Yesterday was the big day that 21 SECRETS Tell Your Secrets came out & today I'm happy to introduce @veronicafunk whose workshop 52 WEEKS :: Heroes will gove you tips & techniques on how to strengthen your skills through creating a series. Veronica is the queen of working in year long series in which she chooses a new theme to follow each year. This workshop is so useful to keep every artist inspired!

- Connie Solera, Dirty Footprints Studio

For more information or to register please visit here.

Langston Hughes, born in 1902, came of age early in the 1920s. In The Big Sea he recounts those memorable years in the two great playgrounds of the decade--Harlem and Paris. In Paris he was a cook and waiter in nightclubs. He knew the musicians and dancers, the drunks and dope fiends. In Harlem he was a rising young poet--at the center of the "Harlem Renaissance."

Arnold Rampersad writes in his incisive new introduction to The Big Sea, an American classic: "This is American writing at its best--simpler than Hemingway; as simple and direct as that of another Missouri-born writer...Mark Twain."

This has been a week of beginnings and endings in my studio.  Several projects have come to a finish which is always a pleasure, especially since one in particular has been extremely meaningful for me (more on that at a later date).  And there are others that are in the early stages, a few which have been for awhile, so I am looking forward to focusing on those once again.  I'm glad I had time to reorganize my work space as it has been such a pleasure to work in this space once again.  The lighting is much better than it was when I used this as a studio last and furniture works so much better for me at this stage since I've struggled with adhesive capsulitis in both my shoulders over the last several years. 

One of the things I have learned about my process is that it definitely is a process.  There are times I want to focus on backgrounds and planning, whether that means looking for inspiration and creating thumbnail sketches or flooding my canvases with colour and pattern.  Other times I can't wait to begin to add imagery along with more layers.  And there is something about working several pieces at once which helps me to resolve any challenges that I might face while working on other pieces.  I like moving between paintings as it gives my mind a chance to clear and helps me allow my brain to make other creative connections.  A way of brain storming on my own.

Vivid lime green is one of my absolute favorite colours to work with...especially in these acrylic inks as they make the perfect wash for backgrounds.  Layering a bright under a deeper tone really creates a glow in a painting, which is why I also often use yellow or orange but, because this is a very yellow green, it adds warmth to blue as well.  The way colours affect one another when they are layered is one of the things I pay close attention to whenever I begin a new piece.  Even though I may not have a complete idea of the finished painting, I usually have an idea of the direction the piece will take...in this case I'm thinking mountains and a lake, and possibly a canoe, too.  I just can't stay away from those canoes too long, they always remind me of home.

A few more questions to expand on the previous video on the book titled Writing an Artist's Grant by Gig Rosenberg.  See initial video here.

On Friday I attended the loveliest exhibit opening at Lineham House Galleries in Okotoks.  Not only is it a beautiful gallery, but the owners, Janifer Calvez and Cheryl Taylor, are incredible and all those who attended were, too.  I had the greatest conversations and met a few artists whom I have connected with online, which was a special treat.  The title of the exhibit is Gathering In and features a group of artists whose work focused on autumn and harvest...my large diptych was included along with  a number of other pieces that focused on settling in at the end of the season.  The gallery is set in a gorgeous historic home on a gorgeous tree lined street filled with beautiful old homes.  The exhibit is up through Christmas.

Edith Wharton (1862–1937) wrote carefully structured fiction that probed the psychological and social elements guiding the behavior of her characters. Her portrayals of upper-class New Yorkers were unrivaled. The Age of Innocence, for which Wharton won the Pulitzer Prize in 1920, is one of her most memorable novels.
At the heart of the story are three people whose entangled lives are deeply affected by the tyrannical and rigid requirements of high society. Newland Archer, a restrained young attorney, is engaged to the lovely May Welland but falls in love with May's beautiful and unconventional cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska. Despite his fear of a dull marriage to May, Archer goes through with the ceremony — persuaded by his own sense of honor, family, and societal pressures. He continues to see Ellen after the marriage, but his dreams of living a passionate life ultimately cease.

After many years of successful grant proposals on behalf of different companies I worked with, I am considering applying for one personally.  I've begun reading The Artist's Guide to Grant Writing by Gigi Rosenberg who suggests being interviewed in order to clarify your thoughts and ideas and to interview others to gauge how your work resonates in the world.  I decided to record myself in order to document and share my insights and wanted to share these questions publicly.  Please feel free to respond honestly and in whatever capacity you would like as I would especially love to hear how my work makes you feel and if it makes even a small difference.

1.  After you've seen my work, what questions, insights or feelings do you have?
2.  What does my work make you think about?
3.  What about my work is disturbing or intriguing?
4.  What do you see as unique strengths in my work that you consider special or different?
5.  If you were describing my work to a friend, what would you say?
6.  What do you enjoy about my work? 

For some time I have been interested in seeing how my paintings would look on jewellery and so I took the leap to try a few images out.  I LOVE how these necklaces turned out!  These pieces are currently available through Mukluk Magpies which is the most wonderful artisan gift shop in Airdrie.  Items may be purchased to be shipped anywhere.