keen_kreations

Spring is Here!

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:31:08 GMT

Spring is here. There is something special about this season. Winter is finished; there is new life; there is this feeling of rejuvenation, and everything is turning green.

The colour green can create a soothing effect. This is why you’ll see variations of it in many bedrooms and bathrooms. Green also brings health and well-being to mind as it is the colour of many leafy vegetables. It is the main colour of nature and we all know how nature can calm and soothe us when we venture outdoors.

But green is also about growth and transformation. We see all the new growth outside, but this can also happen on the inside. The showers in spring also make everything fresh, cleansed, and may give us the feeling that we can start anew. And we can.

This is the time that many people spring clean their homes and re-organize things and the same can be done for our internal lives. We can clean out our old habits, old thoughts and start new traditions.

Spring can have a real significance in our lives in terms of celebrating the rebirth of ourselves. The green of spring may mean growth but it can also mean go! We have been locked away mostly in sedentary mode all winter and now it’s time to move. It’s also a time to plant seeds and watch them grow. These can be seeds outside of ourselves or inside of ourselves.

Now that it is go time, go ahead and explore something new. We never know where this new thing will take us.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for my next post.

Sheryl

Self Love

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:13:29 GMT

Recently, a friend of mine told me that she is trying to be gentle with herself; not to be as overly critical of herself as she tends to be. When it comes to love, our focus usually falls on others. There is nothing wrong with that, the world needs all the love that it can get and if you have love to give, give it. However, we can also give love and care to ourselves in a healthy way.

We know that as humans we are imperfect and prone to make mistakes. When we do make mistakes, we need to give ourselves the same grace and love that we give to others. In fact, giving grace to ourselves may make it easier to give it to others. If we are not compassionate to ourselves, it may be difficult to be kind to others. On the other hand, if we can be loving and kind to others when they fall short but full of criticism of ourselves, it means we need a different approach.

Self love is not narcissistic. It makes for a healthy way of being. We practice giving love and care to ourselves so that we can be resilient; we can rise and move on from our failures and not be paralysed by extreme self criticism. It means that we can set boundaries that are not easily and constantly breached so that our peace is protected. We can set goals and intentions and pursue our dreams to become our most actualized selves when we practice self love. We are prepared to meet life’s challenges because we are rejuvenated and restored by the daily practice of nurturing ourselves.

The love we want to give to others will come easily because our own practice with ourselves teaches us how to give it to someone else.

Everything takes time and practice if we are not used to doing it. Let’s be patient with ourselves in the pursuit of this state of being.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for my next post.

Sheryl

Fight or Flight

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:25:38 GMT

Every day brings its own newness, the opportunity for change and the opportunity for us to grow into our best selves.

Today is no different; we just need to decide whether we are going to stay and fight the way things are with ourselves or if we are going to run away.

Flight is easy, we don’t even have to go to someplace else; we just need to not pay attention. And while we are busy fleeing what needs to change within ourselves, our higher selves are patiently waiting on us to stand and take action.

Fighting is hard; it’s tiring. And when the person you are trying to change is staring you in the mirror; it is even more tiring. But it can be inspiring too.

Finding, knowing and being our highest self is a goal and it requires work. And it is challenging work because more than likely, we have been this self for a long time. How dare our highest self try to teach an old dog, a new trick?

Is growth worth the fight? Is pushing our limitations and exploring our own endless possibilities worth it? Is reveling in our own self-expansion worth it? I think that it is and so we have to seize the day.

Thanks for reading and stay tune for my next post.

Sheryl

Women and Growth - The Exhibition

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 15:55:31 GMT

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Changing Seasons & the Colours of Fall

sheryl@sherylkeen.com (Sheryl Keen) — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 16:29:14 GMT

I love fall and know that it is a bittersweet time for many. The leaves fall and winter is coming. But fall is a time to enjoy and appreciate nature's colour palette. The oranges, reds, browns, and yellows bring a sense of wonder and warmth that provide a foil to the cooler weather. As an artist who is partial to warmer colour palettes, this time of year brings inspiration and ideas.

