Art By Any Other Name...

Good Morning and Merry Christmas! As I sit in my studio on Christmas Eve day I am thankful that I have completed all of the orders for various wall hangings.

It has been a busy couple of months, with pieces once complete being shipped all over North America. I have orders that have been shipped to multiple places around Ontario, the farthest being Thunder Bay. Other items have been shipped to Vancouver B.C., Leduc Alberta and as close to home as Lindsay Ontario. There are wall hangings that have found homes in Arizona, Minneapolis, Boston Area, Missouri, New Jersey and Florida.

The most popular item this year has been my wall hanging “Fruit of the Spirit”, I even had a request for one for Australia but the shipping was going to cost far more that the item was worth. I have done a number of Dragon Boat paddles this Christmas, plus a number of other style of wall hangings.

Why am I mentioning this? I got those orders through promoting my studio. I have my own website, a shop on Etsy, a page on Facebook, twitter and Instagram. I photograph items and share them on social media. Most of my orders have come through Etsy and social media. We need to promote ourselves and our work.

We need to let people know what we do. I paint pictures and I paint wall décor. The wall décor sells faster than the paintings, which is understandable as history has shown that artists don’t sell paintings every day. Hence all of those “Starving Artists” sales. I have sold a number of my paintings over the years, but I have sold far more décor style items. They are all art, just different styles of art!
I enjoy doing both paintings and the décor art. The money made on the one allows me to do the other.

This year was very busy, and although at times I wondered if I would get everything done I thrive on having a lot of work to do than just sitting around with nothing on my agenda. It is relaxing  for me to spend time in my studio creating. To take a blank canvas, what ever form that canvas comes as – actual canvas, wood, mail box, paddle, and turn it into a piece of artwork is a great way to relax from the stresses of the world around us.

Yes, I love to paint a piece that depicts Canadian Wildlife or the Canadian Landscape. I also love creating other styles of work and seeing them go to a different kind of collector. Creating any style of art is still taking your God given talent and putting it to good use, adding to your own life as well as helping others add to their own. Don’t allow anyone to put you down because you don’t just do what is traditionally accepted as art. Tradition is just a “rule” of sorts and “rules” were meant to be broken.

Think out of the box, look beyond the white canvas make it “An Adventure In Creativity.” Art work by any other name is still art work!

Pursue, Promote, Persevere

I have said before that you shouldn't quit. I have suggested that you need to push yourself, try new things and keep working and practicing your craft. That is very true, as that old saying goes "Rome wasn't built in a day.”

I have been painting since my teens and I have seen my craft develop as I have; continued to practice, work, push myself to try new things, to try new ways.

Pursue, pursue your dream, make your dream happen. No one can go after your success in the art world but you. You have to be willing to put yourself out there. Let your work be seen. Try new styles, new pieces, new forms. Go after your dream, pursue it.

Promote yourself, promote your work. Look for methods of promoting yourself. Look for shows, events, fairs that you can get a booth at and show your work. It shows the world that you believe in yourself, lets the world see you work. Look for on line places to promote and show your work. Hold open houses, donate your work to charity so they can raise money. Look for unique, creative methods of exposing yourself  to the world.

Persevere, a fancy way of saying don't quit! Give yourself time to develop your craft. Don't listen to they nay Sayers. I have been told my work isn't very good by some people very close to me. But, I have been told by people I don't know that my work is very good. My work has taken time to get to where it is. I have painted on so many surfaces, painted things others have asked me to paint, some had no success, some limited success and some  surprising success.

Without trying, showing, continuing to try I never would have sold a thing. If I didn't pursue my dream, which I continue to go after, I would have so even a painted jewelry box. If I didn't allow myself to be seen  I wouldn't have heard opinions of nine family members. Others wouldn't have had a chance to see my work or have a chance to buy it. I went to shows, used on line sites and more. I promoted myself and continue to do so. I have persevered, I haven't quit and won't quit. I love to paint and try new things.

