Seshwan anyone?

Tally ho from the fair province of SESHWAN Canada. Seshwan?? Yeah, Seshwan. At least according to an illiterate US news station who had trouble pronouncing our humble home of Saskatchewan during a report about the Saskatchewan Roughriders footbal team. I guess I never have to worry about the Americans invading us…they would never find SESHWAN on the map! <img src = "wp-admin/yahoostyle/tongue.gif">

Okay, okay, I know, I realize our province’s name is a word that can seem rather challenging to pronounce upon first glance. So, for those of you out there not familiar with it, here is a little phonetic lesson in how to pronounce this oft ridiculed province of mine. <img src = "wp-admin/yahoostyle/wink.gif">

Sass-catch-you-one.

Catch me one what and who is Sass, I don’t know, but maybe it’ll help you remember how to pronounce Saskatchewan. <img src = "wp-admin/yahoostyle/wink.gif">

Excuse me now whilst I go back to enjoying some seshwan….mmmmm….beeeeeef….

Published in: on November 30, 2005 at 5:30 pm Comments (0)

Artistic styles and achieving dreams

Recent discussion on our Equine Art Guild group brought up the topic of pastels and the unique way in which artist Dawn Emerson handles them. I was very intrigued with her colourful portrayals of my favorite subject matter, the black Friesian horse. I just HAD to try something like it out as an exercise to satisfy my own curiousity. (I’m even more curious as to how she accomplishes what she does on hardboard! I wonder what she does to prep the surface to hold onto the pastels….)

Over the past few months, I have been experimenting with new techniques and mediums, wondering just where I fit in with all these unique styles. Am I doomed to forever portraying photo-realistic horses and wolves, or is there some unique inner voice in me that is waiting to be discovered on canvas? Or is my inner voice the realistic portrayal of that which I do not have? What do you all think? Is my art recognizably my own? Can you tell a Sheri Gordon original when you see one??

I know I certainly can tell a Kim McElroy or a Leslie Harrison original, two artists whom I admire deeply. And certainly, Dawn’s work is uniquely her own as well. Her horses are real enough yet artsy at the same time. A few other artists whose work intrigues me is Indra Singh and Susan Leyland. Their art is realistic yet artsy at the same time, something I wish I could achieve but so far, have not.

My ponderings have lead to some conclusions. For many years growing up, yearning for a horse of my own, I drew many fantastical creatures. Horses that were real yet not real. Something I sought but couldn’t quite get my hands on. I drew out of angst for the dream that I longed for.

Then 3yrs ago I was finally allowed to pursue a small part of that dream. Small being the operative word. <img src = "wp-admin/yahoostyle/wink.gif"> Providence saw fit to bring a miniature black stallion into my life at a time when I was beginning to lose all hope that I ever would have a horse of my own.

While I was so happy to finally have a horse of my own, reality began replacing fantasy.

Horses aren’t at all like the animal we dream about. The Black Stallion, there is not. At least I haven’t discovered one yet. Animals love you because you feed them, take care of them, nothing more. Or so I was slowly beginning to realize. Don’t get me wrong, horses are great animals, but the “dream horse” fantasy that is magical and mystical and all powerful…well, hehehe, reality check, right?

Mundania hath replaced fantasy.

What do you do when the mundane invades into your life and you feel silly portraying the magical that you once did?

“Once Innocence is lost, can it be regained?”

Maybe it is just that I’ve been overworked and not had a whole lot of time for daydreaming, something I did daily and almost non-stop as a youngster. The fuel for my fire, the muse to my art, is fading away and I so desperately want to get it back.

Perhaps that is why I feel so confused lately as to what style of art I should be doing. Part of me wants to do the more serious “Carl Brenders” type of work, and part of me wants to do the more fantastical not necessarily realistic type of work. While I’m not looking to become “rich” from my artwork….a living would be enough, to cover my expenses and keep food on the table for the kids and my animals. The more serious work may sell to a wider audience, but the fantastical art carries deeper meaning and connection. Which way will I go? Perhaps both. Can an artist do that? I don’t see why not. Perhaps I will be the artist who can be recognized for doing what she wants and not listening to what convention say she should be drawing or painting. I don’t want to be pigeon-holed into one category of art or another. I can sympathize with Shania Twain, who could neither be categorized as a country singer or a rock singer. She has her own unique style. It certainly has worked for her! I’m sure it can work for me. <img src = "wp-admin/yahoostyle/smile.gif">

ANYHOO, the whole point of my ramblings today was to show you all my exercise in the Dawn Emerson style. I tried it out on a piece of light colored barkskin paper which has quite a texture to contend with, but overall, it seems to have “worked”, albeit not as effortless looking as Dawn’s work. I tend to like to overwork things and go into too much detail. If there is one thing I HAVE learned i sthat an abstract artist, I most certainly am not! <img src = "wp-admin/yahoostyle/wink.gif">

Friesian art

Published in: on November 26, 2005 at 8:35 pm Comments (0)

My son’s first drive on his new Learner’s Permit

Yesterday, while I was working in my studio with one of my art students, I experienced one of those momentous times in a parent’s life.