Apart from the beauty of the colours, fall is also a time of change. Falling leaves that lead to bare trees seem like a kind of death, and it is. But for change to happen something must go. We can take cues from nature and let go of things that do not make our lives great. Change and transformation require some action on our part. We too have our seasons of change.

I have learnt that leafless trees are hardy because they need less energy to stay alive. They are also able to withstand mighty storms and massive gust of winds in winter because the wind finds it easier to move through trees that do not have the obstacle of leaves. Letting go, it seems, is essential to our survival.

Changing seasons and the transition can be uncomfortable but it is about perspective because this time can also be exciting and inviting. Like trees in winter, being grounded and knowing who we are can be our security blanket. We can be confident in the knowledge that we will persevere and like trees we will gain new leaves.

Seasons change and so do we.

Thank You for Showing Up

sheryl@sherylkeen.com (Sheryl Keen) — Sun, 07 Aug 2022 17:27:35 GMT

This is a busy summer for art shows. Etobicoke Arts Fest took place over a month ago and I wanted to say thank you to everyone who came by booth #145 to say hello. Outdoor art fairs make for long, exhausting days and company makes everything better. Time goes by much quicker when talking with old and new friends about art. It's not a show if people do not turn up.

This is also a great time to say thanks to the art lovers who buy and support my work. Art is more than a product. It's a feeling, it's an experience, it's your personal connection with something more. There are many artists out there, so if my work resonates with you and you choose it for your experience, I am grateful.

I am grateful because you have given me the opportunity to have an impact on you and your space and that is priceless. My hope is to touch not just your physical space, but your mental and emotional ones as well.

I'll end with this quote from Voltaire; " Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well."

Cheers,

Sheryl

Why You Should Collect Art

sheryl@sherylkeen.com (Sheryl Keen) — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 01:51:47 GMT

We collect art for different reasons. Collecting could be for investment purposes, to improve the aesthetics of our space, to own a piece of history, or maybe it's to get in on a trend.

If you love art, you can become a collector as well. It is a good thing to collect art. ( I am biased, I know )

Our space reflects who we are and we can use the art that we collect to reveal aspects of our personal taste and personality.

Added to who we are on an individual level, art can tell stories about us collectively and do so in ways that we cannot say with words.

Art can help us preserve our history and by collecting art, we can pass down our stories to others who then become the keepers of those stories.

Then there is the community that we can build with other collectors and artists. Having a forum to discuss our collections, what we want to collect next, and why we are collecting, can do wonders for our communal spirit because we are communicating with like minded individuals who care about what we care about.

Being surrounded by art definitely makes us see different perspectives and allow us to change our minds.

There are many other reasons why collecting art is good for you. What are your reasons for collecting or for starting a collection?

The Parallels between Hiking and Art

sheryl@sherylkeen.com (Sheryl Keen) — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 22:40:51 GMT

I love hiking and I love art. There are some fantastic connections between the two. Nature is good for us and has mental health benefits. Walking and allowing our minds to wander and our eyes to take in the greenery around us can be therapeutic. In a similar way the process of creating art relieves stress and rearranges our brain to take a break from our usual thoughts to think about something new and perhaps something random. Both enhances our mental and emotional energy making us less susceptible to the everyday pressures of life.

Our minds process a million thoughts per minute. It is a machine that is always going. But even machines need to take breaks. We need to quiet our minds so that we can get clarity. Nature offers us the silence, the peace and the space to get clear. The process of creating art also allows the decluttering of the mind, allowing us to focus and regenerate our thoughts. Hiking is a peaceful escape – birds sing, the clean air is charged with possibilities, the trees are magnificent, the flowers are vibrant, the sounds of water calm us and take us away and if we happen to see a deer, it’s fascinating. When I am creating art, the possibilities seem endless, I am surrounded by vibrant colours, my mind is focused and I am carried away by the rhythm and flow of what I am trying to portray.

