Greve travels to Southeast Alaska!

Katie Sevigny is opening a gallery in Skagway and I am thrilled to say she asked me to join! I have been quite busy having Greve see the sights of this beautiful part of Alaska. Here he takes some time out to fish in "Signore Greve-Simple Things".

The rain forest of Southeast have fantastic trees. It's all that liquid sunshine that makes them so big and strong. "Signore Greve-Summer Rain".

The carvings that peek out of the forest tells so much about Alaska's history. "Signore Greve- The Forest's Story tellers"

Tracy Arm was one of my favorite places when I first visited Alaska in 1998. You would almost forget to breath with so much beauty surrounding you. I would love to go there again. Celli and Greve loved it too in, "Signore Greve-Tracy Arm"

If you head to Skagway this summer be sure to stop in. Maybe I will have an excuse to head down and visit!

Point Zero

Ambition/ original oil by Gina Edwards

I am sorry if you missed the Paint and Port with Nathan Perry last week. It was fun and informative. I am continually amazed at how talented the students are that come. As a full time artist in attendance you would think I would walk away with the gold star. Not really!

Nathan quoted from the"Point Zero-Creativity without Limits". The books point is to get past the self doubt and negativity that devours us and curtails our creative genius. But one question he pulled from the book as been rolling around in my head. "Does it matter if other people like my art?"

OF COURSE IT MATTERS! HELLLLlllloooooooo, trying to make a living here! I mean, I get it, create for the sake of creating instead of always looking at the business end of your art but Costco doesn't take art in trade for a bale of toilet paper!

The above painting just came out without much thinking. I had just got back from the Olympic Peninsula and was still reeling from the magnificent trees. I love trees. Anyway, I painted the tree in the water representing the incredible rain that feeds this incredible forest. Then I had the overwhelming urge to add the fish. Then the cat in the boat begged to be added. I know, the painting doesn't make any sense but you know what, I love this piece. I love the story it tells. I want to be in the boat with the cat under this amazing tree.

I know this painting will be slow to sell because of it's quirky subject. I wish I could always be okay with just spilling my head onto the canvas without worry of making a sale but that just isn't a working artist's life. Of course the alternative is getting a 'real' job and being a no pressure hobby artist. YIKES, that's crazy talk.

Animal ART

There she was peeking around my studio window. Yep, I am a moose lover. Even when they camp out in the back yard forcing me to walk the dog for potty breaks. Even when they are eating my flowers and leaving nuggets across my driveway. ( the nuggets wouldn't be so bad if my dog didn't think they were so delicious).

They really are long legged, furry art. The velvet nose, the shape of their muzzle and those huge ears. I know, I know I am getting poetic about an ungulate. But this time of year the art of nature itself is inspiring.

Ooooooooooh look at that face. I mean talk about art worthy! She is so shiny and soft with those expressive chocolate eyes. (Thank heaven I don't have a kid uh? Who could stand me?) But I am constantly looking at her thinking about how perfectly her ears curve off her head. How would I paint that glint of light that shines off her ears? Could I capture the perfect curve of her mouth?

A big challenge for artist is finding the inspiration. That spark that creates a new idea. I was struggling with an project when this moose came into view. It completely changed my attitude. I don't want to always be searching for creative energy and miss what is right in front of me.

So thank you Mrs. Moose for stopping in and saying hello. I am pretty sure the camera shows off your best side.