Cavender Art Studio

Thank you, Miss Gertz!*

2011-09-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

Fourth grade can make kids feel vulnerable to the “middle child syndrome” simply because they are no longer the cute little first grader they once were and don’t fit in with the cool upper classes of fifth & sixth grade. Most fourth graders feel awkward, out of place and suddenly invisible.That is unless they are fortunate enough to have a fourth grade teacher like I did, Miss Gertz.

Miss Gertz could easily be placed within the “spinster" category. Never married, tall, very thin, dark hair that she kept rolled up in a conservative bun, always matronly dressed with sensible shoes, she was not one to be admired for her physical stature, but she carried a heart for her classroom that was as big as the sky. I didn’t know it at the time, but gentle Miss Gertz was a strong life-changer.

It was Miss Gertz who took me aside one day and told me to go up to the small room where the school nurse had tested my hearing earlier that year. Sheepishly, I walked up the three steps and opened the door to find a table, a chair and a stack of art supplies. While the rest of my class studied history, I was to paint for the teacher. And so I did. I can still see the image of that painting in my mind. I painted bright primary colors on a black background of a hillside of flowers, a creek, a rainbow, stars and clouds. I signed it and went back to the classroom with my artwork in hand. Little did I know that my classmates would be just as puzzled by my assignment as I was. I remember feeling very apologetic about it all.

Later that year, while the rest of the class studied about the Amazon in their geography book, I was given the task of creating a mural on the classroom wall featuring the flora and fauna of the Amazon region. Although it is true that I learn a lot about the Amazon while working on that project, I was well aware of the daggers directed towards my back as I colored, cut and glued my animals to the sea foam green butcher papered wall. After a confrontation on the playground, I agreed to delegate some of my artistic endeavors to a few of my friends. This “executive decision” was quickly vetoed by Miss Gertz, and I was back to working solo.

In those days, Spokane had “All City Choirs” for children in grade school and middle school. Scouts were sent to the local schools to audition children each spring. There were three choirs, a beginning choir, a middle choir and an advanced choir. One morning, Audubon fourth graders were auditioned for the beginning choir. I was chosen by Miss Gertz to go to have my vocal skills tested.

My mother taught me to sing and to read music at the age of seven. I was more comfortable singing for people than talking to them really. (Please let me sing my book report. Talking is way too scary.) So, it wasn’t a surprise to me that I was selected to sing in an All City Choir. My best friend at the time wanted to be in the choir as well. I begged Miss Gertz to do something, as my girlfriend did not pass the audition. This was just another failed attempt on my part to please my friends and, again, I felt a need to apologize for my talent.

I lost my best friend that day.

As it turned out, I was placed in the advanced choir. I was the youngest and smallest in this particular choir and, because I could read music and sing harmony, I was often given solos or placed with a trio on special occasions. One Christmas, the Holiday Pageant was filmed for television from the Spokane Coliseum. I sang a solo dressed as in a Santa’s elf costume that my mother had made from red felt. I sang with the three children’s choirs and Spokane Symphony behind me. I remember wishing I could play the shiny brass bells that a group of five were playing after my solo. I remember admiring all of the beautiful Christmas decorations. I remember watching my performance with my family at Christmastime on our black and white TV. I remember thinking it all felt very normal and was really no big deal.

Today I am a professional artist. I have exhibited all over the United States as well as Florence, Italy. I have won numerous awards and been published in several art magazines. I also sing my favorite jazz standards in my own band accompanied by some of Spokane’s best local musicians. I love my life and I no longer make apologies for my talent. I use them all to the best of my ability. I am very thankful to a special teacher who must have seen something in me that needed an extra push, no matter how it affected my social life.

Thank you Miss Gertz!

(*Published recently by: mermaidsofthelake.com)

STUDIO CLASSES - FALL 2011

2011-08-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

KATHLEEN CAVENDER STUDIO CLASSES

TUESDAY PRIVATE VOICE:

Sept 6 – Oct 25

4-4:45pm (1 spot available)
5-5:45pm (1 spot available)
6-6:45pm (1 spot available)
7-7:45pm (1 spot available)
8-8:45pm (1 spot available)

WEDNESDAY PRIVATE PAINTING:

Ongoing

6-8:30pm (Filled)

THURSDAY GROUP PAINTING:

Sept 8 – Oct 27

6-8:30pm (3 spots available)

SUNDAY “FUEL YOUR CREATIVITY” WORKSHOP:

Sept 25, Oct 2, Oct 9 & Oct 16

1-4pm (9 spots available)

PLEASE CONTACT: kathleen@kathleencavender.com for registration & more information.

THANK YOU!!

Pretty, Pretty Please

2011-05-29T21:13:00.000-07:00

"If you hear a voice within you say, 'you cannot paint',

then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced."

~Vincent Van Gogh

I was blessed to come from a a long line of creative people. So, when I started drawing and painting, my family members were very supportive. I decided at the age of nine that I wanted to be a professional artist. It never occurred to me that I couldn't. I just did it. That may be one of the reasons I am often taken back when I hear people say that they don't feel comfortable calling themselves an artist. Like the word "artist" means you have the ability to walk on water or something and someone just might ask you to prove it.

My friend, Harold, a wise old sage & very prolific artist says, "People are afraid of art because they have confused it with something else." I agree with him. I love what I do, but it's not magic or anything. It's just paint.

I met a guy the other day who said he was a photographer. He gave me his card. It was a beautiful card with a photo of a drooping tulip. (I'm a sucker for tulips). Of course, I loved his card. He was a bit flustered when I gushed over it and he began to make conversation that leaned apologictic. He was very uncomfortable with me calling him an artist.

Here's my opinion: if you make art on a regular basis (I'm not saying if you have talent & never use it), but if you are working on making art, any art, with passion and dedication...you are an artist. Why do you need someone to lay a sword on your shoulder and dub you: "Artist"? You don't!

Give yourself over to your creative right. Sure there will be people (artists) who are more successful than you. Even better than you. So what? Don't make such a big deal out of it. Just keep going. If your work resonates with you, then it will resonate with others as well. (Which brings up the topic of honesty in one's work...fodder for another blog post.)

Q: Will there ever be another Mozart?

A: No. Now can we get back to work?

GIT 'ER DONE

2011-05-14T22:35:00.000-07:00

“Opportunity is missed by most people

because it’s dressed up in overalls and looks like work.”

Thomas Edison

How do you keep working on your art when you are going through a huge shift… a shift that affects every area of your life: your family, your friends, your plans for the future, even your belief system…everything? It happens to all of us on some level. It has happened to me a few times. But none so challenging as the massive shift that has been working its way through my life for the past five years.

The fact is, as an artist, a creator of “stuff”, and someone whose work can be easily influenced by something as simple as the wind blowing through my hair, this could present a problem in production. I mean, when the challenges of your daily life turn crawling out of bed into an Olympic event, what do you do? There are deadlines to meet. Promises made. How do you do it?

You do it, that’s how. You just do it. You might not get the website updated. Certain projects may get tabled for a season. But you work on what you must work on. Yes, you might take a few more breaks than usual. You might even need a nap. But you keep going. No matter how you feel. Inspiration or desperation. You git ‘er done.

Inspiration is a concept that I have thought about for much of my life. You need inspiration to create, right? Well, some say that inspiration is not an important factor in the process of creating at all.

I cannot count how many times I have not “felt” like painting, but because of an upcoming exhibit, I persevered and got the work done. Was it my best work? Not always. But I remember one occasion where I painted a pastel piece in twenty minutes and that painting ended up winning several national and international awards. And I was seriously not in the mood to paint that day.

A fluke?

Recently, I was hired to paint a portrait of Christ for an Easter Service. It was a canvas 72” x 48” and had to be completed in less than seven minutes while a song was played through the sound system. I stood on stage with a blank black canvas. Never mind that hundreds of people were watching me. I was sick with what felt like the beginnings of pneumonia. I finished the painting in 6 minutes, 47 seconds.

Some might say there was “Divine Inspiration”. And perhaps there was. But all I “felt” was an assault on my lungs. Furthermore, I couldn’t tell the colors of the paints because the red spot light they put on me had made all of the colors look black & white. Jesus could have turned out lime green, for all I knew. I couldn’t tell. I just kept the paint moving. The result (above) speaks for itself.

Can “feelings” be trusted?

Let me ask you this: do you ever start to write something down and the very moment your pen hits the paper, you just know that there is a “creative flow”moving through you? You know you have to move on it quickly or you might lose it. Words pop into your head. You write them down to find a poem. Images stream through your mind and you have an entire new series of paintings to work on. A melody dances around in your brain and a song is born. Your creative tank seems to be filling up with something “other than” you.

These are magical moments when time seems to stand still and miracles happen. Some people call it inspiration. Where does it come from? How do we lay hold of it?

I have no idea.

I chart out my projects so I don’t forget them and so I don’t get overwhelmed by all I have (want) to do. They are just a glance away. No need to carry them around in my pea-brain. I simply look at the charts and say, “Next!”. If I don’t have a deadline, then I set deadlines for myself. This is a practical approach to creating that works for me. I don’t wait for inspiration. But sometimes it shows up and those times restore my belief in miracles. I don’t make a big deal out of it. I just enjoy the experience until the next visit comes.

Until then, I will put on my overalls and git ‘er done.

“Next!"

THE SILENT STUDIO

2010-11-28T10:02:00.001-08:00

"The Arctic expresses the sum of all wisdom: Silence."

~Walter Bauer

My studio is usually jam’n with loud music. I’m not talking about band practice, tho we do practice in there occasionally. The walls are heavily insulated, so no matter how loud it gets, no one seems to notice or care. No, I’m talking about dance music on the CD player. Lots of Motown, actually. I like to dance while I paint. Like a gypsy, I bounce up to and away from the easel while I look over the evolution of my work. It’s not uncommon to hear a student say, “there she goes” as I twirl like a first grader with brushes in my hand. (You might have a silly mental image of me right now, but that’s okay; it works for me.)