In a world of distractions, this focus increases our mindfulness. We are more observant. We listen. We pay more attention to our environment. We can even be meditative. The natural settings that nature provides allows our minds to meander like a stream which can increase our creativity and in turn produce an abundance of ideas. While a stream may wander; its direction is always clear and concentrated. The very beauty of nature enhances creativity. One of the themes of my art is growth and nature inspires me endlessly. It is ever present in some of my art. In a space that has no limitations and boundaries, there is only the limit of our imagination. This is true of hiking in the outdoors and true for art. Where we choose to go, how far we go, is determined only by our own boundaries.

An offshoot of creativity is a sharper mind that is able to trouble shoot. Our creative thinking helps us to navigate an unpredictable world. I can plan an art piece but it’s never certain how it’s going to turn out because I may have additional ideas or the art may have its own ideas. The possibilities are endless and you learn push the boundaries. In a similar way, hiking can bring about unexpected twist and turns. Getting lost, getting injured, a fallen tree across your trail, an advancing animal, are all things we may have to deal with in nature. When these challenges arise, how we deal with them determines how we experience life. We can scream and throw our hands up in the air or we can get creative with solutions. We navigate all these things in the same way we navigate life – by using our creativity.

The Necessity of Art

sheryl@sherylkeen.com (Sheryl Keen) — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 16:50:27 GMT

Is art necessary is a question that is often asked and the answer from my perspective is always a resounding yes.

There are many media through which we could view and understand the world but art is a powerful one. Much of art has to do with emotions and art provides us with an understanding of our own emotions and a way to connect with a wider cultural emotion. Connecting and gaining an understanding of something bigger than ourselves bring us new ideas and emotions. If you have read any of my blogs before, you will know that I think new ideas leads to new perspective and that this can lead to growth.

Creating art, enhances my self awareness and brings to light and focus the themes and subjects that I care about. The viewers and consumers of art can also increase their own mindfulness through their experience of art and also find out what they care about when they feel that connection to a certain piece of art. This awareness of self and connectedness to larger cultural conversations lead to more creative thinking for both the artist and the viewer. Creative thinking is necessary in all aspects of our lives.

One of the reasons why art will always be necessary, is that people will always feel the need to create. Art is innate. Embedded in our DNA is the need to produce something beautiful, something innovative, something that tells a story, something that starts a conversation, something that changes a conversation, something that shifts our perspective, something that resonate with our own emotions and something that resonate with the emotions of those around us.

As creating art is a part of our biological makeup, so is communication. We use art to communicate and share ideas. Some ideas are challenging to communicate, and words will not do the idea justice. This is where art can be a master communicator, we feel and see everything without a word. Art communicates stories, tells us about our shared history, or particular events and gives us insights into specific moments in time. Art can bring information to us, that we may not have learnt otherwise.

Art can be a tool for reflection both individually and collectively. We can reflect and make sense of an issue in a healing way when we consume art. When we stand before works of art, we are able to go on an emotional journey that brings us to a place of peace when there is something within us that needs reconciliation. Art can make us feel like we are in the company of others who understands and who stand with us to find solutions. Art is a way of distilling what we feel about what happened and where we have been even while still questioning where we are, where we are going and perhaps how we are going to get there.

The art that we view is usually positioned somewhere before us where we sit or stand to consume it. We as viewers bring our interaction to the pieces. We seem to be the dominant force in the room. However, the art is also a living image before which we stand and its always ready to communicate with us, to tell us a new story, to heal us, to bring clarity, and to veer conversations away from what’s always been said to something new.

Dream Logic - the Exhibition

sheryl@sherylkeen.com (Sheryl Keen) — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 19:49:26 GMT

My next exhibition will be “Dream Logic” at Station Gallery. This is the kind of topic that feels ethereal because we are talking about dreams after all. We cannot nail dreams down because the substance and the intent are never completely in focus and so they are never quite understood. Sometimes dreams are so fragmented and illogical that there is nothing much to take away. Other times they are much clearer.

“Blooming”, pictured here, is the piece that I will be showing in the exhibit. I think it captures the feeling of a dream like state. This could be an actual dream while asleep or a daydream where one is lost in one’s own thoughts. The fragmentation of certain elements on the canvas also fits in well with the dream logic theme where the state of mind is abstracted.

