Coming Together

18 x 14in. oil on canvas

    I was feeling a little tired after spending the last two nights not sleeping well because of my young daughter who has been feeling a little under the weather and as you know, you always sleep with one eye open when your kids are sick. It also didn't help that I went out last night. Not too late of a night but something I am not used to doing on a regular basis.
Today was a quiet and sort of a somber day and a struggle to get out of bed this morning. It was cloudy outside, looking like it was going to rain any second. I finally managed to make it to the studio, even if it was a little later than usual. I wasn't really planning to do much, maybe some sketching and prepping some canvas for next week's work.
As I sat there looking at yesterday's work, I started to ease into working and thought I would go as far as my energy would take me, thinking that that wouldn't be too far. As it turns out, I think I had one of my best days working, ever. It wasn't that I painted a lot or even for very long, just that everything was coming out great. I could do no wrong I thought. The colours where working and everything was blending and mixing just I saw it in my head. You cannot believe what a great feeling it is when everything you do turns out.
I probably had more bad days than good days spent pushing paint around on a canvas, searching and probing and nothing turning out good. Some artists like to work with a plan and basically the same way each time by doing studies and sketches of their work, which can contributes to the work maybe turning out quicker.
Others like myself like to work in a more spontaneous and unplanned way. I get to the studio and get to work not really knowing what I want to do with a particular piece, only that I want to start it and work things out directly on the canvas.
This might not be a great idea because you most often end up discarding, covering up and even destroying a lot of the good things that happen on the canvas along the way.
This process might mean spending longer periods of time working on a piece.

16 x 20in. oil on canvas

It can also lead to periods of uncertainty and to being unsure about what you want to accomplish with the work and most importantly, about trusting your instincts as to when a particular piece is finished, as has been the case on a number of occasions with my work and myself.
What is most rewarding and interesting though, is that same uncertainty. The highs and lows associated with the knowledge you gain, as you venture further and further into the work. It is about what you end up leaving behind that is  indeed a huge contributing factor to the history and final result of each piece and how all at once, it comes together on the same surface. 

Artist Project 2012

     Just got back a few days ago from participating in the artist project in Toronto. Ever since I got back, I have been confined to my bed with a nasty head cold that just won't go away and so since I am down but not out, I figured I would share a few of my experiences and let you know how the show went this past weekend.

Getting ready for this show required a lot of planning. I must of spent countless hours and days trying to figure out how best to display my artwork in the space provided for me at the show. What size painting to bring, what sort of paintings, etc etc. It is not easy trying to figure out the best work to bring to a show such as this because you really do not know what work will appeal to whom.

There are a lot of different and interesting people that show up to these events and this weekend was no different. From hobbyists and Sunday painters looking for advice and maybe a sense of what doing a show such as this entails, to students, tourists and even serious art lovers looking around and enjoying the art. I was quite surprised by some peoples reaction to my work. Others liked my small abstract studies from the Permission to Speak series while still others enjoyed my big sized works on paper and watercolours. I even got a good reaction to my newer work from the Structure series, which is a newer and an ongoing series.

Overall the weekend went well. I don't think that the public was in a great buying mood (minimal sales), but maybe in a more of a 'let's see what sort of art is out there' mood. Having said that, we sometimes tend to gauge our sucesses and failures on how many people buy our work rather than how many actually like or find our work interesting. I think it is quite hard to sell work at these shows that is not instantly visually loved and not in their price range. Choosing to work in abstract as I do, significantly reduces the amount of people interested in these type of work but then that might open me up to other venues and opportunities to show my work. I think these show are for gaining ground in the art world, gaining knowledge and friendships which can only nurture our vision somewhere down the road and maybe lead us to more prosperous opportunities.

Some of my paintings.

It is now time to follow up on all the leads and opportunities that presented themselves in this show, get back in the studio and work even harder at the easel. I can't wait till you see what I have planned for next year!!!!

My friend Helen visiting after her gruelling Real Estate exam.

The place to be. Booth #207

Peaceful Sleep 2010, oil on canvas 48 x 72 in. 

P.S.-  I loved being in Toronto and think its a city that has a great artistic vision....(It's also HUGE!!!) I hope to be back there soon for a show or even to see the many ex-montrealers whom I spent time with this past weekend. Thank you everyone for your support and for stopping by to say hello. I will see you all again soon.