Can you believe the 10th anniversary for the premier art event in Cheyenne is coming up?
http://www.komenwyoming.org/get-involved/art-for-the-cure/
I donated Tis a Rose last year. This year I have already chosen the piece. It has yet to be named. Maybe you can give me a suggestion. Mary Aslin (last blog) suggests her naming comes from the emotion the painting inspired.
These flowers seem to be waiting sedately on the cabinet near the morning light, ready to catch the eye, ready for the first cup of tea... Mark your calendar for April 20 at Little America for a look at all the art.
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| Garden Pot 5x7 Pastel |
I painted yesterday, the first time in a few weeks. I sold a little piece, which was encouraging, and was accepted for the second year in the Western Spirit show with two pieces. I am still searching for inspiration so I Googled "pastel artists" and discovered a pastel artist from California that INSPIRED me. The only problem, I spent an hour on her site, reading the blogs, marveling at the images, discovering her journey and had to force myself go back to work. I liked the little study so well that I started a 9x12 version. Not yet done so hope to share next time.
Check out Mary at http://maryaslin.com
and tell her Vanda said hi.
Ah, the muse is fleeting. As I have started my avocation of creating art in a meaningful way I continue to struggle with finding the inspiration for the next piece. A recent find The Artist's Quest for Inspiration by Peggy Hadden came at just the right time. I have some time as the year winds down to read and reflect. It is full of tips, quotes and exercises to nurture creativity. One of the quotes; "Inspiration demands the active cooperation of the intellect joined with enthusiasm and it is under such conditions that marvelous conceptions, with all that is excellent and divine, come into being." Girogio Vasari
Another source of creativity for me is the interaction of other artists. I own several pieces by Kathryn Jacobson so her recent show at the CRMC, Through the Eyes of a Chaplin, was perfect timing to recharge. Her artist's reception was well attended and seeing the arts community was invigorating. Be sure to check out her show in the next few months. http://artsalliancecheyenne.com/events/art-is-healing-%E2%80%9Cthrough-the-eyes-of-a-chaplain%E2%80%9D/
When all else fails I paint poppies. That form and the bright colors always cheer me. They are typically small and are called Field Poppies.
While I may work on a painting for hours and hours, with one click another form of art can be created. Don is just beginning to see the world through the lens of his new Nikon. Of course that one click has many more clicks that don't turn out and the images are typically not in the backyard as are the flowers that I love to paint. The Chihuly bridge of glass is located in Tacoma, WA and is awe inspiring. These two images were taken of the ceiling of the bridge.
http://www.chihuly.com/special-projects-chihuly-bridge-of-glass.aspx
We recently cruised along the Adriatic and Don's photos keep the memories fresh. Every port was unique. The white town of Mykonos, a Greek island, was a particular high point.
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| Autumn Again 9x12 pastel |
I typically struggle with a title for a piece of art. It may come while painting but sometimes the painting has to marinate and it will come to me. Autumn Again was a a painting I scumbled out several times when it was not pleasing to me. The third time I focused on the many lessons I have been taught in recent workshops and finally, I was happy with the painting. The name was based on the changing seasons and it took me several times to paint, again and again. Autumn Again recently won a first in Pastel at the Art Fest competition here in Cheyenne. Art Fest is hung at the Laramie County Library through December 20th.
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| Helianthus 18x24 pastel |
Heliantius is my typical naming technique when the painting stumps my creativity. Go for the Latin derivation.. and then everyone is stumped. Helianthus won third - Intermediate at the National Arts Program exhibition hosted by the City of Cheyenne and hanging at the Civic Center through December 18th. http://www.nationalartsprogram.org/venues/cheyenne-wy
Yes Maphead: that is a title of a new book by Ken Jennings, the Jeopardy champion for more than six months, that claims the love of maps, cartography, geography and the related travel bug, is genetic.
http://ken-jennings.com/maphead.html
So now you know a bit more about me. I love maps! The book is chock full of why we love maps and goes on with stories of travel, goecaching and the five million dollar map, purchased by the Library of congress, because it was the first map with the name America on it. http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0309/maps.html
While the book is entertaining it also inspired me to use some of my map collection in my art. Georgia Roswell is working on a body of work with topographical maps... which will premier at The Old Fire House Gallery In Lovland in 2012. I can't wait to see how she creates her maps.
