#28
Just Peachy
6×6 oil on linen

This is the third companion piece in the “Fruit Salad” collection. Here the are all together:

#27
Red Delight 
6×6 oil on linen

This is a companion piece to the Solitary Pear Painting, and I aim to complete 2 more like it, so if one takes all four, they can be displayed in a row or in a fun box shape on their wall. 

I had been working on an orange and it gave me such problems (I’m sure the problem was really myself) that after spending several hours on it, I stopped and decided to work on the apple. From setup to signature, I spent 45 minutes on it. And I can only guess that the deep darks and crisp highlights were a factor. Apples are after all shiny, and that’s what I’m most comfortable with. 

We shall see how I do with a soft fuzzy peach, next!

#26
Camac Advertisement 
Magazine Ad for the Harp Column
Photograph shows a closeup view of  the back of the harp.

As a harpist, I can’t say enough about Camac. They are breaking ground with superior designs and materials, yet they maintain hands-on  traditional methods at the same time.  Jakez is passionate about quality harp making and learning how to best serve harpists. If you’re ever in the market for a harp, contact Virginia Harp Center and check out Camac Harps! 

See more Camac ads, here.

Story continuation . . . 
About two years ago through working with Virginia Harp Center I was put into contact with the president of one of the harp makers that VHC distributes, Jakez Francois of Camac harps. And after weeks of emails, a lengthy proposal and some mockup ads, I was asked to begin designing the magazine ads for this amazing harp manufacturer. As a huge perk for me, the company is based in France and I was able to go there to take photographs of their workshop in lovely Mouzeil and their beautiful showroom in Paris.

It was a wonderful trip full of new experiences, unusual foods, and beautiful sounds. Here are a few of the memorable highlights – some great, some comical: Upon arrival my luggage was lost and remained lost for a few days; I made my first nervous presentation wearing smelly 3-day-old clothes; I was shown each step of the harp making process in the workshop; I took about 5,000 photographs; I met, ate dinners with and enjoyed the music of world famous musicians (including  Jakez Francois, Bruno Mantovani and Isabelle Perrin); enjoyed a multi course meal at a historic restaurant; tried goat cheese on apples, sushi, lamb, Foie Gras, banana crepe with nuttela, watched certain people eat cow intestine and raw beef with a raw egg on top (only the goat cheese made me gag, I’m proud to say).

On my last day in France, I toured Paris and navigated the Metro by my non-French-speaking-self from morning until midnight; witnessed many strange things riding the Metro including a “musician” that sang with a doll, a rap group, and an accordionist who sang (that one was actually very nice). I was followed by a strange man on the Metro and on various stops for about an hour; was asked out by 2 strange men; forgot that most museums would be closed the day I chose to tour Paris, and then arrived at the Louvre just as it was closing (something slightly wrong about an artist being in France and not stepping foot in a museum); enjoyed a harp ensemble, harp workshop by the gracious Isabelle Moretti, and a harp concert by Constance Luzzati; was mesmerized by la Tour Eiffel and the size of the Louvre; and enjoyed so much being around the people who work for and believe in Camac.  

There is so much more to tell- it was such a full experience, but I probably need to get some sleep tonight as do you.  

#25
Virginia Harp Center Ad
Magazine Ad for the Harp Column  

I am a harpist and a graphic designer, so what better way to enjoy what I do than to marry these two together? Let me back up and give you the short version of an unlikely story that will be continued in my next post. 

I grew up in Florida my entire life, and at the age of 26 got married to Ben. Right after the wedding, we moved to NJ – South Jersey to be exact. Where they don’t have accents and where the towns are quaint and beautiful.  A few months after our move, my harp teacher from Florida just happened to be in the area. So she wanted to swing by to say hello after going to a harp store in the area. When she came I was told that this store needed someone part time so she told them about me. They ended up calling me (that never happens) and offering me the job.

I started working for them helping with sales, tuning the harps, answering the phones. . .etc. Then over time I began designing some of their ads. So here I am in NY, still designing for them, and I love it. 

