NEWSLETTER

Why am I writing about this award - because today when I was on the FCA website I found out the names of Jurors of this show and I was particularly pleased by this discovery. I know the work of 2 of the 3 Jurors Ann Zielinski and Jean Peterson and I have admired them for years. Part of requirements for submission to this show was to describe the concept. (see the description I submitted under this painting in my Abstracts Gallery)  Even though this  painting won First Place it may not be "everybody's cup of tea" as the saying goes. As an artist putting your work "out there" takes courage and learning to be comfortable with a variety of responses can be challenging. The bottom line though is the first person you need to please is yourself. Most jurors do their best to be objective but personal tastes do come into play. I think all of us artists have felt rejected or "under appreciated" at times, not just by jurors, but people in our lives or strangers viewing our paintings - in fact some of my favourite paintings in shows have got "no love" or even notice. Having been an artist for a number of years I am increasingly aware about how much approval and acceptance affects all artists. How we manage our disappointments will be different. Art however is personal -- not just for the artist but for the viewer. I believe if you are an abstract painter you may find that it can more difficult for people to relate to your paintings. That however is why I was pleased when I accidentally discovered the names of the jurors. This painting felt right to me and that it was appreciated by 2 experienced artists that I admire made the award more meaningful. Coincidently this same painting was also rejected for an online international show around the same time - some days you just need to laugh! My suggestion is - if painting brings you joy then keep on painting and do what resonates with who you are, accept constructive suggestions from those you respect and let the generic "wow this is wonderful" comments make you smile but try not to let them sway you too much either.  It is a fine balance and I am learning that this for me requires constant self monitoring and reminders that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". If you like your own stuff, and the process of painting makes you happy then consider yourself one of the lucky ones.
 

Check out this fundraising show at the Federation Gallery on Granville Island or online at www.artists.ca   There is a huge variety of paintings all 10" x 10". I have the following 5 paintings in the show which ends on December 23rd. 

My first blog in 2020 was about six months ago and this is my second for this strange and challenging year. It has been a rollercoaster ride with a world wide pandemic, more disturbing evidence of climate change  and the dark cloud that continues to hover over all of us as we watch and listen to the political battles being played out south of our border. It is hard not to be affected by all of this at times and my guess is that most of us will be glad to see 2020 in our rear view mirror and to look forward to a more positive new year. 

When I wrote my blog last May I was struggling with finding the inspiration and motivation to paint. It has not been a straight forward path ahead but this fall I finally broke through feeling "stuck" and started to enjoy painting again -- as I told a friend the key seemed to be actually acting on the notion of painting for myself and not for shows or for others and to let go and just enjoy the process of creating. Getting "stuck" may be part of the creative journey but currently things are good. 

So what has been happening. Well I have had a number of unexpected sales, I have submitted and had paintings accepted into art exhibitions in October and November. I even won a first place award for my painting in the Concept 2020 show currently on at the Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery on Granville Island. I was also delighted to be asked by a friend of mine who has written a book to paint the cover for her book. Once published I will post an image and information about the book in one of my future blogs.

Right now if you would like to see some of my work go to the FCA website at www.artists.ca. Click on Federation Gallery on the menu at the top and once there you can check out my paintings first in the Current Show (Concept 2020 on till November 15th), second click on The Small Artwork Collection and then third in The Curated Collection.  In addition I have submitted several paintings to the FCA show called Ten Squared.  This is a fund raising Show for the FCA which runs from December 14 to 23rd. It is open to Canadian Artists and is a great option for those of you looking for some good small paintings for Christmas Gifts -- so check it out mid December. 

Images of some of my paintings

The Big Coverup (Concept Show 2020) 30"x40"

Everything is Coming Up Roses (The Small Artwork Collection) 12" x 12" 

Just Breathe (The Curated Collection) 30" x 24"

Alice's Sweater ( one of the paintings submitted to Ten Squared)

Well thats all for now. I know it is only November and is a bit premature but I would like to wish you all a  Happy and Positive 2021. 

www.lindabell.ca

When I checked my blog I realized I had not entered anything since the beginning of this year -- it has been an unusual year to say the least. Hope you are all safe and well. 

In February I went to San Miguel de Allende with a friend -- I have added a few photos - including the one of the Rooster that crowed all night next to the place we were staying. Very colourful and charming place and I was even able to navigate the killer cobblestone streets. 

On return I had developed a bad cold so got little in the way of paintings done -- then I went off to Phoenix to visit a friend the 2nd week in March. That was the week that things turned upside down and I returned to Canada on the 14th and went into self isolation and as we all now know everything changed and we are in this strange new world. I have included a photo of one of my favourite places in Phoenix called the Hermosa Inn. 

