tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87965872024-03-13T00:51:03.046-05:00Contemplating the Moonart journal of Bridgette Guerzon MillsBridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.comBlogger734125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-48677989465715705412014-07-11T13:25:00.001-05:002014-07-11T13:29:35.164-05:00on my studio table<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14619119821" title="Loriann working on her painting in our private workshop in my studio today. Fun! #art #artist #studio #studiotable #encaustic by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3906/14619119821_b267d24058.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Loriann working on her painting in our private workshop in my studio today. Fun! #art #artist #studio #studiotable #encaustic"></a></center><br>
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Aside from cleaning up the chaos that ensued post show,I have not been in the studio all week. Until yesterday, when I had a private painting workshop with a really wonderful artist from the D.C. area. Her hands in the above photo. Love her colors!<br>
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I have been working on a redesign of my <a href="www.guerzonmills.com">website</a>. Should be done soon. Editing out of old works, inputting new work, new categories. A fresh look. Also my blog will be on my website, hopefully that transition will go smoothly. Keeping my fingers crossed on that. <br>
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I am looking forward to getting back into the studio again. Right now though it is finally summer vacation and we've been busy with this summer business of popsicle and ice cream eating, chasing fireflies and marathon monopoly games. While I'm thoroughly enjoying it, making and what's next is always on my mind, lurking about. Every time I finish a body of work, I want to turn around and do something completely different. Do other people experience that? Like I want to pull out my oil paints and just do straight up landscapes or a series of still life fruit. I'm not joking. Maybe I will do it, just for me.
<a href="http://cigartinstories.wordpress.com/">DJ Berger</a> sent a newsletter out recently and this last part of what he wrote is just plain truth:
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<blockquote> "...art is a thing that gives us meaning. I imagine something, I make it out of nothing, with my own hands, and it takes a station in someone's life and, in turn, in their imagination. It exists in a singular way, like the person who made it, and the person it lives with."</blockquote> </div>
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I am thinking about doing a drawing a day over on Instagram I love to draw and would like to get back to it. It relaxes me. I enjoy it. I'll post here if I end up doing it. A friend and I are thinking of doing a #30DrawingDays or something like that on IG. If you want to join us, please do! We're thinking of starting it July 15th.Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-15973360984104308572014-07-03T08:59:00.000-05:002014-07-03T09:09:25.359-05:00The Land- pop up art exhibitSo all these past months of preparation finally culminated this past Saturday in a one night pop up art exhibit at Sagamore with my friend <a href="http://www.sandiwilsonphotography.com/">Sandi Wilson</a>. This is my first time doing a pop up art show that is only up for one night and I have to say that it's not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of preparation, a lot of organization, and a lot of physical work. Not to mention, all the artwork that is created for it! But in the end, it was all worthwhile.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14541904006" title="postcards by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3910/14541904006_91abe50e11.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="postcards"></a><br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14565063965" title="easels by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3889/14565063965_7d2503ac94.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="easels"></a><br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14564997935" title="front by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3838/14564997935_0504e9bfa5.jpg" width="500" height="362" alt="front"></a></center><br>
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I actually gave a little speech in which I said something about how we spend months working in solitude and we can only hope that our work will be viewed and received by an outside audience. The internet has changed that dynamic quite a bit as we can share so much with so many through the screen. But there is nothing like standing in front of a group of paintings that were meant to hang together in the same room with the artist. At least, I think so. We had between 150-200 people attend the exhibit. Many red dots were placed by the paintings. I sold a total of 13 paintings that evening.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14564165662" title="bgm-sold by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2912/14564165662_8a380c83dd.jpg" width="500" height="376" alt="bgm-sold"></a><br>
This sweet piece, <a href="http://www.guerzonmills.com/encaustics/born-of-earth-and-bone/">Born of Earth and Bone</a>, has gone to a new home</center><br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14563329524" title="blue1 by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3857/14563329524_67519e50bc.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="blue1"></a><br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14564999035" title="blue4 by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2938/14564999035_fa4d7a56ea.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="blue4"></a><br>
empty spots on the wall!</center><br>
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The most meaningful part of the show though was that we were able to raise money for the Araminta Freedon Initiative through the auction of a collaborative painting that Sandi and I worked on. That project was so powerful for me that I will have to save that for another post.<br>
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14378413510" title="s-b by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3907/14378413510_55319dff02.jpg" width="491" height="500" alt="s-b"></a></center><br>
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It is really such an honor to have people take an evening out of their lives to attend one's show and then to bring a piece into their homes. I don't think words can ever adequately express how it feels. If you're reading this and you came to our show, thank you!<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14378555367" title="room2 by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/14378555367_852b366118.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="room2"></a><br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14378559067" title="bd by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/14378559067_691ce2bc01.jpg" width="371" height="500" alt="bd"></a><br>
my sister and I, without her, this show would not have happened in the beautiful location of Sagamore</center><br>
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Now that I am emerging out of zombie post-art-show-state I hope to post the paintings that I have been working on these past months but never had time to write about. Although, I finally feel like it's summer vacation time with my kids. So I may sit and dangle my feet in the water for a bit, as per good advice from a <a href="http://cigartinstories.wordpress.com/">friend</a>.<br>
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To see more photos of the night, please visit my <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/"> flickr page</a>.Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-56200910246742942012014-06-20T20:52:00.002-05:002014-06-20T20:53:23.670-05:00on my studio table<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14283177897" title="Corner of my table. Scary thing is that this is the tidy version. #studiotable #studio #creativeprocess by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/14283177897_aa681548a2.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Corner of my table. Scary thing is that this is the tidy version. #studiotable #studio #creativeprocess"></a><br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14279089980" title="Detail of a wip by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3851/14279089980_5c8ea7c953.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Detail of a wip"></a><br>
detail of a work in progress<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14279058829" title="On my wall by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5193/14279058829_9538f3edd7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="On my wall"></a><br>
