Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Studious in My Studio.

How lucky am I! I have a Studio. A space of my very own to paint, sew, sit, and just be. How exciting! I don't think I have really had a space to call my own that does not require me to put my bed in. Or even to call a "Studio" for that matter. How professional, and mature... I have a Studio. I could say that over and over, to whom ever would listen.
"Hello sir, I have a Studio."
"Oh really your dog died, but did you know that I have a studio!"
"Yes Mrs. Smith, I understand my son gave another the finger today, but lets not forget, I have a studio!" (true story about the finger, my son i tell ya.... sigh, eye roll, cry)

What a momentous moment in my life. My kids are growing, I am furthering my career as a mediator. (real job not just mom duty) We own our home, and I am gaining confidence in myself as a person and artist. This is just like icing on a cake. Its like non insulated, or winterized icing on a cake. Yeah you read that right. My studio is not insulated. Hot as hell in summer, cold as Antarctica in winter. And darker then a cave at night. There is no power or heat. That is the catch. I HAVE a studio, buuut.... I can't be in there on hot days, cold days, or dark days. Only perfect days, well when else would i want to be in there, perfect days are the best days. Nothing can keep me down. As underdeveloped as it is, it is still MINE. and in time, at the right time, it will be perfect.



“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” ― Vincent van Gogh

Back in late March, I was asked if i was interested in setting up a booth at a local visual art show. I jumped at the opportunity! Where I live, there is not much for artists. At one time, La Ronge had a store called "Our Place", they used to sell local arts and crafts for commission. There also was  two coffee houses, they hung local works and occasionally featured an artist in residence . Unfortunately, all three businesses are now closed. So when i was offered a chance to exhibit my work in La Ronge I jumped on it. When was I going to get the chance to showcase and possibly sell something in my town. I  gathered my few paintings and got  got a few prints of older works done.
Saturday May 4th 2013, the day started early, 10:00am. I like sleeping and anything that requires me to leave my house before 10:00 am on a Saturday is an early day. It ran until 5:00, (I left early, what can i say its Saturday) It was located at the Kikinahk Friendship Centre (another reason why i was anxious to get there late and leave early i work there all week, 8:30-5:00) There was no cost to the artist! and was free to the community. YAY!

There were 6 artists:

Corey Hardcastle (Photography) http://www.coreyhardcastlephotography.ca/
Caron Giesbrecht (sp) (Nature Painting) imagesbycaron@sasktel.net
Destiny Schafer (portraiture realism)
Myles Charles (trapoline art, realism, nature)
Kathleen Keating (fantasy, portraiture) KathleenKeatingart.ca
and myself  Harmony Johnson-Harder.

The mix of artists was refreshing, we all contributed something different, and uniquely our own. Destiny Shafer a young painter blew us all away with her talent, and humility. She also was laughing to the bank at the end of the day.  The next show Destiny is at, I am following her. At least I know that when people come to buy her work they will be forced to look at mine on their way. :) I would have made the most money if i charged everyone a dollar for each time they said "I did not know you are an artist"
 
It was a nice Saturday, I visited with other local artists, learned a lesson or two from the infamous Myles Charles, and exposed myself to the community (artistically speaking not physically, you pervert you) Putting myself out there is still a little nerve wrecking, and I cringe a little when I think about it. Hell, this blog still makes me a little nervous....having all your eyes peering in on me and judging me on my bad spelling and grammar.  AHHHHHHH........ But I need to remind myself how else am i gonna get people to stop saying. " I did not know you were an artist" and how else am I going to learn grow and evolve, not only as an artist, but as a human.





I have the following prints for sale:


 5X7  $10.00 
 8X10 $15.00
11X17 $25.00

 5X7  $10.00 
 8X10 $15.00
11X17 $25.00

 5X7  $10.00 
 8X10 $15.00
11X17 $25.00
 5X7  $10.00 
 8X10 $15.00
11X17 $25.00

Monday, May 6, 2013

I left a piece of my heART in Scandinavia.


