2 Reasons to Buy Art that You Haven't Even Thought Of

Why do people buy art? Well, there are the usual reasons: It's a good investment, the artist is famous, and hey, it looks great with my couch! 

But I've got two other reasons that I bet you haven't even thought of before. 

1. Art can be Your Voice...

How many times have you listened to music and gone, "Ya, that's exactly how I feel! Turn it up!".

And you rock out to the beat singing the lyrics at the top of your lungs. It's like the song was made just for you. You haven't been able to express exactly what's going on then finally you hear this song and it's like Yes! Someone else totally gets it.

Art can be that way too.

Ever wondered why the painting "The Scream" by Edvard Munch is so famous?

Maybe because that feeling of despair, isolation and frustration is something that we can all relate to having experienced at one time or another in our lives. We have all been there. You feel alone. Like nobody understands. Like you just want to tear out your hair and scream to the heavens till your lungs burst. Ya, Edvard Munch totally got it. 

Or maybe the whimsical work of one of my favourite contemporary artists, Angela Morgan,  reflects your sense of playfulness and lighthearted lifestyle and surrounding yourself with her art makes your heart sing, "Yes! This is how I feel! See everyone, see how cool life is when you feel this way!"

See you in Sequins by Angela Morgan

Art can be the perfect way to communicate all that may be bottle up inside you just looking for an exit. Sometimes it's hard to express our thoughts and feelings to those around us, but through art we can make ourselves heard.

Yes, Art can be your voice.

2. Focus on Where You Want to Go...

The ideas of manifesting what you want out of life are becoming more and more mainstream. But even if these kinds of concepts are not up your alley, I think we can all agree that if you want to drive your car between two pylons then you need to keep your focus on the empty space between, not on the pylons themselves, or sure as the sky is blue, you will run into a pylon and flatten it!

Same goes for what you surround yourself with in your life, your home and your workspace too. If we are surrounded by mess, garbage, violence, disturbing sights and sounds invariably our lives will reflect that in a lifestyle that is most likely very unhappy. 

But alternatively, surround yourself in a clean, organized environment filled with fresh flowers, beautiful music, and inspiring artwork and decor and your days are uplifted. No matter the challenges, you will overcome them. 

Autumn Sunrise by Alison Galvan

When our environment is filled with things that make us feel good it puts us on a proper mental footing to get up and go. Even if our life isn't all sunshine and rainbows currently, a happier outlook in life is sure going to make the tough times easier to bear and the good time just that much sweeter.

Maple Morn by Alison Galvan

Yes, Art can lift us up!

Tell me, why do you buy art?

I'd love to hear your reasons for surrounding yourself with your favourite art. How does it make you feel? Please leave your comments below and let's chat about it! 

Preview YouTube video Satisfaction-Rolling Stones

Artful Communication: How to Read Between the Lines, er... Brushstrokes

Sculptural inspiration for my next piece

We are all made up of layers. 

Physically, our organs, bones, blood, and muscles form the multiple layers that, wrapped up in our skin make our bodies one neat package.

Emotionally, we have ages and stages, that layer one on top of the other as we mature and evolve through life's chapters

And then there are our social layers. The parts of ourselves we show to the outside world and our inner secret selves that we show to no one, or only to the one or two very special people in our lives.

When we communicate we also do so in layers. There are the words we say and the tone we use to speak them, but then there are the things that aren't said, our facial expressions, our body language and even the clothes we wear. All of these things combined tell the real story. But it's up to each individual to take the time to really "listen" to all that is being said. 

Painting inspiration for my next piece

Learning to Listen

I learned to "listen" well during the years I lived and traveled abroad in Paris, France, Calcutta, India, and Negros Occidental, Philippines. When you can't speak the language, or fluency is limited, it's amazing at how gifted you can become in figuring out what's going on by simple observation and being perceptive.

There was the time in the Philippines, at the home of one of my many sisters-in-law, when one of the maids was very upset about her teenage daughter's rebellious ways. I went outside on the porch with her and sat for half an hour as she poured her heart out in her native Tagalog - a language that I don't speak. Sure, I had no idea of the the details, but I was amazed at what I did understand - parenthood is tough no matter what culture you come from!   But even more than all of this, I was humbled and moved by how grateful this little maid was.  Because of the language barrier  I hadn't interrupted. I hadn't interjected with my own agenda. I just shut up and gave her 1000% of my attention and really listened and for the first time she finally felt "heard".  

And isn't that really it. We all just want to be heard. 

Being Heard as an Artist 

Sanding off the old work
making room for the new

I think for many an artist of any discipline, perhaps this is why we create. We have an unquenched desire to be heard and our creative projects are the stories we wish to tell.

For visual artists our "words" are spoken with line, colour, and shape. Our brushstrokes tell the tales of who we are - careful and controlled, exuberant, wild, or chaotic. Our colour palettes speak of our passions, our anger, frustration, love, contentment, or fear. Study our subjects and you open a window into our inner most thoughts, are they happy or brooding, clear, or confused? And sifting through all the layers of a painting and you realize you know more about the artist than perhaps you thought at first glance.

