I painted this mural recently- I love painting murals because of the scale and the physicality of it. This one took a full day, with breaks for Camy’s pizza. Delicious fun day.

all pictures by Lisa Elgert

Gayle Arnold lists one of her favorite artists as Ben Reeves, so when I noticed the cigarettes in her portraiture I appreciated the subtle nod, intended or not. My favorite portrait on her site features red-hot colours and a glowing ember contrasted with sweeping, skilled brushstrokes of cold blue – handling the facial hair of “Mike” in a way that describes it perfectly yet is completely abstract.

Recently graduated from Emily Carr, it’s clear there will be great and interesting work ahead for her. This is how she describes her practice and ambitions:

In 2009 I graduated from Emily Carr with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts. Recently I got an art consultant and have had three shows this year. All together I would guess that I have been in about fifteen exhibtions. I am yet to get my first solo show, but its coming!

I am a full- time artist. Unfortunately this requires me to live at home, but I have a great family and my own studio so it’s hard to complain. Most of my time is spent applying for shows, jobs, working on home renos, and of course, painting! This year I have sold more paintings than any year prior so it’s very exciting how my career is progressing.

My parents are amazing. They are the only reason I have the abilities that I do and I am thankful and lucky to have so much support. All around my friends and family have been incredible. Sometimes in school I fantasized about discontinuing making art but I realised how madly in love with creation I am. There is nothing else that I could be doing, and it seems that I was made for this. They all agree, and it’s thanks to those around me that I ever found my passion.

I could ramble on, but there is my cheesy gooey ness. Family is awesome. Passion, luck, destiny.. etc, etc.

I also liked the treatment of the closed eye- the most common doodle is the eye, and so a closed eye given the fine art treatment is appealing and interesting. What do you think- favorite colours, of  her portraiture?

I spent my Saturday at Menta Health Camp, an ‘unconferance’ organized by Raul from Hummingbird 604 and Isabella from Change Therapy.

“Breaking Our Silence. Setting us Free.” We will examine how silence hurts mental health, and, even more importantly, how using our voice helps us achieve and maintain mental health. We will explore how social media can help us find this voice and share it with the world.

What a fantastic event! I’d been asked to participate as a Twitter moderater, directing the conversation at #mhcyvr on Twitter- and putting up key points and discussion questions from whatever panel I was in so others in different panels would be able to get an idea of what they were missing. And they were missing out- but with three different rooms to watch each section, it was inevitable I wouldn’t be seeing each great speaker.

I got to meet J Peachy, and as a result I’ll be attending Sound Therapy Radio tomorrow night, and I’ll also be on a future show! Hurrah! It’s always fantastic to connect with like-minded people!

‘The Artist Lounge‘ is broadcast on CJSF 90.1 every Tuesday at 7pm (pacific).  The program brings together artists of all genres to talk about their creative expressions. Archived broadcasts for ‘The Artist Lounge’ are available here.

This tree reminds me of snowboarding, on white sky days through stands of trees.

This one started on a canvas from Sara Araujo-Salas, who is now using mostly linen, and this one is regular canvas. So, thanks!

In this photo, you can’t tell, but the surface has been built up with texture (flexible molding medium) and then painted with deep cool colours and stenciled over with lace. So the black shape of the tree actually consists of cool colours and subtle patterns, not just solid black, in small peeks. The tree was painted outside on a sunny, cool day.

My favorite part of painting the negative spaces was when I took off my glasses. The lightness of the sky popped forward and I was able to quickly see the negative spaces without being distracted by the small branches. My -5 vision came in handy for the very first time.

An artist I met in Montreal a long time ago (friend of my Mom, Joani Barnett) was near-blind and her paintings impressed me- when she painted with her glasses on, they were still, calm, realistic paintings. When she took off her glasses to paint, the surface was thick and textured with brushstrokes and the subjects became abstract, beautiful shapes. I’m glad that made an impression on me, because it’s what inspired me to remove my glasses today.

It also reminds me of looking through the trees to the ocean, driving along a road just inside the forest of the Gulf Islands, BC. The contrast between the trees and the ocean was the most interesting part, especially because of the downward strokes of branches.

Own Evergreen #1

($320)

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($40)

Best Customer Service I Can Provide

I will do my very best to make sure you are satisfied, so depending on why you wish to be refunded I will do my very best to accommodate you. Exchanges are preferred, you pay shipping and handling. If you are in Vancouver, you can pick up the painting, at which time your S&H will be refunded. If you are taken to the Error page the painting you want has already been sold, so contact me and we can work something else out. Thank you!

I started this series recently, and am having a great time painting these. The negative shapes of trees and foliage are one of the things I find most fascinating. I am enjoying the layering of colours in with the cut-out shapes. I’ll be posting a new painting each day for the next few days!

foliage #2

Taking time to notice green plants is refreshing in a city with a sound-scape of traffic.

