1st in the New Series - Woman and Bird

Title: Woman and Bird 1: Contemplation
Acrylic on Canvas/Panel

I am still contemplating what this series means to me and why I feel compelled to create it. I am aware that, as all, it is very symbolic. Probably more so than most of my work.

Birds are a common dream symbol but not one I dream about often. Actually I added the birds in as although they are symbolic in my dreams just like everyone else, they are very symbolic to me in my daily "awake" life too. Although, they don't seem to always have the same meanings for me as they do everyone else. For instance, several people have made the comment that if blackbirds "hung around" their house like they do mine they would be uncomfortable thinking they were a so-called "bad sign". But personally, I love my blackbirds and have even named my new studio Blackbird Studio in honor of the birds who used to make a nest where the studio stands every year (they still make it in the corners by the way. lol).

One of the things I found interesting was this information taken from Bella Online:

"The Language of the Birds is also known as the Angelic Tongue, supposedly being the language the the angels themselves speak. Angels and birds seem linked and the most likely reason for this linkage is the idea of communication and message delivery. Bird song and angel tongue both seem to have the same goal--the revelation of something important, something otherworldly, something perhaps divine, to the mortal. With such an emphasis on birds' ability to communicate, it seems pretty obvious that a dream bird may represent communication of some form. The bird may be a herald, bringing news about something which may soon come into being in waking life." (direct quote found here).

I especially find this interesting as I have felt compelled to paint angels again, which is a recurring theme in my art over the years. I have yet to start a painting of an angel but perhaps I will soon.

I have noticed that I have added only blue birds (different kinds) and black birds to my paintings though. I will have to research that one too.

Ramblings again... Painting Light

I always have to stop and laugh when I read something like this "the common thread in all my paintings is the light. Which direction does it come from? The way light falls on a subject defines my style...". Well, you get the idea. Maybe I am wrong but this seems to "talk down" to the people who really matter in the world of art. Those who love art! If you are an artist who has considered adding such as this to your statement (yes, yes I know all about "the painter of light" - not impressed with that use of phrase either) please think about this. ALL painting is about light. Without light... well, there simply isn't a painting. Even a non-representational abstract uses light. The light source being more obvious to a viewer doesn't change this. The fact is, if you can't master the use of light in your paintings, no matter your style or subject, you still have a long way to go.

Personally, I think this trend to use the "I paint light" phrase is due to the expectation placed on artists to write an artists statement. Lets face it, most visual artists are well, visual. Writing a two paragraph statement can become a week long torture!

What I want to know is this... who made up all these "art" rules anyway? I have a bone to pick with them. lol

Whats in a Name?

I am not always very good at communicating with words. As a matter of fact, it can be quite a struggle for me. I have thought about this fact quite a lot. Especially after a particularly embarrassing miscommunication or days of agonizing over the title of a painting. I believe this to be due to several factors. 1.) I am a visual artist and as such tend to be more of a visual person. 2.) I am very hard of hearing (almost deaf in fact) and 3.) I tend to think in images rather than words (probably due to reason #1 & 2 combined??).

Recently this is really driving me crazy! I am having a terrible time trying to name my paintings and I am getting really frustrated. So many times when I name a painting I feel it doesn't really "fit". The title should be an extension of the painting right?

I have even tried listing words that come to mind when I think of the painting. This is not really working. I think maybe the reason is because the words end up being manufactured as I think in pictures not sound. Probably the most honest name for any of my paintings would be something like "picture in my head #10,929" lol . But even that doesn't convey the emotion or thought pattern I meant to portray.

It is all very frustrating.

Ramblings... on developing your own style

Artists are told they should develop their own personal style. Unless you copy someone else's work exactly (and yes, I know there are those who are good at doing just that) well then in my opinion that is kind of a stupid statement. If you pick up a pencil, brush, glue etc. ... You have your own style. It may not be what you want it to be. And it probably isn't what it will be in say 5 years or so but if it is... well, I hate to break it to you but you are stagnated. (If that's the case may I suggest a few creativity exercises?) But usually when this sort of thing is said what they really mean is paint the same way and the same subjects over and over. And over, and over and over. I have always had a problem with this. Maybe it is because I have such varied interests. So, from time to time my style changes some, a little or a lot, and I paint many different subjects. So what if it can't be said I am a "landscape artist", a "portrait artist", or so on or so on?? I paint what I want to paint, what I am moved to paint. In other words, I paint from my heart. If, according to some, that makes the way I paint "incorrect" (puhlease!!) then so be it. This may sound a little harsh, but I don't paint for anyone other than myself anyway. Don't misunderstand me, I, like many, many artists, have an ego and I love it when someone likes my work. But its still not why I paint. The only reason I really know this about myself is because... well, when I wasn't displaying or sharing my artwork at all, guess what? I still painted. A lot. All the time really. Then, as now I just painted because I felt compelled to. Who knows why. I have thousands of paintings floating around in my head just waiting for their turn and believe me, it will keep me awake at night if I don't do something about it!. Some of them may never get painted. :( Unless, of course, they improve medical technology really quickly and I get to live to be 200 or so. Maybe not even then. lol

So, I will just keep painting, and painting, and painting. Many subjects, my own style(s) lol. If you are an artist, you should too. Let's take our creative efforts back to where they should be. Art should never be just about marketing.