Challenge Yourself
Don't try to recreate something you've done before. Challenge yourself constantly.~Suzanne Partridge My setting a big goal for 2012 to paint 52 paintings in one year, caught the attention of Alyson B. Stanfield Art Biz coach. She invited me to speak to her Silver Incubator Group to tell my story; perhaps inspire them to take a leap and challenge themselves to a big goal. I’m now belonging to Alyson’s Silver Incubator Group, where like-minded artists join together on a members-only Facebook group to share advice and their experience. There is a monthly coaching call provided by Alyson, as well as a Monthly Special Topics call, of which this was one of them “Challenge Yourself with a Big Project with Janet Vanderhoof”. The Silver Incubator Group also provides audio recordings, transcripts and products, a plethora of up to date information to help you become the professional artist you always wanted to be. Below is the audio recording of my interview with Alyson, my gift to you, hopefully to inspire you to create your own big challenge.
https://soundcloud.com/djredlady/art-biz-interview-feat-janet
*Painting above "Family Ties" measure 36" X 36" Oil and Acrylic on museum wrapped canvas-Price $3240 *ART20K footage completed 17670 square inches *All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
I Got Rhythm
Rhythm is as necessary in a picture as pigment; it is as much a part of painting as music.~Walter J. Phillips
My father loved music. He always had the latest albums and the latest contraptions to play them on. My love of music began at 3 years old in Alaska. Army pals would drop by for the latest songs produced from my father's homemade Hi-Fi and find me doing my scarf dance to the repetitive beat. I have to laugh, yet was this the moment I discovered rhythm?
Rhythm is one of the elements of composition in art. How important is rhythm in composition? I believe it’s the soul of the painting. It has the beat just like music. It’s where the viewer senses the feeling the pulse. It’s a repetition yet with slight variations of pattern. Each painting stroke is as a note in music; unified yet unique.
Pattern and repetition are essential to rhythm. You may discover repetition of shapes or color that create a pattern. But, there has to be a slight variation to prevent monotony. As my teacher would say “Nature never repeats itself”.
Rhythm is the harmony or dissonance in the painting. It can create tension or relaxation, sadness or, thoughtfulness, joy or excitement. It is the vibe of the painting.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G7UIeYGq0k[/youtube]
Do you "Got Rhythm"?
Painting above: "I Got Rhythm", 36" x 36" acrylic on museum wrapped canvas, price $3240
*ART20K footage completed 16,374 square inches
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
Moment in Time
"Right now a moment of time is passing by. We must become that moment" Paul Cezanne
This weekend I had the opportunity to attend a wedding at a ranch. Many have come to this place to celebrate; photos around the home showing famous people such as Robert Kennedy have been a testimony to its history.
Their Spring Roundups every year have been amazing and a right of passage for many a young girl and boy.
I painted a series called “California Cowboy” inspired by one of their spring Roundups post 9/11 and had final showing in June 2008. Images of cowboys, Mariachi singers and flags of our country reminded me of my childhood, where I grew up in Silicon Valley.
Intensified by the loss of innocence, post 9/11, the twenty-seven paintings covered a six-year span of work, an idealistic portrait reflecting the way things used to be.
At the wedding, the owner had pulled out one of my paintings from the series. The daughter, then 14, who had been perched on the corral fence at the time I painted the scene, was now getting married. How time has flown. His baby girl who was able to be a participant in castrating a cow, killing a rattle snake and hunting with her father has now grown up to be a beautiful woman. It tugged at my heart that the father saw it a blessed moment to display the painting at the entrance to the wedding. The painting is shown below.
I am now reminded that artists are here also to capture moments in time.
*Original Paintings above "Flags" and "Spring Roundup" available, measure 36" x 36" oil on linen, price $3240 ea. Contact me for purchase at jvander51@msn.com, thank you!
*Giclees available at Art That Fits
Is Art Purposeful?
