When are you funny?

Art group sketch
acrylic on canvas
16 x 15 inches

I was thinking tonight as I emptied the cat
pan, put things in the dishwasher, got ready
to call it a night, about the first time I
understood how much I loved funny. For
at least one summer, my older sister and I
shared a two bedroom cabin down the road
from the main cottage my parents rented
called the guest house. That summer my
brothers (when one of them wasn't away
at camp) shared a much smaller cabin called Bunkie
(because it had bunkbeds) right
next to the big, old cottage.

The main cottage was beautiful with a huge stone
fireplace, and was built by an English family, all
dead by the time my father rented it, and before there
were even proper roads in that part of Ontario.
My father was strict, and Bunkie was about five
feet away from my parents' bedroom in the cottage.
So you couldn't make noise there. But in the
Guesthouse we listened to the radio all night long,
singing, talking and laughing. My sister was then, and is
now, one of the funniest people I know, and she got
me laughing so hard when we'd talk and dance and sing
late at night listening to American rock stations, that I wanted
to be around that humour all the time.

How does that connect to art? My friends at
the art group I belong to are, among other things,
funny. After a long day at school (and today my
students were pretty funny too), I climb the stairs
to the art studio where we work, and look forward
to the break when I can talk with them. Most of the
artists I've met through the blog share a wonderful
sense of humour too. I love that.

It's so easy to get too serious and somber about art,
your oeuvre, your craft. Julia Cameron in The Artist's
Way asks us to admit that we're playing. We're all just
playing at this weird thing with colours and line
we like to do. I better stop, because I'm in one of
those chatty moods you get in late at night after
a long day. Kind of like the mood I'd be in as a
little girl loving every minute of talking to my sister.
The truth is that I do love every minute of talking to
you.

It's time to say goodnight.

But one thing before I go. The painting tonight is my
Tuesday night art group sketch. I had a little under an hour
to do it, and enjoyed the process. The model was extremely thin.
You read people saying to turn the model into an object,
and paint her like you'd paint a cup. I find that staring
at the model, seeing her humanity, and feeling compassion
and affection helps me get the image I want. This model
emanated a very sweet and vulnerable feeling. I'm
quite happy with the sketch.

Have a laughing-with-your-great-friends day

A study is a study

Today I worked on a little study of a chickadee
sitting on a coffee cup. The chickadee is a very
tiny bird, and a very difficult bird to get decent
reference on -- so this is not finished, and I'm
looking at it as a sketch. I love chickadees, and
would be delighted if the birds I'm crazy about
would come and sit on my coffee cup -- if it
was empty. I love birds, but I'm a realist.

sketch of a chickadee
acrylic on canvas
8 x8 inches

There is a bird who is known for perching on
sugar bowls. My mother and father were delighted
with them when they were on holiday in Grenada.
The birds, called sugarbirds, or bananaquit
would come to their breakfast table on their hotel
balcony, and try to eat the sugar meant for their coffee.

But anyone who knows chickadees knows they won't
do that. They are a shy bird.

Have a going-wild-about-birds day.

Bird study and thinking simply

Bluebird (family Musicapidae) on a coffee cup
Bird Study #1
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches

Sometimes I get all tangled up in the deeper meaning
of life. What is it? But why do that? I have been
thinking about my big painting and wanting to
put birds in it. I don't know how, or why -- but
I think it connects to Earth Hour, and Earth Day
coming up in April. The main thing is -- if I
want to do it, I can. I'm the painter.

I used to drive to art class sometimes saying to
myself over and over "I am Monet. I am Monet,"
or "I am van Gogh," (maybe not) or "I am Mary Cassatt."
What did I mean? I meant that I am every bit
as much an artist as Monet. I wanted myself
to take that in, absorb it, allow it. I don't mean I'm
great, I mean that the painter's life is the painter's
life. Of course I can never be anyone but me, and
that's the point. If I want birds what's stopping me?

