An Abstract Life

New Blog Location!

2010-03-10T20:50:00.000-08:00

My blog has moved! Please stop by and visit at the new location.

Marbleized 1 - 30x40 Inch Fine Art Painting

2010-01-02T07:24:00.000-08:00

For the first posting of 2010, I wanted to write about a very special painting. Marbleized 1, pictured in the above image is 30x40 inches on gallery wrapped canvas, and was created in titanium white, cerulean blue, ivory black, magenta, raw sienna, iridescent metallic gold and silver. I've been thinking about and experimenting with methods to create this type of effect, and this is the result. This painting is the first large scale piece that I've created in this style and these paintings really do look like marble! Happy New Year! "I dream a lot. I do more painting when I'm not painting. It's in the subconscious." -- Diego Rivera

Happy New Year, Happy New Decade!

2009-12-31T16:55:00.000-08:00

It is finally beginning to sink in that today represents the end of a decade. It is truly hard to believe. This evening I'll keep it short, but leave you with one of my favorite little paintings. Golden Dragon 1, the painting pictured in the above image, is 12x12 inches on gallery wrapped canvas in rich, warm brown, rustic red oxide, metallic gold and metallic copper. It is incredibly difficult to select one quotation to sum up a decade or to ring in a new one, so I've selected three. "Always do what you are afraid to do." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." -- Pablo Picasso " Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. " -- Dalai Lama Happy New Year and best wishes in 2010! I dream a lot. I do more painting when I'm not painting. It's in the subconscious. -- Diego Rivera

Movement in Stillness 2 - Painting with Glass and Granite Crystals

2009-12-30T20:10:00.000-08:00

As a continuation of my experiment in blending color and texture, I’ve added some different elements into creating art. I love how colored glass adds texture, shine and a touch of mystery to a painting, and I find that adding granite crystals adds another metallic dimension. The glass element is not sharp, and it makes the painting take on many different forms from different angles.

The painting in the above image is the second in the Movement in Stillness series. In addition to professional grade acrylic paint, this painting was created with granite crystals and colored glass. The colors are warm, rich burnt umber with deep rich texture; turquoise blue, green, metallic, iridescent gold and copper, raw sienna and dark red.

“Movement in Stillness 2” is 18x24 inches on gallery wrapped canvas with an approximate two inch depth. The first Movement in Stillness painting has been sold, so I am excited to have another shiny, magical piece to take its place in my studio!

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“A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament.” – Oscar Wilde

Universal Entropy

2009-12-27T19:38:00.000-08:00

Recently I’ve been experimenting with various methods of blending color with texture to create exciting and contrasting combinations. The painting in the above image is called, “Universal Entropy,” and it is one of my favorite paintings right now.

I rarely use the color combinations that are included in this painting (magenta with silver, green with blue, black with red) however, especially in person, this painting really shines. It is 18x24 inches, on two inch deep gallery wrapped canvas, and it now hangs in my studio to provide ongoing inspiration!

“A good painting to me has always been like a friend. It keeps me company, comforts and inspires.” – Hedy Lemarr

Good Things Come in Small Packages - New ACEO Fine Art Cards!

2009-09-10T17:24:00.000-07:00

Introducing my newest line of hand-painted original Fine Art: ACEO art cards!

ACEOs are "Artist Cards, Editions and Originals." They are small, collectible, affordable works of art that are perfect for framing, displaying, and giving as gifts. My new line of ACEO art cards comes in three different sizes, 2.5x3.5 inches, 4x6 inches, and 5x7 inches. The 5x7 inch size has not been posted yet, but they are coming soon.

These ACEOs will be safely placed in a clear, plastic, acid-free sleeve and I have even opened a brand new Etsy shop specifically for these art cards. You can visit the new Etsy shop here! Or you can visit the newly added ACEO page on my website here.

I hope that you enjoy these as much as I enjoy creating them!

Eight Amazing Artists and Lithosphere 1

2009-08-30T01:19:00.000-07:00

List Post #6 was incredibly easy to start, but impossible to finish. It is by no means complete... 8 of My Favorite Artists 1. Aleta Pippin - The wonderful color and fresh, vibrant approach are always inspiring in these contemporary abstract paintings created with oils and acrylics. 2. Anthony Barton - The stone paintings by this incredibly talented artist will make you consider whether they are photographs or actual paintings. They are indeed truly amazing paintings. 3. Jos Boviano - There is so much magic and depth in all of his paintings, and the abstracts, in particular are simply extraordinary. 4. One Clay Bead - A gorgeous little tray by this wonderful North Carolina potter sits on my desk and reminds me to be inspired and to appreciate the beauty in art every day. 5. Vincent Van Gogh - A great inspiration, Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime. 6. Catherine Jeltes - All of Catherine's work is wonderful, and I am in love with the contrasting color and richness in the abstract poppies. 7. Jeffrey Richard Stockbridge - This artist photographs abandoned homes and buildings, including the Divine Lorraine hotel. 8. Janet Rothermel - A pastel artist from Portland, Oregon, who creates gorgeous landscapes. While I cannot compare to these talented and gifted artists, I can share a new painting with you. The above image is of a piece entitled, "Lithosphere 1." This large painting is 24x48 inches and was created with unbleached titanium, pure titanium white, green gold, dark forest green, and burnt umber on gallery-wrapped canvas.

Simplicity of Dreaming in the Distance, List Post #5

2009-08-16T09:48:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite quotes is a bit of wisdom by Oscar Wilde; "I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex."