my wall is filling up. 1 more week!</center><br>
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<div style="font-size:20px; line-height: 19pt; color: #999999; font-family: garamond;">
“First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won't. Habit is persistence in practice.” ― Octavia E. Butler, Bloodchild and Other Stories</div>Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-8089325121942392082014-06-19T15:02:00.000-05:002014-06-19T15:02:40.732-05:00Searching for ROYGBIV: indigo
This month <a href="http://jennifercoynequdeen.blogspot.com/2014/06/searching-for-roy-g-biv-indigo.html">we</a> are searching for Indigo. Yesterday when I was in the studio, I just so happened to actually melt a bar of R&F Indigo on my palette. Beautiful. The tin though contains ultramarine blue. Nice too, but I love the deepness of the indigo.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14455356945" title="Indigo + some other blues by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5539/14455356945_39866f15b0_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Indigo + some other blues"></a>
</center>Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-8153544296118255932014-06-18T21:17:00.000-05:002014-06-18T21:22:03.915-05:00Soul Friend<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14435015634" title="soul-friend by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2924/14435015634_1b34d3feb8_z.jpg" width="600" height="457" alt="soul-friend"></a><br>
<i>Soul Friend</i><br>
encaustic mixed media<br>
24x18 inches</center><br>
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I have about a week until everything needs to be absolutely wrapped up. I have moments of freak out and moments of where I feel like everything is under control. No matter what though, I am grateful for the opportunity to just create this new body of work. And grateful to be stretching myself as I start to paint on larger panels. More surface mean more space to explore. Right now I am working on a 48x36 inch encaustic, which is really a bit more physical for me. Maybe it is because I am a small person and I keep having to move my panel around to reachWhen I work that large, I turn to my torch to speed up the fusing. Lots more scraping too leaving my wrists and fingers feeling a bit achy after several hours. I use my scrapers or razor blades as much as I use my brushes in my process.<br>
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This painting makes me happy. I had thought it was done about a week ago, but then returning to it over the weekend, I knew it wasn't. I continued on, completely changed it. Felt stumped a few times. Switched directions and then it came together. I feel calmed, looking at it now.<br>
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These past few months I have slowly been reading and taking in Anne Truitt's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daybook-Journal-Artist-Anne-Truitt/dp/1476740984">Daybbook</a> in bits and pieces. The other night I read this:<br>
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<div style="font-size:20px; line-height: 19pt; color: #999999; font-family: garamond;">"The poem needs to be written, the paintings painted, the sculpture wrought. The beds have to be made, the food cooked, the dishes done, the clothes washed and ironed. Life just seems to me irremediably about coping with the physical."</div>Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-24044608974949945802014-06-13T08:31:00.001-05:002014-06-13T08:31:45.706-05:00on my studio table<center>
Moving forward with more paintings this week. Painting larger paintings as well. Such a different way to work. Takes me much longer.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14222831899" title="Detail of a #workinprogress #art #painting #studiotable by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3850/14222831899_89b09cf4b8.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Detail of a #workinprogress #art #painting #studiotable"></a><br>
detail from a work in progress<br>
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I really enjoy making marks, exploring the surface.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14408347764" title="Detail from another #workinprogress #studiotable #art #creativeprocess #mixedmedia by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3887/14408347764_673fa8ef01.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Detail from another #workinprogress #studiotable #art #creativeprocess #mixedmedia"></a>><br>
detail from a work in progress<br>
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Not really focusing on the final end result. Just enjoying the process, finding my way.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14221035098" title="Switched over to another piece after my coffee break. I love stitching and cloth. #studiotable #workinprogress #art #fiberart #stitches #creativeprocess #mixedmedia by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3881/14221035098_5c247f6816.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Switched over to another piece after my coffee break. I love stitching and cloth. #studiotable #workinprogress #art #fiberart #stitches #creativeprocess #mixedmedia"></a><br>
And I love stitching. I really do. Making marks with thread.</center>Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-56131962135411611172014-06-10T21:54:00.000-05:002014-06-10T21:54:25.349-05:00Only In Solitude<div style="font-size:20px; line-height: 19pt; color: #999999; font-family: garamond;">"Only in Soliutude can you discover a sense of your own beauty. The Divine Artist sent no one here without the depth and light of divine beauty. This beauty is frequently concealed behind the dull facade of routine. Only in your solitude will you come upon your own beauty."
-John O'Donohue, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006092943X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=006092943X&linkCode=as2&tag=amanobookscom-20">Anam Cara</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14393885442" title="only-in-solitude by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3907/14393885442_4d314deaf5_z.jpg" width="500" height="630" alt="only-in-solitude"></a><br>
Only In Solitude<br>
encaustic mixed media<br>
16x12 inches</center><br>
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The tree image came from a winter walk I took here in Maryland, before I moved back.It was chilly out and snow flakes had begun to fall. But the stark beauty of the land called to me. So I pulled on boots, gloves and hat and went for a stroll. Took a lot of photos on that walk that I am finally starting to incorporate in new paintings these past few weeks. <br>
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The landscape here is really starting to regain its hold on me.
Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-66716915787117936882014-06-09T21:09:00.001-05:002014-06-09T21:31:33.336-05:00The Light of Our Own Nature<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14200824137" title="light-of-our-own-nature by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2919/14200824137_8e2922e0f3_z.jpg" width="450" height="600" alt="light-of-our-own-nature"></a><br>
<i>The Light of Our Own Nature</i><br>
encaustic mixed media<br>
16x12 inches</center><br>
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<blockquote><div style="font-size:20px; line-height: 19pt; color: #999999; font-family: garamond;">If you allow yourself to be the person that you are, then everything will come into rhythm. If you live the life you love, you will receive shelter and blessings. Sometimes the great famine of blessing in and around us derives from the fact that we are not living the life we love, rather we are living the life that is expected of us. We have fallen out of rhythm with the secret signature and light of our own nature. <br>
-John O'Donohue, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006092943X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=006092943X&linkCode=as2&tag=amanobookscom-20">Anam Cara</a></div><br>
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I first heard John O'Donohue soothing voice on the radio a few years ago on an <a href="http://www.onbeing.org/program/inner-landscape-beauty/203" target="_blank">NPR</a> program. His Irish lilt first caught my attention, but it was his words made me pause and stop what I was doing and really listen. So much beautiful wisdom.<br>
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I have been working on a series of paintings where I have been using my photo images, combined with wax and mark making, collaged papers, etc. I then have been attaching old pieces of salvaged wood or metal to the bottom of the panels. I love using salvaged materials as I feel they bring their own history to my pieces. I have been really happy during the creation of this series. I think because I was rediscovering my joy. My goal was to make 6. I have one more to go.
Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-22996051375189655472014-06-07T06:31:00.001-05:002014-06-07T06:31:28.998-05:00on my studio table<br>
<blockquote><font size= 5 face=garamond color=999999>Making art now means working in the face of uncertainty; it means living with doubt and contradiction, doing something no one much cares whether you do, and for which there may be neither audience nor reward. Making the work you want to make means setting aside these doubts so that you may see clearly what you have done, and thereby see where to go next... </font>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14284278516" title="#workinprogress #studiotable #mixedmedia #art by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2907/14284278516_9559c750c8.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="#workinprogress #studiotable #mixedmedia #art"></a><br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14178791099" title="Detail from a painting I worked on this am. #workinprogress #art #studiotable #mixedmedia #painting by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2898/14178791099_b6e0cfb766.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Detail from a painting I worked on this am. #workinprogress #art #studiotable #mixedmedia #painting"></a><br>
detail of a work in progress<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14333798891" title="Detail from another work in progress. by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3838/14333798891_37643a3d2a.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Detail from another work in progress."></a><br>
detail from a work in progress<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14178793199" title="On my table this am, hmmmm #studiotable #creativeprocess #art by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2933/14178793199_df722f74c5.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="On my table this am, hmmmm #studiotable #creativeprocess #art"></a></center><br>
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<center><font size= 5 face=garamond color=999999>...Making the work you want to make means finding nourishment within the work itself. - David Bayles & Ted Orland</font></center>Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-6483666841476417682014-06-04T22:11:00.000-05:002014-06-04T22:11:35.719-05:00Mother's Milk<p align=right><font size=5 color=999999 face=garamond>It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. - Henry David Thoreau</font></p><br>
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I've been working and working away and have a lot of paintings in progress. I am hoping that this is the time when things will start to pull together. Well, and they kind of need to start pulling together, time is approaching. I do have a few paintings that are done, but I haven't had a chance to post or write about them yet. My time is so stretched these days, that I have had to let that go a bit.<br>
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But I do want to start posting some of my new work. So here is one that I have called Mother's Milk. It was probably finished mid May. I was inspired to make this painting by an image I took just a few hours after the foal was born. The mother was very protective, I remember. And the foal, so new and unsure, but already walking. It was a beautiful moment.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14250771621" title="mothers-milk by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2909/14250771621_fd583e2c47.jpg" width="500" height="395" alt="mothers-milk"></a><br>
Mother's Milk<br>
encaustic mixed media, including copper<br>
20x16 inches</center><br>
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I knew when I had processed the photo that I wanted to make a painting with it one day. As I've mentioned before I am very much influenced by my surroundings and horses are a big part of Maryland. When I was little, we actually had a stable with horses for a while. My neighbors had horses as well. In the dim recesses of my childhood memories, I remember that there was even a horse equipment store by the grocery store that we would shop at. That area store is gone now as is that old market. As are the properties with stables. It's all developed now. Out here around where I am now, a little further out though, there are areas that still areas that cling onto its horse heritage. Did you know that there is even an <a href="http://www.nps.gov/asis/naturescience/horses.htm">island off Maryland's shores</a> that is inhabited by wild horses? I've camped there when I was in high school and look forward to returning soon.<br>
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One of the things about this piece that brings me joy (<a href="http://www.bgmartjournal.blogspot.com/2014/05/on-my-studio-table_30.html">see previous post</a>) is that the stripes on the right side are alternating stripes of patinas copper strips nailed in with encaustic.<br>
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<font size=5 color=999999 face=garamond>The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place; from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web. - Pablo Picasso</font>Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-23234831593823272972014-05-30T21:30:00.000-05:002014-05-31T08:17:58.083-05:00on my studio table <font size=5 face=garmond color=999999>Art is coming face to face with yourself. ~ Pollock</font><br>
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Slowly making progress this week. Lot of prepping of boards, building up my paintings, layer by layer.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14072779827" title="Painting today, all day. making progress towards today's goals. 2 24x24 inch panels waiting for the next layer or whatever comes next by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5040/14072779827_9beb5a2b1c.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Painting today, all day. making progress towards today's goals. 2 24x24 inch panels waiting for the next layer or whatever comes next"></a><br>
2 24x24 inch panels waiting for the next layer or whatever comes next</center><br>
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I often look at my paintings at this stage above and I think, these are solid paintings. I could stop here. And I have been told by artists that I look up to, that yes, indeed, I could stop there. Abstract compositions. And I like them, I do. But they feel unfinished to me. And I've struggled with this for months, perhaps even a year or two. Do I stop or keep going? This internal argument was really becoming quite a battle in my head. To the point where it was disrupting my creative process. Where I actually felt the opposite of joy in my creating. Something wasn't right.<br>
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And I realized that I needed to continue with my storytelling. That's what my work is about for me. I need to bring in found materials into my paintings. I love the abstract. I love realism. I love time worn metals and wood. I love fabric and piecing them together with meandering stitches, threads fraying over the edge. I like things that contain a story, that have had a life. Bringing all those elements together in a piece is what brings me joy. I spent some time one evening looking through old image files of all the mixed media journal covers that I had made over the years. Where my process was just that- using paint, my photos, cloth, thread, metal, wood, sticks, stones, wire, paper, etc.<br>
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<center>And I remembered.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14120889747" title="Something new. Still need to attach the wood at the bottom of the painting #studiotable #workinprogress #art #studio #painting #mixedmedia by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2912/14120889747_cc8962d6af.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Something new. Still need to attach the wood at the bottom of the painting #studiotable #workinprogress #art #studio #painting #mixedmedia"></a><br>
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This is what I love to do.<br>
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14298669552" title="On my work table today. by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3735/14298669552_a2904fe3ae.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="On my work table today."></a></center><br>
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This is my joy.</center><br>
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I have been working with <a href="http://www.lisapressman.net/">Lisa Pressman</a> for the past few months, discussing my work, honing in on the direction that I want to go in, etc. and she had me answer a series of questions at the very beginning of our talks. Looking back at my answers to her questions from a few months ago, I realized that my answers to this internal battle was already there. I just needed to get back to myself and trust that inner voice.
