intuitive – heatherdawnfineart

Letting Go with Joy, Love & Peace.

It is said that an artist is their own worse critic…well I certainly have been. I know it is a good thing to take pride in my work and always push the boundaries in order to achieve the level of painting that I want to achieve; not comparing myself but to be better than I was yesterday. So with that in mind I have realized that while I am painting and pushing my boundaries, I am developing; but in the process I am also advancing which can be somewhat crippling at times because I then am dissatisfied with a painting not long after it is finished. I have an idea, an image in my head that I want to attain…therefore I often don’t appreciate the beauty of a piece that I just painted.

I have been going through my studio getting organized for new clients and new work. In the process I came across some older paintings that I did on watercolor paper. I have a new appreciation for them; absence makes the heart grow fonder. 🙂

It reminds me of when I go to my sister, Charlene`s, home. She has collected many pieces of my work: a handmade, lidded ceramic box with intricate carving and a soft moss green, sugary glaze, little leaf print dishes with tiny coiled feet, an ornately carved tile piece, and (among other works) paintings which I made so many years ago. When I see them I can`t help but gaze a little longer at them and wonder why did I not appreciate these before? I am thankful that she has kept them safe. It is like old friends that someone has taken care of for my return visit.

These flower paintings do have a charm of their own and I can see that they can be loved and appreciated by someone as much as I have come to love them. If my work brings joy to one person it will have been worth it.

I can imagine them all being framed and hung as a group on one large wall or even in some small, precious, sitting nook to be enjoyed while relaxing for the day. I can imagine that they will be quietly speaking peace to the home where they will live.

Well today I have decided that in order for this “river” to flow I will let these paintings fly away to rest in whichever home they are meant for.

I am letting go with love, joy and peace …sending these out to their new families. My hope is that once they have been framed and placed in their perfect nest, that the owner would take a photograph of themselves with the painting (or just the painting if you wish) and allow me to have a digital copy for my portfolio. It would be such a good memory for me.

Each one, no matter the size, is CAD $60.00 each (plus shipping).

Thank you for your kindness in liking and sharing this post around the world.
Hugs to all.
I am including larger, individual images with the size and description underneath each one….keep scrolling. 🙂

flowers

group

large flower watercolour
giant poppies

Ink and Watercolor on YUPO – 26 inches x 16.5 inches.

big pink poppy

Big Pink Poppy – Watercolor on Paper. 16 x 20 inches.

iris

Irises – Watercolor of paper. 11 x 15 inches.

Flowers

Red Poppies – Watercolor of paper. 11 x 15 inches

pink poppies

Pink Poppies Watercolor on Canson Painting Board 16 x 20 inches.
red poppy

Poppy – Watercolor on paper. 11 x 15 inches.

red_100826

Red Poppy- Watercolor on paper. 11 x 15

red and orange poppies

Orange and Red Poppies – Watercolor on paper. 11 x 15 inches
tulips

Tulips – Watercolor on Canson Paint Board. 16 x 20 inches

red poppies blowing

Poppies in the Breeze. – Watercolor on paper. 11 x 15 inches

still life

Blue Vase. Acrylic on Windsor Newton 140 Lb paper. 22 x 30 inches.

wht fl

Love, Joy Peace- Watercolor on Windsor Newton 140 Lb- 7 x 10 inches.

Red Blouse

Impressionist Painter.

My latest portrait is titled Red Blouse. What I so love about this painting is that the red from the blouse has reflected onto my model (Cheryl) not only under her chin, but also the lower lip, the nose and eyes. This was so appealing to me and I am very happy with the results.

20160224_204153cropped final

I am including two progress images.

Until next time, thank you for stopping by, please feel free to share this post.

latter stage

mi-stage

Paintings in Photography – Inspired by Gustav Klimt.

Impressionist Painter.

Here are the results of my paintings that were inspired by Gustav Klimt. This is an awesome and very involved project. I feel as though there is a whole world that lies underneath this inspiration and my finished product cannot keep up with all of my ideas. Once I get a refined flow happening, I’m sure that even though it will still be very involved, I will be able to reach the finish line much quicker (hoping so anyway.)

