I’m going to be very honest… pride aside.

Times are very slow, the economy is ROUGH, and now I understand the meaning of ‘starving artist’.  Thankfully, my boyfriend and family are making sure that I’m fed and sheltered.  I’m so touched by all the people who believe in me and support me as an artist!!!  I only wish the student loan people would support me just as much. lol

For all those affected by the economy just as I am, stay strong!!!  Let’s hope that things will look up sooner than later!!

In order to help myself, besides working an average of 78 hours a week, I decided to market more on the internet.  I just joined Facebook for the first time (facebook.soniei.com), Twitter (http://twitter.com/Soniei) and Flickr.  I hope it helps a little!!


PS.  Twitter is fun!  It basically answers the question “What are you doing right now?”  I get to stay in touch with friends even though I’m always working.  It makes my days a little easier.

PPS.  If you really like my art and you’re on Facebook, go ahead and join my Facebook page.  Do it if you REALLY like my art, and not out of pity. …. ….   well…. …  I’m at the point where if you do it out of pity, I’ll take that too.  Lol  :p  And, THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES if you join my facebook.soniei.com page.  Again, I’m so grateful to all the people who help me out in anyway they can.  

PPPS.  I feel like I just went to a therapy session.  Being honest about being broke is very freeing.  Lol  Now you know about my situation.  I have nothing to hide.  It’s all good.

Peace and Love!!
Soniei

In the last three weeks, I’ve been trying to create two new collections of contemporary paintings.  In the first collection, I want to focus on vivid colors and call it ‘Iro’ (‘color’ in Japanese).  In the second collection, I want to focus on the beauty of the planet and call it ‘Chikyu’ (‘earth’ in Japanese).  These collections are to be abstract only, which is something I’ve never done.  I’ll keep some Japanese calligraphy influence in my paintings because it’s grown to be such a big part of my pieces.  I’ll also incorporate more colors into my paintings, particularly the Iro Collection.

Both collections sounded simple enough… until I tried painting them and went to hell and back a dozen times.  I’ve learned two things about myself over the past sleep deprived weeks.  First, I’m an artist who fears bright colors (strange, I know).  Second, I find abstract art to be one of the most difficult styles.  Both these artistic flaws drove me to give up all other styles of painting for awhile, and focus on what I struggle with the most.  There’s no better way to grow as an artist.

Some of my paintings can be viewed in my eBay store right now.

Yesterday, after much thinking and debate, I finally decided to end my Zen Sho Collection.  Although I’ve enjoyed painting the many scenes and subjects I’ve encountered in Japan, it’s time for something new.  No more bamboo, cherry blossom and orchid art… at least for awhile. 

I’m now working on two new art collections, Iro (which is Japanese for ‘color’) and Chikyu (which is Japanese for ‘earth’).  Like my Zen Sho Collection, these paintings will be influenced by my practice of Zen Brushwork and my experiences in Japan, but will be strictly abstract with Japanese Kanji.  All the paintings will be titled, which is something I didn’t do in my previous art collection.

For those eBayers out there, my Iro Collection and Chikyu Collection will be available on eBay starting June 12^th. 

1.  Hang your painting at eye level:  You usually don’t want to look up at your paintings, but enjoy them straight ahead.  The only time I hang paintings above or below eye level is when I have a group of paintings in one area of a wall or if there’s an empty space above an entrance.

2.  Do not use wire. Brackets are best:  Wire hangers are imprecise and you have to play with it to get the painting level.  It also makes it hard to know where the center of the painting will be on the wall.  I prefer brackets because they keep the painting level, even if someone bumps into it. My favorite brackets are D-rings or triangular hinged loops.  I usually use two brackets per painting/canvas, but I sometimes use more than two brackets for a larger painting.

3.  J-shaped hooks:  These are hooks that lie flat against the wall.  I love the ones with the pins that go into the wall at 45 degrees instead of 90.  Your local hardware store should carry a variety of picture hooks.

4.  Multiple Paintings:  If you’re going to hang more than a couple paintings, I suggest a Stanley S2 Laser Level and Square.  It projects a horizontal (or vertical) laser chalk line on your wall and makes hanging paintings so much easier.  I don’t know what I would do without my Laser Level!

5.  The above tips are the basics only:  If you’re hanging an unframed painting that’s very expensive, has incredible sentimental value or is extra large in size, you might want to ask a professional for some advice (like a head preparator at a museum or gallery).