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<font size=5 face=garmond color=999999>"Let me listen to me and not to them." Gertrude Stein</font>Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-83531772570572413832014-05-26T22:20:00.000-05:002014-05-26T22:35:06.195-05:00creating|processing<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14093117567" title="flood-2 by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2918/14093117567_0f24337b42.jpg" width="500" height="393" alt="flood-2"></a><br>
from one of my flood damaged journals<br>
words are from a book I was reading on Vincent van Gogh</center><br>
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Art making has always been a part of my life, even before I ever even thought of dedicating myself to it. Making art for me has always been about helping me to process the world and my life. To say here I am, this is who I am, and this is my experience. To make sense of me and the events in my life. <br>
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I write because it helps me to get my thoughts down before they bubble over. I love words, stringing them together to form a thought, drawing something tangible from what swirls through my brain. I make things because creating is what I do. I love the idea of creating something from nothing. I love to see the handiwork behind an object, the care that went into actualizing a vision, an idea, a whim. And I make images to express what I cannot put into words.<br>
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There are so many times in my life that the creative process has helped me to heal from loss or grief. Creating is always what I turn to. <br>
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I was happily surprised to find that my art and my words were featured on the Cloth, Paper, Scissors blog in an article titled <a href="http://www.clothpaperscissors.com/blogs/clothpaperscissorstoday/archive/2014/05/21/meditations-from-an-encaustic-artist.aspx" target="_blank">Meditations From An Encaustic Artist</a> last week. I was so honored to be featured in such a heartfelt article.<br>
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Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch has a new book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1440332959/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1440332959&linkCode=as2&tag=amanobookscom-20&linkId=ZR6GR7DKPQ5HE74C">Encaustic Revelation</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amanobookscom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1440332959" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />which I believe will be out this summer. I was supposed to teach at <a href="http://www.pbsartist.com/encausticamp/">EncaustiCamp</a> last summer, but with the flood destroying my studio as well as turning my life inside out, I wasn't able to attend. The chapter I wrote for her book is about one of the ways I make book art using plaster and wax and also my thoughts behind bookmaking, which also touches upon my creative process in general. I really do think that art is not just about connecting to oneself, but to the world outside the self. To me that is when a piece is successful, when another person can recognize something of themselves in something that I have made.<br>
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I love that.Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-21507747761387721622014-05-24T21:42:00.000-05:002014-05-24T21:44:18.215-05:00on my studio table: week of 5.19.14A lot happened in my studio this week, not so much work, but something just as important- visitors. I used to really be quite insulated when it came to my studio. It was my private space. Only myself and my family entered it, really. But I've learned that I actually need and want community. And actual face to face time is so special in these days of screen time.<br>
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14037242578" title="Had a special visitor to my studio today. So nice to catch up in real life with Seth Apter. by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5540/14037242578_c12b0edf79.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Had a special visitor to my studio today. So nice to catch up in real life with Seth Apter."></a></center><br>
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<a href="http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/">Seth Apter</a> and I go way back to our early days of blogging. We met in Chicago a few years ago for lunch and this week he was teaching in Maryland and luckily I live along his way back to NYC. It was so great to catch up, talk art, talk business, and he gave me some great feedback on some paintings that have been driving me up the wall.<br>
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14273435553" title="Had a fantastic meeting with @shiningegg this am and I got to see her beautiful daily painting journal too! by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2907/14273435553_57c020ab35.jpg" width="462" height="386" alt="Had a fantastic meeting with @shiningegg this am and I got to see her beautiful daily painting journal too!"></a></center><br>
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Another friend stopped in. <a href="http://shiningegg.com/">Emily</a> of who is a local painter. We have met before, but this was my first time having her in my studio. We are making another date soon. She does a daily painting journal that I have seen online, but leafing through it in person is an entire different experience. Beautiful and inspiring. I really need to start a daily practice like that. <br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14053234630"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5572/14053234630_cbc1c93079.jpg" width="500" height="398" alt="Grace and I went in search of old weathered wood for something I'm working on. We were unexpectedly given access to an old shed filled with old, forgotten things. I was in heaven! Just a few of the things I picked up."></a></center><br>
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Grace and I went in search of old weathered wood for something I'm working on. We were unexpectedly given access to an old shed filled with old, forgotten things. I was in heaven! Just a few of the things I picked up on my studio table. Already started some rusting on paper and muslin.<br>
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14230111486" title="Painting stripes this early morning. Building my layers. #workinprogress #creativeprocess #painting #art #studiotable by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5191/14230111486_c64a5ec026.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Painting stripes this early morning. Building my layers. #workinprogress #creativeprocess #painting #art #studiotable"></a><br>
early morning stripes, building up layers</center>
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Getting a rhythm to this early morning rising to paint. I don't do it everyday. Yet.<br>
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<font size=5 color=999999 face=garamond>"Life is too short," she panicked, "I want more." He nodded slowly, "Wake up earlier." ~Dr. SunWolf</font>Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-32651705409332919442014-05-22T20:54:00.001-05:002014-05-22T20:54:19.619-05:00Searching for RoyGBiv: blue<font size=5 color=999999 face=garamond>"In the house of words was a table of colors. They offered themselves in great fountains and each poet took the color he needed: lemon yellow or sun yellow, ocean blue or smoke blue, crimson red, blood red, wine red." -Eduardo Galeano The Book of Embraces (one of my most favorite books)</font><br>
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Oops, I missed Blue last week! I love blue, so I just had to do this even though I am unfashionably late. I searched through my <a href="http://instagram.com/bgmills">Instagram </a>feed for blues.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14247429924" title="Baltimore Love Project #baltimore #streetart by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5539/14247429924_fe47fac7fa.jpg" width="500" height="255" alt="Baltimore Love Project #baltimore #streetart"></a><br>
<a href="http://www.baltimoreloveproject.com/">Baltimore Love Project</a><br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14061146740" title="upload by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2898/14061146740_62f20b7946.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="upload"></a><br>
