Keeping an Art Journal

I received this fantastic article yesterday by Keith Bond and I thought that I would share it. This is just part of the article, to read the full version, click HERE.

Why a Journal
Forcing yourself to write about art (specifically your art), will help you sort through all the abstract concepts. You will begin to wrap your mind around the ideas that are so elusive. The simple exercise of writing promotes understanding. It is like taking those scattered puzzle pieces and finding where they all fit. Over time, your puzzle will begin to come together and you will see more clearly the image that it makes. You will better understand art in general. But more importantly, you will understand yourself. You will understand your art and why you create. You will understand the 'what' and 'how' behind your art as well. With this understanding, you can then find the words to communicate it to others. The more you write, the more you will find ways to share your story.
When to Write
You must find the times that work best for you. You may write daily or weekly. You may write when a thought or prompting comes. It is important to write things while they are in your mind. If you wait, you will lose those insights. If you get these thoughts when you can't spend much time writing, at least jot down a couple notes to prompt you when you have more time. When you have a revelation about art, write it down. When you are trying to understand a concept, write about it. Before you begin a work, write about your initial inspiration. Why do you want to create the piece? If you are still trying to sort through your options while conceiving the piece, write about those options. When you finish a work of art, write about it. Write about its meaning.
What to Write
Much of the previous paragraph also includes what to write. Additional topics may include your methods, your influences, and your frustrations. Write about your experiences you have while creating your art. You may wish to write your response to someone's critique. Write the things you wish you had said to that client at the show. Find a quote that inspires you and write about that. Write about your successes or failures. The options are endless. Just write about art.

This article appears courtesy of FineArtViews.com by Clint Watson, a free email newsletter about art, marketing, inspiration and fine living for artists, collectors and galleries (and anyone else who loves art) . For a complimentary subscription, visit: http://www.fineartviews.com/


I have experienced the importance of journal keeping myself. It gives me a chance to write down my inspiration, my hopes and dreams, and all the thoughts I have about art. Most of my journal entries about art contain my new ideas for paintings, what I want to say with them, and how I might convey my message. This is particularly important for me to do when I am thinking of a new religious painting. I have several in mind right now, and if it weren't for my notes about them, I would have either forgotten them entirely, or forgotten how to portray my message. Every now and then we are hit with inspiration, and when that happens, we need to act upon it and write our ideas down so that they can never be lost to us.

Blossom - My First Attempt at Watercolor

Blossom - 9 x 12
Watercolor
$100
Copyright of Dena McMurdie 2009

This was my very first attempt at painting a watercolor. I took my time with the blossom, making sure that every petal was in place before I added the paint. Watercolor is such a challenging medium for me. Mostly because I was trained in oil paint and oils are what I use on a regular basis. I recently received some fantastic news that also puts a damper on the use of oil paints for a time. In order to keep my creativity flowing, I decided to take up watercolor and see if I were any good at it. I am always up for a new challenge, and I love learning new skills. It was the perfect solution.

I always find it interesting how as soon as I start out on any new venture, I am flooded with dozens of new ideas and possibilities. Watercolor has offered me a wealth of inspiration for new paintings and I just can't wait to get started on them. I will post them as I cruise along.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive updates on my artwork and upcoming events!

To purchase this painting, please CONTACT ME. I accept payment via check, credit card, or PayPal.

Just Chillin' - New Original Oil Painting of a Polar Bear

Just Chillin' - 8 x 10
Oil on Canvas
$100
Copyright of Dena McMurdie 2009

I just love this small painting of a polar bear that I saw at the local zoo. He was relaxing in the shade and stretching his neck. The brushstrokes are really loose. There is a wonderful play of warm and cool colors on the animal. I left the background abstract in order to keep the polar bear as the focus of the painting. Wildlife is one of the many subjects that I like to touch upon every now and again with my art.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive updates on my artwork and upcoming events!

To purchase this painting, either CONTACT ME or use the PayPal button below. I accept payment via check, credit card, or PayPal.

14th Annual Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction

I have been invited to participate in the 14 Annual Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction. "Snow Covered Fence" (above) will be featured in the silent auction. The Auction takes place on September 6, 2009 under the Big Top in Rist Canyon, west of Fort Collins, Colorado on County Road 52E.

