D SANDS ART BLOG

New Body of Work

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:24:56 GMT

As the month of March continues on its course towards April, the delivery date of my art for my first opening of the season looms closer. The Fine Line is the first to receive the newest work!

Sometimes it helps me focus, if I have a theme for a show. I feel I have a more cohesive body of work when I have a centered thought. But this year I had so many images I wanted to paint — yes, all landscapes — but will all of these images work well together?

The answer. Stop and take a look at the whole body of work.

So I carried everything up from the studio and placed them in a wide circle around the room while my PR guru was here and have come to my conclusion… it's working! Happy accident or creative inspiration? The images do flow from one to another rather well.

I’m excited! Now I must get them wired, varnished, and I will be ready to go in 2 weeks! This will help me finish and I can’t wait till you get to see what I have been up to for the past few months.

Different Venues; David Adler Music and Arts Center

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 09:48:16 GMT

Early in my career it was exciting to get my work shown, so when I was offered an alternative place to hang my art, I took advantage of it. Exposure was the mantra. Today I am really hustling to just to honor my commitments and have my work delivered on time. For the time being, I find alternative venues must be cut from my itinerary.

But this exciting opportunity to see art should not be missed. You are now in the loop about this show…so mark your calendar.

Starting March 17, a unique art show starts in Libertyville, and will be on display for 6 days. Three women organize a space quarterly, for these brief exhibits. They pull together a group of artists, set it up and then a few days later take it down.

This phenomenon happens a lot in Chicago, had spread to Highland Park a few years ago, and now has come to Libertyville at the David Adler Music and Arts Center.

Though I declined to be a part of the show, I will get to the opening on March 18, from 7 to 9pm. I have several friends showing, and one of my favorite ceramicists, Ben Bates will have pieces there.

Condell Advocate Hospital new aquisition

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 08:47:13 GMT

I have been working with Condell Advocate Hospital through a wonderful artist rep, who is aquiring art to be part of the hospitals permanent collection.

After looking at four of my pieces, Condell has chosen two pieces depicting spring and summer, that will hang in one of the first floor conference rooms.

Condell will be hosting a grand opening reception in April, I will keep you posted as to when this event will occur.

Creating

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 05:44:27 GMT

I am currently attempting a large painting and working to create fog. When I think I have completed a piece I bring it up out of my lower level studio space and look at it in natural sunlight. I'm not happy with it.

None of my work leaves the house without my 16-year-old daughter critiquing it.
She is an honest critic and I value her opinion. She took one look at my fog painting and said, “it's nice, who painted it?”

I had used my regular palette, but because I used a lot of white, it's not recognizably my painting! Also it has very soft brush strokes. So back to the studio with it. (I decided it would be wise to reference Wolf Kahn's work, and see how he interpreted fog.)

The palette I use originates with Wolf Kahn. He started his career as an abstract expressionist painter, having studied with Hans Hoffman. It was from Hoffman that he experienced the use of wonderful color. Matisse having worked with him in Paris before the out break of WWII influenced Hoffman. Wolf Kahn then applied his palette to landscapes.

As you try new things, they don't always work out, but trying will keep your pieces looking fresh and exciting.

Painting: As a Profession

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 03:43:38 GMT

As I create my new body of work, I tend to let other responsibilities slip away, such as keeping up with my weekly postings here. Every available moment I have at this time of the year is spent in my studio. Usually this means a minimum of 10-hour days… sometimes more.

My brain is working faster than my hands, and I am now finally writing things down, so I don't forget. I have at times purchased pre-stretched canvases as a time saver. Pearl in Chicago had a really nice selection with some unusual sizes, but because they have closed, I have been stretching more myself.

As I get older I am finding it rather difficult to stretch larger pieces. I am now reduced to stretching unprimed canvas, and having to do it twice. The first time is to get it more flexible...but what really happens I find that I get buckles. So I let it alone overnight, then undo all the staples and do it again. Then I apply three coats of gesso with a light sanding in between the coats. Having several blank surfaces, I could not stop till the images appeared.

Four paintings are now completed, with eight more to go. Rarely is it an issue for me of what to paint. As I am working on one piece, I find that by the time I get to the finishing touches of that painting, I have already decided what next scene I want to paint, and have a rough idea of the palette I will be using.

To all who can Happy Painting!

New Year New Series

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:53:16 GMT

It’s my routine to start each New Year by packing up all the holiday decorations, and then to pull out my files to properly closeout the previous year, in preparation for taxes. This has gone smoothly and I have a good jump-start on my standard system.

These first weeks of January I have been able to start a new series of pieces for the Fine Line Design Gallery in Ephraim, Wisconsin. The Fine Line is one of the galleries that represent my landscape paintings. In May, at the start of the tourist season, I will be featured in their space.

I am grateful to report I had such a good year! It makes me wonder just what I will do in 2011, as I am about to set my new goals. As a businesswoman it important to work and to share, and with the help of my marketing guru, Nancy Kuhr, I know future dreams are attainable.

One of my objectives, (I will plan more consciously), is to allow myself to have more breathing room. I am geared to just go with the flow and get things done. I wish to be present with my heart and my head as I make my goals.