blue gorilla photopbombing my bread photo<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14244453421" title="upload by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/14244453421_95d078dbb5.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="upload"></a><br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14245553382" title="upload by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2906/14245553382_18cc4ae812.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="upload"></a><br>
at the National Aquarium, Baltimore<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14267933643" title="Autumn afternoon. Blue by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5036/14267933643_5b60b5d8d1.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Autumn afternoon. Blue"></a><br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14224616956" title="Blue by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5483/14224616956_a0a18bb9f5.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Blue"></a><br>
3 years old<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14247759235" title="Branches curving up to the sky by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2900/14247759235_6bfbed6e14.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Branches curving up to the sky"></a><br>
somewhere in Wisconsin<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14245577922" title="Blue by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/14245577922_8f169074ed.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Blue"></a><br>
Illinois farmscape<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14245057461" title="Blue by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5529/14245057461_b39725ee40.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Blue"></a><br>
2 years old<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14061202507" title="Blue #MuseumOfScienceAndIndustry #Chicago by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5562/14061202507_4872815058.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Blue #MuseumOfScienceAndIndustry #Chicago"></a><br>
a sign at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago<br>
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<font size=5 face=garamond color=999999>"If you see a tree as blue, then make it blue" -Paul Gauguin</font></center>Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-22071623507897999002014-05-18T20:04:00.001-05:002014-05-19T07:34:41.728-05:00on my studio tableSo, last week I was on the mend and so looking forward to getting back into the swing of things in my studio....then both kids came down with strep! Poor things. I hate seeing them feeling so sick. And my studio was abandoned for another week. I was able to get in on Friday and a little bit this weekend. Hoping this is the end of sickness in my house! <br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13981462019" title="Just me, the birds, and the sound of my heat gun in the studio from 5 - 7 am this Monday morning. Good way to start the week. And necessary- have to get some paintings done. by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7296/13981462019_f502c2bdc9.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Just me, the birds, and the sound of my heat gun in the studio from 5 - 7 am this Monday morning. Good way to start the week. And necessary- have to get some paintings done."></a></center><br>
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I almost forgot, I got up before the sun rose Monday morning, before I knew my kids had strep, to get 2 hours in. There is something powerful about the early morning creative energy. I am not a morning person, but I think I may just become one. 5 am- 7 am painting. The above photo is a detail of a painting I worked on that early morning.<br>
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14029907147" title="Something I worked on tonight #workinprogress #art #blackbird #mixedmedia #painting by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5039/14029907147_08a8d9d896.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Something I worked on tonight #workinprogress #art #blackbird #mixedmedia #painting"></a><br>
A work in progress, this photo taken on Friday</center><br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14029835889" title="Detail of a work in progress by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5588/14029835889_3528298d06.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Detail of a work in progress"></a><br>
detail of another work in progress, a newborn foal, just hours old drinking milk from its mother</center><br>
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I've been going through my photo files and sorting through all the photos that I have been meaning to use for paintings. It's nice to go back through my images and remember the moment when I was taking the shot. I'm looking forward to seeing where I take the images next with my paintings.<br>
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<font size=5 color=999999 face=garamond>"Painting relates to both art and life. Neither can be made. (I try to act in the gap between the two)" -Robert Rauschenberg</font>
Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-81424197054447126382014-05-09T18:37:00.002-05:002014-05-09T18:41:18.416-05:00on my studio table<font size=5 face=garamond color=999999>"The education of imagination to step into the unknown as well as the ability to persist when there is no end in sight. The ways of creation are often paradoxical. When you think there is nothing going on, something comes to you, and when you want something desperately, it's never there. Imagination thrives on the turning of tables, and its most succesful products are often contrary to initial intentions." - Shaun McNiff, Trust the Process</font><br>
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Not much going on this week due to the dreadful flu. But today was the first day I didn't feel like my brain was being held in a vice, so things are definitely improving.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13961330459" title="Easing back into things after 9 ?;$<].?¥+€!@ Days bedridden with the flu #studiotable #mixedmedia by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7349/13961330459_b2f04408a0.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Easing back into things after 9 ?;$<].?¥+€!@ Days bedridden with the flu #studiotable #mixedmedia"></a></center><br>
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Just having the materials in my hands again felt good. Moving things around. Pondering.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14168059473" title="Yay, I finally made something! Been away from my table too long... #mixedmedia #art #studiotable by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7403/14168059473_f911d2e46c.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Yay, I finally made something! Been away from my table too long... #mixedmedia #art #studiotable"></a></center><br>
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A panel that I actually finished today when I had a bit of time. My current journal is about to be filled up, so this panel will be the cover of my next journal. I did a lot of stitching on little patches of fabric this winter. Happy that I was able to use one of my little patches at the bottom of this panel.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13961368720" title="What do you do when a friend gifts you with an abandoned hornets nest? Make art with it, of course. A new project I started this afternoon. #bookart by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7430/13961368720_d61da24a39.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="What do you do when a friend gifts you with an abandoned hornets nest? Make art with it, of course. A new project I started this afternoon. #bookart"></a></center><br>
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This photo is from a previous week, but never posted. A side project. Nature and its workers truly amaze me.<br>
<br>Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-85634387029741988722014-05-07T14:01:00.002-05:002014-05-08T09:50:55.902-05:00Fingerpainting the Moon: paper plate flower garden<p align=right>
<font size=5 color=999999 face=garamond>Earth laughs in flowers. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson</font></p><br>