The piece was created as part of my growth and transformation theme but sits nicely in this exhibit’s dream theme. Perhaps this is so because growth and change begin with a series of thoughts, images and emotions quite similar to dreams but perhaps more logical and focused. If dreaming in its broadest sense is to consider the endless possibilities of our lives, then they can be used to fuel growth and change in an imaginative way if we can “pick sense from nonsense.”

Conversely, the fragments we remember can fuel our own creativity. It’s not unusual to hear of a writer who wrote a book or an artist who created a piece of art from a clear fragment of a dream. The fleeting delicacy of our obscure and fragmented dreams may be illogical and mysterious. Our daytime reminiscence is different from our night time reverie.

As in everything else, dreams are about perspective – how we view them is how we talk about and use them. So here is one perspective. If taken as an indication of the limitlessness and mysterious nature of our brain power, then we should all dream on.

What are your thoughts on dreams?

The exhibition runs from December 12, 2020 to January 17, 2021

Why Creating Art is Good for Everyone

sheryl@sherylkeen.com (Sheryl Keen) — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 15:37:52 GMT

At the heart of art are some core life processes that anyone can appreciate – artist or not. These activities can make our lives better and facilitate our growth. The act of creating art always bring these activities to the fore for me. It can for you as well.

The first process is that of observation. We all need to learn how to really see and analyze what is being seen. My power of observation is always enhanced when I am in the act of creating art because I am looking and searching for something so I am keen to get an answer. It’s important to say that observing and seeing what is not there is just as important as what is. For example, I think about the space around the images on the canvas as much as I think about the images themselves. Observation is a tool we can bring to all aspects of our lives and can assist us to gather information and make better decisions.

This is also true for observation’s counterpart – contemplation. At art’s very core is contemplation. This is a dynamic kind of reflection because in order to create anything of consequence, we have to question everything. In order to find a way and the answers we are looking for we have to ask ourselves where we want to draw the lines, what depth is this canvas going to have, does this composition feel right, do we fill these empty spaces or are we going to let this thing breathe? In art and in life there is a constant digging going on. Our lives can be one big archaeological site if we want answers.

If we want different answers from the ones that we usually get then we must experiment. Experimentation may be something that we thought we left behind in high school Chemistry but the opportunity to experiment is always with us. My current style of art is a direct result of experimentation. I wanted to create more than flat canvases so I ventured out of my comfort zone, tested different techniques and found a way to make 3D art. Venturing into the unknown to find answers and solutions is a thrilling experience. Sometimes I find answers that I was not looking for but turns out to be the answers that I need. When we try different ways, especially when they take us out of our elements, we never know what we are going to get. That may be scary but oftentimes it can be very rewarding. Even if we didn’t find what we were looking for with experimentation, at the very least, we allowed our minds to travel a different path. New ideas, methods and activities will stretch our minds.

If you are contemplating art as an activity to try, go for it. I have just given you three good reasons to do so. Increase your powers of observation and contemplation. Making art can change the way you see and the way you think. Make art your experiment.

How Long Has This Been Going On

Sat, 25 May 2019 18:11:19 GMT

I would like to answer popular questions, I get asked as an artist.

The first one is: how long have you been doing this? This could easily be a short answer – All my Life – but I will expand.

Everything I create now is an accumulation of all the practice and knowledge gained over the years. Of course, when I started I wasn’t as good as I am today but still apparently good enough for fellow school age children to tell me “You didn’t draw that, you traced it.” This doubting of my abilities actually indicated to me that I was on the right path, because if they didn’t believe that I was able to draw the things I created, then the work must be good.

I have come a long way since then. I don’t need to convince anyone that I did that. For years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes; I have been doing art all my life, even while engaged in many other activities.In fact, I cannot remember a time when I was not engaged in art in some way.

When I create a work of art, all my life goes into that one piece. From the time I was a small child drawing everything around me to now when I have narrowed down my subject matter. In my artworks you will get everything that I have done since I could first hold pencil to paper to now when I have elevated my craft.

