king edward avenue
Remember the odd-looking canvas at the bottom of this post? This is what it turned into. The reference material for most of these cottage paintings comes from a specific area of Vancouver, and I feel like a stalker or p.i. as I prowl the streets in the middle of a quiet weekday, photographing peoples' private residences. I need to get some celebrity sunglasses. The photos for this painting were taken along King Edward Avenue, both east and west ~ unusual as I prefer the quiet side streets.These house paintings are fun to do but they don't create a single moment of angst. Isn't self loathing and second guessing a natural part of the creative process? I feel the need to kick a few canvases and cut off an ear or two, so it'll be back to work on other stuff after Christmas.
posted by andrea at 11:49 a.m.
24 Comments:
The canvas turned out great! These houses are really lovely! (And you can always add some dark,horrific images through the windows when your feeling artsy angst). Blue skies in Vancouver? Even more optimistic!
There are worse things than some angst-free creativity... :-) Enjoy your moment!
Love em'. I can see these works turning into a book about the people who live in them...maybe a 6 degree's of seperation kinda thing. Loved the post below too...I love to cook and now I must know this person better...chicken and scotch...perfection!
Leave the angst to other artists.
Girl: Ha! I had to use my imagination for the blue sky.
Tara: What?! I hate having fun.
Heather: I can see them as illustrations come to think of it.
Jan: I don't wanna! *throws tantrum*
One of my favorite Vancouver streets. Nicely done. But, what else from your talented hands?
oh these are so charming ~ and i love the image of you stalking houses with your camera a big floppy hat hiding your face, tee hee ...
Strangely, for I'm not a "proper" artist, I understand about the more simple paintings; the ones which don't drag you off into a different sphere, unwilling or unable to communicate normally.
So, make the most of 'em, kiddo.Consider it your Seasonal-Gift-to-Self!
Your imagined blue sky shows that there is sunshine in your heart, Andrea.
You comment about the angst made me smile. Houses made me smile. Thinking of that canvas you have asked people to comment on, that made me smile. So, here I was all gloomy and now I am grinning from ear to ear. Beautiful triptych, even though it is just one canvas – the middle house makes me want to move in! Never mind kicking canvases, there will be plenty to kick at some other time. Enjoy kicking-free holidays!
andrea, i wish you would re-read your post and throw away the word "but" and replace it with "and". because, i just love these houses. i think they are some of your finest work, and if indeed you are painting them only with joy and relaxation.....maybe your creativity is graduating to a higher level.
that's my two cents.
oh, yeah, and enjoy...
:)
You may not have felt a single moment of angst, but have you looked at your paintings? Have you notices the horror exhibited by the bottom one, for example? To me, there's clear indication of a desperate silent scream. What is this house going through? The middle one is pulling in its shoulders, pulling up the draw bridge any moment, waiting for the stars to fall! The first one, gasping for air, turning blue all over, the sun's unrelenting stare having already caused the tree to shed every single one of its leaves! I'm afraid panic's going to break out any moment now.
From the city of Freud
(Berggasse 19, nice number, isn't it?),
with love,
Merisi
(love conquers everything!)
I love these pictures of houses. Is there a link where they show full-size? Really charming!
Ian: Don't you love the sudden change in style/impressiveness where east meets west?
Daisies: hat *and* sunglasses. Perfect.
Dinah: I actually use this kind of work as a refreshing break. What better time than now?
Cream: You old softie. :)
Albina: And you made *me* smile. I will follow your sage advice!
KJ: 'and' ratehr than 'but' does make a world of difference, doesn't it? Must admit that, as usual, I was being a little tongue-in-cheek but (I mean AND :) I think this is the right kind of thing to do right now, isn't it?
Merisi: Oh God how you made me laugh! You truly get it!! Berggasse 19 is a VERY fine number indeed. :)
Codenamenora: Oo -- I love a new visitor. If you go here http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8419553 and click on the image you can get the full sized one.
Angst schmangst!
This world is overflowing with horror and stressful imagery. We need to release the happy thoughts and bask in the comfort of cheerful visuals. Transporting someone else to that happy place is a real gift..and everyone has a different take even if it is measured in angstroms.
The creative process is like a revolving door that opens into different rooms. You never know which room you will end up in after you take the first step.
Isn't that what is what makes magical.
HE: Indeed -- but wait. Are you suggesting I make Prozac Art? :)
What do I know, but isn't the opposite of "but they don't create a single moment of angst" commonly known as comfort?
So you're comfortable and safe painting pleasing images of houses that make people feel warm and colourful and safe (remembering, I hope you do, that I HAVE one of those paintings from you).
Is that wrong? Are those of us who appreciate them and you wrong? I don't think so.
It's easy to appreciate that the most visually creative among us want always to be even more visually creative, or to find different ways of doing that.
If that's what you're saying, Andrea, I get it. I just ask you to never shed the warmth that you create in something that's intrinsically warm -- a colourful house -- that we can all embrace.
how cool! I love these. I wonder if any of the people who own the houses have contacted you. How weird would it be to see a painting of your house floating around. do you need permission? hmmm
anyway, these are great and I love that you used all houses on one street as a theme.
Your house paintings make me want to delve into the world of real estate and buy a cozy little cottage!
ditto all comments above :-)
I have an artist friend who lives her life from a place of "if it's not difficult, it must not be of any value", which is the exact opposite to my "if it's difficult, it's obviously not meant for me". We laugh at our extremes and try to encourage each other to find a middle path where she can give herself a break once in a while and I can stop giving up too early!
I recognize the bottom house! Nice work, as always.
WW: Thank you and I suspect I will always come back to warmth/comfortable but I think I need a bit of balance, too.
Rachel: I changed each house just enough that though you can identify them, you'd have to try hard.
Tori: Go for it! (And then blog about it.)
Nadine: That elusive middle path, eh? I know that feeling!
Barbara: That is definitely the one I changed the least.
I wish an artist like you would come to my street and do the same......How surprised I would be to find my house on a canvas together with 2 others! I would buy it in an instant! Lovely!
This piece is Amazing! Love it!
Seasons Greetings!
Sandra Evertson
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