Inspiration by the Buckets.....
I know this is long overdue, and I must make a note to self to think of this more often. I have been out accumulating masses of inspiration and hopefully it will be fun at the studio the next week or so, before I take an extended break for the next couple of months. The US trip is coming up soon, then by the time we're back, it'll be Christmas preparations, Christmas itself/New Year's....etc.
But, the past weeks I have been up in the mountains in the middle of Norway at Geilo. The fall hiking is absolutely amazing, and I have taken full advantage of the trails.  The photos will be reviewed to try to recapture some of the feeling/smells/tastes of the rustic atmosphere. There was snow, ice, boulders, heather, blueberry bushes (with berries), wind, and sunshine. I have had one of the best re-charge sessions ever, so this will have to be done on a more regular basis. One determining factor for the ability to cancel out the rest of the civilized world was that I was mostly alone....only me and my thoughts, paints, books.  I ate simply, drank only water and tea/coffee, with the occasional splurge with wine, no schedules, no stress.  It was wonderful. I couldn't recommend this stronger to anyone...Peace.
We could all use more of it, and it's relatively free....a long walk, hike, bike ride. Use the body like it was meant to be used and feel your mind calm right down. Nature has some remarkable qualities to heal and restore.  And Inspire. Peace to you all.

Halfway through August Exhibit.....

A good morning from the kitchen table in Sandviken (Bergen......Norway). The view was sooo gray when I woke up, but the fog is slowly lifting, and my spirits with it.  My day is shaping into a repeat of the past 3 days, but that's a good thing.  Not that it's everything, but so far this exhibit, 5 paintings have found new homes, and today I have people coming in with the expressed intention of purchasing.
The fact that people react so positively to my work keeps me plugging away, cause even though I paint for me, the feedback is so positive that I know my work resonates.  Sharing a work is gratifying for both parties. Hoping for more people to take the step.....into an art gallery.....mine, or anyone else's, because if we don't get over our phobia for art, we're locked into taking 'others' word for what is and isn't good work. I get the feeling that the idea of art is so exclusive and out of reach for the majority of people that they just don't dare even step in the door of a gallery. BE BRAVE. GET OVER YOUR INFERIORITY complex and trust your own taste, BUT, in order to determine what it is that you like and don't like, you have to go look at enough art to have an opinion! It's fun, and it can be very moving. It can make you laugh, cry, anger you or give you insight through an image, made by a person who is better at communicating through making images, than through words.
Have a great Sunday!

I can  NOT believe that it's time for my exhibit, and I have been out on our boat for the last 9 days, like....why not just get away from all the planning/rushing around/hardware fixes....etc. Today I picked up my posters, brochures and postcards from the printers, and am very happy with the quality. Nfoto here in Sandviken is the best.
This year the paintings are very much botanical. Some of them are fluidly painted-like writing with a large brush and having the incredible luck of everything falling right into place. Others are nearly striped with color in and around the main focus area, and more fluid in the periphery. I have used equipment other than brushes.....rags, newspaper, paper towels, spray bottles. I have dripped and wiped. Some have come quickly and naturally. Others have been a struggle, but I hope that doesn't show. The goal is to make them look effortless.
Now it's all the business of putting on a good opening weekend, and being on the receiving end of some positive feedback. I will be more regularly in on this blog, and record my feelings about this business of trying to recoup some of the immense expense of putting out 20 paintings a year...and that's a very modest production.  I have several that I won't include in this exhibit, as they are painted in a style and direction that is totally different than the majority, and would throw off the harmony of the "whole".  Hoping for a good visitation and lots of red dots all over the gallery.

Another chance for excellence.....

