Finding YOU

I love abstract art!  I also enjoy creating, teaching and painting abstract paintings.  Yet, I have come to realise that I am a landscape artist, leaning towards semi-abstraction.  For me, I feel an emotional connection to the landscape whether it is an abstracted one or not.  I need to feel even just a hint of representation to produce my best.

This came to me after years of experimentation.  And after many years of searching for what I love to paint which gives me comfort and happiness, I came to realise that I am a landscape artist.

My paintings starts of like an abstract, but something happens and it get's morphed into what looks like land, then water, then trees emerge as the sun sets.  Voila... a landscape!  I work on three to five paintings at the same time, sometimes with different colour palettes, usually starting with dabs of paint slathered with ink, alcohol, water, sometimes manipulated roughly, with nowhere to go.  Working with some sort of guide, a sketch or a photograph, but usually at this stage, I am not sure where I am heading to.

Classical music helps me to connect with my soul... helps me also to keep calm during the screaming stages when things go into the blur between logical reasoning and abandonment.  As a painter, you just have to learn to trust yourself.  Trust your experimentation and to not be afraid of destroying what you created.  Arthur Bernard quoted; " A painting is destroying and building, destroying and building, over and over again. A good painter must be able to do this and not be afraid of this."

Cheers,
Marissa

"Summer of Sixty Nine" 10" x 10" Mixed Media

March Break

I had a good 2 weeks off teaching and it feels good.   Not having to rush to the next workshop or prepare for the next project gave me time to find some balance in my day-to-day.  I got to catch up on administration shtuffs like updating my website, my blog ( yup!), do my taxes, work on a project and got to spend more time with family and friends.

Although being an artist may be worthwhile and rewarding, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is easy.  Anyone who has ever actually tried to paint a picture, play a song, or write a novel knows that creating art is often a lot harder than it looks.  It is often a long and frustrating journey between knowing how to do something and being able to do it well.  Long moments of thought, practise, creative thinking, practise, trial and error, practise, working through problems, practice, and more. There are a lot of things that have to get done towards being productive and successful.  Not only are YOU your own business, you have to produce to make a living.

Being an artist is not about lightning bolts of inspiration.  It is about being willing to dedicate yourself to practise, to keep growing, to keep learning - to explore. 

I am fortunate to have many friends who are artists and that we can share our little adventures in the business of art every time we get together.  Having a support system outside of family is also enriching. 

"Somewhere North of Bancroft" 8" x 8" Oil

Aside from working on my own projects, I am very much enjoying facilitating workshops and teaching. It seems the more I teach, the more I learn.  I have been blessed with having great students who have become friends and collectors of my paintings.

As I said before, being an artist is not easy.  But there is no other place I'd like to be.

Upcoming Workshops

Wow.... it has been a while since I last wrote.  It has been hectic, but all productive and creative!  Spring is upon us and I will be having another workshop with Meta4 Craft and Art Gallery, in Port Perry this April 3rd, it is called "Abstracted Flowers".  You can go to their website to learn more about it and register!

I thoroughly enjoy this class because I not only get to work in such a great space, but meet new friends at the same time! 

"I see them bloom" 24" x 24" Acrylic on Wood Panel

Likewise, on May 14-15, I will be facilitating an abstract - "Go with the Flow" weekend workshop at my home studio.  This is a workshop where I will encourage students to go with the flow!  Move your paint without the use of brushes, applying paint with various techniques and understanding various acrylic gels and fluid mediums in the market.  Supplies are not included.  To register - visit my website at www.marissasweet.com  I can only have maximum of 4 people in the class, and I have 2 already confirmed, so register soon!

Till the next chat!  Be well and take care!!

Marissa

August 26th at 1p.m.

Thank you for those who have visited the gallery this past few weeks to catch the show.  PASSAGE BETWEEN TWO WORLDS is currently at the Aurora Cultural Centre until September 12^th.  I am getting FB messages and emails that you have visited and I am glad to hear your feedback!

On August 26^th, Wednesday at 1p.m. Erika and I will be at the gallery for our Art Talk/Performance.  So please save this date!