And on to List Post #5:

11 Simple Pleasures that Can Make an Average Day Into a Fabulous Day

1. A great cup of coffee - hold the flavored syrup!

2. A great song, during a traffic-free and somewhat scenic drive.

3. A cool breeze on a warm day. Never to be underestimated...

4. Great, fresh basil-y Pesto.

5. Good wine.

6. Seeing something new and fresh growing in the garden.

7. Deliciously scented things.

8. A bike ride on a perfectly warm, sunny day, by perfectly beautiful scenery. Combine this with a crisp, cool breeze - perfection.

9. Completion of a painting that feels like it is part of my family. This does not happen every time I complete a painting, so when it does happen, it is its own special reward.

10. A perfectly timed, mid-afternoon nap.

11. A good conversation with a great friend.

In keeping with the theme of simplicity, the painting in the above image is called, "Dreaming in the Distance." This painting is 24x40 inches, and there are two panels, each 20x24 inches. The colors in this piece are rich, warm burnt umber, unbleached titanium, crimson red, pyrrole orange, raw sienna, burnt sienna, and iridescent, metallic gold and copper. This painting is reminiscent of a simple, warm, late afternoon, overlooking the mountains and a setting sun.

List Post #4, and Awaiting Nightfall; An Abstract Landscape Painting

2009-08-02T03:04:00.000-07:00

List Post #4: 12 Things I'll Never Understand

Aside from the very depressing things that I could address, such as murder or cruelty to animals, there are quite a few things in this world that are relatively common that I don’t think I’ll ever understand. Here is my list of the top 12.

1. Flavored syrups in coffee. No matter how many times I've tried them, or how many flavors I've tried from a wide variety of different coffee shops, I sincerely despise them. So I have given up, and I’ll never order a flavored coffee drink again.

2. And while we're at it; powdered coffee creamer. It does not actually dissolve, and what is that strange, faux-milky sweetness?

3. Cubicles. I think that the invention of cubicles is an incredibly cruel joke on modern civilization.

4. Spam. Both the canned "meat" product and the digital version that only forces me to hate the product/service being advertised.

5. Any "meat" product that comes in a can or jar, for that matter. This includes Vienna sausages. Why?

6. Pop up ads. Do you actually think that I’m going to buy your product/service after you pepper my monitor with ridiculous pop-up ads?!

7. All you can eat buffets. I’m sorry, but I’m unable to eat from anything that requires a “sneeze guard.” Not to mention what it means to "eat all that you can..."

8. Vanity plates. If you haven't paid a visit to the hilarious blog, "Vanity Plates: Creepiness in 8 Characters or Less", you really should. I just will never understand the need for vanity plates. And they even cost more than the standard random number/letter combination license plates!

9. Why airlines are constantly changing flights around. I cannot remember the last time that I had a flight scheduled and SOMETHING didn’t change. Why can’t they just establish a flight schedule and stick with it?

10. Why “Jon and Kate Plus 8” was mentioned on the headlines of CNN this morning.

11. Hummers in suburban America.

And finally --

12. WWF Wrestling. I just do not understand the draw. And it frightens me.

Now, to remove any thoughts of WWF Wrestling and Spam from your head, and for your creative enjoyment, the painting in the above image is called “Awaiting Nightfall.” It is 24x36 inches, on 2 inch gallery-wrapped canvas in unbleached titanium, crimson red, ptallo blue, burnt umber, burnt sienna, raw sienna, and iridescent metallic gold and copper.

Happy Listing!

List Post #3 and Rustic Industrial 6

2009-07-26T05:48:00.000-07:00

This is the 3rd list in my series of List Posts: 8 of my Favorite Blogs and Websites.

1. Cakewrecks. Absolutely addictive. I usually go through all of their weekly posts on a Saturday morning with a cup of coffee, and laugh - out loud - for an hour. It’s like medicine.

2. Horrible License Plates. Also very funny.

3. Mental Floss. For the eternal nerd in all of us. They have some really great lists! My personal favorite is 10 Creative Methods of Advertising. Creative, indeed.

4. Overheard in the Office. Visit this site at your own risk! You never know what you'll discover.

5. Portland Food and Drink. These writers are serious about their cuisine!

6. Etsy. Who doesn’t love the land of all things handmade?

7. TaDa Lists. An online tool for making lists. What could be better.

8. Empty Easel. An artist can learn a lot from this website. They discuss search engine optimization, painting techniques, art marketing, the quality of art supplies... the list goes on and on.

I'm sure that there are many others that I've forgotten to add, but this is a nice summary. There are also quite a few artist blogs and websites that I adore, but I'm saving those for list #6.

And so that you'll have a painting to consider today, pictured is Rustic Industrial 6. This original, fine art, triptych painting is 30x30 inches, and created with acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas. Each panel is 10x30 inches and the canvas depth is approximately one inch. This painting has a lot of rich texture, and has a distressed, industrial, and antique-y feel.

Enjoy!

Stillness in Movement is Definitely Worth the Wait

2009-07-25T05:02:00.000-07:00

There are quite a few paintings that I started working on weeks, months, and in a few select cases, years ago, and they still are not finished. They aren’t finished because I don’t feel that they are finished. I don’t look at them and feel that indescribable satisfaction that comes from knowing when a painting has been completed. The beauty in this situation is the exponential growth that happens to that indescribable satisfaction when one of these long term creations finally becomes complete. The painting pictured here began its journey into the creation process about a year ago, and has several layers of texture, including granite crystals and a fine, red glass. The glass is not sharp, and it adds a mysterious touch of texture and light into the painting. Each and every layer was applied, and then allowed to just percolate for a while, until it was time for me to decide on the next layer. This painting is called Movement in Stillness and it is 18x24 inches. It is very difficult to photograph because of the added dimension brought in by the granite crystals and glass; however this photo represents the best two dimensional image that I could capture. This painting is special. Until it finds its permanent home, Movement in Stillness will hang in my studio and remind me to never give up on an unfinished work of art, because one day I will enjoy the magical sensation of seeing it become decidedly complete!

