A Couple of Mums
6x6 oil on gallery wrap canvas $115. SOLD
Play on words here. In England, Mum is used
like Mom is here
Artists note.
I am doing a demo this afternoon for our local
art association and am
soooo nervous. I can go somewhere where people
do not know me and relax and enjoy myself, but
locally...failing locally...Oh boy!
I was doing a demo last year where I was fine until I
turned round and saw a huge crowd had gathered.
I proceeded with the demo... and I think 5 wipers
happened. Honest, no exaggeration at least 5.
Afterward people reassured me, when my dismay was
obvious, that they learned so much from watching that
demo.
Oh sure...RIGHT!
But, here I am doing another one again,
and another in March.
I question why I cannot say NO!
Aw Julie, I hear exactly where you are coming from!! I hope all has gone well!! Beautiful painting!!
ReplyDeletethanks, Margaret.Do we ever really know objectively how we do in demo situations? I had a very friendly group who wanted to be there and that was a huge plus. I felt their support..
DeleteLove your cherries.
Oh Julie, I know exactly what you mean, I have had good demos and not so good...the problem is painting can be so unpredictable. I am sure you will do something beautiful though, love your mums :) (we say mum here too)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa, you are right , not always predictable. Like golf. The best ones still have bad days.
DeleteThat is some amazing steer you have done. I like the unfinished appearance.
Love the Mums! The fracturing technique adds texture and makes them come alive. Oh, Julie - what a treat it would be to attend your demo! While wipers can be exasperating, I have to tell you...for the learner, they are really helpful. The few whoops you had in your training video were instructive for me because they were the kind of mistakes I make and can't see. Keep in mind that your demo is a lovely gift to your audience - they want to learn!
ReplyDeleteGood point, Sue. They did come to learn. They were warm and receptive. I did a few oooopies and explained the reasons for the wipers.
DeleteGood luck with your workshop with the FABULOUS Carol Marine!
beautiful mums! I know that you will do well!!!!! relax and have fun doing what you love!!!!
ReplyDeleteRelaxing is impossible for me when on the job. Goes back to childhood.
DeleteThe fun part is mixing with friendly people who love art.
Your Pencil series is awesome in concept and creativity, and brilliant in execution.
Kudos for getting out there and sharing your process with others. I love your work, your generosity, and your humility (admitting you are a bit nervous). Not English, my mom was a total anglophile and we grew up calling her Mummy :-)
ReplyDeleteHow about that - mummy! it certainly brings back memories. My use was always mother, never shortened it, but I remember one of my sisters used mummy.
DeleteThanks for the kind and supportive comments, Ann.
I really admire your adventure into unexplored areas of your work. True growth. Exciting for me to see.
Glad I'm not the only one that gets nervous doing demos, Julie! Guess the more we do the better we get (oh, please... I hope). Your work is gorgeous. Relax and get into the zone.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane. I cannot and do not think I ever will relax doing a demo. Even with my regular classes I always tense up. As I grew older, I started to push myself to keep learning and trying new things. Know no fear" is a motto. So I do it, overcoming the fear, but I noticed when I came home I felt I had run a marathon.
DeleteI LOVE these Crysanthemums Julie! So much depth and texture! Good on you for facing your fears and doing the demos. You are very brave!
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy. Loved your comic drawing. You really have a gift for it.
DeleteEnchanting painting Julie, bravo, you talk about your fears and how you conquered , your humility is inspiring.
ReplyDeleteAnd your humility is waaaay beyond mine. I always treasure your posts.
DeleteVery beautiful painting and very wonderful flowers !!!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice and creative week !!!
Both our posts have flowers. I love how yours sets up an time and place of beauty.
DeleteDear Julie, all your work on this week were wonderful, even the most complicated MUMS! Your last post made me think and smile ...
ReplyDeleteI wonder how he would feel Van Gogh, to make a demo, as it is used today ... Leonardo painted the Last Supper very slowly (between the complaints of the monks who had to eat in the cloister, in the cold) ... the limited time of demo is just a modern concept, linked to a different way of communicating and fast. Thanks to these new uses we can communicate at this distance!
But the human heart feel the same emotions for thousands of years. I understand what you mean when you tell the feeling of doing the demo with many people in the place where you live. Wishing you a nice week between flowers and landscapes where your hands can create new spells.
You raise good points. The speed required in a demonstration does indeed make a difference. Planning helps with that but a brain spasm hit and for the life of me I could not think of what to do.
DeleteLove your winter landscape - beautiful!
I can't say no either. A bad thing most of the time, I find. I'm not a mum fan but I think these look like super close-ups of the purple and white wild clover and I love those! LOL Beautiful painting, Julie!
ReplyDeleteThanks for finding something to like about it, dear Sherry. I can see the wild clover too.
DeleteGlad you have help at work.
I loved your fracturing demo I bought from DPWs, you'll do a wonderful job!
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate both your purchase and supportive words.
DeleteLooking forward to seeing a new posting.
