Committed to my Art

Commitment in the Clouds.Digital  Phone Art.
Copyright 2013 Mary Rush Gravelle.

True confessions... I committed to my art, officially to myself, on September 4, 2013. Ever since, I seem to have gone underground. So, what's going on? Why have I not been able to come to the surface and perform?

I will just throw my thoughts out here since it is my blog about my art notes and thoughts. So... it must be because deep down inside somewhere I don't believe that I deserve to prosper from doing what I love. I seem to have effectively punished myself for the past 3-1/2 months.

Fly Free, Digital Phone Art.
Copyright 2013 Mary Rush Gravelle.

I have done a couple of very small plain air paintings, on recycled cardboard of all things. I must have bought into the "starving artist" syndrome and internalized it on a deep level.

I packed up everything, placed most of it in storage, and moved from Tucson to Prescott, and landed in Cottonwood, Arizona.  I still don't have all of my art supplies and canvases in one place.

I have allowed my thoughts, my commitment, my self-confidence to waiver. I think I have been shrinking myself so I didn't have to actually live up to my highest art potential. Ouch! On some level, I have been playing small for a long time and especially since I profoundly made the commitment to self and to my art. I must step up to the plate, stand tall, take back my power. I am a creator, after all!

Shrinking Backward While Taking Steps Forward.
Digital Phone Art.
Copyright 2013 Mary Rush Gravelle.

The Torch is Lit, I'm on my Way!
Digital Phone Art.
Copyright 2013 Mary Rush Gravelle.

Okay, in my own defense, as I'm posting my phone art images on this post, I realize that I have not stopped creating altogether. I have been wildly creating new phone art. So, perhaps, I have not been totally underground. I still allow myself to delight in the creative process. Hmmmm... this makes me feel much better.

Today, I recommit... to my art. I allow my art to prosper me financially. I hope I have something more to contribute to next week's blog, like a new painting! Thanks for listening.

Give the Gift of Art

Give the gift of art this holiday season. Your gift will create happiness, gratitude, and joy in the heart of the artist, the recipient of your gift, and in your heart as well.

I just sold an 11 x 14 print of Vortex from my online print store. I am grateful to the buyer as the profit from this sale paid for my next year's membership to my online store. I will be able to offer prints of my artwork now for another year. With more sales, I could pay my rent, my bills, fill up my gas tank, and buy more art supplies. Selling art is how I can earn a living as an artist from doing my work.

Consider gifting yourself with art, as this buyer did. She intends to hang it above her mantle. Is there a space in your home that could use some added energy and pizzazz? Who could you make happy this year with a gift of art? Link to my online store: www.mary-gravelle.artistwebsites.com.

Visual Arts and Healing



Number Six (from my numberical series)
24 x 24 inches, mixed-media on wood

The Visual Arts have the ability to heal... "In 1 study, surgery or critical care patients who participated in guided imagery or had a picture of a landscape on their wall had a decreased need of narcotic pain medication relative to their counterparts and left the hospital earlier."

Consider the painting on the left, Number Six. Can you imagine being penetrated by the sharp edges of the Star of David? Not in a physical way, perhaps, but in a mental or spiritual way.

Gaze at the shape and let it change you somehow. Imagine it spinning, side to side. Imagine it moving closer to you like a buzz saw. Then, imagine the shape moving backwards inviting you to join it. What are the remaining parts of the painting doing? Do any memories pop up? What are you feeling? Perhaps you feel something but cannot put words to it. Healing on some level has begun. A new appreciation of some aspect of your life will appear. Be on the look out for new things happening.

Take note of how this art piece, or any other art piece has touched you somehow. Is that not healing? If we allow ourselves to be touched and transformed by the arts, can we find a newfound respect for the arts on the whole? Can we allow ourselves to spend money to buy art because of its essential nature? Art is nowhere mere decoration. It is stuff that can pierce open new vistas within your heart, mind, and spirit. Will you let it in?

