Tag Archives: art

Looking Beyond the Dog Days of Summer

August 25th, 2010 | Posted in Karen Baker Thumm

Gandalf, Norwegian Fjord stallion

Yesterday was quite busy in a good way. First off, I saw my chiropractor for the first time in two years. At her initial assessment, her comment was, “Oh dear!”, so I’ll be going back again regularly for a while.

After that I visited an old friend and longtime riding instructor at her farm. She breeds Norwegian Fjords among many other activities and accomplishments and has some really fine breeding stock. It was an opportunity to deliver in person the painting, “Man On A Mission” a painting of her Jack Russell terrier, Spinner.

In return, I got a tour of her barn and farm and was introduced to her horses: three mares, two foals and her stallion, Gandalf. Of course, I took lots of photos, a few of which I’m sharing with you here.

The lovely mare, Luna. Look at that nice hip!

This little guy was a nibbler, but look at those lovely dark eyes.
Later on, I went on a trail ride with my barn friend, Ann. As we came out of the woods at twilight, the light was hitting these weeds at just the right angle, causing them to glow with this soft mauve light. They were lovely!

Since Scottie is very sore again, the vet is coming out on Saturday, and my riding guru friend-of-many-talents will come out to do an assessment on both of us to see if she can pinpoint the source of our problems and get us on the right track for more comfortable riding for both of us.

Today I also made arrangements to meet again with my local mentor in hopes that he can help me to get back on track with my artwork.

Between the three: chiropractor, vet/guru and mentor; I hope to soon make progress with health, riding and art. It’s cooled down enough now that one doesn’t feel quite so much like a giant, sweating slug and can contemplate activities that involve actual body movement as opposed to quiet activities in front of a fan.

©Copyright 2010 by Karen Baker Thumm. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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We Came. We Saw. We Ate Ice Cream.

August 3rd, 2010 | Posted in Linda Shantz


Another Saratoga visit is history! For the first time I can remember since my initial trip to the ‘Spa’ in 2003, we had perfect weather. For me, rain and humidity in Saratoga is just a given, but this time around, after being overcast and muggy on Wednesday afternoon when I arrived (complete with a few token drops of rain, just to say it did) the weather was unbelievably beautiful.


One of the highlights of this trip was being joined by fellow equine artist and racing fan Sharon Passmore. Sharon and I were both Equine Art Guild members, and often correspond back and forth about racing, comparing our experiences and stories of the business. She was able to share connections that got us signed into the backstretch in the morning for amazing photo ops, as well as box seats for the races on Thursday afternoon. Add to that our paddock passes courtesy of the Beresford Gallery, which represents my work at their gallery across from the racetrack, and we were set! Juliet Harrison joined us Thursday, and after sending Sharon on her way home to Tennessee early Friday, Juliet and I took advantage of that backstretch contact for more photos. We also visited the yearling sales barns, and saw the recently renovated pavilion.


The joy of being able to rent a house for our short stay inevitably means ice cream. I can’t help but take advantage of the US’s greater selection of flavours (not to mention better prices!) of my favourites, Haagen Dazs and Ben & Jerry’s, and fortunately my friends indulged with me! It is, however, tradition for Juliet and me to buy an overpriced serving at the racetrack at least once, which we did on our way out Friday afternoon. And of course no trip to Saratoga is complete without at least one stop at Mrs. London’s for amazing pastries. We did a lot of walking, but I’m not sure it was enough to balance out the intake of calories!


I’m home again, and did make it back to the easel today. Each year I order some art supplies and have them sent to Juliet so that I can save some of the shipping costs. I’m anxious to try out some of the paints I ordered – decided to try some Vasari oils and see how they compare to my faithful Old Hollands. So far I’ve only tried one tube – the colour is brilliant, but they’re a lot oilier than the rich OHs. We’ll see how it goes.

One more thing that made the transition back to reality a bit easier – Ben & Jerry’s on sale at Fortinos! Now if we could just get some of those flavours….

