Art Studio time

I started taking a studio art class this past year. I get together with other artists and we paint and talk for three hours every Friday. It is a chance to get other opinions on what we are painting. Plus we get ideas and its a time to connect. This particular painting I created by staining the paper with flavored teas. Then I added shapes of flowers and painted around them. I wanted to create a tropical feel. I used turquoise blue over layers of quinaquidine gold to end up with the teal like color.

Time to start again

I has been quite a while since I have written in my blog and I have to leave the house in a few minutes so I have to make it fast! It is a new year and it is time to make some changes. I am starting an open studio class on Fridays soon at Paint Creek Center for the Arts. I have to miss the first class because I will be out of town. But it will be great to get together with other artists and get some new ideas. I can get in a creative rut trying to work out of my house on my own. I did visit the Faberge' exhibit at the DIA recently. I thought it was very interesting! I had read about the Faberge' eggs for years but had never seen one. The design is so intricate and they managed to create these designs so that the eggs could fold out flat or open with a treasure inside! It isn't at the DIA for much longer so go see it soon!

Christmas is approaching

As Christmas approaches we are all getting ready for the festivities. I decorate my house with two big trees and two small ones. It does take me quite a while to do it but I enjoy looking at them. I used to do lots of baking but I find it harder to make the time now that I work. Also I like to eat the cookies and that I can't afford to do! Finding creative ways to decorate your house can be fun. I like to wrap my trees with ribbon some years. I also add candy canes and silk poinsettias to fill in the holes where there aren't any ornaments. I am collecting hand blown glass ornaments that I have purchased from local artists. In what creative way do you express yourself during the holidays? I would love to hear some stories.

Loss of a Friend

It seems that life isn't always fair. Someone that I have great respect for passed away last week. Susan Kell has been a teacher and mentor of mine for around 10 years. When I first got back into painting again I took my first class from her and boy did I hit paydirt! She had a vast knowledge of art to draw from and she shared it with her class. I didn't know what to expect taking a class at a local art center after taking classes in college. I learned more from Susan than any college course I took. I started entering art competitions not long after I started taking classes with her and I would get accepted. Not every time but a surprising number of times I would get in! She would challenge us and push us much further than we wanted to be pushed! While I was taking classes from her, she lost her son, her mother (who had Alzheimers) and also Susan herself had several health problems to deal with. She always seemed to bounce back and she had her art students to keep her going. Her cancer diagnosis came shortly after the birth of her grandson. She only lived a few weeks after that.

Autumn

I just love the colors this time of year! I have been quite busy with my other job and haven't painted much. Yesterday, however, I did manage to get a few good hours in of painting. I was inspired by the colors of autumn. I just wish the wind wouldn't blow all the pretty leaves out of the trees.

"Why Should I Look at Art?"

I had a friend say to me recently "why should I look at Art?" Why should I go to art openings or go to museums? I don't know anything about art. I don't really appreciate art. If I see something that is pretty I might say that is pretty but beyond that I can't make any comments. I was a bit shocked by this response! This is an intelligent woman! I said once you become educated in art you learn to appreciated art. If she were to take an art class she might see more of the effort that goes into art. If she were to learn about Art History that would help. The more art you are exposed to the more interesting it becomes. I live in an area where sports are king! For someone to miss watching a U of M game on TV would be terrible! But to miss a friend's art show opening is no big deal! What do you think?

Why create art?

Why does anyone create art? Is Art really important? I think that if you have that creative urge you know it. If you deny that need to create something then you are denying a part of yourself. You might create art just for own eyes and no one else and that is fine. Most people I think, once they have painted for years, feel a need for others to see what they have created. You might not want to hear what other people think of your art. That can be scarey. But if no one sees what you have created and you have a voice in your art, then no one hears your voice!