Link to full article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804629/



What My Fans Tell Me About My Art

"Oh, this one is truly great!
I love this style, Mary! "
--DCW

Happiness, 320 x 419 pixels
Digital painting created on phone app.
©2012 Mary Rush Gravelle

Oh, this one is truly great! I love this style, Mary!

In this week's blog, I focus on what a few of my fans are telling me about my art. It might be time to take my art more seriously, devoting more time and attention… and action toward its success.

I truly love making art and yet, it seems something inside me does not believe that I can prosper by creating art. So, maybe if I listen to what others are telling me about my art, it will propel me forward and deeper into my own positive belief.

Thank you to these fans for appreciating and talking to me about my art. It is deeply appreciated.

Read the captions underneath each work of art for comments on my art and those particular works.

"Mary very nice ....... your pieces are fabulous!!!!
"--VR

"Terrific!" --BS

" Love them.
 " --LB


Three Visions, Mixed media, 8 x 8 inches each.
©2012 Mary Rush Gravelle

"I just love ur art it's so colorful.,,…" --VR

Passionate Energy, 320 x 491 pixels
Digital painting created on phone app.
©2012 Mary Rush Gravelle

"I love your art Mary. It's sooo happy!…*

Joy is Contagious, 320 x 491 pixels
Digital painting created on phone app.
©2012 Mary Rush Gravelle

I think it would make great prints for doctors, dentists offices. Childrens wards in hospitals. Childrens bedrooms. Sunrooms, anywhere you want something really bright and cheery…Really, you've never thought of this? I've been thinking it for a long time.
…I think you could have a market for your art. I keep calling it happy. But it is… it's also fairylike… and sorta magical. I wouldn't put it in my living room… but kids would love the bright colors and the fantasy of it." -- MMT

"Absolutely love seeing your art!" --BS

Yay for the Rain!, 320 x 491 pixels
Digital painting created on phone app.
©2012 Mary Rush Gravelle

By the way Mary... I just want to say that I love your art. It is so bright and fun. Have you done anything with it as far as selling it? …Like I've said before, I think your art would be wonderful in hospitals, especially in childrens wards. It's so happy. …"

"Mary, they need people like you. ...what I mean by they need people like you is that everthing that can be done to promote healing, or even just a pleasant place for someones last days is a gift. Your art is brilliant, colorful. I look at it, and it makes me happy. I think that it could have the same effect on others.

 … "

"...And it has been proven that good thoughts and such can be healing.

 Sooooo, your happy art could help save lives... That's why I think you are necessary!




 …"

"Mary… just looked at your [Mary's Fine Art Facebook] page. Do you even begin to understand what you could do?" --MMT

So, to the readers of this blog post… what do you think? Do you agree with what the others have been saying about my art? Do you have any suggestions, contacts, or leads to share with me? How can I expand my art market? I welcome all of your comments.

" Lovely Mary.......    " --VR

My Tropical Vacation, 320 x 491 pixels
Digital painting created on phone app.
©2012 Mary Rush Gravelle

Until Next Week

• Create art 

• Appreciate art 

• Buy art 

Mary Rush Gravelle is an artist who resides in Tucson, Arizona with her beloved cat, Sir Kitty. Her art can be seen on her website, maryfineart.com. She can be contacted via email at: mary@maryfineart.com.

Artmaking: The beginning of the End of Life-as-I-Knew It

The Happy Place, Digital Image,

3600 x 3600 pixels, 300 ppi. Corel Painter 11. 2010

©2010 Mary A. Gravelle

Beginning of the End

Discovering that I was artistic was the beginning of the end of life-as-I-knew it. The beginning of a daring adventure into my art and myself was breaking through the chrysalis of my being. As usual, it has not gone exactly as I had envisioned.

Reflection Time

Next week I will earn my A.A. in Graphic Design. I guess this has me reflecting where my life has been and where I'm headed.