Looming on my “to-do list” is a comprehensive book of my work, and a CD capturing me in action the field as I re- translate the landscape. The CD will likely be filmed in May or June and the book will happen when I get my head "around" it. So keep checking to see what I am up to this year! It is the New Year and I hope it's a great one for all of us! Keep creating!

What's Next?

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:16:18 GMT

Just two years ago fate introduced me to Marin Dornseif, a marketing and art intern from Lake Forest College. For almost four months she worked with me to rewrite copy, help with mailings, create contact lists... and then introduced me to a fellow classmate, who is a fabulous website designer, my web go-to guy: Michael Ojdana.

With the help of these two creative spirits, I was able to rapidly move into the art world of the Midwest. I have a feeling it's time for fate (or one of my many connections) to provide another intern, as the demands for my time are great, and I want to be able to keep up the momentum we were able to establish.

This year, I will launch a new series of encaustic art, while continuing to work on my landscapes. The encaustic pieces are more abstract with figurative elements added; yet my palette remains the same. These pieces are inspired from the writings of a personal friend.

You will be able to see the first one of this series at the College of Lake County's Members Show opening January 14 at 7 p.m.

A Year in Retrospective

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:24:00 GMT

What a year it has been! So many wonderful opportunities were placed before me. It has been one wild and exciting adventure.

I am now at the point in my career where I do not need to hustle as much, I have paid my dues, and now I am being approached for new opportunities.

I never say no.

I am secure now in who I am as an artist and know with all my heart that the knowledge and experience I have gained, let’s me say, “I can do it!”

This may lead to stress and times where I will find myself questioning, “why I did I ever agree to commit?” but by being comfortable with who I am in my profession, I know I can achieve whatever I set my mind to accomplish, and be successful.

Note: I could not have done it all without the great group of friends who have bailed me out when I was double booked. A big thanks goes out to them, for all they did to help me achieve my goals, allowing me to have a very successful year.

Without all of you, I could have not done it all! Thank You.

This past year I have met some new wonderfully talented artists, added budding art students to my class list, and I now coach talented individuals, to help them on their professional path.

I am looking forward to the New Year and all the adventures it will bring.

New Work and a New Year

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:10:17 GMT

Working from my field studies and photos created during my Maine trip, I have officially started my new body of work for next season.

Also in process now, is another new body of work involving cold process encaustic pieces. These new art pieces are inspired by a poet that I have met. He delivers me the inspirational words and I create the visuals to match. These paintings will be more abstract and will have figurative elements added. I will be maintaining the same palette I use for my landscapes.

As I branch off into different subject matter, it is important to keep harmony with what has already been set. The body of work all needs to tie together, whether the thread be medium, style, or palette.

Recently, I challenged myself to try something very different. I was a “wedding-reception painter” at the University Club this past October. I have now completed the piece, and am waiting for client approval. I have another reception piece in the works from a wedding I attended in July.

It has been a great year for me with new challenges, adventures, and exposure. I look forward to all that 2011 will bring!

The Visiting Artist Program and 2011 Plans

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:46:14 GMT

As the tourist season ends I begin to see a steady decline in art sales at the venues where my art is being shown. So it is at this time of the year when I can change my focus for a time and put 80% of my focused efforts into the Visiting Artist Program.

This past Wednesday, as the “Visiting Artist” I worked with a group of 15 children ranging from educable mentally disabled to severely disabled. And for the hour I was with them, they became landscape painters by using watercolors.

Most of those needing assistance had an aide, but I noticed one aide was working with two children, with one of her students being more vocal. The squeaky wheel effect was definitely in play. The other child was sitting quietly in his own world, so I went over to work with him.

This eight-year old was strapped into his wheel chair with minimal control of his head movement, and tightly clenched hands. At first, I took the brush and held it, and his hand while we painted.

I would let go of his hand to dip the brush into the paint, because he could not reach it. After the third dip, I tried prying his hand open to slip the brush handle in, with a little success. After the fourth time, his hand was releasing enough to easily glide the brush in and by the sixth time, his hand was totally relaxed to accept the brush. I just had to help him to close his fingers around it.

We did three paintings together and I was rewarded with a gentle smile.

Finding the joy is not hard for me. I just need to be open enough to receive it. These little rewards I cherish and take with me as a motivation to keep going, to move forward when life throws me curve balls. The simple joys are the best.

The Visiting Artist Program; Understanding Through Art, has received it's 501(c)(3) approval in July. We work with school-age children in the inner cities.

I have been doing this work pro-bono for this program for three years. I am now able to begin the process of applying for grants to expand the program. Your ideas and suggestions for fundraising would be greatly appreciated. You are now able to make a tax-deductible donation to sponsor this important work.

Your contributions can be made to:

The Visiting Artist Program

1120 Regency Lane

Libertyville, Il 60048

Our plans for 2011 include:
The opportunity for the high school children in four communities to exhibit their art work at the Dandelion Wine Festival in Waukegan —
June 2011.

A Beach Bash for the upper grade students, who will get to work with sculptors designing a sand sculpture and will go to the Waukegan beach to create their ideas —
September 2011.

We also offer monthly classes to grades 3-5 with a new artist visiting to give them new ideas and direction. This provides an opportunity to work with all the different mediums out there.

A child who has found their passion is a happy well-adjusted human being. We offer another avenue to be explored.

Thank you for visiting this site.

Donna