However…lately…I’ve been painting in complete silence. No music at all. And it has had an effect on not only my work, but on me. It seems like the thing to do, with this heavy blanket of snow outside the door muffling all sounds excepting for the occasional spinning of tires from a stuck vehicle. It gets pretty quiet in there, is what I’m saying. Why not take advantage of it?

Silence is challenging for me. Always has been. I grew up in a family where several conversations were usually taking place at the same time. Drove my mother nuts. If someone was quiet, I generally felt it was my responsibility to fill in the gap. And the tradition continued with my family. Raising two daughters, the chatter never ended. I remember saying to them, “Girls! Not everything in your head needs to be said!” If only my ears heard what my mouth was saying, perhaps it would have caught on. Can you really hear anything when there is so much chatter in and outside of your brain?

It’s not easy to be still. Silence takes discipline. In other words, it’s “work”.

But, on these winter days, I am beginning to appreciate the value of silence. Life is crazy. Huge changes are in the air. It can become overwhelming. This quiet coldness is bringing a reprieve to my weary heart. Have I taken a “vow of silence”? Ummmm…noooo. I’m not a fanatic! But, I am learning to live with it more and more. And I think I like it. My focus has become more acute. Ideas have more room to be heard, to breathe, to grow. I seem to be more “present” with my work (a popular theme these days, but nonetheless, it’s true). There is a calmness that comes with it. I think it is evident in my work. I hope it is evident in me.

One problem, however…I need to up my aerobic routine…dust off those “Zumba” DVDs. Silence, stillness, doesn’t exactly get the heart rate up. And the way I love Christmas cookies…

I’m jes say’n…

JUST DO IT!

2010-11-20T09:40:00.000-08:00

"If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint & that voice will be silenced."

~Vincent Van Gogh

When I was a little girl, I was shown a sketchbook that once belonged to my great grandfather. He was an artist at the turn of the century in London, England, who supported a family of 12 on his art. The drawings and watercolors in that sketchbook became the catalyst to my becoming a full-time painter.

There is something about the act of pushing paint around that has intrigued humanity for centuries. It begins with the toddler finger-painting with his food (or something a little more organic, perhaps). Later, he is given color crayons to fill the pages of coloring books, chalk to mark up the neighborhood sidewalks and markers to scribble on his younger sibling. Children always find making images, abstract or otherwise, to be a lot of fun. And it should be a lot of fun.

One thing I love about painting is that you are never too young or too old to enjoy it. Teaching others to paint, in the studio or outdoors (plein air), opens my eyes to the vastness of the creative spirit that exists in all of us. I never stop learning.

So, CAVA…

CAVA (Cavender Atelier of Visual Art) was born out a desire to bring people together to paint, draw and learn more about the creative process. We get so tripped up on our own fears, our need to be perfect, our lack of understanding of what creating actually is, that we just don’t it. We don’t create. Even though we really want to!

Sometimes it takes someone like me to stand behind you and say, “just do it!” before you realize that you actually can! And that you love it! It really is fun!

When I am in the studio, I have fun. But even more fun than that is painting outdoors (plein air). It’s like the difference between playing my MP3 player and going to a live concert. The elements of nature infuse me with sensations that heighten the experience. It’s such a blast! And don’t even get me started on painting outdoors in a foreign country. I say we pack our bags and just do it!

All Systems Slow

2010-10-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

"If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."
Thomas Edison

Selling it all and moving to France...

Well, I have sold most the items that I thought would be most difficult to move, including a grand piano from the mid 1800s, and an old cast iron fireplace that weights about a ton. They (among other things) are now in happy homes. I am still sorting through my 37 years of treasures. I hope to get my online store “The House Kat” up soon. (I’ll keep you posted.)

News: I have postponed my move to France for personal reasons. At first, I felt a little sad about this decision, but now I see the wisdom of it. This move will all come together more successfully by having a stronger vision and more time to execute it with better planning. My friends and family are happy that I’m waiting. I, on the other hand, can hear Pont Neuf calling my name.

I am very excited to launch my overseas “CAVA Workshops” in May. I have hired Sandra Conti to help organize these workshops and to develop the website (which will go live soon). She is doing a great job! (Talk about a treasure!)

For our first workshop, Sandra has reserved a luxurious villa in Portugal, which rests upon an expansive vineyard just an hour from Porto. A few of the many amenities include a tennis court, an indoor swimming pool, nearby golf and horseback riding. We will paint, discuss the “creative process”, tour local wineries and possibly a few art studios.

Our plan is to host painting workshops all over Europe, so if this is something you would like to know more about, you can email: info@cavaworkshops.com for more information. We will gladly keep you in the loop!

I will offer some classes in the studio later this fall and throughout winter. (You know…my classes make nice gift certificates for Christmas!) Other than that, I am busy working on commissions and a completely new series of paintings and drawings.

Life is good. I hope you are making the most out of it!

Cha-cha-cha-changes!!

2010-06-23T12:50:00.000-07:00

“If you see a difference between where you are and where you want to be - consciously change your thoughts, words, and actions to match your grandest vision.”

- Neal Donald Walsch

I am selling my 37 year collection of antiques...clearing out the past to begin a new life teaching plein air in France.

If you are in the Spokane, WA, area, you are in luck! Come on by!

Read more about it:

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/treasure

"FUEL YOUR CREATIVITY" Workshop

2010-04-28T10:34:00.000-07:00

Learn how to fuel your creativity with fine artist and jazz singer, Kathleen Cavender in the comfort of her fabulous art studio! This course has helped many people learn to understand their creative nature as well as how to keep it fueled and running smoothly. Based on years of experience as a creative, Kat will share her secrets as well as information she has received from other professionals in the field of creating. Seating is limited, so sign up now!

For more info contact: kathleen@kathleencavender.com

Location: Spokane, Washington USA

Price: $100 for three sessions (workbook included)

Sun. May 9 > 1pm – 3:30pm “Inspiration”

Sun. May 16 > 1pm – 3:30pm “Creative Vision”

Sun. May 23 > 1pm – 3:30pm “Simple Success”

All Talk

2010-04-07T16:32:00.001-07:00

“It’s a mistake for a sculptor or a painter to speak or write very often about his job. It releases tension needed for his work.”

Henry Moore

I used to think I might “jinx” my work if I spoke about what I was going to do next. This is because of the many times I found myself not actually creating what it was I was talking about creating after talking about it. (Silly superstitions.) Now I understand that, by talking about my upcoming paintings, I was actually releasing much needed tension to create what it was I wanted to create. By discussing it, I was resolving the image in my mind and I no longer needed the desired result. It was as if I had already done it. I lost interest.

A frustration that comes with “talking shop” with other artists, my students, or even curious friends and family members, is the desire to be inclusive and yet continue to hold that creative tension. It is not an easy balancing act. Blogging about the creative “process” is one thing. There is even a point during a painting that I can discuss it and still maintain interest in the piece. But blogging or talking about what is coming up next on the easel can blow an idea right out of the water. I most likely will never see that painting come to fruition. I can easily wipe out an entire series of work if I’m not careful.

Does this happen to you: you have an idea, you tell several people about it, but you never actually follow through with that idea? You may even tell yourself and others why it wouldn’t have worked in the first place…or you just have too much going on to focus on it. But in reality, you’ve simply lost interest. I’m not saying we shouldn’t have an inner circle of like-minded friends with whom to share our thoughts and ideas. But, be careful you don’t let all your steam out and nip that idea before it’s even had a chance to bud.

I am currently in a space that affords me the luxury to switch tracks with my work. In the past 20 years, I have had over 20 solo exhibits and over 40 group exhibits. For the most part, my focus has been on filling wall space. The work I REALLY want to create takes much time and deliberation. Not to say that I am not pleased with the work I’ve done in the past. I wouldn’t sign it and put it out there if I wasn’t pleased with it. But of all of my work, I would say that only 20% of it has been a direct result of deep thought and vision. The rest have been enjoyable to create, to say the least. (I mean…I get paid for this? Hello!) I certainly have no regrets. But I am currently at a place where I want to say so much more. I dare say that I am bored.

So…I am not going to talk about what it is that the easel holds for me. But I will gladly continue to share my thoughts (as well as others) about the “process” of art making. That’s where all the fun is, anyway.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE ARTS!!!

2010-02-21T19:43:00.000-08:00

"If people don't come to the ballpark, how are you gonna stop them?"

Yogi Berra

I appreciate people who make art and those who support the arts. It is VERY disturbing to hear someone leave an auction or arts festival and say that they were "good" because they didn't buy anything. It really bothers me that venues aren't paying musicians well and that they fear people might not come if they charge a small cover.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE ARTS!!!

There are pockets in the US that support the "arts" like NEA, Artists Trust, Arts Commissions, Yaddo, etc. Mostly these are made up of artists supporting artists...actors, writers, musicians, visual arts, crafts people etc. Locally, support is scattered and in constant flux. Some businesses are very supportive locally, other's buy outside of the area. Nordstrom (who I love) bought original art for their Spokane store, but not one was a local artist. Still…I am glad they bought original art rather than mass-produced prints.

What I am addressing is not corporation or government....although “we is the people”. I am addressing us each individually. I know that many of you go out to listen to live music while other’s choose to dance to a dj. Some people buy original art while some buy mass produced prints. It’s a personal choice… often financially driven …but consideration is what I am requesting. Whether we are professional artists or not, we all have a role to play in keeping the arts healthy and alive.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE ARTS!!!

Are you CREATING or PROBLEM SOLVING?

2010-01-22T11:05:00.000-08:00

"It's never too late to be who you might have been."

--George Elliot

"Everything is always impossible before it works."

--Hunt Greene

Last summer I took a course from Bruce Elkin (www.bruceelkin.com) called “Creating What Matters Most in Your Life”. Bruce is a personal and business life coach. He has written several books, including, “Simplicity and Success” and “Staying Up In Down Times –And Beyond!” Robert Fritz(www.robertfritz.com), author of several books, including “The Path of Least Resistance”, “Creating” and “Elements”, has directly influenced his teachings on life design. Bruce actually apprenticed with Robert for more than ten years. The things I have learned from taking this course from Bruce and from reading books by both authors has enabled me to get three times as much done in a day, week, month with little effort and a great deal of enjoyment. I am creating what matters most to me.