©Copyright 2010 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Barnes

August 2nd, 2010 | Posted in Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor

“The Barnes Foundation is the only sane place to see art in America.” ~Henri Matisse

On Thursday I went to visit the Barnes Foundation outside of Philadelphia in Merion. There has been quite a lot of controversy surrounding this museum lately because of the documentary, The Art of the Steal. I went before watching the doc. The museum was founded by Albert Barnes in 1922 to “promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts.” He was an avid art collector who bought hundreds of impressionist paintings before the artists were famous. When he died, he left in his will that the collection was to always remain in Merion but through some loop holes and tricky maneuvering, the city of Philadelphia has managed to secure the collection for a new Barnes Museum along the Ben Franklin Parkway.  I watched the doc after I visited to the Foundation and was deeply saddened at the plans to go against Mr. Barnes will. I would love to hear how others feel about this move.  I think part of what made my visit so moving was the building, the amazing gardens and arboretum around the mansion, and the closeness I felt to the art being in such an intimate space (a limited number of tickets are sold each day and only available online by reservation).  I couldn’t take any photos inside the museum so I only have a few of the outside.

Beautiful gardens around the foundation.

Unusual trees in the arboretum like this monkey puzzle tree.

Amazing carvings above the windows by Jacques Lipchitz.


African inspired reliefs around the front doors. Barnes thought African art was the precursor to modern art and inside the museum are hundreds of examples of beautiful carvings and masks.

A large sign in front of a wealthy residence across the street from the Barnes.

Another protest sign in a neighbor’s yard. Visit Friends of the Barnes for more info.

A photo I found online showing the interior. Barnes hung the art along with pieces of metal work. He arranged them to be pleasing to the eye and play off one another. Not only will you find work by famous Impressionist artists but there are religious paintings from Medieval Europe, hand painted PA Dutch hope chests, African and Asian art, and works by artists such as El Greco and Hieronymus Bosch. The collection is valued at over 30 billion dollars! All in a little museum in Merion, PA. All collected by a self made man from a working class family that was laughed at when he first showed the collection. You better hurry out and see it before it moves to Philadelphia next year. I’m sure poor Albert is turning over in his grave.

©Copyright 2010 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Beginning of the end – I hope!

July 30th, 2010 | Posted in Lynda Sappington

I’m getting close to finishing this piece, HUZZAH! I just need to add a bridle on the horse and do the wrists and hands of the rider, thicken the tail a bit and make the rider’s eyes match better – they’re a tiny bit off. Then I have to sign it and I’m finished!!

The horse’s tail is nice and thick-looking from the back, but from the side, it isn’t quite bushy enough. Like most Icelandics, this mare has a really thick mane and tail. I think the mane looks pretty good, but the tail needs to be thicker and needs more movement as seen from each side. I’ll work on that today.

The “splash” you see behind that right hind foot is necessary for support and strength for the piece. In real life, that foot would be flying through the air like both left feet, but the horse needs more than one point of contact with the base in order to be strong enough to stand without bending the supporting leg. The “splash” of dirt may be modified a bit, I don’t know yet. It’s easy to sculpt them in relief, but doing them 3-D, it’s a lot harder to get the look I want.

The stirrups are on the working surface (the board) in front of the piece in the photo above. They won’t be attached until the piece is in bronze because they are too delicate to cast properly. They will be hand made for each sculpture, just as the bit rings, stirrup leathers and reins will be. I think I’m going to remake the stirrups out of Super Sculpey so they’ll ship more safely.

See how nice and thick her tail looks from behind? I need to get that feeling from each side too. Her ears barely show from all the flying forelock in real life. I’m still trying to decide if I want to put more forelock on her to hide more of her ears or not. What do you think? I’m open to suggestions!

