Creative Energy: February 19, 2021

SHOWING THE WAY

SHOWING THE WAY Growing up, I have always been a creative kid, but sometimes as a kid, you’re just not sure where things are going.
     I was blessed to have Vickie Norrod pave the creative path for me. She is six years older than me and my mom’s youngest sister; technically my aunt, but she’s more like a sister to me. And, I hung on every word she said.
     Starting in high school, Vickie followed her creative passion. I remember at the ripe old age of 10 seeing her first painting on canvas; I thought she is a “real artist”. She would share all her art projects with me and we continued the artist dialog when she started college studying art.
     Vickie had a little detour in life with a brief marriage but then went back to college with her beautiful little daughter Amy in tow. About that time I moved back to Michigan to attend college and Vicki and I decided to live together for a while. In college, she focused on printmaking and art education. I focused on graphic design and painting. Off duty we both loved shopping at thrift stores, attending art fairs, going to concerts, and ate lots of tuna bagels. We are both strong feminists and didn’t want to be forced into a pink-collar job. We would talk over and over how we wanted to live our lives as artists. We can do this!
     After she graduated from Michigan State University, Vickie and Amy moved to Florida where Vickie taught elementary school art. She is one of those gifted teachers we all remember and want for our children. She would empower those children to create masterpieces and love art.
     As years went by, her personal art practice continued in her home studio. She lives in a house painted pink with walls full of art and books. Now retired, she reads about artists every day during lunch. And, when the mood strikes, she’s still going to thrift stores to collect things for new creations.
     I feel that her greatest artistic gift is telling a visual story with layers of textures and colors. Her work and medium have evolved over time, moving from printmaking to narrative quilts to collages and altered books, but always telling a story.
     My favorites are her collages that are bound together into an altered book, rich with layered images, narrative text, and textures. They’re created over many months and extremely personal, capturing the events, thoughts, and insights of each moment. As you turn the pages, you get a glimpse of her creative soul.
     To this day, decades after being roommates, we continue to talk on the phone and visit when we can, sharing our love of art, museums, artists, and the latest creative people that we’ve discovered on Instagram.
     We did it, Vickie! Living a creative life that is full of art!

Creative Energy: February 5, 2021

Creative Energy: February 5, 2021

CIRCLES IN LIFE

I consider myself an abstract painter. Everything I do in my paintings is intentional. Composition and mark making work in tandem with color to create the desired painting. Everything has a meaning and related emotion.
You’ll see that the circle is a recurring design element in my paintings; circles that are very large, curvilinear lines or small little dots. The circle embodies all of the attributes that I wish to evoke in my paintings: calmness, fluidity, and movement.
The circle is ubiquitous in nature, from the human face to eddies in a stream to our solar system. Some researchers feel that the circle is deeply ingrained in our psyche from birth.
The circle is a universal symbol with many meanings; wholeness, rebirth, timelessness, and eternity. See how many circles you see in a day!

Creative Energy: January 22, 2021

JOURNAL OR SKETCHBOOK

A new year means a new journal. I have kept a journal for about 15 years. Every year I buy a new plain bound book with blank pages that I put in a leather case.

Some people may have a hang-up with the idea of writing a journal, but I have a highly recommended alternative approach. “Morning Pages” was introduced to me by author Julia Cameron.

“Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, a stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages. They are not even “writing.” They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind – and they are for your eyes only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page...and then do three more pages tomorrow.”

In my Morning Pages I write what I appreciate in life, thoughts I’m pondering, and events of the day. Sometimes it takes me years to figure something out and sometimes I figure it out the moment it hits the page.

The second blank book I use is my sketchbook. I have been drawing since I was a child. In my 30’s I finally stopped worrying about my drawings being works of art and now considered them as visual ideas. I was putting too much pressure on myself. It’s better to just get it down on paper and keep the flow going.

Don’t think of the blank page as scary, its just paper. No one has to look at it or judge it. It’s only for you, so give it a try.

Creative Energy: September 25, 2020

Creative Energy: September 25, 2020

A look back at my artist-in-residency.

One year ago today I was finishing up my two-week artist-in-residence program. Since then I have answered many questions and offered some personal reflections. I’m sharing some below.