I expect that if I live to be 100, I’ll still be saying “ All my Life” .

Once you were born an artist, art will not let you go.

The Meditative Power of Art

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 18:11:15 GMT

We know that art is healing but through my own work and the process, I have also found out that it can be quite meditative. So even if you are not a professional artist and you just dabble, there is something to be said for the process.

The meditation comes through in the process where your entire body and mind is in tune with what you are doing. My process includes sketching, composing, modeling, texturizing and colouring. This is basically a step by step process that flows into each other. Everything I do, every thought I have is concentrated on this one thing. One of the questions I get asked as an artist is if I work on several pieces at once. I do not. Everybody’s brain works differently so I can’t say it’s wrong to do multiple projects simultaneously.

For me, working on two pieces at once does not give me the kind of concentration I want to put in a single project. The composition of a painting needs attention because I’ll have to decide where the focus lies. This takes place from sketching a single line to sketching a figure; to modeling a face, carving lines, delineating spaces; choosing and applying texture and colour.

All of this is very meditative. My mind has one clear path. All my actions are details that come together to support the whole. At the end its almost like giving birth to something and now I can move on and conceive fresh ideas for another project.

What’s your thing that is meditative?

Conquering Self Doubt

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 19:11:17 GMT

Everybody experiences self doubt about one thing or another at some point in their lives. For creative people, self doubt is always lurking around somewhere, waiting to pounce at a moment’s weakness.

As artists, we ask ourselves, is our work good enough, will people like it, do our work represent our best selves, is our work improving? These are not necessarily bad questions. We need to take stock ever so often. However, if we allow these questions to seep into our souls and undermine our progress or actions, and cripple us, then self doubt is taking over.

What I along with other artists need to remember is that art is subjective. As good as the work may be, not everyone is going to like or appreciate it. Also, we are all worthy, so we just need to step into who we are and stop doubting ourselves. No one is worthier than you.

Do not change what you do because a certain kind of art is selling. Your art is worthy and needs to be seen. Be true to you. Know that self doubt is natural especially in a creative environment where there will be varying views on what you do.

We should not allow doubt to conquer us. We should be the conquerors of doubt. How do we do this? We replace all negative thoughts with positive ones. We call upon past successes to remind ourselves that we are stars or at the very least, we have accomplished some good things. We should remember that our talents are divine gifts. It’s our right and responsibility to bring what we have to the world. In an uncertain world, the one person you want to be sure of is yourself.

Now go conquer!

Preparing for an Art Show on a Deadline

Sun, 14 Jan 2018 19:11:08 GMT

There are times when I receive an opportunity that is so good that I cannot pass it up. However, this opportunity may be on a tight deadline. There are a few things I do to help myself in this situation.

Firstly, I choose a theme that I build my works around. Building a theme for an art show is like writing a story. Each work is like a paragraph that expands and fleshes out the topic. Having a theme gives me focus – a train of thought that zeroes in on a very specific path.

Know the size of the space. This will determine the number of pieces and sizes of works I’ll create. I’ll also go to see the space if I can.

Stay focused. It’s easy to get off track so I stay on course especially with the theme. I eliminate distractions and temptations that will take me away from my work. Just surfing the internet is a big distraction.

I make a list of each work that I have completed so I can see my progress and check what I have done against my target dates. This will let me know how much harder or faster I need to work. This list helps keep me motivated.

Breaks are my best friends. I take lots of them to rejuvenate myself physically and mentally.

The audience is very important, so I am mindful of their needs. I wouldn’t take my paintings to a show where they were expecting pop art. Another way to be mindful of the audience is to know my pieces so that I can have great discussions with viewers at the opening of the show.

At the end of the creation process, I take stock. Is the theme together and well thought out? Do I have enough pieces? Do I know the pieces? Am I ready?

What are some of the things that you do to meet deadlines and stay focused?

What Working with My Hands has Taught Me

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 19:11:09 GMT

Being an artist is literally a hands on job. Using my hands to create something useful and valuable is one of the best things ever. The creative process of placing my hands on the work has taught me a few things.