The rider’s neck looks a bit rough because I haven’t cleaned this sculpture up with chemicals yet. When I finish, I’ll use a small filbert paint brush and some orange cleaning liquid straight from the bottle (I’ll squirt it into a small bowl I can dip the brush in) and paint the whole thing with the cleaning liquid. That chemical will melt the surface of the clay just a tiny bit, smoothing out some places and getting rid of the crumbs as well. I may still need to do some clean-up with tools after I use the chemical, but the chemical will show me where I need to do that.

She looks like my customer, which pleases me a lot since I haven’t done a sculpture of someone with an open smile before. Every picture I have of her, she’s got a happy smile on her face, so that’s what I used.

I have stirrup leathers on the inside of the rider’s legs, cut off at the point where they would not be against the leg in real life as they stretch to support the stirrups. The foundry will add flattened copper wire the width of the leathers I’ve started when they put the stirrups on.

If you have questions or comments, feel free to write me! Thanks for your interest.

©Copyright 2010 by Lynda Sappington. See original post here.

To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Love Our Local Landscapes at the Gazen Gallery

July 13th, 2010 | Posted in Juliet Harrison


My Rhapsody in White and Frozen photographs are in the show.

©Copyright 2010 by Juliet Harrison. See original post here.
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Ahhh, that’s better . . . "Tolt" and "Star Sons 2" news!!

July 8th, 2010 | Posted in Lynda Sappington

I finally saw what was bothering me about the rider’s face. I knew something was a bit off, but I couldn’t quite figure out how to fix it. Then I saw it. The eyes were set too high (by about 1/16th of an inch), and the place where the nose dips in toward the eyes was set in the wrong place (by an even smaller margin). So today I put dabs of clay in the places where the eyes were, smoothed that out and started over – not my favorite thing to do, especially on something as delicate and difficult to create as the eyes on this rider. But I did it, and revised the shape of her cheekbones somewhat, her temples and browbone, the nose, and even brought the brim of the helmet lower and trimmed some off the top of the helmet. I like it a lot better now. I think I need to broaden the lower cheeks and jaw just a tiny bit on each side, and then it just might look like my customer! YAY! Here are some pictures to show what I accomplished today.

I know her helmet still needs straps, but I’m not going to add them until I’m satisfied with her face.

As you may be able to see from the pictures above, and will certainly see in the picture below, I also started working on the mane, getting the masses of the flying mane and forelock somewhat defined on one side, as well as filling in holes and undercuts so it will cast well.

I think this will be a beautiful piece! I’m excited to see it coming together so well!

In other news, I’ve finished the revisions on my second “Star Sons” novel (titled “The Gathering Alliance”) and am printing it out right now for a final read-through to make sure I haven’t missed anything in proofreading. The cover art is finished and there are only a few details to complete before it will be ready for publication. HUZZAH!!! I’ll post ordering info here and on Facebook and my Yahoo groups when it’s ready to go. It will be available from me as well as from Amazon.com, BN.com and various other outlets. You will also be able to order it in your local bookstore with its ISBN number. I’m excited to have this finished! YAAAY!!

©Copyright 2010 by Lynda Sappington. See original post here.

To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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A Rose…..by any other Name

July 6th, 2010 | Posted in Juliet Harrison
Remember last weeks concept was taken over by my trials and tribulations trying to get to Ohio? Here is the blog I had intended for then….

Film vs Digital
This blog is not about a value judgment between these two methods of taking photographs. I am not going to tell whether I think one is better than the other. In truth, although I am a film photographer first and foremost, I think making that kind of judgement between methods of creation is wrong. As artists….we are beholden to our muses and what we use to create out work…is less of consequence then the work we create. Although I do acknowledge that there are artists out there whose work is self-reflective of the process that they use. And that is wonderful too.
What I am interested in discussing it the labels we use to identify work once it is produced. And how confusing this is for the beginning collector of photography. When I began my “career” as a photographer, there was no digital photography. Other than polaroids and the more archaic methods of photography like daguerreotypes, solargrams and tintypes, all “Photographs” began as images on film. Negatives and chromes (like slide film). Again, other than those other print forms, all photographic prints were created in a darkroom. So, when you said that you were a photographer, there was no question about what that meant as far as the process that you did to create your work. Most understand that at some point it was a hands on process. And although able to be printed in multiple copies….some variations due to the process made each print somewhat unique. Again, I want to be clear that this is not a value judgement…it just what we did. And for the most part, what I still do.
Sheer Cliff Face – shot on film, Gelatin Silver Print done in darkroom and scanned to computer