One thing that I have learned from these men is that when we look at our circumstances and make lists of things to do, the lists become insurmountable and we “tilt”. We become overwhelmed and we do not get the results we want.

Does this sound familiar? You see the garage full of crap and you hate it. You close the door and walk away. What if you walked into that garage and instead of seeing all the stuff that needs to be cleaned up, you saw a vision of a space full of possibilities…a creative retreat?

That’s what I did.

I live in a Victorian house built in 1905. It’s lovely. But there is a garage in the back built of concrete blocks--probably around the 60s--that was a real ugly mess. Filled with crap. Each night, I painted a picture in my mind of a creative retreat. A place where artists, musicians and writers met to share ideas. A space that was my “happy place” where I could paint, rehearse, read, write, meditate and hide from the world. A creative retreat.

And now it is my reality.

When I make “to do” lists, I sink. I feel overwhelmed and burdened. But when I envision something, I feel light and filled with possibilities. I can actually see it as if it has already happened.

Try this:

Make a list of five problems you have in your life. Go ahead. Take a minute and list them. Now, focus on them. Intently. How do you feel? Heavy? Burdened? Sad?

Now, make a list of five things you would LOVE to have in your life. The sky is the limit. What do you truly want in your life? Focus intently on those five things. How does THAT make you feel? Light? Hopeful? Happy?

There’s your clue. Are you creating what matters most in your life or are you problem solving? Problem solving is a never-ending treadmill of disappointment. Creating….that is what you were born to do.

I still have to pinch myself when I walk into my studio each morning. It is fabulous! I celebrate the privilege of sharing it with other artists, musicians and writers. I enjoy the solitude it provides for me. And it all started with a vision.

I am grateful because I have a life filled with possibilities and all I need to create what matters most in my life.

Guess what…you do too.

Kick Start Your Creative Life Workshop

2010-01-06T11:06:00.000-08:00

I am offering a special workshop in my Spokane studio for those interested in all manner of creativity, be it art, music, drama, writing...whatever. Together, we will outline and walk through a few simple steps that will encourage the creative process to flow. (Note: you will need to commit to all three sessions to see results.)

Where: 1717 West 10th Avenue; Spokane, WA

Price: $60 for three sessions

Time: 1pm - 3pm

Sessions:

Sun. Jan 10> "Cultivate Inspiration"

Sun. Jan 17> "Your Creative Vision"

Sun. Jan 24> "Follow Through to the Finish Line"

Reserve your spot soon. Seating is limited

kathleen@kathleencavender.com

509-868-3684

CAVA Painting Workshops

2009-12-11T15:06:00.000-08:00

Motivation gets you going

Habit keeps you going

I have been very busy producing art for books, galleries and clients this fall. In fact, I was recently awarded publication in the "Best of Worldwide Charcoal, Pastel, Pencil Artists Vol II" book (Kennedy Publishing) due to be released this month. I am currently deep in the planning stages of another exciting venture.

Please read on....

Some time ago, I wanted to open an art school in Spokane, Washington, called, "CAVA" (Cavender Atelier of Visual Art). Unfortunately, the economy spiraled south and the money did not manifest itself like I had hoped. Spokane had a very good art school, where I occasionally taught, that closed from lack of funding. The art community was, of course, up in arms about this sad development. And because of the lack of community support, many of us decided to teach classes out of our studio. There are some very good art teachers in this area who really love to teach. It has been quite successful for many of us.

Last summer and through the fall, I began teaching plein air painting (painting outdoors). This just happens to be my favorite class to teach. I had around 6 to 8 painters meet with me for breakfast and then head out to the infamous Palouse Hills just south from where I live. When the weather became too cold, I brought 3 or 4 students into my studio to paint. It has been a lot of fun.

Recently, I was contacted by a woman who asked if I would consider teaching plein air painting in Europe. Some of you know that my plan has been to move to France and teach plein air painting there. I met with Sandra, who came very prepared, and we quickly landed on the same page. She is retired from a dotcom agency in NYC and and artist. She makes beautiful silver jewelry. She is also a brilliant organizer.

So, here's the deal: we are working together to start CAVA PAINTING WORKSHOPS.

CAVA intends to offer painting workshops in NYC, the Hudson River Valley, San Francisco, the south of France, Italy, England, Ireland...and the list goes on. We will launch our website, http://www.cavapaintingworkshops/, after the first of the year, but the planning stages are in full motion. I will keep you posted.

Odd ways to find your muse - by Robert Genn

2009-09-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

"The man who arrives at the doors of artistic creation with none of the madness of the muses would be convinced that technical ability alone was enough to make an artist. What that man creates by means of reason will pale before the art of inspired beings." Plato

***

With permission, I have pasted somthing written by Robert Genn for this posting. It seemed fitting after my last posting. (You can find a link to Genn's blog by scrolling down on the right of this page.) Enjoy!

***

Almost everyone has heard about J.M.W. Turner getting himself strapped to a ship's mast and taken out to sea in a wild storm. His rationale was the need for "authentic fear." Evidence of painting naked and eating raw beets just prior to creative activity have also been reported, but are a little more difficult to analyze. New research into historical muse-hunting suggests we ought to indulge and embrace our oddest inclinations.

Dame Edith Sitwell liked to lie in a coffin before starting her day's writing. Was it the feeling of privilege to be still above the grass, or was it something to do with the musky smell? The poet Friedrich Schiller kept rotten apples in his desk and inhaled them when he needed a shot of inspiration. In 1985, researchers at Yale University found that the smell of spiced apples empowered panicky people to stave off their panic attacks.

Amy Lowell and George Sand both smoked cigars in excess. The latter was also noted for going directly to her writing desk after making love. Coleridge without opium would have been a minor poet. No one can calculate the number of nicotine cigarettes that have been sucked into service. Balzac drank more than 50 cups of coffee a day, eventually dying unpleasantly from caffeine poisoning. Dr. Johnson, the dictionary writer, believed in drinking 25 cups of tea at a time. Voltaire used his lover's bare back as a desk. Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain and Truman Capote claimed they wrote best while lying down.

Going for a walk may not be that odd, but it's a muse-generator painters swear by. Music and muse are not an odd combination either, unless it be Cowboy in rotation. Mere repetition can be valuable--every time "Home on the Range" comes around it re-creates a mental state that gets the brush going.

"Whatever works" is more than the name of a Woody Allen movie. Artists need to canvas their history for habits, fetishes, peculiar activities or imbibings that worked in the past. Perhaps it's just part of the business of claiming your own uniqueness. But more often than not there's a genuine connection, perhaps going back to a dim childhood memory. Me? All I'm going to mention right now is my morning bathtub. Towel over my face, I ruminate the day ahead. Did I mention I like to be strapped in?

Best regards,

Robert

THE ARTIST’S MUSE

2009-09-07T12:45:00.000-07:00

“Painters don't claim muses until painting begins to take itself

as seriously as poetry.”
Germaine Greer

“Really, I think one’s art goes only as far and as deep as your love goes…
you have to feel deeply to do this kind of thing.”
Andrew Wyeth

Historically, the Ancients believed that the muse was a gift from the gods. The nine Muses were daughters of Zeus. If you (a man) were favored by a muse, you were free from all concern. Life was a bowl of cherries!

When we think of an artist’s muse, we generally have the image of a male artist with a female muse. It would be assumed that the catalyst for the artist’s creativity was caused by the sexual tension between the two of them. If you have seen “Shakespeare in Love” or “The Red Violin”, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Think about Picasso. Each of his women inspired a different body of work. He would drop one woman for another, and, with each new woman, begin an entirely new series of paintings.

The Seattle Art Museum’s current exhibit of the late Andrew Wyeth will be up through Oct 8th. If you have a chance to see it, I highly recommend you do. Included in this intimate exhibition of the artist’s work (only seven in all) are a few of the many beautiful paintings of his muse, Helga. Andrew Wyeth sketched and painted around 240 pieces of Helga Testorf, a German immigrant and caregiver for another one of Wyeth’s favorite subjects, Karl Kuerner. Wyeth created these works in complete secrecy between 1971 and 1985. Not even his wife was privy to his obsession.

I still have the Time magazine that announced the Andrew Wyeth “Helga Series”. I remember the wave of speculation that swept the nation when the story broke. Did Andrew Wyeth have an affair with this woman? That is what everyone wanted to know. How could his fascination with her not be sexual?

(A side note: Wyeth’s wife, Betsy, sold the entire series to Leonard E. B. Andrews in 1986 for over six million dollars. Andrews later broke up the collection, with much of the series purchased for a large sum of money by an anonymous Japanese collector. The works on display at the SAM are from private collections and have not previously been on public view.)

Last night, my husband and I watched, “Immortal Beloved”. It is the story about love letters written by Beethoven discovered soon after his passing. Although Beethoven had many affairs, there is question as to whom these letters were addressed and why they were found in his home. Were they not sent? Had they been returned? We will never know. The movie suggests they were written to his sister-in-law. I could not find any historical documentation to confirm that. In any case, whoever his “immortal beloved” was, she was definitely the muse for countless masterpieces written by the deaf maestro.

For the contemporary painter, Lucian Freud, if he has ever had a muse, it would most likely have been the Australian performance artist, Leigh Bowery. I do not believe, however, that Freud’s interest in Bowery was anything more than capturing his organic qualities in paint. He was mystified by the modeling and texture of Bowery’s bulging flesh just as some artists are infatuated with bulbous pears. This makes me wonder...is it possible that Wyeth’s interest in Helga as a subject was no more erotic than his raincoat hanging on a hook or a sleeping dog? (I’m just asking…)

And, before we go any further, let’s just drop the gender thing right now. Please. I am a female artist who is all too familiar with this subject. (That’s all I’m saying about that.)

