Art Brings Joy!---Or filling in the back in a most timely manner

(All photos copyright Anne M Huskey-Lockard, 2009, All rights reserved.)

Everything in it's place.......! :)

As I was bemoaning yesterday, I thought filling the niche on the back of the canvas was going to be quick and easy and found myself completely frustrated when it did not just happen. Every one of you who is a creative knows the feeling; the idea is firmly in your minds eye but it is NOT leaving, no matter how much you pull or pry or beg. I would like to think it was because I had been out of the studio for a while, but I truly believe I had extra presure due to the fact that this was one of the three blog giveaways, and of course, they go to friends. So each will have to fit the person, so they will be happy with the work, and thus, the brain said, "I really have had ENOUGH of YOU for a while." And luckily it was a short while.

So I walked away and let it sit. And I found that after a nap, dinner and some real sleep, I went to the studio very very early and found the precise pieces and places for them. Which worked out wonderful as the recipient of the work, Val, was coming over yesterday. She was a little stunned and pleasantly surprised, thinking it was only going to be the front of the work that she would see.

Val and her new prize!

But the back met with her approval to, and when she got to take it home yesterday too, well, that reminds me of why I keep plugging along with this work I do! (although I do question my sanity occasionally....okay, more like frequently!)

Val and the back of the box canvas, filled with pieces I hoped she would find important and meaningful.

There is a particular joy in producing art specifically for someone. You have no hesitation about putting things into it that might be part of a collection you normally would save. You know the very right item must be used (in this case, it was the broken shell, which took a lot of internal coaxing to part with). It had to be there; Wabi-Sabi. Long slender seeds from a Tulip Poplar, coated with iridescent paint. A two-tone, perfectly polished and not perfectly shaped stone. Two sterling silver leaf charms I have hoarded for a long time.
When art goes to a stranger, it should be the best work you can possibly do.
When art goes to a friend, it must be imbued with something even more.
That's one down on my obligation list from the blog give away. Hopefully the two other recipients-to-be will be patient with me and know that I really want whatever I make to be their art when it is complete.
I don't do generics.
These are parts of my soul.
Go let your soul fly free and create today!

P.S. Smile with that art work! This canvas, just for the record, was 4" x 4". Big art! Small package!

Valerie May: Artist, Friend

"Art feeds my spirit, nourishes my soul."

Valerie May

All photos in this post were provided by and are the exclusive

property and copyright of Valerie May, 2009.

"Falcons Facing West"

"Oriental Yin-Yang Collage"

"Light One Inverted"

"Greek Collage"

I thought I would simply start today's post with an artist's quote and ART. Pure, beautiful, unadulterated ART. The type that makes you stop in your tracks to look, pulls at your heart (and checkbook!), things you want to either make or make your own.

That is the type of work Valerie produces. After a long drought of not dealing with art she joined the Community Artists Co-Op--in fact, she was at our very first meeting--and has not looked back or stopped since. (please click on all the photos to view in a larger format--there is so much detail to enjoy that can't be seen in the smaller size pics.)

Val has an art degree but has a very Zen approach to what she does. While she can produce *exact copies* (extremely realistic paintings) her view is , "Been there, done that, why go back?" One of her favorite quotes is from Picasso:

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

And indeed it does as is evidenced by what she consistently produces.

I envy her ability to work with abstract in an apparently easy, nonplussed manner. She says she can teach me. I am thinking that she might have met her match on that one...."Little Miss Anal-About-Details" doing an abstract??? Oh, but I want to!

I could rave extensively about what I find appealing in each piece but I'm not going to. I want you, my gentle readers, to look deep into them and see what speaks to YOU. And please leave posts here directly to Val, because she does not have a blog yet, and she will be able to read and answer any questions you may have.

And now one more little tidbit I have to admit that I had been keeping secret.

At our LAA Show, Val sold a painting called "Quilt In Oil". The buyer chose to remain anonymous. Well, Kiddo, it is hanging in my kitchen. I had looked and looked at the piece loving it more each time I saw it and knew, at the right time, it would come home with me.

So I proudly own an original, and couldn't be happier!

I hope you all enjoy this small sampling of Val's talent and her delightful use of color and composition. She is truly one of a kind!

Now go do something creative and use your day well!!! OR ELSE!!! ;)

(I'll chase you with my cane....HA!!! Okay, you can get off the floor and quit laughing now.....)