Crystal Rassi Fine Art Blog

The Trinity - triple time

2011-10-13T22:22:00.000-07:00

So, here they are. The Trinity. Finally. I was approached by Ebeneezer Baptist Church three years ago for this commission and I estimated a time frame of about three months to completion. Each piece is 36" x 60" and I didn't anticipate the amount of distractions I would have with family and another full time job. Perhaps those are just excuses.

This has to have been the most difficult commission I have done so far - trying to depict who I felt each part of the trinity was. There are so many metaphors and descriptions of each that compiling them all was overwhelming. So I meditated on the word and discerned for months over each one.

Jesus - our saviour. Breaks the shackles of our sin if we let him. We fear the unknown and think the shedding of our past will be painful and it just might be, but it will never get better until we line up for past to be forgiven and forgotten.

The Father - our father. When one imagines, God, we fear the greatness of his power and think about the almighty being who can smite us down in the blink of an eye. But rarely do we think of him as who he is - our father. Other parents will understand this painting perhaps greater than anyone. A true and loving parent is one who always forgives and lends a shoulder to cry on, and brings great comfort in any time. Our Father in Heaven is like this and we are comforted by him when we trust in Him completely.

The Holy Ghost - our guide. I could find no better depiction than the dove showing the right path. Some notice and follow, some only notice, but most will not even look.

Priorities, Sacrifice, and Art

2011-10-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

On August 12th, 2011, my little Samson was born. That makes, two boys and two adults in a 750 square foot house with two miniscule bedrooms and awkwardly set up main space in our 100 year old house. Both my husband and I are artists. I paint. He writes and plays music and we've run out of space in our house to do either.

To us, art is a necessity. Without it, we both get depressed and bored. Art is our TV. So we re-evaluated each space in our house to maximize the functionality of all 750 square feet. Lets start with the upstairs - our bedrooms. Since Samson was born, his bassinet was in our room and my first son, Levi has his own bedroom which he has always hated. Samson wakes up every three to four hours day and night which means my husband has bloodshot eyes at work so he began to sleep downstairs on the carpet. Levi began to sneak into our bed in the middle of the night confessing his fear of his room.

Next, the main floor, which consists of the covered porch, the living room, the dining room, and the kitchen. The kitchen is just way too much to take on as a reno at this point so I won't even discuss it. The dining table became a place for mail, electronics, empty fruit bowls, and Levi's random findings. And we despised the falling apart, cheaply made, uncomfortable dining chairs. The dining room also sufficed as my painting studio and our "office". This room was too cramped.

The living room is our favorite room. It is the most updated with the TV and lounge furniture. We keep it the cleanest so we can relax at the end of our day. But our couch was broken.

The entrance was our temporary storage facility, always holding the next renovation supplies or leftovers. It isn't heated so it doesn't serve well for much in the winter.

What we wanted was a proper place to paint or write, a play area for the boys, a bedroom big enough to fit both boys in so mom and dad could have their own room. So here's what we did:

We first got rid of the table and chairs and made the dining room into the boys play area. Then we bought a trendy futon and got rid of the old broken couch as well as our bed. We now sleep on the futon in the living room. Our bedroom became the boy's room and Levi's "scary" room is now my studio. The "office", which is really only a table and a laptop, is still in the same room as the play area, which may or may not move into the new studio. Where do we eat? Where we've always eaten. Around the living room table on pillows like tatami mats in Japan.

Our priorities shifted the way we use North American traditional spaces and quite frankly, we like it better.

Meaning of Art or Meaningful Art?

2011-10-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

Just recently I received an email from someone I have never met before. Sandra Fehr began to tell me of her story. Recently her family was in an accident and her son, Mark received severe brain damage. As a mother of two young sons myself, my eyes began to swell up already.

Backing up a little, a few years ago, a church we had attended requested a large painting commission from me. I was to paint the trinity as a triptic. I had a hard time narrowing down who I felt the Father was and who he might be to others and came up with a simple scene of a boy sleeping on the shoulder of the Father. You can't see the face of the Father, but He is illuminated, casting light on the boy.

Sandra attends this church. She told me that the first time she saw the painting after the accident, she found comfort, feeling that Mark was in the arms of Jesus and that he was being taken care of. To her and many others, the boy in the painting looked just like Mark so for Sandra, the painting gave her hope that her son would be okay. Mark is recovering slowly.

Is this the meaning of art or is it simply meaningful art. A little while ago Keith Bond wrote and article called "Advancing Art for Art's Sake" where he paraphrases another article by Rose Fredrick who states that fine art art should advance for art's sake. Fine Art should "further the movement and evolution of art; to leave a lasting impression on society". Furthermore, it should be "honest" and "advance society".

My painting of the Father may never reach "society" (to which I understand as, the world), and I have not developed a new style or new technique with this painting to which may advance society, but if a work of art can affect one person, is that enough? It's her world being affected. It has honestly and positively left and impression on her. What would art be if we as artists only painted for ourselves? Is this the meaning of art? Should we as artists always strive to paint meaningful art that affects others positively? How does society advance if not one person at time?

My views may be relative but Sandra's story inspired me to keep painting meaningful work, which is the meaning of art to me. What do you think?

Romantic Art and Adventure Auction

2011-08-25T17:33:00.000-07:00

Flatteringly, someone suggested to the Women`s Mid-Life Health Centre that they should contact me for an art donation. On Saturday, October 22, at the TCU place, a dinner and art auctions will be taking place to raise money for the health center in order to support, inform, and inspire women of Saskatchewan to continue to excel at being mothers, sisters, wives, professionals, and most of all - themselves.

This year, I donated the piece called `Retrieved`, seen in this post. The request for the piece was a little short notice so it will likely be actioned without a frame.

For your chance to purchase original works of art and get a fantastic meal, the event at TCU place starts at 5:30pm where there is first an art preview, then dinner at 6:30, and the auction to follow at 8:00pm. For tickets, please contact the Women`s Mid-Life Health Centre of Saskatchewan.