"Snow Covered Fence" is an original oil on canvas, 9 x 12, with a gallery price of $450. Bidding can be done by phone, online, or in person at the auction. To learn more about the Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction, visit the official website at www.richardschmidauction.com. Mark your calendars and plan to bid on some amazing artwork!

Mothers Make Great Artists

Some time ago I was following an online forum thread started by a young woman that wished she could get married and have children so that she would have more inspiration for her artwork. It was very interesting to watch the responses that came in. Almost every man that replied mentioned that once a husband and children are introduced into the life of a woman, she does not have time for any other pursuit. Almost every woman that responded said the exact opposite.

Children have the uncanny ability to provide their parents with more sincerity and more sensitive spirits. Parents are given the priceless opportunity to see the world with new eyes, the eyes of their young children as they experience the world for the first time.

In one of the art shows I juried, I remember very distinctly sifting through hundreds of entries, the vast majority of which were mediocre at best, when I came upon a beautiful oil painting. I had seen hundreds of landscapes, but this one was different somehow. It was fundamentally correct, but more than that, it held an extra feeling, a spirit about it that just shouted out to me. It was accepted into the show. The curator mentioned to me that this particular painting was done by a young mother. She had three children and still made the effort to work on her art and get it out in the public eye.

Some of my favorite artists are mothers. One artist that I have garnered tremendous respect and admiration for over the years is Cassandra Barney. Her artwork is beautiful, meaningful, and encourages us to search within ourselves. She is also a mother to three children.

Finding the balance is not an easy thing. Often, mothers must find creative ways to make the time to practice their art. I am a mother and an artist, and all of my painting takes place when my daughter is either napping or has gone to bed for the night. I know of other artist mothers who find a quiet area in their house that isn’t being used by the family and paint there. There are some who are only able to paint when their spouse is around to watch the children. One benefit that I have found is now that my time with my painting is very limited, I actually find MORE time to paint. When I had all day to get to my canvas, I would take all day. Now that I have only an hour or two at a time, I make wonderful use of that precious time I am given.

Windbreak - New Original Oil Painting

Windbreak - 8 x 10
Oil on Canvas Panel
$100
Copyright of Dena McMurdie 2009

I had a bit of a setback so I wasn't able to post anything yesterday, but this is my newest painting. It is a windbreak for a farmer's field. Autumn has always been my favorite time of year, which is why most of my paintings depict the fall. The design and composition are simple, the row of yellow trees progressing toward the background. I left the brushstrokes loose in this painting, keeping with my impressionistic style. I was careful to make sure that the trees faded in color and detail as they receded. The color scheme I chose was a simple one, blue and yellow. It kept everything nice and simple, just the way a painting should be.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive a painting in your inbox!

To purchase this painting, either CONTACT ME or use the PayPal button below. I accept payment via check, credit card, or PayPal.

Abandoned Mill - New Daily Painting

Abandoned Mill - 8 x 10

Oil on Canvas Panel

$100

Copyright of Dena McMurdie 2009

Up in the mountains near Mackay, Idaho is an old, crumbling mining site. This destroyed building still stands amid piles of rubble. The further up the mountain you go, the more ruins you will find. There are the old entrances to the mines, small huts that the miners lived in, and many more old buildings such as this one that once housed the mining business. The view from the top of the mountain is exquisite. It overlooks the valley that the small town of Mackay is nestled in.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive a painting in your inbox!

To purchase this painting, either CONTACT ME or use the PayPal button below. I accept payment via check, credit card, or PayPal.

One Great Idea

One of the highlights of my day is receiving the newsletter Fine Art Views. It is an insightful newsletter full of inspiration and marketing tips. I thought I would re-post part of the article from today.

One Great Idea by Keith Bond

Michael Kimmelman, an influential New York art critic is attributed to have said (as quoted by Jove Wang), "Most artists have one good idea, sometimes two. But in the best of cases, that's enough for a lifetime."

My point is this: don't be afraid to revisit the ideas that you are most passionate about. If they are true passions, you will always have something else to say about them. Use the exploration of other things as a means to understand yourself and how you respond to your muse. But don't let all of the lesser ideas distract you from expressing those most important ideas. You must make it a matter of priority. These lesser ideas will strengthen your larger, truly great ideas, if you use them with wisdom. But, I repeat, don't allow yourself to be distracted by the lesser ideas.