Those mums have a wonderful old fashioned quality to them somehow:)
ReplyDeleteI know that you did well at the demo. One way or another, wipe off or not, you will help people who came to see you. And I think that is all that matters. I know you were probably nervous but I am certain that you did a great job:)
I see that quality too, Libby. I wondered if it was the colors or an Asian influence which was big back in the Victorian times.
DeleteYour new painting has a really neat feel to it. great to see you exploring new ways of seeing.
I learn so much by the mistakes that I cannot see and others point them out. You pointed out the mistakes. This was a lot more instructional than you think.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense when you put it that way. I did point out why I had to remove the area or color. Maybe they had not see it before I pointed it out.
DeleteLove your little landscape.
Just remember you have so much to offer...if you didn't, they would be gathering like that. This painting is amazing because all those tight pointy petals...perfect!
ReplyDeleteThey were gathering to see if they wanted to take a one day workshop with me next Saturday. A fundraiser...yikes - the extra pressure if no one wanted to take it!!!
DeleteYour video is quite amazing. It was lovely to see some of my past favorites.
Kudos, Lisa. for a professional presentation. Good music choice too.
I forgot to say that I knew that about Mum and Mom...my daughter in-law is from Oxford.
ReplyDeleteAh, how nice - and what does she call you...mumsie?
DeleteBeautiful Mums, Julie...perfect colors and love the luscious texture!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am pleased you like the texture. Thanks, Hilda.
Delete. I love your new painting. You did your usual amazing magic and made her come alive.
Beautiful, as usual, Julie! Lucky students!
ReplyDeleteI turned out to be the lucky one. Nice audience!
DeleteThanks
Gorgeous Mums Julie. I'm sure you've grown so much since that bad experience last year. Remember that no matter what you do at a demo the people watching are awestruck. You are the star in their eyes. Wiping is just an example of knowing when to quit, which most beginners have the hardest time with. Come up with a pat phrase like "the paint has a life of it's own today, I'll have to show it who's boss" to add some levity. Once you have them (and you) relaxed about it, everything will be OK.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas. I agree -it is the reason I came up with the english, "off with its head"
DeleteBit of humor... but I do like "the paint has a life of its own" because it certainly does! Gonna use that one. Bless you.
We all get nervous........it's a human condition for sure. I would love to be in your audience and let me assure you, the smallest thing can be new information for some.
ReplyDeleteTo honor your ability.......please note you painted 4 callas and then 2 mums just beautifully. They worked and worked well. So much for the odd number theory.
Smiling in Petaluma..........
How astute of you to notice the even numbers. I hate some of the so called RULES and prefer to try and explore options. Its not like I am trying to get my work into the Metropolitan or anything! I am free to explore and follow my own instincts and decisions. There is still so much joy in that.
DeleteI have been enjoying your abstract work very much - especially this last one.
From the audience's perspective, a "wiper" happening to an artist as skilled as you are gives encouragement. You demoed that failure along the way can happen and so what? Wipe it out and forge ahead. It is discouraging and inhibiting to watch demonstrations that produce fantastic paintings. You might consider deliberately demonstrating how an error can happen and can either be wiped out or used to advantage?
ReplyDeleteYou are always full of astute observations and I agree with your viewpoint. I too have been discouraged with amazing demos instead of being inspired by them.
DeleteUsually you can tell it is a demo which has been done many times before.
BUT at least it prevents the fear factor. I understand that too.
Lovely flowers. I especially love the thick paint on the white one, giving it such depth.
ReplyDeleteThanks Roger. I like the paint quality too.
DeleteLoving your abstract treatment of flowers.
Dear Julie - the mums are gorgeous. I like the fact that in England they are used for Mom. It has such a lovely sound. As for being nervous I can imagine how difficult it is. I have been there with music...when I had to play before a certain congregation my knees actually shook. It is what it is but I know you will be fine my dear one. Take care and I will say a little prayer for you! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteNice to be understood. Bless you for sharing your own experience. I was fine. Did some good painting and some shaky painting but I survived. Prayers work!
DeleteYou are such a good painter and teacher that I'm sure it was a valuable demo at every stage.. I love the mums- they are tricky but your thick paint describes them well.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful Moms. Hehe.
ReplyDeleteYou always paint beautiful and I enjoy all your posts but I really enjoyed last Sunday's when you took an "old" painting you were not happy with and fixed it and stated why and the steps you took always sharing the reasons you were changing it. I know I am still pretty inexperienced but I learned a lot from you "fixing" and sharing your reasoning and I am sure anyone watching your demo will too if you do decide to change things as you paint. It is reassuring to the less experienced to know it is a process for everyone and you can always wipe it out and fix it.
ReplyDeleteThe texture of your mums today is just making those wonderful flowers pop out from the canvas, so gorgeous.
you can't say no ...because not only were you born to paint, but you were born to communicate. You are the consummate communicator. LOVE this painting!
ReplyDeleteGreat texture and color in this one, Julie. Love your color integration once again. Not to worry or be fearful of presenting. Audiences pick up right away on presenters love of subject, skills in said subject and compassion for them as learners. No question...you're tops in all of that!
ReplyDelete