Parks Canada Adirondack Chairs

2011-07-21T21:46:00.000-07:00

The results are in and painting a wooden adirondack chair was more difficult than expected but a load of fun. I was the first in the week to get participants in a workshop. The event had been moved to a less public area which resulted in the first three days of no workshops. This meant artists had more time to spend painting their chairs which was a bonus. Since I was the first to conduct a workshop I had about half the time to spend on my chair which was less than stellar.

My workshop was called "Imagination Exploration" where I had my participants use their imaginations to create an idea about a theme based from the Parks Canada's Centennial anniversary. Based on their ideas, I created a painting (shown in the first picture). The whole workshop ended up being two hours long and half of that time was spent actually painting this canvas.

After that was complete, participants were invited to paint their own adirondack chair next to me. The results of my chair are not as finished as I'd like them to be, but for fours hours of work, I think it turned out okay. These will be displayed in Market Mall, Saskatoon, the Saskatoon EX., and touring most of the provincial parks in Saskatchewan. Overall, I'm happy to have been part of this event as it was something interesting I've never done before.

FREE ART WORKSHOP

2011-07-13T15:55:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. I'm excited to announce that I will be conducting a free workshop for the Parks Canada's Centennial Celebration at the Market Mall (across from the food court) in Saskatoon on July 21rst at 2:30pm. Ages range from 12 and up and there's only about 20 chairs available. It's based on a first come first serve basis so don't miss out!

My workshop is about utilizing our imaginations. In the past year since I started my new series of architectural works, the number one question posed to me is, "how did you come up with that?". Well, this workshop will give one of many techniques I use. This workshop focuses on your imagination and while the participants work together, I will be painting your imaginative subject right in front of you! One lucky person will be able to take home this painting at the end of the workshop. You can learn from it, paint over it, or add to it - it's for your imagination!.

So I hope to see as many of you out there as possible for some fun creation time.

Yellow - Good or Bad?

2011-07-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

Recently I read an article by Jack White that had nothing to do with the color yellow but briefly mentioned that yellow as a main color used in a painting was not a color that sells. So many of the comments on that article did not refere to the article itself but on the brief mention of yellow. Most comments did not support his research but I'm interested in hearing from you. The painting in this post is one I did in 2007 and sold in Cre8ery Gallery in Winnipeg not because of the color yellow, but because of the subject. This painting happens to be my best sellers in prints as well. People really don't seem to mind that a large part of the canvas is yellow. Is there a type of yellow that is more appealing than others? Does yellow bring cheer and gladness to a room? Or can yellow drive a person to insanity? What do you think?

The Battle

2011-07-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

Home maintenance can be overwhelming when we're so busy doing everything else. We battle keeping the weeds from taking over our lawns, keeping the grass from growing too long, eliminating unwanted pests, and creating spaces to relax, enjoy, and play. But even some overgrowth can be beautiful.

I started this painting over a year ago and put it away for a while thinking of it as a failure. When I brought it out again a month ago, a fresh look re-inspired me to keep going and I'm glad I did. I showed it for the first time at the Broadway Art Fest a few weeks ago and had really great responses to it. It's not my typical white background but sometimes and artist just needs to take a break from the everyday.

Shelterbelt

2011-07-02T12:46:00.000-07:00

Our protection and comfort often comes from familiarity. What we know keeps us sheltered from uncertainty and displacement. A typical shelterbelt is a linear row of trees that keeps harsh weather from creating damage to large open lands, highways, and even rural homes. The shelterbelt in this painting is a rural representation of what familiarities comfort and protect many prairie lifestyles.

High Five

2011-07-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

What would a typical farmyard look like from a bird's eye view? Many wouldn't think it would be very interesting but if you've ever been on an airplane or hot air balloon, your everyday places become new and interesting again. "Hive Five" is one of my latest acrylic on canvas paintings showing a clean and clear radial perspective of typical items on a farmyard.

Thanks for All The Fish

2011-07-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

This commission was the most fun commission to paint because it was created for my high school English teacher who everyone thought was the coolest teacher ever. She is a very down-to-Earth, jazzy sort of person, which made it easy to learn from her - in my opinion. She retired this year and so when my cousin, the janitor of the school, came to me with the commission, of course I said yes. The rest of the teachers got together and submitted some ideas for the painting, which were right up my ally. All three buildings are icons of my hometown. The red one is the water tower, the blue one is my high school (the library wing), and the purple one was the grain elevator - sadly demolished a few years ago. All three buildings caught "fish" so to speak. The town flourished beginning with the water tower and grain elevator creating enough population for the school. The school represents a school of fish - the school in which my English teacher taught for so many dedicated years gathering us fish to grow and learn together. So the name of the painting, "Thanks For All The Fish", is somewhat of a nostalgic representation of the town.

Interestingly, when the picture of the prototype (the left hand picture) was revealed for the potential candidate for the final painting, one of my elementary teachers liked it so much that she bought the prototype off of me too! That's never happened to me before....And I just got word that Margi Corbet, my high school English teacher, had tears in her eyes after opening her fairwell gift. That is the best compliment and artist can get. Thanks, Margi!

Ego Boost

2011-06-26T19:27:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like a busy street of cultural interest to spark conversations with total strangers and have it end with "you're my new favorite artist". After some major disappointment from the previous art fair with a mere sales of $3, a change of scenery and demographics was refreshing. This past weekend's Art Fest on Broadway didn't achieve a high quantity of sales (although a lot more that $3), but I loved seeing people intend on just walking by and then do a double take, stop, and actually come back for a closer look. The highest compliment I think any artist can get is for someone to comment on your uniqueness. I got that compliment in a very genuine manner twice. There were multiple comments like "that is so cool", and "Wow, how do you come up wit that!?", but these two were different. I have to say thanks:) It's really the type of energy that helps keep an artist going.

And I was on camera three times. Two of which I don't even know which station was videotaping but TVZ did an interview with me that can be seen here. They also interviewed Shannon Petrone but I can't find her online anywhere - too bad. I like her work....

I also think one of the reasons I had much more fun is that I learned not to go into a street fair with high intentions. I don't think these fairs make a large amount of profit for artists but it is wonderful exposure and a great experience for meeting new and interesting people (and potential prospects...).

