I have pretty much decided to try and post something at least once a week from now on.  Rather than just thinking about doing it, I’m starting right now.  I will be posting on this blog once a week for all of 2011.

I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun. If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments and likes, and good will along the way.

Here is my new painting in a very grand frame!!

Fall at the Pond

The above painting was inspired by my walks with my dog Ben.  I walk there every day with him when I don’t go down to the river.  There were a couple of weeks where the blossoms on the bushes were just so gorgeous.  Whitish/yellow everywhere.  I just had to photograph the scene and then decided to paint something from one of the photos.  Of course it is very impressionistic but that’s the way I do things.

Bye for now and I wish everyone a happy, healthy but most importantly a peaceful New Year.

It reminds me of a friend of mine, an artist and a very accomplished one at that, who maintained that the ability to paint/create beautiful things is a gift from G-d.  I didn’t understand for years; I, and several other of his friends got very frustrated with him, seeing his beautiful paintings and drawings just stored away behind a couch or maybe hung on the wall of his house.  Occasionally he would give something away!!  His response to people’s questioning about displaying or marketing his art was, “The Spirit gave me the gift, I give it back to the Spirit”.

Now, years later I paint.  Very different from him and very much in my own style,  I understand more clearly what he meant as far as being given a gift from a Higher Power, I tend to agree although I am not so adamant as regards selling my work.  I do “put it out there” but I don’t work hard at the selling.

One thing is for sure, I am not expecting to make a living at my art, nor do I want to.  As far as I am concerned that changes our creativity into something more commercial.

Creativity to me is a healing device, a tool with which to help me get “into the moment”, and just be quiet – letting our Spirit in.

Talking about “healing”, I read a comment just this morning on “linked in”. Someone had asked “what is healing arts”? In my humble opinion, all creativity is healing.

This person was an artist and it seemed to me he/she was unsure if his/her mode or style of art was healing!! Of course I could have misunderstood their meaning!!  However I do think that putting labels on creativity may hinder certain people from the arts/creativity.  That would be a pity.

I was overjoyed a few days ago when a friend of mine painted a picture and actually had fun doing it.  She had been a little afraid of putting paint on a board.  After I told her the result really didn’t matter she painted two pictures, one after the other and sent them to me via email.  She attributed her artistic achievements to my encouragement.

That was nice.

Is it just that they may paint or draw pretty pictures, carve on wood or any other medium?  I don’t know.

To me an artist is someone who can literally create art from all kinds of different things.  To have the vision of how whatever it is would or could look.  Imagining and creating beauty out of the most ordinary, even ugly, assortment of items.

In my case, I may or may not produce pretty pictures.  That would be for someone else to say, not me.  I’m too involved in the thing to be neutral.

Many, many times I have attempted to create something that has not turned out as I would have wished.  The execution of it just isn’t what is should be!!  Is that frustrating, yes it certainly is.  So many times I have piled on the layers of paint just to paint over it in disgust because the result was not what I wanted.

I know I am not the only one, there are thousands of “artists” out there with half finished or finished paintings abandoned and buried in a cupboard somewhere as I have.  There may be a time that some of those cast-offs might be remodeled or finished.

My paintings burial ground

As you see on the right I have a few pieces that I’ve “buried” away.

Others that I favor a little more decorate my walls in my studio/office.

Studio/office

Still more decorate the walls in other rooms in the house.  Of course those are the ones I favor the most, at least for now.  I can certainly see a time when I will update those.

While I’m messing around trying to get my head around a new painting and not doing too well, for the sake of keeping my hand in “paint wise” we might say, I thought I would experiment pulling and chipping off used paint on my pallet to recycle on another project.

My messy pallet

Artists, you know the kind of thing, dried up paint stuck on plastic tubs, pallets etc.  I have been using a white plastic lunch box which works really well for me.

We all know acrylic paint dries really fast, especially here in the South West.  Well I decided to play and “pick off” paint.

{Note the little jar in the picture, to the left of the pallet, that is where all my used and picked off paint is kept although it is now pretty full so I will have to find a bigger jar.}

It comes off in strips and is fun and very usable.

OK, so now we know, the next question you are going to ask is, what the heck am I going to use it for?

And the answer would be for a Mixed Media piece.  I like collage/assemblage and those strips/lumps are going to come in very handy making an interesting and colorful texture.  I’ll just glue them on to my surface in whatever pattern I decide I am going to investigate next.

Can’t wait to try it but I will have to control myself until I have enough bits.

The past few months have been very hectic; my dream of selling my property and moving to Cottonwood came true, amazingly enough.  So the last two or three months of living there was taken up by organizing my move which tends not  to be the artists’ friend.  Its not a time in which inspiration arises.

The same canvas was sitting on the easel for about 6 months, it is still there although I have actually picked up the paintbrushes recently.  Not that I did any good mind you – it was a really bad attempt.  I have a problem regaining whatever inspiration I had after a long break.