It has taught me about my own power and limitlessness. If I can take a blank canvas and turn it into a product of value, then I have a certain kind of power. This reminds me that my only limit is myself. My hands are tools that engages my mind to my vast potential. The possibilities are endless.

The mastery of anything comes with practice. The repetitive motion of my hands connects with my brain and brings a synergy that nothing else can. There is power in action; in sitting down and getting the work done time and time again. After doing this for a while the process becomes intuitive. My hands know what to do; my brain tells me where to go.

Working with my hands have also taught me patience. Practice has taught me not to rush the process; to enjoy it step by step. I have waited for paint to dry, for colours to take root, and for my mind to distill an idea. Practice and patience go hand in hand and both assist in mastery.

I become close to my projects. I have touched them; and they have touched me. It is impossible to create art without becoming affected by what you are creating. In the final analysis, my work and I will be touching and connecting with someone else as well. At least, that is what I hope for.

5 Things You Can Do to Help an Artist Right Now

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 18:11:10 GMT

If you have ever wondered how you can help the artist in your life (or any other artist) succeed, here are a few things. Chances are you may be doing some of these things already but maybe I will be able to put something new in the mix.

Attend their art shows/Exhibition openings. We would all like you to attend our art show openings. This is where the art is presented and you get to speak one on one with the artists about the pieces. It can also be an impactful event because the opening is often indicative of how successful the overall show will be. If you cannot attend the opening, attend the show and let the artist know. He or she will appreciate it.

If you are ever going to purchase a gift for an artist, buy them art supplies . If buying art supplies is not your forte, ask the artists what to get. They will be happy and grateful to tell you. Art can be a very expensive venture; your gift will not go to waste.

Purchase a piece of art. It enhances the aesthetics of your space, spare your eyes from a blank wall and lift your spirits. In addition, the work you bought may increase in value. Who knows, in the future you may be able to make a profit from it. If you can’t afford the original, buy a print. Or commission the artist to do a piece for you that is within your budget.

Spread the word about the artist work within your circle, in person or on social media. There is nothing like word of mouth marketing. A positive endorsement from someone else goes a long way in influencing prospective art buyers and collectors. The endorsement may also open up other opportunities for the artists.

Show support on social media and by liking the work and following the artist. More than just clicking like and moving on, make a comment about the work. This shows that you really looked at the work and appreciate the value it brings to the world or just your community. Your comments may assist the artist with future projects in terms of giving people more of what they like and less of what they don’t.

Finding Inspiration in the Grind

Sun, 26 Mar 2017 18:11:11 GMT

As an artist, I am asked questions about inspiration all the time. What inspires you? Are you inspired all the time? What happens if you are not inspired? I will use this post to talk about two different kinds of inspiration.

Inspiration can come like a bolt of lightning. Its those moments when an idea is crystal clear and so fantastic that it can easily be transferred to canvas – or whatever your medium is. These moments are genius and can feel especially great. We all love these moments because everything flows. It all comes together perfectly.

But inspiration does not work that way all the time. Inspiration can also be found within the grind. In the lightning bolt scenario, inspiration comes, then you create. With the grind, you must do the work for inspiration to appear.

If you do not have that bolt every time you want to create a work of art, what will you do? I cannot sit and wait for the next bolt to come or I would have significantly fewer pieces in my portfolio. What I do in times when lightning does not strike, is approach the canvas, my paints, my brushes, my thoughts. I stand face to face with my creative nemesis, I sketch, I design, I begin painting to see what comes, struggling through. In the process of creating, I am also chasing inspiration and I know that I will find it. The evidence will be in the finished product.

Finding inspiration in the grind is not just about artists or creative people, its for anyone who wants to accomplish anything. I am a creative so I use creative references. If you are a writer, you will have to sit down in front of a computer even if you have no clue what you will write. You will have to hit those keys. Write a line. Delete it. Write another. Starting your process is an invitation to inspiration to come in. It wants to come in. Sometimes it is reluctant but if you stick with the process long enough it will come.