Broadway Art Fest 2011

2011-06-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

This will be my first year participating in this event. Artist are paired up with a vendor on Broadway and display their works in front of the shop while onlookers browse unique art all the way down the street. If the weather holds out I will be doing a demonstration on the street in front of The Yard and Flagon. Coincidently I was paired up with this pub and eartery of whom I know the owners fairly well. Neither of us requested the other but it's just the way it worked out - cool. I'm really stoked.

Dissappointment Settles

2011-06-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

Well, art in the park didn't go as well as I'd hoped. Perhaps it my set up made people feel intimidated to actually come into the tent to take a closer look. Perhaps a table would have been just enough. Or perhaps, the festival wasn't advertised enough - or perhaps most just came for the food and a little stroll through the park to look at neat stuff. It's quite odd how well I did last year but totally bombed this year. Very disappointing and wonder if I should do it again next year....

On the upside, I got to meet some wonderful people around my neighborhood and the lovely girl who purchased "Popsicle" from the Children's Museum fundraiser. It's always exciting to meet buyers that didn't purchase though you.

Anyway, For anyone out there - if you've got tips on how to sell at art fairs - post away!

Art In The Park 2011

2011-06-01T14:49:00.000-07:00

For the second year in a row, I will be displaying and selling my artwork in Saskatoon's Caswell Hill community art festival. It's free admission for a day of art and craft browsing, music concerts, and even things for the little ones to enjoy - like puppets and painting. So June 12th - come out and support your local artists!
http://2011caswellartsfestival.wordpress.com/

Conservative Government and Art

2011-05-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

Since the newest election results, many artists across the country have voiced their concern over their fears that the arts will be cut in government funding once again. I have read over and over again the accusations that the conservative government doesn't appreciate culture, or that this the road to a lesser democracy comparing Harper to being a philistine. Apparently the $45 million cut a few years ago impacts the average artist making a mere $23,000 annually.

Here's my deduction. Harper is continually attempting to bring Canada out of a deep deficit initialized by it's former left wing parties. The cuts to the arts are in my understanding, to organizations that didn't generate much revenue for the country. Canada is still the only country in the world to have, by law, an artists minimum fee, paid to the artist by museums and public galleries just for showing their work. If the majority of Canadian's believed that Harper did not appreciate culture, then perhaps the recent election results would be different. I consider Canada to be a fair and extremely, culturally tolerant society. With that in mind, all cultures residing here voted toward a conservative government, showing their support for a culturally minded individual who happened to have had to make a choice in government funding cutbacks. This was a financial decision - not a cultural one.

As for the average artists income - are they blaming the government for that - really? Seriously, if those artists think their not making enough money perhaps it's time to pull up their pants, and re-evaluate their work and business practices.

And that's my opinion. Who knew I could be so politically opinionated?

Children's Discovery Museum Outcome

2011-05-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

Well I'm very pleased to announce that I did not have to pick up my paintings from the fundraiser - they both sold! Thank you to the Anonymous buyers for your support and interest in my work and I hope you enjoy these originals in your home:)

FUNDRAISER: Children's Discovery Museum

2011-05-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

I am proud to be a part of this year's fundraising event called "Dining for Discovery" at the Saskatoon Club on May 14, 2011. The two pieces of mine - seen above - from my archived collection will be a part of the silent auction. Proceeds go toward the Children's Discovery Museum in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: an not-for-profit organization for development in early childhood education. Since I have a 3 year old and another on the way, I feel the creative, intuitive, and cognitive development for children is a necessary part of their growth. Often in our community I want to take my children someplace fun that doesn't invlove just slides, jumping balls, and junk food, and the Children's Discovery Museum is just the place for safe and healthy fun. Currently, the CDM is showing initiative to open a new location downtown and needs your help.

So come out for your chance to support an important cause and purchase original works for lower than warehouse costs! For more information on ticket prices and how to purchase tickets - go here.

Hope to see you there!

Real Artists......

2011-04-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

Real artists paint in oils.
Real artists use film cameras.
Real artists don't photoshop.
Real artists use stone lithography.
Real artists use physical instruments - not digital beats.

Finding a trend here? Me too - This was the conversation I had with an art critic from Saskatoon, Sk. I had come across his article reviewing a local artist who painted in oils and he stated that "real artists paint in oils". Since I'm an acrylic artist, I found it hard to swallow that I wasn't a real artist so I contacted him to see why he made that opinion.

Turns out, he was taught in oils - a more traditional medium than acrylics I suppose but I think budding artists are taught to think a certain way. For example, I grew up in a small town where art was good if it looked exactly like the object you were copying. Art just wasn't art if it had a narrative or if it was abstract. So I practiced and practiced a realism method of drawing and painting, trying to get it just.....right.

When digital cameras came out I was used to SLR film cameras and felt that the digital camera was cheating. Now everybody could be a photographer. When a friend of mine went to college for digital art, I secretly thought "that's not real art". Quite frankly, I'm a bit like the critic I spoke of earlier. I cannot grasp digital art being a "real" art form. Why? because it's not how I was taught and it's not what I love. I cannot help but to favor my art form. But that cannot excuse me from accepting a new age of art mediums.

The new era of art encompasses processes that make new art that perhaps a traditional medium just couldn't do. Let's appreciate that. You don't have to like it, but we can still appreciate it. I have noticed that in a lot of "fine art" competitions (whatever that means), oils are still the most popular winners. I scroll through the competitors and see all kinds of works that to me, "stand out" more than the oil winner. Most of the oil paintings that win look quite the same....strong color, heavy brush strokes. Why is that?

I was once in an art competition where I placed second next to a figurative artist (I paint architecture). The judge was a figurative artist and when I asked what could make my art number one the next year, she simply said - maybe a new judge. She knows how to judge figurative art, not architecture so partially, her bias got in the way. could that be said for a lot of judges in these "fine art" competitions? Maybe, but I can't say forsure.

I will be so bold to say to art critics and adjudicators - step out of your mold and try to understand something different.

What do you think makes an artist a real artist?

Feel The Pressure

2011-04-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

Work harder! Learn marketing. Learn business concepts. Learn tax jargon for entrepreneurs. Create a detailed inventory list. And most of all - PAINT MORE - GET BETTER.

