Jacquie Gouveia

I put together a quick little Flash timeline of my progression as an artist. I love to see what an artist created when they first started out and where they end up years later. I hope you enjoy it!

See it here: http://www.jgouveia.com/artjourney.html

Like most artists, I sell and display my paintings on several online galleries. It is definitely a necessary means to promoting your artwork these days. It allows for people to find your work and gives you access to buyers that you wouldn’t have crossed paths with otherwise.

But with the many online galleries and online portfolios out there, my favorite feature by far is the “View in a Room” feature on my site at boundless gallery. This super cool feature allows the viewer to see what a painting would look like in several different rooms provided by boundless. The image also supplies the room’s dimensions so you can get a good idea of how it would work in your space. In addition to viewing the rooms provided by boundless, the viewer can also upload an image of their own room.

Based on a recent article in Art Busines News, buying art online has increased over the past year and is expected to continue in the upward direction. The article also states it is becoming less of a big deal for buyers to purchase a piece of art and just ship it back if it isn’t what was expected or just doesn’t work. Which is reality in the art world overall. A buyer may purchase something in a gallery but when hung in their own home, under their lighting, sometimes it isn’t the right fit.

 

If you watched the Grammy’s last night, you were probably as blown away as I was with Mary J Blige’s phenomenal performance of “Be Without You”. It was one of those moments where every part of my being was feeling her and feeling the moment she was lost in. I had to download the track from iTunes first thing this morning (along with her entire cd). At the end of the song, when she belts out “stay with me baby” I immediately thought of Janis Joplin. With a little research I found Bette Midler’s live version of “Stay With Me” - a song by Jerry Ragavoy and George Weiss originally from the soundtrack to “The Rose”. I find the connection between Blige and Joplin/Midler to be such an fantastic example of how we are connected and as artists build upon and get inspiration from each other.

The passion and raw emotion Mary J. Blige displays in this performance is what every artist should be going after. I am so energized and inspired! I can’t wait to see the painting I will create from her music.

I wanted to share a quick post with my fellow artists about a recent realization. A realization that unites so many of us as humans in terms of the uncertainity about our abilities. 

This past Monday I had lunch with a friend who started a new position about 5 months ago. This new position is a much deserved career jump but naturally has greatly increased her responsibilities. But she made a very specific comment I’d heard before. Her statement went something like this, “I sit in my office just waiting for “them” to figure out that I don’t know what I’m doing.” I was truly surprised to hear her say these words. One, because I know first hand how capable she is to handle her new role. And two, I had heard this comment come from other artists - I live with an animator and hear this comment, alot!

Regardless of who we are or what we do for a profession, we all have a “them”. Someone, who at any moment, is going to realize we are a fraud. Maybe it’s a boss, a commission or an agent that we fear will discover our secret. Just know we all have these doubts, especially when we are starting out or trying something new. Your self fulfillment and greatest gains in your abilities will come when you work through them.

 

Most people who meet me describe me as being down to earth. I have a great group of friends that I can hang out with and say whatever is on my mind. Every once in a while I am going to post something as if I am talking with them, putting my professional manner on standby.

Here are some tips to help you get ahead as an artist. Maybe you can use them as a New Year’s resolution.

1. Don’t show work that sucks - We all create pieces that are horrible. We just don’t show them to anyone. Trash them, paint over them, use them as a learning tool - just don’t show them.
2. Don’t be an ass - We all have moments of being totally self involved. But the world really doesn’t revolve around us. It doesn’t matter how deep or important your work is, no one wants to deal with you if you’re an ass.
3. Don’t be lazy - You’re not going to be “discovered”. You have to create and promote, create and promote…
4. Use your words (and spell them correctly) - omg I am so going to pmp if someone else lol’s at my email. OK, this is fine when emailing friends, but be professional when dealing with anyone in the art profession.
5. Get over it - You are going to get rejected - period. Have your hissy fit, then move on.
6. Don’t ask for feedback from any of the following people - Your parents, siblings, spouse, friends or a blind person. Their are plenty of art related forums now to get good, solid feedback. Plus, you really should be learning to use your own internal guide.
7. If you can’t draw, don’t - Find what you are good at - sculpture, music, writing - something that seems to come more naturally.
8. Cut yourself some slack - creating art is the easy part. Everything beyond that can really suck and takes time.

Cheers!

For many artists, myself included, the creative process is more important and fulfilling than the end result or product. It is the process that energizes me, connects me to a higher spirit, challenges me and forces me to either make decisions or just follow my instincts and see what happens.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, “Learning to See”, the process begins here. Seeing - noticing - acknowledging the beauty all around us. Taking note of what captures our attention. This is different for each individual, translating into the astonishing and limitless possiblities for art. For me certain color combinations are usually what pull me in. Big groups of colors in a landscape can stop me in my tracks. As a painter, I challenge myself to notice the scene quickly and interpret what and how I saw it on canvas. This is a great way to emphasize what is important and leave out what is unnecessary. It is also a great exercise for painters to work on your memory. You can’t get caught up in any of the details if you experiment with painting this way.

Once in my studio I very quickly and loosely lay in my idea - calling upon that initial impression. This first layer is usually thin in consistency and bold in color. I like to allow the paint to drip and flow on its own - all I want is to get the idea down. I no longer worry so much about perspective and the typical objects in a landscape (foreground, background and sky) I focus more on colors and color harmony. 

The next phase of the process varies. If after I lay my idea down and am mentally prepared to move on to something else, I put it aside to let dry and work on it another day. This is why it’s so crucial to get the impression down. If I have captured my initial idea when I return to it I am once again inspired and ready to go. Sometimes, however, I am so caught up in the moment of creating I just keep going. I never force myself to stop when it’s really flowing because this is when I feel most connected to the process. This is the addiction, the “painter’s high” -to be completely immersed and at peace in the moment.

I would love to hear your comments and thoughts about the creative process. What do you enjoy most about it? What kicks it off for you?

I saw the extremely powerful and moving “Bobby” last night. In one scene Laurence Fishburne’s character, while referring to making blueberry cobbler, explains how he struggled at trying to get his dessert to be as good as his mother’s and grandmother’s. After several failed attempts he realized he was trying too hard to make his “mother’s” cobbler, when instead, he should be making his own cobbler. This is one of my mantra’s for all artists. Once you learn the techniques of your craft at some point you must cut the ties and go out on your own to create your work. I repeatedly have used the following statement to explain what I mean.

Noone could have taught Hans Hofmann, Pollock or Georgia O’Keefe how to paint their paintings. Many successful artists become self-taught at some point in time. I believe it is what sets them apart from the rest. It’s taking what you have learned, the basics of your craft, and then diving into your gut, allowing your work to come out and be unleashed.

And by the way, this is exactly what Estevez has done with “Bobby”. Go and see it!