Enter the digital revolution! Today, more often than not, what you see when you see a photograph for sale, is a print that was made from a digital process. There are several ways that this can happen. The first and most prevalent, is that the image was shot with a digital camera, downloaded into a computer and either digitally manipulated with a program like PhotoShop or left virtually unchanged from the original shot. This image is then printed directly from the computer on either an inkjet or laser printer, or even mass printed on poster paper.

shot with digital camera and downloaded into computer ready for printing

Another format that is building in interest are images that have been shot on film and scanned into the computer. These are then altered or not and printed the same as those that originated from a digital camera. One more possibility is to scan the traditionally created darkroom print and then to print digitally from those jpegs.

Monument – jpeg image from scanned negative

So, now I ask you…do these different processes of creating photographic print, need to be identified when the image reaches the marketplace? Do we just call them all photographs and be done with it? Does the collector need to be informed about what they are purchasing? I think they do. Does the buyer of a painting want to know if it is oil, acrylic or watercolor? I think they do. Partially because of the care each medium may require, but mostly in deference to understanding the creation of that work better. And perhaps to understand the artist who created it. BUT….if this is the case….then we need to come up with universally agreed upon terms for these prints. Just calling them all “Photographs” is not enough.

Most darkroom prints are identified by the darkroom process or paper that they are printed on. Silver prints (are the same as gelatin silver prints), platinum, palladium, c-prints, cibachromes etc, all of these are darkroom prints. Unfortunately, digital prints are called by too many different names. Sometimes, I feel it seems almost to confuse the buyer into thinking that the digital print and darkroom print are the same thing. But, mostly I think it is because nobody has come up with suitable terminology. I have seen digitally created images called; photographs, archival photographs, inkjet prints, photographic prints, giclees, prints (didn’t these used to be a whole different group of processes?) and many other names.

I call the images that have been printed from scans of my silver prints, digital reproductions. That is what they are. I call the images printed directly from a negative or from a digitally created image, a giclee. Technically, a giclee is an archival image created on an inkjet printer. There are difference qualities of giclees that can be achieved, depending on the printer, ink and paper.
So, when you see a photographic image in a gallery….and the label is confusing. Don’t be afraid to ask how that image was created. Sometimes the galleries don’t even know and I think they need to be reminded that they should! They ARE all photographs. But how they are achieved is important to know. A rose, is a rose and they all beautiful. But if I am buying that rose, I want to know if it is a climber, tea rose, heirloom/vintage or wild. IT DOES MATTER!
I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject too!

Juliet

©Copyright 2010 by Juliet Harrison. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Economic Effects of Horse Ownership & Being an Artist – Part 2

June 22nd, 2010 | Posted in Juliet Harrison

SunGod

This post is about how the poor economy affects being an artist. We know that art is a luxury. We know that there have been many periods in history when only the wealthiest could afford to own art. Just like horse ownership, a down economy adds huge stumbling blocks to being an artist.

The most obvious part of this is of course, the lack of enough sales. Galleries are closing all over the country. People are not going to buy art when they are worried about the mortgage and feeding their families. Who can blame them? I certainly understand this. You really only think about filling your world with beauty when your stomach is full and the roof solid over your head.

What is interesting is what this does to the artist. I think that most people understand that artists are driven to create. It is more than a job to us. It is an identity. It is breathing. The crappy reality is that it takes money to buy the materials with which to create art. For those who draw…a pencil and paper are not a huge expense, I suppose. But for those who do what I do, or who sculpt or paint….it takes a huge out lay in money for materials. Many of us see being an artist as our job. And even if we don’t, getting a new job ain’t so easy at age 52 and with little marketable skills. As we all know…the jobs aren’t out there.