What? Well I don't know how to draw or paint
birds. That's the first thing. But before I've
painted it, I don't know how to paint anything!
Hello! Ahhh. Long sigh. I am always taking that
inner naysayer by the hand kindly and leading her
to reference of one sort and another. Today it
was birds. I thought why not try a small study
of a bird I like. Okay. So I like the Bluebird.
So here it is.

By the way. I've partially solved the marking and
painting dilemma. Turns out I can do both, by
keeping the marking close by, and marking every
time I'm waiting for something to dry -- which is
about every five - ten minutes. Perfect. Oh boy.
give me more weekends, more sleep and I'll be
such a problem solver!!!!

Here's a great site if you want to read van Gogh's
letters http://www.webexhibits.org/vangogh/

Have a let-the-Bluebird-of-happiness-sing-for-you day.

Earth Hour and Abstraction

Earth Hour Candles

Did you celebrate or observe Earth Hour? We did, and many people in our
neighbourhood did too. It's a great idea. We got out all of our
candles and had our supper as we always to by candle light, with a whole
lot more candles.

The kitchen by candlelight

After supper I was sitting at the kitchen table drawing,
(because you don't move 15 candles all over the house,
and the kitchen was our base). I was trying to draw a cardinal,
because I'm thinking about whether or not to put birds in my
painting, and it hit me. You know what? This is the light Vermeer
worked in. Candlelight. You're going to say, 'no he only worked
in daylight,' but you can tell that some of the paintings
from that period were lit with dim light.

Then I thought that if the light levels were frustrating
it would make sense to be trying for accuracy, to document
every line, every leaf and dot every i. Maybe the luxury
of electricity led to the birth of abstraction. I know
that abstract art also developed as a reaction to an industrial
age -- and voilà. There you have it. Electricity = industry =
lots of light = readily available paint colours = abstract
art. Maybe that's an illogical leap, but it seems to make sense.
Of course I've totally sidestepped the development of the camera,
and all that. Vermeer may have already been on to the
essence of the camera. I'm just talking about light.

A cardinal drawn by candlelight
marker on bond paper

My drawing tonight is a tiny inept line drawing of a bird,
done by candlelight in Earth Hour. More painting
tomorrow with the klieg lights on. Just kidding -- with
the art lights on.

Have a loving-the-earth-to-abstraction day.

Painter talk

The big one,
Tonight I worked on the hair,
the skin colour, blocking in more
of the background, and her face.
The face is still rough,
and the hands and dress are barely
begun.

I was thinking as I worked on my large portrait tonight
about all of the painters whose blogs I read. Like the
teachers I had at art school, and more recent workshops
I've taken, their ideas on what is essential to art differ
greatly. I find myself agreeing with most of them.
Some think that art is a spiritual journey, deeply laden with
meaning, and some say they just want to paint.

I know artists who follow rigid rules when they paint
and like a work defined in scope from the outset, and
others like me who find their way as they
go along. Some aren't happy unless they're painting
outside, some paint strictly from photographs, and
others like to paint from life in a studio setting.

I am as happy to read about someone who thinks
divine inspiration is instilled in her paint tubes,
as I am to read advice from a man who doesn't
even believe in great art, but just loves the process
of painting. Either path can lead to high quality work.

Sharing ideas powers more ideas, and more
art -- and that's what I care about. Thanks for the
inspiration.

A Passion for Painting

There couldn't have been a more perfect day
to open my blog and find that Theresa
Rankin, a wonderful person, passionate
painter, and all round great human being
had awarded me the A Passion for Painting
Award. This is the second "pay it forward"
award I've been honoured to receive from
Theresa. These awards that circulate on
appreciation, kindness and respect are a huge
part of why I am a major fan of the art blog world.

So here's the scoop on what this award involves.
First Check out Theresa's wonderful work at
http://theresarankinfineart.blogspot.com/
You'll know right away how great Theresa is by
reading the seven things she's passionate about.

