Tuesday 27 March 2012

What is an Illuminate Artist?

As you know if you follow my work and this blog, I will soon be releasing my new book: The 68 Secrets of an Illuminated Artist - how to stay in your creative flow despite any obstacle. So the big question that propels itself to be answered is what the heck is an illuminated artist? This is right out of the book and a little preview and a thank you to all you dedicated blog readers ...


What is an illuminated Artist?

Great question. Before we start this adventure of reading, learning, and integrating the 68 secrets of and Illuminated Artist it might be good to get clear on what an illuminated artist is.

So what is an “illuminated artist”? I consider an illuminated artist a soul whose inner light has been lit up and who is creativity alive, inspired, and conscious of it.

The best example I can give you of how you may experience this would be the shift that I see occur in many of my workshop or retreat participants. At the beginning, participants arrive and their eyes are often dull; they could be tired of life, stressed out, uninspired, confused, leery of me and my sometimes pretty out there ways, Whatever it is, often they are somewhat closed down. After a few hours, or for some after a day or two, there is this shift that occurs and the only way I can describe it is their eyes get brighter. Sometimes goes off and they might start dancing while the paint, or humming while they work, or actually talking about loud in the course of the workshop and really expressing themselves authentically. It’s like a switch kicks on and voila, they become what I consider an illuminated artist.

You’re lucky. You don’t need the workshop or retreat to get illuminated. If you really let yourself soak up and apply what gems are within the pages of this book, chances are you will get your illumination on - and then, watch out world!

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Artist Interview: Deborah Bakos

I'd like to introduce Parker Studios Vancouver based Visual artist Deborah Bakos. Deb Bakos and I met via Artists in Our Midst and we got to know each other better during their annual Roundhouse show in Yaletown, 2011 in which she was curator. Deb can you tell us how you first got involved with AIOM? How did you evolve from simply painting and exhibiting your work to curating shows?

I think the way Art is presented is almost as important as the Art itself. I am a “big picture” person, bit I am a bit excessive about details as well. Artists in our Midst’s hands-on mandate provided me the opportunity to put my visions and organizational skills to work. I have been involved in the curatorial component of this artists’ collective since I joined them 4 years ago and I have served on their working Board of Directors for 2 years. It has been my good fortune to have met, worked with and admired many, many local artists because of this.

Deb, I notice you call your studio "ripe studio" can you tell us about this name and the meaning behind it please…

At the “ripe”, not-yet-rotten age of 40, I resigned from my 12 year career as a high school Humanities teacher and enrolled at Emily Carr University. My first commission in 2006 was a large painting of drippy, cherry cheesecake.

Though I rarely paint representational images like this now, the whole Art as the “fruit” of my imagination idea still works for me.

Looking at your portfolio online I can see that you do work in a number of styles - still life, abstracts, landscape, etc. Is there one particular style that you enjoy most? Why?

Most of my work falls between the boundaries of representation and abstraction. Abstraction is the most challenging for me and for this reason I gravitate towards it. I am very interested in color theory and the language of brushstrokes. Abstract painting allows me to work larger and to focus on the emotional connections we have with essential elements like form, color and movement

Deb, looking at your most recent works, I see a lot of textures and perhaps the use of a palette knife. Would you share with us about your painting process?

This past year, I worked almost exclusively with palette knives to free myself from the careful “fixing” that can happen with small brushes. I think my newer work is larger, looser and more expressive because of the tools I use. My process begins with a solid color on my canvas or panel, followed by thick layers of paint and glazes used to carve out forms. I use a limited palette and focus on tonal contrast to create drama.

Can you tell us how your passion for painting began?

I have always had a pencil in hand to document my world, but I started painting full time when I moved to Istanbul, Turkey in 2006. I worked in studio and exhibited with local and international artists for over 2 years. I had a little home studio with a marble patio and a magnificently ancient culture to inspire me. By the time I returned to Vancouver in 2009, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

I understand you have worked as a teacher and raised -- still raising!--- two kids, obviously you lead a very busy life...How do you make time for your art when it's never urgent nor a priority to take time for our creativity?

It’s always a balancing act. But my art is a priority for sure. I am at my studio (430-1000 Parker Street, Vancouver)

5 days a week, mostly during school hours. I definitely have to be organized and self motivated, though; particularly when it comes to the “business” component of my art career.


What's your favorite all time favorite art piece of yours and why? of another artist?


Truth is, I rarely like any of my paintings and that is what keeps me motivated to work harder. Painting is like problem solving for me. It is an on-going struggle and complete solutions are rare! I do think I am making progress with my abstract work, though. “Conversations After School” is a liberating shift away from my earlier representational work. This painting is part of a series called “The Road to Excess”. It has a conceptual element to it that relates to my experiences as a mother, a teacher and an artist. I painted this piece in 2009 during a very tumultuous time in my life when my family and I were transitioning from 2 years travelling abroad. It is grounded in the familiar, but has a disjointed, aerial perspective to it. I like that.

