Under Pressure

 

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This summer, I spent a lot of time drawing different subjects that were different from my landscape and animal art. I often pressure myself into creating the best possible artwork. What will everyone think if it does not look good? I am an artist. I should be able to do this.


Do you have a similar feeling? Do you get frustrated with your efforts if you meet obstacles?


However, just because someone is a great soccer player, they are not necessarily a fantastic athlete in another discipline. An accomplished reporter is usually not a capable writer of novels.


We often put so much pressure on ourselves because we assume everyone expects us to perform at the highest level. Usually, we are the only ones looking for every fault. Perfection is boring! Less symmetry is more exciting!


Playing and exploring is essential to improve your skills and keep your curiosity and energy flowing, attracting others.


While teaching a painting course, a participant once approached me, saying that it must be wonderful to create art so effortlessly.


I feel humbled if someone sees my art this way. They often only see the finished product. While the process is sometimes very smooth, there are also times when I hit roadblocks. Practicing a lot also helps.


This week, I spent time with my painting friends at the National Gallery, visiting the special exhibition, Uninvited: Canadian Women Artists in the Modern Moment. While we had lunch, I quickly sketched a scene outside the building. It is my way of shorthand to remember events and happy moments. It is much more pleasing than the regular shorthand I had to learn at the language school, which I hated. I always feel the urge to create.

Even if I wanted to stop, I would struggle to keep my hand still. I have enjoyed my Summer of Creativity Project, creating topics from the 642 Things To Draw book (see collage above). I will continue for two more weeks even though the official summer lasts until September 22. The early fall is a great time to paint and sketch on location, and I look forward to outings with my Painting Buddies. There are still many new challenges to conquer!

If you are interested in needle felting, I invite you to my fall workshop, Ready for Pumpkins. I divided the four-hour workshop for the first time into four parts as a lunchtime activity. You can find more information and register here. To take advantage of the early bird price, register before August 21, 2023.

Beautiful Places in my Neighbourhood – Part 4

Spring in Ottawa, acrylic, 11" x 14"

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This is the last blog of beautiful places in my neighbourhood. There are so many picturesque spots in the Ottawa area that I could write about them infinitely. Unfortunately, I have not spent too much time in the Western part of the city. Most of my painting buddies are from the East area of town. When we go on a day trip, we think about whether we want to spend an hour and more in traffic before reaching our destination. As a result, we usually do not venture farther than downtown.

The Park Across the Street, acrylic, 14" x 11"

I've always wanted to paint in the Byward Market but so far I have been intimidated not only by the number of people moving around but also by the many sensations that make it difficult to concentrate on a fixed area. I have sketched in some of the small passages in the market area and even captured the big pumpkins that were decorated for Thanksgiving a couple of years ago, but as far as painting on site is concerned, the closest I came is Major's Hill Park.

I have also painted in the gardens of the National Gallery of Canada but have to admit that I was not happy with the results. I don't even think I kept the paintings. Nevertheless, both the Taiga Garden as well as the Sunken Garden that leads to a path that zigzags up the hill toward Nepean Point are quite interesting. From Nepean Point you have a great view towards the Ottawa River, the Parliament buildings, and the Canadian Museum of History. Right now there is a competition going on for the redevelopment of Nepean point. The winning concept will be announced at the end of 2017. Did you even know that there is a garden inside the National Gallery containing trees and seasonal flowers? The Garden Court is especially lovely in winter when it is a small green oasis in an outside world that is covered in ice and snow.

All the above mentioned sights are worth the visit and offer lots of views to paint and sketch. Last winter, I sketched part of the Parliament Building from the warm shelter that the building of the Canadian Museum of History offered. I also spent time sketching part of the Parliament Building at different events at Parliament Hill.

The Ottawa Locks and the Rideau Canal offer further spots to spend time whether it is to reflect, watch the boats passing, bike, stroll or paint.

Victoria Island, acrylic, 11" x 14"

Then there is also Victoria Island, a place that is often missed when thinking about sights in the capital. The little island is on the Ottawa River between Ottawa and Gatineau. Not only do you have a great view towards Ottawa and Gatineau, you can also get a unique look at First Nation's culture at the Aboriginal Experiences site.

I am not sure whether you have been at the Mosaica horticultural event. It is still on my list of summer outings, but from the photos I have seen so far, it would also be a great venue to paint.

Fall in Gatineau Park, acrylic, 14" x 11"

There are also the many spots in Gatineau Park. Some of them would be hard to reach with my regular equipment but make great spots for watercolour sketches or even to just enjoy and take photos.

Writing this blog for the past four weeks has reawakened my memories of the spots that I fell in love with when I first visited Ottawa in the summer of 1995. It is time to be a tourist in my own neighbourhood again. I hope that by next summer, I will be able to recommend some new found treasures to you.

