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A limited edition of 100 ~ the fourth annual Creative Thursday calendar is now in the shop! I also decided to return to the little bit larger 2009 size and shape. Ooh and this year I'm also excited to be using Angel Liguori's Italian cotton ribbon as THE ribbon. It's just so natural and pretty.
I've been photographing the calendar the last two years in the exact place I keep my own calendar. In fact, in almost all of the videos I've shot from my studio, you can see a little calendar hanging in the background. Even though I painted the images, have seen them before many times, every time I switch to a new month I still get a surge of excitement. I have heard of artists who don't hang their own work around the house ~ but honestly, my own work makes me so happy I love having it around all year long.
happy Creative Thursday!
2011 Calendars are being released tomorrow!!!
{on a side note ~ thank you so much for all the BHG love!}
Ok fine! Cat's out of the bag! And this is absolutely one of the reasons for the excitement I eluded to in my earlier post. Yup, that is me on page 24 of the new October issue of Better Homes and Gardens.
I think that it's supposed to be Zen to calmly, humbly appreciate recognition of your work and then almost immediately move on, with your focus returning to that very work...right after you jump for joy in the Bristol Farm's supermarket aisle, the one next to the magazine rack.
For weeks, I've been checking newsstands...all across the country in fact. You should've seen me looking for this issue while I was traveling to and from Squam a week ago. Let's just say that in a between flights, I was perusing any and all airport shops that carried magazines. Just on Friday, I popped by the store for some last minute ingredients for our Saturday night dinner party, when I remembered that this very trip to the grocery store could also afford me one more opportunity to check on the latest magazine issues. And there it was!
So how does one get a mention in Better Homes and Gardens? By focusing on and loving your work. I've been keeping this blog for the last four years and as it turns out, one of the nicest BHG editors has been following along with me. One phone call later, that included an inspiring conversation with said editor, and I was sending over a photo and an attempt to condense the essence of this blog into a few sentences.
It's an honor, always when someone shares your work with their audience. With an approximate readership of almost 40 million, this BHG mention is the largest exposure Creative Thursday has had to date. For a person who has BIG vision for her company, and has dreams of having her message and art reach far and wide this is not only a special honor but it is incredibly EXCITING!! After years of working towards this goal, I'm just going to take a moment to bask in the excitement and sense of accomplishment that comes with this kind of acknowledgement and then I'll get back to focusing on my work ;)
To those of you who have found your way here from BHG and are visiting this blog for the very the first ~ WELCOME!! And to those of you have been following along on this creative journey of mine for a while now, thank you for the support you've shown over the years and for continuing to ignite and inspire the conversation about what is possible for all of us willing to follow our life's work, especially creatively.
{thank you Kelly and thank you Lisa who shot the photo of me}
6 x 8 in.
Technically this painting was completed in two separate days, with almost one year separating those days. That is a seriously long process for a 'daily painting' ;)
Last year around this time I went to visit my mom in Ashland, Oregon. The trees were just starting to turn and the colors, OH! simply amazing. The color combinations of fall inspire me every time. So I set out to capture them in a painting and for some reason I wasn't able to finish it in a day like I usually do. One thing lead to another and the painting was set aside, through Winter, then Spring, then Summer...I kept looking at it wanting to finish it, but realized that to encompass the feeling I wanted to express, it was just going to have to wait until Fall rolled around again to be completed.
The irony is that I finished it today on what could quite possibly be the hottest day ever here in Los Angeles. At least according to our outdoor thermometer, and my intense feeling of lethargy, it is. We have no air conditioning in our house, which is usually fine except on the rare days like today where we become incredibly appreciative of fans and ice cold water. Regardless, fall was in the air a few days ago and will inevitably be returning soon. I for one, cannot wait for it's return, and I have to say I am feeling especially excited about this season this year.
"the other king of everything and the princess bird" 6 x 6 in.
This is a painting that I started and finished in the daily painting class I taught at Squam last week. Creating a painting during class is a relatively new addition to my teaching repertoire. This is because I want my classes, first and foremost, to be all about the students and how I can support and inspire their creative time. But then I realized by working on a painting in class, I can actually show everyone first hand the techniques I use to create the way I do. In my last e-course I also demonstrated how I start my paintings via video and everyone seemed to really enjoy it.
The truth is I've never really thought of myself as a 'technique type' of artist, which is another reason I typically haven't done demonstrations in my prior classes. This is probably also because I'm mostly self-taught. My techniques were discovered by experimenting until I stumbled upon something I liked the effect of and decided to incorporate it into my art. My work is so simplistic in nature, that my painting style is all pretty straightforward. But once I start explaining how I create each piece, I realize that I do indeed have techniques ~ we ALL do. Imagine that?!
