In the Works: Solstice Reflections, Art and an Online Shop

I've been playing with a few creative projects these past few weeks. Here's a glimpse of a few things I  have in the works...

Solstice Reflections 2011

The Winter Solstice holds a special place in my heart. In 2008 I created a space for my personal reflections leading up to December 21st; last year I curated a Winter Solstice group art exhibit right here in Ottawa featuring five local artists.

This year I decided to take it online and offer you a gathering of reflections from a group of lovely women on the spirit of winter and the migration from darkness to light. It starts here December 1st.

Come join us?

AEDM Day 17: purple girl, a work in progress, 16"x16" on canvas

Art, art, and more art

Oh how I'm loving Art Every Day Month. I've been painting up a storm, learning, practicing, taking creative risks and struggling working through the process.

I've come to accept that there may be more pieces in progress at the end of the month than there will be finished ones, but that's OK. So far the process and some of the interim results have been reward enough.

 a selection of prints will soon be available online

An online shop

I'm also hatching an online shop for my artwork! I'll most likely start with some prints and work my way to originals. I'm still firming up the where & how, but it's coming along. Stay tuned.

It's been an expansion-filled few weeks. I am grateful.

Art Every Day Month - Initial Results + My Biggest Challenge

I LOVE this make art everyday thing! After only six days I feel like I'm already learning so much just by painting regularly and allowing myself to try different things.

One of my biggest challenges going in will be to finish pieces and not end up with 30 works in progress at the end of the month. Wanting to produce more completed works is one of the reasons I signed up for this in the first place.

Until I do, please permit me to share with you a few pieces in various stages of completion (but none quite done yet - I think)...

AEDM Day 5: Sitting, work in progress, 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" on mat board

AEDM Day 6 (building on Day 3): man on black, work in progress

12"x4" on mat board

AEDM Day 6: collage in progress, 8"x8" on canvas

I love the variety that's coming out depending on the day, the mood and the energy available at the table. So far it's been a lot of fun.

Going back to one of my original goals though, I do hope to finish some of these within the month. Stay tuned...

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Have you joined yet? It's not too late!

Art Every Day Month

AEDM Day 2, work in progress, 12"x16" on canvas

I was contemplating a kick-in-the-butt 5-Day Challenge to get me painting again, but then I stumbled upon Leah Piken Kolidas' Art Every Day Month (AEDM) and the angels trumpeteth. It's a 5-Day Challenge times 6 - just what this girl needs!

Inspired by NaNoWriMo, Leah started AEDM nine years ago. From the AEDM Website:

"I keep the rules for AEDM really simple and very loose. I encourage people to make something every day, but my goal is to foster more creativity, so if you make just one piece of art per week or just one for the whole month, that's fine with me. The idea is to bring more creativity into your life, not to make you feel overwhelmed, pressured or guilt-stricken."

How could I say no to that? And why paint for five days when I can paint for 30?

After resisting and doubting myself an appropriate amount of time I signed up.

AEDM Day 3, black background waiting for a foreground

12"x4" on mat board

What this means for YOU is that you might see the odd report on my results here on the blog. Accountability is key! I may not post daily - or maybe I will, or maybe I'll go the weekly summary route. I'll see what feels right.

Accountability aside, what it means for you, me, and everyone is more art-making. That's the whole point.

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Now, what about you? Is there anything artful you'd like to practice this month? Remember the rules are simple and loose; no perfection necessary. It's not too late to join in the fun!

You know you wanna...

5-Day Challenge: Days 4 and 5

Et voici, my final report on this week's 5-Day Challenge. It's been a good one!

On Day 4 I continued working with the results I came up with on Day 3 below. It was a short session compared to the others, but I still did it.

results from Day 3

I painted the blocks that hadn't been painted yet (see above and to the right of the white critter?) and I added second coats of paint on most of the other blocks to make them richer.

I'm afraid that in my enthusiasm to continue working on Day 5 I forgot to take a picture of the results from Day 4 so you'll just have to take my word for it.

I spent Day 5's session polishing up. I continued with extra coats to make the colours even more solid, I added black lines where there were none and I fixed the ones that were there:

Day 5 results - close to done!, 12x12 on wood panel

When I look at it closely I see a few tiny touch-ups remaining before declaring it complete, but I'm pretty damn close and it feels good.

So on that note I declare this week's 5-Day Challenge officially complete and a success!

I showed up at the table every day, persisted to complete (or nearly) a piece, and my interest in art and art-making was re-kindled. A success indeed.

Perhaps next time you'll join me?

5-Day Challenge: Days 2 and 3

Here's a quick post on the results to date of my 5-Day Challenge, just to keep me honest!

After the blue pregnant lady in progress from Day 1, I switched to blank surface for Day 2. This is what I came up with:

background in waiting, 12x12 on wood panel

On Day 3 I had plans to continue the soft wash treatment on this background and see where that would lead me, but instead I got the idea to play with Bombay ink and ended up with this:

work in progress, 12x12 on wood panel

I love where this is going. It's such a new direction for me and I've no doubt it was directly influenced by the palettes we created in Mary Beth's Primary Colors workshop at S.A.W. I never expected it to go there, I just followed my intuition - one insight at a time.

I love it when that happens.

Day 4 coming soon...