When stress is a good thing

No one likes to be depressed, upset, or generally stressed out. However, as an artist there is sometimes an upside to this. I get some of my best ideas for artwork when I am in my "dark place". Perhaps it's because the emotional part of my brain is active, which also happens to be where the artist in me lives. However, my art that is created in this mindset is usually not bright and sunny. It generally reflects my mood. Feelings of depression have plagued me over the past few months as my oldest son graduated high school and has started the next chapter of his life. I really miss him. I think these feelings have influenced my latest round of work, which is painting portraits of women who have experienced their own issues as a result of depression. One of my portraits is actually of myself. I am also painting the daughter of a friend who has been struggling with depression. So, while I certainly don't like being stressed out or sad, I can see that there is a silver lining in every cloud for me.

Fighting with Technology

The thing about technology is that it's great when it works. I had the bright idea of printing out some images I created onto cotton transfer sheets designed for the printer. Well, I don't know what printer they were designed for, but it certainly wasn't mine. I have been cancelling print jobs and trying to yank stuck cotton on paper out of my printer all day. So much for doing a little bit of art quilting tonight. My printer had other ideas. I would be surprised if it still worked tomorrow. I guess it's back to the drawing board. I had better luck transferring on silk a few months ago, but Michaels no longer carries those printer sheets. Time to take a deeeeep breath!

Having a Thick Skin

One thing you must have when painting portraits is a thick skin. I think mine is only half way there. Everyone will have an opinion about a portrait, especially the people you painted and their family members. The bottom line is that everyone wants a painting to be a photograph. My answer is, if you want a photograph, then take a picture! Still, it's hard to ignore the hushed whispers of "there's something not right about the eyes", or "well, the hair looks good." . It's not that people are purposely trying to burst your bubble. They just can't help themselves. I forgot about how upsetting it can be when you paint portraits, because you are subjected to criticism like no other kind of painting (except maybe abstract, but that's for another blog). It is hard to ignore. You have to be tough and be able to take it. I experienced it today, and felt like throwing the painting in the fire or scraping the oil right off the canvas and starting again. I need to get over this if I am going to continue my series of painting women and children. I'll let you know how that goes. ;)

One down, many to go

Last night I just about finished an oil painting of a child. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, although I'll have to wait a few days for it to dry before I can do a couple of touch ups. I had forgotten how dirty painting with oil can be. On a more exciting note, my copy of A Needle Pulling Thread magazine arrived yesterday. It was quite thick this time, and I was thrilled with how the cardinal project I designed turned out. The magazine did a great job with the layout. It's always really exciting to see yourself in print. Now I will have to go out and buy copies for family members! It's the third time I have been published, and I hope it won't be the last.

Finding my way home

Most people who know me know that I started out for years as a musician, playing the piano and french horn. It was what I planned to do for the rest of my life. Hours of orchestra rehearsal did not bother me. I felt like I belonged when I was with fellow musicians. Then of course with all the foresight a teenager usually has, I cast it aside and took a Bachelor of Arts so that I could follow a boyfriend to Ontario. Naturally the boyfriend and I have long since parted ways. It was during my first degree that I started to develop a longing to be painting, drawing and creating. I had always wanted to paint, but when I had the brush in hand I had no idea how to use it, how to mix color, how to show value. My work was awful. I finally took the plunge and signed up for some lessons, and the rest, as they say, is history. Two more degrees later and I dare to call myself an artist. The problem is focusing. I tried clay, then added that to what I did. Then I started wih jewellery classes, and the next thing I knew I had a torch and a jewellers saw. Finally it was fibre, and I am hooked to that. As many of us know though, life often comes full circle. Last night I started painting again. It's not that I ever really stopped, it's just that I lost my focus. Last night I took the bold step of pulling out some oils and ended up staying up late and painting most of a portrait. I have a strong urge at this stage to do portrait work, so no one is going to be safe around me. I want to paint women doing everyday things. I am planning to do a self portrait of myself knitting. I have decided to leave the clay and jewellery behind and focus on my fibre and painting now, and hopefully I'll stay in this place. I am feeling the fire again.

