Ponderings from the Studio...A Work In Progress

I'm in the studio today with my brush on the canvas of a painting in progress.  I thought about working today on a furniture project so that I would have a 'reveal' to post on my favorite blog linky parties,  but ehh....I just don't feel like it.  Ahh....  Since I took a break in August from blogging, I have found such a renewed sense of who I am and what I should be doing.  To hell with killing myself on projects and posting them in order to 'market' The Homeless Finch!!!  (I'm sure that I will feel differently tomorrow and will beat myself about not working on the furniture piece. *wink*)

As this painting is developing, I am seeing themes that my work use to address years ago cropping back up within the content of my strokes.  This interests me.  The 'why' I use a color or 'why' I paint an image is on my mind today.  I don't source my images from anywhere concrete, but my from memories and my emotional feelings at the time I mix a color.  I feel most comfortable working that way.  I like not questioning a choice in the moment.  It feels right.  I got with it.

I think this applies to so many areas of our lives.  Sometimes, it is just more real and right to go with our gut reactions and feelings regarding decisions.  Over thinking anything just seems to muddy it and kill the energy.  Of course, we can't go through life, not thinking.  I don't completely throw caution to the wind in life or my paintings.  Or do I?  I do let my spirit carry me in directions that I feel passionate about.  If that is a mistake, I feel confident that I can live with the results.  That's my philosophy.  It's who I am and at 47 years old, I don't think it's changing. 

What's your philosophy?  Are you a 'throw caution to the wind' person, or a 'I have to cover every angle with research and well thought out plans?'  Many people fall somewhere in the middle.  I don't.....and I'm okay with that.

-The End-

Linking to:

http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

Sometimes Running Naked Helps Bare The Truth Which Paves The Way to Honesty

 

Painting in Progress (detail)



Why do artists criticize and beat themselves up so much?  Do people in other professions do this to themselves?  Is it our inner critic?  Are we really trying to produce our best work, or sabotaging our processes by over analyzing every stroke?  I think what I am wondering is...When is it appropriate to ignore that voice?  When do we just strip down and run naked through the streets?



Painting in Progress (detail)



Where is all this coming from?  Well, last week, I ran into a childhood friend whom I see from time to time.  She says to me, "Hey, my Mom is opening a gallery this Fall.  I would love to see your work for consideration."  Immediate steam rises in my brain! My reaction (hidden from sight in my inner psyche) is "Holy Toledo, Why on earth have I not been producing work?!" I run around in my life openly calling myself an artist. Yet I have spent very little focused time producing work. I realize that many artists have slowed down in the last two years and I have allowed this mantra to stop my progress.  Now....I am mad at myself.  It's just stupid that I have allowed other things to get in the way.  Just one big "DUH."



Good news? I'm back in the studio painting.  I have several pieces in progress and I am just letting it happen.  I am a long way from having work that I want to promote, but it is a start.  Regardless, there is that darn voice, that critic there....that's right, it's right THERE.  See it?!!   No??  Well, I do.  The funny, no hilarious, thing is that I was seriously beating myself up on one particular painting.  I had thrown so much of myself into it and I just thought it was horrible. I was wondering if it was time to throw in the towel and cover the painting with gesso.  Enter....stage left, my sister. 

My sister and I are super close.  We talk zabillion times a week, never missing a day.  She lives in my same area. But her home is just far enough away that she just doesn't walk into my house that often.   Strange, but true.  This past weekend, in she walks. Wow!  What?  Neat.  I mention the painting and she heads to my studio.  Now, I should stop and let you know that she is supportive of my career, but has never been a huge fan of my art.  She walks in and takes a look at my unfinished painting and declares that it is her favorite thing I have ever painted and claims it for her own.  Within seconds, she has mentally hung it on the wall of her dining room.   

What a HUGE boost to my morale.  It made me stop and remind myself that people just see things differently.  Eyes of the beholder, one man's trash and all that stuff....  So I am pressing forward on this particular painting and I have started some little 5 inch by 5 inch paintings.  Who knows, maybe I will start an Etsy Shop and start trying to sell my work.  Who knows.  Maybe I might even contact that childhood friend of mine and show her what I am up to..... 

(In case you were wondering...I wrote this because sometimes it is just better to run naked through the streets and survive the embarrassment of it all before you can get on with it. Now let me go put my clothes back on.)  Carry on.

