Well, it's been awhile since I blogged last. I guess that intense rush to make the deadline for the jury took a lot out of me. I was optimistic, yet not overly disappointed in the result. Somehow though, a recuperation period seemed in order. I have been continuing to work on my miniature theatre, but was sidetracked for awhile into thinking about another shadow box. I was supported to create a box based on family images - viewers of the shadow box said they could see their own lives in something like that! I did start work with images from my childhood, and journalled about childhood, too. Then I decided it is too much to make one art in the shadow box, and then replicate it in the miniature theatre in order to be able to take proper photos of it. I have since started on a different direction, working on them both in tandem. Right now, I have the basic images for the theatre done, in b/w to save on ink costs. I have chosen images and worked out the scale. Now, I'm almost done with the shadow box, too. I'm presently working on one of the characters. I realize I have chosen her because she reminds me of myself as a child. I'll post pics soon!

Also I have been uploading photos of my artwork onto my Etsy.com webpage : http://www.etsy.com/shop/DianaKSharp I am looking forward to having this be the place to order prints, objects, cards and original artworks. Wish me luck!!

I took my shadow box to the jury process, today. It's those last minute things that need extra attention that I hadn't really considered that make the final day a bit of a blur - touching up the paint on the frame, fastening a back onto the box, wiring it to hang up........ The jury volunteers decided it is in the 3D category, though I thought because it hangs on the wall it would be "artwork under glass". My lovely sis-in-law is picking it up from the jury process, on Wednesday for me. I won't know for a couple of weeks whether it and my painting, "The Watcher", have been accepted for the show in October. Here's a couple of pictures of it finished and also framed.

I am currently continuing work on my latest shadow box, which I showed you the creative process, in an earlier blog. This is the picture of it in its first final stage. Now I'm working on bringing more texture to it, and changing the images somewhat to bring more character into the first draft.

Just a little taste of the bit of chaos surrounding me at my desk in my studio (otherwise known as the "little bedroom").

I've been busy working on my first shadow box. I wanted to show you the process that I've gone through so far. I have so many images collected, that I just start looking through my files. I was attracted to these images from a magazine of these girls and used photos of my own from a local garden to start my process.

Miniature Theatre and Shadowboxes.
It's hard to believe how long it's been since I blogged here, but a lot has been happening lately. I took my artwork to the local Art School - The Victoria School of Art - on Quadra St. (http://vancouverislandschoolart.com/about.html) to have a "critique" of my work, to get an idea of what direction I should focus on, with the little time that I have for my artwork. I realized in putting this website together that I have a lot of artwork in groups of themes, but no strong suit consistently showing up other than my interest in allegory and transformation.

I have been accepted for the jury process for the Sidney Art Show and have paid for three pieces to be adjudicated. I wanted some feedback on which pieces I should finish to submit. Instructor Wendy Welch was really great and her perspective really helped me discover what I've been doing and where my strengths lie. Wendy had some great questions and they allowed me to hear myself speak about my art in a way that I made new connections between what I have been doing and what comes naturally for me, what I've been trying to achieve in my painting and what I naturally do in the miniature theatre paper craft. I brought three paintings, one which was finished but felt unfinished somehow, and also three pictures of my miniature theatre and the 3D paper sculptures of the two main characters.

She loved the photos I brought of my miniature theatre and the two paper characters that are part of it.  She
gave me names of artists whose work is similar, but she said she has not seen anything like what I am doing with this
genre. She felt it was really exciting in how I used my personal archetypes. She also mentioned that the "crafting" of
the paper sculptures, and I realized that I have always leaned to "crafting" but have not held it as being valid or legitimate in the art world. I'm mechanically minded and have always loved figuring out how to make something that I have a concept of - I invented crafts for the Sunday School classes I taught and also developed programs and taught after-school and week long summer programs for kids. She reassured me that what I am doing is valid and unique. She asked that I do more and come back and show her what I've done in a couple of months.

I feel for the first time I have found what fits for me, even though paradoxically, it has been what I've been doing all my creative life - it's taken a long struggle to come to this realization! This genre really fits for me, is backed by my history of creating, the way I think in images like still-photos of a movie/story and the archetypes that speak for me.

This project fills me with energy and ideas. I have such a positive reaction to this genre, I feel I have finally allowed
myself to recognize that this is my medium and I can stop trying to be what I'm not. This genre of tableau/shadowbox/theatre has always been in my imagination and I have finally heard the words that validate this passion I have for creating a world of my own, and the powerful images that evoke the magic and discovery that motivates my creative drive. I have a million ideas, and that is amazing because I've found the genre that will allow all these pictures in my head come to fruition! (If you haven't seen the movie "Temple Grandin" yet, this is partly why I love this movie so - it shows how she thought in pictures/diagrams too!!!)

