Holiday Painting Challenge # 3- Joy

The challenge word from Creative Catalyst this week was Joy, I actually was able to do most of this painting on Wednesday, though I've been 'fiddling' with it since to make sure it's just right. At one point I did a lot of portraiture, and it felt good doing it again.

For me Joy is spending time with the people I care about, family and friends really are what it's all about, in my opinion. Having said that, I do have favorites, and no joy is purer than the one brought by my two beautiful grand daughters and their hugs and kisses.

While reading my Professional Artist Magazine this month (favorite art mag) I read Dr. Eric Maisel's article about productive obsessions which really resonated with me. He started by explaining how obsessions are not necessarily negative, "psychology has missed the fact that the brain's ability to obsess can also amount to a real treasure. The brain can productively obsess - and it really wants to. People are happier and more efficient when they productively obsess." Wow "...find yourself trapped in trivialities condemned to impulsiveness, led around by anxiety, and duller and sadder than you need to be. Productively obsessing is an antidote to all that." VERY true "...your brain is an engine meant to perform in that higher gear, it has been waiting for this.."

Do yourself a favor and read the whole article . As I've been known to blather on about, I firmly believe that people NEED to create, and that suppressing, that creative impulse lets to all kinds of trouble, whereas honouring it leads to great JOY.

I must apologize to my newsletter subscribers, the December issue is late, I've been monkeying around with mail chimp, trying to learn the nuances.

The December issue will be the last one sent out by my website, I've not been happy with the newsletter template my website provides. Not only is it cumbersome but there have been several delivery issues, so I'm planning to change over. If you'd like to be on my newsletter list you can subscribe here.

I send it out monthly, it contains area art news, tid bits, and recipes, and judging by the feedback, those who get it, when they get it, enjoy it.

The new service will hopefully mean that it arrives, on time, legible, and once not in duplicate or triplicate. Sign up, and wish me luck :)

St Thomas Elgin Artists' Guild Show 2010

The opening last night was huge, it was great to see to see so many out for the show. We had wonderful music with vocals by Cara Lee and Jon Jeffery who also plays guitar, beverages from Timmies, and treats supplied by Perfect Bakery (116 Hamilton Rd London-519-432-7931), and of course some of the most fabulous art, by some of this areas best artists.

The show continues Saturday Nov 13, 12-9, and Sunday Nov 14, 12-4.

Let the Christmas shopping ensue!

Mary Louise White is opening tonight (Nov 13) at STEPAC. Mary Louis is not only one of the best artists in North America, but also one of the kindest souls I have every met. When I was just starting to get serious about my art she sat down with me and gave me lots of wonderful advise, that has made important an impact on my art practice.

Speaking of my art practice, I've been working diligently at my commissions list, if you were thinking of having a commissioned piece done for Christmas, I only have a few spots left, so don't delay! Ditto for pARTy bookings!!

Birth of a website

Have you ever made something way more complicated than it should have been?
Well I certainly did.
I purchased website hosting after perusing through several options. The provider is Costco, so the trust factor was very high when they said 'easy to use, your website can be ready in an hour' I've gotten to know my way around blog building, have learned a bit of HTML...how hard could it be?
They helpfully supply how to video's, with step by step instructions. I spent hours watching the video's and trying to follow along...hours.
And... was totally stymied.
I'm stubborn, and I was not going to let this thing defeat me! So....more hours.
Finally I cried Uncle, and called a friend who does this kind of thing. She came over and said... well there are templates with place holder text, you should be able to just delete their text and replace it with yours, same with the photo's.
I tried it, it worked. Elapsed time... about 2 minutes. So much for the helpful video's.
It took me a bit longer than their hour to build it, but not much, and there are still a few links that I'm not ready to make live, but here it is, let me know what you think http://www.expressivebrush.ca/

Oh, and the portrait has passed inspection, yay! and is being framed. Next up, a commission to paint humming birds and trumpet vine on a wooden mailbox.