A Virtual Art Walk

An Artful Heart is my virtual art walk this morning. This art treasury has some of my favorite Art Team members represented: Finding Fine Art Team, AWE Team (First Friday Art walk on Etsy) and Vast Team (Visual Arts Street Team). If you click the link above you'll find more details..

Local Art News:
I have a special place in my heart for small format art. When you love to paint and space is limited it's a great way to go...

Anyway, I heard about a Small Format Show at the San Clemente Art Gallery and it was fun. All the paintings are under 8" X 10" and are less than $300.00. The volunteers were warm and friendly and San Clemente is a great place to visit.

Original Painting California Landscape and Sky by JC Strong

The winds blow from the inland valley to the ocean. These “Santa Ana” winds can transform a sky. The colors at sunset looked lush and delicate at the same time. (The area is actually around San Clemente, California.)

Painting this work was a matter of problem solving. If I realy think about it, most of my work is a matter of pushing and pulling until the story is completed.

I wanted the colors in the sky to tell the story but I needed to anchor the painting. It seems to me placing the tree at the lower right-hand corner, plus the darker values in the landscape did the job. I painted the edges as you can see in the image below. See additional detail in my Etsy Shop.

Celebrating Grandmothers by JC Strong

Grandmothers and great-grandmothers are the special people in our lives. I curated "Cheers to All the Beautiful Grandmothers" this treasury is filled with art, jewelry, sculpture and accessories for the special and heroic women in our lives.

Storytelling in Art by JC Strong

I was thumbing through Kevin Macpherson's book, Landscape Painting Inside & Out and Chapter Seven asks "Why do you paint?" The answer for me is I have an artistic story to express. My visual adventures are rooted usually in my perception of nature.

I painted "Red Balloon," (8'x10")above in the studio after spending time at the park. The trees were reminiscent of old California but the person with the balloon brought it into 2011. I liked the idea of old and new together . . .

I painted "Sunset at Poche Beach" (4" x 6") in order to capture an abstract moment in a very small canvas. My hope is although these paintings are very different they both provide the viewer an entrance into a story they can complete.

Art, Recovery and Healing

I appreciate different styles, mediums, and subject matter in art. At times I’m drawn to the execution of the work and other times the emotion. Earlier today I posted the following regarding trauma survivors and art:

“I do want to applaud the survivors of crime and victimization. It always amazes me, what the human spirit can withstand and continue with a productive life way beyond a trauma. Perhaps that is the reason I enjoy arts and crafts it has that personal bright light. It has the spirit that makes the world spin.”

My general feeling regarding art is it has an ability to be a cathartic vehicle for healing. I appreciate survivors of catastrophic illness, drug addiction and abuse that channel their experiences. The emotions in the work are sometimes raw but authentic and they come out on the other side with the help of their artistic exploration. I’m not a doctor but if creating art helps a person heal, it's a good thing.

I’m not a member of the following web sites but they look interesting and explore art and recovery:
Survivors Art Foundation
Alcoholic Outsider Artist Blog
Healing Through Creativity
Sober Artists

Etsy News, Updates and New Treasuries:
JFoxStudio created Fine Art for A Friday treasury. This treasury has an eclectic mix of fine art.

Ruthsartwork created Mauve and Green Winter Cheer Up
It's a lovely mix of fashion, accessories, and art.

JewelrybyNala created Bring a Smile treasury. It has fun and interesting fashion accessories, jewelry, and art.

Art Treasury "Need Color in 2011?"

The beginning of the New Year is a great time to highlight artists. This gallery/treasury "Need Color in 2011?" has a variety of color, texture, and mediums.

I think many people feel original art or fine art photography is beyond their price range. Those special affordable art treasures are still available and the energy of original art is special. Every artist has a visual story to tell and I think these artists represented have a lot to say ...

California Seascape by JC Strong

Southern California has been experiencing heavy rains. The past week I was reminded nature is in full control at the San Clemente Beaches.

This day I felt I had a glimpse of an expressive and assertive ocean. The sun came out for a brief time but underneath the sea is full throttle activity . . .
You can see the churning in the ocean. I could see waves sand and dirt rolling around.

Landscapes and seascapes for me are a matter of taking cues from nature and editing down the scene. I usually paint in a small format but this scene needed a larger canvas (16" X 20"). See more photos and details.