This is not meant as a whining blog post. This is really about ingenuity. As the galleries have closed, many of us have taken our fates into our own hands. And what I want to point out is the immense creativity that has come from this. I have mentioned before about the time drain that can be social networking. But I what to publicly cheer for those of us who have started to see the benefit to time spent doing our own “marketing”. Thanks to websites like http://www.fineartstudiosonline.com/ we can create our own websites to showcase our artwork. It is a wonderful thing to control what is said and what is shown. We are using Facebook and Twitter to let the world know about us! We can now look beyond our backyards and our work can touch people thousands of miles from our homes without paying a dime to ship it.

The other bit of creativity has come in the form of offering more ranges of work than ever before. And perhaps some see that as a negative. And maybe we wish we did not have to do this. but I see more and more painters doing periodic series of daily work that they can sell for much less than their larger, more time consuming work. They are using these as sketches…using them to perfect their techniques and at the same time….marketing the work at a price that makes it affordable to more buyers during the down time. Sculptors who are selling sketches and resin work are doing the same. For me it has meant making lower priced giclee prints available to buyers. I am selling prints on Etsy. I am doing spec photo shoots. I might not have ever thought of doing this before. But it is the sale of these giclee prints that are making it possible for me to continue to buy film and go out and shoot more.

And I think we all hope that when things do get better…those who bought our less expensive pieces will again be able to purchase the work that we have been able to continue to produce. We all want to be there…still working, on the other end of this….so we can fill the galleries, homes and museums with beauty still. We are taking all the chances we can to invent ways to hang on. And I, for one…thank you all for being part of this process with me. As I said…it ain’t easy…

My work is a luxury….that is sold to people who are inevitably horse owners…and we know that that is a luxury too. So rather then feel doomed by this all, I have decided to feel it is a challenge and I will do what I can.

So…Who wants to buy a Photograph? I am just about out of film!

Juliet

http://www.julietrharrisonphotography.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/lechevalthehorse

©Copyright 2010 by Juliet Harrison. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Decorating with B&W Photography

June 13th, 2010 | Posted in Juliet Harrison


Need some ideas on how to use Black and White photography in your decorating scheme? Here are some photos taken of my work in a beautiful residential setting. B&W photography can enhance a Modernist, Traditional, Rustic, or Minimal interior design. (Interior shots by architectural/interior photographer Mark Samu) Have any questions about how B&W Photography might fit in your home? Want to see more of my work? Contact me at julietharrison@earthlink.net

©Copyright 2010 by Juliet Harrison. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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New Blooms & Mother Goose

May 19th, 2010 | Posted in Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor

It’s Wednesday already, I can’t believe how time flies! Here are some new flowers in the garden, the above photo shows two types of salvia and a burgundy penstemon in the back. I’m mad about salvias lately.

Lovely Delphinium. I think this would make a nice watercolor painting.

A new addition to my garden, Persian Cornflower.

Yarrow with a Scotch broom in the background.

I love the delicate pink flowers on this toadflax.

In PFATT we are having a Mother Goose Challenge this week. My favorite rhyme as a child was “Banbury Cross” and I have always wanted to incorporate this theme into a piece of artwork. Here is my painting of the “fine lady upon a white horse”. I wanted it to have a whimsical Rennaissance feel. Be sure to search Ebay for PFATT and see what our other members have created!

Ride a cock horse to Banbury CrossTo see a fine lady upon a white horseWith rings on her fingers and bells on her toesShe shall have music wherever she goes

©Copyright 2010 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Thanks For Your Patience!

March 25th, 2010 | Posted in Virtual pARTy

Do I sound like a TV station? My apologies for not having the chance to get the latest pARTy paintings up yet – unfortunately the demands of the work that pays the bills has to take precedence, and I’ve been busier than even what is usual in that department. That’s not all bad for me, of course, because it means the bills will actually get paid! :-D

Please stay tuned!