Journey into the Fire 

I left my known life behind in July 2006, moving from Connecticut, leaving a 23-year marriage, six cats, a favorite pine tree named Penelope, friends, and moving solo to New Mexico. Here I am in May 2012, six years later, I feel like I have been in the fire ever since.

I have created tons of art in these last six years. I have exhibited in juried shows, shown in galleries to varied success. I have continued my art schooling.

Life's Challenges

Thinking back now I think that I have lost faith at times and have shot myself in the foot because of it. Lack of trust and faith have a way of stopping progress. I only see this now, though. This is the challenge, isn't it? The challenge is to persevere through life's obstacles and opportunities gracefully. The challenge is to do this especially when things appear the darkest and bleakest. We would not need faith and trust otherwise, would we?

Invoke Faith and Trust

I write this today as I stare into the bare cupboard, refriderator, and checkbook. Now is the time for me to invoke a really deep faith and trust that all is well, that I am cared for, that my art will take care of me, that God will take care of me, that I am able to take care of myself and dear Sir Kitty.

Next Chapter

Godspeed. Let the next chapter begin with great gusto.

And What About You?

What's your art story?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Use this link to contact me: http://www.contactify.com/b83af. 

Learning From Art History: Pop Art and Minimal Art

Basically the lesson from Art History of the Pop Artists and the Minimal Artists boils down to the fact that it is the artist’s intention that makes an object a work of art. The idea behind the intention is what matters. The object has no meaning in the art process, it is just a means to an end, and a statement that it is art because the artist says it is.

The context in which the object appears is also important. Is the object located in a place where objects are seen as art? Duchamp’s urinal and bottle rack are simply objects, ready-mades that he deemed as art objects. He placed them in the context of an art gallery, therefore, and voila, art object! With “Bottle Rack” he then took this idea full circle by taking the common object, bottle rack, back to its original location where it then ceased to be an art object. With Minimal artist, Dan Flavin, his fluorescent light pieces carry this idea out also. Once the lights are unplugged on his Light Art Objects, they cease to be art objects. The object can vacillate between being an art object and just the plain common object.

The other thing that the minimal artists were getting at was that the object was to be simply the object itself and not be an aesthetic or meaningful presentation. It was to give to the viewer an experience of simply being present with the object, much like meditation as Matthew, my art history professor, says. Musicians were in on this scene as well. I really like the pop music artist, John Cage’s piece “4:22”. I’m not sure how I would have reacted during the concert. But, the idea behind it was quite interesting, that the sound of the audience was the music. This is akin to the idea of the minimal artist who wants the viewer to be the experience with the object. It’s like the person witnessing the “thing” becomes part of the piece. This is pretty cool, really. It takes on the meaning of being interactive art.

My Cat, Sir Kitty, loves my Nature Art piece.

Andy Warhol was pop art personified. I have seen numerous documentaries on him. Every time I see him he plays the shallow role, like there is nothing, absolutely nothing behind those eyes and nothing in his brain, like a ghost. Chilling, actually, now that I think about it. But this is what his art was showing us, the shallowness of the time and that we too wrapped up in the wrappings like packaging and celebrity. So this makes perfect sense. He was his art. He was his message. And he played it to perfection.

I appreciate Carl Andre’s pieces. They remind me of a past experience when I went to a gallery in New York City, most likely the Whitney. One installation piece was just a room piled with dirt. At that time, I thought, “It is just a pile of dirt”. And it was! Now I know that was the point. I guess I got it back then when I didn’t think I did. Ha!

One of my favorite art and artist of this time period, late 1950s and early 1960s, is the Light Art of Dan Flavin. I know I am not supposed to have an aesthetic experience with his light fixtures, but I do. I think they are just the most elegant beautiful art objects. They glow with simplicity. One of his pieces especially gets my attention. It is the multicolored grid of lights. I also like the fact that this can be turned on and off as an art object which is the statement of the minimalists.

