making art

In pursuit of my authentic self as an artist I needed to find out how I move naturally.  Through a process of learning to make art I took the time to observe how I like to physically make art both for myself and in comparison with other artists.

 I describe this simply as follows:

Some people like to draw or paint

🖌 Just using their fingers to move their tools

🖌using their wrists as well

🖌moving their forearms

🖌using their arms and shoulders

🖌others who paint holding a brush with their teeth or their toes

🖌sitting or standing

🖌some like to stand putting their whole body into the process. 

ADD MUSIC…. and off I go.  I love to stand up and dance to music while I paint!

MUSIC IN LOFT GALLERY

My colleague Lorne McDermott at Loft Gallery and I really crank up our painting when the music is upbeat and loud enough.  It is all part of our creative process and when you visit the gallery you are sometimes exposed to our dance music instead of relaxing gallery music just because we are in paint mode.   Loft Gallery owner, Heather Carroll, has to juggle this on a daily basis….inspiring our painting with musical energy while being able to talk to clients! Join us with a little dance of your own if the experience moves you.  Otherwise, just bare with us please….ARTISTS!!!…

musicians in Loft Gallery

Getting lost in the music through dance while I paint is an all encompassing experience.  Live music is awesome for this experience. Guitarist Dave Russell played at Loft Gallery entertaining gallery patrons while 4 of us artists painted for the public.  At some point I realized I was painting in a frenzied way and a bit later I noticed my brush moving in a calmer manner on a different part of the painting. Then I started cranking up again…  “A-HAH!”  I looked over at Dave as he was cranking up his guitar speed and I realized by his grin that he was totally controlling what we as painters were doing.  Puppets….everyone of us.

Just another day at Loft Gallery and Michael was singing love songs for gallery visitors while I painted the wild edge of weeds and tangle of branches on the bank of a local creek.  My painting went in a totally different direction as love song after love song played over the surface of my canvas.  I ended up calling the resulting painting “Romancing the Wild”  as it definitely became more of a romantic painting than a wild tangle!

local music

In our area we are blessed with many opportunities to listen to live music including open mic nights at Bruce’s Wine Bar and the Corner Café in Thornbury and music nights at the Dam Pub. 

Putting yourself out there as either an artist or musician with what we create or share with the world requires a willingness to handle whatever may happen in our interaction with the public.  It provides us with the opportunity to share our love and ourselves with all who come in contact with what we do…

 I greatly admire singers because for me the first thing that seizes up is my throat when I am nervous.  Next I totally forget anything I might want to say.  Actually it is deeper than forgetting…more the inability to even think about something to say. (until later…lol)  Hence I share myself most freely through my paintings…. “my voice”.  Musicians do not have the luxury of being speechless!  Thus dearest musicians that I have had the pleasure to listen to,  I love all of you and your music, and your gentleness of being that you share for our enjoyment.  Thank you for the energy you add to my brushstrokes!

“So put on your favourite tune and dance through the rest of winter!”

Debra 💙💚💛💜💗