Gallery Organization… still in progress, but a little closer to being my HAPPY PLACE! I did take a break from cleaning and sorting and organizing to “play” a little. I finished up 7 new small collage pieces for the original art blank cards I have available at Fifth Avenue Art Gallery, in Melbourne. A great way to share original art with someone special… or keep it for yourself.
Finally getting the new studio somewhat organized and so happy to get some time to work on a few small pieces.
I sorted so much of my supplies while packing that I can’t find a lot of things. Eeeek, moving is stressful. The new small works will be used for original blank greeting cards.
Work is underway for my solo-exhibition. I was originally scheduled for October 2022, but due to delays and obstacles… it will happen next year. I’m happy for the additional time to explore and enjoy the process. I’ll be working in acrylics and mixed media collage, sharing my love for all things southern, even alligators. Stay Tuned!
I probably start most of my blog post the same way. I talk about how it’s been so long since my previous post and how busy I get and I’m going to try to do better! It’s all true.
I had a show in February with two artist friends at Fifth Avenue Art Gallery, in Melbourne, Florida entitled Open for Interpretation. The three of us, each submitted three words and all of us had to “interpret“ all nine words. So the show consisted of 27 artworks. The nine words were: tree, oyster, spicy, sunflower, honeybee, fishing, collection, vintage and origami. The three of us have very different styles and mediums that we work in. I am a mixed media artist, my friend Lori is a watercolorist and my friend Barbara is currently working with digital ink transfers. As I sometimes do, I didn’t get started on the project as early as I should have and in the end worked feverishly to get all my pieces finished. But I did enjoy the process and I like the playfulness and directness of my finished work for the show.
It’s taken some time, but I’ve learned that creating art intuitively is the very best approach for me. Not to say that it takes less effort or discipline, but the overall process is more enjoyable! Listening to my inner art voice is usually smart. Sometimes it guides me to trust myself… go in a different direction or be brave in my choices. The “process” of art making is why I make art after-all, if it’s not enjoyable, then I’m doing something wrong. These 2 turtles are a good example of starting a new piece intuitively. In the midst of playing with a very bold palette they appeared 😊. They are on their way… lots of collage and paint to come.
It’s been a busy summer! I like a good thing when I find it… and 16 years ago I heard about a wonderful place to go to in July (when it soooo hot in Florida), up in the mountains of North Carolina and make art.
For the last 16 years, minus the summer I broke my leg, and last summer leaving early, I have spent a week at Wildacres, NC with the continuing education program of Ringling School of Art, located in Sarasota, Fl. I love it there… the location, the tranquility, the comradery, open studios and some years there have been very “memorable” events.
I was so happy to get back there this summer! I spent the week in a mixed-media with beeswax class, taught by Elena De La Ville with 12 other artists, working with paper and wax. I have always loved work with a wax element… it’s such a wonderful tactile medium that is difficult to control but has so many options as to how it is utilized. We had several assignments involving composition and one was to photograph our surrounding looking for examples of good composition, then re-create the image with our materials.
I took lots of photos on my morning walk, but the last one was an elongated shadow of myself standing on the pathway. I liked the design and the emotion of the picture…and used it to create a piece. One of my classmates pushed me to work on a series of “selfies” and I ended up creating 5 pieces.
It’s good to step out of your artistic comfort zone… although my work is definitely “out there” at times. It’s also good… even though I don’t love it, to listen to other artists about my work. I love challenges in all aspects of my life. I never want to be too comfortable in my art, but to push forward and hope to discover and relate more about who I am and what message I want to share.
Summer is my favorite season, and strangely enough I love Florida summers. Yes… it gets too hot and humid to breathe some days, but that is what the ocean, the springs and swimming pools are for. This summer has been a unique experience for me. I broke my leg at the end of May and I am still non-weight bearing now in mid August. Other than almost daily swimming pool therapy, I am sitting inside this summer.
After three trips down to my studio to pack up art supplies and bring them back to my house, I am working. The first 6 weeks home recovering, I built houses for the HOME show exhibit I organized for Fifth Avenue Art Gallery. See More About HOME. I built beach houses and bird homes and a mountain cabin diorama… oh, and a chicken house. Now that all the “building” is over, I am back to painting papers and making mixed-media collages.
It’s hard to believe that soon… very soon, the fall art show circuit gets into full gear. I only do a few shows in the Fall… especially this year, but lots of new work is needed! At my studio I have these great tall legged tables that I work at so I can move around to different works in progress. Here, at home I have had to adjust to worker smaller, better planning and rotating artwork and supplies. It’s nice to be home with my pups, Beau and Sweet Pea… they love everything I do :)
Today, just back from physical therapy… I am working with my gelli plates to paint some new papers for collaging with. One benefit to not being able to get out much is that the typical distractions of life are fewer and there is more time to work.
A Very Big THANK-YOU, to all my family and friends who have cared for me in so many amazing ways this summer!
I found a great sign for my studio; one of those weathered-looking ones with big, bold text: THIS IS MY HAPPY PLACE! I have lots of happy places… my home, my studio, my garden, my kitchen; blessed with friends and family who are encouraging and creating art that expresses my view of life… I am pretty much happy in general.
I have been enjoying my studio immensely of late… It looks pretty crazy there, most of the time with stacks of “art stuff”, everywhere. I am doing more and more mixed-media… and you have to have lots of “stuff” to work with!
Essentials of mixed-media: paper, string, wire, old books, wax, resin, bottle-caps (rusty and smashed flat) TREASURES!
Two of my newest pieces sold recently and that is a huge motivator to get busy and start new work with all those ideas that are always popping up in my head. I am starting a new collage/acrylic piece along the same lines as the girl with the octopus. It will incorporate more sea-life; jellyfish and sharks. I am still in the composition stage; drawing and putting textures down. I was so excited to see the reaction to “Nocturne” (the girl with the octopus). I’m always a little nervous when hanging a piece at an outdoor art show for thousands of people to see… and comment on. It was great to see people stop in their tracks and take a long look, then ask what the medium was…
I love the intricate process of painting the layers of design on tissue paper then collaging it onto the board and finishing the piece with more layers of paint. A visitor to my studio asked why I don’t “just paint it”… and yes I could, but I love the combination of mediums and the effect I can achieve.
RENEE DECATOR, life stories 