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This is an entry that I have been meaning to write for over 2 years. 2 years! Been in a whirlwind of sorts since 2012. Actually, it's been longer than that, but for certain reasons, I mark 2012 as the beginning of a lot of upheaval. Oftentimes people ask me how I am able to do my art, show, teach and raise young children without having help. Well, to be honest, there are a lot of things that get pushed to the side that don't ever get done. Or that I plan to do, but it just never happens. Or there's a lot of late nights getting stuff done after the kids are in bed. Which is why I'm always moaning about being too tired these days to continue that practice. There's a lot of things that I say no to as well. Whether you're a stay at home mom or full time working out of the house mom, or the not sure what category I fall into type of mom, motherhood is about multitasking and getting all the crap done, somehow, someway. And what doesn't get done, well, then it wasn't that important if it falls to the wayside, right? Balance. And acceptance when we end up teeter-tottering because really, who has it all balanced out?! Not me, that's for sure.<br>
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I am grateful for the time that I do have and the kids and I are constantly creating. I just really haven't been very good at documenting for the past few years. And now since my son is in school all day, we do a lot less of our projects than we used to do. I do want to get back to this series though as I love kids art. And I love when people from around the world write me about using my projects with their own kids or in their classrooms.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13945357848" title="flowers-n-tape by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7307/13945357848_9b085604e3.jpg" width="500" height="403" alt="flowers-n-tape"></a></center><br>
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This project is something that just happened organically in my studio. I had a stack of paper plates in my studio that I was giving the kids to use as their palettes for when we paint. As I recall, I needed to get something done in the studio for some looming deadline and I needed my kids to be occupied and I couldn't find paper anywhere for them to use! So I gave them a paper plate and told them to decorate them. With my older son, who at this time, must have been 5, we started together. He worked on a plate and I worked on a plate right next to him. We drew a circle in the center and I talked to him about drawing off of the circle in a radiating pattern. He took off with that.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14128657671" title="flowers-n-tape2 by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2931/14128657671_0475774e75.jpg" width="352" height="492" alt="flowers-n-tape2"></a></center><br>
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My daughter, who was 2 at the time, joined in the fun with her scribbles and mark making. They made several plates over the span of a few weeks. When we had a pile, I was looking at them and thought, these look like wonderful, colorful and fantastical flowers! The kids and I excitedly decided to make a garden on my studio wall. These photos show them taping the paper plates to the wall.<br>
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14152059993" title="flowers-g by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5158/14152059993_f2f779f5e5.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="flowers-g"></a></center><br>
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I rummaged through my bin of scraps of handmade paper and pulled out all the green paper and commenced cutting out stems and leaves and we taped those to the wall too.<br>
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13945352100" title="flower-g by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7399/13945352100_3ceacb3d3e.jpg" width="383" height="500" alt="flower-g"></a></center><br>
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I loved stepping into my studio and seeing our paper plate garden we made together! I loved it to so much that I actually started gluing and sewing it onto this big huge sheet of brown kraft paper that I had. Around that time though I had to pack it away as as we had sold our house and were moving into temporary housing. When we moved into the new house I had pulled out our garden and attached it to the studio wall so we could continue to build on it. And then the flood happened and it was destroyed. I still love this garden and the idea behind it. Maybe we'll do it again. It was such a happy addition to my studio.<br>
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So crazy to look at these photos- my kids look so little! Time flies.Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-76150200175168164212014-05-02T20:14:00.001-05:002014-05-02T20:16:07.507-05:00stalledOf course when I say that it's time to dig deep into the reserves and find extra time to get new work done, I come down with the dreaded flu. I've been out of commission all week. So, unfortunately no work in progress shots. Everything is in stall mode. Which actually seems fitting these days.<br>
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I remember a long time ago when I was in AP Spanish in high school, I felt like I had hit a wall in my language skills. All of a sudden, the syntax felt clunky, my conjugations were tripping me up, words that I knew were escaping me and I was frustrated. My teacher told me sometimes when we are about to make a huge growth we hit a wall and we plateau for a bit. We trip up, we stumble, we question, we doubt. But keep going because you're about to make a leap....I keep hoping that she is right when it comes to my studio practice right now.<br>
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<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14087229693" title="undercurrent by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7439/14087229693_ce5148efd5.jpg" width="450" height="450" alt="undercurrent"></a><br>
Undercurrents<br>
encaustic<br>
12x12 inches<br></center>
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I've been doing a lot of questioning of my art process lately. What is it that I want to create? What is my purpose here? Where do I want to go? I've been vacillating between abstracts and my representative works. And then there are so many other things I am itching to try. I know that my inspiration and motivation are tied to actually being busy and working and getting my hands on the materials. And that when I am not able to get in the studio and work, that that is when the doubt creeps in and the questioning...<br>
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Questioning one's self and the why's and what for's of what one is doing is very important. But it's when it stops you from doing, well, that's a problem.<br>
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14044513046" title="surface-trace by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7443/14044513046_7f4f0b06aa.jpg" width="450" height="450" alt="surface-trace"></a><br>
Tracing the Surface<br>
encaustic mixed media<br>
12x12 inches</center><br>
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<blockquote><font size=5 face=garamond color=999999>Patience is one of the most important qualities of creation, especially for anyone who wants to begin making art. The results cannot be pushed. Everything emerges in time. Even experienced creators find it difficult to accept that the gestation period of an artwork might be prolonged with few signs of progress. There may not even be indications of inch-by-inch progress. Days, weeks, and months may pass without any signs that the work is moving forward. <br>
- Shaun McNiff, Trust the Process</font></blockquote><br>
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The good thing is that I've been at this for a while now and I know that this too shall pass. It always does. I just need to get back in the studio.Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-14721366194772070772014-04-29T13:01:00.000-05:002014-04-29T13:02:16.407-05:00In the Breakdown<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13786017223" title="in-the-breakdown by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7303/13786017223_960819b15f.jpg" width="450" height="455" alt="in-the-breakdown"></a><br>
In the Breakdown<br>
encaustic mixed media<br>
12x12 inches<br></center>
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One of the 12x12 panels that I have been working on. Still deciding about whether to join them or not. I'm usually not this indecisive. I wonder what the deal is? <br>