In the last months I have been fine tuning my portrait studio with some painting and organizing, meeting with clients and models, learning new work flow techniques, tending to my dad who has been quite ill and just regular everyday life. Speaking of a busy life did I mention I am going to be a grandma (gramma) again? I’m so excited about that cute little bundle of joy arriving.

About this painting / portrait. In stage one I painted the two canvases as you may have seen in my other post, if not here is the link https://agentbluewhale.wordpress.com/2015/08/26/blue-and-blue-two/

I then had set up a photo session with my daughter Cheryl, I had Carolina one of my make-up artists come in and my friend/assistant Kathy come in to help with this shoot. It was so much fun!

Here are two of the photos that I was satisfied with and I intend to paint both of them…yes that is the intention. I create paintings to incorporate into my photography and then use them as my subjects for paintings. This is an elaborate way to get to the finished piece, but to me it is more satisfying knowing the process. I understand that all of this could have been accomplished in a program such as Photoshop, and I love Photoshop for many reasons, but I had to paint the props / backgrounds myself that is just who I am.

C GC2 BL_5763

C2-5780

Blue and Blue Two

Impressionist Painter.

It has been so exciting and inspirational to paint these two beauties. They came about because of my desire to create stunning portraits by using hand painted canvases as backdrops….marrying two art forms that I am deeply involved with.

I have so many ideas of making unique fine art portraits using beautiful paintings running through my head…I just need to get all the other work done first so that I can free up some time to do it.

I will keep you posted as to my progress and am eagerly waiting to bring to life my portraits using these two canvases.

Thanks for your continued support and encouragement and thank you all for sharing my experiences.

Blue Two
24″ x 48″

Blue
24″ x 48″

The Drawing

Impressionist Painter.

There is not any present moment that is unconnected with some future one. The life of every man is a continued chain of incidents, each link of which hangs upon the former. (Joseph Addison)

Marks on canvas

Shadows and light

Connected together

Creating the drawing

The foundation

A base for the painting.

Just as the present moment is connected to the future moments,

so are the edges,

the lines,

the smudges

all in relationship to each other

which brings life to the form which ones eye has seen…

a time past,

a moment gone by,

captured for the future

in a relentless gaze of the innocent asking

what is waiting for me?

~Heather Dawn

Sparrows

Impressionist Painter.

Click to view larger

2 Sparrows

16 x 20

Oil on panel

Available

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I came from a family of nine children, I think it was common back then for couples to have larger families. I love my siblings very much yet I often found myself playing alone. I thoroughly enjoyed being by myself playing quietly; digging in the dirt was one of my favorite pastimes. Not just digging, I would be creating roads, whole communities where my imaginary citizens would live in perfect harmony, it was my creative outlet at the time, that is probably why that I chose Ceramics as my major at the Alberta College of Art and Design… I love dirt 😉

Growing up in a small village it was always rather quiet and so hearing the whisper in the breeze was ever present, in my heart I knew where the still small voice came from and it was ever-present, speaking to me. Another familiar sound that is so endearing to me are the sparrows songs. The sparrow has such beautiful songs that hearing them makes me feel so at peace, so at home….it always brings a smile to my face. I know that sparrows are viewed as pests, but for me they bring comfort. Here is a link to some of the songs. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Song_Sparrow/sounds

I recall dreaming and earnestly desiring to be a bird, I didn’t know what kind of bird, but I just wanted to fly, free in the air…they seem so carefree, so happy, so free…that is what I wanted.

It’s no wonder that I have chosen sparrows as my subject because the symbology (art of expression by symbols) of sparrows is very telling and I feel it is no surprise as to the accuracy of this symbolism that has been attributed to them, this is how I see sparrows and because they are a small bird that seems to have no significance, I can relate. These symbols of the sparrow are very much the attributes of that still small voice in the breeze that I have been so familiar with for all those years.

SPARROW~

Joy
Inclusion
Creativity
Simplicity
Protection
Community
Productivity
Friendliness

Still Small Voice of the Pure Breath that I heard in the breeze.