I had three days off last week to help myself "get better" but I didn't know where to start so I only got half a painting finished. Do you ever feel that everything you have to get done is so overwhelming that you wonder "will I enjoy this career if I have to do this all the time?". The more I learn about what I need to do to succeed as an artist, the more weary I get.

These fears and doubts are a part of starting your own business but guess what? There's help. Once you prioritize your tasks you can break those down even further (like setting those little goals I mentioned in "Dreams Come True"). I often have to remind myself of that. Even just writing the top paragraph gave me a list of topics to tackle.

For example, the statement "Learn marketing", is so broad and general that you need to ask yourself, "what about marketing do I need to learn?". I don't think a person who's never done marketing before could possibly answer that question, so why not ask some successful entrepreneurs you might know, or get a mentor, or buy a book, or sign up for some newsletters? Whatever you choose, it will take time and hard work. Even I have to remind myself of that. There's only as much pressure as you choose to put on yourself. So release the pressure by breaking down those high umbrella statements. This will help organize your schedule as to what you need to do first. I'm sure that once you're on schedule, your career will be enjoyable!

A good reference I've been using lately is a book by Chris Tyrell called "Artist Survival Skills", which is geared toward Canadian artists. I'd suggest finding a book like this to begin your studies as a successful entrepreneur in the art market. It covers main topics such as the ones listed in the beginning of this Blog post.
Happy Studying!

A Stable Artist

2011-04-02T19:31:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce the success of the group show at The Stall Gallery in February. The gallery has since decided to contract me as a stable artist for a year. Wezceria restaurant is the new owner of "Rural Keystone" and a private collector from Regina is now the proud owner of "Vulnerable Foundations". These two paintings happened to spark a lot of conversation which allows me to continue in the direction of this theme. Thank you everyone who came to the opening of the show and I hope to post more soon.

Dreams Come True II

2011-01-20T11:38:00.000-08:00

Last October, I wrote a post called "Dreams Come True" which gave some examples of how to put your dreams into practice. My overall dream was to become a stable artist for a local gallery. Now that 2010 has passed, my dream for that year was not accomplished. I did not become a stable artist for any gallery. You could say that my dream did not come true. So should I give up? Not a chance. Because of all that was accomplished in 2010, I have been communicating with one local gallery with whom wished to put me in a group show before accepting a longer contract. As of yesturday, I am officially in one of their group shows!

Without having a clear long term goal(dream) in mind, I could not have broken that down into achievable smaller goals which at times took longer to accomplish than originally thought. And that's okay. Gallerists and collectors won't know who your are until you have those small goals complete and then do the out-of-comfort-zone work to contact them. YOU have to do the work.

In the end, I may not become a stable artist for this gallery, but atleast I can feel confident that one gallery likes my work enough to be put into a show. If that gallery likes my work, then maybe another one will too, and a third one, or a fourth one. I don't think I'll give up on this dream. I'll only keep making enough small goals until I get there.

This post may be geared toward art but is totally relevant for many of your personal dreams!

Vulnerable Foundation

2011-01-15T16:01:00.000-08:00

Here's my latest and greatest painting! My husbands favorite. He even asked me not to sell it. But alas, it's in a group art show at The Stall Gallery in Saskatoon, SK. right now.

I'm not going to tell you what this painting is about but rather, I'd like you to reflect on what you think it's about. The reason I say this is because at times, the Lord takes over my mind and hand, and beautiful creation is made. When it's finished I need to ask the Lord, "Why?". Not so much "why do you use me as your amazing tool", but rather "why did make the hay bails so colorful?", or "why did you put a green house on top?", and definately "what are you trying to say?". So I understand that it's not what I am trying to say but rather what the Lord is saying through me.

So I ask you again, what does this painting say to you?

Live Painting

2011-01-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

On Dec 11th, 2010 I completed my first Live Painting for Superior Cabinet's Christmas party at the Delta Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon, Sk. The picture on the left is the finished result after two hours of on site painting. The picture on the right is the scene that I sat in front of during the party for the painting. Acrylics are ideal for this type of painting because they dry fast and the painting was ready to give away for a door prize at the end of the night. This was a very fun and invigorating experience. I especially liked it when people would come to see if they were in the picture or figure out who was. The painting has now become a historical aspect to Superior Cabinets and the Bessborough Hotel.

PAUSE

2010-12-29T10:51:00.000-08:00

Well, sad but exciting to say that I will not be producing as much art this year as in the last. I am excited to say that I am pregnant with my second child and due to the feelings of exhaustion and nausea, I cannot produce as much as I'd like. From time to time I will post so stay tuned.

Rural Keystone

2010-12-01T13:23:00.000-08:00

Here's my lastest - hope you all like.

Original vs Print - What's the Big Deal Anyway?

2010-11-23T05:28:00.000-08:00

Do prints lower the value of the original? This has been debated for hundreds of years. I am about to give you my opinion.

If a collector who buys your original, sees prints of your work available at Walmart, he/she may likely think "I bought an artwork from a mediocre artist". Now let's say the print that the collector saw was in a gallery, he/she might think, "Well, atleast the artist is still prestegious with limited edition prints, but I still don't have the one of a kind like I thought I had".

I'm about to tell you - who the heck cares how many or where prints are being sold? The original will always be one-of-a-kind. There will NEVER be another original like it because IT'S the original! The Mona Lisa did not become devalued because there are millions of prints of her floating around the world - Nor did, Matisse, VanGohe, Pollock, etc.

That being said, I would sure hope that one does not have to pass away in order to ensure your original works don't become devalued because of prints.

Wether or not you make prints of your work, use your best judgement for your best interest. If you're an emerging artist like me, you might have to make prints to sell at art fairs for publicity. After all, it's not often some passerby will purchase a thousand dollar painting on the spot. Perhaps there are some of your works you'd like to make limited addition prints and others you think should stay as just the original. Make art for you, but most of all, MAKE ART.

The Plein Air Twist

2010-11-12T22:18:00.000-08:00

I'm taking on a new venture in the world of live painting. For so long, painters have created "plein air" paintings which is a French word meaning "outdoor". So it a plain air paitning has been created live in an outdoor setting.

This December I am am also entering the realm of live painting, except - indoors! So although it's still live, and not in a studio, I still can't technically call it "Plain Air" painting because it would not have been created outdoors (unless it's an outdoor event).

