Tuesday, November 30, 2010

"Out of the Flames" comes the beauty

Hello! Now that I'm back to my daily routine after the Thanksgiving holiday, thought I'd give you a glimpse of what I've been working on lately.

It's interesting to me how creative ideas come at the least expected times. That's what happened to me during the preparation of the Thanksgiving meal. I do remember when in art school, the instructor would say when you are in a creative block, do something totally routine, mindless even. It allows the mind to go into neutral and relax a bit, freeing it up. I think that's exactly what happened while cooking the our Thanksgiving dinner.
It was the usual meal so no real thought had to be put into it. Right then creative ideas started coming, in fact, they didn't stop during the rest of the holiday. Then I became frustrated not being at a place to stop and pick up a pad and pen to write down each idea . Have you ever had that happen to you? And most of my ideas were in images this time, not words or technical processes. Usually it's the creative technical process I'm going over in my head. What to try differently next time.

But this time, it was images and flashes of particular colors. And the more this continued the more I wanted to retreat to the studio barn and paint. I wanted to explore new options with color and textures this time. But I had to be patient and wait. I feared over time I would lose those creative ideas and images I had seen in my head. Fortunately, when I did get back to painting after family had left, I still had the inspiration and ideas. More and more I'm learning to trust my creative bursts and instincts and even going with the mistakes at times. Working the painting until I feel issues are resolved and it just works. What a good feeling once I've arrived there. It becomes a natural high and I want to do it all over again. At times, I go through a lot of paint and plenty of frustration but with patience and trust it all resolves itself. Kind of like life I guess.

I titled this painting, "Out of the Flames" due to the beauty that comes from each flicker of flame. Don't we all love to watch a nice fire in the fireplace and the color that darts around and through the fire is simply beautiful. While opening the stove door, I thought about the good that comes from fire. The process and the creativity that comes from just a spark of fire. And we all need that spark to keep us going.
Here's a few photos of most recent acrylic painting. I used a good layer of slow-dri medium on the canvas which helps the acrylics to slow down it's drying time and allows me to manipulate the paint more. It also gives it the look of oil which I prefer.
I hope you enjoy it and feel free to leave comments.  
To buy this painting, click on this Etsy link.  Thank you! Allison

"Out Of The Flames"
18" x 20"
Acrylic

Close Up 
To buy this painting, click on this Etsy link.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

"Movement I"

"Movement I" is a 6" x 8" mini abstract painting. The blending of acrylic paint and brushstrokes create the slow to medium movement seen here. There is some contrast of cool and warm colors, but the overall feeling is of a cool and tranquil flowing sensation. I still get excited when I seen the final blending effect of the paint. To take one paint color and add another and then see what happens when the two touch each other is still amazing to me every time I paint. Simple pleasures, right? I hope you enjoy this painting, please return to see future paintings. Feel free to post a comment.  Allison.

Title: "Movement"
Medium: Acrylic on canvas board 
Size: 6" x 8"

"Movement I"

Close Up
Even Closer



Sunday, November 14, 2010

My "Gulf Waters" painting added to Etsy's local treasury.

Sometimes sweet little things come in a form of an email to me. And this news that my painting, "Gulf Waters" (the middle one on the first row) was picked to be part of Etsy's local treasury shop delighted me. I don't really care to do self-promotion, but I understand it's necessary. However, it's wonderful when someone does it for you! Right? Also being a part of something larger than ourselves is a good feeling. Thought you might like to see this local treasury of handmade items. Enjoy these artists from Asheville to Raleigh, NC. Thanks for visiting. Allison

'Home Away From Home' by ajoeynamedrootoo

Great items for the holidays from my two stomping grounds, Raleigh and Asheville, NC. Great greens across North Carolina. Enjoy!


Vintage Brass Fan Earri...
$20.00

Gulf Waters Oil Paintin...
$125.00

POCKET sage
$12.00

Leaves of Green, a Pain...
$8.00

Cinnamon Poppy Bagel - ...
$30.00

Ginkgo Leaf Wedding Inv...
$2.30

Blue Urchin Bowl
$60.00

Pea Pod ornament
$10.00

blowing Tree branch Gra...
$25.00

Pastel Blooms Pendant, ...
$30.00

Hand Dyed - Cowl Neck -...
$62.00

custom family tree -- b...
$

Swirling Water - Sterli...
$30.00

Pine Fern. Cream Linen ...
$16.00

THE EMERALD CITY SKIRT ...
$32.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

How can art help others? Can my art help someone?

I heard something the other night on TV, that actually got me thinking which TV usually doesn't. But anyway, it posed a question to me as to how art can help others. First of all, we know it can inspire, uplift someone's mood and giving them encouragement or hope. Or bring awareness to a particular social issue, and communicate in ways words can't. So that we all know, right? And yes, we've all heard of art therapy, where a troubled adult or child can use a creative medium to communicate when words aren't available. Expressing unsolved emotional pain via creative means can be very therapeutic.Yet, I wonder, can my art help someone? I mean, it's just a painting, an image; how is that going to help someone?
Good question to ponder, right? I thought so. Rather than using art to say, look at me as a artist and what I can do, but can my art help someone else? 

