Sunset Grasses

Attached is a wild waterscape that I completed recently, titled "Returning". The sun was setting as we returned from a day on the water. The grasses captured the colors of the setting sun, creating a display of color that just amazed me. The painting has a second name, "Grass Sunset".

To paint the tall grasses, I used a plastic pizza cutter. I just rolled the pizza cutter in a pan of paint, so it was coated all the way around. The results were very gratifying!

I often paint with odd things - my fingers, paper towels, and more traditionally, palette knives. Yes, I do use brushes, but I love to paint with my fingers. Clouds are especially easy to paint with my digits!

Sometimes a painting will paint itself - others are like hard labor. The ease of completing a painting really depends on two things - how well I "know" the subject, and how large the painting is. I seem to get stuck on larger paintings, probably because there are more problems to work out. Smaller paintings have less detail, and seem to go more smoothly.

I am working to get my completion rate up from about 30% to nearer to 70%. I think I need to put more thought into the process, and allow my brain to solve problems while I sleep. It always seems to help when I approach a half finished painting after a good night's sleep.

Then, there are gems like "Returning". With the goal clear in my mind, and the pizza cutter trick, this painting almost painted itself! Such gems are rare, and much appreciated.

Artfully yours,

Cathy Harville

www.harvilleart.com

Creative Famines

I am going through some changes to my meds, which is causing a "creative famine". Actually, I have no trouble with planning the creative process, just in the execution.

My mind and body are not cooperating - I am wired and tired, and my focus is almost non-existent. I think I know why, but it is scary to think that a drug can have so much effect on one's productivity.

The reason I am changing meds, is because of side effects - body jerking at night before I get to sleep. While not dangerous, the body jerks make it impossible to get to sleep. Over time, there is the possibility that they will become permanent.

All of this is contributing to a lack of concentration for almost any activity. I can do laundry, but that is about it! Painting has become difficult, since without concentration, I cannot stick working on a painting. Even typing this is difficult!

Mental disorders are complicated. And treatment of them is equally complicated. To all of you out there experiencing a mental disorder, my heart goes out to you. I hope you have a good doctor. Hang in there. Science is slowly, but surely, getting some answers to these puzzles.

Artfully yours,

Cathy

Finishing

Yesterday, I talked about discipline. Today, I want to talk about finishing paintings.

It may seem odd to the general public that many paintings go unfinished. A well-known artist I know has about a 20% non-finishing percentage, which means that one in every five paintings he attempts is never completed. My percentage of is quite a bit higher.

Recently, I have learned that I can probably lower that percentage if I completely commit to a painting. The fact is, that I do not finish some paintings because I hit a "block". I am now learning to paint through blocks, and keep pushing forward. Then, as I am learning, the painting will come together.

I have started a new series called "work in progress". As I work on the paintings I have started, which is all two of them, I take photos to show my progress. The in progress photos won't be revealed until I am certain that I am going to finish the piece. Maybe that is cheating, but I like it it is avoiding unneccesary postings.

Maybe that is not such a good idea. Seeing a painting blocked in is not awe-inspiring. I want the viewer to be more involved with my work, and just thought this is a novel idea. My first posting on Facebook did draw any comments, so perhaps my audience is not interested in such a thing.

But taking pictures as I work is providing a push to finish what I have started. And that is a very good thing!

Artfully yours,

Cathy Harville

Discipline

Being an artist, discipline is not one of my stronger suits. While I can be disciplined to finish a painting, I am less disciplined with daily activities.

One area I am going to try to improve upon is posting blogs! It doesn't matter if I don't have a lot to say, but I realize that posting is the backbone of the blog. So, I will try to use my early morning hours to post more blogs more frequently.

Discipline is a learned skill, and one must practice it to get better at it. So, for the next several weeks, I will strive to be more disciplined, and post regularly. And, if my audience wants, they can keep me on track!

An update - I have been rather manic for the past several weeks, and typing has been difficult. Between my doctor and myself, we seem to have gotten the beast under control. What a relief! The mania was not the happy kind. It was like an internal restlessness, and sleep was hard to come by.

I am not using the mania as an excuse, although my typing time was restricted to essential tasks. As I type this, I am still struggling with the hand to eye coordination. I just need to discipline myself, and power through the problems in life.

As we embark on a new week, I challenge everyone to think of an area in their lives that could use more discipline. Perhaps you are already disciplined enough in daily life to be productive and successful. But if not, here is your opportunity to learn a new skill, and get more out of life.

Namaste,

Cathy

Thank you to my Kickstarter Supporters

Thank you to all my Kickstarter™ Project Supporters!