I decided with this new clarity, to change my submissions to being more "tableau art" - whether photos of the miniature theatre or shadowbox scenes - for the art show, and I would need to buy deep frames, called shadowbox frames, which I found at Michael's (http://www.michaels.com/) the other day. After looking at them, I wondered if I could make them a little deeper, more like 2" deep - which would require adding more wood to the frame. I also need to add lighting in order to make sure the viewer can see the deeper layer of scenery.

To that end, today I went to a frame shop to see if they could help me make the purchased "shadowbox" frames deeper. The first shop was closed, and I wondered what that was about. Then as I drove back along Oak Bay Avenue I went past another frame shop. I parked in front of a store called Dangerously Crafty, with Florance Simpson creating, and instructing courses in, amazing paper art craft (http://dangerouslycrafty.blogspot.com/) and went in to see what she had for inspiration. What wonderful happenstance!! If the first frame shop had been open, I'd have driven right past this store on my way back to work! Florance was interested in what I've been doing because she is a costume and set designer!!! Talk about synchronicity!!!! I will definintely go back for more! I loved the ArtChix packages of cool projects and supplies!! (http://www.artchixstudio.com/inspiration/index.html) Check it out!!! Just following the "Muse"!

I've had two weeks vacation, and I've been busy! My husband Michael, and I, don't often go away, and this was the usual "vacation/staycation". There is so much to do here in Victoria and its surrounding area. We discovered a new park for us - Portage Park, a lovely cove with an island in the centre. We visited Glendale Gardens, a horticultural garden five minutes up the road from us! We went to Galiano Island for two days, and stayed at the Driftwood Village - a great place with our own cabin. We drove up the island to see pottery, ceramics and glass artists. We watched one of the hockey play-off games at the Hummingbird Inn Pub. I shopped and met the lovely owner of Gallery 33 and bought a unique silver bracelet at Now and Zen.

I then had my weekend away at my business and personal development seminar. I was totally immersed in such a nurturing and supportive space there, gaining clarity, and spending social time with my team of women as we walked around Kelowna's lakeside.

When I came home, Michael and I also went to Pacific Northwest Raptors outside of  Duncan, where we had a half day training with the birds. Michael held Tuori, a Harris Hawk, on his glove and I held Elton, a Spectacled Owl from Panama. I love the Harris Hawks and they are well known for their cooperative behaviour with humans because they are flock raptors, unlike most solitary raptors - they naturally like being in relationship with others. Elton surprised me, though. I hadn't much connection with him during the tour (we took a tour in February and saw the demonstration, as well as a personal tour this time). When he stepped up onto my glove and sat with me, he was a very curious and vocal fellow. Then our guide, Jamie, showed me how Elton liked to have the feathers at the top of his beak scratched! Well, he was such a sweetheart - he'd lean forward into my hand as I scratched him, and close his big eyes, shutting his soft gray eyelids so I could see his little eyelashes! When I stopped scratching, he'd slowly open his eyes, still leaning forward, as if just "coming to" from a deep meditation! Who wouldn't be charmed by such a dear little fellow! I loved the energy of being with him, just like any animal will center my energy. We took Elton down to the demonstration area, and took turns feeding him, as he flew to us from his perch. Then we watched the demonstration, which had Tuori, a vulture, a barn owl, and a Peregrine Falcon flying to the trainer. After that we had our guide, Bronwyn, take us on a Hawk Walk, where she let another Harris Hawk, Annakan, fly out among the trees, and had him fly back to our gloves during our walk.

The point of my relating this snapshot of my vacation, is that among these excursions, we worked at my mom's garden and removed stuff to the local dump, cleaned our house and did errands. These things, though accomplishing them, bring up feelings in me of inadequacy. It is never ending!! I never seem to be finished in the garden, that's a given with the growing season going full tilt! Yet it is like housework - whatever I accomplish, in a week it is back where I started! I can become very distracted with this aspect - feeling less-than in the face of monstrous blackberry bushes!

What I realized is that being on Galiano, just doing what we felt like, being at my seminar course on the weekend, being with my friends, being with the wild(ish) birds, being in nature, are all supportive of my Being: being in the present moment/fulfilled. Whereas all the "chores", errands, needs, can distract me into feeling "not enough". I feel drained of energy, though I am accomplishing "things". It's being caught up in the doing of stuff, and not Being. I felt like after my seminar weekend, where I felt like a big, still, clear lake, I was being drained of all that self-contained energy by leaks streaming into the never-ending, always needing attention, world. This is not the world I want to create, it is not My World. I am being at the effect and not the Cause in this world. It brings me back to the book "Inner Simplicity" by Elaine St. James, which I blogged about earlier (under "Simplicity"). Yes, the world needs attending to, I just need to be aware of maintaining my balance in myself, being centered regardless of my circumstance or distractions.