What is ‘Zen’?  What is ‘Sho’?  (Put VERY simply!)

Zen is a sect of Mahayana Buddhism that aims at enlightenment and emphasizes meditation, acceptance of the present moment, letting go of judgmental thinking, etc.  

Sho means ‘calligraphy’ and is an art based on writing.

 
Zen Brushwork 

Zen Brushwork, a type of calligraphy, differs from other calligraphic disciplines because it focuses on achieving mu-shin (“no-mind”) through meditation. It is the practice and belief that true creativity is not the product of a conscious effort but develops from mu-shin, a state beyond thought, emotions and expectations. For those who are captivated with art, Zen Brushwork can be seen as a form of true artistic expression.

Demanding the highest level of spirituality, the ability to make one’s strength visible in Zen Brushwork comes only through dedicated practice. In contrast to other calligraphic disciplines, which use Chinese characters as a basis, Zen Brushwork is the expression of Zen through a brush, whether the end result is a single stroke, a circle or a painting. Using the principles of Zen, this art form represents the relationship between the mind, body and universe.

 

Why my Zen Brushworks are not available to the public.

I know that if my Zen Brushworks or other more traditional Japanese calligraphy pieces were available to the public, sooner or later I’d start feeling the pressure to make it aesthetically pleasing.  I started practicing Zen Brushwork to help me unwind and stay balanced, regardless of what the end product looked like or if I made mistakes.   If I keep these works private, then I keep any conscious or unconscious pressures off.  It’s just a personal decision I made and it works for me.  I’m definitely not against people showing their Zen art to the public.  I bow to those who master the brush as I’m still very early in my evolution of mastering Zen Brushwork. 

 
Influence of Zen Brushwork on my contemporary Zen Sho Collection

The title of my contemporary ‘Zen Sho Collection’ is more about honoring my practice of Zen Brushwork since it is what initially inspired me to paint contemporary Japanese themed art. 

The Zen Sho Collection falls into the decorative contemporary art category and cannot be categorized as traditional Zen art.  Actually, some of my paintings can be quite complicated and chaotic.  Each of my paintings are influenced by my practice of Zen Brushwork in varying degrees, depending on how ‘Zen’ I can let myself be that day. 

My paintings are also greatly influenced by my experiences in Japan which include: hiking in bamboo forests; participating in Hanami night-time celebrations (cherry-blossom viewing) under hundreds of spectacular tree-hanging lanterns; going to trendy clubs in Roppongi (Tokyo); and climbing Mount Fuji to watch the sunrise above the clouds.

 
Why sometimes my paintings and Japanese kanji characters are repetitive.

I may be inclined to paint the same subjects or Japanese kanji characters over and over again for two reasons. 

Reason #1 is that I paint what I usually want to be surrounded by and/or I try to represent my current emotions in a painting… which is pretty repetitive in itself.  After the majority of the painting is done, I will look at it and usually pick Japanese kanji compounds that best describe the feeling or thought I get from the painting even though I’ve used the same Japanese characters in other paintings.  I’m more focused on the “feeling” at the present moment, than whether or not I’m repetitive in my kanji use.

Reason #2 is that sometimes I simply enjoy making the same painting over and over again using different angles or colors.  Sometimes I do it just so that I can practice different painting techniques.

This painting, titled 'Butterfly Bliss', was selected as Fine Art Registry’s (FAR) PIECE OF THE MONTH (April, 2008). First registered in FAR, March 11th, 2008. Estimated Value went from $359 to $1299, April 5th.



Title:   Butterfly Bliss
Artist:  Soniei (Canadian Artist)
Description:  Original contemporary painting of butterflies and flowers, blue brown and white, Recorded in the Fine Art Registry
Date:   February 9, 2008
Size:   16"x20"x0.75"
Medium:  Professional artist-grade acrylics, stretched canvas

The aging process of a painting is to be expected, but here are a few basic tips on how to display your paintings while trying to protect them as much as possible.

1.      Air Conditioning or Heating Vents:  Avoid placing your paintings where temperature fluctuations are frequent, since the continuous expansion and contraction of the painting can cause cracking of the paint or sagging of the canvas.

2.      Sunlight:  Direct sunlight can cause fading of the paint, yellowing of varnish, extreme temperature fluctuations and condensation.

