"For the Love of Abstract"

The Freeing process of making a mark

How much do I love this quote attributed to Kandinsky, who has been called the father of abstract art?

There is an air of Freedom in this quote. I've come to learn that in most freeing activities there are also boundaries. These boundaries allow us to dance creatively within them. Our hearts soar when we know there are boundaries that help us create our intended piece.

Whether you are an experienced artist or an investigating one, knowing some rules, if you will, can get you going and help you create a beautiful and successful abstract piece of art.

I used to look at these free flowing pieces and admire them for the movement and color and think how beautiful they are. I had, for the majority of my artistic pursuits, created more lifelike and realistic works. That served me well as I've learned that one must be able to do that and be able to render out a subject with accuracy in order to really understand the complexity of an abstract piece.

Sounds a bit weird, I know, but as Kandinsky said....It demands that you know how to draw...he even says "draw well"

So....#1, DRAW, if you don't draw, there are many tutorials that can teach space, proportion, variety of line....all the good things about sketching. Just invest in an inexpensive sketch pad and pencils, an eraser, blending stump and make some marks.

No one is looking over your shoulder in judgement, just draw

choose a simple photo of a bird, tree, beachball, whatever and begin. You may fall in love with it.

Draw circles and lines....squint your eyes at your subject and realize that everything we see are shapes that relate to each other and see yourself finding beauty in the simplicity of that.

#2, Heighten your sensitivity for COMPOSITION, as our quote points out.

Think of a square and the focal point needs to be upper Right, upper Left, Lower Right, lower Left.

Never in the middle...Why, because we perceive the beauty of things when they are off, when they are odd

It's how we are designed

In my Artist Brain, the circle area filled with metallic copper than has a shine to it is the focal point of this piece entitled "Traveler"

I tend to think of focal points as the star of the show and the rest of the mark making as part of the supporting cast. The focal point is the most interesting, intense, unique, bright spot in the painting. It's where ones eye rests and goes to first.

#3, COLOR...Pick up or print out a color wheel. How beautiful this simple guide is! You'll discover that what makes the color blue live it's best life is when it is blessed to be near it's compliment of orange opposite on the color wheel. Creating a quieter, softer transition, the same blue can be integrated with its neighbors on the color wheel, (soft greens/violets), and create harmony and a peace experience for you and your viewer.

I would say that spending time with color can bring out the poet in you.

This leads me to

#4...The POET in us.

One thing that allows an artist, creator to dance freely using the above so called rules or boundaries is our unique and wonderous view of the world and what we want to express.

To me, this is the most valuable part of a painting.

No other person can say what you have to say, not one other person is exactly like you. With each mark, with each stroke of the brush as color is laid down, you have imparted yourself into the piece.

I am confident that anyone can learn to paint...truly.

but what each individual brings to a work of art is the work of art they are and that is the uniqueness that is you.

All art materials are just that...inanimate supplies. They are nothing but potential until the poet, the artist, takes them in hand.

Thank you for reading and if you are intrigued by the thought of creating your own masterpiece no matter what level of creative you are, please feel free to contact me. I'd be honored to be your guide.

Blessings, Tina

You Have a Voice Worth Hearing

Our position within a family or group sometimes determines how our voice is heard and thus formed. I grew up in an amazing family where there was a ton of love so please don't assume I have issues with my family or feel slighted by them. I was loved. I was the third of 4 boys. I was not only the 3rd but I was the third by 8 years. I was the "baby" of the family for 7 years until my youngest brother was born. There are some great perks to being the "baby". I could literally do no wrong in my grandparents eyes and mostly in my mom's eyes as well. I had to royally screw something up to get reprimanded. I did at times cross that line.

There was a downside as well. I do not remember anyone, in the first 16 years of my life, ever asking me what my opinion was on any family decision. If I ever tried to give my opinion, it was minimized. "How cute, Ted has something to say." My family was not cruel or mean. I was just not viewed as a person with a lot of wisdom or insight. Until recently, I gave this very little thought. Keeping my opinions to myself was and largely still is my default. Even after I got older, I sometimes tried to insert my opinion into a conversation and would be dismissed. So, why try to comment?

I hate to repeat myself, but at times it is important to the reader to see my heart and know why I am sharing my heart and my hurts with you. I do not want you to feel sorry for me but I do want you to read this and maybe it hits home with you. I told you all of that to tell you this.

You have a story and you have wisdom to share.

Don't let that past stop you from sharing your heart with others today. If no one has ever told you before, I am telling you now. Your story is worth sharing. God is a God of second chances. He has been with you through your life and brought you through it so that you can share your story to help others. Find a way. There have been friends and teachers in my past who encouraged me and I am so thankful for their example. I don't express myself well verbally but can get my point across with the written word so for me it was writing a devotional and the future books I am working on. Some may be able to write songs, speak in public, or just push through to mentor younger people one on one. They really do respect you enough to listen. You can even find other ways to express your story. Tina uses her art to tell stories that touch people deeply. I have seen tears roll down people's faces as they see the art and hear the story behind the piece. The art will serve as a memorial for that moment when they made a decision to move past the dark period in their life or to memorialize a triumphant moment in their history. The point is, you never know what a positive word from you, given by inspiration of God, can do to help the hearer, reader or viewer.

We are here for purpose and our voice has value.

Ted

"Traveler"

by Tina Lawver

The "Rent Free" Series

The day that I received the call from NewPointe Community Church that they were getting ready to preach a message series called "Rent Free" focusing on mental illness and wellness, I was in the midst of selling the big house, packing to go to Washington State to see our Son, and looking for a new place to live, but...I immediately said YES to creating a series of paintings interpreting the theme of the messages and to allow a video crew to come to my studio to video the process start to finish...

Then?!

that night, I stood in my studio and became terrified!

So many thoughts filled my head and flooded my spirit.

Why me? Who am I? I'm not good enough of an artist! What will people who don't like me think? Yes, believe it or not, there are those who aren't my biggest fans...and they are local and surely they'd see and judge. (at least that was dancing in my head)

So many thoughts...So many lies

I began to ask God what to do and ask Him how to hard pass on this task. I had a ton of excuses with the move and all. I could have understandably wiggled right out of it.

In the quiet, I was given the realization that those people, the words, the lies...I was allowing them to live in my head "R E N T F R E E" and that is what I was to convey.

I knew exactly what that meant.

I pulled out canvas and my first attempt was a failure because I wasn't painting what was real.

I was painting what would please the audience.

It was when I grabbed a sheet of cotton paper, taped it to the easel, put messy charcoal in my hand that things got authentic.

What did I desire at that very moment?

Peace...Peace in the middle of chaos

Truth....in the midst of swirling lies

What was up there living rent free? and why were these thoughts swirling at this very moment?

Beginning to surrender each one, through cleansing tears, images began to appear.

Marks, swirls, colors colliding like, even they, were warring for my freedom.

The series was born.

6 unique but connected pieces of art that have proven to be very powerful, not just for me, but for others. I'm sure that was God's intention.

"Harmonious"

Original has found a home

"Tranquil"

"Reconciled"

"Peace Be"

"Quietude"

"Stillness"

What lives in your head, rent free?

Authentically Yours,

Tina