Inspirational Images
This page holds the current selection of
inspirational art.
New images are posted every other Friday.
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images inspire you.
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Tending my art -- applying the first coat of varnish .
Pictures taken by Tilda Santiago. Thanks, Tilda.
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Gallery -- Inspiring Images
Gallery -- Mary A. Gravelle
Post your comments to our website: click here.
Gallery -- Inspiring Images
Gallery -- Mary A. Gravelle
Post your comments to our website: click here.
Gallery -- Inspiring Images
Gallery -- Mary A. Gravelle
Post your comments to our website: click here.
Gallery -- Inspiring Images
Gallery -- Mary A. Gravelle
Title: 1. Rivers
Running Purple and
2. Fiesta
Tango Mango
Tending My Art
Artist: Mary A. Gravelle
Media: Tempera paint on paper, 18" x
24"
Before you read what I say:
How do you tend your art? How does it relate to how you tend your life? Are there parts of the artmaking process that you love? that you hate? If your art was your life, what does that tell you?
Post your comments, then read on.
I met with friends, Tilda and Terri, at the park one day. You can see Terri's head above me as I work in the upper photo. I was preparing for Open Studio weekend in Hartford on May 4-5, 2002. I decided to work at the park and enjoy the company of friends and natural environment.
We had met at Jerry's Artarama and spent way too much money on art supplies. The park was an impromptu suggestion and I seemed to be prepared with what I had picked up at Jerry's. My paintings were in the car. So, I agreed to join them.
My chore for the day was to varnish my paintings before framing and matting. I had purchased varnish at Jerry's and had been given a huge bag with the mat board. The bag provided the clean drop cloth I needed for the picnic table. I was prepared to work.
Luckily, varnish dries quickly because the wind picked up one of my paintings and promptly landed it in the dirt! No harm done. I put my pocketbook on one corner and a water bottle on another corner and other items on the remaining two corners. I proceeded.
I love every part of the art making process.
Varnishing is one of the steps that gives me great pleasure. Since I use tempera paints, I need to use varnish to make the finish permanent and water resistant -- protection from the elements.
It feels a little like making love to the painting -- caring, nurturing, bringing out the best in the image because it intensifies the colors and puts a nice sheen on it, giving it a smooth appearance.
As I coat my painting with tender loving care, I nurture myself. My artwork is a microscopic piece of my life. What I do to my art, I do to my life. I teach myself that it is good to take care of myself. I prepare myself to be presentable to the world. I protect myself.
I run the brush, loaded thinly with varnish, along the strokes previously painted, following the shapes and forms of color in case the varnish wants to bleed colors into each other. I get to feel the energy of the piece and it inspires me all over again.
I actually love my own artwork. Although, my Painting class this semester threw a small monkey wrench into that thinking for a bit. But alas, I once again love what I do. There are so many different forms of art, mine is as valuable as any other. It is very valuable to me.
I apply two or three coats in different directions to ensure that it is covered. I stand back and admire it after each coat. Each coat seems to give it more presence than the last. I smile and can't wait to see it when it dries.
As I work on my life's inner processes, I go deeper, looking at myself from different angles. I apply tools and techniques, new thinking to my way of being. I feel pleased with each step I take. I like the me I am becoming. I take time to stand back and admire myself and my work.
Varnishing my art -- taking care, preparing, intensifying the color, preparing it for presentation to the world, protecting it from the elements -- doing all the same to myself as I do the work.
I hope you enjoy your art making process as much as I do.
A salute to all you artists out there and the aspiring ones too. And a special salute to the non-artists who admire artistic works.
May we always live in an artful world!
Amen. It is said. It is written under the holy law.
THE END
Email Mary: mary@wisdompainting.com
Post your comments to our website: click here.
Go to the Inspiring Images Art Gallery, click here.
Go to Mary's Art Gallery: click here.
Read what people are saying about our posted artwork, click here.
Posted: June 6, 2002
Written by Mary A. Gravelle
© 2002 Mary A. Gravelle
Tell us what you think (post your comments) Read what others say
Future issues -- every other Friday:
Contact us if you want us to include your
inspirational art image.
See the schedule below for deadlines.
Apr. 26 -- artwork and writing due Apr. 24, digital copies
May 8 * -- artwork and writing due May 6, digital copies
* This will be issued on Wednesday this time since I will be on
vacation from May 9 through May 19.