Love
Joy
Peace
Long-suffering
Kindness
Goodness
Faith
Meekness
Self-control

The Native American symbol of a sparrow is: Sparrow: Symbol of desire and fertility; manifests new love in someone’s life; understands the aspects of race; ability to use the power of song; understands all aspects of color.

It wouldn’t be too far fetched to say that sparrows are a symbol of love, not just manifest love, not just fertility, but LOVE.

Love is understanding, love is truth, love is compassion, love is forgiveness, love is kindness, love is empathy and much more.I know that I am being taken care of, just like the sparrows who have no worries. I know that HE has been watching over me all my life and continues to do so. I know that I am clay, He is the Potter and HE is the One who has kept me all these years. I am so thankful.

Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heaven and home

When Yasha is my portion
A constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me.

Civilla D. Martin

*Jesus or Joshua are English translations of the Hebrew name YASHA (Yahusha) here is the Hebrew number, meaning and name.

H3467
ישׁע
yâsha‛
yaw-shah’
A primitive root; properly to be open, wide or free, that is, (by implication) to be safe; causatively to free or succor: – X at all, avenging, defend, deliver (-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save (-iour), get victory.

Rise Above

Impressionist Painter.

Click image to view larger

16 x 20

oil on panel

available

My younger sister always used to say “water off a duck’s back” whenever anyone was faced with adversity. She would motion with her hand as if stroking the back of a duck…that movement looked like an airplane diving and then at the last second taking off up into the air…and it is a good saying and a good motion because both of them imply rising above the strife, rising above the toils, the troubles and pain of this life.

This painting ‘Rise Above’ is a little sparrow that has flown up high into the air and turns to look down at the place where s/he once was, to see that s/he is not trapped by the snares of this life, s/he sees that s/he has power, power to choose.

I am choosing to paint sparrows right now because they are considered to be a pest and are not given much significance. I have often felt that I was considered to be a pest, not very significant…a sad truth, but I repudiate that image that was placed on me.

I Rise Above the labels, the voices of the past, and even some voices of the present that do not agree with what I stand for. I Rise Above because I choose to live a life that is real, a life that is filled with truth and love and understanding. I choose to live a life that is aimed to do good, to help others, to love others freely in the best way that I know how. I Rise Above because I have decided to be the change that I want to see in this world…to love mercy, to do justly and to walk humbly with the Creator.

When one can Rise Above and overcome, then one can truly listen enabling others to be heard, to be free, to Rise Above.

But even the hairs of your head are all numbered! Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:7

Premier Coup + First Strike

Impressionist Painter.

These two Irises are among some of my favorite paintings because they were done in “premiere coup” style…that means first strike or first blow.

The process for me is I intentionally decide the color, the direction of the brush stroke and the pressure of the brush stroke all before ever touching the brush to the surface that I am painting on.

As I make each brush stroke I leave it exactly as it was when laid down on the canvas or board without retouching or reworking it. This means that the process of each stroke is done in my mind first, it is a contemplative practice that can be very freeing and in many ways healing.

This direct painting method that has no underpainting layers and no drawing, it is simple, intuitive and fresh… from me through the brush to the surface. .

I think it is similar to Chinese painting in some sense because of the immediacy of it.

You will be able to see the brushstrokes in the close up photos below.

Thank you for visiting my page, I hope you enjoy it.

Alla Prima – 90 Minute – Math 30-1

Impressionist Painter.

Click image to view larger.

Sometimes you just have to do it…the time isn’t ideal, the situation isn’t ideal and you just have to take the plunge…ok that might sound a bit exciting, a bit scary and even daunting to some.

What I am talking about is this situation where I have wanted to paint a portrait of my daughter for the longest time BUT she is as elusive as a Snowy Owl …so when she was writing a math exam, even though she didn’t sit “still” and pose for me, I managed to capture a painting from of her, Alla Prima style 😉

The trick was to not let her know what I was up to and to be very calm; she thought I was painting an image from my computer screen.

For me 90 minutes isn’t long enough, but being plunged into a situation and taking advantage of the moment, I actually found that my senses were heightened somewhat and things happened in the painting that were more intuitive than anything else.

When she was done the exam and saw what I had been up to she laughed and seemed quite ok with it all, for me it was so much fun.