Here’s the video from the 11th battle (last Wednesday). Love the fast-action of all the wonderful people painting and watching people paint! If you can’t make it to the battles, at least you get to see the videos!
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Shipping for all paintings and artware in this online store is available to customers in the USA and Canada. For international customers outside of USA and Canada, please email Belinda directly for orders instead of using this online store.Gorilla House Live Art: 11 (my lucky number!)
So before I tell you about the battle, you have to see this clip! Gorilla House was featured on CTV Calgary. Click here to see Rich Theroux in an interview, and four of the Gorilla House artists getting ready to battle. And Click here to see the Gorilla House battle as filmed by CTV. I am in it, at about 0:43, but watch it all! Isn’t it awesome?! YES!
So happy to be back in the battles after missing last week. Terry Storey surprised me by giving me a blown-up version of the photograph he took of me – it looks amazing! What a sweet surprise. This photograph was included in the Avenue article about Gorilla House a few weeks ago.
I really appreciated having some of my friends there last night – Tietje, Keven, and Riki – thank you for coming out! Your support means a lot to me. Met some great people, too, like Paul “FoodJustice” Hughes , and Michelena Bamford. Paul asked me to paint a large plywood panel for one of his outdoor art projects (exciting!), and I am looking forward to seeing Michelena at the Waldorf Faire, where she will also have a booth.
The 11th Gorilla House Live Art Battle
Figure Drawing at Gorilla House
It’s been about 15 years since I’ve done any figure drawing, so I’m a bit rusty. Head down to Gorilla House for $10 drop-in sessions on Thursday evenings at 7pm.
My friend Denice Brown recently wrote a wonderful post about drawing, and why everyone is able to draw, as long as they practice. I will let her words do the talking for me – I’m not even half as eloquent.
When artists look for validation.
When artists look for validation outside of themselves, things can get yucky.
For the most part, since April, I have been happy with my painting, and really enjoying the process. I almost always enjoy the compliments I get (I say almost because I’m still working on really taking them in, rather than dismissing them).
Participating in the Gorilla House Live Art battles is really giving me something to work on, as my dear friend Tietje pointed out. Last night, after the auction, and after a fun night of painting, instead of being happy that my two paintings were bought by Valda, a lovely woman who was eager to purchase both, I was instantly bummed that my pieces sold for the lowest they ever have (in a total of four auctions) while other works were getting up to five times as much as mine. As Tietje pointed out, I am allowing the purchase price of my paintings determine my self-worth. I don’t care so much about going home with cash in my pocket, but low sale price seems to equal crappy art, which logically means crappy artist, or not an artist. See how my mind works?
Having had a morning to mull it over, I would say that there were a bunch of little things that ended up in me perhaps not turning out my best work: the themes were not ones that I could immediately relate to; I tried something a little different towards the end of one of my paintings; and I had to pack up my stuff about 10 minutes early to get out of the way for the auction. Being the first adult to auction paintings probably didn’t help much, either, but now I’m kind of looking for reasons why my paintings weren’t the problem.
Things to work on:
It’s OK to have bad days.
It’s OK to produce bad art. That doesn’t make me a bad artist.
It’s OK to feel bummed sometimes. I don’t even have to look for reasons why.
It’s OK to want validation, because without it, aren’t we producing art in a vacuum?
Validation, or lack of it, doesn’t define who I am.
“Success isn’t permanent and failure isn’t fatal.”
Mike Ditka (like my brother says, “Art is just like football. You either win, or you lose.”)
Another Wonderful Wednesday!
It’s almost been a week since the last art battle, but I am still pumped up about it! I almost didn’t make it. Hubby was out of town, my MIL was busy, but luckily, my wonderful friend Jo-Anne came through for me and looked after the kids! Thanks again, Jo-Anne!
The themes for the night were: night-school dropouts, 7 hearts, and bike. These themes have really been working for me, especially anything that can be interpreted as hearts and circles! It was a really exciting night, with CTV filming on location, and Greg Beneteau from Avenue Magazine interviewing people. He even interviewed me, and my photo was in the article! Yowza!
My paintings from the night:
The auction:
Ethan Collister auctioned off another amazing song:
I had fun bidding and went home with these great paintings by Joel Monea:
Thank you to Colette and Blake, who purchased my paintings!
See you there tomorrow!
Gorilla House Live Art Battle 8:: Video
Here’s the video from last week’s battle! Check out my expression at 5:27. Niiiice. Gorilla House was also featured in the latest edition of Beatroute!
Art Battle 8 (my second)!
I had a great time last night at the 8th Gorilla House Live Art Battle! Many of the regulars were there, and lots of new faces, too. Here’s Bruce; don’t you love his shirt??
I was quite thrilled to walk into the gallery and see my paintings on the wall! Thanks to Elijah for hanging them.
Janice Beaton Fine Cheese was set up again. Towards the end of the night, I started chatting with a wonderful person who introduced herself as Janice. “As in, Janice Beaton?” I asked. Yes! I was totally wowed. It was like meeting a celebrity. Wendy, who works with Janice Beaton Fine Cheese, told me about this Riopelle cheese, which is adorned with artwork by the Canadian artist of the same name. How cool is that? Hm, I wonder what Fireman cheese would taste like! Doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.
Like last time, I set up in the front room.
And painted, and painted, and painted. I started getting a little worried that they weren’t going to come together, but they did. I guess they always do! I have to trust the process! The themes for the night were: red knife, layers of colour, and midnight bike riders. The second one was made for me, but I was able to incorporate the other two as well!
As usual, there was an auction at the end – it was pretty long, because there were so many artists, but there were two great musical interludes, too!
The musician Ethan Collister wrote a song during the art battle. He auctioned off the rights to the song (along with a simple demo and lyrics). Love that idea. There was a bit of a battle going for that one!
My turn:
Theresa de Grosbois bought both of my paintings! I was feeling pretty special that she wanted both.
Kath was back again, and rocked the night again with her beautiful piece.
It was great to see my friend Caryl there, too. I hope to see you (that’s a general “you”, not specific to you, Caryl! But I would love if you were there, too, of course!) there at the next art battle. Bring your paints!
Gorilla House Live Art Battle
Last week I posted about my first art battle. I had such a great time, that I am even considering skipping dance for the next few weeks just so I can keep doing these battles! I totally love the videos that are being made, too. Here’s the one that I was in – there are action shots of my fingers in the paint- awesome!
I’m super pumped for tomorrow. If you haven’t been yet, come check it out!