I just finished the largest art show that I have ever put on walls and it was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. I produced 29 paintings ranging from 24"x24" to 48" x48"( the largest size that will fit into the back of my car). I think I developed tendonitis in my elbow because I was constantly moving half finished paintings around. But, a little pressure and fear will make a person very productive, I have discovered. The bank that let me use their space paid for the opening invitations, food, wine and music. My hat goes off to Northern Trust Bank of Arizona for supporting their local arts community. More later on this. Mother's Day Dinner calls to me.

Learning while I teach

I have recently finish teaching a workshop at Brio Fine Art Center in Scottsdale, Arizona and find that I learn as much as I teach. While trying to give my students involved instructions on how to layer various media for interesting effects I discover that I don't have all the processes down perfectly and they have more questions than I have answers. They remind me of being a child and asking, well what if this... or what if that.... I think there are always more questions than answers.

I remembered the old study rules which are read, write, recite and saw that they apply, in a sense, to artistic growth. The students read about techniques or watch demonstrations, then they are asked to try it themselves while they write down each step they do. This combination seems to do the best job, in my opinion, of cementing things in their heads. That process usually makes it possible to try the layers on other projects and remember the steps. If they forget something, they alway have their sample board to refer to. Getting back to how it helps me-I have a mini review every time I teach and each student tries things in such unique ways that I then have even more ways to combine media!

Is Collage Innovative or Just Garbage Collecting?

Collage is considered by some to be the most innovative form of art of this century. Found objects, chance creations, ready-mades- abolish separation between life and art. The common place is miraculously seen. Found objects can take on a beauty unrelated to their original purpose and a decorative or editorial aspect emerges. Torn and dried leaves, scraps of old letters or notes, broken bits of cheap jewelry and packing materials are all elements of a collage that work toward a statement made by the artist. The chance creations come about when different elements and layers of colors are put together in seemingly random ways. Beautiful accidents occur. Ready-made art, in the form of scrap book materials, photos, stamps and any number of things are also part of collage and work with all the other things to make a finished piece that is really just an impression of millions of impressions.

The anatomy of planning an art opening

The difficulty of planning a large number of paintings for an art show is; how to begin? You realize two things right away, one being-why do I think anyone wants to look at all my art, and two-should it have an outline like a story or should every painting be in the moment? The more artists I interviewed about this process, the more answers I got. It didn't enlighten me. I finally, after cleaning out my studio, organinzing several trips, cleaning out some closets and repainting two rooms, stopped procrastinating and knew that I just had to get in that darn studio and start slapping things on those canvases! Inspiration would come, as well as organization, in fits and spurts. I found a few quotes that helped me which I will not take direct credit for and also, a book I am reading. "It's hard to pinpoint inspiration, but it usually begins with a feeling or observation, born on a trip abroad...., colors in a room, an art object..." This quote made me see that I need to relax and go with the flow. I notice things everyday that make me pause and wonder whether I can create a visual sentence describing what I see. I have been jotting little notes down on everything from post-its to napkins and stacking them under my favorite plastic yellow sun coaster. I also know that many, many artists have openings all the time and it is hard to strike an original note unless you put yourself out there. That is hard to do. You have to give yourself permission to do what you like and not what you think is in or will sell (but you want to sell, of course) Another quote fragment that struck me; " Pattern surrounds us wherever we look: from dappled sunlight shining through leaves onto a lawn or the regular repetion of bricks in a wall...." I love pattern. I alway have, always will. I love patterns with patterns and have to restrain myself in my house, but do I have to? No! I have permission to use all the ornate, convoluted pattern I want to in my series of paintings and the theme doesn't have to be about the patterns. They will merely be the vehicle that I voice my thoughts with. Lastly, I am reading a book right now that struck the perfect chord in my little organizational head. The author is an organized person ( she qualifies herself that way) and needs to have building blocks to tell her story. She has three sections, each with equal number of chapters and each discussing a different aspect of a similar thing. It sounds very architectural and I was immediately drawn to her outline idea. I love autoCAD drafting as well as pouring and smearing paint. I think I can see my way now. I will discuss my total theme in another posting. This has taxed my brain enough for now.

Favorite Paris photos

Can an old dog learn new tricks

I wrote my first blog and I felt like I was taking my first step ( of course, I'm too old to remember that). I realize that I have much to learn regarding this impromtu art form. My husband asked me if I was on drugs. I think it was the swoon into color thing. Too reminicent of our pseudo hippie days in the 70's. We weren't really that dirty or that drugged out, but we made the attempt. I digress. I pulled a true-spaced-out-artist-moment when, after a lovely glass of wine on my front porch (with the soft breezes) I googled myself for the fun of it all and discovered that I was, at that moment, supposed to be at an art opening of my work. Luckily, It is a group show so I am not the only one that has to show my face.

Mapping my mind. My mind sinks and swirls and swoons into colors. As I sink in, a distracting detail occurs. In some paintings more distracting detail occurs than in others. Have these paintings lost their focus or is the focus just diffused that day?

To understand the mind of an artist is to realize that the artist doesn't have more tangent thoughts than other people, he/she just acts on most of those thoughts thru her medium. The thoughts are bursting out of our heads, so we need to express them, because more are on their way.