I have a routine during my work week, which I related in my blog "Simplicity", that takes time to "be" - art, nature, swimming on my breaks. On vacation/staycation, I always plan for time for similar activities - such as the visit to the raptor center and going to Galiano - beside doing "chores" that need attending to. This time, even more, I realized that spending time "being" is also nurturing the creation of my artwork. "Being" is where I paint from - it's not a "doing" activity! I didn't create as much art as I hoped to, this "staycation", but I don't have the desire to be rigid about my creativity either. I'm glad I did what we did these last two weeks. I also gained, even more clearly, the recognition of how important taking deliberate time for myself to BE: to center myself, to BE where I am and not be distracted, to reflect, to plan, to meditate and pray, to appreciate, to repeat my affirmations, to play, to be aware of my actions, to be in nature, enables me to maintain my balance and creativity.

So, I'm reading another book! When I was at Opus I picked up Chris Tyrell's "Making it! Case studies of Successful Canadian Visual Artists". http://christyrell.ca/books. I read his "Artist Survival Skills" and I'll need to read that one again. This book is an easy read because it's so informative and inspiring! It tells the stories of artists through Chris' interviews - they talk about using the internet, websites, Etsy, online marketing, having corporate sponsorship, reproduction rights, connections through art organizations, and more! I was really struck with inspiration by two artists in particular - Jude Griebel http://judegriebel.com/ for his rich experience from around the world, but also for his artwork! I struggle with "classifying" my genre, and I felt his images were similar. It was really exciting to see his work and so much success in this genre. Also Marina Bychkova http://www.enchanteddoll.com/ for her amazing art dolls or bjd (ball jointed doll). I am totally in love with her dolls and the images she creates with them - storybook, fantasy, and conceptual. She has over the top talent and is paid very well for her creations - as she should be!!! She inspires my desire to create my miniature theatre scenes.

I see that though I have known my art has been about my story, I now realize that I can create artwork exploring my literal experience and not just my symbolic imagery of my journey. I sense that this more personal, and less archetype/fairytale artwork, could reach others who are presently struggling with the same loss and grief I experienced and from which I created my life in response to. Now I am more at a distance from the overwhelming emotions so I see it more objectively and can describe it in a way that I couldn't when I was in the middle of it. This artwork can be more powerful and healing because it is even more authentic and honest about my story. My artworks could contribute to an organization that I connect with, due to my personal story.

My artwork can be beautiful and meaningful, but also a doorway to create more connections in my community, to support my neighbours through our community's organizations. This is an even greater service for my artwork.

I finished another painting!!! Yay!!!! I had a painter's "block" for more than about five years, in which I started a number of paintings but was unable to finish them. I want to submit three paintings to the jury for the Sidney Art Show in the fall, and after the last time I submitted three paintings which were not accepted, I decided to change my tactic and submit art that I make and not art that I think I should make! I finished my first painting in years, last year - The Maiden - based on my research into the "Handless Maiden" folktale ( see "Inspired by...."). That was such a satisfying experience!! This year, I decided to finish two other paintings that I had started a number of years ago, to submit to the art show in the fall. This is the first one and you can see it as the last image under the "Symbolism and Spirituality" set of images in the artworks gallery.

I wanted to start with an image of a woman in an owl mask. I don't know why, just that I am drawn to birds, as you can see from my artwork, and the theatre - so my image was a logical choice! I developed this painting on the canvas, as I have done with many paintings. First came the woman in the mask, then the curtains to the side and the trees on the right. Then the stage floor in its checkerboard pattern. I had a doorway come to mind, as if that is where she is running too, like Cinderella and the stroke of midnight! That appeared on the left of the stage, in a state of materialization - partly there, partly disappearing. I spread the checkerboard pattern toward the horizon, and it dissipated into a field in the distance, with a hill that has trees at its base where the field ends, and a night time ocean with the waves reflecting the moonlight above. I continued to develop these images into more detail.

The space between the costumed woman and the doorway needed something, and I guess I was influenced by the checkerboard - like it was a chess board, and I've always loved the "rook" because it is often represented by a castle tower - a miniature building!! So I began painting the tower, and it continued to develop into a lone tower on the precipice above the wave swept ocean. It is as if it is appearing from another dimension or space/time. Maybe it's a connection to the ocean in the background, like a close-up detail of the background.