''Artists rarely create for the muse, to win or keep the Muse's love and admiration,'' Francine Prose writes in, ''The Lives of the Muses'', ''but rather for themselves, for the world, and for the more inchoate and unquantifiable imperatives of art itself. Their muses are merely the instruments that raise the emotional and erotic temperature high enough, churn up the weather in a way that may speed and facilitate the artist's labors.''

In other words, the purpose of the muse is to inspire the soul and penetrate the mind. It doesn’t have to be personal…or physical. Furthermore, the artist’s muse doesn’t have to be a human being. It can be a song, a thought, a color, or even something much more mysterious…something unexplainable. Something that just travels through like the wind blowing in your hair.

Listen, I don’t need to understand everything. Do you? I used to want to understand absolutely EVERYTHING…but I’m over it. I just want to be open to receiving and catching as much inspiration as I can…no matter where it comes from. Sound a little risky? Perhaps. But, if I am grounded in reality and truth, and committed to doing the right thing, then I should have no concerns as to where my inspiration comes from. My muse could be you, God, or even that bulbous pear sitting over there…

Follow this link to hear more on this topic:
http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

Just Keep Moving Forward

2009-07-31T10:12:00.000-07:00

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

Yogi Berra

My husband has been seriously ill for the past three years. This year began with him unable to move off the sofa without a great deal of effort. He was having seizures. He was in the final stages of Pulmonary Fibrosis, an autoimmune disease that turns the lungs to scar tissue. The VA rushed him to Madison, WI, for a lung transplant in February. We spent several months there as he recuperated. I am happy to announce that he is doing very well. You can read all about our journey on http://www.carepages.com/. Just sign up (it’s free) and search “mikecavenderupdate” to read my posts and all of the wonderful comments of support we’ve received (almost 1,000!)

We are home and I am back to work in the studio happily painting the hours away. Life is finding its rhythm once again. However, as we passed the threshold of this last chapter of our lives, realizing that the other side was completely blank, we found ourselves saying, “Now what?” We were told to plan a funeral and now it appears this man is going to be around for a while. We’ve been given an enormous gift! We are overwhelmed with gratitude and acutely aware that there is a responsibility that accompanies this precious gift of life. What to do, what to do? More of the same? No way, man!

Mike and I are huge Francophiles and so, it didn’t take us long to make the decision. We are liquidating everything and moving to France. The timing will depend on Mike’s health. He needs to get past the one-year anniversary of his surgery without much ado. Then we will begin the process of the move. So, it is still a year or so away.

What will we do when we get there? Well, I will paint, of course. I will work on my own paintings, but I will also teach plein air painting. Of all of the classes I have taught (and there have been a few) plein air is my most favorite. I will also finish my memoir (ending in France; kind of nice, huh?) and perhaps write a second book about plein air painting in France. I will take my guitar down the street and play/sing for the locals. I will garden. Mike would like to sell French antiques online. I will buy him a chapeau and he can drive my students around for me. We will travel…a lot. It might be fun.

I’m smiling big right now. Can you tell?

Letting Go

2008-09-30T13:34:00.000-07:00

Interviewer: “Master, how did you think of the divine motif of your Ninth Symphony?”

Anton Bruckner: “I sat down by a little brook, unpacked my Swiss cheese, and that darn tune popped into my head!”

Sometimes we simply think too much. I’ve written about being aware of your thoughts. But sometimes (more often than not) our minds are so consumed with what we’ve done or what we are going to do that we completely miss out on what is happening to us (in us) at the moment. Precious creative ideas can breeze right on by us and we miss out on them completely. This is a tragedy for an artist.

Bruckner’s account of opening a package of cheese only to encounter his brilliant Ninth Symphony is a perfect illustration. All he was thinking about was opening his lunch and voila! Genius knocked on the door! Do you have to “be” a genius for those moments to appear? I highly doubt it. I believe that we just need to be “aware” of the possibilities in the moment and be watching for them.

It is true that we need to practice our craft, be it painting, playing an instrument, writing, etc. We need to nurture our creative nature by “breathing in” the wonders of life. We need not be self-consumed. However, we do need to care for our body (one person calls it his “earth suit”), our mind and our spirit if we are to do our best at anything. But let’s face it…we too often allow our minds to become cluttered with too much random, useless and repetitive information. This is a bad habit that creates “busy-ness”, clouds our judgments and creates confusion. It is a huge distraction. In short, it makes us miserable.

I would like to suggest that the next time you sit down to create, whatever that may be, try to clear your mind of thoughts of the day’s trouble. Let go of yesterday and worries about tomorrow. Be present in the moment of your creative “right now”. Just let it all go and see what happens.

Metaphorically Speaking...

2008-09-08T21:23:00.000-07:00

“No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of imagination.”
Edward Hopper

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
Albert Einstein

I love a good story. I can't really sit and tell stories like some of my amazing friends can. I love to sit at their feet and breathe in their imagination. It takes little effort for me to visualize the characters, the places, the atmosphere…I can almost decipher the fragrance of each new scene. It’s my favorite thing to do…listen to a good storyteller.

I dabble in poetry. I don’t profess to be a “poet”, but being a musician, I love to express myself with rhythm. I confess that I am easily enamored by a good word-smither. I will drink in line after line before I fall asleep at night and create the images in my mind while the words float across my thoughts and I drift off to somewhere other than the worries of my day. Poetry makes me smile. My poetry is very personal. And as I have said, I rarely share it with anyone.

Metaphor is something I habitually incorporate into my paintings. It’s just a thing for me. I have always done it. I know artists who don’t see the value in it. “Art for Art’s Sake” and all that. And I appreciate where they are coming from. But if I am going to be honest with my work, I need to work from my heart and my heart loves story. So…story finds home in my paintings on a regular basis.

I don’t always share what the personal metaphor is when asked. I prefer to listen to the viewer’s impression…their story. I learn so much from listening. Besides, my interpretation changes like the wind. Seriously. I think it is about one thing…then something happens in my life and voila…the painting is singing a different tune all together. It’s funny in a kind of marvelously mysterious way.

I did a painting of sunflowers years ago. Each one had their own personality. Pretty soon, I found myself attributing each blossom to a girlfriend. Before you know it, the painting was about my relationships and the goings on within our little group of the “Ya-Ya Sisterhood”. I still love that painting.

When you get accustomed to viewing artwork with “metaphor” or “story” in mind, the artwork becomes alive and pertinent. I highly recommend it.

To Blog or Not to Blog…

2008-08-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

That is the question… running through my mind for the past few months anyway. And I’m not sure I want to go into all the reasons why, but suffice it to say…I’m blogging again. I would like to say thanks to those of you who have hung in there with me and are still checking in. A special thanks to those who have written me encouraging words to keep it up. I’m back.

To update you: I have been in high creative mode. It’s a blissful and yet painful place to be at times. I am being stretched in every direction. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am learning so much about myself as a human being, as a woman, and as an artist. And it is, of course, showing up in my work, which is always affirming.

I have always lost myself in paint and I have always found myself through paint. But lately, I am also spending a lot of my energy with other creative outlets. I’m writing more poetry than I have in years and I’m singing in a jazz trio. I’m filing the poetry. I’m painting all day. And I am singing and dancing up a storm with my jazz band at night. Being creative has taken over my life 24/7. Even my dreams are more vivid. It is like I have been struck by lightening. Electric energy.

Painting, music and writing have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. There have been times in my life when music took front and center, but for the past twenty years, my life has been consumed with painting and a bit of music just here and there. Painting will always be #1 with me. But it is a great release to be singing again. A great release. Writing poetry…that has always been very personal and rarely shared beyond a few special people. It is, for me, completely cathartic.

My keyboard player is a pulmonologist of the lung surgeon variety. He is an amazing keyboard player. Phenomenal, really. I am in awe of his gift. It’s hard to imagine him doing anything else. I told him at rehearsal last night that I have a hard time trying to imagine him in scrubs. He laughed and said that he sees me only as a vocalist, even though he has seen my paintings. But he knows that my painting and singing come from the same place.

Kind of.

It is interesting that creative people generally have talent in more than one genre. I know a lot of artists who are also musicians, writers, actors, etc. If it comes from the same place, I would have to say that it comes from “spirit”. Because the spirit is creative. But I would add that each genre (painting, singing, performing, etc.) comes from a different part of the spirit…at least my spirit. I can’t get the same emotional connection or release with painting that I do singing and visa versa.

Some of you know that my husband is very ill. It’s not fun. But I am so fortunate to have so many great avenues to work out my emotions. I am not sure I would go so far as to say that it keeps me balanced, but it sure is a great way to live.

Just a Thought...

2008-04-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

“In every painting a whole life is mysteriously enclosed, a whole life of tortures, doubts, of hours of enthusiasm and inspiration.”
Wassily Kandinsky

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about...well...thinking. Mainly how thinking affects everything we say and do. I know that sounds simplistic...like...well...duh! But think about it. I mean, how often are you consciously aware of your thoughts? Do you know that you have control over them? Some people don't seem to. I didn't used to.

Like most artists, I listen to music while painting. I've come to realize the HUGE role music plays on how I paint. Well, actually, it plays a HUGE role on how I THINK and this plays a role on how I paint.

My husband has a serious lung disease. The news of this was, of course, very scary. I've had a year to adjust to living with this horrible news, but it still wants to control my thoughts day and night. When I am painting, certain songs conjure up certain emotions. Prior to this hard news, my thoughts would wax romantic and my paintings would reflect those emotions. Now, however, I battle fear all throughout my thought life...fear of losing my husband and all that it entails. Because my work is "honest", these emotions are creeping into my paintings.

The image in this post is a clear example. It is called, "Don't Confuse Me", oil on wood (with wooden buttons). The pigeon with string attached to its leg represents me...I'm tethered to something, and though I've broken "free", I am still dragging this string around. It seems that everyone around me has an opinion about it.

It's an okay painting, I guess. It’s honest.

But here is what I'm thinking: I am going to really work hard on governing my thoughts. I am going to make it a personal quest. A goal. I want to be aware of where my mind leads my will and my emotions. Since my work is honest, meaning there is a direct influence of my mind and emotions on how I paint, I expect that I will see results.

