::VERONICA FUNK::
  • Journal
  • Portfolio
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Portraits >
      • Woman's Work
      • Extraordinary Women
      • The Grandmothers
      • Wunderland
      • Nasty Women
      • Heroes
      • Ahead of Their Time
    • 52 WEEKS >
      • Wildlife
      • Wildflowers
      • Storytellers
      • Gratitude
    • Fashion Plates
    • Sacred Vessel
    • Simple Pleasures
    • Altered Books
    • Free Art Resources
  • Galleries
  • eCourses
  • Login
    • Painting Animals
    • Painting Art Journals
    • Painting Backgrounds
    • Painting Bees
    • Painting Canoes
    • Painting CityScapes
    • Painting Flowers
    • Painting Hearts & Houses
    • Painting Landscapes
    • Painting Portraits
  • Contact

"Stillness"

10/31/2011

 
Picture
Picture
Stillness / 5.5x9.5 / encaustic on reclaimed wood
This weekend I finally completed the second encaustic piece on reclaimed wood for the HOME & HEARTh exhibit at Evanescence Gallery.  When I think of home at this time of year, I begin to think of a fire in the hearth, Christmas songs on the stereo, and decorating the tree with my girls.  In this piece, I began with plaster and etched in words pertaining to how I feel about a tree in nature.  This process of layering, including the addition of beeswax and oil sticks really appeals to me.  I've also been enjoying listening to Cheryl Richardson's The Art of Extreme Self-Care while I've been painting and love her list of questions to remind us of how to take care of ourselves:

Who is my support?
Who should I avoid?
What does my body need?
What commitments do I need to reduce?
What should I avoid?
How should I nurture my faith?
What comforts me?
How do I express myself?
What object focuses me?
How should I take a break?

I find the second question one that I need to be especially mindful of as my self-respect and inner peace is can definitely be altered by the people with whom I surround myself.  And now, I need to rest as I received an injection into my shoulder joint to try to alleviate this frozen shoulder with which I've struggled for many, many months.  I hope it works.

A day in the country.

10/26/2011

 
Picture
Yesterday I spent a wonderful day with a friend at another friend's acreage to gather inspiration for future paintings.  The watershed project I mentioned recently was inspired by this acreage, by the idea that the land, and in turn the water sources that we rely on for nourishment, need to be protected.  We spent time walking past a natural spring, past moss-covered rocks, down through the dogwood into the cattails in the marshland created by Nose Creek, photographing and then meditating at the top of the coulee.  It was so refreshing to hear the silence of nature, birds swooping nearby, a horse grazing on the next acreage, following the footsteps of a deer, and seeing the area that inspired the beavers.  And as I felt the blessing of the warmth of the sun on my face and the sweet sounds of the birds in the air, I was reminded of these lovely words:

"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer. 
It sings because it has a song."
~ Maya Angelou

"Ornamental"

10/25/2011

 
Picture
Ornamental / 4.25 x 10 / encaustic on reclaimed wood
Picture
"Life just turns deliciously quirky when you stop resisting yourself
and, instead, honor the intuition that tugs at you like
a puppy on a leash in the park.
Follow the magic and magic starts to follow you."
~ Tama J. Kieves

In the works...

10/24/2011

 
Picture
A number of years ago I was planning on taking an encaustic workshop but was informed that the media was quite toxic.  Now that I've done more research and have inherited a pile of reclaimed lumber, I thought that this might be a good time to experiment.  This piece is looking very interesting, it's a creation for the Christmas show at the Evanescence Gallery (as long as it turns out :)  I also had a wonderful weekend at the Calyx Exhibit - it is so good to be surrounded by creative friends.  The weather was absolutely beautiful - I love autumn.  And finally, our eldest daughter asked each of us in this family to write a list of favorite songs, these are mine:
    Annie's Song - John Denver
    At Last - Etta James
    Northern Girl - Terri Clark
    The English Patient - Gabriel Yared
    Our Town - Iris Dement & Emilou Harris
    Overnight - Amy Grant & Sarah Chapman
    With or Without You - U2
    Landslide - Stevie Nicks
    Ricordo Ancor (Pelagia's Song) - Stephen Warbeck & Russell Watson
    La Vie en Rose - Louis Armstrong
    Get Me Through December - Alison Krause
    Delibes: Flower Duet - Elizabeth Schwarzkopf & Jeannine Collard

The Creative Brain

10/20/2011

 
Picture
It has been difficult for me not to share what I'm working on these days - but I can share a book that I'm currently reading.  It's title is "Your Creative Brain" and speaks to the value of creativity and the seven different brainsets which the author has coined CREATES:
  1. Connect - seeing connections in disparate objects or concepts
  2. Reason - manipulating information to solve a problem
  3. Envision - thinking visually rather than verbally
  4. Absorb - open mind to new experiences & ideas
  5. Transform - self-conscious & dissatisfied sate of mind (vulnerable)
  6. Evaluate - judge value of ideas, concepts, products, behaviours, or individuals
  7. Stream - thoughts & actions flow harmoniously
I find the fifth concept to be the one I have the most difficulty with but that I have also come to realize as being an impetus for a revelation or which inspires some of my best work.  If I can calm myself in that state, practice some stillness, and sometimes focus on something else entirely, I make it through to something so much better.  Those, though, are also the times I wonder if I will struggle with mental illness of some sort.  In my family there is a history of challenge in that area which has led to depression and alcoholism but I think, that as long as I continue to do this work that I am compelled to do, I will be okay.  Out of the dark there is always light.  This morning I realized that my brain is in concept three - the Envision mode - which is the most fun for me, so...I'm off to the studio. Enjoy this lovely autumn day, my favorite time of year. 

heART

10/19/2011

 
Picture
Every once in awhile I google my name just to see where I show up and this morning I found this photo of myself painting at Inglewood Fine Arts during Calgary ArtWalk recently.  I met a lovely gentleman who was taking part in the ArtWalk with his camera...what a great idea.  A visual journal of sorts.