Thank you for reading my blog. If you enjoyed it please share it with family and friends.

Peacefulness, acrylic, 16" x 20"

Are you looking to add some original artworks to your home to bring you continuous joy every time you look at them? Right now, I am selling one of my paintings every week with a reduction of 15% off the original price. Shipping and handling fees are added, except if you pick up the artwork or live in the Orleans area. I usually do not discount my artworks, so this is a great way to buy an artwork you like while saving some money.

This week's painting is the "16 x 20" acrylic painting "Peacefulness", an image of the beach at Petrie Island at sunset. The painting is framed in a black frame. The original price is $420. You have until next Monday, August 28, 2017 at noon to purchase it for $357.

To buy the painting, please send me an email to kpeters@domingoinformatics.ca. Payment can be made in cash, by check or e-transfer. Photos of each new painting are posted every Monday on my website www.KerstinPeters.ca as well as on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/KerstinPetersPaintings/.

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"Monet: A Bridge to Modernity" at the National Gallery of Canada

 
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This week, we had our annual Painting Buddies Christmas lunch. The Painting Buddies are a group of artist friends who get together in the Ottawa area to paint outside. While we were really active the last couple of years, this year we did not paint much together. Everyone was busy with their own lives but we still managed to meet this week to celebrate our friendship and the Christmas season. Usually, we only go to a local restaurant but this time we decided to visit the National Gallery of Canada to see the special exhibition “

This week, we had our annual Painting Buddies Christmas lunch. The Painting Buddies are a group of artist friends who get together in the Ottawa area to paint outside. While we were really active the last couple of years, this year we did not paint much together. Everyone was busy with their own lives but we still managed to meet this week to celebrate our friendship and the Christmas season. Usually, we only go to a local restaurant but this time we decided to visit the National Gallery of Canada to see the special exhibition “Monet: A Bridge to Modernity”.

Claude Monet (1840–1926), is one of France's most famous impressionist painters, who aspired to capture the fleeting impressions of nature in his plein air works.The exhibition contains twelve artworks of Monet's bridges from collections around the world. Claude Monet created the paintings between 1872 and 1875 in Argenteuil, a small town on the outskirts of Paris .

One of early pieces of this time is his painting “The Wooden Bridge - Le pont de bois (1872)”, a piece that is currently on long-term loan to the National Gallery. The rather dark painting shows the highway bridge under repair following the destruction during the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871). The composition with the cropped bridge gives you the impression of a picture within a picture.

Monet was very productive during his years in Argenteuil. He experimented with different viewpoints, techniques, colours and brushstrokes to develop his own style of landscape painting. His bridge paintings lay the groundwork for Monet's status as one of the leading artist of modern art.

It is very interesting that his first paintings of the time are rather somber, reflecting the mood of the post-war town, while his later works are bright and full of vivid brushstrokes. His reflections on the water and his beautiful clouds really captured me.

“Monet: A Bridge to Modernity” runs until 15 Feb 2016 at the National Gallery of Canada. Maybe, you will find some time between the holidays to check it out. Even though it is a small exhibition, it is definitely worth the visit.

Creative Things to Do with Your Kids This Summer

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With the start of the summer break, many parents might be looking for activities for their kids. If you are one of these parents, this blog is for you.

Even if you take a week or two for your family vacation, there is still lots of time for activities to do at home, especially if your kids do not attend day camps.

As an artist and instructor, I always encourage others to increase the creativity in their lives. Here are some suggestions on things to do during the summer. As I live in the Ottawa area, I will make some recommendations that are specific for the area, but I am sure your area will offer similar venues.

If you have artistic kids, you might consider going with them to the National Art Gallery which offers lots of kid-friendly activities. They make looking at the artworks in the gallery lots of fun and encourage the kids to create their own masterpieces. The Artissimo program runs from 11am to 4pm on weekends and holidays, as well as daily in July and August. For more details, please go to https://www.gallery.ca/en/learn/activities.php.

Another great option is the Canadian Children's Museum in Gatineau where your kids can travel the world through exhibitions, props, costumes and hands-on activities. It also has a fantastic outdoor park. For more information, please go to http://www.historymuseum.ca/childrens-museum.

These are only a few recommendations, and there are many more possibilities to choose from. Almost all family-oriented museums offer activities for kids where they can build or recreate something they saw. However, you do not necessarily have to leave your house for a fun day.

Depending on the weather and your space, you can either set a camp up in your backyard or in an area of your home. If you do not have a tent, a table or even two stable chairs covered in sheets can do the trick. Have a picnic, and read or tell your favourite stories. You can also lie on a blanket in front of your tent and watch the clouds or the stars looking for shapes. Later, you can draw or paint a picture of what you saw.