8 Reasons Why Portland is an Awesome City, and an Exciting Website Launch!

2009-07-23T21:47:00.000-07:00

I realize that this post is a bit later than the promised Sunday, however I have been incredibly busy, and I am excited to announce the launch of my new and improved website, www.hilarywinfield.com! Please visit and feel free to provide any feedback that you may have. And the list: 8 Reasons why Portland is an awesome city. And a few reasons why it is not always so awesome. 1) The city of Portland is large enough to have all of the coveted city amenities, but small enough to feel mostly easy to maneuver and less scary than some of the larger cities. 2) Low humidity in the summer; with some of the most gorgeous summer days to be found anywhere. 3) Portland is home of the largest urban forest in the country (maybe in the world?). 4) You can get to the mountains or the beach within an hour and a half. 5) The Saturday Market, as well as some really great farmers markets. 6) Super fancy microbrews. 7) Springwater Corridor – A fantastic trail right in the city, that runs from Portland all the way to Boring, OR! The painting in the above image is called Prismatic 5, and was inspired by a fabulous bike ride by the river on the Springwater Corridor! 8) Lots of trails for biking, hiking and jogging, right in the city. And the not so wonderful aspects of Portland: 1) The traffic. And it seems to be getting worse by the day. 2) The rain during the winter. I've lived here for eight years now, and I'm still not used to it at ALL. 3) The allergens. They take me out at least twice a year! I'm sure that there are many that I've missed, so feel free to add to the list!

7 Reasons Why it was Difficult to Start this Art Blog, And a New Original, Fine Art Painting

2009-07-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

Here is the first list from my new List Post Series!

7 Reasons Why I Truly Found it Difficult to Start This Art Blog, and Why I Almost Didn’t

1: Because I really don't believe that I am that interesting. Initially I wondered who in the world would want to read my blog, and even if they did, what would be the point? But then I decided that I would be a good place to discuss the creative process of painting, so I just went for it.

2. Because I didn’t think that I would have enough time to create well constructed posts. Sometimes I stay up way too late in the evening writing posts, but it’s really a lot of fun.

3. My actions stem largely from inspiration, so I knew before launching the blog that my posting would be far too sporadic.

4. It seemed petrifying to think that people “out there” would be reading my writing. In these days of being able to Google anyone at any time, it is scary to realize that anyone can just find my blog, read it, and decide that I’m an absolute moron! But then again, it is similar to posting my art "out there" for anyone to criticize.

5. I wondered who I would even be talking to? It is tricky to write something for yourself that noone may ever read, and then to just toss it out there so that anyone can read it.

6. What if I run out of things to say? What if I only have a finite number of things running around in my brain and they just end. Forever. Scary.

7. And lastly, I was worried that people would think that I’m narcissistic. Going back to the first point… and maybe the fourth point... all of these points really.

All of that said, thank you for reading!

The painting that is posted here is 18x24 inches and called Rustic Industrial Abstract 5 in Turquoise. This piece was created with professional grade acrylic paint on gallery-wrapped canvas, which is approximately two inches in depth. These colors are some of my favorites, and I just can’t seem to paint with them enough!

An Exciting New Series of Posts and a New Original Fine Art Painting: Prismatic 1

2009-07-07T20:32:00.000-07:00

I haven’t been posting nearly as much as I’d like, and I’ve been trying to find a way to post on a much more consistent basis. I have also recently had a few readers and collectors ask to know more about me as a person, rather than just as an artist. So I was thinking about a possible solution and then it hit me. Why can’t I create a series of posts in the format of lists? I love lists! I come up with lists all day long. Before I even get out of bed in the morning, I’ve most likely created a list of some type. 10 things I need to accomplish today, 10 things I’ve already accomplished, 8 things that are inspiring, 5 ways to enhance creativity, 7 reasons why today is going to be terrible, 9 reasons why I love my life, 11 places I just have to visit before I turn 35, 16 books to read over the next 12 months… So this post kicks off the first List Post with a list of the future lists that I will be posting (it is okay if this sentence makes absolutely no sense). The number of items in each list is To Be Determined, and will be revealed with each new List Post. This list is not concrete and is subject to change without notice, but I am planning to post one a week, every Sunday.

List of Lists 1: Why I truly found it difficult to start this art blog, and why I almost didn’t. 2: Reasons why Portland, Oregon, which is where I currently live, is an awesome city. And a few reasons why it is not always so awesome. 3. My current list of favorite blogs and websites. 4. Things that I will never understand. 5. Simple pleasures that I believe can make an average day so much more fabulous. 6: A few of my favorite artists. 7: A few products that I simply cannot live without. 8: My favorite restaurants in Portland. 9: My favorite restaurants anywhere. 10. Places that I absolutely cannot wait to visit. And a few places that I cannot wait to visit again.

And of course, I have to end on a note about one of my latest paintings. The piece pictured here is called Prismatic 1, from the Prismatic series, and the painting is 11x14 inches with a canvas depth of approximately two inches. This painting has a great deal of texture, and this series has been incredibly fun to create. Ciao!

