Painting

Posted on July 31st, 2009

Today was a day when I could spend the whole day working on a new work. I close my studio doors, open my windows, and let my spirits soar. I find no greater joy then with a brush in my hand and ideas as I work flying through my head. I feel so blessed at times to know that God thought to give me this ability and want to share it with anyone who cares to see the final results. There is no greater wonder to me when I stand back and see what I have created from those few minutes in a day that I turn off the world and soar.

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“Missing You Marilyn”

Posted on July 30th, 2009

This is one of my newest small mixed media works on my joycehillsmallstudio.blogspot.com Priced at a reasonable affordable price of $50.00 We as artists in this tight economy try to find solutions when art sales are slow. I am always interested in selling original art. I think owning a “original” piece of art rather than a print is a very special thing. When you buy something “one of a kind” from any artist you have bought a piece of their “soul”. So let me know what you think of my “small pieces” of me.

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July 18th, 2009 art experience called “Art Sounds”

Posted on July 21st, 2009

On Saturday July 18th I participated in a interesting art experience with the Western New York Artists Group and Canisus College. Artists painted and drew as musicians performed different genres of music. The works created will be auctioned off on October 1, 2009 at the Montante Center on Canisus College. Details of this event will be posted on my blog at a later date. The idea of painting to music is always appealing to me. Dave Matthews and Ani Defranco being two of my favorites to listen to while working in my studio. My hand and brush moves with the notes coming to me as I push and pull the paint. I have even based a series of paintings a few years back on Dave Matthew’s “A Space Between” song. The experience of working at this event I did not find intimidating as many artists told me they would be if there. Now granted talking to people about my work at the same time as laying down color is a challenge at best but one I enjoy. People looked at what I was doing and commented on shapes, lines, and even why I was adding a certain color. I think this added to what I was doing and helped the public t appreciate and better understand the process of “creating”. I did not worry about every stroke that went down and therefore happy surprises were on the paper. I love happy surprises! I do need my solitary time as a artist in my studio but painting at this event was a wonderful learning experience that hopefully will in some small way expand my visions on paper. I will be putting the finishing touches on both pieces I started at this event and will post them when done on my blog.

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“Art Sounds” event Sat. July 18, 2009 Karpeles Museum

Posted on July 14th, 2009

This Sat. July 18, 2009 I will be one of the participating artists in ArtSounds a live art/music event. This free event featuring artists working on pieces with live music will take place Sat. July 18th 2009 from 12 noon- 4pm at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum. The adrees is at the corner of Elmwood and North Ave. Buffalo. NY. I will be doing a painting with mixed media to the sounds of Canisus musicians playing different types of music in a free even to the public. I will also have finished works available for sale. My new 5″ x 7″ will be available for $75 unframed. Stop by this free concert and art event and say hi.

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Encaustic Workshop

Posted on July 13th, 2009

I just got back from a wonderful workshop experience at the Womens Studio Workshop in Rosendale, NY. I was invited by my artist friend Beth to go for one week and do photo transfers with printmaking and encaustic techniques. I was immediately curious to find out what these new techniques were, being I have been using photo transfers in my mixed media paintings for years. I am always open to learn even though I thought my techniques were adequate for what I was trying to express in my work. Boy was I wrong…. The first few days I worked with inks and printmaking taking my photos through several processes and changing these photos into plates for printing. Though I do not enjoy the whole printing process I was in new ways taking a photo copy and using it a whole new way. After three days printing I went on to work at R&F Handmade Paints in Kingston, NY working with wax and photos. I have never worked with encaustics and immediately saw all kinds of possibilities with this process for the future in my work. I hope to have new images posted with this process soon.

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Artists and Workshops

Posted on July 2nd, 2009

I have written before in this blog about artists needing to share what they do and attending a workshop is a great way to go.  I have in my lifetime only attended one other workshop on papermaking.  I have many books on art and methods of using different materials. The books only tell you how to use paint or a particular material.  I can try all these methods but seeing what other artists do with the same materials and methods is “priceless”.  Artists approach there work in so many different ways.  I always start my works with a idea or subject matter then build my idea from that photo or piece of found metal, paper, or even a word .  Other artists start with a color, a brush stroke, or a drawing.  I learn so much by just seeing how artists start a work and use the materials they are experimenting with at the time.  On Sunday I am off on this journey of discovery through my fellow artists and a monoprint/encaustic workshop.  So here I go off on this incredible adventure.  I will be writing about it  on this blog and logging my thoughts in a journal every day after the studio.  Talk to you soon.

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curves

Posted on July 1st, 2009

This photo will be one of many that I will use at the encaustic/monoprint workshop I will be going to next week outside NYC. I am excited to learn about using encaustic in my mixed media paintings. I thought I would start with flowers as my subject matter as I am learning this ancient method of painting with wax. I do not want a whole painting done in wax but use it as another element of collage in my compositions.

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creating in your studio?

Posted on July 1st, 2009

Yesterday while working on a mailing for my gallery in Buffalo with a group of artists we started a discussion about working alone as a artist.   The seven artists there  felt that painting, drawing, or doing their art in front of other people was way too intimidating for them.  I do not agree at all.  Yes, as a artist I need quiet time to think and create, but sharing what I do is something I need too.  Whenever I do workshops or demonstrate photo transfers to a group of school children or artists it makes my day.  I know I was blessed with a gift.  This thought drives me every day in my work.  Artists need to know that you grow as a artist when you share the process with others.  After all we are a very important part of this world.  We need to grow and we need to educate the public.  I know I have something to share in this world that is special and all mine.   I plan on sharing through education every chance I get as a artist.  I know I learn something every time I do.  Lets not be so afraid to show the path that takes us to our next great work.  Hope to see you out there too.

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