 I went to Sweden in 2009 with my dad and my step mom. My grandfather is originally from Sweden, he immigrated to Canada in the early 1900's with his mother, father and siblings. My grandfather Hildor had died when my dad was very young,  We did not have much information about Sweden, or if there was any family there. One year my dad decided to venture off with his wife. He found the community where my grandfather was from and numerous relations. All whom were very happy to meet him and hear the story of Jon Olaf's and Alita's family in Canada. My dad had met Pia and Bosse. Pia , my dads 2nd cousin, came to Canada a year later to visit and meet the rest of our family.

When we went to Sweden in 2009, we had stayed with Pia. During our visit, Pia had arranged a large family reunion, and a small community event at the  Los library featuring a reading from one of my dads book, and a small exhibition of the work I brought with me for gifts.This was an amazing experience. I am thankful for Pias thoughfullness to allow us to showcase our work as artists, and share our story as  descendents of Sweden.

.
The article writes (using google Translate)
Canada Visit In Los
Harold Johnson from LaRonge in Canada told us about his life and works at Los library Tuesday, Sept. 1.
With he also had his wife Joan and daughter Harmony is an artist. Her paintings are on display at the library in Los.
1907 emigrated Jon-Olov Jonsson and his wife Alida and their children from Orsa Finnmark, Hamra to Canada. They settled in Saskatchewan.
One of the sons, Hildor, moved north and built roads. Hildor then met Mary, a girl of Cree Indian genus, opinion arose and Hildor remained in the area around Molanosa. Hildor and Mary formed a large family with nine children.
One of those children, Harold Johnson, has now visited the library in Los and talked about parts of his life and how he found back to his Swedish roots and realized that the roots go back to Finland.
Harold has written and published four books. These books he donated to the library in the loos, so they should be available for lending.
About 30 people came to the library and listened to a very rewarding story of Harold and his life.
For information contact Los library 0651-18867

original article can be found.
http://ljusdal.se/invanare/kultur/bibliotek/varabibliotek/losbibliotek/aldreaktiviteterpalosbibliotek/canadabesokilos.4.449f64601234c9d701e80004847.htm

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Honorable mention and Self Realization.



  So I may not have taken home the "grand prize". I did take home a new sense of confidence. I walked away with confirmation that I am on the right path. Each painting I submitted, I knew exactly what my weakness were. And that was exactly what the adjudicator said what appeared to challenge me. I like how in each critique the judges never once said, weakness, or poorly done. Nor did they say excellent and Winner. They were very constructive in their criticism and challenged you to move forward in a very inspiring and uplifting way.

"Rain Tree" Honorable Mention.
 I do not regret doing this. I do not regret rushing through the last two paintings. and I do not regret putting myself out there. I learned that I am on the right track and I need to continue to paint. maybe take a course or two. And I understand that I will never be where i want to be as an artist because it is a skill that is always evolving and developing. A new challenge every canvas. And I absolutely love it! I am inspired to move forward. This experience was so uplifting that it had inspired my husband to buy another camera.


I love art.


.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Tree People Series. Northern Art Adjudication


 So Today is the day, I am Entering The Northern Art Adjudication. I am not sure what it is going to mean yet. But I do know that I am very happy with how these pieces turned out. I did not enter to be the winner, only to get over one of my biggest barriers, Self doubt. So I hope you enjoy, and I will let you know the results later today.
Moon Time

I had a dream

Rain Tree

Fire Tree
                                               

Friday, November 2, 2012

It aint pretty but its art!

So, i am feeling a little inspired to post something to this neglected little blog of mine. Thanks to a new friend and co worker. I looked at her blog this morning and was like, cool i want one..... WAIT A SECOND....... I DO HAVE ONE!

I still have not painted anything. I keep my canvas and paints out. I look at an unfinished painting everyday, in hopes that one day soon, I will FEEL it. It will beckon me so loud,  I wont beable to deny it and say "ahh, maybe tommorow"

 However, I have had some creative indulgences this past month. This Halloween, like many others, I choose to make my children's costumes. I wont say I will never buy Halloween costumes. But I will say I prefer making thems cause it is so much more fun!