This week I'm still happily plugging along on my commission.  I'm getting closer to done and getting excited to share it.  The patron has decided she doesn't want to see it until it's finished - she doesn't even know the size of it, just gave me a dollar amount and asked me to create as large a piece as that would cover and just specified that she wanted it horizontal rather than vertical.  Now, I have to say, this is a fun way to complete a commission.

"Nose Creek"

10/18/2011

 
Picture
Nose Creek / 5.5" x18" / acrylic on reclaimed wood
Picture
This is the piece I created in response to a call for work inspired by the watershed.  My husband re-built our deck and we've been wondering what to do with the old wood and scraps.  Because I've been thinking of working with recycled material for some time, I thought that this was a perfect opportunity and worked very well with the theme.  We used to live in a home that backed onto this creek...I really miss it, especially the hawks, herons, ducks, and occasional fox that roamed through the wild grasses.  I'm not sure how to hang this piece, though it does sit beautifully on a shelf I'm currently leaning towards a sawtooth hanger as it is a solid piece of wood and I'd like it to hang as flat as possible.  Any suggestions?

And on another note, though I really don't care for email forwards, I recently received this one which I'd like to share:

"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.
May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content with yourself just the way you are.
Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us."
~ Author Unknown

The Pulse of Mixed Media

10/17/2011

 
Picture
Since I cannot yet share a commission that I'm currently working on as it's a gift (and a piece I am very excited about), I wanted to share a publication that will be released in March 2012 by an inspiring artist, Seth Apter of The Altered Page.  I have had the priviledge of working on a mixed media project with Seth as well as a few other fabulous artists a couple of years ago on the Inner Works Collaborative.  I'm also very pleased that he has chosen to include me in this publication.  Thank you very much Seth for being such an encouragement to all of us creatives. 

In spite of everything else in my life this summer I spent quite a bit of time working on smaller pieces which are currently for sale through the Evanescence Gallery in High River, Inglewood Fine Arts in Calgary, Saffron Gallery in Cochrane and Federation Gallery in Vancouver, as well as through Calyx Distinctive Arts on Sunday, October 23.  I've also been reading a ton - it's amazing how peaceful life can be when you are forced to slow down as I was with my arm in a sling.  I'm glad it wasn't my painting arm, and also glad that there are so many great books out there.  A few books I really enjoyed were "The Gargoyle", "The Navigator of New York", "The Help", and "The Swallows of Kabul".  As this summer has been one of challenge for me, one line in particular from the Swallows of Kabul really stuck with me:

"Take things as they come; don't turn them into a drama. 
You're not piloting the ship, you're following the course of your destiny."
 

Very good advice, I think.

**Please be patient with me as I continue to learn this new manner of blogging -  I'm still trying to add more links to my inspiration' column as there are so many who inspire and encourage me on this journey.  It seems that whenever I add someone, someone else is deleted somehow.  Oddly enough, it may be a user error :)**

Altered Shoe Exhibit - The Raven

10/15/2011

 
Picture
This is my contribution to the Altered Shoe Exhibit at the Grasshopper Gallery in Irricana, Alberta which I'm excited to see next week.  I had originally planned to alter the form more but then decided that it would be nice if they were still functional as wearable art.  It is a collection of women’s shoes that have been altered by artists to be reinvented into unique sculptures and the exhibit runs until mid-November.  Since it was taking place around halloween I thought that Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Raven' would be appropriate.  Finally found a use for the black tube of paint that I feel guilty attempting to use in my paintings (my first art teacher's adage to work only with the primary colours - red, blue, yellow & white...NEVER black!). 

I also want to say 'thank you' to so many wonderful comments and suggestions on this new blog - I'm still a bit sad that I lost the previous one but I am glad to move on.  Thank you for not only taking the time to see what I spend my time doing and to respond to it, but also for the encouragement I receive in this work of my heart.  Finally I wanted to share a wonderful little poem that was created in response to my work - thank you very much Joy, it warms me to the depths of my heart:

"- butterflies flutter over colors
- making decisions on where to land
- sparkles like diamonds in sunlight blink and shine
- and soon
- another canvas is finshed
- it is time to curl up in that inviting chair. 
To dream, to visilze, to slowly fall asleep
- tomorrow is another day."


A Creative Life

10/12/2011

 
Picture
<<Previous
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Journal
  • Portfolio
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Portraits >
      • Woman's Work
      • Extraordinary Women
      • The Grandmothers
      • Wunderland
      • Nasty Women
      • Heroes
      • Ahead of Their Time
    • 52 WEEKS >
      • Wildlife
      • Wildflowers
      • Storytellers
      • Gratitude
    • Fashion Plates
    • Sacred Vessel
    • Simple Pleasures
    • Altered Books
    • Free Art Resources
  • Galleries
  • eCourses
  • Login
    • Painting Animals
    • Painting Art Journals
    • Painting Backgrounds
    • Painting Bees
    • Painting Canoes
    • Painting CityScapes
    • Painting Flowers
    • Painting Hearts & Houses
    • Painting Landscapes
    • Painting Portraits
  • Contact