My advice to you, no matter whether you are a visual artist, writer, musician, actor, what ever you do pursue you dream, promote yourself and persevere.

Backwoods Country Arts : A Day In The Studio

Backwoods Country Arts : A Day In The Studio: My day started at 5:30 a.m., holding a cup of coffee, to help my me fully wake up. I sat enjoying my coffee, looking at Facebook, playing a ...

A Day In The Studio

My day started at 5:30 a.m., holding a cup of coffee, to help my me fully wake up. I sat enjoying my coffee, looking at Facebook, playing a few word games on my iPad. A little later after a quick breakfast I headed to the studio.

I had four orders to work through. As I worked on each of them, setting each one aside while paint dried, I worked on a couple of unclaimed pieces. 

I can go downstairs to my studio, work on whichever project I have going at that time and feel encouraged. I get many ideas for the next project while working on a current piece.

I know of artist that will only remain true to their main artistic focus, i.e. Landscapes on canvas. They won't waver from it, they will create and hope for a sale. They will do limited advertising, go to a few art shows in hopes of catching someone's eye.

I love to paint landscapes, wild life, the occasional other subject matter. But I am realistic enough to know that I will not sell a painting everyday. I paint wall hangings to fill  in the gaps, help pay for the art supplies and more. I have sold a number of painting, but I have painted and sold over 700 canoe paddles, 50 plus dragon boat paddles. I have painted a number of wall hangings over the last couple of years. I have some of them left, but most have been sold. I advertise, have a web site and share my work through any number of social media websites.

Spending time in the Studio, relaxing, doing what I enjoy, will help me destress, feel more creative, feel encouraged. As a project progresses, I love seeing it come together. Working on a new project, I can see little improvements that can be made. 

The studio is my version of the man cave. It is where I can go and be away from the world for a while. It is where I can go and be creative, let my mind go wild . I love a good adventure, The studio is An Adventure In Creativity!

My Studio My Place To Create, Refresh, and Relax

I love to go into my studio and paint. It doesn't matter whether I am painting an image onto a canvas, or painting some new piece of décor / subway art. As I sit in my chair and get ready to work I begin to feel revived.

Everyone needs an outlet, needs a way to set themselves apart from the stresses of the world we live in. Some watch T.V., listen to music, walk, run, drink, go to the gm. Me I sit down at my desk, my easel, get some paint out, a canvas, some wood, turn on some music and then I paint.

I have tried over the last couple of years to get others to see the value of using painting as a way to refresh, distress and more. There is an area in the studio that I will sit down at and lay out larger projects, or package items that are on their way to the new owners. This is the area of the studio that I display  my art, in all forms. This is the same area that I use for classes that I open the studio for.

Some think I am crazy, but I don't think so, everyone has their own style, their own way of doing things. Their art will be their art, in their style. If my showing, teaching others how to do something creates another artist, fine, let them enjoy the possibilities that are now open to them. I am not the only artist, the only one who paints landscapes, wild life, subway / décor art in the world and won't be the last.

If the world was more into showing others how to use, develop skills it would be a better place.

Creating art is an adventure, an adventure in creativity.

Keep Painting, Never Give Up, Practice, Push The Limits, Try, Try Again

I have been painting for a numbers years, have I had a positive experience wth all hose who have viewed my works. I am absolutely certain that I have heard a lot of negative comments and reviews. We live in a world were there are more critics than there are those who will be a positive contributor of advice. 

Whether you are attempting to make a living with your art or are just creating things because it is a relaxing hobby, I can say to you keep painting, keep creating, enjoy your time. We wouldn't have a lot of our "modern  conveniences" if the inventors quit because the negative comments were taken to heart.ryrewewe

I have seen a progression in my art. Is it were I want it to be, no, but at the same time it is by no means where it was when I started to paint. From always painting flat looking, nondensional sunsts to painting wild life, landscapes and more. My current work has had people comment on how realistic they look, how inviting they look, how many look like you could walk right into the scene. I have gone from rarely having any one who showed interest in any of my work to having fairly regular sales of various pieces I have painted.