WHO ESTABLISHED THIS ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCY PROGRAM?
The National Park Service has been offering artist-in-residence for over 100 years. Each park runs its program independently. To be considered, candidates must submit examples of their work, a statement of purpose, and a resume/CV. Each park has a panel of experts that review and award the recipients. Last year I was one of four to be selected for Fire Island National Seashore. The residency was located on the far-east end of Fire Island called Watch Hill. I had a cottage that was used for park staff. Access to the island is by a ferry. You haul all your art supplies and food for two weeks. There are no cars on the island and the ferry only runs on the weekends in September. Very few boats in the marina on the weekend and no one during the week. I would only see a few NPS staff a day. Even though the site was only 1 ½ hour from New York City it felt like 500 miles.

WHAT WHERE YOUR DAYS LIKE?
When I woke up I would immediately go look at my paintings that I had worked on the night before. Looking at them with a fresh set of eyes I would see what needed to be done, then take a long walk on the beach to see what was new on the beach, back to painting, walk again late in the afternoon, finally painting until late in the evening. Repeat for 14 glorious days!

HOW WAS THIS DIFFERENT THAN WORKING IN YOUR STUDIO?
The beach house had one big room with a basic kitchen, a futon, a chair, and a kitchen table. I had windows on all four sides that let lots of wind blow through the cottage. Also because the cottage was on stilt’s (for hurricanes) it felt like I was in a treehouse. I could see off into the dunes and sky. I moved all the furniture to give me a big open space to paint. I placed the paintings on the floor when I painted. My paintings are usually very wet, but on the island, we had dry air and wind so the paint dried a lot faster in between coats. I was working on about 4-6 different paintings at a time in different stages of development. Everything was all spread out over the floor or leaning up on the walls. Seeing all of them and how they relate would impact my next step.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING AT A NATIONAL PARK SO LONG?
I have been visiting our National Parks for years but only for 4-5 days at a time or day hikes with the family. Because I had the luxury of being right on the beach and having this time all alone, I was able to see things change over 14 days. During the first 10 days, a small hurricane went by the coast, which made for some big waves and brought new plant life, shells, and sea animals onto the shore. Every day I would discover something new on the beach. I was blown away with all the textures, colors, and patterns that were right in front of me. I could stand and watch the patterns of the foam and waves coming in. Every wave is different, never to be repeated again. I shot lots of photos, but as we all know, that does not capture the true experience.

The first week I could hear the waves crashing at night. After the waves calmed down I would focus on the wind blowing the tall grasses. The air was clear and crisp. I did not taste the salt air until the second week. During this time the Monarch butterflies started migrating down the coast. Standing on the edge of the dune I would see 30-40 butterflies at any given point. Time is much different in nature. It actually slows down. I felt like I was connected to and part of something much bigger.

HOW DID THIS EXPERIENCE IMPACT YOUR WORK?
Because you are immersed in nature there is no way this does not impact your work. So much of my paintings are layers and textures building up. I was able to draw from everything around me each day, building, and building. I introduce lighter tones in my color palette. I had 10 blank canvases. I pushed myself to finish 10 paintings over that 2-week time period. A couple of times I would start to physically fade late at night, so, I would but on some of my favorite music, start dancing and go back to painting. I was pleased with the paintings that completed.

WHAT DID YOU EXPERIENCE THAT YOU DIDN’T EXPECT?
Total immersion and creative flow. How being in nature and painting made me very present in every moment. I was feeling every moment of every day. Having time to view nature every day. I was surprised by the number of changes on the beach each day. The simplicity of life during that time. Because I was immersed in nature I started to get a natural rhythm to my day based on the sunrise, wind, and tides.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ONE-YEAR LATER?
That time taught me to enjoy small simple pleasures, appreciate my artistic talents even more, and the fact that I enjoy painting every day. I have adjusted my color pallet and trust my intuition while I paint even more. Being present in life.

Now, every morning during my meditation, I walk the beach on Fire Island, feeling the sand on my feet, breathing the clear air, hearing the waves crashing, looking out at the vast horizon, feeling the current of the water on my legs trying to pull me back into the sea. Staying in the flow.

Creative Energy: September 4, 2020

“Second Time” 36”x36” Detail of the Painting

When is a painting finished?

