3 Ways Being An Artist Is Like Being A Mermaid

Out Of Water Mermaid Poster (available here)

I know that being an artist can sometimes feel like being a fish out of water.  However, I like to think of it as being more like a mermaid.  You know, mostly human but with a little bit of magic going on somewhere beneath the surface.

Need more examples? Here are three ways I think being an artist is like being a mermaid:

1. We Have No Fear Of Depths

Mermaid Thoughts from my art journal

I think most artists can relate to the following famous quote by Anais Nin:

"I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living." 

Though hanging out at the deep end of the pool sometimes makes us feel vulnerable, we know that is where all the treasure is.

2. We See Treasure Everywhere

Art Supplies are treasures all on their own (Mug available here)

Speaking of treasure, that stuff is everywhere when you're a mermaid or an artist. Things and ideas that seem odd, broken or insignificant to others seem to sparkle for us and even when they don't we can't help but think what a little bit of paint or glitter might do.  Oh sure, our caves may get a little crowded with all those riches floating around but is there really such a thing as too much beauty? I don't think so, either.

3. Not Everyone Believes In Us But The Ones Who Do Are Awesome

Some Of My Best Friends Are Mermaids T-shirt (available here)

Not everyone believes in mermaids and that's okay with them. After all, they don't want to share their treasure with just anyone. We artists could actually stand to be a little more like mermaids in this regard.  We so want to share the beauty we see in the world with others that we get disappointed when someone fails to recognize it.  However, every now and then someone awesome comes along who really gets it and that makes everything worth it.

I'm sure there are a lot of other ways artists are like mermaids.  Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.  And if you love mermaids like I do, click here to check out the cards and gifts at my Imagine Mermaid shop on Zazzle.

Oh, and don't forget to like the new I Believe In Art page on Facebook!

As always, thanks for reading.

Peace, Love and Art,
Victoria

My Many Muses: David Bowie

Since his death, I, like so many other people, have been listening to a lot of David Bowie.

There are so many great Bowie songs that I love but my favorite will always be "Rock N' Roll Suicide" from The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, for one simple reason: because when I listened to that song as a misunderstood teenager and he sang, “You're Not Alone”, I believed him (and I still do). I believed him because David Bowie didn't just make being different or weird look cool, he made it meaningful, he made it beautiful - he made it art. It made me realize that, in my own way, I could do that too.

And that is why I believe in Bowie, always.

Peace, Love and Art,

Victoria

IBelieveInArtShop.com

My Many Muses: Rick Springfield (2015)

"His Best Self",  Acrylic On 14 X 18 Canvas

It's been awhile since I posted on this particular blog but I thought this was the most appropriate place to share with you my latest painting and wish a Happy 66th Birthday to its subject, the one and only Rick Springfield.

Rick Springfield is a lot more to me (and many others) than just that good looking guy who had a hit with "Jessie's Girl" back in the 80's.  He is a gifted songwriter, an amazing musician and performer, an engaging actor and a compelling storyteller.  His music, creativity and persistence in the face of personal and professional obstacles have inspired and motivated me throughout my life.  I am so glad he is in this world.

Rick is currently starring on the big screen with Meryl Streep in the movie "Ricki and The Flash" and recently had a role in HBO's True Detective.  You can also catch him performing his music on tour and he has a new album coming out soon, I can't wait!

By the way, the title for my painting came from a recent interview with Rick by ABC Australia that you can find here.  There is also an inspiring video with Rick by Rolling Stone that you can find here.  

Oh and if you haven't checked out my new home and lifestyle blog, The Cabbage Blog, head on over to Cabagelow.com and give it a look.

As always, thank you for reading.

My Art: Heart And Soul

"Heart And Soul" Acrylic On Canvas

"Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation." - Rumi

In Loving Memory Of Our Baby Boy

My Art: It's A Wonder Full Life

"It's A Wonder Full Life" acrylic painting on 11X14 canvas.

A few weeks ago I made the executive decision that I wasn't going to send out Holiday cards this year. It was a tough choice for me because I love designing and sending out cards but I had already put it off for too long and just wasn't feeling inspired to create anything for it.  I knew it would just be a huge relief to cross it off my list, so I gave myself that gift and concentrated on getting my other holiday tasks done instead.

Not long after that I managed to carve out a little time between tasks for painting.  My plan was to just start something, maybe spend an hour on it and then get back to other things but my muse had other ideas.  I worked on the painting on and off for a couple of days and when I was finished I realized that it was the perfect image for my Holiday card.

