Are You Working Hard enough?

All serious artists suggest that in order to be a painter of any consequence, you have to paint every day, barring hurricanes or the flu. This is why we have groups that are committed to "A Painting a Day". They don't fool around by just laying down the first wash, or they certainly don't put their painting on the mantel for a week's assessment. It is common knowledge, however, that the more you paint the better your chance for success. As Aristotle said:  “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is

not an act, but a habit.” 

Here is an example of an artist that definitely works hard enough:

 Levitated Mass by Michael Heizer, 1969-2012

"Known colloquially as "the Rock," Michael Heizer's latest project wooed Southern California residents on its 105-mile journey from the Riverside rock quarry to LACMA. The closely-documented tow lasted almost two weeks, because it's top transport speed was recorded at five miles per hour. Despite its tedious haul, Heizer's boulder attracted followers, reception crowds at pit stops, and full newspaper spreads over the course of the installation. Its notoriety in recent news is only a testament to the social and art historical parallels that are exposed, as Angelenos now gather around a massive rock akin to an ancient megalithic monument."

This is one of the 50 artworks you can view on the website below. It is an interesting site for art and design news.

http://www.complex.com/art-design/2013/01/the-50-most-iconic-artworks-of-the-past-five-years/

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My Blue Period

Having just finished talking about how I "love the brilliant yellow which brightens up whatever room it is in" in my last blog I have turned to the dark side in my latest painting. I do, however, must admit that I also love this dark inky indigo blue.

                                                           

Speaking of "Blue Period" reminds me of Picasso, and that reminds me of a really bad joke:

After his wife divorced him, Joe asked his best friend, Bill, to fix him up with a blind date. Bill obliged. The next day Joe called up Bill and shouted at him angrily: "Bill, what kind of a guy do you think I am. That girl you fixed me up with was cross-eyed; she was almost bald; her nose was long, thin and crooked; she had hair growing on her face; she was flat chested; and her ankles were as thick as her thighs".

Bill answered: "Either you like Picasso, or you don't like Picasso."

(Don't blame me -  blame Picasso.)

I just learned that anyone viewing my blog, can go to the left sidebar, click on the "sidebar" heading and select other ways to view the blog eg. magazine, or mosaic etc. Give it a try.

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Resolutions Revisited for 2013

I really hate New Year`s Resolutions  but as I get older I realize that there is only so much time for me to turn into the smartest, best looking, rich and famous person that I hoped to be. So I will settle for working at being the best painter I can possibly be.
Here is my brave resolution for 2012:
 `I will paint more watercolour on Yupo paper, continue exploring abstract painting, particularly abstract landscapes, investigate the creative possibilities that collage offers, continue my series of "old men", try new acrylic techniques and look into all the options for watercolours without glass and frames.
PS. Visit more art galleries.`

I did manage to one more "old man" to the series and intend to get back to more, as these seem to have an emotional resonance for me. I did paint about four new paintings on Yupo, so enough for awhile. I continue to be excited by abstract painting and one of my most favorite this year was an abstract.(more later) I would like to do more in abstractions of landscapes, but I think this will be a learning curve. I have not done collage, and don't feel a pressing need to try it until a subject speaks "collage". I am still not sold on watercolour without glass and frame, but I think it may have to do with my choice of subject and so this is an ongoing goal.
This has been a busy year, with group exhibitions, including the Toronto Watercolour Society's juried exhibition. " Tea Buds" has also provided the opportunity for a one-man show. The Yonge -Lawrence Art Walk is always a success. In the new year, the first challenge is to prepare again for my own Studio Tour in May.

Somewhere on the Web, I came across someone showing their most favorite painting of the year, for whatever reason - not necessarily because it was the best. In that spirit I am including my favorite.

Why did I choose this? It is called "Reed Flute Cave #1" and reminds me of a recent and fascinating trip to China. It is a very abstracted  view of these fabulous caves near Guilin. I also love the brilliant yellow which brightens up whatever room it is in. It actually is one of three done one after the other and with increasing divergence from the cave concept:

Happy New Year to my blog pals!

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Photo Exhibition

I visited the opening exhibition of the exciting  new Ryerson Image Centre in downtown Toronto, a renovated and remodelled former warehouse building at Gould and Bond Streets. The space is shared with the School of Image Arts.
 .  The centre combines:

• three public gallery spaces
• New Media Colonnade at the entrance
• a fully staffed professional research centre with museum-quality environmental controls
• a climate controlled vault built to contain a million photographic images, including The Black Star Collection
• Ryerson University Fine Art Photography Collection
• Great Hall reception, conference and screening area

It was  created in part to display some of the 292,000 photos which it had received as an anonymous bequest from Black Star , a photographic agency.  The current exhibition features students and alumni of the school. Future exhibits begin after the holiday season.

If you get tired of viewing photographic art , you can skate on the very attractive small rink just at the side of the building.

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The Brushoff

This is the second attempt and probably the last for now, of dry brush technique using acrylic paint on canvas. 

                                                                    Vase of Flowers

This is the all time fourth and probably the last ever floral painting!

Don't forget, your comments are welcome and  keep me honest

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All Brushed Up

The first attempt at using dry brush technique with acrylic paint on canvas is finished and ready for comment! I found the soft misty quality of this painting appealing, but did add some texture with a knife on the flowers. I can see how that kind of atmospheric quality might suite my "old man and dog"series. I won't "brush off "this technique and think it deserves more practice!

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My Brush with Dry Brush

I have used dry brush technique in watercolour painting, usually combined with wet technique and occasionally for the complete painting. I have had little experience with using dry brush in acrylic work. Follow me, and comment as I hash my way through a "dry" painting.

Here is the inauspicious beginning.

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A Word or Three to the Wise

Having just finished two art shows, an Art Walk and am in the middle of a third show, I understand to my regret, that you can "rush" the completion of a painting. After planning and executing a painting, often the feeling is one of relief, especially if there is some time pressure. Stop! Here are three reminders before you consider your painting ready to hopefully leave your hands:
- to ensure that the composition, values, perspective and the colour scheme work, is to view your painting flat on the floor, upside down and then view it  in a mirror. As a final check,  leave it on your mantel or other prominent place for a few days. This eliminates glaring problems, but can also lead to "overworking" if you aren't careful.
- sign you name to either the front or back of the painting, unless you are of the school that believes it unnecessary* (topic for another blog post).
- photograph your painting, for documentation and many other uses.

The last two reminders are particularly important if your work is going to be framed under glass - "been there done that".

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Frida and Diego

What a wonderful exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario of the art of Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera. Leave lots of time to read the posted commentaries and appreciate some of the details in the paintings.
The sections of intricate and political murals by Diego and his other paintings glowing with colour were wonderful.

Most affecting for me, however, were Frida's paintings. Many of her paintings depict the pain she suffered from an early accident which affected her health throughout her life, and her subsequent  miscarriages.

Their's was a complicated relationship - hints of which are in many of the paintings.

 Their story becomes real as you view the many photographs taken of them through the years, including those taken after death, in their caskets.

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Art Appreciation

Painting can sometimes be a lonely activity. Discouragement can sometimes creep in and you wonder if you will ever paint anything worthwhile again. That is when being selected for a juried show by artists that you respect, can be a "shot in the arm".
I was pleased to have a painting accepted for the second time in the Toronto Watercolour Artists Exhibition. This particular abstract painting is one of a series of three and is called - "From Space".

Details of Exhibition:

There will be a wonderful selection of paintings in a very interesting setting.

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