Close up of right side shaman:
Close up of hands:
This painting is 36" x 36," oil on canvas. Maybe we artists should host more open studios and be our own representatives.Thursday, August 5, 2010
Artist Melinda: Adventure Part Deux and the Drive By Shamans
..........So, where were we? Oh, yes. First, let me say--THANK YOU--for your encouraging and supportive comments. It is really awful to think that artists are not being well served and that the art world is suffering because of ineptness or inappropriate business attitudes. I believe there are many good galleries who love artists and their work out there. We just need to find them!
After the experience, I cogitated about the new painting and how natural if felt. A week later, I couldn't sleep. At 2 AM I gave up and decided to work on a painting whose ground I had set down when making a short video for the Life in a Day project.
Painting completely automatically until 4:30 AM, without reference, without anything but a total immersion into right brain, free form expression, these creatures showed up. It was like an overnight, drive by visitation.
Totally a-Musing.
Close up of right side shaman:
Close up of hands:
This painting is 36" x 36," oil on canvas. Maybe we artists should host more open studios and be our own representatives.
Close up of right side shaman:
Close up of hands:
This painting is 36" x 36," oil on canvas. Maybe we artists should host more open studios and be our own representatives.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
34 comments:
That's my conclusion as well - power to the wee people! Much harder work but surely much more rewarding. The only alternative I can see is to promote your work online.
But what is this? More shamans rising up out of the mists and filling you with such confidence and power to paint with only the right side of your brain into the wee sma' hours?
Well done you!
It looks fabulous to me from across the water.
Powerful, awe-inspiring painting, Melinda! I read your last post and shook my head. Not only are there gallery owners who think artists are part of their "stables", but they have no common sense. I'm planning on doing my own show soon, maybe with another artist. Gather my own mailing list, find a place (maybe a bar or restaurant) and go from there. Your work is amazing!
OMG!!!!!!! NEVER SLEEP AGAIN!!!!
As a post about painting, this is great reading: process and inspiration. A painter's painting. The painting is truly gorgeous. Love the figures, colors, drawing... Stay inspired. LOL Jeane!
Yes, David, I think we have to be our own best representatives. Perhaps, being online is part of that new paradigm we're all looking for.
I'm so glad you like this painting. It was the weirdest thing--like I was painting in a dream.
I like that it travels well across the water!
Thank you!
Thank you so much, Janelle!
Isn't it just crazy how gallery owners can be sometimes? I mean, they need to adjust to the times. Yes, and use some common sense.
I love what you are doing. I think you're on to something important. In time, you will succeed. Plus, you will be in control of the process.
Wishing you every success as you go forward!
HA!
Okay, Jeane!
Oh my, you had me laughing so...
Thanks, Edgar. Now, where the heck are we gonna store this thing when it's dry?!
You are a total hoot! Drive-by shamans rule!
I've thought about hanging art on the front fence for a drive-by art sale. Why not?
Yes, SamArtDog--a drive by art sale.
Love. It.
That's clever.
This one needs to hang over the bed...yours (or it's new owners!) It is a dream, Magical Melinda!!! (Thank-you for sharing your inspired/inspiring process, too.)
Wonderful painting Melinda...thank you for sharing your amazing painting ADVENTURE with us!
Hmmm now where did I put my alarm clock...
Jeffrey
I like that, Linny. Well, I like to think of it acquiring a happy new home some day. It's pretty energetic right now--might keep me up some more. Guess that wouldn't be so bad...
Thank you so much. Your encouragement keeps me going.
Aha, Jeffrey! Yes, having a sleepless night doesn't have to be unproductive and irritating as it usually is for me.
Thank you for commenting! Adventures are just a part of our work as artists, right? I'll bet you have stories to tell too (?).
Oh, Melinda, this painting is fabulous! The "Drive By Shamans" -- I love it! They must have awakened you to do their portrait. It's so free and expressive. It deserves to be seen.
And there's part of the issue with commercial galleries. They only want to show what they think will sell for high prices (they do have to pay the rent after all). While income for artists is needed, so is the opportunity to have one's work seen. There is a cultural disconnect when there is so much art hidden away that could help make the world a softer more compassionate place, if only it could find its way out of the closets and storage rooms into the light of day. I hope your "Drive By Shamans" at least find their way into the light!
Hi Donald!
Thank you so much for your kind and generous comment. That's just what I thought...awakened to paint their portraits. As a family who has experienced drive by shooting, we much prefer this kind of drive by! I'm hoping for more visitations of the good kind in the future.
Regarding commercial galleries: Absolutely understand they are a business and need to pay the rent. Wouldn't it be nice, though, if they treated every visitor as a potential collector or someone who will tell someone else about the wonderful art they saw?! In addition, I was thinking about what you wrote and wondered if a gallery couldn't provide just a small wall space for emerging artists, unknown artists and under-represented artists? I wonder what kind of a response they'd get?
I agree with you! I hope these guys get their day in the limelight!
I agree. You better stay up and paint for the rest of your life, because you've got it, it's got you, and I am astounded, blown away, going downstairs at 1 in the morning to get a coffee just to honour this wondrous work of art.
