Margaret Godfrey, a watercolorist from the Eugene area, has taken me up on the offer of an interview. You can see my questions to her, and her answers, on her blog MSGodfreyArt. I find it interesting to hear what let people to pursue art, and find out more about the glimpses we get of each others’ lives via blog-land. Be sure to leave a comment if you want to participate.
I notice many people participate in blog give-a-ways as a way to expand their circle of readers. I’m trying to sift through how I feel about this. On one hand I like the idea of giving back to a community of people who share their daily lives and art so freely. On the other hand, I don’t like the idea of giving my art away, unless it will benefit a very good cause. Because I sell my art, I feel rather protective of those wonderful souls who part with large sums of hard-earned money in order to live with my creations. I am still trying to sort out the pros & cons of participating in give-a-ways… so if those of you who have done them have tips (pro or con) I would appreciate your wisdom in the comments forum…
On the same topic, the 100 Artists show at Mary Lou Zeek gallery is one cause I donate to every year. I have been having an obsession with checking her site daily (ok… 5 times daily) to see the creations as she posts them. (here is the direct link to the page with 100 Artists ) At this point she has about 50 artists work posted, and keeps adding new ones each evening. I love seeing what people came up with, reading their artists’ statements, etc. I was struck by how many artists, like myself, had trouble breaching the sanctity of the book. Yet many broke through this and actually damaged pages, removed them, took off covers, painted or collaged over pages, etc.
In working on mine, I was worried about destroying it or doing something that couldn’t be undone if I didn’t like it, so I experimented with a book that I was going to get rid of anyway. I had no trouble destroying that book, but still couldn’t bring myself to rip into a book that I loved so well as a child. I ended up altering the cover of my book, and making it possible for a child or an adult and a child to still enjoy the story inside: Heidi
Now that the images are going online, I will reveal the finished project here :
- “Goat Girl”
I wanted to combine my memory of reading the book with some sense of both the theme of the show: “Inside Out” and the beneficiary: Friends of Pimpollo.
I visualized many possibilities for the project. So many ideas it almost paralyzed me. In the end, a deadline got me in motion. I enjoyed combining symbols for Grandpa, the colors of the Alps, light, childhood, and echoes. I wanted to keep the book intact so that it could still be enjoyed by a child or parent & child. I enjoyed the connection between Heidi being a children’s book and Pimpollo being a charity benefiting children.
Painting on an antique photo was a new adventure for me. I loved using a very limited palette. The key & the pipe provided some needed contrast. *A note about the glitter: this piece was created during the holiday period, when all sorts of unusual projects take place in my studio. I could not seem to rid myself of the insidious sparkle. It crept in on its own, just like Heidi’s smile.
I would also find it hard to change, alter, or deface a book I loved. I think it is important to be choosy about the the charities and the number of events you will support each year. I try to pick 2 or 4. It’s good to give back but you need to support your collectors who are paying full price for your work too, if making art is part of your livelihood.
Bruce