Klimt & Klee

Klimt & Klee really are great artists. So is my friend Renee Phillips of Manhattanarts.com (look up her jewelry website there). She made this necklace called "Balance" and people can't keep their eyes off it. ( That's me).
I don't know why people who do fine art look down their nose at fine crafts and the artisans who make them.
If you look at quilters who make unique and beautiful quilts or the wood turner who makes a wonderfully crafted table they are doing ART.
I'm amazed at all the wonderful creations that come out of people's head.
What a joy and joins us all spiritually to make the world a much better place. I'm so grateful to know and be part of the community of creatives.
Klimt & Klee and all the artists before us are I'm sure singing because we are continuing on no matter what obstacles we face.

Spring & Follow Thru

Spring is here at last in the desert and I'm loving it! With all the wildflowers blooming there is lots of color. Which I love.
Spring also brings the time when you want to be outside enjoying the weather but your head says be inside so you can follow thru on all the aspects of your business. Being an entrepeneur,which an artist is, there is freedom everyday to do what you want but unless you are disciplined you don't make money. So there are tradeoffs.
If I play then I have my work hanging over my head. If I don't play my art suffers.
So what is a person to do?
What do you do?
I'm so fortunate that I love what I do because it helps me grow as a person. I'm always searching self-help books and articles but you get on these people's lists about this book or that book until you get turned off about it all. Really, it's simple. Just love what you are today. Just BE. Then all of a sudden follow thru is easy and spring is a delight.

Healing and Art

Isolating myself does not lead to healing and good art. I don't know if it's been the lack of good sleeping or depression or frustration. But after this weekend, I went to a celebration of life of a gal who just is recovering from open heart surgery. Her friends were really loving and I loved being there. Then last night I got a really good night's sleep. Boy, my mental attitude is so much better.
That is healing when you are around love and joy.

My husband works at home too. He has to deal with insurance companies on claims because he has a benefits company. So there is a lot of frustration coming from his office while I try to be peaceful and serene creating my art. What a juggling act.

I'm shifting into another stage but don't know where it will lead me as far as the look of my art. I just finished 4 hard edged paintings because they are on doors. So they look entirely different. If I could just figure out how to add them on my blog.
Oh well, healing and art are the same in my book. What about you?

The Quest For Gold

Yes, the quest for gold in the title could mean looking for the money but I mean it in a different way. I'm questing for the gold in my heart and the creativity that comes out of my heart.
It comes from looking inside deeply of who I am on this journey. The refining of gold comes from terrific heat and how it stands up to the fire. So this journey is a thousand steps of standing in the fire and refining myself.

I'm a very prolific painter because I have lots of creative thoughts and have huge ideas for series. Okay, I stray off the mark because I either don't have the room or the big substrates that I require for the images. What happens is that if I paint on paper I get very different looks than I do with canvas or masonite. So I come out with many different looks. Will people be able to recognize my work? Or am I fighting myself. The world is always looking for the latest in trends and not so much of content. So many products used today are not archival and will not last the test of time. Am I looking to be the new trend or something much longer lasting?
The quest for gold can mean that I'm looking in the wrong places.

"Hold On Tight To Your Dream"

A Saturn commercial has taken an old song "Hold On Tight To Your Dreams". How true, true ,true. Without dreams we are just existing and not living. If you go to my website www.Landisart.com
and on the home page you'll see "Creative Spirit" video. Click on that and you'll see what I mean. Live for each moment. Be grateful. That will bring joy.

I can see that I've made made mistakes by taking myself too seriously and making working with computer and business as heavy duty and not as a challenge that I can do "with a song in my heart" just as much as painting and being creative. I'm being creative in everything I do. So what, that I can't print my labels anymore I'll just write them out by hand.

Being uncomfortable with a new challenge is supposed to be that way otherwise, I'd never grow.

"You Gotta Have Faith"

Belief in myself as an artist keeps me coming back for "more" because this is my mission.

Many people are afraid of non-objective (abstract) art. They don't really look at it and get drawn into it. Most times they take just a glance rather than standing in front of the painting and absorbing it.

Rembrandt and J.W.M. Turner all started with an abstracted background. Turner's work is very ethereal.

So grab your glasses and really study my art, you'll be surprised how much depth is there. I had one person describe my art that it reminded her of a Buddhist Temple in Hawaii. Maybe you'll see deeper than before because it is about spirituality and growth.
Blessings to you reader.

Illuminated me

Yesterday, My husband and I were given a private tour of "Illuminated Manuscripts" at the Phoenix Art Museum By Jim Melikian, the collector of these manuscripts. It was fascinating. One of the hand made books was made about 1000 A.D. The precision
and tiny letters and designs were just amazing. The patience of the monks and scribes, who made these books I couldn't imagine.
It gave my imagination flight.
I can't wait to begin a new series now. I've been trying to figure where I wanted to go next, so yes, it did illuminate the way for me.
Isn't it funny when you are looking for a clue, it comes to you in the a most unusual way. You just have to be open to it.