~ Linda

©Copyright 2010 by The Virtual pARTy and participating artists. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist challenge, visit The Virtual pARTy Blog.

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Art Museum Part 2

March 1st, 2010 | Posted in Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor

Today I thought we should take my niece and nephew to the Delaware Art Museum to see the exhibit of over 60 original Dinotopia works by illustrator James Gurney. I went in knowing about the books and art but I hadn’t read the books and dinosaurs, while interesting, aren’t really my cup of tea. Well, we were completely blown away by this show – completely. Gurney’s imagination and painting skill is absolutely incredible. I felt like the picture frames were windows and I was looking through to another world. His handling of light, shadow and color were brilliant and I really loved the character and personality he gave to the dinosaurs. If you live anywhere near Delaware, please do yourself (and your kids, if you have them) a favor and go see this show which runs through May 16th. I can’t wait to read the books now!

After viewing Dinotopia, we walked the rest of the museum and I snapped a few photos of some of my favorite paintings of the day. Click on each painting for a larger image.

This Howard Pyle mermaid painting was a big hit with everyone!

A huge painting made to look like stained glass. Sorry, I don’t recall the artist.

A small painting created by an illustrator for a book or magazine.
I love the Pegasus.

The greyhounds are great aren’t they? Painting by Thomas Wilmer Dewing.

This George Inness painting, “Early Autumn – Monclair“, painted in 1891, really drew me in. I could look at that one all day.

©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Happy Valentines Day!

February 15th, 2010 | Posted in Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor

I know, I know, I am one day late but there’s nothing wrong with spreading a little love past the 14th. Last night marked the start of the Penny Feather Tree Charity Auction. I hope everyone that reads this goes to the auction this week and checks it out. Even if you don’t have the funds to place a bid, please add it to your watch list. The more watchers, the more exposure it will get. I am a member of PFATT, a group of primitive and folk artists, and sadly, one of our members was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. We all came together under the direction of Lori Davis of Vintage Palette Art to create ornaments for this tree. The proceeds will go to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Inc.-Alabama Chapter.
Here’s a picture of the tree in all it’s glory. Isn’t it lovely?

Here’s a picture of my ornament.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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“Her big easy chair” Graphite painting of a Friesian

February 5th, 2010 | Posted in Debbie Flood

“Her big easy chair” 8 x 10 Graphite, $95.00. Inquiries may come to my email at debflood@debfloodart.com thank you. Now if this isn’t a fairy tale scene, I don’t know what is! This is the stuff that little girl dreams are made of. The princes’ flowing dress, and the silver band that holds back the woman’s hair. And of course the big black horse to trot away on. This Lady is riding side saddle. This is how Ladies rode back in the day, when they were to be proper and lady like. I hope you enjoy today’s graphite painting. I am taking on Graphite commissions now, if you would like to have your horse created into a lasting memory. All graphites are created on an 11 x 14 white Stathmore Graphite paper. The completed image is in the 9 x 12 to 8 x 10 range, with no background, for $95.00 plus shipping.Contact me through my email when you are ready to book your special portrait. Thank you.Debbie

Debbie Flood, Artist. Equine, Wildlife, and the natural world.
http://www.debfloodart.com

©Copyright 2009 by Debbie Flood. See original post here.
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Giveaway Winner!

December 11th, 2009 | Posted in Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor

The random number generator has chosen #131 – Possible Impossibilities Studio. I nearly had it draw another number since I hate to count that high:)

A big thank you from the bottom of my heart♥, to everyone who entered. It was such a joy reading all the comments.
I hope to have another giveaway in the Spring, perhaps on my birthday month, March.
I’m really sorry I wasn’t able to get to every one’s blog and leave a comment but this week I’m dealing with a sick child and a sick cat that had to go to the vet. The kitty is on the mend but the kid is still sick. :(

Back to the painting table now. I am working on a side saddle holiday sign and a few more pendants for the Etsy shop. Just completed this lovely Overo Paint Horse jewelry box at the request of a customer. Thought I’d share a picture of it!