Your deepest passions, your truest convictions, those things that you most want to express in your art are the things you should come back to time after time. As you go deeper into those subjects, you will learn more about them and you will learn more about yourself. Your ideas will become much more profound. They will cumulatively be much more powerful than a single visit to the idea.

This article appears courtesy of FineArtViews.com by Clint Watson, a free email newsletter about art, marketing, inspiration and fine living for artists, collectors and galleries (and anyone else who loves art) . For a complimentary subscription, visit: http://www.fineartviews.com/

To read the full version of this article and read other helpful and inspiring articles, please visit http://www.fineartviews.com/.

Cottage in the Woods - A New Original Oil Painting

Cottage in the Woods - 8 x 10

Oil on Canvas Panel

$100

Copyright of Dena McMurdie 2009

I love the harmonious autumn colors in this painting. This small cottage sits on the edge of a field, the forest ablaze with vibrant reds, greens, and yellows behind it. I had to paint the field several times to get the value and color just right. Once I was all finished, I noticed that the field looked a little out of place, so I went back and added a few strokes of neutral green to tie it into the rest of the painting.

To purchase this painting, either CONTACT ME or use the PayPal button below. I accept payment via check, credit card, or PayPal.

The Daily Painting Movement

It all started with one man, Duane Keiser. He had the idea to paint one small painting every single day and post it on his blog and on ebay. He has been an inspiration to hundreds of artists across the world, who now paint every day and post their paintings on their own blogs.

Why has this been such a powerful movement? There are several reasons why this method of painting has been picked up by so many. One of the reasons is the ability of the artist to improve their skills dramatically in a short amount of time. Painting every day is going to drive progression more than any other method. Artists that practice daily painting find themselves enjoying painting more than they did before they joined the movement. It is easier to stay interested in and excited about a painting when the process takes only hours instead of weeks or months to complete.

One last reason is the possibility of a steady income from selling the paintings. Many artists choose to use ebay as their vehicle for selling, some use other online auction and selling sites. Some artists use their own websites and blogs to sell their daily paintings. Others use daily email newsletters. There are as many ways to sell these paintings as there are artists creating them.

An Inspiring Quote for the Day

"The nearer we get to God, the more easily our spirits are touched by refined and beautiful things."

-Douglas L. Callister

Fishing in Autumn: A New Original Oil Painting

Fishing in Autumn - 8 x 10

Oil on Canvas Panel

$100

Copyright of Dena McMurdie 2009

This painting was a lot of fun to do. I used a muted palette of soft autumn colors. I kept my brushstrokes loose, and applied the paint generously. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but I believe I won this one!

If you are interested in purchasing this or any other painting of mine, please CONTACT ME. I accept payment via check or PayPal.

Veggie Painting Challenge.

Corn and Onion - 8 x 10
Oil on Canvas Panel
$100 - Available
Copyright of Dena McMurdie 2009

This is my version of the current DSFDF challenge. I had a lot of fun doing it. I concentrated on keeping control of my values, hard and soft edges, and chroma. The onion is the obvious focal point, with the cast shadows creating a fun and interesting pattern to bring you through the rest of the composition. The colors I chose were yellow, green, and a neutral red.

This was my first time participating in a DSFDF challenge, but I think I will keep participating. It is so fun to see how each artist interprets the same subject matter differently.

If you are interested in this or any other piece of mine, please CONTACT ME. I accept payment via check or paypal.

New Challenge From the Blog "Different Strokes From Different Folks"

I've been watching the art blog Different Strokes From Different Folks for a while now. It is a very interesting idea. The blog author, Karen Jurick, posts a new photograph every two weeks and challenges her viewers to paint or draw their rendition of it. There are some amazing works of art that come from these challenges! Recently she posted a new challenge, and I've decided to make this my first attempt at completing the challenge. I've made sketches and compositions of the photograph. My project for today is to paint it. I'll post the finished piece as soon as I finish with it.

If anyone wants to take the challenge for themselves, visit the blog Different Strokes From Different Folks. Happy painting!