Category: Creativity

I had it wrong. For so many years, I thought that I had to work hard to be perfect and then everything would fall into place. Ha! So many things are great about getting older. Perfectionism gets replaced with other more joyful things such as: honesty, passion, laughter. Giving up on being perfect is freeing! I suppose it is like an art journey. You start out wanting to paint the perfect realistic painting. Then as you gain strength with your art, it becomes less ‘perfect’ and much more fun and expressive. Yes! So I hope for you too, in life and and art, that the journey becomes more and more fun and expressive. Perfect is not going to happen, and that is more than okay! 

Just loving the group of students this week in the Wet & Wild class! Paint pourings galore – so much colour – so much fun. I’ll try to have some photos for you next week. And, yes, we really did need the gold foil that happens to be around certain types of chocolates. 🙂 

I’m looking forward to the Square Foot Show Opening – this Friday July 17 at 7:30 pm. I will have 3 paintings in the show, including the one featured here. I’m also happy that so many of my students and previous students are participating in this show. Hope that you can drop in to see the art and say hi. If you can’t make the opening, the show continues until August 15 at Westland Gallery in Wortley Village. 

 

Hoping this summer gives you an opportunity for some adventure! 

Layers of Thought – Acrylic Collage – SOLD 

Developing a creative spirit can impact your art – and much more. Taking a creative look at any aspect of your life can present previously unseen solutions and opportunities. To benefit the most from this, it is best to go into a ‘no judgement’ mode – a way of thinking that permits all ideas and says, ‘there is no idea that is too crazy or too stupid at this moment’. The ‘what if…?’ question is a great starter. This is the same mode that famous scientists and inventors go into while seeking that new idea that is just genious. They also know that a lot of ideas will be useless, but understand the necessity of complete openess in order to get the most out of potential new thoughts. In the same way an artist who wants to open new possibilities for their art needs to throw out previous conceptions and explore the freedom of ‘what if…’ with their chosen media. It’s a little scary – but can be oh so worthwhile! 

You can’t see inside another person’s heart. Some plants have deep roots that have found a hidden source of moisture. They are just waiting for the right circumstances to burst into bloom. You can’t see into someone else’s heart. You don’t know anything about them until… until you see some fruit from them. Then you begin to glimpse the depth of their roots. And if there is no fruit at all, you still don’t know if some circumstance may happen to bring them into bloom, and bless everyone with their goodness because – you can’t see inside another person’s heart. “Rooted in Love III” Oil 60″ x 30″ available from the artist. 

There is an interesting response that sometimes happens when an artist or art student really dislikes their painting in progress. Letting go of expectations (well, it’s a mess anyway), suddenly they put in some bold strokes of colour. The painting takes on a new life and can quickly move toward one that is not just likeable, but actually very good! It doesn’t happen every time, but is worth a try. Next time you think a painting is unredeemable, why not pull out all the stops? There’s nothing to lose, and there could be a lot to gain. 

Hope your weekend is fun and relaxing!