This time it was harder than usual – the break was a very long one.

Months ago I had this idea for a painting – I saw a picture on an environmental site.  The  idea of it along with the visual, affected me and I really wanted to put it on canvas.  This is what I have been attempting and struggling with.   I started it in one session about 6 months ago – it looked like it might work but unfortunately the break did not help – my recent attempts were tragic to say the least – now I can’t make up my mind whether to scrap the whole thing or try again.

I am going to have to meditate on it.  Maybe it is just not meant to be …..

In the meantime I will rejoin the art club I belonged to a few years ago and see what ideas/inspiration that brings.

Keep watching this space – you never know what might happen………

OK, I’m back.  The above mentioned painting I had started, was painted over -  I just could not make it work.  So I painted over it.  My inspiration was definitely still lacking.  I made a decision to walk down to the river every morning with my boy Ben, instead of going to the pond.

This was what was lacking, the ability to just sit and meditate by the river.  The very first day that I walked down to the river by myself with Ben, I was able to paint when I got home.  It was magical – it just flowed.  I painted the river.  How simple could that be?  I had been able to meditate and leave Ben to just have fun.  It made all the difference.

A couple of days later the painting was finished. (see below)

The River Verde

Now I have begun another, bigger piece than I have ever dared before, (32″ x 23 1/2″).

I have had this Masonite board a very long time, not daring to paint on it because it is so big. at least for me it is.  The other day though I decided to dig it out and have a go at it.

I’m fairly pleased with what is resulting so far but I have a way to go before its finished.  Well it is still unfinished although the other day I had a big burst of energy after watching, for the 3rd time, a DVD called, “The Impressionists”.

For all impressionist painters out there that need inspiration,  get this movie.  Its on 2 DVD’s and was made by the BBC as a mini-series.  Anyway as I was saying halfway through watching this for the 3rd time I paused it, dashed into my painting room, picked up brushes and paint and basically went amock on the painting.  It seemed to work.  I actually got somewhere.  Of course I am still tampering with it but I am hopeful that it might actually be finished by this week end.

Today, August 12 the painting is finished although I haven’t yet been able to photograph it but will do soon.

Well folks, here it is in all its glory!!  Not really sure about it but you all will make up your own mind(s).

The Road to the River

In one month we will all see it hanging in Cottonwood Library thanks to El Valle Artists Association who have a link with the library. This painting is now resplendent in its own frame, and a very grand one at that.

I had the pleasure recently of getting to know one of the neighbors whose father just happens to be a professional picture framer.  He wanted to get rid of some of the old stuff in his shop to make room, so it was my delight to have the opportunity to be taken to his shop and have my pick of frames.  The frames I talk of are much grander and more expensive than I would ever have been able to afford.  It was such a gift.  I finished up with hundreds if not thousands of dollars worth of frames, even some canvases.

I just could not believe such fortune; it was amazing.  I have beautiful frames stacked up in the garage and in my studio closet.

So onwards and upwards I go, onto the next project, and who knows what that might be because I sure don’t!!

However never fear, it will become something sooner rather later.  Of course I do everything the wrong way around.  I have the frame before I even have the painting but that’s because of having a “smashing” time with a mirror!!!

I did start on my new painting, a couple of weeks ago but my inspiration has been lacking.  Things on my mind that won’t let the creativity come through.

The subject of the new painting is an interesting concept, at least I think it is.  I keep looking at it but I should wait until my mind clears before I do any more to it I think.

And yes, I admit it, I haven’t been able to think of anything to say!!!  Novice bloggers know about this I think.

Of course it doesn’t help when half of my artist materials are packed into boxes, and the other half  is sort of waiting to be packed.

OK back to my blog, now where do I start…….

A few years ago, even before I started painting, I was still designing and creating my jewelery, I built my own website, well sort of!!  I didn’t just build one website, I tried several times, each one worse than the last!!  Being what is famously called a “starving artist“, I was not in a position financially to hire someone to do it for me, nor was I able to afford a fancy software program (not that I would have been able to understand that either).  I spent lots of time on the internet looking for templates.  Even when I found one that was designed for art,  I found it quite difficult to figure out how to adapt it for my own needs.

Now dear readers, you would be forgiven for thinking I am a complete idiot!!!

I  joined many different free online portfolio sites, uploaded my art onto them and they just sat there!!  There is always the chance however that no-one wanted to buy my art because it wasn’t good!!!!

I know many people join these sites – it is a way of getting our art “out there” when we don’t have the knowledge to design and create our own websites.  That’s fine I guess, as far as it goes but on each of those online web sites there are thousands of other artists, all hoping they will get a customer or two.  Personally speaking I don’t know anyone who has had a sale from any of them.

