Author: artintheshuswap

Spring Has Sprung!

I’d like to thank the Betty who has been a real source of encouragement to us all, keeping the artists in our area actively displaying the creativity deep within. Betty will be missed!

Where do I begin? Covid? Ok let’s chat!

Thank God “Spring has Sprung “ for all of us in the Shuswap area. We can be grateful that we live in such a beautiful community. Everywhere I turn I see an abundance of things that make me smile. For example “HELLO………” cute puppies everywhere, hummingbirds zipping around, flowers springing up, greenhouses full of lovely aromas and many more things that bring joy right now.

I am not gonna lie, its been hard to stay motivated lately. This is why its so important to keep our connections to one another via social media or even reaching out to one another by telephone. It has been great to see many artists participating in the 10 day challenge on social media. I love seeing all the paintings and talent that we would not typically display for one another. IT’S AWESOME!

I really, really miss hugging my friends and my artsy peeps in person, but this is what we must do for now until we get the go ahead. So, in the meantime this is a great time to step outside, (safely) breathe in some fresh air and get taking your reference photos for your creations in the near future. I look forward to seeing each and everyone of you in the upcoming months.

If anyone has any website updates or events they would like to notify me about please feel free to shoot me an email.

Take care and stay safe

Melody Roth

A Time to Create #4

A Time to Create #4

It is August and while COVID 19 has not gone away, the number of cases are staying stable and there is some hopeful return to some form of normalcy. Art can play a major therapeutic role during these times. Harvard Health Medical School in their article state “The beneficial effects of creating aren’t dependent on a person’s skill or talents. “It’s the process, not the product,” says Megan Carleton, an art therapist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).” They talk about how the process of creating art  help people with depression, anxiety, or cancer. And doing so has been linked to improved memory, reasoning, and resilience in healthy older people. (Reference: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mental-health/the-healing-power-of-art)

Melody Roth provided me with a picture of her recent painting called “The Blues”. She said “This painting was created to bring me happiness. The Blues represent the lakes and sky and the dreaming mandala keeps me going on our future plans when we can travel safely again.” Certainly would make me happy.

Melody Roth Abstract
Melody Roth – The Blues 24″ x 30″ acrylic $275

Landscape Art
Betty Schriver – Copper Island from Reedman Point framed 8 x 8″ acrylic on canvas board SOLD
Figure Art
Betty Schriver – The Fisherman – framed 11×14″ framed acrylic on canvas $160
Landscape Art
Betty Schriver Shuswap Sunset 2 – framed 8 x 8″ acrylic on canvas board $78
Lake Art
Betty Schriver – Near the Wharf in Salmon Arm – framed 8 x 8″ framed acrylic on canvas board SOLD
Landscape Art
Betty Schriver – Reedman Point from the Highlands – framed 8 x 8″ acrylic on canvas board SOLD
Landscape Art
Betty Schriver – On Roadside Coming Home – framed, 11×14″ acrylic on canvas board $145
Landscape Abstract
Betty Schriver – Art in the Shuswap – 24″ x 36″ acrylic on gallery wrap canvas NFS
A Time to Create #3

A Time to Create #3

I love getting emails from artists in the Shuswap area, telling me about their adventures of trying to create art when things just are not the same routines any longer.  I recently received a photo of a beautiful art piece done by Janet Aitken during the pandemic timeframe.  Her story around trying to finish the painting amongst other activities was quite amusing and made me realize how our regular habits quickly reform to new ones, and we often have to figure out how to get things done even when we “think” we have more time.

Her email went like this:  “I have been painting a wee bit every day.  It seems the time evaporates when one makes time for exercise each day, lots of talking on the phone and ‘zooming’.  My biggest mistake was starting a sourdough starter. It is more time consuming and takes more care than your first born! I did finally get to make my first loaves of sourdough rye bread today… another marathon production with folding and stretching every 30 minutes. Paint for 30 minutes- stretch and fold dough for 10 – paint for 30 minutes… oh.. oh… time for lunch. And so it goes. I did manage to complete one painting last week.  By the way, the bread was pretty wonderful after all that. ”
“This painting was inspired by the view off our deck in Salmon Arm.  It will soon be green like this.  It is 24 by 36 Acrylic.  I painted it last week. ”

Beautiful work Janet!

Another email I received from my friend Jo Mills, in which she did a little project called “The Biography of a Painting”.  Here are her notes:

Creativity while staying home:

Not much creativity going on while making beds, doing laundry, but maybe some with planning meals. So, I huddle in my little craft/office room and try to make something new or work on a project painting.

I call this project “BIOGRAPHY OF A PAINTING”.

Blind Bay Painters are working on a group project focusing on lakes and streams

 My reference photo:     

reference

 Now how to figure out how to use it. I sketched it out on paper so the composition suited me knowing that with acrylics I could paint over the mistakes.

step 1 sketch

I got out my watercolours and did a quick colour sketch.  I liked it, so thought I would do a non-realistic version of the reference photo.

Step 2 block in colour

I started with the trees at the top and blocked in colours

Step 3

Step 4 add details

Soon realized that I liked the realistic look of them. There went my vision of the ‘Group of Seven’ style.  Next I worked on the little land part and the rocks. Oh those rocks! I walk the beach every year at Magna Bay so I have seen lots of rocks. Over and over I dabbed those [da??ed] rocks. The foliage was the easy part. Then for the water and the salmon.  That took a few days and a few different tries.

Step 4b

Step 5 Step away and adjust

Up close, I still am not satisfied. From a distance it looks okay. But as this was just a trial, and this size does not fit the frame, I have to move on to the REAL painting.

Great biography Jo and it’s great to see the work in progress as a painting is developed!

If you live in the Shuswap area and would like to share your story about your painting processes during the COVID 19 time, feel free to email artintheshuswap.com with a pic and a bit about your art!  We would love to hear about it!