The Audacity of Tenacity

2008-03-31T11:51:00.000-07:00

“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare.

It is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” --Seneca 5BC

I haven’t blogged for a while, I know. I’ve been knee-deep in the planning stages of opening an art school! CAVA (Cavender Academy of Visual Art) has been on the back-burner of my pea-brain for a while now, and it seems that it just might become a reality. The local newspaper had a write up about it in yesterday’s paper. So, the word is out! A meeting is planned. People are plugging in. Instructors are on board.

Here we go!

From past experience, I am expecting some flack about all of this. I am not quite sure why this always seems to be the case, but it is. I have actually had a couple of artists voice their disapproval of the idea already. Perhaps it annoys a few people that I get to do things that they wish they themselves were doing. (How dare I?) But the truth of the matter is –I only had the “vision”. I’m just a dreamer. Things like this just seem to happen in my life. I dream and it becomes reality. One dream after another. But it always, always, always involves group participation. I don’t have the kind of “stuff” it takes to pull things off on my own.

For the record: my motivation is not to promote my name. That was someone else’s idea. Besides, I have all ready made a name for myself on a local level (another one of those “it just happened” things). Local investors want to use my name and I can see the benefit of it. No, my motivation is to help my community keep the arts alive.

Where I live, there is a real need to keep the arts alive. The arts are always being threatened around here. There are several theories as to why that is. It’s really just a combination of things. But at the heart of this community is a tenacious core of individuals who are committed to keeping the heart of the arts beating. Could CAVA become the proverbial defibrillator that this art community needs? We shall see.

Here’s the thing---I have been blessed and I want to pass that blessing on to my community. I want our city to have a place where young people can find the help they need to launch an art career. I want a place where they can find guidance and inspiration on a regular basis. And I want a place where local art instructors feel appreciated and connected to something bigger than themselves. Like a family. That’s my dream. That’s my vision. I’ll keep you posted on how things develop.

Following the Leader

2008-03-06T14:30:00.000-08:00

“We are human & humble and of the earth, and we cannot create until we acknowledge our createdness…An artist is a nourisher and a creator who knows that during the act of creation there is a collaboration. We do not create alone.”

Madeline L’Enlge

(Walking on Water)

“The artist works not to earn praise and adoration, or to avoid blame and hatred, but rather obeys that categorically imperative voice, which is the voice of the Lord, before whom he must humble himself and whose servant he is.”

Wassily Kandinsky
(Concerning the Spiritual in Art)

In my post of February 7, 2007, "Breathing through Creative Blocks", I wrote:

"Living a life of creativity is like breathing. You breathe in life and you breathe out life. I want to breathe in life as much as I can. I want to be aware of all of all my senses. I’m an aromatherapy freak. I love things that smell great. I love color. I visit my friend’s back deck to watch a sunset now and then. I take walks through a nearby park and will often bury my face in a hedge of flowers just to breath in the color."

I went on to talk about ways to "stop and smell the roses", so to speak, and how vital that is to keeping the creative juices flowing. You need to nurture your soul. It is also important to nurture your body. But I believe that the most import aspect of self-nurturing is that of the spirit. Feeding and nurturing your spirit is essential for the life and vitality of your creative nature.

In the quote above, Madeline L’Enlge calls the artist a “nourisher”. This suggests that there is a “calling” or a “mission” that an artist should be mindful of. If this is the case, then there is a responsibility on the part of the artist to “nourish”. Agreed? How do we act upon that? That is subjective and relative to each artist’s circumstances. Everyone has their own “mission field” as well as their own unique tools, gifts, talents, etc., in which to nourish their mission field.

The second quote by Wassily Kandinsky states, quite resolutely in fact, that artists are humble servants who obey the voice of God. I could not agree more. If I have a mission field of art patrons, art enthusiasts, artists, and curious onlookers, then my “calling” is to listen to the voice of God and obey Him by creating the most honest works of art I can to be placed before those in my mission field. The rest of it is up to God. Fame, fortune, favor…it’s not about me. It’s about opportunities. It’s about community. It’s about lifestyle. It’s about worship. It’s about having a proper self-image. But it is not about me or my ego.

An Important Message:

2008-02-25T18:57:00.000-08:00

I donate artwork for fundraising several times a year. As the law currently stands, an artist cannot deduct the value of the piece (usually between $2200 to $3500 in my case). I can only deduct my materials ($100 to $200?). So, my time is not given any value by the government. This is not the case with any other person who donates to charity. 100% of their items are deductable. I would donate more often if my work was given fair market value on my tax form.

Below is information about a very important bill for artists:

Support the Artists' Deduction Bill
Kim Hall

The Artist Deduction Bill (S. 548) would give artists the right to deduct the fair market value of their work when donating it to charity, rather than only the costs of materials and supplies, as things currently stand now. According to the American for the Arts, www.artusa.org, the U.S. tax system is currently treating collectors, who can donate tangible works and deduct the fair market value, differently from the creators of those works. What does this mean for artists?

“It means that I have stopped donating because it takes me about a month to do a painting, and my paintings start at around $5,000,” says artist Mimi Jensen. “It makes financial sense to me as an artist to write a check to a charity rather than spend a month of my time to paint something and donate it for far less.”

Essentially, as artists stop donating work, nonprofit institutions across the country will suffer. Artists and collectors should be treated equally when donating work, but in order to do that, we need to voice our opinions to our Members of Congress as quickly as possible. While there hasn’t been any movement on the bill yet, lobbying is scheduled for late March, so the time to act is now.

If you haven’t voiced your support for the Artist Deduction Bill to your Member of Congress yet, Americans for the Arts has made it easy. Just visit http://capwiz.com/artsusa/issues/alert/?alertid=9521951&type=CO , and fill out your name and address in the onscreen template. The template includes a letter explaining what the Artist Deduction Bill is and why it is important. You can opt to print out the letter and mail it in yourself, or you can have the letter e-mailed directly to your Members of Congress instantly.

"90% of the game is half mental."

2008-02-25T17:54:00.000-08:00

"You've got to be careful if you don't know where you're going

'cause you might not get there."

Yogi Berra

Aren't Yogi Berra-izms the best? I sure think so.

Okay...so I am currently horizontal with my laptop. I caught this stink'n flu bug everyone is getting from visiting our kids and grandkids on the Oregon Coast last week. My brains are a little soupy, but that's never stopped me from talking...or writing. I'm just sayin...I might want to edit this when I am feeling better.

Back on the subject of the fear of failure thing:

So, my recent exhibit is getting the wildest feedback-- from one end of the spectrum to the other. It makes me laugh. I have heard everything from, "I didn't see one thing that bowled me over" to "This is the best exhibit I have ever seen." Crazy. Who am I suppose to listen to?

The truth of the matter is, I did this last exhibit in a hurry. But I was totally caught up in it. I was lost in it. I was passionate the entire time. I was inspired. So what if none of them sell? (Well…okay…they are selling.) But so what if they ALL sell? Sure, I could use the money, but that money will be spent eventually. Then what??

Either way, I still need to paint more pictures. I mean, either way, I still WANT to paint more pictures.

I can’t take praise or criticism too seriously. I can listen and own what I think I need to own---if anything. But in the end, it comes down to this: Was I “present” during the process of making the work? Did I get anything out of the experience of producing the work? Is the work an honest expression of that experience?

I am glad I had a good time painting these last eighteen paintings. It was fun. It was hard work, but it was fun. I would do it all over again.

Wait a minute…I am doing it all over again! (Just as soon as I kick this bug.)

Critical Thinking

2008-02-09T14:51:00.000-08:00

"Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing”

Aristotle

Those who want to be an artist care too much about what the critics say about their work. Those who are busy making art don’t have time to care. I find it interesting when I hear someone criticize one of my exhibits. Usually, it is the person who claims that they can’t even draw a straight line (uh…ruler…hello!) What really cracks me up is when they dismiss the ENTIRE exhibit…not just one or two pieces. So, everything in the show failed to impress you? Not one thing of value in the whole bunch? Huh. Go figure!

Even my own mother has been known to say, “Who in their right mind would pay $3,000 for these?” (I dunno…maybe the person over there writing the check?) Truth be told, I don’t understand why people write big checks in order to take home something I made. But they do. And I’m glad they do. But that is not my motivation for painting. Not even.

If I painted to make money or to impress or for any other reason than because I really just have to paint or I’ll suffocate to death, then I would be climbing the ladder of success only to find it leaning against the wrong wall. Those who are jealous or uneducated or just plain critical would have so much power over me that I would end up quitting and just go work in a laundry mat (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

I get bored easily so I mess around with ideas. About ten years ago, I painted pictures within pictures. Some people were really bothered by them. (“What on earth??") But they flew off the walls. Recently, I painted shrubs inside of bubbles. They spoke something to me that I felt I needed to say. I’m glad they were well received, but I painted them for me. So, it really didn’t matter. Currently, I am experimenting with adding texture. I’m just playing around with ideas. One artist told me that I am doing it right (whatever that means). I don’t really care. Again…I’m doing it for me. They say something I want to say. I’m glad other people like them. But more importantly, I don’t care if they don’t. So there.

Fear of Failure

2008-02-03T02:15:00.000-08:00

Q: What would I do if I didn’t have to do it perfectly?

A: A great deal more than I am now

Fear of failure is a big one. I could talk about it all day. It goes hand and hand with that perfectionism thing. And perfectionism, as I have said before, kills creativity. I don't think perfectionism or fear of failure is something we are born with either. If you've ever watched a child draw, especially a young child, they go at it with a vengeance. And they are so proud to show it off. It is only after the blows of critical eyes that fear creeps in. Subsequently, they want to create something perfect in order to never feel the pain of "failure to please" again. When a child realizes the impossibility of pleasing everyone, they quit art making all together. How unfortunate for us! Just imagine all of the beautiful, provocative, innovative and inspiring art the world is missing out on!

For me, it is more painful to NOT paint than it is to paint. Perhaps that is the key. If I stop painting for any length of time and watch a demonstration of another artist, I have an anxiety attack. Seriously! I can't handle it! My heart starts to race and I feel like I can't breathe!

