when getting to the studio is difficult

real life thoughts on a Sunday evening:  visit to Seattle for family events, a special dinner for the birthdays of old friends, back home to finish the quarter round work on floors.  this whole weekend has been outside the studio.  how to settle with the importance of these activities versus the necessity of spending more time at the easel?  an old conflict.   I guess I could learn to enjoy the "anticipation" of getting back into painting.  but anticipation is questionable, because it is sweet and because it is so much easier than the hard work of producing art....have to learn to make peace with this.

art art and art

I'm just coming down off the high of this weekend's art art and art.

first, Sharon Kingston's new exhibit at her gallery/studio, simply stunned as one walked through the door. it literally hit like a physical impact of color, lyricism and just plain ol'beauty, that took the breath away.  Time off from incidentals surely deepens ones practice.  I felt surrounded and soothed by these atmospheric works.  On to pick out a "favorite" and when found, had the audacity to ask if I could "trade up" from an earlier purchase.  Was that rude?  ooops, sorry Sharon (but it is a kind of fun idea....would we then put our earlier works into some kind of consignment gallery?!)

Then on to another friend's opening down south to a gallery located in the rural skagit flats, where her recent outpouring of work, now on the walls, just verified an artist of great skill and craftsmanship, who can create works of art that are momentous, with only (what appears to be) a few simple strokes.  You know, that "thing" many of us try to do.  Ruthie V reminds me of that one student in my art classes who always stood out from the rest, miles out, in another universe.  I truly believe that this woman should have a gallery in NYC!

Both of these exhibits left me feeling admiration and a great deal of inspiration - to try to become a better and truer art maker.  All in all, a satisfying weekend.

donna auer art: finally launching my new web site -

today I am finally launching my new web site - okay, it has been slow, but now I'm quite pleased with the result! hope you will stop by and take a look:

www.donnaauer.com

the whys of artmaking

the other evening, a group of practicing artists met to discuss favorite topics and drink favorite beverages.  the subject arose, "why do we make the art that we make?".  it is questionable whether we should even ask ourselves this, but because the door was open, most of us made an attempt to stumble in.  very interesting how every one of us stuttered along.  we didn't want to hear cliches or delusions of grandeur, which narrowed the field significantly.  just a simple explanation would do.  who knew it would be so difficult and that we would leave without one answer to tuck away.  though the promise of more pondering is appealing...

bellingham art walk

always a good evening - especially in the summer - rambling along the downtown art walk.  artists that have recently moved to the area, students not yet graduated, and long-time resident artists who manage to find venues that keep their work in the public eye.  making contact with other artists and a night of chatting in favorite galleries is just the salve to a day in the studio.

previous work

drawing is bliss

drawing bliss

last night was one of those great evenings because I finally got myself to the drawing group, run superbly by Ruthie V, and experienced after many years, 2 1/2 hours of drawing bliss! it wasn't easy (I've lost my fingers and toes acumen!) but it reminds me of the importance of keeping the hand and eye in good practice. also noticed that I continue to draw in the same "style" without any preconceived notions. it just comes out that way, for better or for worse. and no matter how small I started, the figure kept drifting off the page.

ok, time to begin.....