perhaps?

untitled

Cardboard Playdate #5

...aaaand I'm done:

Mary

My fifth and final piece brings this little experiment to a close. Leading me to the table and prompting me to play with different colours, tools and techniques, I consider it a resounding success! So much so that I might try it again. I'll be sure to let you know if I do - perhaps you'll play along with me?

ps - Thank you to all for the encouraging notes and comments. xo

Cardboard Playdate #4

As promised, a picture of yesterday's play:

blank slate

I'm less keen on this one, but I committed to myself that I would post them all here - the good and not so good. One more to go!

Cardboard Playdate #3

The light was so bad last night I had to wait till today to take a decent picture - and even then the light wasn't great. Here what I did yesterday:

This one was entirely palette knife play. I love the textures that resulted and am thinking a high gloss finish would highlight them well.

I'm enjoying my little cardboard painting experiment a lot. The fact that it's salvaged cardboard and the small size of the pieces make it very non-intimidating and easy for me to go to the table. Today was the first day I wasn't really happy with the results (pic to come tomorrow), but that's what it's all about... practice and play!

Cardboard Playdate #2

her simple truth

One Piece of Cardboard...

... five creative play dates.

I decided to recycle a piece of cardboard salvaged from a dismantled gift basket received at Christmas by re-purposing it. I cut it into five pieces, prepped each one with Gesso and designated them play canvasses for the week. The biggest piece is about 5 1/2"x7 1/2".

Five pieces, five days, one piece a day. It's all about play and showing up at the table - there's really no pressure to perform on salvaged cardboard.

Here's my first one, I haven't named her yet:

acrylics and paper on cardboard
approx. 4"x7 1/2"

Prints are in...

... and available for purchase at Bobbi Pin Hair Studio, 177 Armstrong St. in Ottawa (a block and a half from the Parkdale Market).


The scanner and printer did a wonderful job, the colours are vibrant and they look great!

Prints available:

• Giselle (10x10 print on 12x12 paper)
• What She Seeks, Be Free and Soar, Breathe (6x8 prints on 8x10 paper)

ps - For the non-locals, I'm targeting an online shop early in the new year. I'll keep you posted. :)

Art Inspired by Winter

Today's winter storm inspired me to pick up my paintbrush for a second time since my return from Squam Art Workshops in September. It felt good.

December moon

bundled up