Companies and individuals will now have the opportunity to hire me to paint live at their event. What they do with the painting is entirely up to them. It could be a gift, a door prize, a raffle, you name it! This isn't an entirely new idea but for Saskatoon, SK. it's like finding gold.....well - maybe bronze.

So what should I call this "new" type of painting? Since "Plain Air"means "outdoor", I researched some translations of "indoor". So far I like the Italian translation "dell'interno". I also like the Portuguese translation of "on site", which is "no local".

What do you think this live painting should be called?

"Ducks in a Row"

2010-11-12T21:44:00.000-08:00

If you've ever heard the saying, "get your ducks in a row", then you'll know what this painting is all about. For those of you who don't know what this saying means - I'll tell you.

First I must explain the "Silo Series",my latest series in which this painting is a part of. The business term, "the silo effect", means that each silo (a metephor for department) in a company contains information. If each department withholds information from another, then the company will fail.

"Getting your ducks in a row" is another term often used in business**. When someone, or a team, or a company needs to acheive a goal, each person and each activity needs to be aligned with one another in order for the goal to be acheived with success. For example, in a team, if one person does not agree with the goal, the goal will not be acheived. The red silo in the painting exemplifies a duck (person or activity), that is failing to communicate or is in opposition with the rest. This term however, should not be confused with assimilation.

**The exact origin of the term is debateable. Here is a link with a few theories:
ducks in a row

Forget Me Not

2010-10-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest in my architectural series. It's an ancient silo crumbling in the midst of a feild of Forget-Me-Not flowers. It personifies what I think is a universal thought. As we age we go through many experiences that shape who we are and we pray that we are not forgotten during any point during our lives or thereafter.

Retrieved

2010-10-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

This is my latest work painted specifically for the Lung Association of Saskatchewan's 100th Year Anniversary Painting Contest. Therefore, it's not a part of my current series and will likely be added to my archives. Here's what it's about:

Many people think of community and family as a unit who is there for each other in times of need and celebration and sometimes this unit does this quite well. However, when tuberculosis enters the equation, the community does its best to help but usually from afar. This could be to protect their own heath as well as the health of their families and to stop the spread of the disease. However, it is extremely difficult to recover without outside aide.

The very select few will actually get their hands “dirty” and risk their own safety to help another. In this painting called “Retrieved”, the water symbolizes the disease and those drowning in the disease cannot rise out of it without a solid grasp from another. This “solid grasp” could be regular visits to the infected making sure all medications are taken or that meals are prepared, but regardless of how we interpret what a solid grasp entails, just getting our feet wet isn’t enough to fulfill the necessary need for assistance.

Introverts or Extroverts?

2010-10-13T14:44:00.000-07:00

I had an unfortunate conversation with my husband the other night. As I have been concentrating my efforts in painting as much as possible lately, I have neglected to nurture our relationship by excluding him in my world without realizing it. Have you ever unintentionally (or perhaps intentionally) done this? Or have you ever been the recipient of this behavior?

Artists generally work independently and when we are in the flow of generating an idea, our surroundings melt away and all that's left is us and our materials. Interruptions and distractions can lead us into despair if we can't get out our ideas. This faculty of the creative experience I call "input" which is really introverted. This can be detrimental to our relationships with our families and friends if we're not balancing our work with our life.

We are also, in a way, extroverts as well. Artists use art to communicate, so even if we're not saying a word our art shows the world what we're thinking (the finished product is the output). But since not all people can, or like to, communicate with output, we need to nurture our relationships in other creative ways. It's not always about us. We need to be open-minded enough to relate to others in ways we're not familiar with. So what would happen if we tried including others around us with the input? Would it hinder our ability to express our ideas in any way? I don't know - I haven't tried it yet but...I think feedback, discussions, and experiences all strengthen our creativity and by including others in our world, this may help sharpen our swords.

1 Corinthians 12:12 says "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." Letting ourselves get wrapped up in our own world separates the unit. Husband and wife become two when they were married as one.

This blog started out quite introverted. I shared my new works and gave you tidbits about what I was up to but now, it has become quite extroverted. My experiences and conversations with others has allowed me to talk about what a lot of artists (and perhaps non artists as well) go through.
Welcome to my world.

Don't Forget the Galleries 2

2010-10-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

Working with galleries has been a hot topic for me right now and it seems almost every new post I read is about some information (very useful and insightful), on good and bad business with galleries. A comment on "Don't Forget the Galleries" from my last post inspired me to write this one.

How well do we know gallery owners' backgrounds? How well do we know their business stats or marketing strategies and if we do know that information, does it coincide with our interests? If a gallery owner is an artist how would you view that gallery owner? On one hand, the artist may have started the business to promote his/her own work because he/she found it difficult to get into other galleries. In that case, perhaps the artist doesn't have much of a business or marketing background and wouldn't or perhaps couldn't have your interests in mind.

On the other hand, perhaps the artist knows how difficult it is for emerging artist to make a living and wants to provide a place for other artists to have their "first shot" in a gallery. Perhaps they did their research on how to run a successful gallery and does have your best interests in mind. Perhaps they have a business education background and are also artists.....

But, if the gallery owner is strictly a business owner who happens to love art, is this person more likely to have a better sales rate because they know how to market better? Do they know how to close a sale better? Will this benefit artists more? I don't know.

What I do know is that we as artists should do our research. Perhaps a gallery is interested in your work - ask them questions. Get a hold of some of the other artists in the gallery and ask them questions. ASK QUESTIONS. I'm certainly no expert - this blog is based on my own personal experiences and research, so you can take this at face value if you like.

Don't Forget the Galleries

2010-10-06T09:24:00.000-07:00

As I sit here listening to Iceberg Radio and reading the daily newsletter from FineArtNews.com, I am continually reminded of our ever changing electronic world. I read more and more about galleries closing down, SEO marketing, email newsletters, Flicker, Esty and more online marketing strategies. So what is happening with the galleries?

As I work on attempting to become a professional artist, I developed a blog and website, which I maintain myself, but now it feels like the world is also asking me to sell it all too. With our economic downfall of 2007/2008, and our growing electronic age, many esteemed galleries are closing their doors and more and more artists are using online stores for marketing and selling their work. Our first impressions and knowledge base are coming from online research. But SO WHAT?! Galleries can do that too - I need time to paint!