Sculpting of the
window frame is done!

Exposing Myself

Like most artists I wear my heart, my thoughts and ,my feelings on my sleeve, and as a consequence my art reveals a lot about me, probably more than I care for most people to know. I sculpt in bas-relief upon wood panels and the work projects out from the  2 dimensional landscape I paint into the third dimension.

This 3D bas-relief layer mirrors the persona I present to the world. It's funky and different, the material does what it wants to do, and I revel in the happy accidents, smiling and living life with a "go with the flow" attitude.  The real me, or secret me, for that you have to study the 2D painting underneath to gather your clues. The sculpting is a diversion, but go beyond, and the answers are there if you choose to read them...

Mixing my colours.

My colour choices are often limited to one zone of the spectrum with minor splashes of complimentary colours to accent - I don't like to be loud and abrasive, but rather I like to think I choose subtly and diplomacy in all that I do.

The texture of my artwork yearns to be touched - in fact that's always the first question I am asked when people see my work for the first time, "Can I touch it?" A direct reflection of my own personality. I am a kinesthetic learner too and I am also a big fan of a good hug!

Landscape painted.
Now to paint the Sculpting

Transitions

I am intrigued with exploring all there is to know about communication and what I call "The Art of Listening." And through my art I like to examine my own personal layers of communication about the real me as I live life's chapters. Right now both my children are graduating high school and my world as I know it is changing. It's the end of an era and the beginning of a whole world of possibilities. I'm excited for my kids and yes, a little scared for them. I'm also a little bit excited and scared for my husband and myself too. It is a new journey, a time of transitions.

                           

                            Painting the window frame 

Painting the handle of the window frame

 

A Glimmer of Hope

My latest work:  "A Glimmer of Hope." Can you "read" between my brushstrokes to understand this chapter of my story? Am I being heard?

A Glimmer of Hope by Alison Galvan 24 x 30

Where to Find my Art?

To view or purchase my original artwork directly from my website, please visit:

www.alisongalvanfineart.com

I am honoured to have my work represented in several Fine Art Galleries in Ontario and Quebec.  To view or purchase please visit:

The Gallery Upstairs - Milton, Ontario

Eclipse Gallery - Hunstville, Ontario

Terre Neuve Gallery - Aurora, Ontario

The Shayne Gallery - Mount Royal, Quebec

Prefer posters, or prints? Please visit:

www.zazzle.ca/alisonsinspirations 

What do you think?

I would love to know your thoughts and experiences on listening and communication.

Are you a good listener? Please share in the comments below what you believe makes you a good listener? And If you are not, what do you think you need to do, to become one?

Prints now available for only $28.95!!!

http://www.zazzle.ca/original_autumn_canopy_by_alison_galvan-256356471065017205?

Visualizing is EVERYTHING!!!

Right before the Christmas holiday my daughter sent in a video audition  to Pace University in New York for their Bachelor of Fine Arts program in Acting for TV, movies, commercial and voice over. Since then we have been waiting (tensely!) to hear whether she would get a call back, and if so, would the call back be on the day we wanted or would we have to make a second separate trip to NY (She is also auditioning for SUNY and Julliard and we've been trying to co-ordinate the timing into a one weekend event).

Needless to say that while on the outside I worked very hard to appear calm and self-assured that everything would work out perfectly, inside I was a bowl of jelly! That being said though, I thought I'd give this idea of visualization and picturing a successful outcome a try - I figured it couldn't hurt, and it just might help!

 So while the rest of my house was in hibernation mode, snuggled up in their beds, I lay with eyes closed and  mentally walked through our NY trip as if everything we wanted had come to pass exactly as we wanted it to happen.

First our Greyhound bus trip sees us arrive on time to Mid-town Manhattan's Port Authority terminal safe and sound. We grab a cab to our hotel which we find to be clean with affordable yummy restaurants right around the corner. We get a good sleep, waking up to spend the day getting the lay of the land, learning the best subway routes to each audition and visiting the Museum of Modern Art and Greenwich Village (where I used to live when I went to Parsons). The next two days are audition days and we head out to SUNY in the morning and Pace in the afternoon with Julliard on the following day. Phoebe (my daughter) of course nails the auditions, blows them away with her amazing talent. We go out for a celebratory dinner because of course she's been accepted to all three and now has a happy decision to make, and finally jump on the Greyhound bus, making it home in high spirits.

And..... so far so good! Today we just got word that my girl not only got a call back to Pace, but got it at the exact time and date that we wanted and needed to make it all happen!

I am a believer!!!

I mean yes, of course there are other factors, not least of which my daughter's talent and abilities, but when I think of all the little details that had to co-ordinate, well, like I said, I'm a believer!

What have I learned from this?

I can tell you that when it comes to my own art career goals, every day I now take half and hour and run through my own visualization scenarios of successfully getting representation in prestigious galleries, selling to interior designers, gaining recognition for my artwork and making sales like they are coming out of my ears!!!

I believe that visualization is a powerful piece of the success puzzle and I am already seeing results trickle in.

What do you think? Are you a believer too? Do you or have you used visualization and has it brought you success? I'd love hear your story. When one succeeds, the sharing of it inspires us all!