Subtle Expression

2009-04-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

On a recent visit to Las Vegas with my fabulous sister, we stopped by an art gallery which was exhibiting a classic contemporary selection featuring Lichtenstein, Warhol, and Hans Hofmann. I greatly enjoy observing art. I am sure that this information does not come as a surprise, especially when we are talking about art that was created by such talented and world-renowned artists.

But something was different this time. Something that at first I did not notice, but that hit me like a lightening bolt about halfway through my tour of the exhibition. I was taking note of, and processing one particular color – a color that was used in many, if not most, of the paintings. A color that I’ve never taken particular notice of before in art.

Now before I go on, I have to say that before the trip, I’d been experiencing that familiar and dreaded “artist’s block” for several weeks. I would pick up a paintbrush and then panic because I have no idea if what is about to happen will end well or end in disaster. And then a very real and very frightening internal monologue begins to take place; “Which colors should I use? Am I really going to try to work with the same old color scheme that I always use? Or try something new, and risk turning this beautiful, fresh new canvas into a muddy pile of ready-to-be-recycled wood? Is there some sort of painter’s confidence that I just happen to be missing? I can’t be a real artist, because would a real artist be so afraid of the paint? And what is a “real” artist, anyway?”

On the odd chance that I did risk picking up a paintbrush, I would then “play it safe,” and paint in a style and color scheme that I am all too familiar with, and confident that the painting would work out to at least be, “good enough.”

Back to the classic contemporary art exhibit. Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Often I find myself appreciating the simplest things, and this day was no exception. The color that I continued to be drawn to again and again is the simplest, and possibly the least appreciated color – at least from my perspective. It is also quite sophisticated, and goes well with most all other colors.

I left the art gallery, and Las Vegas, with a newfound obsession with a color that I rarely ever use, unless I’m blending it with something else to take away it’s pure, stark lack of pigment. In that art gallery for the first time, I realized the great, regal power of the color White. So pure, so simple, and so very bold and contrasting.

My first painting upon return is posted here, and it is called, "Subtle Expression." And it is mostly white. With a bit of green, and a tiny bit of purple, and a little bit of black. The painting is very large, at 30x40 inches, and even with my professional SLR camera, and the effect of natural sunlight at the perfect time of day, it is impossible to capture the amazing image of this painting. It is one of my favorite pieces – it is stunning. And it is white.

Fresh Inspiration & A New Series

2009-03-09T10:07:00.000-07:00

With my studio back in working condition, I've been able to organize, regroup and start painting again. This has been a great reminder for me that taking a break yields fresh inspiration. My website has been updated and it now has a more modern, clean design and it is much easier to navigate. In addition, I have created a new series, called Rustic Industrial Abstract. Featured here is a triptych painting called Rustic Industrial Abstract 1 in Blue. The total size of this large painting is 18x42 inches. There are three panels, each 14x18 inches. The canvas depth is approximately two inches. The colors of this piece are rich, warm burnt umber, unbleached titanium, manganese blue, raw sienna, burnt sienna, and iridescent, metallic gold. This series adds a new and exciting flavor to my portfolio. Life can only be understood backwards, but it has to be lived forwards. - Soren Kierkegaard

We Cannot Control the Weather, But it Can Control Us

2009-01-08T08:37:00.001-08:00

Here in the Pacific Northwest the weather has been beyond tumultuous. We have had snow, ice, large amounts of rain, incredibly strong winds, falling trees, flooding, and landslides. The snow has been beautiful, and provided us with a magical white Christmas, for the first time in years (at least in the Portland metro area). The bad news is that my little art studio has been flooded, and until my insurance company is able to get to the smaller cases, as they are dealing with homes that have been through serious landslides and have much greater need than repairing simple water damage, I am unable to bear the swampy-ness, and in turn, unable to paint. The good news (and I am possibly just grasping at straws to find a silver lining) is that I have much more time for things like writing blog posts and organizing, which usually reside in second place - of course behind painting. I do not gravitate toward common sayings and catchphrases; however, right now I can’t help but be reminded that “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” It is hard to believe that there have been times when I could just go into my studio and paint for an unlimited amount of time, and instead decided to take the lazy route or to just do something different. Perhaps this has caused me to recognize an interesting phenomenon; I never want to paint more than when I can’t. Hopefully the damage will be cleared in a quick week or two, and then with all of this newfound inspiration, I should be able to create several new paintings! The painting pictured in the image above is called Solstice, and is one of my newer creations; pre-mandatory sabbatical. This is one of those pieces that could not possibly be conveyed accurately in a photograph because of the iridescent flecks of metallic silver, and the fine detail. It happens to be one of my favorite paintings at the moment, and it is 16x20 inches on gallery-wrapped canvas. The following quote by Albert Einstein is something interesting to consider… “Imagination is much more important than knowledge.”

Dreaming of Twenty Sunsets

2008-11-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been experimenting with the use of multiple canvases in different sizes, with different arrangements, using various textures and colors. The combinations are endless, and the number of effects that can be achieved is unlimited.

This painting is called, "Dreaming of Twenty Sunsets," and it is the newest addition to my portfolio! There are twenty canvases, and each is 5x5 inches; the total size of the piece is 20x25 inches. The edges are painted black to allow for immediate, frame-free hanging, and it was created with professional-quality acrylic paint on gallery-wrapped canvas.

On another note, as the holidays are looming, I have been seeking out the little things that make me happy and allow me to remain centered throughout my hectic (although fabulous) holiday schedule. Painting, of course, is one of these, along with dark chocolate, good Pinot Noir, and yoga. I decided that the following quote by Oscar Wilde is very appropriate for this time of year. "I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex."

