downtown.

After a slightly dragged-out hiatus, I have finally completed a new painting!

This is my city. It is my interpretation of downtown St. John's. I thought Signal Hill was a little too accustomed to getting the attention so I decided paint the view in the other direction. I took a photograph of this spot last winter.  Although I used it as a guide, I never wanted the painting to look exactly like my photo. I like to think of painting as an outlet to communicate my own unique expression of what is real. I use different colours, geometric shapes and smudges, but usually try and keep the overal layout of things the same.

I'm generally pretty pleased with this one thus far. I really like the colours. Specifically some the accents (bright red and mint green). I am totally digging the fact that it worked out like I wanted. Up close, it just looks like a pile of colours and shapes. BUT, from far away, it actually look like what I want it to look like! Downtown St. John's.

Hope everyone is having a glorious holiday with fam and friends! Merry Christmas and Merry wishes to all that you may be celebrating this time of year!

above my bed. it is actually fairly gigantic

Painting Soundtrack: Fionn Regan "100 Acres of Sycamore"

she colours up the sunshine hours.

Lately, as an artist, I have been completely and hopelessly uninspired. I have started several paintings but they are all just sitting in my bedroom (aka art studio and hermit cave of emotion), unfinished and kind of unfortunate looking. I have one half started boat and a night skyline that I painted over an abstract that turned out looking like a gigantic vagina (Win?). I'm going to blame this slump on overall busy-ness, with school and work (new job!) and general self analysis that I always seem to get myself caught up in.

So I figured, considering I have been a total blob and haven't been up on my blog posts or painting endeavours, I would share with you a few of my favorite pieces as of late (normally, found by my scouring of art blogs and reading of various magazines and online articles).  I usually just post what I find to my Pinterest account and come back and have a look when I'm feeling like starring incessantly at the blank canvas is just too much to handle. It helps! My apologies for not having the names of all the artists available (horrible of me). I forgot to tag them when I added the images to the Pinterest account and now I cannot seem to find the permalinks. Blasted interwebz.

Here's to increased artistic and intrinsic motivation!

Behold!

Artist unknown. via allthemountatins

Willem de kooning. Pirate untitled II 1981

Next three paintings are by an artist named Michael Cina. Check his website out here. Seriously, his work is some of my favorite. Love the color choice and textures. 

Trying Is the First Step To Failure,  Michael Cina

Via PublicWorks exhibit

Leave the Future Behind,  Michael Cina

Via Public Works exhibit

Draw Near, Michael Cina

Via Public Works exhibit

Note: I have been meaning to go to Kent Building Supplies and buy a shit ton of wood to use instead of canvas. I love the way the acrylic paint sits on wood. Got some fun ideas for projects!

A collaged map by Matthew Cusick. Check out some more via BOOOOOOOM!

 Sean Clark

Unknown artist. Via The Edit

Note: You would think I had a thing with skeletons or something? Not the case at all really. I was just extremely impressed with the color choice on both of these pieces. Very unique and wonderful. Couldn't help but totally love skeletons for these two.

Zoe Pawlak

Listening to: Joni Mitchell- Conversation

Note: title adapted from lyrics from Joni Mitchell's "Ladies of the Canyon"

My heart.

acrylic on canvas

Rainy days and beautiful places.

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to attend Writers at Woody Point- a beautiful, literary festival held on the west coast of Newfoundland. Woody Point is absolutely stunning. I can barely express how much I fell in love with the place- I was effortlessly filled with calm relaxation and creativity (normally, not an easy task). Being there was the absolute best sense of being overwhelmed- beauty and art and music and friends and feeling at home. Lovely.

It rained one day during our stay, but there was no way I would waste any time indoors. I put on my raincoat and walked around, taking pictures that I knew I would eventually turn into paintings. Here's the first painting of that rainy day (I'm hoping there will be many more).

18" x 24"
acrylic on canvas

On another note, there was one particular spot in Woody Point called Galliott Studios that made my heart skip a few beats. A gorgeous art studio, shop and cafe, with MY DREAM WORKSHOP at the back. I wanted to put on an oversized plaid shirt, pour a cup of coffee and get to work. So many paints and brushes and ideas. I cannot wait until I can have a little workspace of my own.

What a spot. I'd have a few cups of tea out here, rain or shine.