$10 Contributors

· Brandi Chroniger, Owner of “FACES by Brandi” at Historic Savage Mill - treat yourself to a make-up session, a facial, and sample her many natural uplifting skincare products! 301-470-FACE (3223)

· Thomas Teabo, Owner of Angular Surveying and Mapping in Raleigh, NC.

919-819-1724

· Stephanie Yanovitz, Creative Project Facilitator, syanovitz@gmail.com,

215-370-0476

· Eric Sparre, Director of Artspan – a first class, affordable website for

artists of all types! Have complete creative control over your

website look and feel, and e-mail list, and detailed

statistics. Check out www.artspan.com for more information.

· Inge Hyder

$25 Cool Contributors

· Beth Dora Reisberg

· Beth Barany – Creativity Coach, specializing in helping writers get

their books written and published! www.bethbarany.com.

· Bruce Montgomery

· Sara Moran

· George Randall, Owner of GER Lawn Care at gerlawncare@yahoo.com.

George also tutors in mathematics, and can be reached

at 301-335-7870.

· Laurinda Lee, Artist in Residence at Historic Savage Mill, Studio 113 –

leelaurind@aol.com.

· Felton Barner, Photographer and creator of ReImage Galleries –

flbarner@yahoo.com

· Marlena Lazarus

$50 Very Cool Contributors

· Sandra Kerwin

· Jill Kolody

$100 Super Cool Contributors

· Mary Long

· Shirley Teabo

· Sherrie Lazarus

$300 Awesome Contributors

· Teresa Spaid Archer – Principal of Orndorff & Spaid, Inc. - Commercial Roofing and Sheet Metal Company – 301-937-5911

· Brenda Spaid Fowler – Principal of Orndorff & Spaid, Inc. - Commercial Roofing and Sheet Metal Company – 301-937-5911

· Keith Spaid – Principal of Orndorff & Spaid, Inc. - Commercial Roofing

and Sheet Metal Company – 301-937-5911

· Alma Spaid – Wife of past owner of Orndorff & Spaid, Inc. - Commercial Roofing and Sheet Metal Company – 301-937-5911

Thank you to everyone! And a big shout out to Orndorff & Spaid, Inc.!

Summertime = Quiet Time

It has been a busy spring. In addition to a studio show, finishing my book, a Mill event, and a few charity shows, I have been hospitalized for a relapse in bipolar disorder, as well as chest pain (my heart checked out fine!). For a while, it was a rough patch.

Now, with all the shows behind me, I can relax a bit and paint. Boating season offers a respite from the busy Mill weekends. Going out on our boat offers solitude, time to think, and time to rest. While kayaking, compositions spring forth, and my sketch book fills up.

I have been reading a book about "productive obsessing" by Eric Maisel. He is the author of numerous books on the subjects of creativity and the mind, and how we can think ourselves into greatness. Despite the "quiet" of the summer, my mind is working on percolating the next big project. Some candidates include: expanding my book, and finding a less costly route for publishing; filling two beautiful 12x16 frames I acquired this weekend (for a song, from a kind Mill merchant); working big, as in 24X36 size; using rice paper and tissue paper to create some semi-abstract florals; and finally, continuing to experiment with various color palettes.

Obviously, I need some focus! But I have learned that I need to let my mind obsess things into being. So, I remain quiet as I finish a few canvases I have been working on, including the two 12X16's! I write in my art journal daily, and sketch crazy ideas. I play with small canvases, and try new application techniques and mediums. I mess up a lot, but I also learn a lot.

So to those of you who are obsessing, try productive obsessing. It is far more rewarding, non-anxiety producing, and kind of fun, like daydreaming about cool stuff. Let me know what your mind come up with!

Artfully yours,

Cathy Harville

Busy, busy , busy!

Lots going on-

Friday May 14th, 6 Pm to 8 PM - a "Champagne and Chocolate"reception will be held in my Studio at Historic Savage Mill, celebrating "When Land Meets the Sea". Also featured is my friend and guest artist, Suzie Lane-Rose. Open to the public, and free!

Sat and Sun., May 15th and 16th - Mill's Spring Cleaning Event - I plan to have unused art supplies at low prices, and secret sales on select merchandise. I will be open form noon to 4 PM both days.

Sunday, September 26th - "Road to the Arts" - Mill artists will be coordinating open studios, with new work and refreshments.

Please check out my website for new work! www.harvilleart.com.

And, on http://cathy-harville.artistwebsites.com.

My Kickstarter project is fully funded, and donations are still being accepted. I have printed a few copies of my book, "When land Meets the Sea", and it turned out great! (It took me a few hiccups before I found all the editing errors!) Please visit www.kickstarter.com to find out how you can support the arts - search my name to find my video. The book my be previewed on www.blurb.com.

Thanks to all my backers, supporters and friends!

Artfully yours,

Cathy