Do you like the art of this period? Does your art have any of these qualities? If you are an art collector, do you collect art of this period or contemporary art work that is influenced by this period?

Promoting Your Art Exhibit

This is great blog article (part 1 of 3) from Alyson B Stanfield on promoting your art exhibit. Here's the first paragraph.


"Artists often write to me just as they’re ramping up their promotional efforts a month or two out from their exhibit opening or special event. They’re looking for help. I can help, but they’ve really waited too long. If you know you have an event, exhibit, class, gallery talk, or workshop coming up, don’t put off your marketing. Start your promotions right now."


Read More ….


Image at left: Purple Mountains Majesty, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 34 inches, © Mary A. Gravelle, available at Tatiana Maria Gallery, 305 & 307 N. Bullard, Silver City, New Mexico. Call Tatiana at (575) 388-4426.Silver City, New Mexico (575) 

Where does art belong?

I just watched this movie, The Art of the Steal, on netflix.

Description:

The Art of the Steal

2009NR 101 minutes

A gripping tale of intrigue and mystery in the art world, this film traces the history of the Barnes collection of Post-Impressionist paintings, which was worth billions and became the subject of a power struggle after the 1951 death of the owner. Dr. Albert Barnes collected 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos and many other valuable paintings. But the political wrangling over the collection eventually led to its division.

Questions: Where does art belong? Does it belong in a museum or in private collections or both? Should an art collector's wishes be granted after death and according to the will? Or should the art, especially in the case of great art as was the Barnes Collection, belong to the public after the death of the collector? Should the art collection become the property of the rich and powerful and even that of charitable organizations?

Video on Essence of You Painting

Living with Art

People who come visit me always comment on my colorful artwork. They tell me that the vibe is great in my place. I believe part of that is the art.

Yesterday, I cleaned my living room and rearranged the art on the walls. It has changed the energy up and feels good.

Do you have artwork that you have not hung yet? Isn't it time?

Do you need art to hang? Click on my SHOP tab on my Facebook Fan Page and shop to your heart's content!

Don't know where to start? Give me a call for your free art consultation.

Inspiration from a Topiary Artist

I just finished watching the movie, A Man Named Pearl, on Netflix. The entire movie is filled with inspiration, upliftment, and hope. Here is the description of the movie from Netflix:

A Man Named Pearl
2006 G 78 minutes
Angered by white residents' racist comments that he wouldn't "keep up his yard," Pearl Fryar teaches himself topiary sculpture and becomes the first African American in his Bishopville, S.C., neighborhood to win the coveted "yard of the month" award. This acclaimed documentary traces Fryar's inspiring story, as he grows into a legendary horticulturist, welcoming thousands of tourists eager to catch a glimpse of his stunning works of art.

Cast: Pearl Fryar Director:Scott Galloway, Brent Pierson Genres:Documentary, Social & Cultural Documentaries, Biographical Documentaries, African-American Documentaries, Gardening This movie is: Sentimental, InspiringFormat: DVD and streaming

Yes, this movie is both sentimental and inspiring. It will touch a place deep inside you, a yearning for self-expression and soul-growth. From an artist's viewpoint, it will help you question your own art. What are you creating? Why are you creating what you are creating? Are you passionate about your creation? Is your creation positive and uplifting for others? What are you offering others through your art? Do you create art that makes others feel good when they view it? Peace, Love, and Goodwill: these are the words that Pearl carved into his landscape. These are the words that he lives by. His artwork has become a community treasure and commodity. One man has resurrected an entire community through his dedication, passion, and commitment to his art and God.

How can you be the inspiration for others around you through your art?

Treat Your Art Like it Belongs in a Museum

I came across this article today and thought it a good idea to share it. It's about treating your art with the utmost respect that it deserves. Treat your art like it belongs in a museum and it just might make in into a museum one day.

5 Large Life Lessons of 2009 from Christine Kane

As an artist and business owner, I found some good info in this article that I have copied from Christine Kane's blog. Info on her blog is at the end of the article. Enjoy!