Here's to an inspiring and creative week!

First Light of Day

2008-09-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

With the onset of autumn, I’ve been craving deep, rich earth tones, and this piece is the most recent addition to my portfolio. The painting pictured here is called “First Light of Day,” and it is a 30x30 inch triptych of acrylic paint on gallery-wrapped canvas. This piece is in a very familiar color palate for me; I love warm earth tones, with metallic shades, and then a contrasting and vibrant color, such as turquoise, or lime green. The following quote by Mark Twain isn’t necessarily relevant to the post, but quite simply, I like it. “A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.”

The Art of Process - V.A.S.T Labor Day Sale!

2008-08-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

V.A.S.T is having a fantastic Labor Day sale on Etsy! You can search for “VAST” and “Laborday” to find all of the sale items. Click here to visit the VAST forum thread, where you can read all about the sale.

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Lately I've been experimenting with new processes can be one of the most rewarding and conversely one of the most frustrating aspects of painting. Lately, I’ve been experimenting quite a bit, sometimes to the point that I have to throw an entire canvas away because it’s so badly mangled and truly unsalvageable. But once in a while I’ve gotten a painting just right. Posted here is “We Are All Made of Stars,” 12x12 acrylic paint on gallery-wrapped canvas. This painting is stunning in person; the colors are incredibly vibrant, and they seem to flow just in the right way. The following quote from Maya Angelou is very inspiring to me, and can easily apply to the subject of process. “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

The Perfection in the Imperfect

2008-07-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

Are all artists perfectionists, or is it just me? I don’t know. But I do know that it absolutely throws me off to complete a painting and then not believe it to be one of my best (or better) works of art. If there is one thing that I’ve learned about selling art, it is that you cannot predict what will sell and what will not sell. Sure, you can try. But you will always be surprised when someone purchases something that you’ve created, that isn’t one of your favorites. I won't divulge which painting it was, but it happened to me earlier in the week. And it was very exciting!

This occurrence made me consider the fact that I think that I’m truly selective. When I finish a painting, I sit back, and look at it – stare at it – for a while. And I am critical. I want every single painting to be perfect. But what does perfect mean in terms of art?

My answer to that question is in the fact that I want to look at every painting that I create and have the indescribable sensation that this painting is better than any painting that I’ve created before. But this is very unrealistic because everyone, including me, has preferences in color and painting style. And if I only used one very limited set of color and one or two particular painting styles, I would have a quite limited (and perhaps a quite boring) portfolio.

Posted here is a addition to my portfolio, entitled Mystical Daydream. It is 20x24 inches, acrylic on wrapped canvas, and the canvas depth is half an inch. The color scheme consists of textured Pyrole orange, turquoise blue, lime, green and titanium white on a burnt umber background.

I love, and embrace this quote by Erich Fromm, and thought it rather fitting with the subject of this post –

“Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.”

Straying From the Typical Creative Process

2008-07-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

As an artist, I am a firm believer in the creative process. I usually paint when I’m inspired to paint, and I work on the organization side of selling my art, when I’m not inspired to paint. The tricky thing here is finding the balance between painting all the time, and ignoring the organization, or losing the inspiration, and letting my portfolio suffer as a result.

Every so often I get intimidated by the creative process, and stalked by the fear of failure. I grow hesitant to actually place the paintbrush to a canvas with confidence, and I stare at all of the tubes of paint trying to select what would seem to be the perfect combination of color. Because there is no such thing as the perfect combination of color, or at least a perfect combination that is static, I get nowhere. And sometimes I get nowhere for so long, that I temporarily give up (under the pretext that I’ll just come back later).

But there is a silver lining here. Sometimes I don’t give up, and I just start painting without any type of vision whatsoever. And almost every time this occurs, the end result is a creation that turns out to be one of my best paintings! Later this week, I will post one of these experimental and fabulous creations.

Today, I am posting a sneak preview of the painting that will be featured in an Etsy advertisement in the October/November issue of Mary Englebreit’s Home Companion! This painting, from my Turquoise Sunrise series, is 16x20 inches, acrylic on 100% cotton gallery-wrapped canvas, and will go up for sale in September. If you would like to commission a similar painting, all you have to do is contact me.

On another note, take a look at my interview with Artspan on the Artspan Blog!

And a creative thought from Allan K. Chalmers on happiness: “The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.”

Enter the Magic! But What is the Process?

2008-07-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

Each and every time I sell a painting, I experience such an unexpected feeling of excitement in sending the creation off to its perfectly selected new home. It inspires and humbles me to realize that I have created something with paint and a paintbrush that someone else has decided to use their hard-earned money to purchase.

This year I’ve been fortunate enough to experience, on more than one occasion, the feeling of posting a painting for sale late at night and finding that it has been sold before I’ve even had my first cup of coffee the next morning. Newly listed artwork is highly visible, and the online marketplace is always alive in every different time zone.

But I’d be willing to bet that like me, most artists have paintings that have been in their inventory for a while. Paintings that the artist knows are good art, but for some reason or another, the right buyer hasn’t found them yet. These works of art are inevitably discovered by the right person, and I absolutely adore it everytime this happens. It is an exhilarating feeling to package up and send a painting to its new owner, who I always believe will love and cherish it for years to come. (Perhaps this is all in my mind, but it is enjoyable to consider!)

Each time I sell a painting, older or newer, I can’t help but wonder: How do people select the artwork that they buy? What is their thought process when they purchase something that will hang in their home or office, and that they will look at almost every day? Or something that they will give to someone who will think of them every time they see it hanging on the wall?

