::VERONICA FUNK::
  • Journal
  • Portfolio
    • A Room of One's Own
    • Alberta Bound
    • Portraits >
      • Ahead of Her Time
      • Extraordinary Women
      • Grandmothers
      • Heroes
      • Mastrius Women
      • Nasty Women
      • Pocket Portraits - 100 Women Artists
      • Postcard Portrait Project
      • The Women
      • Women of the West
      • Woman's Work
      • Wunderland
    • 52 WEEKS >
      • Art Journals
      • Gratitude
      • Storytellers
      • Wild
      • Wildflowers
    • Fashion Plates
    • Sacred Vessel
    • Simple Pleasures
    • Sketchbooks
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Galleries
  • Free Resources
    • Info for Artists
    • Workshops >
      • Painting Animals
      • Painting Art Journals
      • Painting Backgrounds
      • Painting Bees
      • Painting Canoes
      • Painting CityScapes
      • Painting Flowers
      • Painting Hearts & Houses
      • Painting Landscapes
      • Painting Portraits
      • Travel Journalling
      • The Business of Art
  • Contact

Journal.

Another 52 WEEKS complete!

12/30/2016

 
Picture
Picture
I cannot believe I have done this four years in a row and, yet, now I cannot imagine not doing it again.  Every year I think I feel like it has been the best, most educational, most inspiring, and most challenging for me, but I have to admit that this year has topped them all.  Not only has it been interesting to select the women that have inspired me most each week, but also to see their words that have touched me and why, definitely brought this project to another level for me. 

I have finally decided on the project for the new year (Thank goodness!  Nothing like leaving things to the last minute!) but, as usual, am feeling rather trepidatious about the year ahead.  Will it be interesting?  Will I do it justice?  Am I going to fall extremely short of my expectations?  I guess we'll see. 

As this year comes to a close and a new and hopefully more pleasant one dawns, I want to wish you a very Happy New Year and to ask you to join me in the year ahead.  I would love to see what others create...and please remember that it doesn't have to be a weekly project, but just something that you work towards in the next year.  If you do, please let me know as I'd love to follow your process, too.

52 WEEKS::Margaret Laurence - SOLD

12/26/2016

 
Picture
Picture

Women, as well as men, in all ages and in all places, have danced on the earth, danced the life dance, danced joy, danced grief, danced despair, and danced hope.

~ Margaret Laurence


Many years ago I read a wonderful book titled The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence and then, a few years later, was privileged to see the play with Shirley Douglas in the role of Hagar, one of my favorite fictional characters.  Hagar was crotchety and difficult and fascinating to me.  I also had the opportunity to visit Margaret's beautiful brick home in Neepawa, Manitoba, which has been named Manitoba's Most Beautiful Town more than any other and which was the setting for many of her novels.  Though I haven't read all of her writing, everything that I have has resonated with me and I have always loved the fact that she was a founder of the Writers' Trust of Canada in support of the writing community.

Happy Holidays!

12/23/2016

 
Picture

Varnish

12/22/2016

 
Picture
I've often been asked what I use to varnish my paintings.  These days, though I do feel a little guilty environment-wise, I have been using this spray varnish because it works well and doesn't disturb the painting underneath.  I used to mix two Liquitex liquid varnishes, a gloss and matt to create semi-gloss, and apply it with a roller brush but it can also be a problem as it requires so much water to clean the roller thoroughly.   As I mentioned, I do struggle with the fact that spray paints aren't great for us and I wish they created something better that worked as well, but I also really like how quickly I can complete work and I also like the effect.  So, in the new year I plan to research and find a better solution.  If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

'Crow Talker'

12/21/2016

 
Picture
Crow Talker / 36x36 / acrylic on canvas
While I was painting this piece during my workshop on Saturday, I knew that I wanted to incorporate the symbols that have been found in caves internationally.  I also knew I wanted to add crows as they carry so much meaning and symbolism for me.  Not only are they connected with mystery and magic, but also destiny and personal transformation...which seems to be a continual rite of passage of sorts in my life.  I always thought that being in my forties would be a time of great understanding and knowledge but I have learned otherwise.  Now that I am in my 50's I have come to realize that at every age and stage of my life there is a steady period of growth and learning and I think that's a good thing.  And, of course, crows are important to me because my family calls me the Crow Talker...and thus, this is a piece of communication and learning.