For this particular ad, I went to their branch in Richmond, VA and photographed three harpists. I took quotes from them through emails and designed the ads at home. This is the third and final ad from that trip. Since I had two ads due this month, I figured I would kill two birds with one stone. 

Virginia Harp Center is a store that distributes several makes and models of pedal and lever harps from differing companies. They have three branches: NJ (near Philly), Richmond, and Atlanta.  Honestly, if you’re ever in the market for a harp, this is the place to contact. They are the nicest people to work with! If you end up contacing them, tell MJ and David I said hello!!!

“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working”  
 Picasso 

“Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work.”
Chuck Close

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#24
Solidtude on a Windowsill  
10×10 oil on linen

This was the view that greeted me this morning, and I know . . . wow, I’m trying to write this blog and I’m totally distracted by Idol contestant Adam’s very strange shoulder pads. . .what is that???

Okay, focus Bec.  

I saw the bud that I put on the windowsill had bloomed, and the scene was so pretty, fresh and pure, that I knew I had to capture it. Well, unfortunately paint fails to display the true contrast and brightness the sun has – I was pretty much blinded as I painted because of the intense back lighting. I was having trouble seeing what was on my canvas because of the glare.  

It didn’t quite turn out how I had hoped, but it was also a new challenge for me. I hope you enjoy. 

If you haven’t already please indulge me by reading the article below. It feel that it’s the main thought that I will be walking away from 30dayartist with. I believe it’s for artists and non-artists. It is meant for those in creative fields, but it applies to everyone’s life.

During 30dayartist, I’ve gotten a few comments and emails like, “You’ve inspired me to get back into my studio.” and ” I’m inspired to take those watercolor classes I’ve always wanted to take.”
 

These are wonderful things, and I’m so glad to have been able to be a catalyst through which someone has been inspired to pursue art. It’s so helpful when we are inspired to create – it gives us that surge of energy and enthusiasm we need to get the job done well. . . or is it really what we need? There’s no denying the fact that it helps and does create an environment for getting to work, but is being inspired really something I need in order to create art?  

This thought has turned around in my head as the days have gone by this month. So many times in years past I didn’t get into the studio because I didn’t feel the inspiration – because I tell myself that you can’t make good art if you’re not feeling inspired, or that you can’t force creativity.

However this month I’ve been forced to reconsider this thought process as 18 successful paintings are staring me in the face that at some point I didn’t feel like working on.  Each painting is a direct contradition to what I have believed and (more importantly)  acted on for years. 

I promise you that of all these paintings, there have been about 2 that I couldn’t wait to get started on. Several have been painted out of duty with no pleasure found until I was nearing the end and able to see the painting coming together. 
 

Sometimes I dragged myself into the studio and soon found that inspiration and feeling as I set up the still life and saw the potential of a beautiful painting. And other times the inspiration comes from the success of the previous painting – this gives me the nudge to start a painting on the heals of another.
 

A fellow artist emailed me this week expressing that it’s so difficult to get herself into the studio sometimes, but couldn’t pinpoint why. I have felt the same things and now that 30dayartist has been upon me for 20 days, I have to say that those feelings of avoiding this room have gotten stronger. Perhaps for me it’s out of fatigue. 
 

But given my current situation I believe that it’s possible that feelings are not necessary to creating good art. If this is truly the case, then I have to every day muster up the will of my mind to choose to do something that I don’t feel like doing with the knowledge that in time my feelings will follow, and I will enjoy and feel inspired to do what I’m already doing.

Could it be that forcing myself whether I’m inspired or not is the very thing that will bring on this feeling of inspiration?  I believe that this is the case, and not only for art, but for all of life!

 

It is a principle I use in my daily life as I rely on truth and use my mind to lead my emotions. I tell myself what I will think on, and soon my emotions follow. It’s a very wishy washy way to live if we are dragged around by the ups and downs of our feelings and emotions. What a better way to live to be consistent with our feelings because we have been focusing on truth. (Now I don’t always follow this as closely as I should, but I am learning and growing in this. )
 

Perhaps I really don’t feel like being gracious and kind to an individual, how damaging would it be to act on this emotion! So I do the right thing, by using my will, mind and for me, the strength that God gives. I shouldn’t be surprised when I find the desire to be kind and to care for this person as I am speaking with them. 
 

