A Catalyst for New Realizations

A Catalyst for New Realizations

from series: Night Time Conversations

March 26, 2009

3' x 4'

Oil on Canvas
$900.00 CAN

This painting along with the first one in this series (Out for a Walk) will be in the 'Instructors Show' at the Allied Arts Council Gallery from March 30th till April 18th. There will be a reception on April 4th from 1pm-4pm. I must say that the photos do not do it justice. The paintings are larger in size and so they give off a completely different feeling to the viewer than this small image on your screen does. I was hoping that it would make people feel as if they were in on this scene. There is also a play with matte and glossy finishes that you can only really experience in person. I hope that people can make it out to the reception.

I must note that I teach privately in my own studio/classroom and through the Allied Arts Council.

Now a bit about this painting...

I really love the glass and the dabs of reflecting light. It creates sparkles that dot the surface of the painting. This is my favorite size of canvas to work with. It is about the size that would fit comfortably above any couch or sofa. I think about where my paintings might end up and maybe that is why I really relate to installation art. In school I loved doing projects that involved installation type art. I like to create paintings that will easily have a home. I often think "would this look good above my bed or couch?". That's usually how I gage if it is a 'good enough' painting, worthy to be in this world and the spaces that people live in. With this painting A Catalyst for New Realizations, I wanted to recreate those life events where I have gone out for a quick drink at night. Usually it is a last minute thing where someone you run into says "Hey do you have time to go for a drink?". Or a friend calls you up out of the blue, "I'm in town want to go for a bite?" And then you find yourself in the most indepth, life altering, new way of seeing things type of conversations that will stay with you forever.

I have a friend, or muse if you will, that I met at work and we have always stayed in touch. I find her and her life very fascinating. She is one of those friends that you can either see every day or three times a year and you just pick up where you left off. She is easy to talk to and she is always there to challenge my thoughts and she makes me grow intellectually and as a person. I must thank her for all that she does, which is usually just making time for me in her very busy life and I know that can be hard. It is easy to let friends slip away. This series of paintings are inspired by her, by our many late night discussions. She has posed for me too many times to count. She used to come to my studio in our university days and eat lunch with me, sometimes bringing wine or some goody she just whipped up the night before.

When my mother saw this painting she thought that the woman in this painting is this afore mentioned friend, but in my reference material it is not. It is strange that subconsciously I have painted this friend/muse in without even noticing it. While I was painting it I saw myself as being there, recreating those feelings where the light goes dim and nothing in the world matters but this conversation and these people. I love doing things in the dark, painting, going for walks, eating, talking, etc. It helps me to focus in on the things that really matter, the things that reflect the tiniest amounts of light and life.

Spring Session Open House and Registration Weekend

Spring Session is Here!

I invite everyone who is interested to attend my Open House and Registration Weekend. It will be held on two Friday nights starting at 6pm:

on March 20th and on March 27th

On those dates you can stop by and get the Spring Session brochure and register for classes, workshops, and artist sessions. I will have my artwork on display and there will be coffee tea and goodies. It is also a good chance to check out the studio/classroom. Whether you are interested in learning about drawing or painting, an artist looking for an outlet to paint with other artists or with live models, or if you are simply interested in my work I hope you can attend. Please contact me if you are interested in attending and I will send you send you information and directions to the studio.

Info on all courses are posted on my blog on the right side of your screen, you may have to scroll down. Please note that there are still workshops and artist sessions happening in March and April that are not completely full.

The March 20th date is also the Artist Working Side by Side night, so you can come and see what those artist sessions entail, or if you choose you can participate. They are open to every skill level, it is just a set time and place for people to get together and work on their personal art projects. It is a great way to meet other artists and to see what other's are working on. Come in and feel the buzz of creative energy.

Well Loved

Well Loved

March 2, 2009

7" x 7"

Oil on Board

The Egg paintings and the above painting of paint brushes are projects that I get my students to do in my painting classes. I have been deeply focused on teaching these past couple of weeks. Within the next couple of days I will be posting my next open house and registration dates. There will be some new classes and workshops added to the list of courses that I am already teaching.

Also, I posted better photos of the egg paintings. The previous ones were taken late at night and I really wanted to post them, but the quality was terrible. I apologize.

The Well Loved brushes were developed after checking out other artists blogs in the hopes of coming up with some inspiration for my Monday night class. Carol Marine, after a workshop she taught, painted her paint brushes. They are absolutely beautiful. Since my class is all about painting the still life in the quest to finding simple beauty in everyday life, I found that it is a perfect subject. It just goes to show, that if you think there is nothing worthy enough or inspiring enough to paint, you never have to look very far to find something. Usually beauty is sitting right in front of you. Do you notice it? is the question.