Don't allow negative detractors steal your joy, don't allow them to convince you your time would be better spent on some other kind of activity. Pick up that brush, put paint on that pallet and paint. When your finished with that piece start another, have multiple prices going at once.

If at first you don't succeed keep going, never quit. Get that image of never going any where out of your mind, see yourself painting an awesome piece. Practice makes perfect.

Friends, don't allow your world  surroundings steal that desire. Paint and paint again. Paint until you have made your masterpiece, then paint another one.

Inspiration can be found in a book, nature, music…

I love to get up in the morning and spend time listening go or reading a good book, while sipping a cup of coffee. A good book gets the imagination going, it inspires. I find it gets me in a creative mood. Even as I am writing this blog, I am listening to a book with Julie.

When I paint I listen to a book or some music. It keeps me focused on what I want to achieve. It is also what they call white noise, which in some ways it is, but in so many other ways it isn't.

I appreciate a good book, for its entertainment value, for the distraction from the world, and for the fact that it gets the imagination going. It is to me a great way to appreciate someone else's creativity, the blood sweat and tears that go into writing a book. Every creative person puts their all into their works. I put my thoughts into creating the vision of the piece, then I put that vision on a surface and start making it come to full living color. 

The writer does things in a similar way, or so I imagine they do. It is their creativity that helps me with my ability to create because I am creating an image of their words in my mind. I can compare it to waking up a our cottage, making a coffee and Julie and I sitting on chairs looking out over the lake, or sitting by our fire pit and starting an early morning fire to toast a piece of bread over the flames.

Going for a drive in the country, the back roads, the roads less travelled. Seeing nature untouched in so many ways, see birds flit and fly between trees and bush. See rivers, creeks, ponds and lakes. All waiting to be captured by a camera so that image can be transferred to a canvas, and brought to life through the eyes of an artist.

As I squeeze paint onto my pallet so that I can begin to allow my imagination come to life, to make that inspiration grow and develop into a finished piece. Allowing that creative inspiration that started with a simple book, the view of a lake, the freedom of a bird take on a visual meaning. Creating a visual piece of art that hopefully inspires some one else.

When you look at a painting, a sculpture, or wander through a book store (yes a book store) think of the person who created it. Think of the time that went into that creation. What inspired them, what brought them to create that piece of work in front of you. Appreciate the complete work and all that went into it, because it represents a big part of the; writer, actor, sculptor, artist, musicians life. 

Inspiration!

Relaxing Can Bring On Inspiration

I am sitting in a hotel room in Richmond Hill. It has given me an opportunity to relax and consider the next few projects that I would like to do. It caused me to look at photos that I have available and to look at the suggestions I have been given to create decor signs with.

It also makes me think of Saturday morning after I woke up and was sitting in the living room enjoying a cup of coffee. The windows were open and I hear a flock of Canada Geese flying over the house, their honks announcing their presence. It made me think of how much I love this country; how much I appreciate living in a rural area. I thought of all the wildlife I had been privileged to see just outside my door. I regularly see deer, wild turkeys, rabbits, fox, raccoons, turkey vultures, hawks, and more. At our cottage we had seen all of those as well as bear, owls, grouse and other wildlife.

It all inspires me to capture the scene on canvas, or some other surface. Take a quick photo so you have something to work from. Seeing the beauty of this world also makes me want to work on things that would inspire others, either a painting to hang in their home, or dome décor style sign to hang on a wall and inspire.

It is worth it to sit, relax, listen and watch the world go by. It is worth sitting in a canoe or row boat and looking at the world around you from a vantage point you wouldn’t normally see.

My sons sat out on the front lawn and watched the lunar eclipse the other night and watched the moon turned brilliant red. They both made comment about the awesome view they had seen, something that you don’t get to see very often.

I hope everyone takes a few moments in their lives to sit, relax and look at the world around you.