3.      Air Circulation:  Rubber spacers can be placed on the back of the frame or painting to increase air circulation.

4.      Lighting:  Try using indirect lighting, such as natural light and recessed or ceiling lighting.  Attaching a light directly on top of a painting can heat it unevenly. 

5.      Fireplaces:  Remove any paintings above a mantel before using a fireplace so the paintings will not be affected by soot and heat.

6.      Conservator:  If your painting is cracking, flaking, has a tear or mold, a conservator can guide you in how to preserve your painting.

Selected paintings, often those found in my eBay store with a Buy It Now price, will be recorded in the Fine Art Registry (FAR). 

Each permanently registered painting will include a patented tag in the back of the canvas, which will help establish authenticity and prevent art fraud and theft.  FAR tags also establish provenance and current ownership of the paintings online, which is valuable for collectors, museums, galleries, insurance companies, etc.

FAR ownership transfer instructions and other Fine Art Registry information will be included with each registered painting sold.

You’ve got a canvas, a rainbow of paints and a brush in your hand.  You’re ready to create a masterpiece.  You stare at the blank canvas, the brush almost touching it, and…. nothing. 

Got ‘Artist’s block’?  Here are 7 tips that might help you find inspiration for your next painting project.

1. Read a book.  Once you visualize something that moves you, try to capture that image in a painting.
2. Go for a walk and look around you.  Open your eyes!!  Beauty is everywhere around you!! 
3. Look at photos in a magazine, a book, online or in your photo albums.
4. Think of people, animals, places and things that you love.  Celebrate these things in your art.
5. Look at favorite paintings you created in the past.  Paint the same subject or scene from a different angle or perspective.  Try a new style or technique. 
6. Just had a daydream?  Paint that mental image! 
7. Angry?  In love?  Afraid?  When you have strong feelings, pick colors you think represent your emotions best, and paint.  Don’t think too much… just express!  This is a great way to practice painting abstracts and it’s therapeutic too!

If you want to share a tip on how to find inspiration, leave a comment!

I’ve been a personal care worker, a tourist guide, an ESL teacher, a research assistant, a computer programmer, etc. etc. etc.  I’ve had so many diverse jobs.  Although some jobs were very fulfilling in the ‘help your community’ kind of way, I was always waiting and craving time off.  Weekends never came fast enough, and Mondays came too soon.  I was trying to be grateful for all that I had in my life, but if I took one hard look at myself I knew I was miserable. 

I remember saying to myself several years ago, “If this is what working is all about, I can’t wait to retire.” 

I then decided to take the time and invest in a relationship with myself.  I got to know who I am (and believe me, I’m still learning) and what I’m passionate about.  I wanted to be an artist ever since I could remember.  I knew I’d be happy painting but tremendous fear was in the way of that career move.  There was no promise of a steady paycheck and I had bills and student loans up the wazoo. That’s why I kept on taking jobs that were emotionally unrewarding but would provide me with a great paycheck.

One night, about 5 years ago, I reached my ultimate low point.  I think the fact that my boss at the time was a bully, always yelling, belittling me and my coworkers, spreading office gossip and providing an emotionally toxic work environment had a lot to do with it.  I had a level of stress and anxiety that I never knew one could have. Something had to drastically change in my life and there was no way I was going to let myself be a victim in my own life anymore.  My frustration of my current circumstances fueled my longing for a better future and gave me the boost I needed to find the courage to pursue my passion.

So, with 110% support from my boyfriend, I made the decision to do everything that it took to become an artist because it really, really, really, really was the only thing I wanted to do.  I quit my job, moved into a small two bedroom apartment with two other people, ate on an artist’s budget, hardly ever went out, learned how to run a small business (started with the book ‘Canadian Small Business Kit for Dummies’, no joke!), learned simply accounting, went to the bank for advice, worked what felt like 16 hour days/7 days a week for the first 2 years, etc. etc. etc.  Was I exhausted?  YES.  What I scared?  YES!!!  Was it worth it? A big fat YESSS!!!!!  It was so worth it that I would do it a million times over!

Now I don’t care what day it is.  Monday, Wednesday, Friday, it’s all the same to me. 99% of the time, I view work as play time, especially now that I don’t do custom paintings anymore. I’m creating art like I used to do as a child, freely.  I’m truly grateful.

***

I hope that you have found your passion.  If not, believe me when I say that your happiness is worth all the time and energy it takes to follow your dreams.