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When I was working on this painting I was thinking a lot about disintegration, falling apart, becoming undone. Part of my flood series. I will be switching gears in the studio soon though as I have something I'm planning for June and I want to get different work done for it. Hopefully soon I'll be posting actual paintings that are just still fragments of thoughts.Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-18856311320765142792014-04-25T12:34:00.000-05:002014-04-25T12:34:35.001-05:00on my studio tableSlowly getting back into the studio after being on vacation. First thing I did though was do a complete reorganization of my studio. Sometimes doing that helps create a new energy for me.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14009162305" title="photo by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7438/14009162305_6e58bf469c.jpg" width="500" height="236" alt="photo"></a><br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13986024676" title="What's that pink and purple doing in my painting?! Trying something different. Feeling uncomfortable. Ha! #workinprogress #studiotable #art by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2928/13986024676_18622693d4_n.jpg" width="320" height="320" alt="What's that pink and purple doing in my painting?! Trying something different. Feeling uncomfortable. Ha! #workinprogress #studiotable #art"></a><br>
what's that pink doing in there?! Not usually part of my palette<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14009584364" title="Detail of another #workinprogress #studiotable #art #painting by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5564/14009584364_5298829779_n.jpg" width="320" height="320" alt="Detail of another #workinprogress #studiotable #art #painting"></a><br>
detail of a work in progress<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/14005469362" title="Slowly getting back into the swing of things. Detail of another work in progress. by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7091/14005469362_4214d489cd_n.jpg" width="320" height="320" alt="Slowly getting back into the swing of things. Detail of another work in progress."></a><br>
detail of another work in progress</center><br>
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I work on several panels at the same time. All in varying degrees of done-ness. I actually finished a painting before vacation, but haven't had time to post about it. I used to be able to do work, especially computer work, writing, documentation, etc. after the kids went to bed, but lately I have really been too tired. Wasn't vacation supposed to cure that? Ah well. I have something in the works coming up, so I really need to hunker down, pull up the reserves, and get some paintings done.<BR>
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<p align=right><font size=5 color=999999 face=garamond> "I don't need time, I need a deadline." - Duke Ellington</font></p>Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-81984014998319713322014-04-21T21:33:00.000-05:002014-04-21T21:40:11.965-05:00roygbiv: greenI'm a few days late for the search for green, but I have a good excuse- I was hiking among the greens of the pacific northwest last week during our family vacation for my son's spring break. My lungs still feel good from inhaling all that good air.<br>
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And I can't possibly have a blog post about green without quoting Federico Garcia Lorca's poem "Romance Sonámbulo"<br>
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<font size=5 face=garamond color=999999>Verde que te quiero verde. <br>
Verde viento. Verdes ramas...</font><br>
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For the full poem as well as translation, go <a href="http://harpers.org/blog/2009/06/garcia-lorca-for-the-love-of-green/">here. </a> I have always loved the beginning of that poem, the rolling of the r's one after another, so luscious. The rhythm is just beautiful too. Unfortunately the translation just doesn't do it justice!
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Anyway, here are my greens/verdes:<br>
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<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13960433834" title="Untitled by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2923/13960433834_a70f770461.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br>
in the Quinault Rain Forest, Washington<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13960388925" title="On the Marymere Falls Trail #washington #olympicnationalpark #bridge #hiking by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7117/13960388925_9890651472.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="On the Marymere Falls Trail #washington #olympicnationalpark #bridge #hiking"></a><br>
green upon green on the Marymere Waterfall Trail, Olympic National Forest<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13957252381" title="Untitled by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/13957252381_7d7cc5f6dd.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br>
earth's patina<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13960912134" title="Ruby Beach, WA by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5263/13960912134_33ddb9eb80.jpg" width="281" height="500" alt="Ruby Beach, WA"></a><br>
view from Ruby Beach, ok not green in this photo, but can't you just sense the green??<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13960831514" title="Hidden by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7096/13960831514_c7abac27c0.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Hidden"></a><br>
a little green from my own yard, and an egg hidden by the Easter bunny<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13960429904" title=" by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/13960429904_a003357d37.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt=" "></a><br>
my 4 year old likes to leave me little green gifts on my nightstand almost everyday. I never know what I'll find.<br>
</center>Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-61441706971379881202014-04-11T20:43:00.001-05:002014-04-11T20:43:44.048-05:00on the studio tableNot much to report this week, other than finishing that painting that I posted yesterday. Spent the rest of my studio time that I had trying to take photos of new works and getting them on the computer. But I already started prepping another 24x24 panel and continuing work on this 18x18 inch panel below.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13785879515" title="Untitled by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7265/13785879515_3c2748ff03.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br>
monday. work in progress<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13785877495" title="Untitled by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/13785877495_7019325e5d.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br>
friday. detail of work in progress<br>
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Painting on a larger scale has been an interesting and a bit frustrating change for me. I'm used to things just happening quickly on a small panel, where on large panels, I ponder much more. It's not a bad thing, just different.
Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-42633771460733810742014-04-10T13:44:00.000-05:002014-04-10T13:44:54.906-05:00Witness<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13699558214" title="witness by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5456/13699558214_e09e7bb2c2.jpg" width="393" height="500" alt="witness"></a><br>
<i>Witness</i><br>
encaustic mixed media<br>
20x16 inches</center><br>
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Finished a painting this week that is part of my flooded images series, using photos and journal images that were damaged last year. When I had first started this painting, I was originally going to use put one of my trees in....but then this image called out to me. I thought, I don't do figurative art in my body of work, I probably shouldn't....but the pull was strong. And I listened to my gut, not my head.
Witness.
The figure in the photo is actually of one my best friends from childhood. In my 20s I went to visit her in NYC and we spent the whole trip gallery hopping, shopping and eating. I mean, NYC, right? And of course me making her pose in front of urban grunge here and there. I've always loved the photo and was so sad when I saw that it had fallen victim to the flood. But I had to admit that the ghostly image left over was so beautiful and powerful in its own way.