I watched my son pull out of the driveway in our minivan, with my hubby in the passenger seat, on their way into the city. Our driveway was full at the moment too because my student’s vehicle was parked in it, so it was a bit of a challenge for him to get out of there, backing out onto the highway that fronts our yard. But he did it just fine, and I watched as he pulled away.

While a part of me was confident that my son would do just fine, a small part of me was worried for him not so much because of the fact he’s a 15yr old boy, but moreso that he just hasn’t had a whole lot of experience yet and it is November which here in Saskatchewan usually means for treacherous road conditions. Although this November has been unseasonably warm, instead of snow, I was more concerned about the potential of freezing rain forecast for the day. How slippery were the roads, I wondered. It was overcast. Granted, the van is front wheel drive and well maintained with brand new winter grip tires on it, so it handles well even on slippery surfaces, but still. There’s always that lack of experience factor that can do in pretty much anybody. (Thinking back to my hubby’s stories of his first day with his driver’s license, totalling off his parent’s car because of a run in with a sheet of ice.

But they made it there, and they made it home again. Whew!!!

Not only that, but afterwards, we had some shuffling of cars to do in our backyard. (My Phoenix in winter storage, Scott’s Cougar, another parts car, and a car in storage out here from the shop.) The car in storage from the shop, a beautiful ‘94 T-bird, had to be brought out front so Scott could take it in to the shop today to be claimed. (Long story story, deadbeat customer abandoned it there back in January, so they needed a place to store it until the legal things could be sorted out. It was taking up valuable space in an already overbooked automotive shop.)

ANYHOO, this T-bird was parked very tightly with the other cars in a nice neat row. I looked out my back window to see it was being moved very carefully, but not realizing at the time that it was my son who was driving it. I walked to the front door and looked outside and here’s my hubby out with the van. Took me a second to realize it and then hollered out to him “Where’s James???” (our son) He said he was bringing the T-bird around up front. I was like, eeeeek!!! You let HIM drive the car out of that tight confinement and bring it around front? It’s not even our car!

But my motherly worries turned out to be for nothing as James brought the car around safely to the front driveway, no problems at all.

So now I’m left wondering, just where did he learn to drive so well??

Published in: on November 24, 2005 at 11:42 am Comments (0)

Cleaning up the Studio

I’ve been busy doing spring cleaning in winter. I’ve posted a few of my old, old sketches up on ebay to give some of them a chance of a good home.

I know, I may regret this later, wishing I’d kept them all, but as the miniature horse mantra goes, “You can’t keep them all!!!” :)

They deserve to be shared with those who will love them as much as I do, so, if you’re looking for a great deal on some fun sketches, have a gander at my my ebay auctions. Here’s a little teaser:

Eye is the Window to the Soul

Published in: on November 23, 2005 at 9:53 am Comments (0)

Welcome to the Blog

Welcome to my Blog! I couldn’t help myself, but whenever I heard the word “blog” the song from Ren & Stimpy comes to mind. Sung to the Slinky tune. Read it with that in mind and I swear, it will be repeating itself in your head forever on. Oh the nastiness of it all! :)

Anyhoo, hopefully I will be able to sneak away from my busy schedule from time to time to let y’all know what I’m up to on the easel and behind the keyboard. Perhaps I’ll be working on YOUR next favorite painting. Wait and see!!!

Published in: on November 22, 2005 at 9:08 pm Comments (0)

Blog!

Blog!

Blog rolls down stairs, alone or in pairs,
tells all about your neighbor’s dog.
It fits on your back, it’s good with a snack
It’s BLOG! BLOG! BLOG!!!

It’s BLO-OG, It’s BLO-OG, it’s neat, it’s fancy, it’s cute!
It’s BLO-OG, It’s BLO-OG, it’s better than bad, it’s good!!!

Everyone wants a Blog
The young and the old, ahuh!
C’mon and get your Blog!
BLOG BLOG BLOG!!!

Published in: on at 8:46 pm Comments (0)