5 Large Life Lessons of 2009
by Christine Kane

I keep hearing people complain about 2009. "Good riddance!" they shout.

I loved 2009. I loved it as much for its challenges as its successes. In fact, I believe that the tumults we've faced as a global community are forcing us all off auto-pilot and into a place of deeper Creativity.

As a creative entrepreneur, I had my share of power-packed lessons this year, and I am excited to continue learning from them! There's no need to live in fear. As Einstein said: "The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or a hostile universe."

Here are my 5 favorite lessons of 2009:

1 - Our Growth is Often Proportional to Our Investment.

This lesson is one of the gifts of owning your own business - though it sure doesn't seem like a gift at first!

The employee mindset goes like this: "Hey, when the company pays for it, I'll do it."

These past two years, I've invested more in my education and coaching than ever before. Yet again, I had to move past the "employee mindset" and plunk down my own moolah. Not only did I step up and play a bigger game, (When our cash is involved - we gotta show up, right?!) but my income skyrocketed.

2 - Clarity Trumps Practicality.

Last March, I had the idea of putting on a big event later in the year.

I said something like this to my coach: "I just don't know if this idea is practical, given the economy."

Sheri gave me that look that coaches give clients when the client has just stepped into the Land of Crappy Thinking. She said, "I don't care if it's practical. I care if you're clear that you want to do it."

I got clear. I did it. It was great. (Yes, even in this economy!)

Clarity trumps practicality. When someone is clear, and they take action from that place of clarity – then practicality has no choice but to move aside and let manifestation occur.

3 - Systems Are Sizzlin'.

I've always been great at "winging it." I'm creative. I'm intuitive. I take action.

The only problem when you're good at winging it is that you often live in chaos, and you tend to see everything on your to-do list as urgent. After a while, this leads to burn out.

Systems require that you step back and look at your daily activities with deep reflection. Systems require that you ask: "How does this work? How can we make it more effective?" Systems allow you to step away from your work, take vacations, have weekends – and most blessedly, have lots of free space in your mind for creativity to bloom.

4 - Ignoring your Business and Marketing Doesn't Make You Humble. (It makes you fail.)

I was a big fan of the statement: "Do what you love, and the money will follow." It's a beautiful philosophy. And true on so many levels.

But I used it as a way to ignore the business side of my work. After all, hey, if the money will follow - then I don't ever have to deal with it, right?

Uh, wrong.

I've since learned that avoidance is not a game plan. Neither is hope.

Even though I was busy in my business this year, I experienced a deeper peace than ever before because I understand how run my business and marketing. In the same way that Creativity and Songwriting taught me so much at the beginning of my career – facing my business and being brave enough to market my work has taken that learning to a higher level than I ever imagined.

5 - Serve. Or Be a Servant. The Choice is Yours.

You serve others with your attention, your intention, your health, your clarity, your awareness, and your power.

You serve others by charging what you're worth, taking care of your health, honoring your time so that you're not distracted or multi-tasking, by making requests rather than complaining, and by taking full responsibility for your thoughts and actions.

When you're a servant, however, you're a slave to the ego, which wants you to believe that serving others means ignoring yourself. After all, the ego would prefer that you remain powerless, fearful, and unaware. That way, it keeps you tethered to the idea of "security." When you don't understand power (or service), you need security for survival. The ego is great at security.

The difference may seem subtle. But the power of this lesson has been staggering.


WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?

Please do! Just be sure to include this complete blurb with it:

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 11,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com.

ARTWORK PICTURED HERE:

Number 6: High-Minded, mixed media on wood panel, 24" x 24", by Mary A. Gravelle. You may purchase this framed original painting for the price is $1,100. Contact Mary at info@marysfineart.com or call her at (575) 956-7315.

Should Artists Lower Their Price in this Market?