Which brings me to the inspiration behind the title of this post. While teaching this time, I referred to myself as a 'lazy artist'. It's true. Now don't get me wrong, as you know I work pretty hard over here at Creative Thursday headquarters and lazy is not a word I would ever use to describe my entrepreneurial self. I'm a confident artist, who takes my work seriously. It completely surprised me when referred to myself as lazy, but then I remember that I also tend to favor self-deprecating ;) But what I also realized, while demonstrating my techniques is that a lot of them are born out of ease. Lazy is probably a bit harsh, ease is probably better ~ but wait an 'easy artist'? yeah, that's not right either.
I'm an artist that has developed and favors a style of simplicity and ease. There that sounds better.
This is in large part due to my practice of daily painting. When you create a painting in a day, you just can't labor over it forever. What I didn't realize when I started daily painting is that I had just accidentally fallen into my favorite type of creating ~ fast and prolific.
When I first realized I had an affinity for painting, as a teenager, I started just like many of us; I copied what I saw in front of me, almost photographically, super realistic. While I still paint like this sometimes, I've chosen to let go of it for now in favor of the style I presently work in. Now let me also note here, that the style I presently work in has been developed out of years of practice, creating and designing. It's funny how sometimes the more experience we have, the more we return back to our simpler beginnings.
I love the style I presently work in. In it's purest form it is a true representation of exactly where I am at today. I crave honesty, genuineness, simplicity, ease, kindness, support {giving and receiving}, peace, contentment, and humor {I love a good a laugh}. And it probably goes without saying, but I also love color. When I look at my work, I see all of these traits and sentiments coming through in my characters. And to think that at one time I wasn't even sure that I could paint a character, especially one from my own imagination. Also, true.
The reason I was calling myself 'lazy' is obviously, not really because I think I'm lazy, but because I realized that I've come up with techniques that honor my nature and support my quest for fast and prolific. For me to labor over a piece with too much detail, while I can do it, I find the process agitating and not fun. Now I've had conversations with other artist friends of mine who absolutely love the complete opposite, the more detail, even tiny detail, the better.
More than likely I've mentioned this {many times} before, but it's worth repeating. A big secret to living this life as an artist is to learn how to tune into your truest nature and create from there. It's not about following what you think makes great art, or is the most salable, or following what your art teacher, or creative employer tells you to do, or working with techniques that are the most difficult, or including the latest trends in subject matter and color in your creations, which it might very well include all of these traits but first it's about:
Following your own creative nature.
Because when you tap into that, that is when I think you will truly make great art and you'll find the most fulfillment in creating. And as a working artist, I believe that once you've discovered your voice, this is when you will also have the best shot at making a living with your art. Making salable art, from your truest expression is a whole other discussion, so I'll leave it there for now. {On a side note ~ what I love most about this painting, is that several of the techniques I demonstrated in class, made it into the final version. I had originally planned to cover them up later with paint, but as it turns out the spontaneity, that became a looseness in the style of this piece really inspired me. One of those 'happy accidents' is where the princess bird's wings are blue on one side and grey on the other. I was showing shading techniques and now it looks like she has fur coat on ;) I also used this painting to demonstrate some brand new techniques that I literally discovered during the teaching of this class. Have I mentioned how much I love teaching?}
happy weekend and happy art making!
{original is sold}
A book cover by Cal, with a Swirly stamp by Crescendoh {Cal said, especially since this was created in our "book in a day" class, there should also be a stamp called "Today...Finish ;) }
I've decided to title this post 'Squam 2010', because as I sit down to write this I realized that I never did return to share a second post about my time at Squam Art Workshops this past June. And for the record, I did not get nearly as many pictures as I'd like to, especially of everyone's AWESOME creations, so this is just a sampling to share with you.
A continuous honor to be invited and spend time with those of you coming to be creative, this was my fourth time in a row teaching at Squam and it's funny because, the number 4, there must be something with the number 4? I say this because this year was also my fourth year blogging and essentially my fourth year in business with this incarnation of Creative Thursday. Something happens when you turn 4. I know I'm taking the long approach to making my point here, but hang in.
Lately I've come up with this analogy, where I've been equating the growth of a business with the growth of a child. First you birth an idea, and then you have an infant, then a couple of years in you have a toddler and then a couple of years after that you have a small child.