Gallery owners are the people artists need to help sell our art and allow us to concentrate on progression in our work. Galleries are a place to have shows, socialize, and connect in real time. Galleries know the value of your work and know where and who to market it to specifically. Galleries are a place to gain the true ambiance of a piece of work that you could never get from a website. There's size, texture, and color variances that you would not be able to capture online. I have gone to gallery websites and viewed the art on display there, and then made a trip to see those pieces in person. Some that I initially loved, I loved more or else ended up disliking. Some that I disliked online initially I gained an appreciation for when visiting the gallery. If we don't support galleries, then we have to do it all.

So please, let's not forget the galleries.

Here's two of my favorite galleries in my hometown.
The Stall Gallery
Rouge Gallery

Art as Communication

2010-09-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

Well, we're on our third week (out of six) of sketch night at Pleasant Hill Mennonite Church and it's going pretty well. I must say I was so proud of my students at the end of the first class that I thought - wow, I must be a good teacher OR the class is too easy.

On the second week(second class), I was a little disappointed. It seemed like I couldn't verbalize my point as well as the first week and so we spent too much time in study mode and not enough time in practice mode. So I thought - wow, I suck as a teacher OR the class is too hard.

You know what they say, "practice what you preach..." but I say it's just as challenging and invigorating to preach what you practice. I learn more about what I do, every time I teach something...about what I do. It's all fine and dandy in you're head but getting it out for others to understand is another story.

And isn't that what we as artists do anyway? Teach? Really, I believe that art is a communication tool and if others can't understand the artwork, then has the artist failed to communicate his or her statement or story?

A man once went to jail because he was being tried for murder and he wouldn't look at the prosecuter. The jury deemed him guilty because he wouldn't look up. In his culture, not looking your elders in the eye is a sign of respect but not all cultures view the same symbols in the same way. I feel that if we want viewers to understand our message we need to be aware of these differences.

So what do you have to teach?

Dreams Come True

2010-09-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

If you're a dreamer like me it sometimes feels like you might dream too big and that you never have enough time or money to make you're dreams come true. Well, that may be true if you're doing too much dreaming and not enough doing.

I have had many dreams, one of which was to be represented by atleast one gallery this year. I'm not entirely sure that will come true (but there's still time...). Meanwhile, I've been practicing little by little, the art of doing. I make two goals a day: a "must do" and a "want to do" goal everyday. The "must do" goal is a household chore while the "want to do" goal is to paint for an hour, or work on my website, or blog....it's been working. I may not have the shed I want, the fence I want, the studio I want BUT I created enough pieces to enter a juried art show, I made enough reproductions of older works to sell at an art fair (and did well), I made my website, I've been keeping up with my blog, and because of all of this I have boosted enough confidence in myself to know that I can do it! All that other "stuff" is just stuff that will come over time as I keep "doing".

So now that I had that confidence, I decided to create a proposal for a one night sketch night at my church. Two days after I handed in the proposal I was asked to consider offering 6 week course as part of their "Family Night"! So I did it. It has been one of my dreams to one day teach art! And now look - I AM! My first class was yesturday and it went well. The students seemed to be impressed with the intricacy of my explanations of art elements that I introduced and eyebrows raised as I connected it with a Bible lesson.

So, to make your dreams come true - just do!

Pleasant Hill Mennonite Sketch Night

2010-08-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

I have the opportunity to conduct a wonderful 6 week beginners drawing course at the Pleasant Hill Mennonite Church.This class integrates the Word of the Lord with practical techniques for budding artists. Participants will learn to view the Lord's creations in a totally new way and and confidently leave with new skills.

This class is free and has limited space so sign up now at my website or email me at crystalrassi@gmail.com. The class runs every Tuesday evening from 7:00pm - 8:30pm beginning September 14th, 2010. Once you've let me know you would like to attend, I will contact you with a schedule and list of materials required.

Thanks for your support and interest - I hope to see you there!

BoldBrush Art Competition

2010-08-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

I have entered this world renowned art competition and would love your support. Please select "Like" by my paintings shown in these links:

"Tall is the New Wide"
"At the Ranch"

Thanks a bunch!

Purposeful Procrastination

2010-08-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

As I write I am procrastinating waking my son up for daycare so I can diligently get to work on time but instead I chose to write this article based on Clint Watson's article in Fine Art Views Newsletter called "Why Great Artists Should Procrastinate". I think I agree with the title of the article but also think we need to procrastinate purposefully. We still need to get all of our chores done and wake up our children, and go to work or school and get the dishes done. It is a choice to paint that idea you have in your head before you do all of those things but is it purposeful? or do you just not want to lose the idea?

This happens all the time. We get inspired and if the idea doesn't get on canvass we tend to lose the idea or it pitters to nothing as we finish all the day to day activities. I say that's good. Who wants to paint something that can be easily forgotten? If you forgot about it, likely your viewers will look at it, like it, but a month later, the picture melds into their minds along with all the other pictures they've seen that month.

To paint something memorable, I theorize that we must procrastinate from painting our ideas right away. If the idea sticks when your done your chores or finished another paintning, or get caught up on your accounting, etc., and it's as clear as the first moment it came to your mind, then that piece will be good if not great. If the idea kind of pitters off or you think about 3 or 4 other ideas equally as good, or you just sort of forget about it because some other idea was more striking, then obviously, the first idea may not be a masterpiece that sells as fast as you'd like.

I could have written this article after work, or at lunch but didn't. This is not purposeful procrastination and will not likely make a mark on my gravestone.

Over and out.

Restoration and Repair Pays Off

2010-08-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

In my last Blog I mentioned I had damaged a painting that a customer was potentially interested in. She said that if I ever fix it to contact her....So how do I go about fixing tears in my canvass? I contacted my conservator friend who mentioned two ways of fixing the problem but both were terribly expensive if done by a conservator and there was no conservator in my area. I honestly thought about repainting it but was so discouraged because it took so much effort and time and when you're in the moment of creation in the original, your inspired. I knew if I would repaint it, the excitement of the idea would be lost because it's not new anymore.