I have some huge news I hope to share next month. It’s eating me up inside but I have to keep it a secret!


©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
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Attachment Issues

November 24th, 2009 | Posted in Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor

Yeah, that’s right, I’m having issues. For some reason this year I’m having a very hard time giving up my creations. Do any other artists out there in blogland have this problem? Maybe it’s all the love and attention I give to each piece that makes it more like a child than a sign, painting or sculpture. I don’t know what it is but I need to make some money for Christmas!

Just listed on Ebay, 7 Christmas/Winter signs and 1 sculpture – Dash – you may have met him on a previous blog post. He looks so nice sitting on my foyer table. Everyone that sees him falls in love. I will be sad to send my baby off!

Two pieces currently on ebay…


©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
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Trying to define art…

October 12th, 2009 | Posted in Sheona Hamilton-Grant

Every now and then I take the time to “flick” through the posts of my blog.
I enjoy remembering, pondering and through it find inspiration.

This one the posts that got me rethinking and for once agreeing with myself.

My small attempt at answering the massive question:

What is Art?

What is art?

This must be one of the most controversial and complex questions to answer.
Controversial in its subjectivity and complex if only by the number of art forms there are.
This actually means answers (usually long and longer) can be given at so many different levels and in no definite way.
Having said this, answers have been given and in quite a large way.
So why ask I hear you think.
Well, I believe it is an important question for every artist to think about at least once and to attempt to give a coherent answer.

So I will put my thinking cap on and probably bore you all to tears.

OK here goes.
If you don’t want to read any further you could always check out the wikipedia, free encyclopedia for their definition and answer to Art.

A spontaneous answer would be the classic: “it’s a fantastic means of expression”. How shallow is that?

Start again.
Art, is something comes straight from the heart.
It is something which comes alive without boundaries. making it unlimited.
Art is something that takes your mind places, your heart places.
In my case it has been a steady discovery of myself, a wonderful way of facing fear and dealing with life. A reason for stepping up to reality.
Art is the reward for patience, deep emotion and gritty determination.
Art causes the viewer to react, to feel, to think.
It connects with the viewer and becomes something that you (the viewer) cannot take your eyes off. Something that stays anchored in ones memory.
Great art stirs thought and something very deep within.
There is something intangible that makes it special and at the end of the day it really boils down to what we like.

Have I come any closer to answering the question of what makes art art? Maybe not but one thing for sure is that I have been pondering about the answer for days now. Focusing on making some kind of sense of the ramifications the question has lead to.
The nice thing is that there is no wrong answer and I feel as though have dotted my I’ and crossed my T’s.

Back to the drawing board to let loose some of that gritty determination…
Have a great week-end.

©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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Almost October

September 25th, 2009 | Posted in Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor

Yay, October is almost here! You can almost smell the candy corn in the air. Even the new kitten is getting in on the decorating fun! I’ve been thinking of changing his name to “Toots” because that little critter lays the world’s stinkiest farts. Honestly, how can a 2 pound animal produce such a foul odor? It’s beyond me!
I took a few quick photos this afternoon while I was yammering away on the phone.

This morning I completed the Salem Riding Club sign I spent all day yesterday working on. I thought I would put it up on my blog for sale for 2 days. If it’s not purchased in 2 days, I’ll put it on Ebay. It measures 11″ x 14″. Comes signed, varnished and ready to hang. My 3 year old is so in love with this piece since it shows a young witch riding a beautiful black horse. She told me this morning it is the prettiest thing I ever painted! I hope she lets me sell it:)

Price – $125.00 + shipping


And if your a big Sleepy Hollow fan like I am, please check out my current Ebay auctions. I have a handpainted box and an original painting of the Headless Horseman for sale.


©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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