For the longest time, the painting remained like this, but of course there was the left hand corner standing empty. I had a sense of a "watcher" looking down upon the masked woman. I painted in the tower topped by a "watcher" but it was the wrong perspective - it was from the side, and it appeared like he was sitting in a box at the theatre. I realized that I had to be looking upward at this character, so I angled the tower and painted if as if from below. The "watcher" appears here as a wolf, in a soldier's uniform - my guess is that he is more than that, maybe another authority figure. So, it is also connected to the tower, as if it is a close up of him standing on top of that particular tower, which is appearing from another dimension or space/time - like he is seeing her and her unauthorized activities, as she runs to return from her journey into our world.

She's looking at us, the audience, with a startled look, as if she wasn't aware we were there until she ran on stage to catch her "exit"! At the bottom of the painting, on which the stage stands, is an image of the swirling galaxies of outer space. It's Shakespeare all over again!

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts..."

I was reading a book called "Inner Simplicity" by Elaine St. James, who is also the author of "Simplify Your Life". Early in the book, on page 10 she says "I found it wasn't sufficient to cut my work schedule so I had the time to spend in peaceful solitude on Saturday afternoon, if I spent that time worrying about the grocery shopping, or getting the lawn mowed or what we were going to take to Jack's potluck dinner Saturday night....You'll find it's much easier to enjoy the full benefits of your quiet time if you're able to reduce the distractions and the energy drains as well." On page 29 she writes about creativity and says "For many of us, the ability to tap into our creativity comes only after we have slowed down to the point where we can take the time to get centered. Learning to be and learning to be creative are two sides of the same coin." and the last piece for me, on page 31 "....I've learned that if things aren't going well, I need to slow down and listen. When I get back into sync, things start to flow again."

This has been my experience - the connection between taking time and just being with myself and my creativity. Taking time is about setting aside time - and that is about prioritizing what is important to me. Some things do get put on the back burner. I have only a certain amount of time and energy, and life in my household is more than I can keep up with, even when it's just me and my husband! The other day, just like many days, I have a break and must decide the most important and efficient thing to do with that extra hour. Sometimes it's worth the 30 minute round trip, in order to come home and paint for an hour. If it's a bit longer, I also swim three times a week - I do find that my commitment level to swimming somehow "creates" the time to swim : somehow I always find the time. Sometimes it's an errand - but I have to keep careful tabs on errand running. Sometimes it isn't enough time to come home to paint, so instead I spend 30 to 40 minutes in the park at a picnic table, working with coloured pencils in my drawing pad. Or with that same time frame: go walk at the beach or in the wooded park or even an antique store (being careful that I don't actually buy something!), to observe and to listen - to nature and my inner conversation and inspiration. Sometimes it's 10 - 15 minutes to journal.

These are all enriching and informative activities for my relationship with myself. This is really the only relationship I have! Think about it - in all my many relationships, the only person I am really dealing with is myself and my beliefs and perspectives. I am the most important relationship I have, because I'm stuck with me! If I don't understand myself, all my other relationships will suffer - because I will blame the other person for my wants and reactions : which they cannot ever be responsible for or fix for me. When my friend is upset, I don't fall into making their reactions personal - "taking it on" as it were, because I'm centered in who I am and where my boundaries of where I begin and end are clear. I am able to be more objective and that makes me a much more valuable friend because then I can really support them, instead of stirring up more confusing emotions between us.

So in taking time to be with myself, and listening to what I need to do with the time I have, I develop a relationship with myself which supports me in my life. I listen to my inner direction and honor it : I ask "Which direction is the most clear?" when driving, and make the turn when the urge guides me. I say "I really need a parking spot next to the door" and feel in my body, which direction to go, to finding the perfect spot. When I get anxious, I sing "laa, laa, laa" like "Babe" the pig (!), to relax and get in sync with the stream of energy for my benefit! I find the more I listen, the more I receive - synchronicity is possibly the word.

If I am listening to my body/emotional needs for what activity and direction I need in the moment, certainly I am able to hear my creative urge, moving me in certain image collecting or using a certain colour. These inner urges are my alphabet and language expressing what is in my heart, and actually what is in the collective human heart. What I'm trying to communicate as an artist, is actually what I am actually trying to communicate as a human being. Someone out there understands my language - I am able to speak on their behalf until they are able to articulate for themselves, what is in their heart. So this work of being in relationship with myself is also the best thing I can do for my community!

Slowing my lifestyle down enough, giving myself enough room to negotiate the day to include space and silence, nurtures my creativity and my humanity - aren't they one and the same? I'd like to think so!! Living without distractions is almost impossible, but I can reduce the distractions because I'm clear on what my priorities are. I am living my best by balancing my well-being between my inner and outer needs. Priority is given to my inner needs because they nurture my outer life, but it's good to get those dishes done, because otherwise they clutter up my mind and emotions, too!