Notice the change in greens from the top left to bottom right. I also used the white as the last layer, like I did with “I See Only The Past” I like the way it fights for the foreground with the plants and the way that the brush  strokes give dimension to the empty space.

I really feel like this kind of painting comes directly from my visual experiences – this page from my sketchbook will show that. This whole narrative drawing was an excuse to draw trees and look at the way the negative space here is handled in a similar way. The drawing above is from 2008.

Purchase Foliage #2

($240)

Shipping and Handling

($40)

Best Customer Service I Can Provide

I will do my very best to make sure you are satisfied, so depending on why you wish to be refunded I will do my very best to accommodate you. Exchanges are preferred, you pay shipping and handling. If you are in Vancouver, you can pick up the painting, at which time your S&H will be refunded. If you are taken to the Error page the painting you want has already been sold, so contact me and we can work something else out. Thank you!

It’s no secret the global economy is tanking.  Nobody’s that surprised, right? So when the Arts flourish in strong economic times, it’s no surprise that arts funding gets cut when things are tight. I’m not saying this is right or wrong, that’s just the way it is.

I just attended a panel discussion – MAKE ART HISTORY presents “Now What?”

The panel covered a few topics of discussion- here are my favorite take-aways:

The Cheaper Show (the context of the discussion) is a survivor of the budget cuts- it’s only gotten bigger since its beginnings as a “ Salon des Refusés” last year it cost 20 000$ to put on, donated by a friend and a gallery – this year it’s a $100 000 juggernaut put on by twelve East Van Artists.  It pulls in artists on a global scale.

Katanaville has an upcoming interview with artist Sara Araujo – Salas, who is one of the artists whose work will be  snapped up by those in the know tomorrow.

There was a big emphasis on the need for community and collaboration to make things happen.

I also noticed an undercurrent of condescension for the ignorant, general public-one panel member (David Jordan?) who said he “regretting engaging with the public.”

That attitude does a disservice to artists, but fortunately a larger question was raised- that of experience. Art has the power to change lives, to be transformative, to be a genuine experience, which is where its value lies, and artists who “wince” instead of communicating the value they provide. Also, art needs to be more a part of everyday life, that people don’t know how to get involved. Marketing is also very important- ideas only grow in strength when shared.

The event will be archived on LiveArt.TV I believe and you will get to see me ask a question. I also strongly disagree with one of the panel members! Ooh, quasi-controversial!  When I actually find the link we can post it.

I think the important thing to realize is that artists are not entitled to funding. Funding comes from everyone- and so sequestering artists as being the only ones who ‘get’ art and blaming the consumer for being ignorant about art-is alienating those who are funding the art.

Doesn’t make sense, does it?

So while I agree that art needs to be funded, I don’t think we’re entitled to it because we’re artists- but because we share a vision. And if we’re not sharing our vision with others (through, say, marketing) others aren’t obligated to share their money with us.

I don’t like most of what I paint outdoors, but the process is the point; and I know it will make me a better painter. (Gaye Adams)

There are all kinds of fancy , expensive things you can get to go Art outside. Don’t be stupid. All you really need is some colour, a surface, and a markmaking tool.

En plein air is a French expression which means “in the open air.” Don’t let the pretty word make you think it’s complicated! It’s a great way to really see things as they are- when they are right in front of you, not back at the studio. Or, yunno, your kitchen table.

You don’t need to get  complicated- while that’s an ideal way to paint some days in some places, other times even the nicest pochade box is cumbersome.

I took an all day hike up to Whitewater Glacier last summer , and I needed something light (even though my forest-fire fighting brother carried the pack, lucky me!) which would allow me to capture the place in a matter of minutes- I wanted to reach the saddle and we had to be back before dark.

So being in a gorgeous place that makes my heart joyous, I knew I’d want to set something to paper, but wouldn’t have much time.

So I brought a set of oil pastels, because they lay down colour quickly, and a sketchbook. I laid in the watercolour washes when I got home. This is “Whitewater Glacier.”

Slocan Lake (top) was painted more Manet-style.

I brought:

Watercolours- but not a fishing box full of tiny tubes that I’d dig through; what a waste of time! I have a large white plastic palette with small squares along the side with my favorite colours already prepared The only mandatory one for my watercolour box is really Payne’s Grey. I don’t think there’s a better colour to mix with other blues to create great shades of sky.

A book of watercolor paper – if you’re outdoors, student grade watercolour paper is fine- you don’t have time layer washes like you might with more expensive Arches paper- although a thick, rich stack of watercolour paper is a delicious luxury for an artist . Here’s a handy guide to watercolour paper.