I think, with any art form, if you are meant to do something, it will bother you greatly that you aren't doing it...especially when you see others doing it--be it painting, sculpting, acting, singing...you know. You are supposed to be doing it too. The question is: how badly do you want that anxiety to go away?

Here's the thing: you can go ahead and risk failure by doing what you love and just possibly find success--or you can NOT do it and be absolutely assured of failure. Your choice.

I just painted 14 paintings in about five weeks. I did it by painting 12 to 15 hours a day, seven days a week. I don't like to work that hard. Well, okay, I do. Let's just say that my BODY doesn't like to work that hard. But I had to. I put myself in a precarious position by scheduling a solo exhibit a little over a month after I arrived home from my month in Europe. Stupido! But I wanted to do it and I did do it. And now I have 14 more paintings that I did five weeks ago for the community to view...like it or not.

2008-01-30T09:05:00.000-08:00

Time and Space

2008-01-27T17:14:00.000-08:00

“Time is the Great Teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its students.”

Hector Berlioz, French composer

I love this quote. It's ironic, it's true, and it makes me laugh. It takes time to learn, so time is our teacher. But so often we see time as our enemy. Like money...there is never enough of it. It saddens me when I hear a talented person say that they have not had time to paint. They want to. "But there just isn't enough time."

I am very fortunate, I know. I paint each and every day for long hours on end. Some days, I get carried away and will paint for up to fifteen hours! Actually, I’ve been known to paint for nineteen hours in one day…but that’s just nuts. Mostly, I try to keep it down to a sane nine. But I never know how long I will have the privilege of this lifestyle and I don’t want to have regrets down the road if it ever ends. I want to be sure I take advantage of each and every minute. (Plus, I love my studio.)

I don’t know your situation. Maybe you are a full-time caregiver. Or maybe you have two fulltime jobs and six kids under the age of five. I don’t know. But for those of you who want to paint but feel there just isn’t any time, I would like to offer a couple of suggestions. It still might not be feasible for you, but I’m going to give it a stab anyway.

First: It’s important to have a space to go to that is all ready set up for painting. I worked at the kitchen table for years when my kids were small. When I was growing up, I sat with a TV tray in a corner of the living room. But, wherever I worked, I always had my brushes and supplies ready to go—even if they had to be put up out of the reach of little hands. They had to be easy for me to get to. That is so important.

Next, the time thing: keep track of how much time you spend doing things (anything) that aren't absolutely necessary. I’m talking about TV, the Internet, talking on the phone, having coffee with your friends…these are just a few. Add up the minutes…hours. Now, imagine carving just ONE hour out of that time for you to paint. Do you know that you can get soooo much accomplished if you paint just one hour three or four days a week? It’s true! And you just never know…you might even get carried away and paint for two!

Is it worth it?

2008-01-26T12:39:00.000-08:00

Why is it that so many artists start out and then quit? I have seen firsthand how most people don’t realize how much hard work & discipline art making requires. It can be overwhelming. Others let their fears get the better of them. They try to achieve success for the wrong reason. Their focus is to avoid failure rather than doing what they love. Some have a need for significance and when they don’t get it, they quit. In doing so, their work has become tainted by what they think others are expecting and in doing so, they make art that is not honest, sincere or truly personal. No one can relate to it. Not even themselves!

Robert Frost once wrote: “All great things are done for their own sake.”

Ask yourself this: "Does my work have a personal connection? Is it worth doing?”

Remember...
Nothing you do is interesting if you are not interested in it.

Let it snow...

2008-01-13T10:41:00.000-08:00

I don't mind the snow when I have work to do. Right now I have LOTS of work to do. I am having another solo exhibit in less than three weeks! It's going well, but I am working long hours every single day. And when it looks like this outside my studio door, there is nothing else I'd rather be doing. It is a magical walk to my sanctuary. Life is good.

Watch for new work to be posted on my website around the first week of February.

If I Aim At Nothing, I Will Surely Hit It

2008-01-07T16:17:00.000-08:00

Okay…I’ll admit it…I am a dreamer. A huge dreamer, in fact. I am always dreaming about what is next in my life. Oh, I am aware of the dangers. I have learned the hard way that living the life of a dreamer makes it difficult to stay in the “now”, which I firmly believe is important. Vital for sanity and healthy relationships. Trust me. It is the battle of my mind each and every day as I stand at the easel. I paint and envision great things. Fantastic things! Then I put my brushes down and go make dinner.

I used to dream about having a loving husband and a family. I used to dream about being a professional artist and living in a vintage home on the south side of town with an expansive studio in the back. Well, I have that husband, family, the big house and the studio. I used to dream about traveling to Europe. So far, I have been to Europe six times in the past five years. Now I dream about living there. (It could happen.)

Bottom line: I would rather have big dreams and have half of them come to pass than small dreams and have all of them fulfilled.

What’s your dream? The problem with wanting your dreams to come true is the “sweat equity” involved. It’s all dressed up in overalls and looking like work. Well, don’t get overwhelmed by it. Just take baby steps towards it and see what happens. Paint that series. Practice that instrument. Read that Rick Steve’s book. Let me know what happens, okay?

Learning to Walk on Water

2007-12-30T12:57:00.000-08:00

Q: Will anyone ever match the genius of Mozart?

A: No

Thank you—now can we get on with our work?

Never in my life have I stood in the presence of greatness like I experienced at the foot of the Pieta, Michelangelo’s masterpiece in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is the only work which the artist signed. He must have been very pleased with his accomplishment as signed his name right across the chest of the Madonna. I can see why. I stood in front of it and wept like a baby. I can’t even put into words what I felt. It was life-changing on many levels. I will never forget it.

The down side of an experience like that is that now everything seems like dung by comparison. And I’m not just talking about my work. I am speaking about all art, all music, all poetry, all literature, all theatre, all art of any kind…all of it…worthless dung. What more can be said than was said in that one perfect slab of marble?

Nothing.

After visiting a home-show where new homes are fully loaded and dressed to the nines, my mother often says that she feels like going home and setting her house on fire. I never understood that until now. I am pretty content with my home. It’s nicer than I deserve, I think. But my work…well…there is always a vision for much improvement. The trick is to not become overwhelmed by it.

Eugene Delacroix said, “Artists who seek perfection in everything are those who cannot attain it in anything.” Perfectionism kills creativity. We lose sight of the beauty and wonder of the creative process and place our sites on the product. It’s like when Peter tried walking on water. Art, true art, should never be about the product. You will surely sink.

Back from the Biennale

2007-12-28T12:07:00.000-08:00

It was a long, exhausting and exhilarating trip. I am glad to be home and back in my studio. I arrived just in time for Figgie Pudding…or in my case, cheesecake. I did my Christmas shopping in Italy and France this year, which was fun and made for unique gifts.

Unfortunately, I caught pneumonia the day I arrived in Florence, Italy. I don’t remember ever being as sick as I was those first two weeks. I attended the Biennale, but missed a couple of events because of doctor’s orders. Yes, the hotel called in a doctor. The housekeepers were getting worried about me. (Italians are so warm and friendly. They make you feel like family. )

Over 800 artists from about 80 different countries attended this year’s Florence Biennale. It was very interesting to meet working artists from all over the world. I had some great conversations and have brought home enough memories to last a lifetime. I am very inspired by the things I saw and experienced this month in Europe; not just in Italy, but also in the South of France. I am already busy at work preparing an entirely new series of paintings for my next exhibit, which will be February and March at the Kress Gallery in downtown Spokane. No dust settling on my shoes!

Ephemera

2007-11-18T20:48:00.001-08:00

When I am between exhibits and have a little extra time to “play”, I like to make things out of ephemera (paper, dried flowers, leaves, feathers, found objects) and assemble them into a story. Usually the story is sappy and sentimental. This would be one of those. They are fragile, precious and temporal.

I leave on Wednesday for a month in Italy--just a couple of days away. The Florence Biennale awaits me! But leaving my husband, who is ill, is not going to be easy. I am ever aware of the fact that each day he and I have together is a gift. Life is fragile, precious and temporal. (But love waxes eternal.) I know that I have been blessed. And I am only a plane trip from home.

I doubt I’ll be posting from over seas. But I am looking forward to making some wonderful paintings when I get back and will post them as they develop. I expect that I will feel inspired.

Arrevedarcci!

Italy or bust...

2007-10-31T09:53:00.001-07:00

They picked up my paintings to ship to Italy yesterday. What an ordeal this has been. Just a little FYI about the Florence Biennale...should you ever get an invitation to exhibit...it is a VERY expensive endeavor and fraught with obstacles (ob-stack-alls) to ship artwork overseas!

Working with the Italians on this has been surprisingly organized in a way that things eventually happen that need to happen. But first you have about three inches of paperwork to fill out ...and you have to transfer large quantities of cash-o-la. Some of that has to do with our security regulations. (Customs is such a pain.) Then there is the 20% VAT (a tax on my $20,000 worth of art...you do the math) because these paintings will be offered for sale, of course.

As for the paperwork...well...unlike the French (who I love) the Italians (who I also love) like to think they speak fluent English. When they write instructions in English however, certain prepositions can get a bit mixed up. Let's just say you might put something "in" the crate when it should be "on" the crate. That single vowel could create a bit of a problem. (Why would you put the address to the receiver "in" the crate?)

The good news is that they promise to take care of everything once the paintings are out of your hands. Well...the paintings are officially out of my hands. Thank God!

Flying into the Fire

2007-10-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

One of my closest friends recently gave my husband and I a card that has a fifties couple driving a car, looking terrified, and it says, "If you are going through hell...keep going." I guess it's a quote from Winston Churchill. Funny. But it is also reality for us right now.

A few months ago, my dear husband of over 31 years was diagnosed with an untreatable, incurable, terminal lung disease. It’s called Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was a smoker for years, but it’s apparently not caused from cigarettes. Could be from Agent Orange from when he was in Viet Nam. They are still doing tests.