Today I wish for you all the lightning bolts of inspiration you can get. However, when those fade, I wish for you the patience and tenacity to sit down and start working so that inspiration may come.

Life Lessons art Has Taught Me (Part 2)

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 19:11:12 GMT

To Leave the Beaten Path . Art allows me to leave the usual path. I could paint what everybody else is painting, I can do the popular thing. But how will I make my mark as an imitator? How will I be different? Leaving the beaten path allows me to discover new ways to create, allows me to take risks and to learn new things about myself. When I am on the road not travelled, I am alone and have only my own creative thoughts to depend on.

To have an open mind . To leave the well travelled road, forces me to have an open mind. I carve out my own style. I paint the subjects I want to paint. I experiment with different paints and use various found objects in my work. Opening my mind leaves me available and open to new things which will enrich my mind, my art and my life.

To let go . If I am going to have an open mind, I have to let go. It’s much easier to do this in art than in life. But as I said, I am using one to inform the other. We all have perceptions that we hold dear; we are slaves to our culture, our family, our friends, our ancestors and we could go on. We are all colouring within the line but what if we coloured outside of it? What would we discover within ourselves and within our world?

All I need to do is start . I don’t need to be intimidated by a blank canvas. The empty space is waiting on me to make my mark. The canvas is yearning for me to use it to bring a story to life. I don’t always know what I will paint but I stand before the canvas and I think about what I can create that will be impactful. As soon as I start, the path starts to reveal itself. The reveal is not always quick but if I persist it becomes sure.

There is always another way . If I start and I realize that my creation is not going the way I envisioned it, I can change midstream. I have created works that I did not like. I gesso them over and create something new. These paintings are always the better ones because they have been through the fire of failure and came out popping. There are many ways to fill an empty canvas – different colours, different textures, more pop. This is the reason we should not be afraid to start. We have the ability to adjust.

To surround myself with people who understand my dreams and encourage it . This is the final one and it is a big one. The business of art is already challenging so I do not surround myself with naysayers who sap my energy and diminish my creativity with negative thoughts. I sever any cord that would tie me to discord, to anything that will let me lose focus, to anyone that feed self doubt. Self doubt can mean death to a creative. I surround myself with light; with people who encourage and help me to find my path. This is a very important life lesson – hold fast to dream builders; let go of dream killers. Light in; darkness out.

Life Lessons Art Has Taught Me (Part 1)

Thu, 05 Jan 2017 19:11:13 GMT

There is no perfection . There is only the best I can do in this moment. Every piece of art that I have ever done could have been done in many different ways. Perfection is really just a prerequisite for procrastination. We know where procrastination leads – nowhere. We must do all we can with the skills that we have and then let it go.

Silence and alone time is the best time for new ideas . We live in a very noisy world with so many things pushing and pulling us that it can be hard to think. It can be hard to hear our own thoughts and separate trivialities from substance. Alone time is precious and can lead to our best ideas. I come up with some of my best ideas when I am alone and there are no distractions.

Patience is indeed a virtue . A piece of work may not always take the direction I want it to but I work through it and persevere until I have something I can be proud of. Patience is a sort of waiting game and sometimes waiting is not a bad thing.

Art has taught me to be more observant; to see more . I see spaces, lines, colours depth and how they are used and how they relate to each other. I have come to appreciate the spaces between as much as the focal point itself. I take this into other aspects of my life to listen more, to observe more and to be more present. Awareness enhances life.

Details matter. It is the details that make the big picture. Every shadow, every line, every colour, every space, everything matters to the whole.

How I Explain My Art

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 18:25:36 GMT

I usually explain my artworks to interested people by telling them my thoughts and intentions when I was creating the pieces. I tend not to definitively state that this is what it is because I want room for other views. My works for the most part have been described as contemplative and interpretive. In light of this, the work is really left up to the viewer’s interpretation and that is how I like it.

I have been to art shows where viewers have given me other interpretations of the work and they are never wrong. These different, insightful views also make the work more interesting to me as the creator and of course make the viewing process more interactive.