She can paint anything, but mainly features
the portrait, landscape and still life
painted with style, warmth, and lively brushwork.
Frequently her paintings feature an almost
mystical light -- and she's excellent with all
types of light. Her work also portrays a loving
world view, a quality I greatly admire.

A few things I'm passionate about --
candlelit dinners with cut flowers (tulips last week),
Steven, and Timbah the cat who has taken to sitting
on Steven's shoulder while we eat dinner. On this
occasion Timbah was hitting Steven's fork before
the food could get to his mouth, and eventually
the cat had to be placed kindly on a chair.

So what are the seven things I'm passionate about --
the Top seven? I can't hope to be as eloquent as
Theresa, but not in any particular order as of this
moment they are:

1. The people in my life -- my family, friends,
the students I teach, and the people I meet
everywhere I go, who teach, impress, love,
encourage, and care for me.

2. The constant recognition of opportunities
to feel joy in my daily activities, and in
learning about others' lives. Remembering to
be happy.

3. A sense of wonder (closely tied to #2) at
the beauty of the world -- the natural world,
pools of light falling on walls and tables,
kids giggling in a hallway at school, birds
in the yard -- the list is endless.

4. Painting and drawing -- (closely linked to
#1,2 and 3).

5. Being my husband's sweetheart, and returning
that emotion.

6. Teaching as many people as I possibly can
what I've learned that helps make life more
fulfilling, and happy.

7. Learning all the time about what's going on
in the world, through books, movies, conversations,
courses, exposure to different cultures, food and
ideas.

If I could add 8, I'd agree with Theresa -- because
I like old things too, and ten years ago the first
thing on my list might have been old china. I
love antique shows, antique houses (mine).
I've got a cabinet full of white and gold china,
so I really have to cool it.

Like Theresa I'd like to nominate my whole blog
list.

I try very hard to visit everyone on my list as soon
as they input a new entry. And I comment on
blogs as much as I can. I also try to respond when
people are kind enough to comment on mine.
Some of the people who are always encouraging me
are Theresa's picks too -- notably Eldon Warren
and David Lobenberg. So I have to put them on my
list, and I'll name too many people. They can refrain
from receiving the award twice if they choose, but
I must give it to them. If you receive this award from
me the rules suggest that you award seven people.

Theresa Rankin
http://theresarankinfineart.blogspot.com/
Flora Doehler
http://greenwillowstudio.wordpress.com/
Liza Hirst
http://www.lizamoveson.blogspot.com/
Melinda
http://melinda-momentsofclarity.blogspot.com/
Susan Carlin
http://susansartjournal.blogspot.com/
Laurel Daniel
http://laureldaniel.blogspot.com/
Edgar
http://artyfice.blogspot.com/
Eldon Warren
http://eldonwarren.wordpress.com/
David Lobenberg
http://davidlobenberg.blogspot.com/
Belinda Del Pescoe
http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com/
Edward B. Gordon
http://edwardbgordon.blogspot.com/

Like Theresa I would like to include everyone on my blog list
and many more. At the moment these are some of the main
people who inspire, support, teach me, and make me laugh.
They make the work of being an artist more fun, more
meaningful and more of a delight. All of them are passionate
artists.

Have a couldn't-be-more-passionate-about-art-if-I-tried day.

Thinking in paint

More work on the big portrait
Next steps,
blocking in features,
skin, hands, more of the dress
acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches

When I'm working on a large canvas --like the portrait I'm
doing right now -- I make a lot of the decisions about
what to do on the canvas. Tonight was that kind of night.
I am not happy with the hand position, and that will
probably change at my next session with the model.
The face isn't right, and all of the colours will transform
as the painting emerges.

It's been a busy day with very little time to paint.
Here's how the portrait looks tonight. One advantage
of painting all the time is that I know the painting
is going in the right direction, even though it's hard
to tell that right now. You can expect
major transformations to come. I'm still just
roughing it.

Have a thinking-clearly-and-happily day.