3/27/2021 8:51:31 AM
Food, clothing housing are deemed necessities. Art is not essential. Or is it? For more than centuries, there have been artists and art collectors.
Art exists in many forms and you can find it in every community, culture, and every country. Art has been created since time began, We've all seen evidence of art in cave paintings. Although there is research that demonstrate that art can be a major economic force, we continue to question the worth of art.
Like language and laughter, art is a fundamental human behavior. That's probably why every culture has art. If you look anywhere around the world, children create art.
Art helps us to share thoughts, ideas and visions that may not be able to be articulated any other way. Art isn't only a painting. Art is anything that's creative, passionate and personal. And great art resonates with the viewer, not only with the creator. Art is a personal gift that changes the recipient. The medium doesn't matter. The intent does.
If you're not convinced, I invite you to visit a local gallery such as Da Artisti Gallery that supports local artists uniquely. Check out the local art and feel the art reach out to you.
I completed the following painting during one of my latest workshop.
Here is another painting I completed for participants during a different workshop.
And this one is a small exercise for rust and wood.
Have a great week
Danielle
3/21/2021 7:27:25 AM
Don't you find that hollyhocks are one of the prettiest flowers to add to a garden? My pink ones are delicate and make a real impact when planted amongst other flowers because they are so tall.
A number of people consider hollyhocks as one of the staples of cottage garden. They come is a range of pinks and bloom during the summer.
A couple of weeks ago, I was looking for a photo of a landscape to insert into one of my small old windows. Since the window has numerous panes making it difficult to plan a landscape, I thought I would paint a different scene. Enter hollyhocks.
Here is the painting sitting on my easel.
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Tall and Proud
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The small window isn't stripped of its old paint but here it is. It might be ready in the coming month.
Have a great week and stay safe.
Danielle
3/14/2021 7:44:16 AM
The popularity of painting is surely gaining momentum. Those who teach classes and workshops are noticing that it's a growth industry. I am fairly certain that due to the pandemic, we are witnessing a phenomenon that has not existed to such a level previously.
Those who teach are noticing this trend mostly amongst women. I don't know why that is that there aren't more men picking up watercolours.
What I do know is that it's getting easier and easier for people to learn watercolours. Many artists who used to teach face to face workshops have converted to teaching online, thereby attracting new and novice artists from areas far from their geographical area. I am also taking advantage of a number of online learning opportunities. I'm also fortunate to have students from different areas in Canada and the United States. If there were more days in a week, I could certainly teach more as the demand is great.
Here is the latest painting that I'm working on. The choice of colours of the leaves was a luck of circumstances - my printer was low in ink and then I decided to use left over paint from a current workshop. So voila very blue leaves.
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| The Colours of Frost |
Have a great week
Danielle
3/6/2021 7:44:27 AM
Do you ever paint certain topics and hear a little voice in your head that says “Is anyone even going to like this?” I often hear that voice when I start to paint antiques/ vintage items. Luckily, this inner voice is quietened shortly after I start my painting. The more I advance with my painting, that internal critic disappears.
This past week I had a strong urge to paint something rusty. I searched through my photos and found some rusty gears.
Painting this topic felt like coming home or eating comfort food. It felt so good and the paint just flowed on the paper. I enjoyed every second I painted the rust and shadows.
The reality is if you don't care about the topic you paint, you can't expect anyone else to. Many artist try and produce paintings they think they “should” be making. My advice and that of many others is to focus on creating art that you care about.
I have a problem with this new painting and it is a recurring one, what title should I give this painting? Help...
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| 21" X 17" Searching for a title |
Now I'm off to teach a workshop on shadows and then paint some frosted leaves.
Have a great week
Danielle
