Inspired by Life

Sand Waves, recent winner Okemos

     Inspiration, just where does it come from? It most likely varies from person to person but for me that creative nudge comes from a variety of stimuli.

     We have traveled over much of North America to bring home photos that fill three shoe boxes, along with their accompanying funny stories. Niagara Falls, over many visits, has created at least two paintings. The sunsets, lo the many sunsets, has garnered their own section in yea old shoebox.

Red Bluff 30x40 

     Paintings like Red Bluff and Sand Waves, just to mention a few, were inspired by the mysteries of defusing evening light. Summer dune walks, and a few winter walks too have helped to put paint to canvas. The summer dune walks are the easiest to walk and paint. Sand in sandals is a lot more pleasant than snow penetrating old boots.

      For me, as a painter, I sometimes need a push to get motivated as the fore mentioned sunsets, but sometimes it is a technique in the process of painting that gets the paint flying.

Gravity 16x20 oil on canvas

     A few years ago a big dribble of paint slid down the canvas creating a free streak sending a big WOW echoing out of the studio. So I did what all artists do when having fun. I went with the slow rolling run of paint sliding down the perfect white canvas. To paraphrase Picasso – you can’t create until you destroy the white surface.

     So for me the birth of a new technique was born. Sometimes the creative stimuli is the expectation of a new method of applying paint such as the big dribble. And so the fun begins bringing with it a new path to explore and a new series of images.

      We all have heard about renowned art communities- the Impressionists, the Hudson River School, the Group of Seven - and their valuable contribution to the art world through the mixing and blending of their dialog between the members. Being in an artistry environment can also stimulate the work of artists.

     Museums and galleries are favorite haunts of the art creator to keep the creative energy flowing.    

So what inspires you to do your art? Could it be your shoebox of photo memories, that special sunset or the new technique that keeps you going on to the next challenge? Maybe it is visiting your favorite museums and galleries and adding new ones to keep the ideas fresh. 

     As the  sculptor, Louise Nevelson, reminded us, “Art is everywhere, except it has to pass through a creative mind.” Whatever inspires you, I hope you keep creating. 

Joel 
www.joelellisart.com 

Giving Original Art

Gift giving season is fast approaching. I was watching customers recently in the fine art of shopping. My observations, though not scientific, sure were fun to see how the shopper goes about the process of picking out their prizes. Most people picked up and felt for quality and held it up to the light to get a better look-see. In art shows the potential buyer walks around and among the art, hands behind their back like a Norman Rockwell painting trying not to touch the art work. Wouldn't it be fun to have an art show that encouraged the handling and hefting of the art pieces? 

We all have the experience of giving what we hope, is a thoughtful gift, followed by a gnawing feeling that the gift was, well in the dark recesses of the recipients abode, i.e. closet. Take heart. Just tell yourself it was given in the spirit of whatever makes you feel better and good luck next time.

Speaking of the spirit of giving, we went to the dedication and opening of the new Broad Art Museum on the Michigan State University campus. The dignitaries were replete, the atmosphere was charged with excitement as we all waited to get our first look inside this very unusual building which in itself is a grand piece of art. This is quite a gift to give, all forty million dollars’ worth of hope and encouragement for the arts into the future for generations to come.

Here’s hoping Eli and Edyth Broad Art Museum will continue to shine and stand out as a beacon for the arts for many years.

            Though many of us don’t have the big bucks to give like some fortunate folks, don’t lose your artistic eye, and keep shopping for that special gift. As we shop this season we hope you will stay positive and give original art a chance to make someone happy.

Happy holiday, 
Joel  www.joelellisart.com   

On Hold  16x20  oil on canvas. Boats caught in ice, Lake Michigan

Snowy Ridge  18x24  acrylic on canvas

What is The Value of Art?

Winter Trail 9x12 oil

Oak leaves have tumbled off their high summer perch and are swirling on the deck as the first early “chance of snow” forecasts get us thinking here comes winter. Oh well, more time to get to our business of putting holiday art shows up and planning for the looming New Year.  We have a one person show at Shiawassee Art Council in February and an art demonstration at Jackson Civic Art Association in March. We should have an interesting beginning of the New Year.

Have you ever wondered what the inside scoop is all about when it comes to dealing with the big time art auction houses or your local art dealer? The book, The Value of Art by Michael Findlay (Prestel Publishing, 2012) can open up some doors to more awareness of the art business. Where we fit, if we do fit, in this art business puts you on the world stage with all the art patrons over the last century.
Findlay, who was with the noted art auction house, Christie's from 1984 to 2000, takes a close look at art as an investment. In the book Findlay purports to buy what speaks to you, a piece of art that you can look at for hours without tiring.  As for art investments, as in the stock market, buy low sell high. He points out that economic cycles are also reflected in the business of art.

“There are so many ways in which a work of art can act on our sensibilities from the primly intellectual to the wildly emotional. We can be transported to the lowest depths of sorrow or taken to a high spiritual plane. We  can be delighted, we can be baffled, we can be appalled, we can be refreshed, we can be moved to tears or spend the rest of the day smiling,” Michael Findlay on how art affects the individual.