Of course, I quickly googled the name of our new enemy and was just a little freaked about the information I read. Pulmonary Fibrosis is an auto immune disease that basically turns the lungs into scar tissue. That sucks. People with this disease generally live for 3 to 6 years after diagnosis. So we have some time to prepare. But it was still a shock. Mike’s doctor could only offer us his heartfelt apologies and placed Mike on Prednisone and chemotherapy, which is helping him some. But, as you know, those drugs come with their own set of baggage. We have to watch for infection…colds…pneumonia.

Mike has probably had this disease for a few years. He started showing signs of it in fall of 2004. It really kicked into gear in spring of 2005 after his mother died. We don’t know how long we have, but we know that we are going to treasure the heck out of the time that we have. That’s what we should be doing anyway…each and every one of us. All of our days are numbered, you know. We are all terminal.

My initial thought, after I got over the shock, was that I want to live these days out with Mike in the most beautiful way possible…full of love, hope & faith. What I’m learning is that all I can hope for is to live these days out full of love and honesty. My feelings of hope and faith are not exactly in place some days. They have often been overcome by feelings of fear, dread, anger, frustration…in a word…hell. But I am learning to be grateful for even those days because they bring lessons that can be learned no other way.

Well meaning people offer advice. Less than a handful know what they are talking about. It only adds insult to injury if you listen to those who haven’t a clue. It’s not their fault. They haven’t been through it and are trying their best to deal with their own mortality. Just like me. No…I have to look elsewhere for strength and encouragement. Thankfully, I know exactly where to look.

Up.

I’ve been asked how this has affected my time in the studio. Have I lost inspiration? Well, if I hadn’t done so much homework on the subject that would be an issue. But, if you know anything about me, I am all about work begetting work. “Inspiration exists but it has to find us working” said Picasso. In other words: it’s not about feelings. It’s about work.

So, yes, I’m still painting. Only now I have my beloved sitting in the easy chair sawing logs next to the fireplace in my studio. And that’s just fine with me.

Winding Down

2007-10-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

This painting is called, "Winding Down" (oil on canvas, 18" x 24"). Most of my paintings, especially the landscapes, are metaphors This is one example. But I have to admit that it is not an appropriate metaphor for where I am at these days. I feel like I am just winding up! I have so much on my plate.

I decided to post this piece is because of the color. Right now, the Pacific NW is alive with color. I am sure it's true for most of the country, but where I live it is in full Indian Summer regalia and it is truly breath taking. We live near a miandering creek called "Latah Creek". I never get tired of painting it. I usually take a lot of liberty with the composition, which makes most of my landscapes imaginary. Latah Creek has been my girl...my muse...for most of my life. She looks best in Autumn.

First Impression

2007-10-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

This is the third painting going to the Florence Biennale. It is called, "First Impression", oil on wood panel, 28" x 48". The three paintings are in the crate and all ready to go! I think they are being picked up on Monday. They have a month to get there, so I'm not too concerned. I'm paying (or rather my sponsor is paying) the rediculous 20% VAT on them and using the Italian's shipping agency, so I don't expect any issues. But you never know, do you? I have heard some pretty scary stories. We'll see if I'll be writing my own in a couple of months. (Hopefully not.)

I'm working on small pieces for an open studio sale now, which has been a lot of fun. It's been a while since I've worked small. I'll be posting them soon. I'm so inspired by my daily painter friends listed in my favorite painters' blogs list. If you haven't done so already, you really need to check these people out.

Florence

2007-09-28T12:09:00.000-07:00

I had this crazy idea before my open studio celebration for the Florence Biennale thing the other night. I took an old body form and primed her with gesso. Then I wrote “Florence” across her chest like a tattoo. I used her as a guestbook and called her my “guest bodice”. I wanted a body form that was more realistic in shape…droopy boobs, saggy bottom…but I had to settle for this Barbie-esque styled one instead. Nevertheless, she was a huge hit as everyone lined up to sign their name and write their comments.

My gallery rep is married to a darling older gentleman named Harry. He came up to me that night and said that he signed my guest bodice for me but that he felt it was a bit “risqué”. He told me that I might have trouble reading his signature because his hand was shaking so. How cute is that?

On the Verge

2007-09-25T10:53:00.000-07:00

This piece is called "On the Verge" (28" x 48" / oil on panel). I feel like I am always on the verge of something. So far, I have found that to be an accurate assessment. It's difficult for me to stay in the now. I'm a big picture girl. But I have been told more than a half dozen times in the last week to "take one day at a time." So...even though I feel like I am on the verge of something big...I'm going to give that "one day at a time" thing a try. Life can be overwhelming, you know?

I have been crazy busy getting ready for the Florence Biennale. I have finished my pieces and today I'm packing them up in my custom made crate (thank you Rick & Bryan!!). On Friday, I had over 100 of my closest friends and clients over to view the work before it is shipped. It was a blast. I feel so honored to have such great support.

Although the pieces will be shipped this week, I won't leave for Italy until the day before Thanksgiving, so I have time to paint a lot of small pieces for an open studio sale in November. (I need to support my Brunello habit, you know.) I'm excited to work small again. It's been a while.

This will be an art trip, but I am bringing along two of my dearest friends. (Can you say girl trip?) We're going to have a great time, I'm sure. Until then...I continue to paint.

Time sure flies...

2007-09-08T15:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I just had to share: my little boy is all grown up and out on his own. We adopted Nate when he was brand spank'n new, almost 22 years ago. We located his birth mother right before his 21st birthday. It's been fun getting to know her and her family. They are awesome people. Just to be able to hug her and thank her for such a precious gift was over the top amazing for me.

He is a handsome dude, yes? I sure think he is. He was such a cute baby and I have inhaled absolutely every second of his life. Hard to believe it, but tonight is his first night in his own apartment. Nate is a senior at EWU getting his biology degree with a pre-dental option. He intends on becoming an orthodontist. I couldn't be more proud of this kid. He totally rocks, in my book. Go get'em Nate! You've got it all, baby.

2007-09-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

Port of Placement
©2002 Kathleen Cavender

Nevermind the past
With its darkened moon
And days of smoke and mirror
You will melt the wax
Of its stubborn lines
When the petals fall from bloom

Not the dawn of owls
But the breath of doves
Will hear the heart of dreamers
It will see the path
Of a thousand days
Til the fire of moments come

Oceans of salt can’t change things
While your reflections tell stories
Still the wound sings sharp
There’s no wind to cool
And a stone is placed aside

But there is sweet release
Where the song will rest
On crystal seas of purpose
So let the river rise
When it calls your name
And your port of placement comes

Nurturing Yourself for Art’s Sake

2007-09-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

What is your passion? Whether it is a career choice or a hobby, it has to be nurtured in order to grow. Obviously, our culture contains enough distractions for a life to exist from beginning to end without really living it. You could spend an entire lifetime just watching TV or surfing the Internet and completely miss out on your real purpose. Have you ever asked yourself what your purpose in life is?

My art career consumes my life, but mostly in a good way. There are times when it can burn me out. That is to say that, when added along with several other things in life, it can burn me out.

Right now I am dealing with some heavy things in my personal life. After almost 34 years of raising children, I will become an empty nester. This is a good thing. Our son, who we adopted at birth when his two sisters were in their teens, is a great kid. He’s almost 22 and a senior in college. It’s time. I’m excited for him. But I have to be honest and say that it feels weird and gives me some anxiety.

Someone I love with all of my heart has a terminal illness. There is no cure or treatment. We have been very close for most of my life. I will do all I can to offer comfort and support, but I have a great awareness of my helplessness in this situation. I have no control over it.

I am getting ready to exhibit in Italy. That feels pretty huge. I also am considering opening a school of painting. I meet with one of the investors today. Big, big, big! These are just a few of my stress points. Good and bad.

I am grateful for my close friends. They comfort me. We share each other’s burdens. Life is hard. I think it’s supposed to be. Growth is a messy business.

One of my dear friends recently said, “When you board an airplane with children, the flight attendant instructs the parent to put their oxygen mask on first.” In other words, you are of no use to help others if you don’t take care of yourself first.

My artwork is secondary to my family, of course. But it is a part of my life that I need to take care of…just like a child. I need to nurture it. But I first need to take care of myself. If I don’t, I will be of no use to it. I will feel tired and stressed. Exasperated. Burnt out.

Today, I plan to take as much time as I can to breath in deep and to nurture myself so that I have what I need to nurture my art and those God has placed in my life. I need to take care of myself. I hope you are taking care of yourself too.

The Florence Biennale 2007

2007-08-30T22:28:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of Ponte Veccio that I took when Mike and I were in Florence, Italy, for our 30th wedding anniversary. Florence is one of the most amazing cities in the world. Soon, I will post two more images of the work I am sending off for the Florence Biennale. I'm getting excited to go back.

The Florence Biennale is in it's sixth year and will take place at the historic Fortezza da Basso from 1st - 9th December, 2007. This is an International Art Exhibition of huge proportions and I will be there with three new oversized paintings. I can say that what I am looking forward to the most (besides actually being there) is meeting artists and art representatives from all over the globe. What an awesome opportunity!! I would like to thank my special clients and friends (you know who you are) who have encouraged and supported me throughout this process. You have helped to make this possible. Thank you so much!!

Florence Biennale

2007-07-30T20:12:00.000-07:00

I have been invited to participate in the Florence Biennale, an International Exhibit held every two years in Florence, Italy. An artist friend of mine was in it in 2002 and I've always been envious. Oh...I've been to Florence, but to exhibit there...well! I leave November 21st and will return on December 19th. Needless to say, I am pretty excited.

Here is one of the three oversized oil paintings I will be shipping over. I just finished it today. It is called, "Saffron Skies" (for obvious reason). It is a sunset I embellished a bit on that I saw from my best friend's back yard. It is oil on panel -- 60"x 48". I don't like to work on a painting for more than a week (tops). This one took a couple of weeks. I am so ready to start something new!!