So back to my own badly designed, badly coded website www.artbylinda.biz

We have all heard the saying “A little knowledge is a bad thing”, well in my case a little knowledge did help me to get where I am with my website, wherever that is!!!  I have “studied” SEO and gained some knowledge on that too.  However, I know for absolutely sure that anyone with an iota of knowledge on this subject would either laugh themselves sick or be horrified at my efforts.

I have tried to learn, first HTML then more recently tried to get my head around CSS.  Not that you’d know it from my website.  Its terrible!!

I have collected mounds of information on CSS from books and the internet, and all of its little secrets – can I remember enough to put them into action – no!!  My poor little jelly brain just can’t seem to take in enough to be able to utilize it!!

Each time I look at how to code with CSS I think I understand it, sort of, and I really do but still I seem unable to use it!!

I invite everyone to look at my website, see below and comment.  Laughter will be allowed, rude comments not allowed, critiques and helpful advice welcomed.

www.artbylinda.biz

God's Paintbox T Shirt

Buying original art is expensive – now you can enjoy my art on all different types of products, big and small and save money.

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Check out my zazzle store

A lot of my art can now be purchased in a host of fun ways.

NOW over 300 products :

T Shirts

Coffee Mugs

Posters

Greetings Cards

(available on canvas as well as basic prints)

Prints

Trucker Hats

Mens Ties

Even doggy coats !!

Cute or what!!

Coffee Mug

If you don’t see what you want contact me and I can most likely get it produced for you.

email me: lindaslasberg@gmail.com

Buy merchandise

Art By Linda at www.zazzle.com/lindaslasberg

I should probably state at the outset that my paintings are very rarely planned out – I tend to let them come.  Usually I have a rough idea of what I would like to accomplish and see how it comes out!!  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.  I know this is probably contrary to most artists’ practice but that’s the way I am.

I rarely do anything like other people!!  “I do it my way”

For example I thought I was the only artist around that makes so many mistakes that they actually paint more than one picture on a single canvas/ground.  I recently discovered I am not;  it seems there are other imperfect beings out there who make mistakes and paint over what they have previously done – nice to know I’m not completely crazy!!

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Since I came to Arizona I have felt akin to the Native American belief system and their symbolism.

It would follow therefore that I would include that subject matter into my art.

The few pieces that follow are in that category – I hope you enjoy them.

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The first one I call “Sacred Circle“ and was completed in or around 2007.

It is one of a series of this subject – small, measuring just 4.5″ x 12″, two of them were sold and another larger piece is below.

In the Native American belief system the Medicine Wheel is a symbol for the 

“Wheel of Life – forever evolving, bringing new lessons and truths to the walking of the path”.

The “Medicine Wheel” below right is the most recent version completed 2008.  It is also the largest, 29″ x 8.5″;  it is an assemblage on Masonite.

Materials used: twigs, feathers, turquoise nugget, arrowhead (sprayed), beaded snake, stone bear fetish, rocks, artist acrylics.

Below left is “Circle Tepee“

This is a single tepee painted in acrylics on a circular piece of wood.
Within the edge of the wood I have painted another circle of turquoise.
The four sacred directions are clearly defined by genuine turquoise nuggets.

All artworks on these pages are for sale unless otherwise stated.

Please contact me:
web site: www.artbylinda.biz
email :lindaslasberg@gmail.com

Posted in Art by Linda, Fine Art in Acrylics ~ Mixed Media, My Art & I, Zazzle - Art and design Tagged: acrylics, assemblage, collage, expressionism, fine art, impressionism, mixed media, original art, painting, spiritual, symbolic ]]> http://artbylinda.wordpress.com/2009/12/23/art-talk-progression-or-regression/feed/ 0 34.650855 -111.788206 34.650855 -111.788206 queenie cropped-dreamsceneheader1.jpg Sacred Circle The Medicine Wheel Circle Tepee http://artbylinda.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/painting-v-blogging/ http://artbylinda.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/painting-v-blogging/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:14:54 +0000 Linda http://artbylinda.wordpress.com/?p=196 Continue reading →]]> Well here I am again.

I have spent an awful lot of time trying to figure out how to set out the blog and I have come to the conclusion I am absolutely useless at it.

I’ve been going round and round in circles, driving the wordpress staff crazy with my stupid questions, so I decided to hell with it, (apologies for the language) I’m going to do what I feel like, correct or not.  After all when did I ever do anything correctly?  – the answer is rarely.

It doesn’t take me this long to complete a painting if I’m on a roll!! And then would you believe it, I change the look of the whole thing because wordpress, bless their hearts, bring out a new pretty theme and I like that better. Then I have to change a few things like font colors.

Oh well, onwards and upwards, hopefully.

Recently, on the subject of blogging, I have spent some interesting time looking at other people’s blogs and subscribing and contributing on sites like LinkedIn. I made a great discovery which was I am not the only internet idiot out there!! There are hordes of us. Now I don’t know about anybody else, but for me that’s pretty comforting!!