My intention in creating shattered, the piece shown above, was to show someone who is going through something painful. This person is feeling shattered which is depicted by the broken, fragmented shards. The partially shown face is what we all want to do when we feel pain, we want to hide.

An equally insightful view is that there is a person who is being impeded by a figurative wall but is now able to slowly shatter that wall. And so the face is now slowly coming to light. Is there an incorrect view here? No! So this is the reason I explain my work the way I do. I give my interpretations and my intentions because I am aware that there are other views.

I get excited to present my works to others because I want to hear their take. I want the experience of viewing my own work in another light and I want the viewers to enjoy the work by talking freely about it. Viewers should feel free to express themselves and I feel that if I say this is what it is, they will feel intimidated to say their piece, because the artist’s view is all. The artist’s view is not all.

Artworks present the opportunity for an interactive experience in which everybody participates.

Art Chooses Me

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 18:25:33 GMT

I meet many people everyday who used to do some form of art. And they usually ask me how I keep doing art because for whatever reason they did not continue. I guess that they are really asking me about dedication, time or passion. And I guess that they assume that art, for me, is a choice.

It is not a choice. It is a calling. Art is constantly calling me to make something. It insistently wakes me up at nights, interrupts my days, and holds my mind and soul hostage with ideas that it wants me to translate to canvas. If there are other artist reading this, I know that they understand what I mean. They have experienced the constant gnawing, yearning, and need to create.

It is a kind of bitter sweet pursuit. There is the fulfillment of creation – bringing an idea from conception to fruition. But art is not food, at least not in the common sense. People need to eat, sleep and have a roof over their heads but they do not need art. If people do not have a piece of art, they will not die, again not in the normal sense. But what a drab, bland and utterly colourless existence people would have without it in their spaces and lives.

So while I am aware that it is difficult to succeed as an artist, it has no bearing on why I create. Creation for me is a means of survival. If I do not do it, I will die. If I do not give in to the urge, I will go mad. Paradoxically, I might go mad giving in to the urge but that is another story. My only point now is that making art is not a choice, when art chooses me.

People say things to me all the time like, you know you may not make any money from art until you are dead or you know there are few artists who make any money from art. I smile and nod. Noted. I don’t argue. There is some amount of truth to what they say and some amount of falsehood too. There are many living artists who are making a great living and there are many great artists who are not. But I don’t argue because I will have to explain that art is not a choice. Art chooses me.

Experiencing Art

Sun, 08 Sep 2013 18:25:35 GMT

Many people do not feel that they understand art. They feel intimidated by it and do not know how to interpret a piece that they come across. They also feel intimidated by most galleries with their highfalutin prices and unapproachable atmosphere. I wish people did not feel this way because art is fun and much of it is left up to your own interpretation. Art is an engaging activity that requires you to really look and experience a short story that is told in a composed, colourful and conceptual way. All of us can experience this.

I am going to use a piece that I did called “ Shrouded ” to explain my thoughts while I was doing it and to demonstrate that the viewer can have a totally different interpretation that is as good, if not better than what the artist intended.

The piece, shown above, depicts a woman, wearing a head scarf, who is hidden behind what appears to be bars. My thoughts as I was doing the piece was that there are a lot of us who are hidden behind something. This thing that we are hidden behind can bring us a sense of comfort, security and escape. We can have a feeling of protection and a sense of belonging within this shroud.

Paradoxically, we can also feel trapped, imprisoned and stifled by this very thing. All we want to do is escape from it.

That was the dichotomy present in my mind while creating this piece. I showed a picture of this painting to my friend Himanshu. He told me that the woman is a mystery woman who many have tried to get to know but cannot because of the impenetrable walls that she has put up. I thought that was a very insightful comment and interpretation. It was never something that I the artist had thought of but it fits right into the shrouded theme. How cool is that?

This ability to look, see, experience and interpret is not out of anyone’s reach. Take some time to experience a piece of art. When you get right down to it art is really an experience. You might be surprised to find that you can figure out more than you think you would all because you took the time to look.