I know this image doesn't exactly scream Happy Holidays (although it does coordinate with our tree decorations quite nicely) but I feel it does a great job of representing all of the wonder and joy I have found in my life, in my work and in myself this year and of course Hippie really likes it too.  We really do have such a wonder full life and we feel very blessed and grateful.

So that is how I came to send out Holiday cards this year after all and I couldn't be happier about it.  In fact, I would love to send you a postcard with this image.  If you haven't already, just click here to join my mailing list and I will send your Holiday postcard as soon as I can.

It's A Wonder Full Life! Art By Victoria Lynn Hall Greeting Card by Victoriart
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It's A Wonder Full Life! Art By Victoria Lynn Hall Gallery Wrap Canvas by Victoriart
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It's A Wonder Full Life! Art By Victoria Lynn Hall Card by Victoriart
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Back To The Drawing Board 2014

I feel very blessed and grateful that all the things I wanted for 2014 came true.

Some people might think it is kind of weird that Hippie and I have a four by eight foot chalkboard on a wall in our living room.  Heck, even I thought it was weird when my muse first proposed it.  But hey, she's the boss so I have to do what she says and I'm so glad that I did.

In fact, I recently came to the conclusion that creating and using this chalkboard was probably the single most important thing I've done for my art in a long while.  The biggest reason for this is that it helped me heal my creative wounds around the practice of drawing. The playful and impermanent nature of drawing with chalk liberated me from my perfectionism and reminded me just how fun art could be.  At the same time the limits of the medium and the vastness of the canvas challenged me to experiment and develop new skills.

All of this has given me more confidence in my abilities and helped me to become more ambitious with my art.  In 2013 I wouldn't have dreamed of attempting anything like The Beatles mural I created in February of this year to honor the 50th anniversary of their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, but I think I managed to pull it off.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Beatles!

Actually, Hippie liked it so much that he didn't want me to ever erase it!

Hippie saving The Beatles. ;)

I decided to let him enjoy it for several months because around that time I was busy creating a chalkboard wall in my art studio.  

Every art studio should have a chalkboard wall!

Having fun with hand lettering.

And I didn't stop there!  I also created a little chalkboard to use as a welcoming sign by the door on our front porch.

A Holiday sign (and a warding off sign) for our front porch.

Eventually, however, I had to come back to the drawing board that started it all.  It truly is the best art teacher I've ever had.

Some falling leaves to bring some of the joys of Autumn indoors.

This year's Holiday mural continues my Three Kings theme

Click here to see my chalkboard murals from 2013.

My Art: Treasured

"Treasured" Acrylic on 11x14 Canvas

How do you know your own worth? Where do you look to see your own value? Is it in the mirror? On the scale? In your bank account? In someone else's opinion of you?  How many social media likes would it take for you to feel acknowledged or appreciated? How many items checked off on your to do list would make you feel like you did enough today? How many gold stars would you need to feel truly special?

Try this instead: Close your eyes and just breathe. Let yourself feel the power of your own breath, the dynamic vibration of your own being. Contemplate the endless space within your own imagination and all the possibilities there. Consider the infinite measure of the love you have in your heart - for your family and friends, for your pets, for a song or a flower or an idea - and see it glowing within and from you, surrounding you in a golden light...

and know that you don't need any gold stars because you are a gold star.

So treat yourself like the treasure that you are and don't forget to shine.

My Art: Light Dawning

"Light Dawning" Acrylic on 11x14 Canvas

There is no mystery to why I tend to paint the most in the Winter months.  Not only do my lack of gardening chores that time of year give me more time for art but my art studio is the room with the most sunlight.  Sunlight is very important to me.  Without it I am prone to far too much seriousness.

However, there are always going to be those dreary, cloudy days.  My "Light Dawning" painting was begun on one of those days.  I remember I wasn't in the mood for bright, cheery colors.  Instead I chose to counter the gray sky with deep purples and blues.  That comforted me. It reminded me that night would eventually vanquish that colorless day and it did.  So then I added the light, just hints of starlight and moonlight at first and later the highlights that to me suggest both sunlight and understanding.

I finished this painting, appropriately enough, just before dawn.  I could tell it was going to be a sunny day and I was grateful but in a way I felt I had already found all the light I needed.  

So now when I encounter a gray, serious day all I have to do is look at my "Light Dawning" painting to remember that no matter how long the darkness lasts, light will always follow it... and until then, there's always paint.