Only the painter knows. Every painter approaches the subject differently. For me, painting is an intuitive process. I start with an idea of the color palette, composition and emotion. As I paint, the painting is “telling” me what it needs. The painting may actually go in a totally new direction. I have to be willing to let that happen, trusting the process and my eye.

During this back and forth process I may have a color or shape that is just not working, I know it’s a problem, but I’m not sure how to resolve it. When that happens I try different locations, lighting, distance, or even turning it upside-down, observing it as I walk by or looking over at a glance. This can take a few days, weeks, or months.

I had a few paintings with issues that were bugging me. So last week I pulled out some of my favorite paintings and sat them around my studio. Then I added the unfinished paintings, looking at everything with a fresh eye and the relationships with all the other paintings. That did it. I knew what needed to be done. I thought I might share with you the before and after.

First stage: All the colors at the top were fighting each other for attention. I needed some areas to recede and have more depth.

Second stage: I liked how the main focal point was working, but the right edge next to a white shape was too severe. I also needed to breakup the over all-white just a little, bringing two different blues into the bottom half of the painting.

It’s finished, for now.

Creative Energy: August 21, 2020

Creative Energy: August 21, 2020

Water Mountains Some people would like to know how a painting would look in their homes. You’ll be happy to know that many artists and galleries will allow you to bring a painting into your home before purchasing.

I have recently been photographing my paintings in an installation to show the scale. This photo shows “Water Mountains” 36”x36”.

Arts & Culture App

Warning: This Google Arts & Culture App is so cool you could spend hours looking around. The download is free.

This rabbit hole is deep with all kinds of interesting ways to explore art and culture. This is just a small list. Explore high-definition artwork, virtual reality tours, and street views. Categories: artists, mediums, art movements, historical events, and places.

Examples include: Time Explorer – art & events during different periods of history. Color Explorer – artwork that features a dominant color. Art Transfer lets you transform your photos with inspiration from renowned artists. Music paired with art. Daily art history lesson and exploration of culture in 5 steps. Many more features too numerous to list.

Anyone remotely interested in art & culture would love this app. If you are in the education field this would be an excellent tool for you and your students

Art Cislo

My husband’s brother is an exceptional talented artists. In this post I want to share a little about my brother-in-law Art Cislo. He is one of the most prolific artists I know, creating art for the pure love of it. He has been in shows since undergraduate school in Detroit at Wayne State University in 1967.

In 2016 the Fort Wayne Museum of Fine Art had a major solo show of his work and this write-up is from the show. “Art Cislo, an artist living and working in Fort Wayne, uses his art to channel these interpretations of well-known narratives, particularly from Biblical scripture, that are familiar to many yet have been understood by artists in all mediums, styles, and modes of expression throughout recorded history. His chosen mediums, which include woodblock and monotype prints that emphasize his life-long interest in the human figure as a character in a story, convey his fascination with the heart of man in all its mysterious complexities and myriad expression.”

Not very many artists have the talent to draw the figure. Art is able to capture the essence of the figure sometimes with just a few strokes. He’s constantly working on his craft by sketching the figure. When we visit I’m always thrilled to be able to talk about his latest work or a historical reference to an artist. Art also shares his love and knowledge with students as an adjunct professor of Art at the University of St. Francis.

Pictured are some prints he has given us and a woodcut from his 2016 show. Please visit his website from this link – Art Cislo

Creative Energy: August 7, 2020

“Coastal Finds” During the first 8 weeks of Covid, I did a series of 12 small paintings. Drawing energy and inspirations from past visits to lakes and oceans and the small details that I observed. “Coastal Finds” is one in the series. Next week I will be on the southeastern shore of Lake Michigan in Union Pier, Michigan. I will be gathering more influences from my walks on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Chicago Art Institute

I have been visiting art museums since I was a little girl. In my blog, I will be sharing some of the current, recent, and past exhibitions that I have attended and how they have impacted my creative life.

September of 1995 a dear friend Anne Hunter and I met up in Chicago for the weekend. The Art Institute of Chicago was having a major retrospective on “Claude Monet 1840-1926”. At that time it was the largest retrospective of his works ever held. The exhibition included 159 paintings and works on paper including some never viewed outside of private collections.