I Enjoy My Time In The Studio

I have been painting since I was in my teens, if you don’t know me that was a some time ago. I have always enjoyed painting, even when my artwork wasn’t any where near what it is today.

I have found as in all things, you have to like, enjoy and believe in what you are doing in order to successful in any form of the word success. Over my life I have seen people who were good at doing something, but when the enjoyment they found in it was gone, so soon after was their success. This is true of day to day life, relationships, your job, anything that you set about doing.

I really enjoy painting, my passion is painting the Canadian landscape, wildlife. I also have found that painting decor and subway art to be enjoyable.  I couldn’t paint it if I didn’t enjoy doing it. I’m a firm believer in pushing yourself beyond your personal limits. I believe in getting out of your comfort zone, taking your experience and knowledge stretching and testing it to new limits.

I would still be painting nothing but flat no dimensional sunsets if I didn’t push myself. I wouldn’t still be painting if I stayed in my comfort zone, I would have become bored and given up. Life gives us many opportunities to expand ourselves. When it comes to my artwork I often seek new chaullenges, that way I keep myself fresh, enjoyable and new. 

Enjoy life, spread your wings, pick up your “paint brush” and go beyond your limits. Going beyond helped in creating the following items.

To Inspire, Help and To Heal

We live in a world that leaves many people wounded and hurt. Our world is so caught up in the "Me Generation", A world of "Selfies" where we can share everything on so many forms of social media.

The world is such that we often forget about friends and family that may need some help along the way. So many have an attitude of "Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead" for their life that they may plow others under or leave people behind who share another point of view.

I have decided to create a line of Inspirational posters and mini-posters based on my paintings and quotes taken from others and the Bible. It is my hope that they will indeed inspire people, but may also help them and even set them on a path to healing old wounds.

Look at life, look at those who are around you. Help them along the way. Pick people up, help dust them off. Too many people have knocked others down on the road to success, it's time to be the Good Samaritan and lend a helping hand to the ones at the side of the road.

I hope in some small way that those seeing my Inspirational Prints will be helped, or inspired to help.

Remembering Simpler Times On A River Bank!

It seems to me that a large group of people in the world have missed out on a lot in their youth. What does the future hold for the next generation? Will there be scenes in the future of Father and Son, father and daughter, grandpa or grandma on the banks of a river watching the day go by, or dipping a rod into the water?

I have been doing a series of paintings of late featuring kids fishing, walking with a grandparent and more. I am guessing that part of it is as I age I think of walking with my grandfather, going fishing with friends on a river bank, fishing with my grandfather off of a dock by the old pump house on the lake.

How many kids have been taken to a river with rods, worms and a bagged lunch to spend the day on the river bank. It's not catching a fish  that is important, but catching your first fish really feels great.It is about spending time with your dad, mom, grandpa, grandma. It is about seeing nature at it's finest, it's about just spending time in nature.

Well past the concrete jungles that we live in off the beaten path is the old fishing hole. A place like no other, calm and stress free. A place that frees you from the world around and builds memories that last a life time,

Remember those times? Have you given your kids, niece, nephews, grandchildren those same types of memories?

So as I sat and thought about things one day I felt I should do some paintings that brought back those kind of memories. I hope these will inspire you to think about it and go fishing, for a walk, leave the concrete jungle for the back roads.

An Artist Is Worth Their Time And Talent

Over the last ten years I have sold a number of pieces of my work, whether it was an original painting or a hand painted decorative sign. I have painted on Canvas, woods, slate, rock and canoe paddles.

In the time that I have been more successful in selling my works, I have been amazed at how at times people expect you to create a piece of work, specifically for them, at an extremely low cost to them. In the beginning I did work for lower than realistic prices because I was happy to be selling something. I wasn't valuing my own time the way I should have, but I quickly woke up to the reality of my work, talent and time were worth something.

