Author: Cheryl

AmmJoy250

Dreaming of Italy!

Cheryl
As many of you know,  my “Acrylic Paint Effects” video has been chosen as one of the 4 finalists in Winsor & Newton’s “Show Us What You Can Do With Acrylics and Mediums” competition. The grand prize is a trip to Italy, and the winner won’t be chosen until June. So yes, I’m dreaming – and why not? Dreaming is good for the soul. A sincere thanks to each of you who viewed and rated my video. Voting is now closed. But if you haven’t already done so, you can still add a comment. Just click the link to view the video; then scroll down to post your comment. In June an artist assigned by Winsor & Newton will assess the 4 finalists’ videos, review feedback, and award the trip to one of us. Here’s hoping! I can always dream! 
LgDeepSil250

Brave Group

Cheryl
This was a brave group. They had courage in how they approached painting, and many of them also had the courage to rough it in the Canadian wilderness in order to know their subject well. You may have guessed that I’m referring to our Canadian Group of Seven. Their first exhibit was in 1920, and the critics back then had lots of nasty things to say about the paintings. Their colours and shapes were just too wildly different in a time when people bought paintings of brown cows, on brown fields beside, yup, brown streams. Today, their paintings sell for millions. What I love is the way that even today, almost 100 years later, their work looks fresh and spontaneous as though it was painted yesterday. Here’s a link so you can see some of their work: the Canadian Group of Seven. Do you agree that it is exciting work, even today? 
LgMntMem200

Secret Recipe

Cheryl
I’m in love. Sorry, no sordid details, the object of my deep affection is colour. Colour mesmerizes me. Colour energizes me. If I think about the colour orange, I feel more alive. Colour can sooth me. A grayed teal blue makes me calm. Since it made such a great blog title, I will share my secret recipe for a grayed teal blue colour with you fellow painters – it’s phthalo blue plus burnt sienna plus white. It’s a good one – enjoy! Call me fickle, but I think I love all colours. Yellow dances, red leaps and shouts for joy. These associations run deep within me and no doubt strongly affect my painting. Do you have a favourite colour? You could tell us in the comments below, and even share your favourite colour recipe if you feel so inclined. And this week’s survey is about colour too. You can vote on your favourite colour – surveys are always anonymous and just for fun. Thanks! 
GoatT

Getting Unstuffed for Christmas

Cheryl 4 Comments
I read it somewhere, and thought it was a great phrase. We likely have too much stuff. Could we get unstuffed for Christmas this year? Here are some ideas… I loved a daughter in law’s suggestion of goodies for the adults instead of gifts. We all make or buy a dozen of our favourite treats, then put them into bags for each adult to take home one of each. Another thing I thought of, and this is embarrassing, I have 2 extra coats in my closet that I haven’t worn in over a year. By golly, I need to get those off to the Goodwill Store! What about taking people to a concert, theatre production, art gallery, or even a movie instead of more stuff? You’ve probably also heard of World Vision and their wonderful program of buying a goat or pig or chickens for a family living in poverty. What a great gift idea! Here’s a link to check this out…World Vision Gift Catalogue. The local food banks also need donations. What non perishables do you have in the cupboard that could be passed on? I am quite sure I’ve barely scratched the surface of this concept. So now I’m turning it over to you. What ideas do you have for getting unstuffed for Christmas? I’ll be looking for your comments – right after I get back from Goodwill. 
Leav2T

Finding Creative Space

Cheryl 3 Comments
I’m betting you are busy. Not just a little, but crazy busy. It’s the way our world runs these days – fast! How do we get off, slow down, make a creative space? I’m talking about 30 minutes to an hour of lovely creative time a day. I don’t have all the answers, I struggle too. But here are a few things that help me to find some creative space. 1. Recognize that everything else will benefit, yup, even go better, if you take some time to refresh your spirit by being creative.2. Acknowledge that most of what we do in non work hours doesn’t have such huge urgency that it can’t wait an hour. Or even a day. If you don’t tidy up before Great Aunt Bertha gets there, the world will carry on, quite oblivious. And so likely will Aunt Bertha.3. Stand still. Breathe deep. And then make a list. Figure out what you must do, and what can wait. Writing things down can be a great way to have a brief closure on the “to do” (or as I like to call it, “do do”) list. 4. Go Create. Because no one else can create in the same unique way that you do. End of story.  Those are my thoughts. What are yours? Share with us what things help you pull away from crazy busyness and find a creative space in your world. 
LgOnceAV250

Website – Live!

Cheryl 3 Comments
Welcome to my new website and blog! Paintings, contests, surveys, featured art students, art course info, tips and techniques – and more. I hope you will enjoy what this site has to offer. The blog appears on the homepage. What’s this blog about? This is where I write about creativity and how to be more creative. I share painting tips and techniques. There will be links to art websites. You will also find some favourite quotes here, about art and about life. The category ‘Outside the Box’ is a catch all for topics that don’t fit into the other ones. A lot of what I write will be art focused. Some of my writing will share my experiences as a full time artist/art instructor, and hey, some will be about life! Because – art happens, and life happens. The technical difficulties with the for sale and sold galleries have been fixed! If you couldn’t see images there before, you should be able to now. Yay Wilf! New blog posts happen most weekdays, Monday through Friday. Here’s the thing. I also hope that this blog will be about you. How? I’m hoping for comments – lots of them! I’m hoping you will find the content often worth sharing with your friends too – on Facebook, on Twitter, or anywhere at all. So today my request is, take a look around and tell me what you think. Tell me, over all impressions, your favourite parts, if something doesn’t work for you. Whatever your thoughts are, I’m hoping to hear from you. Enjoy! 
FP013T

Famous Painting: Previous Winners

Cheryl
Here are our previous contest winners. Click on any thumbnail to see the entire painting! Artist: Salvador DaliPainting: Persistence of MemoryClose Date: June 30, 2012Winner: Kathie Wright Artist: Gustav KlimtPainting: The KissClose Date: May 31, 2012Winner: Cheryl Cashman Artist: Johannes VermeerPainting: Girl with a Pearl EarringClose Date: April 30, 2012Winner: Connie Mabb Artist: Lawren HarrisPainting: From the North Shore Lake SuperiorClose Date: Mar 31, 2012Winner: Lynne Tomlinson Artist: Claude MonetPainting: Woman with Parasol/La Promenade/Madam Monet & SonClose Date: Feb 29, 2012Winner: Scott Smith Artist: Vincent van GoghPainting: Starry NightClose Date: Jan 31, 2012Winner: Linda Summers Posey Artist: Edgar DegasPainting: The Dance Class (La Classe de Danse)Close Date: Dec 31, 2011Winner: Alexis Chadwick