International Language of Art

I visited Vancouver B.C. this weekend. Wonderful city, except for one glaring travesty.

The above is a sample of international art symbols we all know. The international symbol for dead? X eyes of course. We all know the steaming anger from the top of the head, the light bulb of an idea. You may not even have been aware of this language but yet we see it all the time. There is the sweat from exertion and of course the stink lines with the token fly. The whoosh of speed is one of my favorites. When I am skiing and biking I wish I could have them streaming out from my back showing the world how fast I am.

So we all agree that these drawings we see in every day life warn and inform us. Where did Vancouver go wrong? The walking man.

Standing at a street light on a lightly raining afternoon I obeyed the big red hand that says, "For cripes sake don't cross now!" Then came up the 'walking man'. I didn't walk I gasped, who was this walking man? We had never met! He had feet, his arms weren't at the correct angle. He was a bit jaunty and confident as he assured me I could cross the street. What are those crazy Canadians up to?

Now I confess their man has a bit of an appealing air about him but that is not the POINT! He is NOT the international symbol for "now proceed with caution and cross the street". He said," Yo babe, head on over this way!" I was shocked.

What's next Canada? Horizontal stink lines? Circle with a slash eyes for the dead/danger symbol? An anvil to show a new idea?

I thought we were friends.

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.

Burning up the Library Card

I was in the library recently researching a new project. My friend Sarah was with me and at first was quite helpful. As I continued to work my way from the children's section to the Alaska room her enthusiasm was fading. Her look threathened, " Give me a coffee and I might overlook your obsessive behavior".

I know to her it seemed like I had more than enough information. "How many pictures of a wolf do you need?" her eyes screamed as she glared at me over her glasses. She said she was sure no artist did as much research as me. I felt a bit shamed at this comment since I knew she couldn't be further from the truth.


Here is a sample of one of MANY sketches Degas did of his famous ballerinas. If you Google his sketches on this subject your screen will fill with images. He did his homework and became a brilliant artist because of it. No one would stand in front of his work and tilt their head to the right or left wondering if the leg was long enough, the profile in proportion or the ankle twist accurate. His work is spot on.

I am trying to become a better artist. I am forcing myself to take more time to sketch and yes, do research. I can't help but feel it is a waste of time. I KNOW it isn't but the gremlin in my head is squeaking, "Have you looked at your to-do list? Move on to real art!" But on this project I am going to give each and every piece the right amount of attention BEFORE I get started.

Sarah will most likely never join me at the library again. But if she does I will be smuggling in a thermos of coffee.

A Moment at the Museum

I had 45 minutes between appointments. That is like gold to me. I can be MIA for 45 minutes! No one can fill the gap because it is only 45 minutes and yet it is 45 WHOLE MINUTES! With sketchbook in hand I headed to the museum.

There was an exhibit that I wanted to see. The Museum was quiet, just the way I like it, and I exhaled a happy breath as I stepped into the exhibit. About 30 seconds later two women came in......talking. You know those guards that have the insufferable job of wandering the rooms to be sure no one is harming the art? They should be the Guido's of the loud talkers. You know, it would look like, "YOU, loud talker, on floor! Your museum entry ticket has been revoked." Chuckle....that would make me happy. Anyway, back to my story.

This forced me into the Native glass exhibit that I wasn't that interested in. Don't get me wrong, the items were amazing but living here you have LOTS of encounters with Native art. But I did some sketching that really paid off.




I am working on my next book and I needed some strange, prehistoric flowers. These two sketches were of glass bottles that were on display. They had flower written all over them! I hadn't expected to see anything like this in the Native show. That's what I get for mentally writing of the show. Note to self, all art is worth seeing.

Here are the finished flowers. I decided to take off the 'mustache' on the cone flowers. It didn't seem like facial hair until I started to paint it. Instead I added the blue stems. I think they came out great.

So I learned a few things. First, always wander through an exhibit even if you think you're not interested. There could be something fantastic you're missing. Two, always have your sketch book to record an idea. And three, loud talkers can be beneficial but I might drop the Guido idea in the suggestion box.

Cute Factor

I often search photos on Google for reference. When this photo came up I almost laughed myself into a hernia. Even now when I look at it I laugh.

I read a quote from an artist once that said don't paint 'cute'. He was a wildlife artist and was making reference to the adorableness of animals and how your work can become...well, cute. I get it and at the same time I don't.

Is Signore Greve and Celli cute? I think of them as charming but I am aware of how close to the cute range I have wandered. But is cute really so bad? Am I less talented because my art makes people laugh, smile and tell stories? I have heard so many stories from people who come up Greve and me at shows, smile to themselves and then share an awesome adventure they once enjoyed.

LOOK AT THIS KITTEN! You laughed again didn't you? You felt good! That's right, you for a moment forgot about the dishes and the report that's due and your sick friend and laughed at the cute (maybe slightly tortured) kitten.

I want people to see my work and smile. Cute SCHMUTE, I am from now on and ever forward adding kittens to all my paintings. The solution to world peace? More kittens in frog hats!

Now if you'll excuse me I need to Google frog hats to see if they come in my dog's size. heehee