Pricing is always an issue for artists. In times like these, it is tempting to lower prices in hopes that we will sell our work more easily. These two articles talk specifically about Free; however, they have sparked my thoughts on pricing and how not to "sell out" our integrity. What do you think? Are you lowering your prices? Are you giving stuff away for free? Or are you finding ways to add value? I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

Too Much Free by Seth Godin

The New Free by Kate

Pictured above: Astral Travel by Mary Gravelle, 8" x 10", Mixed Media, Framed. $300. Call 575-956-7315 to purchase or go online at Mary's Fine Art.com

Where is the Artist-of-Today Headed?

I was talking with an artist friend last night after a delicious meal he had prepared of goat wrapped in banana leaves. Yum.

Anyway, as we were talking about the history of art as he showed me photos of ancient ruins, I wondered what the artist of today is doing that's new. What are the ideas and methods that the artist-of-today is intrigued by. Where are the artists gathering to talk about new trends. Does the artist-of-today have anything new to say or a new way to say it?

My friend and I reminisced about the impressionists artists and how they gathered in coffee houses and bars to talk art. And what about the abstract expressionists and how they gathered and talked about that movement? We became a little jealous because it seems that the artist-of-today has nothing like that going on. No new movements, no new messages.

So, where do you think the artist-of-today is headed? Are there any artistic movements out there that one can jump onto and get enthralled by?

Where is your art taking you these days?

Wonder how to mix color?

Go to this website for some color mixing fun:

http://mrl.nyu.edu/~perlin/experiments/colorgame/

Thank you, Fran, for letting me know about this.

Great Article on Art Website Tips

I just came across some good tips for designing art websites. Check it out here:
http://www.artcalendar.com/article.asp?ID=138

Pictures from Open Studio Weekend at Mary's Fine Art

Open Studio Weekend, Aug. 8-10, 2008

Landscape Paintings Make You Feel Better

(Copied by permission from Painting Blog by Nancy Reyner)
The Healing Power of Landscape Paintings
I recently found an uplifting and interesting tidbit for those of us who enjoy painting landscapes. According to Dr. John Diamond, in his 1979 book Your Body Doesn't Lie, when a person looks at a landscape painting it will raise their level of well being, balance their right and left brain hemispheres and increase their life energy. The book describes Dr. Diamond’s research and practice for Behavioral Kinesiology (BK), which uses muscle testing from Kinesiology to test for factors in the environment that raise and lower a person’s energy or life force. He muscle tested patients for music, electronic devices, picture symbols, food, just about everything, as well as paintings. He found that a photograph of a landscape or an actual view of a landscape did not come close to the life giving qualities from a landscape painting (!)

Here is a quote (p. 76 in Dr. Diamond’s book) “…The results are not nearly so satisfactory with line drawings or with photographs. Looking at a beautiful scene in nature may or may not be as effective, depending on the ability of the viewer to abstract certain qualities from it, which is, after all, what a good painter has already done for us. I have found that if people take an “energy break” every so often – just to recite a verse or two of poetry or to look at a picture postcard of a painting, stress and tension will be considerably reduced……and the Life Energy will be high…”

How cool is that?

Art Ramblings ...

Last week I dreamed another painting series, more abstracts. Now I have about 20 paintings to complete. I wonder if I will continue with the southwest landscape paintings? Can I fit them into the abstract series -- doing an abstract and doing a landscape at the same time?

I'm pleased with the two paintings I just completed. They are southwest landscapes with a twist. I've painted frames onto the canvas around the landscape giving it a window view effect. I painted datura flowers at the corners. This was an idea I had in the beginning stages of my landscape painting. I'm tickled that I finally gave myself permission to paint it.

I wonder if I will stay in Silver City? I just don't seem to be "finding my people". I'm really wanting to build community here with like-minded people and artists. I wonder if there are any like-minded people here in which to build community? Am I just plain weird or what? There seems to be more competive spirit here than I had originally thought. That does not help in building commaderie.

Okay ... I need to get back to work on my website.