I know how I feel when I purchase something that I believe to be beautiful and inspiring; creative and electrifying. I feel as though I’m introducing a bit of magic into my life. For me, seeing something with an exhilarating and delicious color scheme or an emotion-evoking combination of detail is magical, and it is difficult to resist taking it home. I know that I need to buy a piece of art when I look at it and feel as though I already own it, and as though it represents a piece of who I am, in some way.

How about you? When do you realize, and how do you know, that you absolutely cannot live without an amazing work of art?

~~ Note: Pictured here is a new painting from my Carpe Diem series called, “The Cats Pajamas.” This gallery-wrapped triptych is 12x36 inches; professional-quality acrylic on 100% cotton, gallery-wrapped canvas.

~~ “Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.”
- David Starr Jordan

What Does "Great Art" Really Mean?

2008-06-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

Discouraged. This is not a word that pops into my head often (I think that I’m too stubborn to really even consider being discouraged as an option), but this week, it’s been floating around my mind quite a bit. The reason? I’m actually feeling discouraged because I’ve created a new series. I realize that this doesn’t make a great deal of sense, but bear with me.

The series is called “Intuition,” and each piece in this series is a twelve by twelve inch square on gallery-wrapped canvas with a high-texture overlay of bright and vibrant color. The intention of these pieces is to convey the dramatic effect of high-contrast color. The attached image is a grouping of five of these pieces.

So the reason for my lack of encouragement is the fact that this style of creation is brand new to me. I rarely create very small pieces, especially to be sold separately, and this feels counter to my individual method. Don’t get me wrong; I love highly contrasting color, and the dramatic effect that the texture creates. Maybe doing things a bit differently is stretching my view of what "great art" really means. And maybe it is causing me to question what it really means to be an artist. If I love a particular painting and the “marketplace” does not, does this mean that it’s any less of a great work of art?

“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.
- Flora Whittemore

2008-05-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

May has certainly been a hectic, although fabulous month! With house guests staying for about two weeks, and several projects around the house that simply couldn't wait any longer, the days have been slipping quietly away. After weeks of not painting anything at all, I went through all of the canvases that I could get my hands on in a single weekend. Finally, my soul feels refreshed, and I am able to post some new work. The painting pictured here is called Mystified. It is 18x24 inches, acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, and I'd love to hear your feedback.

Coming soon: a series of black and white landscape paintings, inspired by the beautiful and magical mountains of North Carolina. Just in time for summer!

An inspiring quote by Isaac Newton -- "Truth is ever to be found in simplicity."

Artist of the Month Selection for May; Vibrant, Colorful New Paintings!

2008-05-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been primarily painting with earth tones and neutral colors. I’ve been working on some commissioned pieces, and replenishing some of the pieces in my portfolio to balance things out – all in more neutral colors. Most of the time, I love painting with the rich, earthy shades of brown, gold, and burn sienna. But for some reason, this week I realized that I’ve been desperately craving delicious, vibrant, unapologetic color. And last night, I stayed up incredibly late, with an inordinate amount of energy, satisfying this craving.

The painting pictured here is called It’s a Beautiful Day, and it is 20x30 inches, on gallery-wrapped canvas. And on the left-hand side, you'll see Land of Dreams, which is 18x24 inches, on gallery-wrapped canvas.

To view more images, visit my website: http://www.hilarywinfield.com/.

Also, some very exciting news! I’ve been selected as Artist of the Month for May, 2008 on Boundless Gallery! If you’d like to take a look, click on the following link, and then click on the “Artist of the Month Tab.”

http://www.boundlessgallery.com/

And here is a quote, which I ran across and decided was rather insightful.

He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away.
- Raymond Hull

Here’s to a vibrant day!

New Paintings Added, Yupo Paintings Now Available!

2008-04-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

A new ground has been added to my portfolio – acrylic painings on Yupo paper! Yupo paper is a high-quality, water-resistant polypropylene paper. This paper never absorbs water, and it will not wrinkle or tear. A 16x20 Inch White Mat is included with your purchase. The total size of each of these Yupo paintings is 16x20 inches, and they will fit into any 16x20 inch frame (the frame is not included). The painting size is 11x14 inches. The Yupo paintings are highly textured, and very vibrant and eye-catching! See Tangerine Seduction, at left, which I've selected as the Painting of the Week.

I’ve also added two new paintings to my Waters Edge series! Click here to view the entire Waters Edge series: http://www.hilarywinfield.artspan.com/lg_view.php?aid=139892&atid=&iid=5&lnkname=Waters%20Edge&mgd_id=11713&pos=0.

The painting posted here is part of the Lightfall series, and it’s called Fountain of Youth! This new, 20x30 inch acrylic abstract painting was featured as the Piece of the Day on Boundless Gallery on April 7, 2008. http://www.boundlessgallery.com/piece-of-the-day.art. You can view the entire Lightfall series here: http://www.hilarywinfield.artspan.com/gallery/Lightfall%20Series%20-%20Vibrant%20Color/8769.

And finally, a quote that I read this morning and and decided to share! "It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not." - Anonymous

New Series - Waters Edge

2008-04-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

I’ve always been obsessed by water. I’m not quite sure why. Something about the vast power of water to paralyze, calm, destroy, relax, protect, drown, nurture, cleanse, and heal. Water has an almost divine quality and it has inspired me in many different ways.

