Michael Gaudet - Artist

I wanted to post this interview from  LIT Happens, a Shaw Cable Systems cable broadcast from Saskatchewan. The interview is with my dear old friend Michael Gaudet. We knew one another at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax during the 70s.

Michael is not only an amazingly talented artist, but is a remarkable human being, with a big loving heart, and has a great conviction and passion to and for life and his art. I am proud to say he is my friend.

You can find Michael's blogs at the links listed .
http://gaudetart.blogspot.com
http://trinity2011.blogspot.com

Lovers Lane - Michael Gaudet

Serene Path - Michael Gaudet

Germaine Greer and Tongue Mould

I thought my internet was down the past day and a half and was going through a bit of withdrawal and was getting frustrated not being able to find the source of the problem. Finally today I finally figured it out after seeing my WiFi was disconnected from the outlet, which was why I could not get online.  When this happens I get into a bit of an uncomfortable state of mind, because, well alright, I admit it, I am addicted to my computer. It is a big part of my routine in a number of ways, enabling me to keep in contact with family and friends, and to network with other artists. Having been a  regular blogger for six years also contributes to my co-dependent relationship with cyberspace.

I always find when I am without my internet the up side is, it becomes a pretty productive time for me, like listening to Germaine Greer on Ideas on CBC Radio, and it generally is a good experience being offline for a while, as I put my energy into making art and into other constructive activities. Not that I waste my time online, but it can gobble up an afternoon before you know it, especially if you are not mindful while using the internet, and are easily distracted.

So yesterday, I got two more paintings completed as I am getting geared up for an exhibit next week. This has been challenging to say the least, as I have been in a creative funk, a carry over from SAD after having the Winter from hell. As well, I drastically changed my subject matter, consciously taking a break from what I normally paint. I thought perhaps this would be a good thing for me, as the old adage goes, a change is good as a rest. It has proved to be enjoyable, when I am actually wrapped up in the process of painting my chosen subject matter as of late, Jellied Moulds , from a recipe book, called, Davis Dainty Dishes published back in the day of the 20s and the 30s. I thought this would be light subject matter and fun. True it is, but not something I am passionate about. As a matter of fact, some of the pictures of moulds I couldn't bare the thought of painting, as some of the moulds were absolutely gross. Tongue mould be one of those, along with other mystery type meats, not to mention " Recipes For Invalids" How about some " Jellied Soup ". Yum!

Nonetheless,  I am making good progress, and am looking very forward to my show. I have learned an important lesson. I need to not place such demand on myself, not allow myself to get so stressed and simply paint what I really love, and feel great passion about. And I do wished people still made jellied moulds, just not tongue mould, they can forget that one!

Procrastination

I have a subscription to a great blog called, Artsy Shark written by, + Carolyn Edlund the Executive Director of the Art Business Institute. The blog is a very practical and informative, and strives to enable emerging artists to educate themselves about the business side of being an artist and much more.

Here is a wonderfully helpful article about one my favourite nemesis, procrastination. It was once aptly put but some of my very favourite comedians. 
Procrastination is like masturbation.  At first it feels good, but in the end you’re only screwing yourself.

Monty Python

The Creative Art of Letter Writing

Being without the internet or phone, and even my vehicle for so long, has resulted in some deeper reflection  upon my co-dependent mind set, around the online experience and social interactions.

I've had enough time now to re-adjust,  re-format and re-route my hapless braincells.  I've been contemplating, thinking about instant communication versus slow communication, and spent several months daily writing in my journal, more so then usual, without the ready accessibility of posting on my blog and daily online usage.

Instead, I  wrote several letters to friends, and generally applied myself to painting  everyday, on a regular basis, for many continuous hours, over the last three months.

In retrospect it been a very positive experience, and I learned a valuable lesson I intend to put to good use. Without my internet for this duration, I understand  on a deeper level the importance of habitual writing long hand in my journal before starting my day. I believe it depletes and wards off my co-dependence of the online world that seems to feel all consuming at times.

Numerous letters written and sent, resulted in the feeling I was actively building and taking care of my friendships through the process of letter writing ; as opposed to instantly signing into Facebook  to view the ridiculous, the most recent and never ending tedious timelines. I appreciate knowing what most of my "friends" are up to, others, well sometimes, you know TMI!

 I certainly appreciate all that the internet has to offer, but I am glad I understand the benefits of slow communication and greatly appreciate writing and receiving hand written letters. I love the papers, the pens, the inks, the envelopes and even  the stamps. It truly is a creative act, as Catherine Field states in her article, The Fading Art of Letter Writing written in the New York Times. She very eloquently and accurately described this creative act.

"A good handwritten letter is a creative act, and not just because it is a visual and tactile pleasure. It is a deliberate act of exposure, a form of vulnerability, because handwriting opens a window on the soul in a way that cyber communication can never do. You savor their arrival and later take care to place them in a box for safe keeping."