2013. It seems easier to write than 2012, for some reason. Will the year inspire my brain to churn out light, transparent, floating pieces of fluff, or maybe heavy, cold, dark paintings of fjords and wet weather. I read in the newspaper that Bergen had 297 days with rain last year......not only does it make for a challenging state of mind to create in, I just wanted to get out of town most of the time. Luckily, between the boat, and the house in the mountains, the possibility for actually seeing a sunset and a sun rise were realized. I have some amazing photos with wonderful color combinations, and I will promptly rearrange everything in those photos to suit my intention for the painting. Blue sky.....?????......maybe not. Blue water......definitely not. It's not about copying nature, it's about translating it's impact onto the canvas after it's been through me. Not so sure that I need to have a reference/jumping off point to begin with. The process can start without anything more than a need to splash paint around, but hanging on for the whole ride, which can take months, is necessary. Continuing the ride tomorrow.......C.

Getting back into the studio is proving to be a challenge post-exhibit. I had foot surgery (no big deal) right after the closing day, recovery for about 2 weeks, and am just now feeling that it's time to begin with all of those already-started paintings that I have lost momentum on since August. Although I know where I am intending to go with them, it's all about getting serious and saying NO to the distractions that will always show up and side track you.
The weather here in Norway has taken a turn for the BETTER (not good, just BETTER) in the last week. The sun is now setting at about 19:30 (7 p.m.), which is WAY to early, but the sunsets that we have been able to witness lately are fabulous. We're on our way into the fall/winter darkness, and that definitely takes some psyching up to get through. I have dragged out my light therapy lights, and have already used one of them.  As long as the sun shows itself often, I don't care about the outside temperature.

Painting....it saves me this time of year. When the trees drop their leaves, and the mountains get even more grey, the flowers disappear and the sea fog rolls in, color, from tubes and containers of paint, keeps me enthusiastic about getting up in the morning. I have my direction staked out in paintings already begun.  No more Mrs. Niceguy......it YES only to the work.

Post-Exhibit Update

It's now September, finally. The exhibit in August was a great success. It was visited by a great many enthusiastic, art-loving people.  The response was so uplifting, that I would encourage exhibitors to stick around if you have an exhibit in a conventional gallery, so that you can talk to the visitors and get some honest, straightforward feedback. If you turn over your work, and don't get the chance to talk to the visitors, you will never see reactions or hear the words that people will share with you about what exactly your work does to them. Your only judgement of whether or not the exhibit was a success would be sales. Now, sales are nice, but the reactions of visitors are, in my opinion, so valuable for the energy that you will be taking back to the studio after the show, that you shouldn't deny yourself that gift. I am, actually, so fed up with people asking me the only question that seems to spell success in their eyes....sales. I know that a whole line of coincidences need to line up if my work is to be taken home by people who obviously would love to have it, but can't spare the cash for it at that particular time.  I will exhibit it later, and perhaps the stars will line up better. Hundreds of brochures and business cards left with these people, and I hope to make contact with them at a later date.
Which brings me to our Open Studio weekend which is happening THIS WEEKEND (14-16 September) at Sandviksboden 73A. We (about 11 of the painters in the house) will be open Friday night from 18:00 - 22:00 ( 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and Saturday and Sunday from noon until 16:00 (4 p.m.)
Doors will be open to most of the studios for checking out what exactly is going on in there....big mystery! Artists generally work in solitude and not many are comfortable with letting outsiders in on the work process, but this weekend, it's happening. Come in for a chat.

Exhibit, August 2 - 30, 2012 "Unnatural Abstractions...Naturally"

Just around the corner, here sooner than expected, getting loose ends gathered....It's going to be hectic up to the day of the exhibit opening, I can tell. Haven't signed the newest paintings (at least 10), no wire on the backs for hanging, edges around the stretchers needing to be painted a neutral, dark color, etc..... Price lists, brochures, wine, music list. All will get their day in court. The present exhibitor has the keys to the gallery, and I need to get them when she is done shining up the place. So, I guess I am not going to have any thumb twiddling days in the near future. Let's just hope that after the opening, and about in the middle of August, there is a steady stream of curious art lovers dropping by to take a look and either consider buying or spreading the word that this is something their friends should have a look at. I am always glad to see some of the same people pop in that always come. I am, though, ready to up the exposure group to a higher level. Marketing skills....not always a strong point in the life of an artist, but we're getting there. Hope to see you there sometime in August.....