-The End-

On My Soap Box For Art's Sake



Jumbled
 Artist: Lesley Litrento

Arts and cultural activities are so important.  Some people think that the arts are an extra, not an essential part of our lives.  People spend millions a year traveling to key cities where the arts are not only respected, but heavily invested in. We decorate our spaces, dress ourselves and surround ourselves with creativity. Yet what is the the first thing cut in school and government budgets?  You got it....the arts.  Okay, I am not going to get into anything political here, so relax! The point that I am making is we really do need to become more active in our communities in support of the arts.  We need to get out there and involve ourselves, even if it is only for a evening out supporting our local arts community. 

ArtServe, a community arts organization in South Florida, presented their annual event last night, "Red Eye."  The idea of this event is to fuse the visual arts with performance art, music and fashion.  The place was packed and I had a great time.  Here are some of the images from the evening, just to give you a flavor of what I saw. 

Performance Artists

Graffiti Artists

Fashion Art

Poetry Readings

Music

There is nothing like spending a few hours immersed in art and creativity.  The arts community is such a supportive, accepting and exciting place to spend an evening.  If you are a creative person, or just appreciate the arts, make sure you support these organizations by attending an event in your hometown.  Heck! It's the weekend! What are you planning to do tonight?  No plans yet?  Pick up your local newspaper and find out what's happening.  Art matters.  Get out there and mingle in it.

-The End-

Summer Breezes, Tasty Wine and a Studio Visit Sparks the Need for Re-Evaluation



Snapshot from my kitchen counter
this morning.

I awoke this morning, rolled over and gave my little doggies scrubs and the little voice inside me said, "Make sure you read your first blog post over coffee today."  Ahh....  It's summertime in my household.  No more school.  No more carting kids around to activities. No more prodding to get homework done.  Sliding out of bed, taking my darn high blood pressure and thyroid meds and brushing my teeth, I slowly make my way to the kitchen for coffee. 

I just finished reading my first ever blog post,  "What Am I Getting Myself Into," as I hear Cold Play behind the closed doors of my waking teenager's room.  My birds are flitting around behind me in their aviary, cracking on seed and taking turns at baths. I'm in a different mindset today.  I am taking pause to re-evaluate where I have come with my blog and re-determining where I would like this to go.  Is it bittersweet ting of Summertime talking to me? I don't know.  Maybe.  I just need to explore this.....Make sure I stay on track with my original goals.

(If you are someone who started following me after I first started blogging, which by all accounts, you probably are, I encourage you to read that blog post.  That is only if you are really interested in understanding why I am here on your computer screen.  It is certainly not a requirement.  Just a suggestion.) 

I think that my visit to my good friend Riitta Klint's studio last evening definitely has something to do with it.  Such an enriching experience....such a gentle reminder of the importance of staying on the right path for myself and my career.  After getting turned all back around on my venture down into Miami, I drove into the gallery compound and this is what I found.

Riitta Susanna Klint's Studio Entrance

Her and her adoring hubby, Allen, have been working super hard to redo the front entrance of her studio space and I gotta say, "Wow."  It is so charming and sophisticated all in one glance.  If you think this is eye candy, wait until I show you the rest!

 Above is the left wall inside her working studio.  She is currently preparing for a show that opens in October 2011.  Her goal is to have at least 25 paintings complete!!  Oh my!  That is a lot of work!  I love Riitta. She is an amazing person.  I have many artist friends, but none of their work rocks my world more than Riitta's work.  The layering, the colors, the emotions, the little details and the raised surfaces that can only be enjoyed in person are riveting.



She handed me a glass of citrusy (my word) white wine.  I take a sip and a slight icey crunch greets me as well.  Could I feel more at home than I do at this moment?!   Her studio is filled with the smells of creativity.  It's orderly, but also messy....in a messy wonderful way.  Nothing uptight here.  Just relaxing and welcoming.

The visit sparks in me a need to put some thought to where I have gone just in the last few months.....and where I am going.  I have definitely landed on something interesting in the blogging world.  It has given me the catalyst that I was looking for.  Perhaps though, I realize today that there is a tiny part of me that could get lost and I need to re-define my parameters.  I need to remember to stay true to the artist and designer whom I am.  Those who appreciate and follow, great.  Those who do not.....that's okay too......   

Riitta in front of her 9 foot work in progress

Is it the summer breezes that drifted past me last night as we dined alfresco somewhere lost in Miami?  Was it the crispy, citrus filled Sauvignon Blanc?  Was it the jolt from Deneen this week?  Probably all of the above.  Most importantly, it was just the breath of fresh air I was looking for to remind me who I am and where I need to go from here.  I need to get back to my canvases. I need to make sure my decisions on projects are based on my sensibilities.   I need to re-define my plans to find studio space.  I need to.....just keep on keeping on.....  Happy Summer everyone!  Cheers!

-The End-