This was the first time I realized just what it takes to create this size of an exhibition. The curator of the exhibition, Charles F. Stuckey, spent years arranging with other museums and private collectors to bring these paintings to Chicago from all over the world. Never have all of those paintings been together in one location. Another first for me was being able to see the evolutions and changes in Monet’s work over his life. The curator chose to group some paintings by subject; wheatstacks and waterlilies. In those rooms, I was able to compare one painting to the other and see how he interpreted light and color differently over the years. I frequently review the 281-page exhibit catalog and take a memory walk through the exhibit. Each time I see things differently each time.

Petoskey Stones

The “Petoskey Stone” is the official stone of Michigan, which is the fossilized coral of the genus hexagonaria. This coral lived approximately 350 million years ago in the sea that used to cover all of Michigan.

The majority of these stones are found in the northwestern portion of Michigan's lower peninsula, although, I have even found them downstate on both Lake Michigan and Lake Erie. They’re the easiest to find when they are underwater because the hexagonal coral shape is more pronounced when wet. My son is the best Petoskey stone hunter and polisher; he can even find them on a dirt road.

Creative Energy: July 24, 2020

“Hitting the Shore” This painting was painted last September during my artist-in-residence at Fire Island. During those two weeks, I was able to study the ocean waves: the forms, texture, and colors of the waves. Yes, the waves are not red but red symbolizes power and energy.

Passion & Discovery

Séraphine Louis and Maud Lewis both had secret passions for painting and both were discovered serendipitously.

Séraphine Louis (1864-1942) was a self-taught French painter in the naïve style. She was inspired by religious art and church stained glass; the intensity of her color and the replicative floral designs. Painting in the evenings after her domestic work she was soon noticed by renowned German art collector Wilhelm Uhde, her employer. He would serve as her patron and champion promoting her work alongside other leading primitive artists. I was immediately drawn into Séraphine’s work. The unique color combinations are fighting and working together all at the same time. Creating a painting that moves your eye around the canvas. Look at that red background. It makes the painting. Not very many artists can pull that off.

Maud Kathleen Lewis (1903-1970) was a self-taught Canadian folk artist from Nova Scotia. She achieved national recognition in 1964 and 1965. She painted on wooden boards using bright colors in her paintings. The subjects in her paintings were often of nature, animals, inspirations from her childhood and local landscapes. She was discovered by an NYC women who had a summer home in the area. She sold her little paintings out of her one room house on the side of the dirt road. People started flocking to the little house. Even Vice President Nixon bought one of her paintings. I enjoy the simplicity of the shapes and colors that are the foundation of Maud’s paintings. Look at the compositional balance of her bird painting. Some people will pass judgment on the simplicity of folk artists, but it is extremely difficult to paint in this style because every element counts.

Check out the biopic movies that have been made on both of these artists. Links to Séraphine and Maudie

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Creative Energy: July 10, 2020

“Over Under”

Acrylic painting on canvas 24”x24”
Observe how the pinks and yellows change, based on the colors next to them.

The Interaction of Color

“Colors appear what they are not, according to the ground which surrounds them.” Josef Albers. The author of The Interaction of Color, Yale University Press in 1963.

Vincent Castagnacci, a Yale graduate, taught my color theory class at the University of Michigan. His teaching was based on Albers’ principles.

In class, we studied the relationships and interaction between different colors. We used 220 different colors and shades from a pack of color-aid paper to create our "color-studies”.

We were given the tools to experiment, but we had to unlock the magic of color by seeing the difference between colors and how they interact. Later I would realize that this class would be the most influential class I would take at UM. My eyes were opened.

On Color

Our lives are full of color and for this reason this book is for everyone. On Color by David Scott Kastan with Stephen Farthing. They investigate color from numerous perspectives: literary, historical, cultural, anthropological, philosophical, art historical, political, and scientific. In ten lively and wide-ranging chapters, each devoted to a different color, they examine the various ways colors have shaped and continue to shape our social and moral imaginations.

Impressionists and Violet

Violet became the color of choice for Impressionist. It differentiated the palette of impressionism from any paintings before. Manet said, “I have finally discovered the true color of the atmosphere; it is violet”

Stacks of Wheat by Claude Monet at The Chicago Art Institute

Creative Energy: June 19, 2020

“Water Flora”

When I’m floating in a kayak looking at the flora on and in the water, it gives me a calm and transcendent feeling of being carried away. That is how I felt when I painted this painting, {24” x24” acrylic on canvas}.