The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.~Pablo Picasso
Being an artist can be very difficult, especially if you are looking at it in a purposeful sort of way. Just being alive is purposeful and certainly taking care of my son with Down’s, although humbling at times, is purposeful. But, I have to ask myself is creating art “purposeful”?
Here are some of the responses from my artist friends:
"I often think of how all of the arts have influenced me, taught me, enlightened and delighted me. I would suggest that if just one person is moved to tears, or made more aware of the human condition, or is able to see oneself or the world in a new way, then yes, making art is purposeful to humanity. I bought an abstract painting of water by a local artist, Peter Carolin, and had it hanging in my living room for several years. One day I was standing on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. I found myself looking at a patch of water and noticed the layers and elliptical patches of color intermingling to make a moving tapestry, reflections of the blue sky, white clouds, and the transparent patches that saw through to the yellow sand, and inexplicable patches of green water. I was amazed - it was like Peter's painting. Although I grew up by the water, I never saw it like this before. I understood at that moment that Peter's abstract painting had taught me - literally - how to see the world that was so familiar to me in a brand new way. "~Jim Carpenter
"I believe that art serves several purposes beneficial to humanity. First, it is a visceral form of communication. More important, I think, is that art can inspire, invigorate, even calm both viewers and creators. Artists are essential because we are exploring our universe and sharing our explorations in unique ways that can inspire each of us to (hopefully) positive action. There's also nothing wrong in simply adding more beauty to the world."~Patricia Vener
"Art has the power:
To give voice to a community
To transcend traditional communication processes
To express community issues and cultural values
To document history
To effect change
To open hearts and minds
To inspire, to motivate, to heal the spirit
To increase economic development
To create and maintain legacies"
Col Mitchell~ said the above so eloquently from a mission statement from Huntsville Art Society
"Art is an articulation of our interaction with nature and one another. Without art, the creative process, which involves both the act of creating and the process of participating (intellectually and emotionally) in the artist's vision, we would lose our humanity. At its deepest level, art is an expression of both our spirituality and our place in the universe."~Charles van Heck
Joseph Campbell believed that the artist is a mystic with a craft that enables the truth to be brought to consciousness.
Artists are the image-makers, the seers, the prophets, they create new vision and enlighten. Artists can build-up the human spirit and in turn our culture.
What is your answer? How is art purposeful for you?
*ART20K footage completed 15,078 square inches
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
Connecting To Infinite Possibilities
The calmer the water the clearer the reflection~ Anonymous
I’ve decided to take up meditation again. For 13 years I would meditate regularly twice a day for twenty minutes. I even got my kids and husband to allow me to have this quiet time. It’s been 6 years since I have meditated regularly and have noticed that my health, stress and well being, have suffered because of it.
Meditation lowers blood pressure, heart rate, lowers cholesterol levels, reduces stress hormones, and increases anti-ageing hormone DHEA, improves immune system and restful sleep. I didn’t realize that it helped with creativity as well. Being and artist this becomes a great motivator.
The wonderful reasons why meditation should be part of the artist’s life:
Calms the critic.
Gets you in touch with your authentic self, to express your uniqueness.
Helps you to get out of the repetitive loop of thinking that suppresses new ideas and inspiration.
Increases brain activity in the parts of the brain involved with ideas, insights and connections.
Increases your ability to focus on the big picture instead of trivia.
Helps you to be focused in the moment and enjoy the process as much as the result.
Increases insight moments of inspiration and answers to problems.
Eases fear and anxiety, less fear more risk taking and freer thinking.
Experience “Quantum Leaps” of imagination.
Be in a higher state of consciousness.
Helps you get in touch with the flow, where time stands still and effortless creating occurs.
Let’s you step in to the unknown.
Increases the ability to use your whole brain for problem solving.
Connects you to the field of infinite possibilities.
Do you meditate and if you do what have you discovered?
*ART20K footage completed 13,782 square inches
*Above painting~"Meditation", measures 16" x 20", acrylic on canvas, price $800
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!