Monthly Archives: March 2009

Turn off the Brain Chatter

“It is so much fun exploring each new small advance. Magic happens with a series. It’s wonderful to trust your inner instincts and turn off the brain chatter now and then.”

-Jean Bradley

: “Small Work Series # 70″

: “Small Work Series # 71″

: “Small Work Series # 72″

: “Small Work Series #73″

Did Jean Bradley really say; “turn off the brain chatter now and then” ? Brain chatter, what a wonderfully interesting way of describing the constant barrage of information that plays like a movie reel in my mind. Brain chatter. I think you know what I am talking about – it is that continuous stream of Continue reading →

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“How long did it take you to make that?”

“While adding the finishing touches to a painting might appear insignificant, it is much harder to do than one might suppose…”
– Claude Monet

"Independent Vision" 48" x 48" work on canvas

Alyson Stanfield asked a question last week on her ArtBiz Blog; “How long did it take you to make that?” Her question is one that has always been a difficult one for artists to answer, it is often a way for a potential buyer to gain satisfaction that they are getting value in the purchase they are about to make, as if time spent is more important than end result. To encourage artists to answer her question Ms. Stanfield has offered Continue reading →

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Deepen the Mystery…

“A painting requires a little mystery, some vagueness, some fantasy. When you always make your meaning perfectly plain you end up boring people.”
-Edgar Degas

I work with layers of paint – lots and lots of layers of paint, applying paper, canvas scraps, more paint, more paper, scraping, sanding, more paper, then more paint. This is how I work, building up layers of life on the surface quite often covering up the areas I am first drawn to in order to find a balance of the whole – nothing can become too important and then, everything becomes important. As the work progresses there is a history that starts to Continue reading →

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Painting is Hard Work

“One of the many blessings of being an artist is that you don’t have to wait for someone to hire you before you can work. That’s wealth beyond measure.”
-Eleanor Blair

"Deliberate Trust" 40" x 48" work on canvas

Painting is hard work, not a relaxing hobby was the headline in a short letter by Michael Smith (Dersingham, Norfolk)I found online this week published in the UK Telegraph. Mr Smith states; “Anyone who finds painting relaxing will never make a successful artist.” Relaxing, no I can not say that I have ever found painting to be Continue reading →

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all that information…

“There is no joy in a life that is all information. There is no ‘juice’ to that kind of life. No sweetness, no color. Like trading a beautiful golden-ripe orange
for a stalk of whithered broccoli.”
— Tish Grier

“A life that is all information…” – all information – information – information – I am plunking my self down into this wild and fast moving information age with the sudden realization that time is suddenly moving by much faster. I am absorbing as much as I can. Loving the new connections – the networking – the new friends found in cyber world. The links – the shows – the artists – the articles – the videos – I can’t breathe! How can I find the time for all of this important information? That’s it – today no computer – I will paint with lots of color – I will drink in the “juice”- I will breathe in the sweetness of textures, layers, paints, brushes, music, air and… Ok, maybe I will check my email a little later. I’m hooked – I hope I don’t start to look like “whithered broccoli…”

"Time Out to Breathe" 30" x 40"

New work on Canvas. Work is available.

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Unconsciously Creating

BRIAN ELSTON said… “Art is when you quit thinking about what you are creating and your ‘self’ leaves the room leaving your mind to unconsciously to create.”

I added my work to the MyArtSpace.com site about a month ago. While enjoying the artist quotes on the blog I came across the above comment quote by Brian Elston. It struck me that this is very much how I would describe my working methods. I am often asked do I have a plan? An idea that I start with? My answer often is in a nutshell, Starting a piece I add as much as I can to the surface, layers of collage, color, build, add, subtract, scratch, draw, erase, and then step back, and reduce. Reduce, remove and balance all that chaotic information into an acceptable order. It is an intuitive method that is sometimes difficult for me to put into words – Brian decribes it perfectly – the ‘self’ leaves the room allowing the mind to create. Thank you Brian!

"Mapping Out Bliss" 40" x 48"

MyArtspace.com is featuring my work this month.

This work is currently on consignment in Boston.

Networking and Creative Genius

Painting is just another way of keeping a diary. -Pablo Picasso

I have spent the weekend exploring facebook, twitter, many blogs and such. It is a fascinating world and I am excited to be jumping right in. Twitter is really fun – I was inspired by Michael Nobbs tweet on Twitter to visit this site posted by Jen Phillips to view a fantastic video about creative genius by Elizabeth Gilbert titled: A different way to think about creative genius. It is wonderfully inspiring. “Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses…” Take 20 minutes to enjoy it. Thank you Michael & Jen, and of course, Elizabeth! I have never actually met any of you but I am inspired and thrilled to be a part of this new network! Please join me…spread the word.

Deborah

www.deborahcolter.com

follow me on: Twitter

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"Small Work Series #1204"

Work on panel available from my website. 12″ x 12″