This Morning

This morning I found something that made me smile ear to ear!

More progress and more people building!

Re-Creation

I built my studio gallery two days ago.  In this installation I have left out carved wooden blocks and asked others to build through my artist statement.

I left them wooden blocks in an array of sizes.

I started by placing a few carved blocks stacked on the table, to encourage others to join.
I came back yesterday and found...

(A Close Up)

(A Close Up)

Finger Painting Is For Kids

Finger painting was always a pastime I enjoyed.  But, as I got older I was given a brush, told to be neater, tidier, I was given a picture that my painting was to look like.  So, I walked away.  Recently I had an urge to paint.  I went to a paint store and bought colors I thought went together.  I also bought a 4 foot by 8 foot piece of drywall.  I was going to paint.

It was not until a few days ago that I actually started the process.  An hour before I was supposed to be in a class I felt particularly discouraged.  I was over it; over drawing, painting, making art, living life in a particular way.  So I painted.  I open the cans of paint and put color after color on my dry wall.  Below are some close ups of my finger, palm, and drip painting.

The result was fun, and messy, and left me drained with my heart on my "canvas."

Lately

Lately, I've been having difficulty getting out of bed.
Lately, I've wanted to hibernate my life away.
Lately, I haven't been able to make a mark.
Lately, I've lost myself.

And then I had an idea.
And then I bought 10 colors of paint.
And then I bought a 4 foot by 8 foot sheet of dry wall.
And then I released all inhibitions.
And then I forgot all the "rules" of painting, and formal art.
And then I made a mark.
My mark.
All across the dry wall.  With my hands, I finger painted.  I palm painted.  I drip painted.  I painted.

And now I am rejuvenated.
And now I have an idea.
And now I have the boldness of a child, and the knowledge of someone older.
And now I am reborn.

Artist Statement 10/10/2014

1. Trauma leaves scars.
2. Healing takes both time and hard work.
3. Joy is good for distracting oneself and great for healing.

Build something.  Invite others to join.

Open Studio

I am excited to share my open studio with anyone who wishes to participate in the experience.  Creating this space has been surreal.  I hope the public stops for a moment and enjoys.

On the platform lay the wooden carved blocks I have been working on.


(A detail)

I have added my artist statement in hopes it will invite people to participate.

I hope people will take the opportunity to build and tell their friends.

Gallery Show

The work that goes into preparing for a gallery show is exciting.  As an artist, I am nervous, giddy, excited, by the very idea of hanging my work in a gallery.  The very notion of having the general public view my art is humbling, and nerve-wracking.  In a gallery show I cannot control what the public perceives, or why they perceive it.  Nonetheless, it is still an experience every artist should enjoy.

Recently I had the honor of hanging an Intro to Studio classes work.  These budding artists do not know their work is hung yet.  I am excited to see their reaction.  As many of these artists came in to the class not thinking they could draw, or not thinking what they made was, in fact, art, I am excited to see what their response will be when their pieces are placed in a gallery setting.

I remember when I had my first piece of art in a gallery.  Outside of the gallery setting I was not aware of the pieces power.  But, once it was in a gallery, I saw it with new eyes.  The piece was important.  It was magical.  I hope to share these feelings with these artists.

Below are images of their first gallery show.  Hopefully the first of many.

(Entryway)

(Left wing)

(Right wing)