It is fun to look over the shoulder of some of the largest art deals that have taken place  internationally and you don’t have to spend a dime thanks to this fun read.

Gulls in Flight 9x12 oil 

Back in the studio I look around at a lot of stuff that someday, hopefully, will inspire a painting or two. Today inspiration came from a tourist gift shop purchase on the great lakes coast, a little pair of seagulls bouncing on springy wires. I hope you can smell the fresh lake air and hear the call of the gulls.

Joel

www.joelellisart.com

p.s. Grateful to have received First Place at the 41st Art Exhibition of Okemos Library annual fundraiser, Okemos Michigan.

Sand Waves 13x23 oil on board, First Place November 3 2012 Okemos  Show

Joel F Ellis Back to the Studio

     The big summer events of late summer and early autumn have been covered with the usual angst. The biggest jobs, Art Prize and the featured-artist show in the lower wing at a large physician’s building consumed a good deal of organizing time. The Physician’s Building show, through October, has twenty-five paintings in a grouping titled, “Blue Skies Smiling” (because I smile every time a clean canvas begins). These big projects took most of the creative energy, while the real fun part of this trip, painting, has been set aside.

       So the tension and guilt to paint builds. My usual starters seemed to fizzle out, building more tension. The two old friends that help in the painting restart mode were employed, Art and Fear (Bayles and Orland) and Hawthorne on Painting (Charles Hawthorne, 1938, available from Dover). Both books have many passages tagged by sticky notes. I am ready for their soothing guidance. The note markers lead to a quiet confidence drifting over my creative soul and yes the process worked. I did go back to the studio and painted the way that felt right, free and spontaneous.  

       The newsstand magazines encourage artists to blog and blog often, almost like vote and vote often. The articles also encourage showing the latest work. Sounds good and worth considering but for many the process of creating is never quite completed. My studio work space has quite a few paintings I know could use “just a little more something”. So when do I call a painting completed? For some, including me, this is one of the most difficult moments in the painting process - when to put the brushes, tubes of paint, stirring sticks, pine boughs or whatever is being used in playing with the paint, down and say, “finished”.

       With all this prattle about getting started and then stopping I humbly announce the completion of my latest painting . . . well maybe.

Harmony, acrylic on linen, 20x24

       The acrylic on linen canvas was birthed, after much shall we say struggle and the usual wow feeling on its possible completion. So here’s to the latest, I hope, Harmony!!!   

Enjoy, Joel

Please check out www.joelellisart.com 

ArtPrize 2012 It's a Real Trip!

        Art Prize is in the final voting stage of the top ten public selections which ends October 4, the show ends Sunday October 7. Check www.artprize.org to see what the folks chose on this very interesting journey. We put Blue Niagara, the already award winning 30x40 acrylic on canvas in the Tapas restaurant - San Chez Bistro, 38 W. Fulton, Grand Rapids. The owners and staff of San Chez have been cordial hosts and great supporters of this terrific art experience.

We went to their opening party and greeting for the artists; then to the B. O. B. (Big Old Building) for a very crowded reception with many artists to get the huge art show off and running.  The  big ol’ B.O.B. hosted several large works on its four floors of walls and outdoor sculptures in the parking lot. Busloads of visitors have come from the Midwest and all over North America to Grand Rapids for this huge art exhibition, ArtPrize 2012.

The installation of some of the large sculptures was art in itself. Some pieces required heavy lifting cranes to get their entries in place. Our installation required a brick wall and a screw to put Blue Niagara in place. With the addition of two spot lights, the painting has a stunning setting in the San Chez Bistro Dining Room with a view of the city.

Don’t worry about the voting or the competition,  if you have time by Sunday October 7 go for the art, the mind blowing art.

As for me, it is time to put together works for a number of other shows including a twenty painting display for the Lansing area, which includes the selection, framing and putting together the show catalogs, and oh yes, time to paint again.

If you get a chance to get to Art Prize in the next few days Go,  go and enjoy the fine art and even some not so good art and enjoy the interesting city with it fine dining and party atmosphere. 

A unique work of art getting ready to exhibit.

Joel

Cycling Salamander Gallery Artists Reception Tops

We just returned home from a big weekend of travel and visiting art venues around the state. The highlight was an opening show at the Cycling Salamander art gallery just south of Charlevoix, Michigan. Years ago the gallery was a pottery studio of potter extraordinaire, Bonnie Staffel.  The building has a funky rambling charm that comes with years of creating art. The owner is a gracious and talented artist, Rebecca, who put together a cohesive and stunning show around the theme of Ancient Forests.  The turnout was great as well as the food and live music.

Rebecca, owner of Cycling Salamander, and buddy John

If you are in the Traverse City/ Charlevoix area this fall stop and see the Ancient Forests’ show as well as all the interesting items in the gallery and say hello to Rebecca.

Art show receptions are unique events in the entertainment world. We think of the image of the large urban shows with people holding a glass of wine gathered in little groups to study the details of a particular work. I have been fortunate to be involved with a little different image through the kind work of volunteers in community galleries such as Shiawassee Art Center in Owosso, Michigan,  that includes classical piano and super finger snacks along with, of course, very good art in several gallery rooms throughout the building.