We will have the opportunity to talk about our journey through 2 years of preparing for this show, our individual pieces, its inspiration and vision.  It will be a great day to learn about our process, the struggles and realizations of achieving what we wanted to express.

Our Art Performance will be an interactive performance inviting everyone present to participate.  It will be a fun way to explore our irrational fears and a good way to face it and find a way to overcome!

As landed immigrants in a new country, both Erika and I shared a lot of experiences where we had to overcome our fears.  Leaving our birth home to move to a strange land and learn a new culture could be scary at times, but we took a leap of faith and succeeded.  

We will be inviting everyone present to add their irrational fears to our poster, which is currently displayed on the blue wall at the gallery.  This poster contains collected fears from the public from the start of the exhibition. It will be fun to see how the poster has grown!

Hope to see you on August 26^th at 1p.m.

 Hugs

Marissa

Facing Fears Board

A BIG THANK YOU!

I cannot believe that it is now the last week of July and the month is almost over!  I have a lot of thanks and gratitude to all who made it to the show opening and reception for my show with Erika Takacs, PASSAGE BETWEEN TWO WORLDS. 

It was a whirlwind of events and the day seemed to pass by too quickly.  A lot of friends and family came to support us and it was nice to meet new acquaintances along the way.  It was exciting to share short stories and chats with a variety of guests some of whom are my students, art colleagues and good friends.  

Talented musician Danielle Beaudin gave the guests a teaser on her band’s first CD which is to be released end of summer and if you were there until the end of the show, you would have heard me jam with Danielle, who is also my lovely niece!

I acknowledge those who came from London, Hamilton, Toronto, Cannington, Barrie, Oshawa & Durham Area and Bolton!!!  I know it was worth the drive to Aurora!  Your visit was a pleasure to Aurora Cultural Centre and we are delighted that you took the time off your very busy summer weekend to join us.

Lastly, I would like to personally thank everyone at the Aurora Cultural Centre management and staff for all the support, encouragement and belief in our show.

Hugs to all of you and see you soon! Thank you all once more!

Marissa

Meridian Gallery

Curator Stephanie Nicolo, Erika Takacs, Curator Clare Bolton, Marissa Sweet, Don Chretien

Installation Day

Today was a good day!! A long day which started three days ago with getting organized with last minute prepping, installing hardware,  bubble wrap, to taping and packing, to organizing and labelling and then the big load on to 4 vehicles today and the trek to Aurora!  Rain was predicted so we brought ponchos, you just never know what to expect, but aside from a strong but quick downpour on Lakeridge,  it was not as bad as we expected.

The install took us the whole day more or less, lots involved with logistics, but once things were in place it seemed to go quickly.  I sure needed a beer though when we got home because rush hour traffic got bad once we got to around Whitby.  Tomorrow, we go back to the gallery to continue our installation piece and bring some of Erika’s sculptures which could not fit in the car today.  There is also an interview to the local paper.  Very exciting!

BIG Thank you to curator Stephanie, who with her wonderful staff facilitated the install.  Thank you to our spouses who drove  respectively with their car full of art work.  For my hubby Glenn, who stayed all day giving any help we needed.  So blessed.

 

Marissa

 

A week today

This is it!  A week before our show opening on July 18^th.  Geez….. now not only does production of the work get a bit more time conscious but the technicalities of getting the show on the road become apparent!

I have finished 20 pieces, the majority painted for this show has opened new doors in my creative journey, not only in the painting process, but also in the preparatory steps prior to dipping my brush into colour.  A lot of research went into each piece, ideas drawn from sketches, some came instantly, yet others took months to visualise.

Getting comfortable with plans abandoned to a different path was daunting. Erika has truly inspired me to be more that I could be as a painter, from this I believe I have grown in many ways as a visual artist. The vision we had towards this show inspired me to push forward. 

I am thankful for my family who understood my everyday work mode and gave me the space to create! 

Detail for "Rhapsody in Blue" 80" x 120" Mixed Media

As I finalise details, varnish each piece, wrap then deliver them to the gallery, I am filled with pleasure that each painting has a special story to share.  A journey that I hope you can experience shortly.

 

Hugs,

Marissa

www.marissasweet.com