Breaking Barriers

When people list Impressionist painters they name Monet, Renoir, Degas and Pissarro, but never Morisot.

Berthe Morisot was an accomplished painter, who showed her work in the very first Impressionist show Salon de Paris in 1874. Her fellow painters admired her talent but male art historians decided to ignore her talents. I did not learn about her in college, she was conveniently left out, in Art History books.

Morisot’s paintings have a depth of feeling and subtle delicate quality. With a soft color palette and a delicate touch, her subjects are centered on female and family life.

She had the advantage of being born white, with talent, money, intelligence, beauty, sophistication, and opportunity. With her supportive family she was in the center of an artistic bourgeois home and in the same society circles and friends with Manet and Degas. Socially she was not allowed to gather with all the other painters in bars and cafes. She decided that she was not giving up being a professional painter to have a family. She married Edouard Manet younger brother Eugene’ at the age of 33 and had one daughter. She painted over 860 paintings until her death at the age of 54. That is averaging 28 paintings a year.

To this day she is still not as well known as that of her male contemporaries.

“After Lunch” 1881, Photo of Morisot, “The Cradle” 1872 and “The Psyche Mirror” 1876

Tools in Hand.

“Real painters understand with a brush in their hand.” Morisot

With tools in hand, I paint horizontally on canvas. The fluid acrylic paint is applied and moved not with a paintbrush but with pieces of cardboard in various different sizes. To achieve the desired effect I can apply a very thin, transparent layer of paint, or thick and opaque. Drying time is 24 hours between layers of colors. The overlapping colors will start to buildup and the painting starts to emerge.

Picker, Singer and Songwriter.

Musician Sarah Jarosz new release “World On The Ground.” My top album picks are… “Johnny” with its sparkling, studio-cured folk-rock or the dusky, jazz-influenced subtlety of “Orange and Blue.” as reviewed by iTunes. I still buy music because I want to support the artist and create my own playlist. I hope you’ll check her out on Found and Instagram.

Take a tour around my website and let me know which painting is your favorite.

CREATIVE ENERGY: June 5, 2020

Darkness to Light

I feel this painting captures my emotions this week with everything that is going on from Covid-19 to the racial protests. I painted this while hurricane Humberto was kicking up some big waves off the coast of Fire Island.

Art to Remember

Minneapolis and other art communites are at work to keep George Floyd’s memory alive. Read more…

Challenging Expectation

Artist. Humanist. Amy Sherald

Amy is best known for painting the official portrait of Michelle Obama. Read her recent interview with the Smithsonian magazine.

Follow Amy on Instagram @asherald

Do Good. Make Change.

This week I found myself asking, “What should I do?” Then I saw this very powerful list of 75 things that white people can do for racial justice. Read the list and start doing something.

CREATIVE ENERGY: May 2020

Images That Inspire Me

Merriam-Webster Definition of Inspiration – something that moves someone to act, create or feel an emotion. The inspiration for a painting during my artist-in-residency at Fire Island National Seashore.

Bird’s-eye View

Drone photography has been around for a few years now and it still excites me. We are able to easily see views and angles that we have never seen before. This photo inspire me with rich texture and unique patterns. Image credit Everett McMillen Cislo www.everettmcislo.com/drone-photography

Book: Becoming

Book: Becoming

I read the book Becoming Michelle Obama early in 2019 just after it was published. I have always been a big fan of both Obama’s. In the book, she opened and shared very personal stories that clearly show how she became the incredible and much-loved person she is.

Becoming is now a major Netflix documentary. The documentary takes you through her 2019 book-tour with sold-out crowds of 17,000 in 34 cities; also meeting and listening to young students. Her brother and mother shared many stories about their family.

I would recommend reading the book and then viewing the documentary.

Bread & Covid-19

We fell in love with the Great British Baking Show a few years ago which has a very calming effect. The show rekindled my husbands baking practice. He has been baking all our bread for the past couple years and we’re happy that other people are baking as well. Give it a try.

Link to the GBBS recipe.

“Without great solitude, no serious work is possible.”

Pablo Picasso