Too Much Talk & Not Enough Action

I Believe it's good to make goals and to have dreams. In fact every Christmas and on my birthday I always kind of do a re-evaluation. You know, how have I done. Am I making progress, falling behind. That sort of things. And for the most part I have done pretty darn good.

Except with my financial health.

In the past this has been my nemesis. But that is the last time I am going to talk like that because if thoughts are things - and I believe they are, then it's time to change my thinking, my internal pictures and my outlook in the future.

I am a professional artist. And I want to not only survive, but to thrive as an artist. So today I have spent the last few hours developing a plan of attack to set me on my path of not only getting my work recognized and respected, but also sold to clientele who really love what I do.

But before I get into that I just want to say that one of things that is just plain wrong is to talk, but not follow through with action. In my mind if you are not planning on doing what you say you are going to do, then SHUT UP! When I say I will call you on Tuesday at 1pm, then I will call you on Tuesday at 1pm. If we agree to meet to discuss a project then I will prepare for that discussion and I will be there on the day 5-15 minutes early with plans in hand. Why am I telling you this? Because I just want to be clear that I say what I mean and mean what I say. I respect, appreciate and feel honoured by people who treat me this way, and mirror that back to them as my way of saying thank you.

I have a goal of having my artwork represented by 10 or more prestigious, well-respected art galleries, and to have an excellent working relationship with 10 or more visionary interior designers. From these connections I have set my sights on selling 100 paintings in 2015. That's 8.333 per month or roughly 2 per week.

How am I going to do this?

1. I believe in myself and visualize my success every morning and evening.
2. Every week I am creating 1 to 2 new pieces.
3. Every week I am contacting 100 galleries and 100 interior designers (actually even more than that as I've been building a target list for each and I've almost got 200 names on each list.
4. Every day I am blogging about my progress and sharing my updates on all the various social media outlets

I believe that really it is all just a numbers game. There are 6-7 billion people on this planet and surely some of them have got to love what I do, and if I contact enough people eventually I will find the right ones. My father always says that in sales for every 100 calls you make, you should achieve success 1 to 2 times. So I'm going for it.

I believe that if I say what I do, and do what I say then I will achieve all that I believe I can make happen. 

What do you believe you can make happen? I'd love to hear it. Let's make it happen together!

SOLD at The Textured Landscape Show in Milton & New Work!

Last weekend was my Textured Landscape show at The Gallery Upstairs in Milton. It was a great success and I really enjoyed working together with gallery owner, Hedi Nowak and my partner in crime, artist Patrick McGoey .

I met some wonderful people at the show and was fortunate enough to make two sales to a lovely young woman who had heard about the show on facebook!

Here are the pieces that sold...

Which puts me in the great position to have to replenish my stock!

I am working on a new series that incorporate architectural elements for the sculpting and beautiful landscapes seen through the architecture. These are the first two that I've completed, but I have many more sculpted and just waiting for the paintbrush!

Each piece is 24 x 36 inches and I'm not quite sure of my titles just yet . I am open to your suggestions for titles so please feel free to leave me any ideas though as well as your thoughts on my latest artistic direction.

Now back to the easel....

Once Again, Thanks for Your Support!

Sculpting New Beginnings...

Last weekend saw me ripping apart old work and sanding off the old sculpting and paint to get ready to begin again. Love great equipment especially when you can buy it on sale! Sanding down 9 pieces by hand would have taken forever, but with this handy dandy sander I was done in 4 hours! And now that I've got refurbished panels ready to go, I've spent the rest of this past week sculpting new pieces.

My last trip to Montreal I met with the director of the Shayne Gallery. She suggested I might think about adding some architectural elements to my work which totally got my juices flowing. Below are images of what I have sculpted so far. In my head I have a very clear picture of what the finished products will look like, but I know sometimes it's hard for others to get the idea of my direction. For those of you interested in the process though, here is what the sculpting looks like before I start painting. Remember these are refurbished panels so there is still some old paint which will, of course be painted over when I move on to that step once the sculpting material is dried. So please ignore the splotches of colour you see in the non-sculpted spaces!

 It's hard to see, but the wall behind the lock will be a brick wall. A beautiful sunset/sunrise scene will be painted in the centre. It's a panel that is 30 x 30 inches.

 I saw these cool old vintage doorknobs and thought that they would look really unique once sculpted and again, a beautiful view will be painted through the keyholes. Both of these pieces are 40 x 30 inches






 This piece was inspired by one of those old "peepholes" that have little doors that open and close. My old friend from kindergarten used to have one on their red front door and I always admired it. This is a larger piece, 48 x 36 inches, and when finished, I think it will be a real stunner.

 These last two pieces are inspired by old wood barns. I love the old painted wood boards and wanted to do a couple pieces where the wood was missing pieces. Again, I realize it's a bit hard to visualize, but trust me these 24 x 36 pieces are going to wow!





I still have two more big pieces to sculpt, so next week I'll give you a preview of those and hopefully have some of these smaller works painted and completed to share with you.

As always.... Thanks so much for all of your support!