Any one who creates something is worthy of being paid for their time, talent and supplies. If you work for any one you expect to be paid properly, Why should someone making something for you not be paid properly, you expect your employer to pay you properly why shouldn't the artist be paid properly?

Everyone who is using their talent, talent that they have developed, be it that they are; a writer, painter, actor, singer. That talent that you have asked them to use, it is something you don't have, so show your appreciation, show that you understand that, "the laborer is worthy of his wages." Pay the person properly, pay them for their talent.

There is no need for "starving artists", pay them for the work you requested, ordered, wanted to be done for you!

Do You…

1. Believe in yourself? We live in a world that looks at things more from the glass is half empty than from the half full point of view. If any one is going to be successful in this world they need a positive view on life, positive view on who they are. An athlete, a writer, an actor, an artist must believe in themselves in order to fulfill their dream. Whether that dream is to; write a novel that gets published, paint an image worthy of being hung on a wall, play well enough to get to the big leagues, you must believe that YOU can do it!

2. Think outside of the box? Don’t allow yourself to be satisfied with being comfortable with life as it was yesterday or the day before that. People that go beyond where they are today, that think outside of the box will grow and advance in their craft. Life will be an adventure, they will not be satisfied with common place. They will try new things and go where they haven’t before.

3. Lead or do you follow? Are you a leader or a follower?  That guy at the front of the pack, the one at the head of the race, he’s the leader. That person with the three stars on their shoulders, the general, he’s the leader. That person in front of the orchestra with the baton, the conductor, she’s the leader. Yes, we may start out as a follower, but the were a follower that wasn’t willing to stay that way. They had a desire, a dream to be a leader. Leaders set the pace, they lead the way. They push themselves to go beyond. To be true to yourself, ask yourself, are you a leader or are you a follower? Are you wanting, dreaming or desiring to go beyond and create your own style? Then you have to decide to be a leader and not be a follower. A leader will develop their own style, the follower will be happy with following someone else’s style.

4. You have tenacity? Can you see it through? Will you stick with it, even when the going gets tough? Any one who is going to be successful will want to see things through to completion. Edison, Ford, Banting and Best, Lincoln, Bell and anyone else who is known for inventing, creating, developing, winning saw their endeavours through to the end. They stuck it out, they may have had failures along the way, but they continued on, they did not quit. That old saying “winners never quit and quitters never win.” To be successful you must be tenacious, must have a stick with it attitude.

5. Like what you are doing? We have to like what we are doing in order to have fun, don’t just do it for the reward. If that is all it means to you than you might as well just quit now! Being creative should give you enjoyment, it should be fun.  Look at what you are doing, not just that piece of work, do you like what you are doing, is it fun and enjoyable. If you don’t like what you are going, quit!

Never Give Up, Rome Wasn't Built In A Day.

We live in a world that is filled with critics, people who feel they; can do something better, know more than you, feel they need to instruct others on how to do something. Ask yourself, if they could do better wouldn't they be.

There are always going to be; couch potato quarter backs, those who feel they did better when. They aren't the one holding the paint brush, sitting at the keyboard or standing on stage. They observe from the distance and make comments. They have either never tried, gave up or were so discouraged by others they feel it is their obligation to pass it on.

Don't be discouraged, don't give up. Give yourself time to develop your craft. That may take years, and if you feel you are getting better, if you enjoy yourself, all the more reason not to stop.

I have been painting since I was in my teens, I am not the painter that I was at age 13 I have come a long long way. I hear some family suggesting they are better, that they don't appreciate all that I do. There isn't an artist of any kind in this world that is loved by everyone else. Every artist has their own style, ability, and people who do like their work.

Be encouraged, have faith in yourself and continue to develop your craft. Edison worked on many inventions, not all were successful.  How many painters have been successful in their own right, have been great artist, that sold works, but we're only known to a few faithful followers.  How many writers get rejected by publishers, never give up, and one day get a book accepted for publishing.

