Shifting art

Welcome

Original oil painting 30x40"

by Susan Roux

France. The medieval villages of France... An inner warmth overcomes me just thinking about it. Its one of the places on my "must-return" list. I blogged about it in December when I mentioned my artist friend Martine-Alison who lives there. One of these days I need to introduce her to you...

I painted this on a large gallery-wrapped canvas with the painting continuing around the thick edges. Its fun to peek and see the roses extend their dainty climbing dance and the buildings, doorways and walkways continue. It gives it space. I like that it isn't framed. At 30x40", it becomes an addition to a room and it feels like you could just walk in! I think a frame would confine it, separate it; halting some of this openness quality it has. I titled it Welcome due to this pull it has to make you want to just step inside.

Its currently exhibited at Central Maine Medical Center until the end of this week. I heard a write-up about the show was in the local papers, but since I don't get the paper, I never saw it. Today I accidently stumbled upon it. Here it is if you'd like to read it. I thought it would be my artist statement, but was pleased to find only elements of it. The revised version made for a better news article. Thanks June for that!

Several of my France paintings will then be hung at Maine Street Music Lessons. Next week I'll be "curating", reorganizing, shifting, deleting and hanging. I think the France paintings will compliment Sandy Dunn's violin paintings better than what is currently there. The color palettes are similar. If I remember to bring my camera, I'll take pictures to post later for you.

Have you been busy shifting art lately? My studio could use some shifting too, but that's for another day...

Whether you're shifting art, creating art or dreaming about art, I hope you enjoy your day!

Reach out

Art. I've been craving art. Its funny how artists, when deprived of painting time, can go absolutely nuts. Art isn't something we want to do (yeah, we do want to do it...), its something we "need" to do! This creative energy just wants to burst out uncontrollably. I watch my kitty bounce around with her new catnip mouse and it is exactly how I feel I will explode with art. A crazy frenzy of creativity! Watch out canvas, the colors are going to fly! (maybe tomorrow I'll find time to paint...)

Today I hung my exhibit at the hospital, Central Maine Medical Center. Its at 60 High Street, Lewiston Maine; please go check it out... It looked good.

Its a two-person exhibition space, and the artist hanging beside me was Sissi Ventrone. Sissi hung her students work. She is doing wonderful things with underprivileged kids, many of them Somalians. (an extra plus to go check out the show!) I had never met Sissi, but she is someone I'll be getting to know better. She is originally from Austria and is quite worldly. We had fun exchanging ideas as we quickly realized conversations like this were difficult to come by. We spoke on similar levels and the conversation was exciting and stimulating. In a short time we touched base on many topics I would love to expand on. Sissi, if you're reading, I'll be in touch soon.

I'm mentioning this unexpected encounter so you too will take the initiative to go meet strangers. Do it on the internet. Do it in person. It doesn't matter, just try it. Your mind will be introduced to new ideas and you will be stimulated and energized because of it. Soon we will begin a new year. A time when many set resolutions that quickly get broken. Maybe they aren't realized because they aren't fun or stimulating or the slight bit interesting. Make the resolution to meet someone out of your comfort circle and it will be hard to stop you from staying in contact or from finding other new people to meet. I tell you, it really is exciting!

Shake up your life. Invigorate yourself. Give yourself a shot of a natural high. Reach out and meet someone new. Surprises will happen...

(Photograph by Michael McAllister)