While I was working on this painting, I kept looking up to this painting that I had painted a few months ago and had hanging on the wall near my workspace:<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13763939673" title="and-then-it-was-all-gone by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7419/13763939673_4b6f489d23.jpg" width="398" height="500" alt="and-then-it-was-all-gone"></a><br>
<i>And Then It Was All Gone</i><br>
encaustic mixed media<br>
20x16</center><br>
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I envisioned the two hanging together and so I worked off of it. Now I am pondering adding one of my flooded images to this painting, although I feel good about it as is. I'm just going to let them hang together for a while on my studio and not touch it. Unless one day, I just cave to the curiosity of what would happen if I did. What if?<br>
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<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13717794404" title="Untitled by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7183/13717794404_b841eb230b.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Untitled"></a><br></center><br>
<center>Please excuse the crookedness! I am sure anyone viewing this just wants to tip it in the right direction.</center><br>
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Looking at this now in my post, I think I'm going to leave it be and just make a third one. hmmmm.<br>
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<p align=right><font size=5 color=999999 face=garamond>Creativity is allowing oneself to make mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to keep. -Scott Adams</font></p>
Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-35861535483184649732014-04-04T21:35:00.002-05:002014-04-04T21:35:22.642-05:00on the studio table<p align=right><font size=5 color=999999 face=garamond> It is precisely from the regret left by the imperfect work that the next one can be born. <br>
-Odilon Redon</font></p><br>
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This week was not the most productive as my littlest got sick and now I'm pretty sure I got what she had. Germs, bah! I also have been volunteering one morning a week at my son's school helping the art teacher out with displays or whatever she needs help with. She is amazing and I don't know how she does it all! <br>
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In terms of what was going on in my studio though, which wasn't much, but still I managed to get in and do some work. I actually declared two of my 12x12 paintings done, hopefully I can post at least one this weekend. I was able to get some time today and I think that I finally caught that elusive resolution.<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13630956485" title="Perhaps I've found a resolution. Hmmmm #art #painting #studio #mixedmedia #creativeprocess by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/13630956485_b0201c8550.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Perhaps I've found a resolution. Hmmmm #art #painting #studio #mixedmedia #creativeprocess"></a><br>
Monday.3.31.14<br>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13631403594" title="Untitled by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/13631403594_e2c7ea8c20.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br>
Friday.4.4.2014</center><br>
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Subtle difference between the two but feeling happy (at the moment) with the grouping. Now to decide whether I would attach the panels, or just let them be separate but together. hmmmm...<br>
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13630994673" title="Side view. The amount of layers on this one.... #workinprogress #creativeprocess #art #studiotable #painting by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7263/13630994673_027702cca7.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Side view. The amount of layers on this one.... #workinprogress #creativeprocess #art #studiotable #painting"></a><br>
side view of another painting in progress</center><br>
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Lots of layers on this one already. Whether I am painting in acrylics or in encaustic, I paint in layers. My process is similar despite them being very different media. But I do love how when an encaustic painting has many layers, it starts to have this heft to it. Where it becomes more than a 2D image, but a physical object. The depth that is created by layers is another quality that I like as well. But I have to say that the many layers in my paintings often point to the fact that I was painting over previous marks a lot. Lots of different decision being made. Lots of "what if I do this...." which becomes "oh, well, hmmm, that's not what I was really going for...." which becomes "if I do this, this might work"...which then becomes another layer. For this reason I am not afraid to keep going or to keep pushing for fear of ruining what I have. I know that that layer will add to the painting. It really does allow a freedom in my creative process and exploration.<br>
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13631297804" title="#studiotable by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3804/13631297804_af08753c84.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="#studiotable"></a><br>
studio table, do I really need to change the paper already?!<br>
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*********************************************************************</center>
This week I received a copy of the Dupage Valley Review, a publication published by the Benedictine University, where I had my solo last year. I was happy to see that one of my paintings from the show was selected for the publication.<br>
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<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/7978476966" title="collecting by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8442/7978476966_e1f642c719.jpg" width="398" height="500" alt="collecting"></a><br>
<i>Collecting and Gathering</i><br>
encaustic mixed media<br>
14x11 inches<br>
available for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/185147597/original-mixed-media-encaustic-painting?ref=shop_home_active_1">purchase</a></center><br>
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<font size=5 color=999999 face=garamond>Writing and rewriting are a constant search for what it is one is saying. -John Updike</font>Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796587.post-15622009294837679672014-03-30T12:11:00.003-05:002014-03-31T08:24:05.335-05:00A New Day
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7235969@N03/13514382595" title="a-new-day by Bridgette Guerzon Mills, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5444/13514382595_dde55b8012.jpg" width="387" height="500" alt="a-new-day"></a><br>
<i>A New Day</i><br>
handbound blank journal<br>
mixed media covers<br>
6x8 inches<br>
exposed spine, 112 white pages<br>
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sold</center><br>
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Finally found a bit of time to bind and post this handbound journal. I had made the panel almost 2 weeks ago that night I got back into the studio. I remember so clearly taking the photo of these trees overlooking the Puget Sound about 7 years ago. My son was just about 2 months old and it was our first foray to <a href="http://www.myballard.com/golden-gardens-park/">Golden Gardens</a> in Seattle and my first outing with camera and baby. I remember feeling so filled with hope and potential that early spring day. <br>
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Speaking of Seattle I just finished reading a book set in Seattle called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316204269/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316204269&linkCode=as2&tag=amanobookscom-20">Where'd You Go, Bernadette</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amanobookscom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0316204269" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> by Maria Semple. A friend of mine sent it to me telling me that it reminded her of a conversation we had had where I had said something like if one is creative in any way shape or form and they don't create, then it ends up eating them alive. A character in the book says in a letter:<br>
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<font size=5 color=999999 face=garamond>"People like you must create. If you don't create, Bernadette, you will become a menace to society."</font><br>
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At first I wasn't so sure about the book, but then it grew up on me and the descriptions of the culture in Seattle made me laugh. But through the comedy of the book, there is a deeper and honest truth to the consequences of denying the creative force. I think. And it can be any outlet- music, painting, cooking, writing, building, sewing, gardening. There just needs to be an outlet. I know for myself when I can't get in the studio, I end up in the kitchen baking and cooking. I always need to be making something or I get very irritable. ha!<br>
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I was recently invited by Crystal Neubauer to write an essay on Redemption on her blog <a href="http://otherpeoplesflowers.blogspot.com/2014/03/redemption-stories-series-with-guest_24.html">Other People's Flowers</a>. I was honored and said sure as I can think of all sorts of personal stories of loss, failure, feeling lost, abandoned, etc. etc. etc. and then rising up because we must. We all have those stories, don't we? It's what humanity is about. But as I sat to write, I found that I didn't want to focus on those stories. I wanted to write about my sister who had a very hard life, physically, and how she was a light to so many people in her short life. <br>
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Thanks, always, for visiting and reading!Bridgette Guerzon Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01222170682340900282noreply@blogger.com10