Post Sale Relief

Well, I do believe the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival will be officially over today. I can already see a lot of improvements and gains over last year. I was part of the Fibre bazarre yesterday at the Tantramar Theatre and I am happy to say that it was really well done. It was an intimate setting, the preparation was wonderful, the vendors were fantastic, and it was well attended by the fibre community and other interested folks. I was lucky enough to have been invited to be part of it. As always I was surprised by what did sell and what didn't. I threw 3 pieces that I had displayed last year in at the last minute and low and behold two of them sold. I also found my knitted sterling silver rings to be popular as well as my needle felted polar bear kit. People hardly looked at my hand painted kerchiefs or my landscape felting kits. That being said I made some new friends, had some great chats, made a couple of key contacts, and got invited to go back next year. I am just thrilled that there has been such a renewed interest in all things fibre around the globe. What's not to love? One of the coolest things I saw was yarn that was fair trade and made from banana fibres! I've got to get me some of that!

Freaking Out

I am freaking out now with the Fibre Arts Sale just a day away. There are several reasons for my panic. Will I have everything together in time? Will I look dumb next to some others, will anyone even show up? I guess only time will tell, but wouldn't it be nice if I could sell something and actually come close to paying for a fraction of my art supplies? If you are an artist then you know what I am talking about. Just breaking even is a dream for many of us. I was up late last night sewing, and for the second time my sewing machine was not cooperating. I spent the weekend taking it apart and oiling everything in sight. Last night I also broke 3 needles. What is the lesson here? Do NOT leave things to the last minute!

Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival

It's that time of year again folks. For the second year Amherst is hosting the NS Fibre Arts Festival, which promises to grow each year as more people become aware of what is being offered. Last year I was lucky to be asked to have a solo exhibit, and this year was even luckier to be asked again. My small show is at the Amherst Town Hall on Ratchford Street. I included several felted pieces, as well as several art quilts. This year I have done some stitching on my felted pieces. I think the stitching is an evolution of what I have been doing. As well as the exhibit I have been included in a fibre arts sale which takes place on Friday from 11-7 at the Tantramar Theatre. I am looking at it as an experiment of sorts. I have decided to include some pieces I displayed last year, some sterling silver wire rings that I knitted, as well as 5 different felting kits of which 4 are brand new designs. Whenever I take part in any of these endeavors the nay sayer that lives in the heads of many of us tells me that my work isn't good enough, that somehow I will look silly. As an artist I struggle with those types of feelings all the time. I think it's because my art is part of me, so by putting it on display I am putting myself on display. Criticism, while it can be productive, can also really sting. I'm sure that anyone who creates has felt that sting from time to time. The only cure is to suck it up and keep on going. Hope to see some of you this week as part of the festival!

A Needle Pulling Thread

Just to let everyone know that one of my pieces will be featured in the Canadian Publication of "A Needle Pulling Thread" magazine, the festive issue. The best place to pick up a copy is Chapters Books in the magazine section. I haven't had a chance to see it yet but have been anxiously anticipating it's arrival. The piece I did is a "how to" of a felted cardinal in a winter scene. I can't wait to get my hands on it, especially since the wheels were put in motion for it back in February! I have been told it was published on October 1st. It's the second time a piece of my work has been published. Several years ago I had an article and a folk art "how to" in Saltscapes magazine. There's just something about getting published, even if you don't get paid, that's very exciting. Perhaps it's because your work is put out to a large audience. It's like a feeling of accomplishment.

Exhibit is up

As of Friday, October 2nd my exhibit is up. It did not go without a hitch. When I went to hang the pieces with the push pins I brought I realized that the walls were made of concrete. There was no way those pieces could be put up with an type of tape either because they would have fallen on the floor. Luckily the town hall had a large display board in the basement, so that is where my fibre pieces ended up. You can check out the exhibit at the Amherst Town Hall from Mon-Fri until 5pm. The building is closed on the weekends. I would love any feedback people might have.