2020-24 Living Artfully

Hello Dear Art Lover    

It's Gonna Be a Bright, Bright Sunshiny Day

Don't you wish it was a bright sunshiny day everyday? Especially when it's not, like it is today. However, I've been told it will be like that tomorrow. If you lived in Thunder Bay, the Sunshine Capital of Canada, you might actually get tired of all those blue skies [NOT] .

This week I've been inspired by an online mini course in rediscovering clarity and focus. If you want to check it out, you still can join. It's free and no pressure at all. It's about reminding yourself about what lights you up in any creative endeavour, like life for example. Remembering the things you got excited about when you were a kid. Perhaps some dream or idea you had that you abandoned when the responsibilities of life were calling. It's on Facebook on Nicholas Wilton's page in Art2Life. The breadcrumbs challenge. 

If you follow me on Instagram you can see a fun video of how I sometimes start a painting. It's on IGTV.  One of my priorities is to have fun and this process is definitely unpredictable. I've attached two photos of where I changed that canvas. More work is needed and I guarantee I'll be having fun.

I realize that not everyone likes abstract art, so I thought I would suggest a way to help you create something realistic. Take any photo you like. Turn it upside down and then draw it. Throw out the idea of what you think it should look like, just follow the lines. Then turn your paper right side up and I think you'll be surprised at how accurate your drawing is. My sister Patty [ I have 4 others, BTW] sent me a photo of one of her drawings she did that way and it is very good. I think she had fun too.

Til next time,  

YOUR HOME     YOUR STYLE     MY ART

ROCK ON,

Gail

2020-23 Living Artfully

Hello Dear Art Lover          

You Can Light The World Up With Your Smile

Well....NOT a sunny day as I write this today. The leaves are blowing off the trees and it's cold, and rainy... BRRR. We had such a nice long stretch of sun and blue skies so I guess we need this. At least that's what I'm trying to convince myself of. However, it's not below zero here yet. My sister in Thunder Bay says she's sending that weather down here. 

Thank you to all the folks who responded to last week's letter. 'It's a Wonderful World' evokes emotion for so many. It is one of my favourites too. This week's 'tagline' has been running through my head since Ben commented on one of my Instagram stories. I thought it was an appropriate one for this gloomy day. It's all about attitude isn't it? I've been thinking about my attitude toward the restrictions. Like many, I really don't like them. I'll do it but do I have to like it? How would my experience change if I changed my attitude?  Helpful advice is appreciated.

A new series is coming out which I am very excited about. It's called the 'Sisu' Series. Sisu is a Finnish word that is not easily translatable to one word in English. It means determination, courage, and strength of purpose and my Grandma was the embodiment of it to me. I have created a series of Grandma paintings in the past, and this collection has been so much fun to make. I had an 'AHA' moment while painting last week. I was grinding the paintbrush and I mean really pushing the paint  onto the wood panel. It felt so pleasurable and reminded me of the time Fox was using a sparkly marker to do the same. He was just loving putting the colour on the paper. It made me think of how art is not about the end result at all. It is about the process. That is so easy to forget when I am trying to make a 'good' painting. 

Please take a chance on yourself and just make some squibbles on a piece of paper. Find the crayons and dig right in. There is no right or wrong way. 

Another avenue that I'm exploring now is with Nicholas Wilton in his Art2Life Breadcrumbs Challenge on Facebook. It's a FREE one week course about creativity..any discipline, no experience required. It starts on Monday, but he is already putting content in the group. There's always the opportunity to learn something new. The internet is s treasure trove. www.art2life.com


Attached you will find a photo of 'The Way is Clear' hanging on a wall in the studio,  and a size guide to help you visualize paintings, which I think is brilliant!


Until next week,

YOUR HOME     YOUR STYLE     MY ART

Rock on,

Gail