Other artists I talked to, including my husband suggested incorporating the tears as a part of the painting, make it bigger, like a window or another dimension to the painting. I could have done that too but being true to my style, doing that was just not me. So I took option two - the patch - and fixed it myself. A conservator would probably have used different adhesives and techniques but I had to use the best that was available to my knowledge.

Well, it paid off because the customer viewed the newly fixed painting and purchased it (with of course a discount)! I was absolutely honored and thrilled. So if this ever happens to you, patching the back is an inexpensive and effective way of repairing your painting.

Art In The Park

2010-06-28T15:52:00.000-07:00

Well, this is the first year that I was "prepared" for this event. I had all my prints and art cards priced and readily available for purchase but I think I could have been a little more successful with the display. My aluminum easel was knocked down by the wind causing two major tears in "Tall is the New Wide". This is a major downfall considering I was supposed to enter this piece in the OSAC Saskatchewan tour and I had offers on the painting from this event but couldn't sell a damaged painting.

I got some advice from a good friend of mine in art conservation and my assumptions on repairing the work were confirmed. It's an intricate and pricey procedure. I think I'd be better off repainting the piece - boo.

That aside, I had a ton of great feedback but not as many buyers. What could I expect from an event like this? There were a lot of talented artists and craftmakers that the choices of things to purchase were nearly endless - plus, events like these are sometimes just a place to go to hang out with friends and family and enjoy the atmosphere, music, food, and art. So although all of us artists wish we would have made more money, the feedback and interaction from spectators was wonderful. One lady from Molly Maid (I think the owner) bought an art card of "Tall is the New Wide" because they clean buildings for a living and their company colors are mainly pink! I'm thrilled when someone can relate their business with a piece of art.

My most memorable moment in the event was meeting the MP of Saskatoon for whom I voted for - Kelly Block. Not only that - but she wanted to take a picture with me! How's that for PR?! It's really quite flattering. Her and her husband a really quite cool and easy to talk to.

So, a great turnout for Saskatoon at this event and hope that next year will be as good.

The Value of Artists

2010-06-25T23:44:00.000-07:00

During the adjudication last week, the critic and I were having small chat about becoming a professional artist. Her advice was that (and I'm paraphrasing) as an emerging artist, don't underestimate the value of our profession. Yes, it's a profession. Arguably, not everyone can or will make art. And not everyone will be a plumber or a lawyer. If everyone were a plumber, then who would be the artist, or the electrician, or the hairdressor? We all have our place in society and artists are as important as the rest of all professionals. So don't sell your art too cheaply, or take commissions that you hate just because it may give you publicity - perhaps the wrong publicity, don't give away your art at fundraisers, sell it to the company first, or demand a miniumum bid.....there are so many ways to increase our value in our personal lives but how can society realize that without art, their homes would be empty boxes that don't relfect who they are or that spaces would feel empty and uncomfortable? Maybe it just takes the blogger to write it...
Or the artist to paint it..
Or Albert Einstein to say it - "Creativity is more important than knowledge"....
well..so long and happy creating.

Adjudication Show

2010-06-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

If you've ever entered any kind of competition then you know how exhilirating it can be. Every day of the Gordon Snellgrove Art Adjudication that happened this weekend that I was in, I woke up at four or five in the morning with my brain wondering so much I couldn't fall back asleep.

Walking into the gallery for the first time on the critique day I saw my paintings up on the wall, side by side, for the first time. My "studio" is my home and my home is tiny with limited wall space so I only get to see my art stacked together leaning against the available wall at the time.

When we as a group walked through each artist's work, the worry began to sink in. - Oh, they could win....or they could win....and then my work was evaluated and I got to hear the words "wonky-in a good way", "Unique","cool", "humorous"...and that's just what I was going for so I guess I did my job. However, I did not win first place in the competition, I tied for second place because the adjudicator couldn't decide who's was better. I'm glad to have tied second with whom I did. She was fun and uplifting although her subject matter in her painting was little more serious. She was very confident in herself which showed through in her art and I am honered to share second place with such a person.

After the one on one critque this morning I didn't get much more information I didn't already know. The lack of strength in "Red Rover" was a major downfall in the collection, which I agree totally. However, when I asked what steps to take to go from ameature to professional, I was given really great tips. She also confidently advised that once I have more of a body of this work, to approach galleries. It was great to hear her say that my work would sell in galleries. That was the confidence I needed to keep going with this series.

If you're an emerging artist like me and want to take some steps to become professional - start with an adjudication show. The critiques are eyeopening and extremely helpful.

The first image in this post is the first place winner, Humboldt Magnussen, then the other second place winner, Vijay Kachry, and then me - another second place winner.

Pneumantic

2010-06-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

This is the fifth of my "Archscape" series. It is a bit different in style from the others but for good reason. The subject is about the idea of pneumatic architecture. Pneumatic architecture is really the same as an inflatable structures ranging from simple balloons, to tires, to airships. This type of architecture has also evloved to include air pressurized construction techniques to encase stadiums and exhibition pavillions.

I feel as though this type of architecture is deemed as fantastical and is romanticised about, like one of William Turner's landscapes. Thus, the style of this painting is similar to something from the romantic period and hence the name of the piece "Pneumantic" rather than pneumatic.

ART IN THE PARK!

2010-05-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

Here's an art fair you should all come to if you can. On Sunday, June 27th, the 9th annual Art Exhibition in the Caswell Hill community (where I live) is presenting "Art in the Park". I only found out this exhibition existed when I moved to the community. We were lucky enough to have this event held in the Old Anglican Church grounds outside of our front door two years in a row. This year, it's going "Back to it's Roots" as it has been themed because it's usually held in Ashworth Holmes Park in the Casewell Hill community in Saskatoon.

I will be displaying a few original peices and selling tons of prints, giclees, postcards, and notecards of my work. Some are framed and others are not - but all are affordable. Join me and pick up your FREE INTERACTIVE BUSINESS CARD! I am cutting up a painting to use as my business cards. Yes, I am cutting up an original painting! On the back of these cards is an assigned number verifying the location of your piece in the painting! The only way to know what the painting looks like is to go to my website at the time you receive your card.