My son, I like how desisive he can be, he wanted to be a velociraptor. And I also love how much into character he gets as well. I think this boy has talent and should pursue a life in acting. He eats sleeps and breaths dinosaurs. He is a Dinosaur day in and day out. He and his sister, regularly have velociraptor battles. It is very amusing. They hiss and snap their teeth, and claw at each other with thier feet. (Maybe some day I will post a video.) Somedays at the supper table I need to remind him, we are people eating and he has to use human words and  a fork. So needless to say I had to do this costume justice. Cause I know, the little perfectionist of mine, will correct me on how it should look. But how do you make a velociraptor costume?  so I googled images of velociraptors and dinosour costumes. Lucky enough we had a foam dinosour hat that i could use to start  the head. For the body,  I looked around town for reptile like material and a jumpsuite pattern. Found the material, but no pattern. So i had to wing that one. (note to self, buy pattern, eyeballing size to go over ski pants does not work well) And feet, I used pop bottles felt and foam. The feet looked great but were NOT practical when we went trick or treating. i wound up carrying them around all evening.


My daughter on the other hand had changed her mind a few times. I told her she had to be something scary, she decided to be an eyeball. Then a week later She wanted to be a princess. I had negotiated with her. This is quiet common with her, she is determined. Sometimes she is not sure what she wants, but is determined to argue with you just for the sake of being right. We finally settled for her to be The Eyeball Queen. I think what convinced her most was a promise she would get a Crown. Haha, she was on board  and loved  being it. She loved it so much that while trick or treating, she would shake her little butt to make all the eyeballs move for more candy. Haha her and i will need to talk about  dancing for treats when she is older. ;)  It was simple to make, just a few styrofoam balls, old white shirt, some of that fancy yarn  foam cardborad a skewer, some cheap acrylic paint and a hot glue gun!. and Viola.... Eyeball Queen.
p.s My mom blames the weird weather on her not being a princess this year.

I am pretty happy with how they both turned out.  Its not a picaso, but its still art. Art for my babies. :)

P.P.S. I have to give credit where credit is due.  I must thank my hubby who stayed up late with me painting and glueing eyeballs the night before halloween. And also i must give him credit on the deadly dinosaur eyes and teeth as well. He is just so awesome. I knew he would do good.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Damn you life for getting in the way of me and my paint brush.

Its been a while since i had posted anything. It has been a while sine i actually painted something. Life sometimes has a strange habit of getting in the way. Between my sons hockey practices, my daughters gymnastics classes (that i had committed to assist for 10 weeks ugh) my job and its overtime, baseball,  a pre teen and his emotional state and getting him to Air Cadets. OH and plus a husband who is now working at a northern fly in mine for two weeks at a time.  I have not had the Inspiration or the energy to sit down in my messy house and paint.

You know everyone says, you have to MAKE time to paint, you have to do things for yourself. Take care of your self  harmony etc.. etc.. etc.. in my ears i hear blah blah blah. I wish it was as easy as everyone says. Make time for me! woza, yes i will schedual that in between 10pm and 8:00 am. Oh sweet sweet sleep, and even better sweet sweet dreams. I LOVE to sleep, it is the only time that i am truly thinking about me. :) my dreams are all about me! Some times i pretend to sleep so i can sit there and fantasize about a life with no schedule no responsibility, just ME! I LOVE the imaginary harmony world. So i may not be creating physical works of art,  or i may not be inspired in this waking reality. How ever i assure you, i am creating a master piece some where in an other realm. In this perfect parallel universe my house is clean, my kids are good, i have a nanny and Johnny Depp rubs my feet every night ;) And my husband is ok with this :)

There will be a time that I will be Inspired, and i will be that mad woman behind the canvas, feeding my kids peanut butter sandwiches for supper. Not caring if little johnny has been wearing the same gotch for a week. And not caring if little suzie played with all my make up. I will be painting and nothing will stop me. I will vent and let it all go in one shot.