I have a close, long time friend, that lives an hour away. We have written each other regularly  for years, in spite of living an hour apart and being able to see one another without difficulty. We have agreed to do this for one another, and it gives us both great pleasure, a valued sense of appreciation and gratitude for our friendship. I have another close artist friend from University, and we have been regularly, corresponding. She told me in her last letter, writing has been a "glorious therapeutic mental element", which I do understand from my own personal writing experience over the years. It makes me happy to know this and to have that kind of appreciation for the simple gesture of a hand written letter.

And so, I have resolved to do my journal writing, first thing before I get online, in order to foster and focus on my creative and healthy pursuits for each day.

I will never be a Luddite, but I can make a steadfast resolve to maintain a balance between technological instant gratification of this fast moving world, and that of the little by slowly, found in the ancient art of writing.

I might not be fast but I'm slow!

Out in Orbit?

So my loyal and much appreciated followers know, I have not dropped off the edge of the earth, nor am I am out in orbit. I deemed it necessary to provide you all with an update.

I have been having what I'll call internet issues, compounded by car issues, which are soon to be hopefully resolved! I have just had my car repaired and now have wheels back and forth to the library, where I can access a computer. Not having internet access has been a wonderful opportunity to regularly hand write in my daily journal, which always enables me to keep the creative wheels turning. Canning and gardening have been great grounding and meditative outlets for me, so I haven't been without things to do, until my muses returned.

September was a very creative one, after cleaning my slate so to speak, after graduation in May 2012. I can hardly believe it has been almost six months since my formal Fine Art education has come to an end. The student loan vipers have gladly informed me by mail in bold letters at the top of the page, "IT TIME TO START PAYING YOUR STUDENT LOAN!" Gol darn nice of them folks to let me know! How could I possibly forget!
In spite of the vipers, I am certain there are many more lessons ahead and I look forward to the future with hope and optimism.

I resumed my series of  " Wild Women " egg tempera paintings and completed six new pieces to add for a total of sixteen, three of which I sold and this had been a godsend financially to me.

I wasn't certain if I could upload my photos of these paintings here at the library, on to the computer and was happy to learn that I can, and I will do that tomorrow so I can share my new work.

Honestly, I was in a creative slump, or had a creative block, whatever you want to name it, right up until September. This is always a little daunting to me when this happens, because I have this bit of fear and dread that I will never paint again! However, "This too shall pass. " is my daily mantra. I shared my feelings and thoughts with my  artist/professor friends from University. One assured me, the best thing to do for this is create more work. Another suggested  I not get my underwear too much in a knot. He thought as perhaps I needed to take this reprieve as a way to clear the slate, clear out the University cob webs. And so they both where right and I got busy fueling the creative fire through reading, drawing and doodling until amazingly I had completed six paintings I am very happy with. I do feel I am done with this series. I am not certain I will return to them but remain open to whatever I am drawn to create. I am ruminating over two ideas presently, so it is to be seen what my imagination comes up with.  

Until tomorrow I will try not to let my meat loaf and look forward to blogging again as I have missed it a lot!

Thank you to all my fans and readers for your love, support and patience.

Thoughts On A Sunday Morning...

I have nothing in particular to write about and so I am hoping the simple act of writing while thoughts come to the surface, might spark some kind of reflection that will make sense.

Writing and posting in this blog has been my daily art practice exercise, that was asked of me in the Open Seminar class that I have been enrolled in this term. It has been a beneficial learning experience, as I realize even more acutely how a daily creative exercise improves your creativity in numerous ways, and it being a means to learning about one's self. It has improved my writing skills, and I have learned a lot about other artists, made new friends on line and found great satisfaction in receiving feed back from others about what I have been writing and posting. I especially want to thank all of those you have and are reading and who comment. Much of the time you feel like you are speaking to the vacuous black hole of cyber space because many folks may read your blog but few respond. Comments mean a great deal regardless of the length, positive or negative.

Another purpose of this blog, was a way to journal my summations of my Canadian Art History lectures and expressing my thoughts about visiting artists and topics relating to my painting class. This has been a very positive experience, as I have learned a lot about artists we have covered in class, and those I indirectly encountered on and off line.

During the past four months, my daily blog has become a habit and I do hope I can continue. It is not however for me, a better substitute for long hand writing and being able to add tactile sketching that an actual physical journal provides, but more of an augmentation to the writing and creative process.

In the Fall of the year I hope to be taking a creative writing seminar for eight months and am very excited about this. I know, like any skill the more you practice, the better the work but I also understand that one of the best things you can do to improve one's writing, and art, is to read, which I don't do enough of and intend to change that.

My third year is coming rapidly to an end, with one week left. It's gone by very quickly though some days dragged endlessly for me. It has been a great year generally and I have learned many things and I am looking very forward to my last and final, fourth year.