Sheila M. Evans

Actually the skies here are gray–the perfect conditions for photographing my forty-third oil, Red Skies. I named this photo for a little section over on the left side that reminds me of clouds at sunset. (For a detail shot, click here.) I’m often tempted to paint clouds. If there is one thing in nature that I am likely to stand goggling at for long periods of time, clouds are it. But so many people paint them already! So for now I’ll stick to emulating them with something completely different. 

Full disclosure: I’m not sure if I should count this as forty-three or not. I un-stretched an earlier painting and stretched new canvas on its frame to paint Red Skies. Mostly this was to save the time of getting a new frame made, and I can always re-stretch the earlier painting. But I confess it was not one of my favorites. I guess I’ll just wait and see.

 

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I’ll hardly be offering any answers about that. But I did just finish number forty-two, which is both my current age and, according to the all-knowing computer in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the meaning of life, etc., etc. So reaching that number seems as if it must be significant.  And while the painting, Sunstream, offers no deep insights into life and the universe, it is a good insight on my own state of mind at this moment. Which is this: ENOUGH WINTER! Bring on the sun, and spring, and warmth.

Oh, hey, the sun just came out. I guess one out of three ain’t bad. Onward.

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Artists are constantly being required to write Artist Statements* in which we talk about the methods and motivations behind our artwork. When I say “constantly,” it seems each time I need to supply one there is a different set of parameters attached. I can’t just write one statement and use it for everything.

For instance, Zapplication, one of the online show-application sites, requires 100 characters or fewer describing methods and materials, while certain shows using the service require an additional, more detailed statement. Another site allows almost unlimited space for a statement. Others ask for a more philosophical discussion of why we do what we do. Some shows require all of the above plus personal background and a photo (oh, joy).

There are artists who seem to thrive on this, rattling off pages of artspeak with apparent ease and relish. I am not one of those artists. Read more

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