One year ago a friendly gent emailed me. Ken Marquis, a gallery owner (PA, USA) and a trailblazing artist, who began a movement and an international exhibition called The Landfill Art Project. All artists were asked to create a master piece using a recycled hub cap. I thought this was brilliant. I just love how art and one person's vision can connect all these artists together. I can only imagine all that creative energy in Ken's gallery when he exhibits all 1041 hub cap art pieces. I was able to submit my hub cap art a few months later. It is called 'Rice Field'. I put together a slide show of the process that went into this great art project. I love how these visionaries break all the rules in art and just go for it. What type of world would we live in without the visions of Henri Matisse, Willem de Kooning, Hans Hofmann, Jean Michel Basquiat and all these great artists who create art for the sake of creating art. It's the energy within these art pieces that are causing such waves of interest. Even I step back sometimes after weeks of painting and ask myself, "How the did I create that ?". It's the vision and the energy within. I love surprises and accidents during the creative process; this is what elevates the work and gives it such depth. Artists know what I mean when I say depth, it's in the layering and no one can cheat on the layering process.
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The process. A piece of art takes one on a journey - the story line that is behind its creation by both the spirit of the artist and the soul of the recipient. In the beginning a concept comes to mind. I wake up from my dream and reach over to do a quick sketch of the art piece I just envisioned, even before my day begins. As I walk by all these blank canvases positioned in every corner of my house, by day's end, I know which blank canvas to work on. I look through my bins of painted papers and look at my trolley full of acrylic paint and start to ponder my choices. Shall I begin to layer in acrylic paint or with my painted papers ? Acrylic paint rules and so the layering begins. In the meantime, working behind the scene is my engineering acumen. It takes my work to a place of 'beauty-structure-perfection'. I keep layering and painting; as the lines, contours, and corners take shape. Then my artist touch takes over. I begin to get tired of looking at 'beauty' and the thought of 'perfection'. I begin to layer the 'unknown' and the 'ugly'. This tug of war is evident. Soon I come to realize that I like the art piece's imperfect nature and this imperfection reminds me of the concept of 'Wabi-Sabi'. I am no where near perfect so why should my artwork be a thought of perfection. I take out this thought and what remains is imperfection = beauty. In retrospect, I have this vase with a crack, uneven surface, rough texture, and an odd shape. But, despite the sum of its errors, it still holds such beauty. So there it is. There is no right or wrong perception of beauty when it comes to my art. One has to look at my art through their souls. No wonder I can never recreate my art pieces. Each one represents a unique conversation of a beginning, middle and a conclusion - the answers to questions that were raised during the creative process; there is no replay button. I watched a documentary movie called "Waiting for Superman". Growing up in Canada, I too experienced good teachers and the "not so good" teachers. The importance of good teachers; mind blowing. I can name a hand full of amazing teachers who cared, who inspired, who got to know each and everyone of their students and showed us how to become great. Their expectations and standards for quality were high but they supported us every step of the way. So here's a THANK YOU to all my past teachers who continue to be Trailblazers. Along with my parents; you all taught me to reach high and never give up on my dreams. I am a huge supporter for positive change especially in an education system that encourages our children to be their very best and that can be accessible to all, not just a selected few. It starts with one person with a vision, the support of communities and leaders who do care enough to act. Because when it comes to the best education; it's not about the adults; it's about the children. Photo: My children are always in my art studio. Wether we are doing homework, painting or just hanging out; we are always in this creative space. We will always support the arts as part of the school curriculum. If my children do not receive enough creative time during school hours; we definitely make up for it at home. |
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November 2018
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