Something Even Older

There was a time that I never painted. I worked strictly with ink and pencil crayon. I really should reconsider doing this again. I love how the pieces turn out, the only problem  though is you can not paint over your mistakes like an acrylic painting. :)

None of these pieces have titles, and I do not recall the dates I drew these. Although I do remember the time in my life when I created them. At that time I honestly could not afford paint. This was a time i was in university, and  was a "Starving" student. To this day I refuse to eat perogies, and I sure do not have to get creative with food from the food bank, or pawn my only means of transportation (i sure miss my old Kona, and Dekerf mountain bikes) . My university days, are days i never want to relive again.  I was 93 pounds of starving stress and alcoholism. During the summers I had been known to  work three jobs. One summer I biked from one end of Saskatoon to the other, 3 times a day, just to get from one job to another. I would work in the morning at a coffee house, and bike to the other side of town to either work at a Pub till close, or  the Macs convenience store in the Exhibition  til Mid night. If your from Saskatoon you would know what Macs I am talking about. It was under a freeway,  at one the busiest four way stops in the city, and directly across from the fair grounds. This Macs gets slammed during the Ex, and has a high susceptibility of armed robbery because of its convenient dark and easy getaway location. (thank fully it was never robbed while I worked there)
Any how back on track.............where was I going with this? Oh yes, can not afford paint.... Well, as mentioned university was stressful for me. And when I could not afford to drink my worries away, hence why I worked at a bar! TAB IT!. Speaking of tabs, my three jobs, I was able to support all my awful addictions ... THe Bar-- I could tab booze, Macs' I could Tab cigarettes, (p.s smoke free for three years 6 months!)  and The coffee house cheap cheap wonderful coffee.  I would affectionately refer to all three as Vitamin A,N & C. I did not need to live off of much, mind you after I tabbed everything I did not have much of a pay cheque. But these were staples of my everyday being. Add a bit of art, or creative indulgence and I was styling!

Ok, where am I again?.......I am so losing track of where I am going with this. Ok, in a nutshell, University sucked, I was poor, I am an escapist, found solace in working and getting lost in drawing these.

I made several of this style of work, but I gave most away as gifts to people who had helped me in my time of need. I think I kept this Eagle cause I was not very happy with how it turned out. It did not speak to me the way others had, and I was not happy with the shape of the eagles head or the composition, but hey, I love the colour and the idea.

The water and rock woman, I love how much is going on in it. I gave this away as a Christmas gift to my brother and sister in law, we could not afford to buy gifts for anyone, so I gave away art to my closest family. And guess what everyone still has their gift, unlike other gifts from that past I am not certain what happened to, with good reason not everyone keeps every gift ever given to them.


The eagle women, I kept also cause I was not happy with the eagle head but, I love the rest. I wanted it around to look at and possibly make another but better.  I also think that the composition is really good in this one.

This final one, I also gave as a Christmas gift the same year to my mother. It is titled grand daughters prayer, I did this in high school art class, and had it displayed at Wanaskawin. I held on to it for years and years. I had intention of giving it away, I was even offered $200.00 for it, but I was stubborn and wanted it to go to a good home where it would be loved. When I gave it to my mother years after I made it.  Her reaction was one that I will never forget, at that moment I knew I gave it to the right person.

Before I ever attempted to mix ink with pencil crayon, as a teen  I would sit  alone for hours in a coffee shop and write and doodle in black ink. I would just create lines and swirls and just get caught up in the moment of filling in the space with the smoothest, curviest line I could. It would take me back to my childhood, remembering sitting on my dads lap, watching him draw in the same style. Watch out world I just may take on this style again sooner then you think

Something old

As I was gathering all my art supplies from around the house, to place in my newly created studio. I found: books, papers, and portfolios .I love looking back at old things. Particularly old paintings, it always seems like i have an opportunity to look at it thru fresh eyes. I seem to like some works more, and others less. I came across some very old studies I had done in my Painting 110.6 class in 2005 summer session. This was the last university class I took as a full time student. I was going for an International Studies Major and Political Studies Minor. Which I never completed (long story) Painting 110.6, was a year long class condensed into 6 very short weeks, it was my favorite and the highest marks I ever received in university. I had dedicated myself it, I would stay at the studio until 1:00am every night working on my assignments, and be back in class early the next morning. I lived and breathed painting. Which makes me wonder why I never pursued a B.FA. 

There are 2 self portraits. One is done with "Rembrandt Lighting" For those of you who are not familiar with Rembrandt lighting,
you use A strong light in the dark, to create harsh shadows. The assignment was to use a mirror and paint your portrait only using the shapes you see in in the light and shadows. My prof. suggested to use black and white to paint the shapes and shades, then covered the image with a toned glaze. There was no need to  create all the shades with color and waste a bunch of paint. The background and vines I painted in to fill in the space and show some of the skills we had been taught. The second self portrait was to distort a polaroid photograph of your self and paint it. This was a fun assignment. The task also was to only paint the shapes you see. in this one there was no glaze used. and all the tones are colors mixed.

We had done several still life studies, and used all kinds of lighting, and objects, I am not certain what I did with all my studies, but I had kept this one.The assignment was to paint a still life, and apply one of the techniques we had learned. I painted  pottery and bottles using a "Picasso" geometric "Cubist" style.

Another assignment was to research and create a style  of painting. I happened to have a "how to" book on Chinese painting. For this, I used water and ink and a rounded brush. I did several small studies, to show my process and progress and created this for my final piece. For my first attempt ever at This style I am happy with the outcome. There is a lot of technique behind this style, and it takes years to master. When my class had a critique, I recall a couple of the  Chinese exchange students whispering to each other about this painting. It made me very nervous, and worried I made a mockery of them and their culture.  I was informed  that they would never attempt to do anything like this. And were impressed with my effort. (phew)

The last study I found was obviously an abstract.  The task was playing with color and ways to apply it. I love the color in this one, and had fun plastering it on. I honestly do not remember the techniques i used.  It has been ages since i was in this class. I know i did many studies, and do not know what happened to half of them. I think i gave a lot away, and maybe hucked a couple.

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

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.

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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

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.

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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