Artist Anonymous - 7 Symptoms

You know who I'm talking about!

1. You can't go a day or two without painting otherwise you start to twitch.
   
2. When you get down to your last canvas you have a panic attack.
   
3. You'll drive down to Victoria and back to save a couple of dollars at Opus.
   
4. You'll take your kids piggy-bank money and buy more paints.
   
5. You sign up for workshop after workshop...but it's never enough.
6. You make your spouse move his 'stuff' out of the garage so you can turn it into a studio.
7. You get excited when you see the Island Arts Magazine!
   

Sound familiar? If you have any of the above symptoms, then you are truly an art-addict!

There is no cure. So best to just dig in and enjoy the ride!

Till Next Time...

From the Prairies, to the West Coast and Beyond...

Susan

We do Whatever it Takes

Because of the Island Arts Magazine I get out and about quite a bit. I talk to many artists, I go to a many art shows and art venues and visit artists studios. What I am finding is that most artists have a strong spirit and will do what it takes to make a living doing what they love.

Some are opening art galleries while others have opened coffee shops with art for sale. Some are making DVDs and marketing their work that way and giving up the conventional gallery exhibitions. Others are organizing workshops - while some are getting out of organizing workshops and spending more time painting and marketing their own art.

Whatever it takes. Try different tactics and see what works. Somethings may only work for a short time. That's O.K. You have to know when it is time to move on and try another avenue.

Some artists are marketing their works out of province and others even go out of country with great success.

I find it very interesting and I love hearing about the new directions. One things remains true - that is the love of art and the creative process.

We do whatever it takes in order to keep our passion alive!

Till Next Time ...

From the Prairies, to the West Coast and Beyond...

Susan

Be Careful what you Wish For

Driving around last week, while on deliveries, I had a lot of time to do some thinking. Ever since my early teens I had dreamt of being an artist and living on a tropical island. My parents bought me my first oil colour paints. I still remember them saying, "Make sure this is what you want, as they are VERY expensive."

Moving off to Edmonton in the late 70's after graduation, I started my art career by taking night classes at the University of Edmonton. I dreamt of being an artist.

Moving back to Sask. in the 80's I became a free-lance artist. I approached different businesses and asked if they would like me to paint murals on their outside walls. One of my clients was a funky denim store. Payment was by means of some cash, some cloths. I dreamt of some day being an artist.

Off to Toronto in the late 80's I started a graphic design company. I worked with artists and art galleries helping them with their marketing.

Back to Sask. in the year 2000 I bought a house and started a magazine. I turned part of the house into a studio where I could have art shows and openings. The shows were a big success with paintings flying off the walls.

All the while I dreamt of living on an island and being an artist.

Now here I am, living on Vancouver Island, painting, and running an art magazine. Guess what? My dream has come true. I am living on an island and living the life of an artist.

Be careful what you wish for!

Till Next Time ...

From the Prairies, to the West Coast and Beyond...

Susan

Upcoming Exhibition

When Corinne from The Old School House Arts Centre, (TOSH) in Qualicum Beach, approached me last August and asked me if I wanted an exhibition there in October, my first reaction was major panic. I said "This October?!!" "No", she said, "October 2011". "Oh, next year.", I said. Well needless to say, I was over the moon with excitement about being asked to exhibit my work. What an honour!

My second reaction was, 'oh my gosh, that's only a year away!

First I felt that I needed a place to work. After the Island Arts Expo in November 2010, I approached a friend of mine and asked if I could rent some space in her studio. I knew that it had been vacant for couple of years and would be a perfect place to work.

I started moving myself (along with car loads of art supplies) into the studio. I spent the first few weeks just having fun - experimenting with new materials, playing around with texture, etc. Even doing a few abstracts, which I had never done before. I got many old projects out of the way. It was great!

After the new year I decided that I better get to some more serious work.

Fast forward several months... and NOW we are only a few weeks away. Oh my gosh! My paintings are ready and they look great! I need to work on the marketing. But that's another story!

"Scapes - Seascapes, Moutainscapes, Landscapes
October 11th - November 4th

Till Next Time ...

From the Prairies, to the West Coast and Beyond...

Susan

Online Gallery

I spent most of today updating my Online Gallery. There I can give the viewer a tour of my artwork. Before uploading the images, I had to make sure they were the correct file type and size. I took a break from the computer to drive down to the studio to take a few more photographs of some of my latest work, so they too could be included.

For the moment - it is up to date!

I have split it into three albums ... From the Prairies ... To the West Coast ... and Beyond. (just like my tag line)

I find all of my paintings fall into one of those categories. Within those categories there can be different mediums; such as acrylic, watercolour or mixed.

As an avid photographer (who never leaves home without her camera), I have decided to add another category for professional photography. That one I will work on later.

Please go to the gallery and have a tour, then let me know what you think.

Till Next Time ...

From the Prairies, to the West Coast and Beyond...

Susan

Working Through It

I will be heading down to the studio this afternoon, hopefully to pull my painting together.

I started a new piece last week. I loved a photo that I took a couple of years ago in Milner Gardens and thought that it would make a great painting. The fall colours were brilliant.

I was excited to start it, but half way through something happened. CRASH, I hit a road block. Sometimes it brings you to a full stop. This particular one made me seriously think about gessoing the whole thing over and starting something fresh. Then a voice inside my head reminded me that 'painting is just a process' and that I should push through.

Reluctantly I did and within 20 minutes the excitement was back, I was having fun and the painting was pulling itself together.

As artists we are very prone to self-destruction. Had I quit at that time, I would never have pushed myself. I realized that when I 'appear' to hit a road block, it is more of a mood, then not being able to paint through it. Push through, and see what you can learn. Who knows, it may be that masterpiece that we are all waiting for!

Till Next Time ...

From the Prairies, to the West Coast and Beyond...

Susan

What's on Your Easel?

Take a look at what's on my easel!

The new year is a good time to go through your "stuff" and clear out what you don't want and finish those projects that you think are worth saving.

This canvas already had the beginning of a painting on it that I had started, oh, some 10 years ago. Many layers of gold and copper paint formed the base. Keeping that theme, I painted and scratched and scraped more layers of gold and copper adding a gel medium to give it more depth and texture.

Other colours were scraped and brushed on. The elevators just happened along somewhere near the end of the process.

Finished piece is 10 x 14". Now to come up with a catchy name. Any suggestions?

Till Next Time ...

From the Prairies, to the West Coast and Beyond...

Susan