Most kids love to play dress-up. Whether you organize a pirate day, a princess tea party, or recreate a historical area, bring out the costumes, prepare some food for the occasion, and your kids will not only create their own story but also play a main part in it.

Play “Restaurant” by encouraging your kids to participate in creating a menu, order pads, and definitely by having them participate in the preparation of some easy meals. Guten Appetit!

On a rainy day, setting up different games will definitely lift up the spirits. Pictionary is a great game to increase creativity and good for laughs. Have you ever considered creating your own game board? The kids could get inspired by a game they love and create their own version on a sturdy cardboard. Finally, they can make the rules.

At the beginning of the summer, you can also encourage your kids to create a vision board of things they would like to do during their holidays. Magazines, travel catalogues, combined with markers and crayons will encourage everyone to create their own wish list of activities.

At the end of the summer, you could pick photos of some special moments of your holidays and put together a scrapbook to keep alive all the beautiful memories.

These are just some suggestions. I would like to hear if you and your children have some special summer activities that everyone is excited about. Just remember, being creative does not mean that you have to draw or paint. You can build something, make music, create a new recipe, try out a new craft, or even write a short story or a poem. Whatever you do, I hope you will keep your electronics out of your hand for a while and enjoy the fun of creating.

Alex Colville

On the Lookout, my Colville inspired acrylic painting showing my daughter

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Last week, I mentioned to you that June is a prime month for weddings and told you the story behind the portrait I did of my husband and I on our wedding day. Remembering the moment, made me think about a Canadian painter and his 70 year marriage to to his university sweetheart Rhoda. I am talking about Alex Colville whose paintings are currently installed at the national Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. This is the largest show of his work ever put together. It contains many works from private collectors. The exhibition runs until September 7, 2015.

Rhoda Wright and Alex Colville met at Mount Allison University where they both studied art. At first, she was not too impressed with him but then they found out that they had much to talk about. What started out as a friendship turned into a deep love that grew with the years they spent together. Rhoda was not only Alex’ wife and mother of their four children, she also was his primary model and muse.

While it is clear that Rhoda was the model for most of his female characters, she did not feel very comfortable about being nude in many of the paintings according to an interview with Anne Kitz, the couple’s only daughter. However, she could not stand the idea of other women posing nude for her husband.

Many of his paintings explore the relationship between women and men. Colville often painted himself next to his wife. You get a glimpse into their relationship but he still manages to give the viewer the feeling that the people in the image are generic, it could be any other couple in the Colvilles’ spot as the people often turn their back or look away from the viewer.

Rhoda loved nature and was an avid athlete, a fact Alex Colville documented in his paintings. He painted her in all stages of life. You can feel the love and respect he had for his wife. Even though her body gets old and loses shape, she still is beautiful in his eyes and he manages to capture this in his paintings.

The exhibition is definitely a must-see for any art lovers, whether you are a fan of Alex Colville or not. I do not like his painting style and except for “Woman with Terrier” could not imagine acquiring one if his paintings for myself but I admire his compositional skills and cannot resist the pull of his art. Going through the exhibition, I feel like experiencing a big love confession from Alex Colville to his wife, giving us a view into their life and the intimacy of their relationship over the seven decades.

However, this is only one aspect of the exhibition. Not all the paintings show his love for his wife and the life they share together with their animals in their quiet neighbourhood. There are also paintings which leave you rather uncomfortable, where the air is filled with the suspense of what has happened or will happen, images which deal with the subject of power, trust, and mortality. They give you a feeling of watching a Hitchcock movie when the music gets dramatic and you know something bad is going to happen. Your imagination goes wild, and the excitement rises.

With his art, Alex Colville manages successfully to show both the dark side and mystery of life as well as its beauty and joy.

It is very interesting and inspiring that Alex Colville considers all ordinary things important enough as a subject for painting. I have to remember this during our next outing when we are looking for the “perfect” spot to paint. Often, we spend a lot of time searching for this spot. When you are in nature, you experience an information overload. However, often painting a simple scene has a much stronger impact than getting lost in the big picture.

One of the appeals of Alex Colville’s paintings is that he paints situations everyone can recognize. I can relate to his paintings because he paints what he loves and respects, and what captures his interest. I have been asked a couple of times why I do not paint what the audience is looking for, and I have always answered that I can only paint what attracts me and what I love because every painting contains also a part of me. I can only put energy in my paintings if they reflect my true self. This is something I always tell me students. It is wonderful to admire your neighbour’s art but everyone is different and that is why everyone’s art should be different. Similarities are possible, especially if you spent a lot of time painting together because you definitely influence each other but if you look carefully, you will feel the different energy depending on the painter’s personality.

Have you seen the exhibition already? If so, what was your impression? If not, are you planning to go? Why? Please feel free to leave a comment, either on my blog site or on my Facebook or Google+ page.