Where would we be if some one didn't wander out of the cave? What about the person that first plowed a field and planted something? What if Bell didn't try to help those with hearing loss, the Wright brothers didn't try flying, Ford didn't try making inexpensive cars on an assembly line?

As a well known Scottish King by the name of Robert the Bruce, is known for having said, "If at first you don't succeed try, try again!" 

I encourage you to continue, there will always be nay sayers. If I listened to them I wouldn't have sold as many paintings as I have, over 500 hand painted canoe paddles, and as many decorative signs as I have done recently. 

Don't give up! Develop your craft and then develop it more. I don't promise you will be a DaVinci, Picasso, Salvadore Dali, no, you will be you! You will become the artist, with your own style and your own following.

I paint on, have fun and destress. I enjoy myself, and get a great big kick out of it when a painting sells, and so will you with whatever you are creating.

Here is some finished items and one I am working on! 

The Progress of A Painting

The following photos show the progress of my painting "Hush". From the background being completed through to the finish. 

You can see how as bits and pieces of detail are added, changed the painting takes on life. I have been told that many of my painting have a feel that you could just walk into it. I would want to walk in on this cat. "Hush" the quiet before the storm as this magnificent cat awaits some kind of prey to cross its path.

This piece took a month to get to the point I was satisfied with its finished state. From a flat non dimensional cat to a cat that has taken on dimension and life. Watching and waiting in the "Hush" of the forest.

Patiently working on a piece making adjustments here and there. Adding detail, working to give dimension to a flat animal, adding colour over colour to work the dimension. All part of the creative process, all to bring the animal to life.

Working with a piece to bring the inspiration that brought you to start on a piece to allow the inspiration to flow.

The Love of Seeing A Piece Come Together.

When you start a new project you have a vision for what you want it to be when it is complete, yet you are never sure until the brush starts to lay paint on the canvas. 

This is the same no matter what the subject, no matter what the surface. I will draw out the base image then start to paint. As I am painting I have the opportunity to adjust the colour, change an area that is highlighted, work the image to suite what inspired me to paint it. 

Every piece of art is based on the artists' vision, their inspiration to create that piece. The artist will work with that piece until they are satisfied with that the piece fits their vision. I have set aside a painting and come back to it later, have repainted portions until I am satisfied that I have what I was looking for. 

As I look back on some of my pieces from before I see how I would have done it differently if I was painting that image today.  That is what happens as you work your craft more, as you advance and try new things.

I can look at an image one day and be inspired, look at it another day and be inspired or see no inspiration. When you are inspired you see that image in your minds eye on canvas, wood or some other surface.

That vision and inspiration flows even when you aren't doing the type of work that you feel is your main thrust as an artist. I love to paint landscapes and wildlife, but I also know that selling a "painting" is the gravy. Painting other items like paddles, decor signs are the meat and potatoes to me. It could be newspaper articles for the novelist, teaching a dance or a drama class for the dancer or actor. 

It is working your craft seeing what you I visioned becoming a realty that I love. It is taking, in my case, your brush in hand pouring your inspiration out and onto the surface. Every piece I create even if it is the same image, as in any of the decor signs I make, are all individual and unique. All of them are painted with a vision of the finished piece. 

What do we see that is man made in the world that hasn't been someone's vision, someone's inspiration. All of them would have had that persons love poured into their creations. 

It is seeing that vision that further inspires me to work on a piece and seeing it come together that I love. I love to see every piece come together, I love to see the finished piece. 

The following six photos  all grew out of the other. The "Daddy Śuperhero" with the white background was the first I did, the stained background came later. I like both, but prefer the stained background. The "Welcome to our Porch" developed into "Welcome to our Trailer" and "Welcome to Our Lake House". "Mystic Beach" with the eagle became "The Beach Revisted" All inspired me to change something, customers seeing photos of one and requesting something for themselves brought about changes. The vision changed, the inspiration grew and became a finished item. 

I love painting, I love being inspired to continue to grow, I love having a vision of something and working towards that goal.