by Tara Bryan | Dec 11, 2014 | Uncategorized |
2014 has been an interesting year, and the second half has sped by, much like these time-lapse satellite images http://world.time.com/timelapse/. Today I am packing so I can set up for the Anna Templeton Tea and Sale, where I am sharing a table with Anita Singh and Duncan Major this weekend! I’m looking forward to seeing people I haven’t seen all year! Visit my shop for 25% off all items til Dec 22. Enter 25OFF as a coupon to get the discount. Here are a few of the things I’m selling this Christmas: and so, things continue to change. There is so much to write about, I don’t know where to begin, but this, at least, is one baby step...
by Tara Bryan | Nov 11, 2014 | Uncategorized |
November 11th is a day of contemplation for me. Living in Newfoundland, which was not part of Canada until after both World Wars, the day is full of somber ceremony remembering all those who have served and are serving, especially those who have lost their lives in battle. I’m posting Terry Kelly’s poignant song as a reminder to take a moment to honour...
by Tara Bryan | Jul 16, 2014 | Littoral Light, painting, progress, summer, Uncategorized |
This is the last painting, Not a Breath, delivered yesterday! Finally, all the work has been delivered and the show is hung for tomorrow’s opening. You can see the pieces here: Christina Parker Gallery – Tara Bryan, Littoral Light Now all the chores that have been piling up while I finished paintings now cry out for attention. The eternal game of catch-up! Today, to weed part of the garden and get the last few plants in the ground. I am trying to be methodical and work section by section so I can see my progress. I’m starting with the front bed, thinking I might be able to get it done this morning since it’s not too big. In the meantime, the white irises and lupins are gorgeous. See for yourself!...
by Tara Bryan | Jul 2, 2014 | creative process, design, New work, oil painting, painting, process, progress, seascape, starting, update |
This painting is finished. The photograph I used as reference had an iceberg in it, and when I started painting, I intended to include the iceberg, but move it forward in the composition. I was focussed on the iceberg, although it was only a small part of the image. Hmmm. My struggle is almost always to stick with my “Less is More” philosophy, to pay attention to the image as it gets its own voice, and be willing to let go of my original plan. To find the perfect balance between what I think I’m doing and what the painting becomes. This painting doesn’t need the iceberg. The omission can be called Artistic License, but I don’t think it’s my decision. It’s looking at the painting and realizing it doesn’t need what I thought I wanted to include. I think the creative process flows like a river, and my job is to jump in and become part of the flow. Not to struggle to keep my head above water, but to submit to the current and be in the process, pay attention but be detached enough to hear when the painting says, “enough.” I think writers, musicians, golfers, chess players, salmon fishers, race car drivers and more find a similar groove when they do what they do well. Be attentive and adjust constantly but don’t grasp too tightly. Stay in the flow. Some days are better than others. There is always anxiety at the beginning, my brain telling me I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m not working fast enough, not sticking with the plan, or I could totally screw up. Lose a day’s (or...
by Tara Bryan | Jun 23, 2014 | icebergs, Newfoundland, oil painting, seascape |
The icebergs call. I look at the map every day and see them clustered along the north coast, and consider taking a day trip to look for photo opportunities. It’s sunny and I can’t paint in the morning with full sun blasting the wall of the studio, but the brushes and palette are clean, and I need to mix many blues, pale turquoise to deep blue violet, for the water in the 2 paintings up for completion. I have gone out a couple of times, and here is video from a side trip to Signal Hill and Cape Spear. You can see the people on the hill below to get a sense of scale. I had to be in town for an appointment, and decided to take a short drive to satisfy my curiosity, but mostly I am staying in the studio, looking at the photos posted on line, and hoping there will still be icebergs around when my work is done! A short video From Signal Hill...
by Tara Bryan | Jun 13, 2014 | Uncategorized |
The light in the studio wan’t great when I snapped this, but I think this painting will be finished today. My palette is covered with mixed blues, violets and greens so I will be ready to start this morning. I may have to take a break and go iceberg hunting- I saw a huge one as I was driving into St. John’s last night, and went to Signal Hill around 10 p.m. to look at the moon and see what bergs were there. I could see 4 that all looked pretty large- one silhouetted by Cape Spear is probably the one that had an arch last week. Here is a photo I took near Old Perlican a week or so ago. It’s hard to stay in the studio painting and finish work knowing there are icebergs...
by Tara Bryan | Jun 1, 2014 | Uncategorized |
I made a bit of progress on this rocky beach after another day in the studio. I tend to work on several paintings at once, rotating through them and setting them aside to dry when I think they are finished. I always give myself some distance so I can assess a piece with fresh eyes before I sign it. I work best when I have a deadline, and the current deadline is the first week of July. The tentative opening date for my next show at Christina Parker is July 17th, and she will have all the paintings on her web site after the opening!...
by Tara Bryan | May 29, 2014 | Uncategorized |
In the process of painting, there is often a point at which I really like the underpainting. It might be a calligraphic brushstroke or sloppy swaths of colour, but something makes me really happy, and I am tempted to leave the painting at that state. This is one of those moments. It’s clearly not finished, but there is something I find satisfying about the sketchy outlines of the rocks and wave below the cool, smooth fog and iceberg. That’s one of the reasons I take photos as I go- to reassure myself that I have done the right thing by continuing to paint! ...
by Tara Bryan | May 7, 2014 | New work, painting, process |
This is one of the new paintings I’m working on. I thought I would post some photos as it progresses. First, the basic underpainting to cover the canvas. Then adding colour and detail a bit at a time to build the image. I’m working on the rocks in the foreground and will have it nearly finished before I go back to complete the water and sky. I’ll add more photos as I go along. I am working on 6 paintings at the same time, and I rotate through them so they progress simultaneously. When the foreground is all in, this one will be on the wall for a few days to dry while I work on bringing the others to a similar...
by Tara Bryan | Nov 9, 2013 | Amelia & Reginald. artist book, bookbinding, letterpress |
The next step of the binding process is now completed! Gluing spines and preparing covers...
FLATROCK, NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA
Painter and Book Artist