Diana K. Gibson

The art we create in essence is a reflection of who and what we are, what we have experienced, what we feel, what we think, what we would like to say.  Several months ago I lost my beloved pet.  It was a loss that I had never experienced before and it was devastating to say the least.  Many a day was spent feeling such sadness. Then one day I picked up a pencil and started to draw my dog’s portrait.  And from that point on the drawing became a means to express my love, my sorrow, all those feelings that had welled up inside.  Upon completion of the drawing  there was an internal shift and a catharsis followed.  The drawing had been a way to heal.  It had been a way to express everything that needed to be said and a way to honor her life.

In the never ending quest to find the ultimate painting surface I often experiment by making my own oil painting canvas panels.  It does entail some work, patience and time.  While it would be much easier and quicker to buy readymade stretched canvas or rolls of primed canvas, the process of making the panels makes the artwork very personal. You are involved with its lifecycle from the very beginning even before it is painted.  And because of the time and energy invested in making each canvas panel there seems to be a bit more mindfulness involved in the painting process.  To date I haven’t found that ultimate painting surface and so I continue to strive for it experimenting and maybe one day hopefully soon the magic moment will happen when at last perfection is achieved.  But until that moment, as the saying goes “if at first you don’t succeed, try try again.”

It seems like a lifetime ago when I first set up my Facebook account and opted to concentrate my energies there on networking and exchanging ideas about art and artwork.  However after a decade or so on Facebook and having watched it change over the years I’ve come to the realization that the platform I once found engaging and constructive to building networks seemingly is no longer.  Upon reading one particular Facebook friend’s status update  (a fellow artist by the way) and the status update announced that as per this individual Facebook had become of a source of anxiety, dread and frustration.  And hence the status update continued with their announcement that they were leaving Facebook and returning to blogging.  In summary they felt that by returning to blogging they would get back to amicable exchange of ideas and discussions about none other than ART.  Such a novel idea. Their announcement struck me and I could absolutely see the merit in their thi...

Summer is such a wonderful time of year filled with activities and fun things to do.  It is also a time for getting away and taking vacations.  Every year I look forward to my annual painting trip to Maine!