With regards to my favorite works by other artists, Robert Motherwell’s paintings have had the most profound effect on me. I saw his work in person for the first time at The Museum of Modern Art in NYC last summer. Pure color and form! I also can never get enough of Turner’s seascapes or Lucien Freud’s raw figures.

What are you working on currently (a new series, calendar, other) and please tell us about it...

I am working on my “Futile Attraction” series which is really a continuation of the piece above. Conceptually speaking, these paintings are about universals: messy relationships we share but never truly own. And about “desires not met . . . not yet”.


Romeo’s Rival

Juliet’s Window

Romeo’s Doorstep

I am also working on visual representation of my 2 favorite poems by E. E. Cummings:


In Just-Spring” and “may I feel? said he”.

Though the style of these works seems completely different from latest my abstract work, they contain similar elements in paint application and in color palette. They are set in the past but they represent the same universal ideas about the nature of our relationships as my current abstractions.

This is a very personal project that will likely be a long time in the making.

In Just-Spring – in progress

For you, what is the best thing about being and artist?

Having a voice.

For you, what is the most challenging thing about being an artist?

Having an authentic, unique voice.

How would you define success for yourself as an artist? What are some successes you have achieved thus far on your journey, and what has been a key factor in you achieving your success?

Success for me is about critical acclaim in the art world. While I am happy to sell my work so that I can practically maintain my profession (I have sold about %80 of the work I have completed), I am not really motivated by sales. I want to know, eventually, that what I have to offer has significance. I’m a bit of an existentialist by nature, so, of course, this is an absurd goal.

What 3 pieces of advice would you give to other artists -- specifically to other painters?

Travel to gain humility and perspective; see lots and lots of work by other artists; be ruthless in your commitment to learning.

I am, as you know, a big believer in self care - especially for artists! What do you do to nourish yourself and soul? To re-charge your batteries so to speak?

Hmmm . . . I think I should work on this more. Exercise always provides a lift for me, though. Wine works, too.

What recent or upcoming shows/and or gallery representation can we look out for or go and see of your work?

I was only recently juried into The Federation Gallery on Granville Island and will be submitting work for their landscape, figures, and Painting on the Edge shows this year. In the meantime I will be exhibiting at the Roundhouse with Artists in our Midst on May 16th, at the Centre for Peace on May 19th. Laura Jewitt Jewelry Gallery on West 10th often features my smaller piece and participating in The Eastside Culture Crawl in November is a given for me. All of these shows will be listed on my blog www.deborahbakos.com well ahead of time.

Deborah Bakos, I really enjoyed hearing your responses to my questions. Thank you for taking the time to partake in this interview!

My pleasure, Deb. Thank you for the opportunity

Tuesday 13 March 2012

Breathing Space: Whidbey Island


If you follow my blog you'll have read many weeks ago that I skipped out an having an opening at Havana Gallery and opted for a 4 day weekend away with my family on Whidbey Island. Yup, time for some breathing space and re-connecting with nature - and my family! Here are some photos my Dad took during the weekend away. (thanks Dad!)

My little monkey girl hanging around!

4 days of stellar sun drenched crisp winter weather. could not have asked for more.

Looking towards the Olympic Peninsula.



Mt. Baker in full view. Looks like a big ice cream cone!

Bald Eagle.


View as we walked down the beach. Never gets old.






Ruthie inside the fort we made. Super cool fort! Oh yeah!


Mum and I attempting to sleep in while Ruthie was telling us it's playtime. (That's when we went out and made the fort)



Tuesday 6 March 2012

Creative Inspiration: 5 Abstract Artists to check out!

Sometimes it's fun and inspirational to simply troll the net for other artists and check out their work. Here are 5 abstract artists I found that really inspire me...

Karen Laborde (sample of work above)
Just love the first image on her website under "new work"



Nell Tilton (sample of work above)
Particularly love this piece with a strong horizontal composition but so much play and texture that draws me in again and again.




Timothy Dodge (sample of work above)
Love this piece particularly because of the contrast and play he creates between opaque and transparent colours.



German abstract expressionist painter Ralph Gelbert (sample of work above)

The name of this piece is ' Fjordland' which to me speaks of the Fjords in Iceland so he has immediately won me over not only by the work but this name.

http://www.hicksgallery.co.uk/artist_gallery.php?id=51




Gerhard Richter (sample of work above)

Just love the mainly white pieces with etchings and marks. gushhhh...

http://www.gerhard-richter.com/art/paintings/abstracts/detail.php?13809




By the way, and lastly, while I was looking around online I came across a blog that deals solely with abstract works. Check it out: http://www.abstraktion.org/