The Rebellious Curator

Found an old journal with my early blog posts and thought it would be fun to share a few of them.

Blog #3 - Painting Process

"I'm very interested in contrast. The tension between light and dark, busy and quiet, soft and hard. I try to work the composition in and around my areas of contrast. I rarely prepare canvases before painting - I just get into the colour while I'm feeling it, and I like the places where the bare canvas shows through. If I work quickly and intuitively, it works out well. Too much thinking and planning and it becomes forced and ridiculous." 

Tumultuous Wave o/c

This is actually a tripdych (only 2 canvases are shown above). It depicts a time when I was struggling with depression and the act of painting was one of the ways I dealt with it. 

Going through an old journal, I came across some of my early blog posts, and I wanted to share a few of them.

Blog #1

A Small Introduction

I've always had humble aspirations as a painter. I didn't become an artist to make any money. I just had something to say and the best way to expel that was through the visual form. I struggle with self-doubt and over-thinking, but I am learning to quiet that, let go and trust my heart to paint what I feel."

The Trees Echo with Laughter o/c

I painted this early on in my journey as an artist and was one of the first paintings I did on a black canvas. I used a limited palette of Prussian blue and sap green with cad yellow and painted this rather quickly in no more than two painting sessions. 

The title came at the very end when I was sitting in front of the canvas with the radio on. Stairway to Heaven started to play and as I listened to the words and stared at the painting, the title just clicked. It was one of those times when I knew the title was right, and to this day, it is one of my favourite paintings. 

I came across an old journal in which I recorded some of my first blog posts way from back in 2013 or so. I thought it would be fun to share some of them:

Blog #8

"When I surrender to the painting, it quickly paints itself. I'm there to steer the composition, stop, or keep going. My approach to colour is very non-technical and somewhat irrational. The end result may mean different things to different people, and the mood may be hard to pin down, but I like the mystery of that."

The Joy you always wanted me to Have o/c 

This painting was donated to a charity auction and sold for 900.00. The charity ministers to marginalized women in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. I painted it during the latter half of the year after my mother's death and was dedicated to her, Anne Violet Thiessen(1925-2013).

I believe this quote can apply to over-sharing our journey as artists. I think some of the best artists from our past, and many of the best of our contemporaries today, work quietly in isolation and only make their art public when work is completed and they feel the overwhelming desire to share it. 

"Travel and tell no one.

Live a true love story and tell no one.

Live happily and tell no one.

People ruin beautiful things." 

- Kahil Gibran

"For God so loved the world

that he gave his only begotten son

that whosoever believes in Him

shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Ode to Creativity m/m

This is 21 years of paint build-up on just one of the table tops in my teaching studio.

I was sorting through some of my old paperwork this morning, and came across "Artist Statement Guidelines".

There were 7 questions and these are my honest answers as of TODAY:

1. What am I doing?

Answer: Most of the time, I don't know.

2. How am I doing it? 

Answer: Experimenting and mostly play.

3. Why am I doing it?

Answer: To satisfy the need to express myself.

4. What influences me?

Answer: Mostly 19c Masters and Modern mid-20c masters.

5. How does my work relate to the art of my contemporaries?

Answer: I don't really relate to my contemporaries. 

6. What do I want people to understand about my work?

Answer: Nothing. I want them to find something in it for themselves.

7. What do I want to share with people?

Answer: I want people to think.

What would YOUR answers be today?

1.Do you know how to communicate your message or vision in words?

2. Do you have 10-20 recent pieces of art ready to sell?

3. Are the pieces consistent in style?

4. Is your pricing nailed down?

These were the questions I asked myself and others before considering an art show. Now, I look at the same questions and wonder if this line of reasoning is still relevant. Galleries have evolved in the past few years, especially since the pandemic. Brick and mortar galleries are fewer and far between as so many artists are moving online. 

Does this change the way we look at solo exhibits or group exhibits?

Does this change the pricing of our work?

How else have things changed for artists? Especially for artists who's work is best viewed in-person, like installation and assemblage.  

The art world is changing. We may be turning a corner, and artists are being forced to look at promoting their work differently, or making different kinds of art. Is it time for artists to consider evolving their style and practice to adapt to the coming changes?

What are your thoughts? Do you think things are changing for artists? If so, how are you coping with the change, and how will you adapt?

Please send your thoughts to jones07@telus.net

"Don't wish me happiness. I don't expect to be happy all the time, it's not possible. 

Instead, wish me courage and strength, and a sense of humor. I'll need those the most."

(Not sure who said this, but I like it. And I would add to that, wisdom)

Thought I'd post a photo of the last of my cemetery paintings which I completed yesterday.

Titled 1 Thess. 4:16   o/c