My Art: Hopes And Dreams

"Hopes And Dreams", Acrylic on Canvas

I painted my "Hopes And Dreams" painting during a couple of cold and gloomy days last February.  I was feeling a bit discouraged, a little "blue" you could say, so I grabbed my orange paint, the opposite of blue.  I added details with a rich, warm purple.  I had some fun with playful pink.  And when I was done I was a lot happier, just not quite as happy as the face I had created on the canvas.

I wondered what her story was.  What could possibly be making her so happy?  Were all her dreams coming true? I didn't think so.  That would be an eyes open, wide smile happiness.  This was a more secret happiness, a from within kind of joy.  Her eyes were closed because she was dreaming, her slight smile was the involuntary side effect of hope.

And that's when I realized that our hopes and dreams make us happy long before they come true.

CAED Day 28: The Art Of Mantel Decorating

Some of my attempts at decorating my mantel.

Like our deck, the mantel in our living room is one of those aspects of our home that I haven't always taken full advantage of.  I was really excited about having it before we moved in.  I imagined decorating it every holiday and for special occasions.  However, when it came time to do that I found it more challenging than I expected.  

There have been only a few times that I've decorated our mantel over the last eight years that I was satisfied with the results, mostly with fresh flowers in the spring or holiday decorations in the winter.  I have actually never successfully decorated it for Autumn or Halloween.  Yet, when I saw the direction my latest painting was going, it inspired me to once again give that a try.

"What Never Was" Acrylic on 24 X 36 Canvas

With the painting as my inspiration, I went to work looking for items I thought might work with it.  Finding things I liked within the small budget I set for myself was not easy.  I bought a few new things, namely some feathers and my new friends Edgar and Allan, and then filled in the best I could with stuff I already had.

Edgar

Allan

I still think it needs something but it may not be until next year that I find it or figure out what it is.  The victory for me is that I did my best and didn't let my perfectionism keep me from trying.   Another win against my anti-muse, happy Autumn to me!  And to you.

My mantel decorated for Autumn/Halloween.

Update 10/20/14:

I found some candlesticks over the weekend that are perfect for my mantel.  They are tall, giving this display more variations of height and more effectively filling the space on either side of the painting.  I think it looks so much better now, don't you?

Colorful Pumpkins Photography Halloween Cards by time2see
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The Pumpkin Guardian Cat Halloween Greeting Card by time2see
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Just Batty Halloween Scarf by Victoreeah
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Just Batty Halloween Leggings by Victoreeah
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CAED Day 27: The Art Of Displaying Art

My art on display in my studio.

I took a little break from painting last night to create this little "clothesline" for my watercolor experiments:

A "clothesline" for my watercolors.

It was a super easy project.  I just strung some rope using push pins and then attached my paintings to them with fun mini clothespins I got at the craft store.  By the way, the acrylic paintings on that wall are resting on brick molding which was easy to install and provides just enough of a ledge for canvases and canvas panels.

Being someone who loves to create and collect all kinds of art, I am always looking for creative ways to display it.  I am a big fan of ledges and shelves or any solution which allows me to easily arrange and rearrange my collections.  A couple weeks ago I shared the art shelf in my hallway and you may remember the shelves Hippie helped me make and install in my home gallery.  Really, you can't have too many shelves.

Another shelf in my studio holds my "Angel Of Imperfection"
painting as well as bags and aprons.

My mermaid art on display in my home gallery.

I am also fond of cork surfaces as a more informal way of displaying prints, postcards or just about anything that inspires me.

My "Creativity Is Served Here" photography print displayed
on a bulletin board in my dining room.

Claude Monet art postcards pinned to another cork board.

The cork tiled wall in my art studio holds art and inspiration.

Magnetic surfaces are great too.  I made this magnet board out of a broken mirror I got for a steal at a home decor store (I just replaced the mirror with some sheet metal):

Magnets available at my Zazzle shops.

Some might say that magnets aren't art but I think anything that you love and choose to display in your home is art.  It doesn't always have to be behind glass or in a gilded frame to be special or draw your eye.  Art is supposed to be fun, remember?, and displaying it should be too.

"Angel Of Imperfection" Art by Victoria Lynn Hall Canvas Print by Victoriart
Browse Angel Canvas Prints

The Sirens Digital Fantasy Mermaid Art Stretched Canvas Print by Victoreeah
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"Creativity Is Served Here" Photography Stretched Canvas Print by time2see
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Wild Poppies, near Argenteuil Canvas Prints by bridgemanimages
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Do Art Now, Housework Later Rectangle Magnet by Victoriart
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