Astounded, reworked emotionally and mentally and feeling deeply in the presence of greatness. I toast you. I think we should all stay up for a week at least to celebrate!!!!
You Melinda. You rock!!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxBarbara
I'm sending you a years supply of coffee so you can fulfill Jeane's request: Never Sleep Again.
There's a power but also a gentility of these spirits that represent your own spirit.
I'm wow-ed by this piece Melinda.
There is sadly a great deal of ineptitude in so many arenas. I could never understand how anyone in a hospitality/retail/arts business could be anything less than gracious and savvy and still expect to succeed.
Bad times have visited us many generations before. The survivors are those with empathy and the imagination to create a place that beckons people.
Like what you've done here on this blog of yours.
Oh, Bonnie! You're so very kind. Thank you for words that are great medicine to me. I always hope that you and others who visit here will feel my empathy and love for artists and art.
Yes, had I been the gallery owner, I would have invited the visitors to stay, take their time and feel confident enough to invest in good art at their own pace.
You are unequivocally correct. The survivors of bad times are those who have empathy, build alliances before trouble comes and are generous to others. I see that you do that at your blog. You, your work, and blog inspire me.
Now about that coffee...A year's supply would be about two cups! See how inexpensive I am?!!
Hey, Barbara! Yay, you're back!
Thank you so much for your generous comment. It's pretty interesting isn't it when the muse visits and we merely paint what we feel?! Total freedom. Curiosity. Intriguing new elements and shapes we'd never thought of before.
Oh, how I wish I could "rock" painting this way all of the time.
I'll try.
I hear that coffee doesn't over stimulate you as it does me. Hope you had a great night.
Looking forward to more of your wonderful portraits.
Melinda, you are now a night time visionary, a night rider. I love it!
You are a true artist – you work by your own inner light! You now belong to a noble, time honored nocturnal tradition. I used to have a friend who habitually painted the night away in his studio at 435 Spadina in Toronto. In the small hours of the morning if I couldn’t sleep I’d visit him there. He was within walking distance.
Wow, wow, wow!!!! This is the most powerful work I've seen here of all that I have known. Brava!
I'm honored by the label, Marcia!
Thank you so much. I really like the idea of joining such an august group of insomniacs/painters. Sometimes we need to let the world fall asleep so we can get some work done!
Wish you could stop by and have a chat while I'm up painting...
By the way, I love your new photo.
Hi Jala!
I'm blown away by your comment. It is so encouraging and I can only hope that I will continue on this path.
Yes, this is how I want painting to be: powerful, authentic, energetic, passionate, deep--from the core of one's being.
Thank you so much for your words.
Whoa! Fantastic in so many ways, but as usual, the color combos are what really grab me. Pale pink against deep, deep jewel tones - sensational effect!
Listen, everybody is telling you not to sleep anymore, but you can lose your mind that way. Paint in the cool, quiet night. Sleep those hot days away.
If this painting was hanging in a gallery with a small spotlight on it, it would draw everyone close. Very intriguing.
I love your comment, on so many levels, Silvina,. It's an honor to have you visit, first of all.
Yes, I think painting in the cool of the night and sleeping, maybe taking afternoon naps, is a good thing as long as the optimal 7 to 8 hours of sleep are achieved. I'm really not good for anything without proper sleep.
I dream of the day that I see my painting(s) in a spotlight. Right now, I'm seeing your beautiful work in some very nice spotlights of their own lately!
Thank you so much.
And another WOW from me. One of the most interesting works I have seen of yours. It has playfullness, darkness, humor and mystery about it. Each time you look at it you see something new. I agree with Jeane, never sleep again. A great composition.
Jean
Hi Jean,
It does my artist's heart good to read such an encouraging comment.
I'm hoping to continue in this way, even if I do sleep! Although, I must say that painting late into the night has a peaceful quality as well as fewer distractions.
Thank you very much.
This is an amazing painting. I love your story, how you just couldn't NOT paint when you were inspired. Funny how different things inspire us. That gallery in Tuscon would be lucky to have your work!! But you need someone who will actually sell your work, right?
Joan
You made me laugh, Joan! That was clever and you're so right!
I now know that I would not want this gallery to represent my work. In fact, I'm beginning to believe that we artists need to re-think the whole gallery construct altogether.
I really appreciate your generous comment. I'm glad that you like this painting too.
Better get to work, yes?!
What a great affirmation to trusting your intuition! Inspiration to unrushed working application! More late nights here here!~
Welcome Candy!
Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate the encouragement and hope to do more of this kind of work.
Hope you'll visit again.
Hi Melinda, Just wanted you to know I was thinking of you at 4:00 a.m. last night when I couldn't sleep. I thought, oh, I should get up and paint like Melinda!!
Joan
p.s. I didn't. :)
Ha, Joan! I do hope you were able to get back to sleep within a short period of time.
The question of whether to paint in the middle of the night is often similar to waking up feeling a bit chilly, yet wondering whether you should get another blanket or not.
Wishing you restful nights! I don't want to haunt you! But, if you think of me again, know that I am smiling with kindness.
Post a Comment