For example, take my latest invitation to a charity art event in Moss Norway. One fine artist from Norway, had an idea and shared his idea to a local public library. Now over 200 artists are involved and have painted postcard size paintings to be sold for $34 each. The proceeds of that event will fund the purchasing of children's books for the public library. The obvious goal is helping the library buy books for children. You see, this is a multi-fold win/win situation. The library has a new charity event that is exciting for everyone. The children get new books to read, that's pretty exciting in itself. The buyers get a good deal on an original painting to take home and enjoy, plus feel good about their participation in the event. Us, artists enjoy the gift of giving and the satisfaction of how our art made a difference.

So, to answer the beginning question, yes, art can help others. And, I for one, am pretty excited and amazed how we can all come together as artists and make a difference.
Here is my postcard painting sent to Moss Norway Library to raise funds to purchase children's books.
 
"Afterglow"
This abstract painting inspired by the beautiful sunsets over the Sarasota, Florida Gulf of Mexico waters.
Medium: Acrylic

 
Close Up of "Afterglow"
Final note, now how can your art make a difference?
Here is the link to this event's details:
http://tiny.cc/e24rq

Final notes: In these times of financial recession, I believe it's the creative workforce that moves us beyond our limited parameters. Possibly it's time to rethink our art. Instead of how I can sell another painting, perhaps look at it at from a different perspective. What can I do with my artwork? Please feel free to post your comments. I'd love to hear how your art has help make a difference. Hope to hear from you, Allison.

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Call for Artists. Twitter Art Exhibit in Moss Norway for Charity

Welcome!




Call for artists! Twitter art exhibit in Moss Norway for charity.

Fellow artists on Twitter.

It is my great joy to introduce a new and exiting project: A real life Twitter art exhibit.

A while back I talked to @Artythings @dpringle @EthanCrankeArt about how fun it would be to exhibit something together. We first concluded it would be tough to transport and organize, but the seed was planted and we kept discussing. @EthanCrankeArt suggested 140 artists (representing 140 characters), and we concluded it had to shown at a public place, as Twitter is open to anyone with an account. It all seemed so right, so current!

For a while the project seemed impossible. How would one coordinate such a thing? But then a few weeks ago, I read an article in the local paper, saying how the public library had gotten it's funding cut and wouldn't be able to order the children's books they needed. It then struck me this was the perfect venue for a twitter art project. And soon the idea of a wall of art work at the library, where it's proceeds would go to charity/children's books, was stuck in my brain. But how would I gather all the work? The answer felt as swift as Twitter itself: Have each artist send a postcard (symbolic of a tweet), with hand-painted original artwork. The postcards would then be posted on the wall and sold for 100 kr each ($17.00), and all the money would go to children's books. This amount would make it possible for nearly everyone to support the public library, and if we collected enough artwork, enough money would be raised.

The next day I called the library director and asked for a meeting, where I presented the idea later that day. "This is simply wonderful," she said, "Lots of people here use the computers for twitter and I'm sure we'll get a lot of media attention...But I need to check the politics first and get permission from the local government." And now a few weeks later, we have gotten the go ahead, and I'm exited to announce this event will take place. So this is your chance (wherever in the world you are) to contribute to this cause, and also promote your work to a new audience. Moss is known for its galleries and people here love art!

So please join me in at this wonderful event - A real life Twitter art exhibit! Please write to me if you have any questions (e-mail listed below). I look forward to working with you.

Best Regards,
David Sandum
www.davidsandum.com

Now here is the postcard size abstract painting I am submitting to David's Twitter Art Exhibit.
"Afterglow"
 Acrylic
This is an abstract painting of the beautiful "afterglow" you experience right after a sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. Hope you enjoy!

Closeup
Notes about this mini painting: I was so inspired by the sunsets over the Gulf Coast, which made such an emotional impression on me. This painting is the afterglow that quickly pops up right after the sunset, hence the name, "Afterglow". Th colors are usually yellows, golds, purples and pinks. The acrylic painting is thick and directly applied to the canvas board, no other mediums used. As one colors touches the other and blends, that's when I get excited. Something magical happens, you know. Like when you when you were a child and learned about mixing colors. Red and blue = purple, yellow and red = orange. Just the other day, my 5 yr. daughter found an art project she wanted to make. You take a paper plate, cut out the circle part and divide into 6-8 sections with a rulers. Then color each section alternately with two colors, like red and blue. Poke a hole in the center of the circle and insert pencil and tape to back of paper plate. Hold pencil in your hands flat and spin. Now you see the results of the two colors being "mixed". Good color experiment. 

If you are an artist and would like to be involved in this wonderful childrens' charity event, then click on this link for the details.  Twitter Art Exhibit for Children in Norway

Observations

Good Day! Here's another edition to my creative exercises on paper, "Observations". I really love this piece, it has an Ocea...