So join me and have some fun with Art in the Park!

Gorden Snellgrove Adjudication Show

2010-05-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

If any of you are wondering what "adjudication" means, it's basically an event that is juried or judged.

On June 18/19 I will be in USCAD's annual public adjudication show at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery on campus at the University of Saskatchewan. This show could win me the opportunity to have my art tour Saskatchewan for 2 years.

I am still unsure of whether or not it's open to the public. Details have been rather vague and not widely publicized even though it's a public exhibition.....

Anyway, I'll update this post when I know more.

Tall Is The New Wide

2010-04-28T21:38:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I said I would show the result of putting away other paintings that were not working out. Here it is. This piece reflects the so called footprint that we have put on the Earth. As a Saskatchewan resident, we have had such vast spaces open to us and yet we're still seeing the shrinking lots sizes of our residential developments. We're needing to build up rather than out which is not to say is a bad thing but rather just a reflection of our growth.

Older Works

2010-04-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

I felt it necessary to reintroduce older works to show the progression of styles throughout my painting career. Most of the portraits or paintings with figures in them were commissions and not necessarily works that reflect who I am or subjects I like painting. I grew up in a small prarie town where the idea of a "good painting" was a photorealistic scene. So for over a decade I practiced this style but learned though university courses that there was so much more to art than making "copies" of what already exists.

So in 2007 I developed my first blog which I used as a website - (not the best choice I've made but it did give me a bit of publicity). The site is www.genuineart.blogspot.com. Perhaps I'll revise this page for a cleaner look but for now, a peek into the past this way will be enough. I'm cringing slightly, only because my new stuff is so different and maybe you'll wonder why I changed subjects, why I didn't go with abstracts? why didn't I continue with portraits? Whatever questions or conversations you might have, feel free to leave a comment....

The Do-overs

2010-04-08T09:41:00.001-07:00

Since I seriously started thinking about becoming a working artist, I constantly asked myself, how do I develop a style? I chatted with other artists, friends, family, and read blogs and other articles relating to this subject. The consensus I got was to just paint - a lot.

On the other hand, collectors and galleries want to see a consistant, full body of work that's not all over the place. Since I started this blog and dedicated myself to developing my first consistant body of work, I have been sidetracked twice with paintings that I thought would fit but didn't. I set them aside, unfinished, and felt a twinge of shame for doing so because a few people said "but isn't that the process?".

Then I read an article in the Fine Art Views daily newsletter that I receive called "The Wiper" by a frequent writer, Keith Bond. In it he decribed one artist he admired that completely wiped clean his palette or canvass if he didn't feel it was worth continuing or up to his personal standard. I started to not feel so bad anymore. I think this can also be part of the process. I think it's easier to erase your mistakes and start fresh, than to keep working on them. Some may disagree and say that those "mistakes" can become our acheivements and maybe so, but it's up to the artist to determine that in the end before he/she publishes their work for sale.

I don't think those unsuccessful paintings were a waste of time either because I did learn what does and doesn't work for me in terms of preferences in technique and style. If I don't enjoy the process, the painting won't turn out the way I think is successful. I also learned to funnel my subject matter more accurately. In the end, after those two unnsuccesful, unfinished paintings, I am in process of another that I absolutely love and adore and hope to share with you in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for postings of the ones that will get wiped, and the one that won't!

Red Rover

2010-03-22T21:17:00.000-07:00

Over the past two and a half weeks I've been working on two paintings. One was a failed attempt which I'll go back to and the other is "Red Rover", the picture you see in this post. It was more difficult than anticipated getting this finished due to illiness in the household. One of us had something or other to tend to which stiffled creative outlets.

Well, if you've ever built a house, are building a house, or have dreamed of building a house of your own, you'll know how challenging it is to let your dreams become reality. "Red Rover" is about the challenges we face when we want to create something different in our homes. Once hurdled over the financial aspects of your dream, the new development regulations pull you back into the mainstream of residential living. A good example of this is demonstrated in the documentary called "Garbage Warrior". This architect dreamed of green design and green living but due to confines of building regulations, faced the penalty of losing his architectural liscense. It's as if you run as fast as you can to get through the line of clenched hands but they are gripped tighter than the strength you have to get through.

Anyway, I hope you like this one....

REVIEW

2010-03-07T19:52:00.000-08:00

Now that I've got my first 2 paintings on the web, I'm seriously thinking of reworking them. Of course, they look much better in reality. I'll need to take better photos in the future. So what do you think so far? Critiques anyone?

Modern Architecture I

2010-03-07T19:33:00.000-08:00

Here's the second of this series of architectural representations. The "bowl" shapes are the legislation building from the capitol of Brazil - Brasilia. The whole city was planned from beginning to end where most cities begin as small towns and morph into a future city. Therefore, city planning is usually an afterthought, with "developments" here and there.

I was going to call this Öscars Dream" because Oscar Nïemeyer was the cheif architect who worked closely with urban planner, Lúcio Costa. The mission was to have this new city to be a city with no poor and was arguably, intentionally successful. During construction, the tradespeople needed a place to live and built small shacks just outside of city limits. When the city was finished, the living expenses were so high, only the rich were able to live there. The satellite cities became a place where the less fortunate had to live and thus, Brasilia became a city with no poor.

This painting represents the unfortunate push of the poor out of the city.

Overcast

2010-03-07T19:18:00.000-08:00

This painting represents an actual site in Winnipeg, MB where the tall building faces a major traffic artery and shadows the residential architecture behind it. Was this an unthoughtful sense of urban planning or does it serve as a sound barrier for the residences? You decide.

The Painting Challenge

2010-03-07T06:54:00.000-08:00

I have a goal. It is to be represented by atleast one gallery by the end of this year. This means that I need a significant body of paintings in the same style of the same subject. Well, as a mom of a two year old boy, a wife, and a full time drafting manager, it's definately a challenge to finish the dishes, let alone a painting, in a house the size of a shoe with no other form of studio space.

So what does art marketing tell me? Write a blog. Create a website. Connect. So here I am. This blog will share my progress this year with the whole world. My style, my techniques, my thoughts. I feel certainly exposed for the first time, awaiting critical input from you.

I will post two new paintings later this week. Stay tuned!