That's where I'm at, that also happens to be where Squam Art Workshops is at. Having a 'small child' while still challenging, is an overall lovely experience. Four years in, you've got some of this journey as an entrepreneur figured out. Your business has a life of it's own and it's not quite so dependent upon you. And while there is new, there will always be new, you are mostly familiar with how this business is functioning, and this causes you to start feeling a sense of ease that didn't exist in the same way in all the years before.
a painting by Sally
That's where I am going with all of this and the point I want to make with Squam, and my experience this time around. Four times in and I feel an overall sense of peace, ease and understanding, and since this was the fifth Squam Art Workshops session in New Hampshire, it seemed to carry the same feeling. There was a flow, a congruency to this time at Squam that was particularly wonderful to be a part of.
Elizabeth, SAW's founder, said a wise thing the first night everyone arrived and I've heard her say this before, but not quite as clearly as I heard it this time around. She said something to the affect of "Try to come into SAW with no expectations. Whether you've been here before or it's your very first time, allow it to be it's own experience". And she's right.
daily painting class
For the record, there is just something incredibly special about this gathering, the people who choose to come and the location where it is held that cannot be mistaken, and is felt each and every time I've attended. However, whether the same people attend, whether I teach the same class or not, each session has it's own personality, and it is indeed it's own experience, also because I'm different every time I attend. I think it gets squirrely when anyone of us who attends more than once, holds on to prior times, expecting each time before to be just like the last. This is what has me thinking about what happens when any one of us is a few years into to any kind of a life experience, not to mention life itself ;)
a painting by Becky
Because the flip side of having a four year comfort level with something that is the same, is the potential to overlook the new, or fit something into a box and not allow it to continue to expand, which squeezes out the possibility for any new wonderful times to happen in place of what was. Somewhere in my mind, I felt like once I figured out this business, or teaching or whatever it may be that I have the opportunity to become familiar with, that that would sort of be it. But nope. I know this intellectually, I'm sure you do too, right? the saying "the only thing constant is change", but somehow I hoped {if you've been a reader of my blog for a while, this might sound familiar} I might reach some plateau where something would be all figured out. But that's just not how it goes. Instead what I think I have figured out is to stop trying so hard to figure it all out, and instead, stay open to how everything in my life, both professionally and personally evolves, and to do my best to arrive at all of my experiences being the best person I can be in that moment.
Not entirely sure if I'm making sense with this post, as often is the case, new insight becomes clear as I write but there is a wonderful ease that comes with years of growing a business or returning to a retreat, or getting to know a person. The secret is to remember that all of these experiences, people, including you, will continue to evolve, and not to let the familiarity override your willingness to see the new within the very same experiences and people you have come to know.
A gocco print by Melody
In summary, Squam Art Workshops both 2009, and 2010. I've met some of the most amazing people through this retreat, people I stay in touch with and am honored to call close friends. I'm always blown away by the talent of the teachers and the attendees. I've learned just how much I love to teach. The lake continues to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet and the macaroons, let's just say I had more than one.
A special thank you to everyone who attended mine and Christine's classes. You continue to impress upon me just how much I truly "believe everyone is creative". Thanks Swirly Pearl for another very fun "Book in a Day" class. Thank you Noel for so very much. Thank you Peg for all your help. Oh good Lord, now it sounds like I'm giving a an oscar acceptance speech. And thank you everyone...oh boy does this list goes on and on and on. And thank you again Elizabeth for inviting me to be part of such a special time.
I am teaching a new gocco class this time which I am especially excited about and last week in preparation I did my first gocco printing on fabric. The image above is an Iphone filtered shot of my first ever gocco printed image on a white linen tea towel, with what is fast becoming one of my new favorite designs. I also printed a whole bunch of these on small fabric swatches that I will be bringing with me to Squam and the Art Fair that is happening this Saturday. Honestly having this design all around my house as I was cutting the swatches, it just makes me feel better. It's like having affirmations or subliminal messages reminding me to thrive. In light of the video I posted last week, and the teaching I am about to do again this week this message of thriving is something I am thinking a lot about and encouraging it to stay especially present in the days ahead.
And then, let's not even talk about the impression the gocco printing on fabric has left with me. As always a whole world of possibilities opened up. I'm telling you there is just now way I will be EVER be bored in this lifetime.
Thriving and possibilities that's the theme for this week at Squam. For those of you going, can't wait to see you, and meet some of you for the very first time! Also if you are in the area on Saturday, you must, must, must come to the Art Fair. In twitter speak there's just #somuchgoodstuff. You won't want to miss it.
While I always hope that I'll have a moment to pop back in on the blog during the week...I finally know how it goes. This is a special time where my entire focus is being with people in person versus just visiting online. What I'm saying is this might be it for the blog this week. So, I'll see you back here in these parts again when I return.
have a great week!
