Gayle Kabaker is a painter, writer, teacher and visual storyteller Finding Beauty & Light (and a naked swim in Lake Michigan)Behind the scenes of my artist talk — the stories, the detours, and two Zoom workshops coming up
Hi everyone! I’ve had many discussions lately with artist friends who are all frustrated at the amount of time spent doing admin work, promoting workshops and selling their art. We all just want to be in our studios making art. This has been especially true for me lately. Emma Gannon recently wrote about this: Writer: in their own private corner, writing! Author: out in the world, selling! Not sure how this translates for visual artists. Painter: in studio making art! Artist: on Instagram, promoting the art! Finding the balance is really hard. I’ve been working on my slide show for my artists talk that I will give during the 10 days of my show in Leland, MI. It’s such a great exercise to remind myself what is important and try to tell interesting and entertaining stories of how I began as an artist to where I am now. I ran through the slide show for our Patreon, and got fantastic feedback that I really took to heart, changing many things. I’m working on my opening and here’s what I have so far. “My exhibition is called Finding Beauty & Light. Often, scenes or things or people become more beautiful to my eye because of the way the light interacts with what I’m seeing. That’s where the title comes from — and it’s the lens for everything I’m about to show you. Beauty in supportive parents. Beauty in rejection. Beauty in political expression. Beauty in teaching. Beauty in sketchbooks. Beauty in travel. Beauty in the family. Beauty in unexpected detours. Each of those became meaningful—not simply because they happened, but because drawing and painting helped me pay attention to them Drawing and painting is how I process grief and fear. How I make sense of the world. How I connect with people — my family, my friends, my students. How I find beauty and light in things that might not look beautiful at first. I’ve evolved from someone trying to make a living making beautiful pictures into someone using art as a way of paying attention to life itself. This is my journey — how I became the artist standing before you today, and how every unexpected detour helped me find beauty in a new way. I’m going to post this slide show talk on our Patreon, so if you’d like to see it - join our Patreon - all levels will have access to see this, including the Free level. But truthfully- the Opera Pink level is where we have the most fun, with two free 1 hour zooms a month to hang out together! I talk about how I began and my style evolved…
How I finally started keeping a sketchbook after years of wanting to but it always felt like work…
And I tell stories - like how how I swam naked to get a good shot in Lake Michigan
How I got inspired to make my bed painting series - painting bedding like water - when getting sick and terrible weather kept me from painting water while in Greece teaching.
How a show with my family where I sold hardly anything and felt like I’d ‘failed’ turned into my first New Yorker cover… and lots more! The feedback from Patreon was to tell stories! So - I’ve got stories for you!
My first slide in the talk is this photo of my parents. I don’t know if I’d be an artist if they hadn’t been so supportive. Jennifer Orkin Lewis and I get plenty of women on our weeklong retreats that never got support to be an artist and after the kids are grown or they retire - they are on our trip to try to reclaim and nurture their long lost artistic selves. Maybe this is you? Check out our weeklong retreat in France, where we are headed back to France. These retreats are not just for women only, but that’s who seem to always show up. Partners are welcome - but all must participate. Jennifer and I do not just teach drawing and painting. We teach you how to notice, how to see what is around you and how to interpret all of this in a way that is FUN. And the really cool thing? Jennifer and I see things differently, so you get the benefit of being inspired by BOTH of us! I was very inspired by the landscape there, and got up early many mornings to photograph the gorgeous sunrises and morning light. I’m very excited to go back!
My grandkids Mona age 5 1/2 and June 2 1/2 are here with my daughter for the summer. They’ve been here for three weeks and with a lot of good communication, expectations adjusted and good boundaries - we are doing really well! Mona loves to draw and joined me for our last free portrait drawing session - we had a blast! We posed together and she drew with me the whole time. I look at these sessions as my time to practice drawing faces. Nothing more! Not trying to make anything special, try new techniques - I am simply practicing. Wednesday July 22 at 6pm EST
Jennifer Orkin Lewis and I are doing one more on Wednesday at 6pm EST Register here and the Zoom link will be sent to you These sessions are such fun! ZOOM workshopWe are also teaching a Hockney inspired Zoom workshop next weekend. July 25, 1-3pm. All levels, ages and abilities are welcome! It’s donation based - with a suggested donation of $40, but pay what you can. We want this to be accessible for everyone. Can’t make it live? Chose the video only. People, Pools & Landscapes: A Hockney-Inspired Afternoon with Gayle & Jennifer This summer, join Gayle and Jennifer for an afternoon inspired by the color, pattern, and light of David Hockney — one of the most influential painters of the modern era, and a long-time touchstone for both of us. Read more…
Join our Patreon!You're currently a free subscriber to Paint What You Love. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
|
Nema komentara:
Objavi komentar