If I may share very personally by way of example, when I am down or think that God has left me or that He has no plan for my life. I choose to focus on His Word where He says He will never leave me or forsake me and where He says that He knew all of my days and every detail of my entire life was written out by Him before I lived even one day. In spite of my emotional state where I feel alone or my life is a mess, I think on the fact that He promises that I’m not alone and that He knows what He’s doing with my life. And soon my mind which is focusing on Truth will direct my emotions. 

So let’s bring this back to art. For me, from now on I know that when I choose not to go into the studio that it is a completely invalid excuse to say it’s because I don’t feel inspired. Now I know for a fact that once I get in there and get going, that it will come and I may have another painting to go on the wall. 
 

For those of you who feel inspired right now, well get going before that feeling subsides. Do use the feeling if it’s helping you get where you want to be. But if it has already subsided or you are one of those artists who just can’t get yourself in the studio and in front of that blank canvas, then stop riding life on your feelings, and choose to do what you know you should be doing. Fight through the muck of your emotions and tell yourself what you are going to do instead of being lead around by how you feel. 

Today you are determining the person you will be a year from now.

Who are you and what are you doing today?

As the number of pieces remaining to complete dwindle down, I feel like this is the beginning of the final sprint to the finish line. The final chance to finish well and give it everything I’ve got. Today, I’m working on my 18th painting in 20 days. I’m not sure if I even did 10 paintings in all of last year. The exciting part is that the majority of these 18 paintings, I am pleased with. There are so many things I’m learning. Perhaps if I have the brain power, I will share as these last days go by. 

The following is not one of those times for waxing eloquent.  It is simply because I need to do something fun. 

Last week I started noticing :

and was really fighting with:

and getting fed up with:

You see, even my brushes are feeling exhausted and frazzled.  So I went to the magical place of art supplies where I must have one singular goal in mind or I will peruse the isles aimlessly (that is never a good thing when one has credit cards in one’s purse) and bought 4 new brushes.  They are even now starting to show signs of fatigue. 

Well, I must get back at it. This was a needed break for me – perhaps a little snack to wake me up some since I’m dragging so. . . 

Hee, went to Wegmans last night to get some goodies. What is it with me and painting food? I have no idea – it’s just sort of taken off this month. Strange

I think I’ve already expressed in #22 Pear Obsession, how I feel about pears, so I will leave you to enjoy them. 

#22
Pear Obsession
10×10 oil on linen

Okay, I realize that I may just have a problem.  I can’t get enough of pears. Not that I eat them like a madwoman, but I can’t seem to get over their look. I think pears have got to be the coolest fruit in existence.  It’s the teardrop shape, and the cool calm soft green with occasional shades of slight orange and popping yellow. The way it dimples around the tiny blossom remnant. And if you look really close, it’s the tiny spots that are stippled all over. The contrast of the nearly black stem against the soft light fruit. . . . I could go on. 

To get the point of view, I needed to put the still life almost on the floor. Seneca was a great girl and was only interested while I was setting it up. 

And under painting of aqua served me well as I started with the pears. It allowed me to establish correct values without having to paint the fabric in. 

I acquired a headache while painting the striped fabric that had creases, that I thought it would be cool to fold, that I put a clear wavy glass bowl on, that had light streaming through the bowl across the stripes on the fabric. I was totally kicking myself. 

Almost there.  This is where I  - yes it finally happened – I fell asleep in my studio. I wasn’t really trying to fall asleep, but I was really resisting either. I thought my head was going to explode from painting the fabric and the glass, from being brain tired. . .etc. so I laid down near my sleeping puppy in the sun, and  well . . . the sleepies got me.  But I’m okay, now. 

Time for Idol. . .