FCA Workshop::Painted Layers

12/20/2016

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
I enjoyed myself immensly on Saturday with a fantastic group of ladies.  No matter how often I share my process with others, I am always amazed at how each painter takes it and makes it their own. And so much talent!  Very inspiring.  A huge 'thank you' to the Calgary chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists and Kensington Art Supplies for hosting.

52 WEEKS::Indira Gandhi - SOLD

12/19/2016

 
Picture
Picture

You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.

~ Indira Gandhi


I was always fascinated by Indira Gandhi because she was India's only female Prime Minister.  I know she was ruthless in her position but both times she was Prime Minister, she took a struggling economy and strengthened it.  She was highly educated both in India and also in England, studying history, political science and economics at the University of Oxford.  Though she didn't believe herself to be a feminist, she did believe that women should be able to do everything.  As a young woman she told her aunt that she would someday lead her people to freedom just like Joan of Arc. 

'Alberta I + II'

12/16/2016

 
Picture
Alberta I+II / 48x72 / acrylic on canvas
This diptych has been a bit slow in coming as I've been trying to record the process of a painting from the beginning to the end.  It's interesting to see how I work, as I typically have a different image in my mind of my practice and also interesting to see how much of what I learned in art school still applies to my methods.  It kind of feels like watching a sports replay in order to learn from your mistakes.  One of the main lessons I remember from school is to work around the entire piece all at once rather than focusing on one particular area, which I have come to realize that I actually do without thinking.  Another is to step back from the work regularly in order to see the entire piece as a whole, particularly from one this large.  And thankfully I still do that, too.  In fact, I often take the work-in-progress to another room for a different perspective and to view it under different lighting.  I also like to look at pieces I'm working on for an extended period of time prior to having a nap and then waking to it.  There is something that often clicks in my mind when I give myself time to do this.  In this case, even though I used quite a bit of purple (which is often considered a cool colour), when combined with all the orange, yellow, pink and red it made the painting feel too warm, so I added blue in my final layers.  I especially love the combination of the Rocky Mountains by Lake Louse, buffalo that used to roam in abundance in the area,  ravens that I like to talk to, and wild tiger lilies that grow in profusion in the mountains.  I remember one Mother's Day a father and very young son were gathering them along the road side...a wonderful gesture even though it is not permitted in the national parks, but a good memory none-the-less. 

Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

12/15/2016

 
Picture
It's an exciting day as I'm off to the Jubilee to deliver my exhibit today which will be displayed in the lower lobby until February 15.  Professional hangers will be installing it so I won't see the completed exhibit until I lead art tours to schools in the new year, something I'm really looking forward to.  I love talking to kids about art and really, really enjoy listening to their questions and responses to the work as it is always so honest and refreshing.  They just respond viscerally, not being concerned about whether or not their response is considered correct or how anyone else will percieve it.  Can't wait!

Refuge

12/14/2016

 
Picture
Picture
Refuge I+II / 20x24 / acrylic on canvas
For the final two pieces to be exhibited at the Jubilee in Calgary I decided to create two more log cabins because they epitomize life in Canada to me.  My exhibit included these cabins along with landscapes, wildflowers, animals, tipis and canoes (of course) in order to capture my experience of this beautiful place I am privileged to call home.  My dream has always been to live in a log cabin, and I'm still holding on to hope for it.  Thedream of a simpler life.
<<Previous
    Picture

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    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

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Journal
  • Portfolio
    • A Room of One's Own
    • Alberta Bound
    • Portraits >
      • Ahead of Her Time
      • Extraordinary Women
      • Grandmothers
      • Heroes
      • Mastrius Women
      • Nasty Women
      • Pocket Portraits - 100 Women Artists
      • Postcard Portrait Project
      • The Women
      • Women of the West
      • Woman's Work
      • Wunderland
    • 52 WEEKS >
      • Art Journals
      • Gratitude
      • Storytellers
      • Wild
      • Wildflowers
    • Fashion Plates
    • Sacred Vessel
    • Simple Pleasures
    • Sketchbooks
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Galleries
  • Free Resources
    • Info for Artists
    • Workshops >
      • Painting Animals
      • Painting Art Journals
      • Painting Backgrounds
      • Painting Bees
      • Painting Canoes
      • Painting CityScapes
      • Painting Flowers
      • Painting Hearts & Houses
      • Painting Landscapes
      • Painting Portraits
      • Travel Journalling
      • The Business of Art
  • Contact