The Mid-Michigan Art Guild shows are presented in various places in the Greater Lansing Michigan community: Framers Edge in Okemos, Michigan, Absolute Gallery in beautiful Old Town Lansing, 1212 Gallery and Delta Library in west Lansing, always with flare and good snacks. One of my favorite featured artist shows was at the Hope Borbas Library Gallery a few years ago. Again, good food provided by classy volunteers. This show stands out for me because of the patrons who were willing to talk about the creative process of art.

 

After the working trip Up North, I was home again in the studio trying to get inspired to paint. To encourage the process I was perusing art magazines in hope of getting the creative juices flowing. In an old Art Calendar Magazine, June 2010 (now known as Professional Artist Magazine), I read an article on “14 Tips For Creating Outstanding Art Events”. It was a good read and matched up well to the really fine art opening at Cycling Salamander.

The art input for the weekend did help get the paint flowing again. Tapping into a vision/dream another unusual painting materialized thanks to all the stimulation.

The next big art event in Michigan is ArtPrize . Keep reading the joelfellisart blogs and we’ll explore this unique art adventure together!

Joel   

The Day I Ran A Painting Marathon

[This blog is taken from an entry in my art journal from a few years ago – thought you would enjoy it.  Pictures are from the Marathon session. Don't try this at home.] 

            The painting process really appeals to me. Sometimes, however, I can get lost in time and end up over-working a painting. I tried to use techniques to help prevent this problem, but nothing seemed to help until one day while watching a Marathon running event I got an idea.  What about a timed event for painting, something more than “a painting a day”, why not one painting per hour? Maybe a Marathon of 26 paintings in 24 hours.

            Now we’re talking some serious painting.     

            Yes, its quirky, but artists tend to experiment with all sorts of quirky exercises. The best day came, a day free of the trials of daily life, a whole twenty- four hours worth. My stash of canvas surfaces all lined up, studio cleaned, well, almost. Ready to paint. Then I leaned down, zing, a muscle in my back let lose. Oops, should have stretched before the big race. Eight o’clock starting time became 10 o’clock. Have to stay focused, get this race going.

            Lining up reference photos that were taken from last summer’s trip gave a sense of being in the forests and dunes of Michigan. By matching the photo to the canvases I should have the first painting completed soon, right?

The first pack of three canvases had ripples in the weave. A little gesso should help to solve this glitch. Good enough. I just blew most of an hour.   

            Eleven a.m. the first of many canvas boards hit the easel. I like to paint much larger so this should be easy. My fast drying acrylics were working great but forty five minutes into the first of twenty-six paintings was going slower than expected. Could it be that I was dabbing and dallying? The whole reason for this marathon was to speed up the painting process with simplicity and discipline. I’ll have to keep better track of time.

            The first painting was finally completed in less than one hour and not too bad, if I say so myself.

            To celebrate, I did some stretching exercises for the stiff back, and took a long look at the couch. Maybe I should test it for upcoming naps?

             Wow! Fifteen minutes into my second painting and I’m on the couch sleeping. After doing some self-reaming, I got back at the goal.

The process continued through the day. I would have to work through interruptions like the maintenance person coming to fix a sagging light fixture. Paint, stretch sore muscles, and rest through the afternoon and into evening if the marathon was to be completed.  

            The safe place for completed work was beginning to fill up. To my surprise some paintings were pretty good. The weaker were ones off by a few brush strokes. The overworking problem seemed to be under control at least for now.

            Dinner break came and yes I succumbed to the human cravings. Food, I need food. After wolfing down too much dinner, the inner voice was yelling, “get back to work.”

            In a small college town where I once lived, the townies came out to watch a Marathon spectacle - Young people running twenty-six miles. How strange that was for us, seeing the college kids plod their way up the steep hill to the main street, their faces etched in pain, bodily fluids leaking.  This vivid image crept into my thoughts as I too plodded along. The many cups of tea had to be dealt with or I, too, would be that ominous soul on the up hill of this painting marathon.    

            I painted on into the evening.  The sun set, night came over the sleepy town as my studio light shone onto the empty streets. Paintings kept getting finished and still they looked pretty darn good. What was going on here? Was I in some kind of time warp?

            Breaks between paintings were getting longer. Late night talk shows could be heard coming from the next room. The specter the marathon runners began to appear in my mind as images of exhausted, plodding, tragic apparitions. My back was stiff and sore but thoughts of crossing the finish line with twenty-six finished paintings dogging me on. This was a rare moment in an Artist’s life. I had to keep going. But for how long?

            Late Late  shows wafted into the studio. The sore back turned into back pain, the nasty kind. We’re programmed not quit, right? Those gol darn blank canvases lined up waiting for the artist’s hand. I could not drop out; too many people knew I was out to do a painting marathon.

            Then inspiration hit me. I know how the Half-Marathon was invented. Yes, high fives all around, I just finished 13 paintings, a glorious half painting marathon, none of them overworked, all of them colorful and bearing the gift of simplicity.

Joel