In Vancouver this week, it was the occasion of the city’s oldest artist collective and their annual open studio event. I managed that, plus a bit of work, woo-hooo!

Meetings & Making

I’m thinking about the series I have on the go, possibly to be added to, and somehow I wasn’t counting the minimal one, Quietude. Is that because I only just finished it? I do want to keep pushing minimal as well as abstract, in both directions: how minimal? How busy? How much realism? So this week, I played a bit with some pieces that didn’t seem to be headed in any other direction: what if I just covered them up some more?

They got a lot quieter, for sure, but not enough to be considered for the Quietude club. Oh well, it was fun to push in that direction, and I surpised myself, always a bonus.

At some point this past week, I made some time for a bit of hands-on art, as I finally found some white gesso. Way back in the Collage Maker’s Summit tutorials, one of the instructors (Gloria Gelo) suggested it as a way to push back a busy composition. Why not just paint, though? The gesso has tooth, and can be worked into better, she said.

That was an improvement on this busy piece, though others I tried could have used a complete paint-over. It feels similar to how I created the digital effects above — a new layer, selectively applied. I like the idea of having a technique that crosses media boundaries.

I also created more spelling book spreads — a few each week and I’ll soon be through the book.

One of these seems to fit with the minimalist attempt above, and the others are continuing on a bold & loud road. Just first pass, so we’ll see how that all shakes out when the second pass is up.

Viewing

My main art excursion this week was the West of Main art walk. But I didn’t take any pictures of the art, duh!! See the artists I met up with by visiting their websites:

• Mary Lang: abstracts with digital & analog mix
• Karen Marki: minimal, textured horizons
• Lisa Farrell: bold gridded abstracts

I have not lacked for art outings in this new town, and art folks are, as everywhere, delightful.

Finishing

Speaking of series on the go, four more pieces in my Adaptive Horizons series are emerging from the work-in-progress pile, where we last checked in on Week 18. This is the second addition to the original works in 2018.

I let them sit for a bit, might have tweaked a bit of colour, and then went hunting for titles and something to say. Now, they’re official and on this site. Hurrah! Here’s their introduction post.

It felt good to move things to the Done pile, but wow, there is a lot of work that goes with that, time that doesn’t go toward art making. These pieces now have their own posts, inventory numbers, and introductions. Next up — finding options for sharing them.

Reading

Oh, my pile of books is only growing! I’m on a wonderful book right now, but EACH page is a prompt to sit & think, think and write — it will take me months. Today, just on page 36, I read this great prompt, from the book at the top of the pile:

What are the 10 most important values you would defend as an artist?

Anne West: Mapping the Intelligence of Artistic Work

Ten? TEN! I can maybe come up with five. I’m letting that one sit, while I ponder all the other books.

Here’s what I’m thinking: why not start them ALL? I might as well, at this rate. Just need a few more bookmarks…

I was thinking that each week, as I try to remember what I’ve done for this post, I always find something that gets left out completely. Did I make scribble collages, or take my camera for a walk? I did not! Other weeks, I don’t get to my art books or podcasts. Is that normal, as we juggle life? How do you manage it?

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