Going with the flow

Sometimes, you just need to throw paint at a canvas.

When I walk into the studio and realise I have NO IDEA what I want to paint that day, I just start. I choose some paints and I just place them willy-nilly on the canvas .Most times, something comes from just making a start. I quite often cock it up on a monumental scale, but that cock-up is usually a great opportunity to see something I may not have seen, worked out a method, failed, succeeded...it all doesn't matter because I made a start, I committed to just showing up and being there and sometimes, if I am lucky, that is enough to get me going.

I am starting to really use artistic license and imagination in my work. NO idea where it is going, but I find the retropectoscope usually allows me to figure that out later.

Origin
60cm x 120 cm
oil on board

I am reading a lot about artistic processes of various artists that I admire. Isn't it wonderful that we live in the internet age when sharing is so possible?! Their insight and ideas offer me some avenues to explore for myself and I am so enjoying this on-line teaching. From artists who lived hundreds of years ago to contemporary ones, the learning continues.

Today is day 4 of the easter long weekend. I am very keen to get painting again soon but have to occupy/exhaust the kids before I can do so. Tomorrow I am missioning into town to get some equipment, provisions and hopefully, some diversions for the brutes.Who says you can't solve a problem with money!?

Anyway, I need to throw paint at a canvas and soon...it itches not to.

Some of the photos of flying

Some of the photos taken whilst flying....the drought was in full force!

Some of the results from the  inspiration flights

Hello again!

I have not painted cows in ages, but I had a commission and it was time to revisit them again. The client gave me such a great brief" I want cows but do your own thing". Wheyhey!

So, this is what I painted.

So lucky

I am so lucky.

Let me share some of my daily views.

View from the house

ditto

again, from the house

my sunday walk on the beach, 40 min drive

the beach at Raglan

From the house

on a dog walk

walking the dogs through the asparagus fields next to the apple orchard

All these photos were taken in the last 7 days. I see these views at least once a week and then I get to paint. I am very mindful of my blessings.

It is what it is.

Someone recently suggested to me that it might be better for my art career if I did not "share" as much of the struggle/joy of painting on this blog as much I do. They suggested that mystery was appealing and would make people more interested in what I do. I think the concept of "treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen" is what they were alluding to.

Well, sorry. What you have with me is chatty with a penchant for over-sharing. I am nothing if not transparent. The idea that I would not tell you about what made me happy/sad about a painting experience is anathema to the way I think and behave. If it were not for other artists who share their insights so willingly I would still be a frustrated artist trying to replicate things and not the fulfilled one I am now knowing that I am happy in the way I am painting and evolving, translating my experience of the world onto canvas. I would like to think that this helps others find their voice and, if nothing else ,makes them glad that you don't live in my head! Its noisy!

So, no mystery here, I'm afraid. Just the truths, the ups and down, the learning curves that are not always smooth, the EUREKA moments, the WTF moments and the occasional ramble and rant.

I am on the hunt for gallery representation at the moment and it is very difficult to a) find galleries to suit my style and visa versa, and b) convince them to take a chance on an unknown. There's a cute term in art used to describe artists that are unknown or maybe just becoming a bit established : emergent. Like a butterfly emerging from a coccoon. Am I emergent? I think I am but a moth probably thinks it's as cute as a butterfly too.

People ask me all the time."what is your style" I know what they mean but it is hard to describe.  I paint like me: A cocktail of impressionism, realism, abstract,expressionism. I am a contemporary painter. To make matters worse, I am an immigrant and self taught. How dare I !!!! Bah! I dare and I do! Someone has to. We cannot all be the same, think the same, paint the same , have the same credential. Wildcards are important, underdogs are popular. I say Go ME!

67 x 60 cm
oil on board
It is what it is.