Brushes- I can get away with two. I like a flat brush and a round, extra-pointed brush. The flat brush will cover enough area for a small wash while allowing for calligraphic line quality- that twisting strand like streamers or grasses. The round brush holds plenty of water and the tip allows fine lines. I find this gives me a balance between capturing details without getting overwhelmed, while allowing for quickly laying down areas of paint.

Whatever you’re doing outside- keep it fresh. Make many paintings, not just one, so the spontaneous quality stays with you after you leave the fresh outdoors for forced air heating. And remember, you don’t need to know what your tools are called before you use them! I googled all the links I’m showing you- and I use these tools on a regular basis. Stop getting ready to get ready and just GO.

PS: I also have a painting bag- it has only my painting supplies. It removes one of the many obstacles I have in getting myself to do what I love.

I’m creating some resources for you- it’s just a matter of WHICH ONE YOU WANT!! Vote- and you’ll get it PRO BONO. (that means I do the work and you benefit for free) sign up for the newsletter to get it delivered as soon as it’s done! (Whichever has the most votes is the one I’m making first)

The Top 10 Artist FAQs & The 10 They Don’t Ask But Should Be Asking

If you could learn from the mistakes of others, you’d be where you want to be SO FAST, right? These are the questions professional artists learned to ask the hard way- and some are still asking! Save yourself the time- get the answers.

Donate Your Art and Sponsor 300 Children

Do you want your art to change the world? Do something you love, and make a difference. You can use your talents to save lives. Share your energy. Find out how.

Art Launch: How to Make People Salivate Over Your Artwork

Have you seen artists throw together a seeming bunch of BS and yet it sells like hotcakes? Find out what makes it work, and how you can use it to get the results you deserve.

Hobby to Habit: How to Take Your Artistic Practice to the Next Level

Put Artists on the Fast Track to discovering what makes their art, how to get their vision across, and start building their professional practice today.

30 Different Ways to Create: Tutorials in Mixed Media

I share my unique techniques (oh YES I rhyme) to creating my artistic vision, so that you can steal my methods and incorporate them into your work. Experimenting with spraypaint, mediums, ink, photoshop, and a combination in ways you never expected. Discover my secrets!

Every time someone says to me “Have you heard of so-and-so? I bet you’d like their artwork” I add their name to a list on my Blackberry.

Some were recommended by Emily Carr University professors, others by students, and others by strangers in some gallery looking at Popsicle sticks with me.

These are some great finds, and I hope you peruse their websites thoroughly. What do you think of the different ways artists have been presented?

Yoshitomo Nara

Madeline B Smith

Alice Neel

Kara Walker

Grayson Perry

Will Murai

Clare rojas

Andrea Bensen

There are two schools regarding Banksy’s latest piece of art-world upset “Exit through the Gift Shop” : one, those fans of Banksy because he’s a cool street artist, and two, those fans of Banksy because he doesn’t manage your expectations. The first group will be both disappointed and underwhelmed by the film, and I’ll bet Banksy knew they would be. I also think there is a third group- and I hope you’re in it. Here’s why. And a spoiler warning that I think you should ignore even if you haven’t seen the movie.

Banksy has enough notoriety that he could make a movie just about himself and it would go over very, very well. But that’s not what Banksy’s about- which is why very little of the movie has to do with him. I think there’s a number of people who will appreciate the critical look at the next-big-thing art collectors and hipster crowd (the NY times, for example) but I think they’re missing what made the movie most exciting.

The energy!

Sure, Thierry is a nobody star of the movie and his own persistant video-taping. But he also has more enthusiasm and gung-ho than many, many people, and a willingness to go all -out, make-it-or-break-it, go-big-or-go-home, balls-out, just-do-it, style that Silver City and Nike only dream of.

That, to me, is the key take-away of the movie.

Thierry succeeds!

Not because he’s a big artist. (this is is first, and only? show)

Not because anyone else thinks he’s any good. (Banksy on Thierry: “[Thierry] is a force of nature; he’s a phenomenon. And I don’t mean that in a good way.”)

Not because he’s smart. (Nobody in the movie thinks so, and someone calls him retarded- they aren’t nice about it)

Not because he has any talent (His art is made by a crew he pays by the hour and frankly, it looks like someone ate Andy Warhol and threw up street art. Yes, that is a pun)

Not because collectors love his work (An excited member of the huge queue the night before has no idea what he’s in for)

Not because he gets picked up by a big gallery (he throws his show in a rented warehouse)

“He just GOES AND DOES. He doesn’t worry.”

- Mrs. Guetta

He throws all of his energy into his art show. And that is why it’s successful.

Watch the movie to find out what being really, really committed to your art practice looks like.

And then go and Do.

What am I going to do?

After watching the movie I came up with the idea to get 300 sponsor kids sponsored! Sign up to the newsletter to be the first to find out how!

PS Yes, I am aware some people think Guetta is a construction of Banksy. Doesn’t matter. The take away from the movie is too awesome.