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| Painting Buddha will always be my favourite activity - it feeds my soul, and is calming and meditative. I am already doing another! |
Something very strange has happened to me in the past few weeks.......it would make an interesting psychological study for the world of art. At what point do people who love to paint, draw and create, at what point do they become an 'ARTIST'?
Painting this last week helped........
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| 'Love of my Life' It has taken five years for me to paint a tribute to my guy who died in 2009. I think I have made a start, and have plans for others, too. I love portraits - I am painting a real person with character, personality and individuality. I try to find a person's uniqueness..... |
Is it a self-imposed term that is rooted in the way we perceive ourselves?
Is it to do with our daily routine, output and number of hours at the easel?
Is it measured by the standard and quality of work as we learn and improve? Who exactly is judging this? We are hardwired to criticise ourselves, the inner gremlins see to that. Our friends are hardwired to be kind and love everything we do.
Is it when we finally gather the courage to show our work online, to cease talking about ourselves in a derogatory way, to actually LIKE some of our work. We join groups, do classes and chat with hundreds of people doing much the same.
Is it the drive to perfectionism that I seem to have been born with? I hate mediocrity, shamefully I have never taken up anything that I knew I couldn't shine at (like sport, for example)?
.......or is it when you are seen as an artist by the public, in your posts and albums, in comments, in follow up communications?
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| Crazy, fluffed out drama queen of the house - Gracie! |
All I know is that, after five years of trying, starting with crude stick figures, I do feel that I can call myself an artist. Good or bad rests only in the eye of the beholder, I realise that it is not for me to judge myself. My mantra is to paint what I love, to paint from my heart, from the inside out, to paint things that move me or have elicited an emotional response. I need to paint with authenticity. That's what makes me happy. The fact that some people like my work is an added bonus, a privilege.
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| A more expressionist take from a very old but much loved photo from a distance. Roy was leaning against the wall of out 16th century fisherman's cottage by the sea at Minehead Harbour. A fleeting moment from the past.......now in shadow |
So my conclusion? It's just a word. I am a lifelong teacher - doesn't mean I am a GOOD teacher 9I think I was!!)...therefore being called an artist is meaningless unless you create for yourself, with truth and daring, when you are driven to it by some inner force which guides you instinctively to that easel every day!
Yes, I want to sell my art on sites such as Fineart and Redbubble. In a gallery. Wow!!!! But one's own satisfaction and happiness in the very act of creation must be at the very heart of it all. Still a WIP!
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| Arizona Rocks revisited |
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| Experiencing Monterey - one of my favourite places in the world |
As my first workshops attendees arrived, were met at the airport and taken to the Lousada Country Hotel nearby, I realised that this was the first day of the rest of my life. An amazing way to combine my twin passions of art and teaching. A way to make the Pink Buddha Studio come alive with paint, paper and the wonderful pleasure of watching people creating art, forming friendships and building in confidence. As the days passed, and we made our own collage papers, started our Buddhas, and the spirit of mutual support and friendship grew, I knew that this was meant to be - that somehow I had to share this magical space with more people, and to find new ways for people to come.
Both weeks were AMAZING - I think pictures speak louder than words, so here are 'the best bits" !!!!
