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Thank you Shuswap!

Today I packed my art studio. It took 8 large boxes, 3 totes, and 2 flattened easels to gather all my art tools, supplies, and organizers. As I packed, I thought about how the Shuswap brought me the inspiration and courage to learn how to paint on canvas and the knowledge that you never are done learning. It was here that I started to truly explore and understand art. It is here that I was afforded so much thoughtful wisdom and mentorship, and most of all encouragement. While it’s been such a supportive community overall, there are a few that I specifically need to offer thanks to.

I’d like to thank the Blind Bay Painters, who without a doubt, took me under their wings and shared so much of their wisdom and encouragement. What a treasure this group is, as members all collaborate and come together to support each other and learn. I have been so lucky to be part of this group for the last 7 years and I will never forget any of you and all you taught me. This last year with COVID has been so difficult to not be able to meet at the hall, but I think of you guys often, and know we will meet up again some day!

I’d also like to thank Rose Collin, Debbie Reeves, Deb Pugsley, SallyAnne Calver. These women had more faith in me and my art than I had in myself. Their encouragement led to some of my first art sales and classes, I so appreciate their support and friendship.

So why am I packing and where am I going? Well, despite my love for the Shuswap, sometimes things that happen in life lead you to where you need to be -in this case, closer to family and home. So it’s back to Alberta, to a small community not much different than Blind Bay, called Beaumont that we are headed. We are planning on snow-birding the winter (hopefully) and it allows us more travel opportunities as well as more family time when we are there.

So…..I have decided I will be offering at a great discount (50% off)- my Shuswap Art right here in the Shuswap! I need to reduce my inventory before my move, and truly I would love for my Shuswapian community to have my art that was made right here in the Shuswap. There are several original art pieces available right now on sale for the “Winter Be Gone” sale at the Shuswap Artisan Market. Here is a look at some of the work now for sale at 50% off. They will be available with 50% off until Feb 27th, but come early for the best selection.

Lastly, I would like to thank the Shuswap community who continually show up. They show up for the arts in a big way, whether it be attending art shows, shopping at our local artisan markets, or just liking and encouraging our facebook posts when we share our work. We are a lucky bunch of artists and artisans to be given the support we have and I am feeling grateful.

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

While I have performed no official studies, I do know for myself that art provides me with focus and a means to redirect my thoughts when difficult times occur. It allows me to be fully absorbed in the process and vision, to take me to somewhere where I remember and feel and my senses become entrenched in the moment. And it’s where I can see, how nothing can become something.

Even prior to Covid19, my life had hit some turmoils and I had mixed times of not being about to create, to fully being absorbed in the process. During Covid, my home wasn’t just where I was deemed to go, but where I needed to be, and I fully appreciated the serenity it provided me. Day by day, doing what needs to be done, the next right thing. It’s strange how despite there having been so much distress in my life this year, that I could feel calm and restored with the routines of home. The regular and repetitive cleaning felt empowering. The morning walks at different locations around the lake, strengthened me and fed my soul. The tending of gardens helped nurture life around me. Each task was simple and enabled me time to grieve and time to absorb the essence of life and my environment.

Hence much of my COVID 19 art is all about home.

written by Betty Schriver

Lake Art — Betty Schriver – Near the Wharf in Salmon Arm – framed 8 x 8″ framed acrylic on canvas board SOLD

Landscape Abstract — Betty Schriver – Art in the Shuswap – 24″ x 36″ acrylic on gallery wrap canvas NFS

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:

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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