Returning to my first love

2007-07-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

When I was nine, I started doing portraits of all of my friends and family members. By the time I was in high school my friends would pay me $10 to $25 to sketch a portrait of them or their boyfriend/girlfriend. I mostly did it because I loved the challenge. I can't look at a face without separating shapes and colors in my mind. I'm sure it is strange to have someone analyze your facial features and the shadows cast across your nose when having a conversation with me (sorry). But it is something I have done for as long as I can remember.

After taking a couple of decades off from portraits, I have come back to them. This is Natalie. She visited my studio one day and I was so struck by her exotic attire that I had to paint her. It is oil on canvas, 18" x 24".

Women in Art

2007-05-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

Women in Art

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Catching My Breath

2007-03-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

“In every painting a whole life is mysteriously enclosed, a whole life of tortures, doubts, of hours of enthusiasm and inspiration.”

Wassily Kandinsky

I don’t quite understand how I can so easily forget what spring feels like. Take today for example. It’s the beginning of March and, after a few months of dark dreary days, we now have full sun, warm(ish) air and birds singing! I have found myself in culture shock. But it wasn’t that long ago, was it?

How soon we forget.

After a few short months of transitioning from one (old) studio space to another (new) studio space, I am once again at the easel working full time. I’m beginning to remember what it felt like to paint for long hours each day, but how could I even have forgotten? I’ve been doing it for years! And it wasn’t that long ago that I had to prepare for another solo exhibit. I was painting looooong hours each and every day! But it felt strange when I first walked up to the easel. The atmosphere has changed a bit (greatly improved, in fact.) But the easel is the same. The brushes…the pallet…the panel…my technique…all the same.

When we take breaks from a daily routine of art making, which we should do now and then, the re-entry process can sometimes be surprising. Personally, I have found that, once I get over the false guilt of taking a break in the first place, my confidence waivers a bit. I’ve been painting in oils for over 40 years and I still wonder if I haven’t forgotten how to paint. Sounds silly, but I’m being totally honest here.

As I look back over the years of this art career of mine, I realize that the process of art making is cyclical. And it should be. It’s okay to take breaks. It’s okay to feel a bit lost and even surprised by the sensations of art making after a bit of a break. If anything, it should bring a fresh new look to what we are doing in the first place…creating something from nothing.

The early spring air makes me want to garden…dig in the dirt…clean my house. But I’m not sure another break from the easel is such a good idea right now. I feel like I am just getting started. Maybe I’ll just eat my lunch al fresco.

Breathing Through Creative Blocks

2007-02-07T21:37:00.000-08:00

“Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working.” Pablo Picasso

One question I get asked a lot is, “Where do you find your inspiration?”

Well, I work. I just get in there and start messing around with paint. Sometimes I tear up pieces of paper and cut out pictures from magazines to assemble them for ideas. I flip through my large box of photos. I pull up digitals on my computer. But I don’t wait for inspiration to show up in order to work. I just get to work.

Living a life of creativity is like breathing. You breathe in life and you breathe out life. I want to breath in life as much as I can. I want to be aware of all of all my senses. I’m an aromatherapy freak. I love things that smell great. I love color. I visit my friend’s back deck to watch a sunset now and then. I take walks through a nearby park and will often bury my face in a hedge of flowers just to breath in the color.

I visit museums and art galleries often. I get out and take photos. I go for long walks. Sometimes I take a vacation. I actually try to visit Europe one month out of every year. I pray a lot. I meditate. Listen to great music, live or otherwise. I love to read interesting poetry. Better yet, I enjoy attending poetry readings. (There is nothing like listening to a poet read their own work.) This is how I breathe in life.

To breathe out life is to express myself through my imagination. If I have been breathing in life, it will flow out of me naturally. I love it when that happens. There have been many times when I did not feel the least bit “inspired”. I was totally not in the mood to paint. Yet, because I had been taking care of my “in take”, my “out flow” came naturally. One painting that I painted in less than 20 minutes recently won a national award…first place! It sold for twice the price of my other pieces the same size. And I was soooo not in the mood to paint that day. Go figure!

Have I ever had “creative blocks”? Of course! I have had seasons where, because of one thing or another, I had a hard time prying myself out of bed in order to walk out to the studio. And, when I did, everything I touched turned to crap. I have been known to wipe off ten hours of work and swear that I have forgotten how to paint. Thankfully, those times are few and far between. But what do I do when it does happen? Well, I remember that feelings are not fact. I remember to take in a few deep breaths. Other than that, I just get in there and get to work.

Work Begets Work

2007-01-25T21:48:00.000-08:00

Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to speak to groups, large and small, interested in living a life of art making. They obviously arrive at the workshop with all kinds of questions and expectations but the questions I most often hear are, “Where will I exhibit my work?” “What price should I put on it?” And “Will it sell?” It is interesting that these questions apparently begin nagging them before they have a body of work to exhibit, price and sell.

Someone once told me that "it takes 10% talent and 90% passion to become a successful artist”. If you don’t believe that, just watch a child who loves to draw, paint, or play with clay. Keep them supplied with art materials and they will not only create a large body of work in a short period of time, but they will also improve their skills along the way. They don’t worry about where each masterpiece is going to hang (most likely on the frig) or what monetary value it might possess. That comes later. They just want to create.

Harley Brown recently wrote, “A raging ambition to succeed in the arts is much rarer than the talent itself. This is why, in all the arts, only five per cent make it to professional.” If this is an accurate statistic, then there are a lot of people out there who consider themselves an artist but are not living out their dream of working as a professional artist. Why is that?

The world is filled with talented people who have the ability to create all kinds of fabulous art, but they have not put in the hours needed to develop their skills. You might have aspirations and even inspiration but you will quickly learn that art making is mostly about perspiration once you decide to create a large body of work. Work begets work. And art making is a lot of work. Solitary work. Physical, mental and emotional work. It takes time and it takes energy. And it rarely pays the bills. (At least not all of them.) A major consideration.

Max Steingart said, “Obstacles don't matter very much. Pain or other circumstances can be there, but if you want something bad enough, you'll find a way to get it.”

I have met many people who received their AA or BA in art when they were younger but went on to become a pharmacist, accountant, office manager or something. I meet these people in my evening oil painting classes during their retirement years. They hope to be discovered as "the next Grandma (or Grandpa) Moses”. They have all kinds of dreams. But before they have even signed their first painting since those golden college days, they ask, “Where will I exhibit this, what price should I put on it and do you think it will sell?”

Artistic License

2007-01-18T13:47:00.000-08:00

I recently received an email from a friend whose son works in a local coffee shop where original artwork is displayed. My friend is very disturbed by the current exhibit because of its graphic nature. And in all fairness, it is also considered by the artist to be very “dark”. There is even a warning posted before you enter the exhibit area stating that it might be considered unsuitable for some audiences. (Not a bad idea considering several of the large oil paintings contain imagery of women dressed like prostitutes with gun holes in their heads, nude men being tortured and other nightmarish similes of man’s inhumanity to man.) My friend asked if I would give her my opinion on the work, which I am glad to do. So I checked it out and, as it happened, the artist came into the coffee shop during my visit.

It’s always a good idea to meet and listen to the artist talk about his or her work, if at all possible. I have learned that, even though I might have some personal opinions, it’s best to try not to judge a work by its subject matter. I’ve found that I often change my opinions anyway (for the better and even for the worse at times) after listening to them speak. I remember making a quick judgment years ago about an artist’s work, thinking in my mind that it was very chauvinistic, only to learn that it was really about the artist’s empathy for his wife during the delivery of their first child. Oops.

The coffee shop artist was a friendly enough guy despite his sadistic exhibition. He was, in fact, very likable and open to explaining his motivation for the vulgar imagery. It seems that he was recently assaulted in NYC and had issues. Demons to battle. It was interesting to listen to him talk about his experience and how he has recently become bored with this internal exorcism and would like to move on to a different subject matter. Sounds like he’s learned some things from his work.

The ubiquitous question out there about art is, “Does art have to be beautiful to be valuable?” Obviously the answer is, “Define beauty.” “Define valuable.” It is very subjective on both accounts. My opinion is “Absolutely not.” Just because I want my paintings to be beautiful doesn’t mean that I think all art needs to be beautiful. I believe that all art has value, beautiful or not. There is intrinsic value in anything where lessons can be learned—even if that lesson is to move on.

I think the most important thing in any work of art is that the work is honest. By honest, I mean that the artist is not trying to be something or say something that they aren’t really buying into themselves. Sometimes what someone has to say in all honesty is ugly, vulgar and very offensive. Listen to some of the music out there. Read some of the literature. Watch some of the movies! Or then again---don’t. The beauty of free choice is that we don’t have to subject ourselves to any of it if we don’t want to. But if we choose to, we should be careful not to make quick judgments, but rather, learn what it is that the artist is trying to say. We don’t have to agree and we don’t have to like it. It is just art.

My personal opinion about this artist’s exhibit is this: I have no problem with whatever it is he feels he needs to do to recover from his personal nightmare. My problem was not the subject matter, but that he used a Bob Ross technique to paint the mountains in one of his paintings. If he had painted his mountains with a pallet knife to be “kitschy”, then I would be okay with it. However, he told me that he was seriously trying to paint mountains by using a pallet knife in the style of Bob Ross. I find that very offensive.

A Mandatory Mess

2007-01-07T20:23:00.000-08:00

It’s 2007 and I have hit the ground running. My beautiful new studio was completed just two days ago. I am currently tearing my old studio apart (120 fully packed sq. ft.) and moving everything into my new space (470 fabulous sq. ft.). What a mess! But messing something up to transform it into something “readable” is what I do. I make problems and solve problems all day long from one paint stroke to another. Art making is a messy business. It’s also a lot of work. But it is so worth the efforts. And hopefully, much is learned in the process.

The question I get asked the most about my work is, “How long did it take you to paint that?” My answer varies year to year—“43 years going on 44.” From the time I began mixing paint at the age of ten until today, I have been learning how to create and solve the problems of art making. It’s an ongoing process, of course, that I hope to never stop. Gertrude Stein once said, “I am not young enough to know everything.” Well, I am getting older by the minute and still have a lot to learn.