Knowing When to Stop and Start

From my personal experience, being an artist is all about starting and stopping. The creative urge is rather unpredictable. For months, I can be on a creative rampage, with long, non-stop sessions of painting and creating. Then, it is as if a famine strikes, or a drought. I sit down, and 15 minutes later, it is time to stop.

I have been going through a blocked period for about two months now. At first, it was scary, as I questioned whether I would be able to complete another painting. Evidence shows that yes, I have finished several paintings, even during this "dry" spell, although not as many as I had several months ago.

Later, it just became annoying, to sit down, and with the concentration of a fruit fly, try to complete any portion of a painting. I was learning that it is important to know when to stop. Creatvity cannot be forced. I read recently that Leonardo DaVinci often just sat for hours, just thinking and reflecting. (It used to drive his patrons crazy.) Picasso went through a period of changing mediums daily, and even made prints of fishbones left from dinner.

I learned that every artist goes through changes in creativeness, and, while frightening, it is a natural process. Lately, I feel like I have painted every reference photo I have. While this is not true, it feels true, at the time. But one look in my reference photo drawer shows me otherwise!

I have learned that being an artist is not a 9-5 proposition. We are not trained dolphins that can create on demand. There has to be passion present, and a strong desire to create. And all of this has to be in time with my inner muse, who, some days it seems, doesn't want to paint anything.

And that is okay. Being a full time artist doesn't mean painting full time. It just means spending your time "being" an artist. I am an artist when I make greeting cards, take a nap, or go kayaking. I am an artist all the time, no matter what I happen to be doing at a given moment.

So as I struggle with this block, I am mindful to be kind to myself, and realize that even the great Leonardo DaVinci has times of creative despair. It is hard to believe, but on his deathbed, DaVinci lamented over unfinished projects. I expect that I shall do the same!

Artfully yours,

Cathy Harville

Back to Pastels

My muse has been prodding me to start painting in pastels again. So I listened. (I have posted a new pastel painting for your viewing pleasure.) "Topsail Sunset II" reminds me why I love that little island, and why I love to paint.

The economy has not slowed down the making of art among artists. I find this time valuable to build a body of work, as I explore other avenues for my work. In October, I am going to exhibit a body of work called "At Water's Edge". The coastal areas are a favorite theme of mine. I just love how the land and water interact, and how the environment changes the lighting and atmosphere.

I am still struggling with a block. This is the first time I have been blocked in two years. Last time it happened, I ended up in the psychiatric hospital with a severe bipolar episode. The block may have been caused by the mood swing. In this current block, my mood is once again unstable. So I am working on my coping skills, and doing mickey mouse work to stay busy.

I have joined another art league, and have booked a restaurant and coffee shop to show my work in 2011. As I venture out to new venues, I find my muse is pleased, and the dreaded block is occasionally lifting. I just have to wait it out. There is no other way around it!

Artfully yours,

Cathy Harville

The Economy and Art

Greetings to all,

The economy has hit everyone so hard. As a result of the lack of jobs, pay cuts, and lay offs, people are reluctant to buy artwork. This is totally understandable! After all, you cannot eat, wear, or sleep under art. Here is my take on the economy and art sales.

But I continue to paint, nonetheless. For me, making art is an essential part of my being. Without the luxury I have to make art, I would lose a part of my being.

So, I continue to build my body of work during these hard times. Perhaps I will approach a gallery. Perhaps not. But building my body of work is actually a blessing in disguise. Having more work for future clients to choose from is important.

I have taken a bold move to have a buy two, get one free sale for prints and greeting cards. I debated whether or not to do this, since I have been taught not to discount art. I will not compromise the pricing of original art, but since prints and cards are not original work, I feel comfortable with my summer sale.

Do consider art for gifts - espcially now! When so many people are scrimping and saving, a gift of art is, indeed, a luxury to bestow upon a friend. And for the cost of a nice dinner out for two, you can purchase one of my original pieces of art.

Thank you for your continued support, and many wishes for better times ahead!

Cathy Harville, nature artist

Finished or Not

Greetings to all,

Yesterday I posted this painting, titled "Sailing Club", on Facebook. I asked readers to judge whether it was "finished" or not, feeling like I needed to add detail to the foreground water. One brave soul piped up and suggested that the addition of more detail to the water would be exciting. Bravo!

So today, I will take it back to my studio and "finish" it. Finishing a painting is an arbitrary thing. Only the artist knows if a painting is finished or not. Sometimes, as in this case, the artist is not even sure!

Thinking about it, many things in life require finishing. But most of those have a definite end point. You pretty much know when a house is clean, or when the grass is cut. With soem things, as in grass cutting, you can see when you are finished.

Not so with art, and creative endeavors. You can always add a bit here and there. Sometimes, artists try to make their medium do too much. Sometimes, we fall short. Have you ever gone to a movie, and thought it was the end, only to have it go on? Or the opposite - the ending left you wanting more?

Perhaps some things never really get finished. Perhaps that is why artists paint a single scene many times. There is always something new to paint every time you look at a subject with fresh eyes. New focal points or backgrounds appear on the canvas. Sometimes, the color scheme changes dramatically.

The finishing continuum is what makes an action creative. We creatively pick a point to stop, and allow the world to see it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder indeed.

Artfully yours,

Cathy Harville

Paralysis by Analysis

Every once in a while, I think too much. When I think too much, I cannot be fully present in the moment. And when an artist is not present in the moment, art just does not happen.

Lately I am suffering from paralysis by analysis. Before I start to paint, I find myself planning the painting, I envision how I want it to look, instead of just trusting that my brush will find its way. When I practice excessive planning in my art, nothing goes according to plan!

Part of the problem may be related to my recent bout with ADD. Not being able to concentrate, I find I actually overcompensate by thinking too much about painting.

So today, I plan to reverse that trend, and just endeavor to stay in the moment. Things happen in life moment by moment. And paintings happen in just this one little moment in the present.

Silly Stuff

Being an artist means putting up with some silly stuff. Below is a list of things that are just plain silly!

1. Having to paint the whole sky again because I smeared green paint (meant for a palm tree) into the beautiful blue.

2. Not having the one image on a card that a customer wanted to buy,

3. Realizing I framed a picture upside down.

4. People thinking the photos on my cards are original art. (I wish!)

5. Children who scream bloody murder when their parents begin them in to watch me paint. (How embarrassing for those poor parents, but I find it pretty funny!)

6. People that say I don't charge enough for my work, and don't buy anything. (I just don't get it!)

7. Forgetting to photograph my work before I frame it.

8. The lousy economy - resulting in people feeling like they don't need art.

9. Not getting into shows with art leagues I belong to.

10. Getting into shows, but not selling anything.

11. Selling work at a 50/50 charity event, and not getting paid.

12. Forgetting to give customers my card and marketing materials.

13. Not being able to read the writing of clients when they sign my guest book.

And finally -

14. Forgetting to sign a painting before I photograph it!

There are many other silly things that go on, but above are the highlights.

Artfully yours,

Cathy

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