My mother passed several years ago, although it seems like yesterday….. I made this piece in memory of her. It’s a faux encaustic, mixed media piece. It’s a little dark, but then so was my life when it was created.
The process was very interesting as I added elements and built up layers upon layers, like year upon year, memory upon memory.
It, of course, is not for sale, but I wanted to share it with you nonetheless.
~Nan
I’ve just finished this piece for the Bangor Art Society, Wet Paint Auction which is TONIGHT!! The piece is 16″ x 20″ and framed in a gold gallery frame.
The painting is acrylic on canvas and was painted in Maine. A few weeks ago I went out fishing with my husband out of Bucksport, Maine. We went very early and the sunrise was beautiful. I took some photos, and am using one of these to create this painting entitled “Verona Rising”. We were off Verona Island, Maine, at the time. It’s not quite finished but this is the process and progress so far.
Tis the season in Maine where artists and craftspersons are run ragged. Time to set up all the artisan cooperatives, set up shows at galleries and begin doing outdoor shows. All that work to create and send out into the world in hopes of it finding new homes and bringing in income that we have not had over the winter months. For me, personally, the last few months have been crazy!! I’ve joined a number of new arts organizations, each of which has shows I needed to create work for and deliver. Then I’ve been central to setting up a new artisan cooperative in Belfast, Maine and that takes a lot of work.. finding artists to commit to participate, getting the space ready, having artists bring in stock, setting up the gallery, sending out press releases.. you name it! We had our grand opening last Friday and it was great! I’ve had to set up my own work in 7 galleries!
In addition, I’ve painted door for a Habitat for Humanity auction, created a new line of enamel & glass paintings and tried to do some glass casting with limited success.. ok total failure….
Now all the galleries are up and running, stocked and open! It’s time to work in most of them… this week I’ll work 2 days in Belfast, do a farmers market on Thursday, go to an opening in Rockland on Friday… I can’t look past that! And in all this I’m trying to get my garden/farm planted, weeded and ready to go for the season!! Oh, and make more stock for all those places!!! I figure I can rest… in November…..
Whew!!
So as an artist we have to harden ourselves to rejection. Rejection from galleries, from shows, from harsh words given by strangers.. it’s just a part of the world we choose to live in. Here’s the thing – every great artist suffered rejection from someone or some group. The fauvists, which literally means Wild Beasts, were rejected by the established artists. Only yesterday my painting was rejected from a gallery in which I show my glass art and jewelry. It’s a cooperative gallery so normally one would think they would embrace new work by a member. But one would be wrong.
I was also rejected by another coop gallery today. They were very nice but felt my work was too similar to the work of another member. Here’s the thing – be nice, be graceful because you never know when there will be another opportunity there.
Was I angry? Was I hurt? Was I disappointed? Oh sure. We all have egos which bruise easily. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years so I’m no stranger to rejection. The thing to remember is rejection is just the opinion of others and sometimes that opinion has absolutely nothing to do with you. They have too many painters, potters, jewelers.. w/e… they are predisposed to realism and don’t like abstract art….there can be a million reasons you don’t get ‘in’ that have nothing to do with your work or yourself. The important thing is to have faith in your own work because somewhere out there you have an audience that will love what you create. Do not give up. Do not listen to the nay sayers. Try to find the lesson in the rejection; maybe you need better frames (although that’s a pretty shitty reason to reject the actual art), maybe you need to refine something.. w/e try to learn something. Create and carry on. You will find your way. I know I will not give up painting and I will not give up trying to get it shown. Somewhere someone will love it. The more you get rejected the more you’ve tried! Keep trying!! Eventually you will find your home!
So stay strong people! Have faith in your own creations! I believe in you!
~Nan
I thought you might like to see the newest painting as I’m working on it. It may ultimately look almost nothing like this but I document the process along the way. This is a painting of the flooded and frozen Meadow Brook which borders my property. I was intrigued by the different colors created by the melting, refreezing & snowfall on the frozen brook. I’ll post the final version when completed.
And I think it’s finished; I have to let it sit a few days and mull it over.
Joining local arts associations/coop galleries has already paid off! I’m in two local shows this month; the first I posted about the other day and I won a second place ribbon. The second opened last night at river arts and one of my pieces was selected for an article about the show. Please check out my Greenman and the article here: Village Soup Artists Choice.
A organic shaped bowl reminiscent of jellyfish, undulating sea growth or other sea life.
This piece was created by cutting and arranging bits of white glass carefully to maintain the ‘holes’ and unique shape. It was then fired up to 1500 degrees F. After firing, powdered glass in blue was sifted upon the white and then the piece was again fired. Sometimes a third firing is required to add more powdered glass to achieve a deep color. After the second color is fired on the piece is fired yet again to give it the shape. Each firing takes 12 hours.
This ‘bowl’ comes with a stand for display but it can also be displayed on the wall with a plate hanger.
Goose River on a misty morning, Swanville, Maine. I love this spot along Swanville Road and pass it often. This particular spring morning the fog was thick and beautiful. I’ve tried to capture the feeling of gazing into the thick fog where everything is vague and all of a color.
Here are some images along the journey of this painting:
This piece was created from the broken bones of another wave which was destroyed at a show. It speaks to the unbreakable nature of both water and the human spirit, which flows around all obstacles wearing them down. Water is life.
Kiln fired glass in a metal stand. 100’s of pieces of cut glass are arranged like a crazy jigsaw puzzle to create this stunning art piece.