Recently, while staring at a picture of the bottom of an ocean floor at the seashore in some unnamed, tropical locale, I started to think about all of water’s different properties, and all of the effects that it can have on each of us, namely the beautiful, positive, calming, and healing benefits. This inspired my new “Water’s Edge" series.

At this point, there are three paintings in the series. The first painting is posted here and called, “Healing Water’s Edge.” This painting is a triptych, and the total size is 48x20 inches. There are three panels, each 16x20 Inches. ½ an inch thick.

Please visit http://www.hilarywinfield.com/ to see more images of this and other pieces from my portfolio.

Enjoy!

“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.”
— John Lubbock

Quote of the Day!

2008-03-13T08:21:00.001-07:00

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. — Scott Adams

Just a Few Interesting Things..........

2008-02-20T08:32:00.000-08:00

This morning I read in Robert Genn's Twice Weekly Letter, a quote that I love. "Friendship multiplies blessings and minimizes misfortunes; it is a unique remedy against adversity and it soothes the soul." (Baltasar Gracian)

So I wanted to share it with you!

I've also posted an image of one of my new paintings here: Into the Great Wide Open. It is 20x30 inches, acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas.

Happy creativity and friendship!

$50.00 off of "Interconnected!" One Week Only

2008-02-19T10:14:00.000-08:00

Spring is on it's way, so to celebrate, I've decided to offer $50.00 Off of "Interconnected," which has been created with the colors of Spring in mind! "Interconnedted" is a 20x30 inch original, abstract painting, and the discount is only valid until March 10. Use the coupon code "Interconnected" at checkout.

Visit http://hilarywinfield.com/ to view and purchase "Interconnected" and to take a look at the entire collection of original, abstract paintings!

A New Day!

2008-02-15T10:07:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy week! Recently, I posted the largest painting ever in my collection (30x40 inches on gallery-wrapped canvas from my popular Sunrise Series) and intended to display it here as one of my new paintings for sale. But it sold almost immediately! Which is very exciting. In addition to offereing this painting as a commission order, I'm going to do create similar paintings on a similar oversized canvas.

But in the meantime... I'm displaying a similar painting here: it has a very similar color scheme and is also a painting from my Sunrise Series - it is a brand new addition to my portfolio. This painting is called "A New Day." It is 20x30 inches on gallery-wrapped canvas, and painting with metallic gold, copper, bronze, and brown with a wide spash of turquoise.

Enjoy! And Happy Valentine's Day.

P.S. Visit my MySpace page and add me as a friend: http://www.myspace.com/hilarywinfield

Valentine's Day Sale! All Abstract Paintings 20% Off

2008-01-29T10:37:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day Sale! Through February 15th, receive 20% off of all purchases! Just visit my website at http://www.hilarywinfield.com/ and enter coupon code "ValentineGift" at checkout.

The two paintings posted here are new additions to my collection; newly listed in January 2008.

The painting on the left is called Turquoise Sunrise, and it is 16x20 inches. The painting on the right is called Silver Prismatic, and it is 18x24 inches.

These paintings are created on top-quality, gallery wrapped canvas, with staple-free edges. The edges are painted to allow for immediate, frame-free hanging. The paintings are original, authentic and personally signed by the artist. A clear, gloss coating has been applied to protect the quality of the paintings.

Enjoy!

Carpe Diem!

2008-01-28T15:29:00.000-08:00

Finally! I've gotten my computer up and running in the new house, and am able to post all of my new work. Carpe Diem! is pictured here, and is part of a new series, for which this painting is the namesake. This series consists of various shapes of high-contrast color, placed on a black background.

I also have two new paintings that were created without using a paintbrush at all! They have various bold shades of color blended with silver, to create a rich, shimmering effect.

I'm so excited to finally have new work available! Visit my website, to take a look at all of my new paintings.

On another note, I had a very exciting experience over the weekend. I am allergic to wheat and gluten, and as the allergy has gotten progressively worse over the past year, I have given up many of the things that I once enjoyed.

One of those things was beer. Last Saturday evening, I went to Corbett Fish House, one of the few wonderful restaurants in Portland that serves up exceptional gluten-free fare and labels everything on the menu for those of us who need to avoid gluten, and I tried Redbridge beer (which is gluten and wheat free) for the very first time. I didn't expect for it to taste anything like a "regular beer," but was proven to be absolutely wrong. It was delicious! The perfect compliment to the gluten-free fish and chips that I was enjoying. So I'm very excited to have a beer that I can enjoy again, and that won't make me sick.

Carpe Diem!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-08T11:05:00.000-08:00

First I'll start by saying, Happy New Year! Honestly, I can't believe that it is already 2008.

While Christmas was something of a wonderful blur, travelling to North Carolina to visit my family, moving into the new house that we've been working to renovate and make livable, I haven't been able to paint much at all. And the few pieces that I have painted will not be posted until I can figure out how to properly hook up my computer to download the photographs of the new paintings. Ah technology.

Fortunately, next week I'm off to Mexico for some much needed rest and relaxation and hopefully, a new burst of inspiration! Once we return, I'm looking forward to settling into the new house and finding the ideal spot to bring to canvas some new and exciting ideas. Some fresh creations for 2008...

But for now, although I don't have new work to display, I've posted a painting which sold in November and happens to be one of my favorites - Metallic Sunrise. Enjoy!

New Paintings, New Savings!

2007-12-13T08:29:00.000-08:00

Several new paintings have been posted on my website. Two of my favorites, Five String Serenade (left), and Desert Rose (right), are pictured here. I've been enjoying a bit of experimentation with different methods of blending color. I've also been experimenting with combining color in less expected ways. These two paintings provide some vibrant shots of color to brighten up the cold Winter months!