In March and April I only got one painting done -- did it for the social distancing show at the FCA. In talking to some of my artist friends I am finding I am not the only one that has found it difficult to focus and get any paintings done in this period.  The painting I did during this time is called Just Breathe - named that because another artist said it gave her a sense of calm and a feeling of space to breathe. 

Now it is May and things are looking better particularly here in BC. How lucky we are to live in this province and in this country. Spring is here (with lots of rain) the flowers are out and hope is in the air. I decided to take an online abstract painting course this month to try to kick start me to pick up a brush again. It is working. I am doing different exercises and starting to get  inspired again. Today I took most of the day to catch up and do a few paintings...... I have included them just for fun. 

The first one is an exercise to do with focus on edges including using the outside edges of the canvas.

The Second one is an exercise using a design I was not familiar with (called steelyard?) - basically an L shaped design ( in this case a reverse L ) They were fun and "thats what it is all about"  

As said I hope you are all well and safe and looking forward - we don't know how our world is going to continue to change but I am optimistic that good things will come out of this difficult time..... and to my artist friends wishing you find the joy again -- just paint, make messes, try some new things and enjoy yourself! 

Obviously I have no art shows or demos/workshops planned for the next while. I still enter some online shows at the Federation of Canadian Artists from time to time.  They still have a full schedule of exhibitions that you can view online at www.artists.ca and most paintings are available for sale -- check it out. I have done some jurying for the FCA and will be one of the Jurors for the OASIS Exhibition coming up in the Okanagan in June. Otherwise I will be painting, having a glass of wine (or 2 and perhaps a margarita) on my Patio and social distancing with my friends. Have a good summer! 

Thats all for now! 

After cleaning out my messy art studio I finally got back to painting. This is a larger painting 36" x 36" and it took awhile as I kept trying to rebalance the values and the colours. My original intent was a more neutral painting but I ended up using rather intense colours - including a number of different blues. 

As I have said before (see older posts) in this blog I have found it freeing to paint over other paintings. Sometimes after painting something new I let the painting sit for awhile and if not satisfied I go back into it and try again. Other paintings I have had around for awhile, sometimes for years and there may be parts of the painting I like but I put it aside for awhile and then pick it up and try something new. 

The first in each set below one is the latest painting 

There is not much in left in the original painting that you can see in the new painting called Bodacious Bottles but some small  parts especially on the right side and in the bottles still remain. 

The thing that I liked in the old painting below was the checkerboard pattern and so I kept that and changed up most of the rest but there are still other parts of the old painting showing through. 

The new painting is titled "Take a Chance on Me"

The last information I sent out from my website was early April so thought it time to send out a short update. So here are some of the highlights of the last 6 months.

In the spring I received a 4th Place Award for my Painting "Playing with Shape and Colour" from the International Society of Acrylic Painters. 

Much of my summer was spent taking an online art course. While I did a number of small "studies" I did not complete or post many paintings - my focus was on experimenting.

In late September I did a Workshop for the North Shore Artists Guild called " Putting the YOU in your Painting". It was a new approach for me but I was fortunate that the participants were a great group of people who were willing to share and try out some new stuff and reflect on their own art practice. 

Late September, early October I was very lucky to go to PARIS. Wonderful city. First photo below is the Ceiling of the Paris Opera - a Chagall painting and the second a van Gogh at the Musee d'Orsay and the last a photo of Saint Chapelle. So many amazing things to see. 

Yesterday I had a call from the FCA to let me know that I was awarded 2nd Place for one of my paintings in the Shape and Form Show.  The Painting is called "Loving the Blues" 

Today I finished (I think) a painting that was painted over another painting. I took me a while to do because I kept changing things up especially the colours. It is a Mixed Media painting on a large 36" x 48" canvas.

Thats all for now.

Hope everyone is having a lovely fall -- it is a wonderful sunny day here on the West Coast of Canada. 

www.lindabell.ca

I just got back from Paris and thought I would share just a few of the photos I took. 

Sainte Chapelle - absolutely stunning structure built in the 13th century by Louis 1X. Constructed between 1242 and 1248. Beautiful during the day and at night. 

Notre Dame Restoration - taken from the left bank. (Fire occurred in April 2019) 

The Lady and theUnicorn Tapestry (one of 5) at the Cluny Museum. Believed to have been done around 1480.  The colours and details are incredible. 

Paris Opera House Ceiling - Amazing ornate building - the ceiling painting was done by Chagell. 

Musee d'Orsay --- Loved loved this Museum. We concentrated on the Impressionists and post impressionists. It is a wonderful place - everywhere you look famous paintings you can walk right up to. The second painting is a van Gogh -- Bedroom in Arles - and I am standing in front of one of my favourite paintings by Cezanne. I don't look very happy in the photo but believe me I was thrilled. Wish we had more time and stamina - it was terrific. 

Two of my paintings have been accepted into this exhibition