~~SALE!~~ One week only! From now until December 20 receive 15% OFF on your entire purchase! No exclusions! Just enter the coupon code "DecemberSavings" at the checkout and save 15%.

Visit http://www.hilarywinfield.com/ to browse the selection of original, fine-art, abstract paintings, and to take advantage of these limited time savings on all purchases. Please contact me with any questions, comments, or feedback you may have. Thank you for visiting!

Sale on all Original, Abstract Paintings for the Holidays! 15% off of all Purchases! No exclusions!

2007-11-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

The holidays are right around the corner, so I've decided to give everyone the opportunity to purchase a beautiful piece of original, handmade art with a savings!

Just visit my website at www.hilarywinfield.com to take advantage of these limited time savings on all purchases.

***SALE!*** From now until November 30 receive 15% OFF on your entire purchase! No exclusions! Just enter the coupon code "HolidaySavings" at the checkout and save 15%.

Thoreau Quote: Meant for Artists?

2007-10-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

Today I read a quote by Henry David Thoreau that I love! When he moved to Walden Pond, he said, "I decided to learn everything I could about beans." And I think that this is how I feel about painting.

I'm trying to learn as much as possible about how to expose my art to the greatest number of people, while enjoying the journey of understanding my unique style of painting. And it's really very fun!

This painting is named, "Plateau." It's acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas; 24" wide by 12" tall. It has lots of texture, and everytime I look at it I notice something different in it's surfaces. This reminds me of Thoreau. Everytime I hear/read/see something that he once said, I feel something different. Here's to the sage words of Thoreau!

New Home For Art!

2007-10-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

I have recently created a new website, which means that I've found a new home for my artwork! Please check out some of my paintings, newly listed, at http://www.hilarywinfield.artspan.com/.

In addition to this new location, I've given my website http://www.hilarywinfield.com/ a nice little redesign. Nothing very fancy, but perhaps a little more eye-catching. It is always fun to change things up a little bit.

Please let me know what you think! I always love to receive feedback.

I'm posting an image of one of my newer paintings - Primary Revolution. It is 30"x20" and can be hung vertically or horizontally. I'm very excited about it because it is a somewhat new style of painting for me. The color is very vibrant and dramatic, which is how I see the world lately - with the leaves on the deciduous trees changing color almost daily.

One of the greatest and most joyous aspects of painting is seeing the color come together in an interesting (and even beautiful, hopefully) way on the canvas. My work seems to take on new dimension each time the seasons change, and mostly, this involves different uses of color.

Happy October 4th!

Canvas Fright

2007-10-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

This weekend I decided to create a new painting; this happens all the time. However when I sat down in front of the fresh, new canvas, I realized with great alarm that I didn't believe that I would be able to create anything at all resembling art. Then I realized that this is something that happens to me every time I attempt to paint. I have canvas fright. This form of "fear of failure" has even, more than once, stopped me from painting anything at all. It was a very frightening feeling to realize this pattern.

Luckily, however, once I touched the brush to canvas, things went very smoothly. I then realized that whenever I put paint on a canvas, I create a painting. So it will all be okay. I was able to create a painting again - one more time. See attached: Red & Gold Abstract.

That was a close call!

First Entry

2007-09-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

Thank you for taking the time to visit!

The image posted here is of the first "official" abstract painting that I created. It is called Lightfall, and is 24x30 inches and made from acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas. Please browse more work from my portfolio at http://www.hilarywinfield.com/ and feel free to contact me with questions or comments at hilary_pdx@yahoo.com.

Don't forget to cast you vote in the Seasonal poll, posted on the left side of the page.

An Abstract Life

New Blog Location!

Marbleized 1 - 30x40 Inch Fine Art Painting

Happy New Year, Happy New Decade!

Movement in Stillness 2 - Painting with Glass and Granite Crystals

Universal Entropy

Good Things Come in Small Packages - New ACEO Fine Art Cards!

Eight Amazing Artists and Lithosphere 1

Simplicity of Dreaming in the Distance, List Post #5

List Post #4, and Awaiting Nightfall; An Abstract Landscape Painting

List Post #3 and Rustic Industrial 6

Stillness in Movement is Definitely Worth the Wait

8 Reasons Why Portland is an Awesome City, and an Exciting Website Launch!

7 Reasons Why it was Difficult to Start this Art Blog, And a New Original, Fine Art Painting

An Exciting New Series of Posts and a New Original Fine Art Painting: Prismatic 1

Subtle Expression

Fresh Inspiration & A New Series

We Cannot Control the Weather, But it Can Control Us

Dreaming of Twenty Sunsets

First Light of Day

The Art of Process - V.A.S.T Labor Day Sale!

The Perfection in the Imperfect

Straying From the Typical Creative Process

Enter the Magic! But What is the Process?

What Does "Great Art" Really Mean?

Artist of the Month Selection for May; Vibrant, Colorful New Paintings!

New Paintings Added, Yupo Paintings Now Available!

New Series - Waters Edge

Quote of the Day!

Just a Few Interesting Things..........

$50.00 off of "Interconnected!" ~~One Week Only~~

A New Day!

Valentine's Day Sale! All Abstract Paintings 20% Off

Carpe Diem!

Happy New Year!

New Paintings, New Savings!

Sale on all Original, Abstract Paintings for the Holidays! 15% off of all Purchases! No exclusions!

Thoreau Quote: Meant for Artists?

New Home For Art!

Canvas Fright

First Entry

$50.00 off of "Interconnected!" One Week Only