hannahreimartistca: From Functional to Fantasy

hannahreimartistca: From Functional to Fantasy: Clay. Wow. Interesting what I can do with it, right?

hannahreimartistca: From Functional to Fantasy

hannahreimartistca: From Functional to Fantasy: Clay. Wow. Interesting what I can do with it, right?

From Functional to Fantasy

Clay. Wow. Interesting what I can do with it, right?

Gold, Silver, Copper?

As a artist who uses every medium in her repertoire, (palette), I have an affinity for metals. All of my raku work includes elements of metals to reveal a beautiful lustre or rainbow of colours. It's not different in my paintings... I am a crow constantly seeking shiny objects to beautify my environment. Hence, my love of copper. I was distraught when Canada discontinued the distribution of the penny. I object; here is my tribute. Enjoy the glamour, all shiny and bright; copper and varnishes to twinkle on your wall. Not bronze, not brass, just pure copper attraction. $1500, unframed, taxes and shipping extra. Comment or email for specifications and details.

Pen and ink and watercolour, add marks and inspiration.... and maybe, design.

The conflict between art and craft should include the design aspect of art. There are lots of good images in this world. Some on aprons, some on wallpaper, some on leggings now. But this nonsensical version of wearable art or functional art leaves me questioning myself even more. Is anything pretty, art? Does the medium mean anything? Many artists on sites such as ETSY transfer their images to mugs, rugs, and any other $10 object. I guess it's all fair if you are trying to support your art financially. Design is fair game for all artists I suppose. But I have seen images which scream design and they carry a hefty price tag. Not a fan. Not a fan. So you decide if these little sketches are art or design or both. And as usual, there is a message and a theme and a concept behind these sketches. You won't be seeing it on oven mitts though.

hannahreimartistca: I Paint, Therefore I am.

hannahreimartistca: I Paint, Therefore I am.: It's been a while since I wrote a blog post about my life as an artist. No excuses, just living with blocks, burn-out, and every other...

I Paint, Therefore I am.

It's been a while since I wrote a blog post about my life as an artist. No excuses, just living with blocks, burn-out, and every other pedestrian cop-out for stepping aside from my blog. Realistically, I fill my mind with so many images, so many concepts, that I get overwhelmed and stuck in the maze. And I start to cook something. Like food. Ah yes, a new year approaches. 2018. Wow. That was fast. I think I should make a resolution to create, post, blog, write, pot, paint, repeat. So you have my word on this, I will be back. If not with a vengeance, at least with a tweet, a post, an image, a comment or some other vacuous social media interaction. No really. I will be back. (Pardon me, Arnold). Wishing you all a happy and healthy and art-filled 2018.

And You See What?

This week I posted a photo of an untitled diptych. And there were a number of comments of the interpretation of the images. Of course, I did not paint any image which was perceptible. Actually, the difficulty in being an abstract painting is to ensure that no representational form sneaks into the work. I cannot fathom how or where some of these "seen" objects come from. Yesterday evening I watched a documentary on Schizophrenia; one of the most common symptoms is seeing imaginary things which are clearly not present in reality. You laugh. I am certainly not accusing my viewers of any mental disorder; on the contrary. Imagination is the trigger for association with an image. But it did make me wary. How to engage a viewer without attaching reality to my paintings. If you like what you think you are seeing, well, that's a good reason to hang the piece in your home. But if the image you have conjured isn't pleasant to your psyche, the painting is rejected. What a fine line I walk when I choose to lay down colour, form, composition, etc. So when people claim that they can easily replicate abstract work, I challenge them. Go ahead. You will appreciate my work so much more.

 

hannahreimartistca: Square Life

hannahreimartistca: Square Life: Acrylic/Mixed Media On Canvas 30"x30"- Ready to hang wired- unframed            $1025 Canadian. Shipping and taxes extra. Co...

Square Life

Acrylic/Mixed MediaOn Canvas

30"x30"- Ready to hang wired- unframed

           $1025 Canadian. Shipping and taxes extra. Contact : hannah.reim@ hotmail.com

No words, just glorious colour and texture to grace your post- contemporary style.

hannahreimartistca: Marks, Water and Mystery

hannahreimartistca: Marks, Water and Mystery: LIQUID LADDER- Watercolour on paper by Hannah Reim-Artist There are times that inspiration for a painting is buried so deeply in the unconscious

Marks, Water and Mystery

LIQUID LADDER- Watercolour on paper by Hannah Reim-Artist

There are times that inspiration for a painting is buried  deeply in the unconscious creative mind. I look at the sheet of paper before me. Nothing. I wait. And wait.

Then I release the images floating around and decide to free the beast. My hands have a life of their own and I throw down. Literally it is a battle royale  between the mind and the spirit. And voila. The brush moves itself in the most mysterious directions without any conscious  input. A construct of pure movement and a tango  between the hands and the brush. And the paper. And the paint. And water flowing, flying, splashing the walls. You are jealous, right? 

My ability to zone out intellectually is my gift to myself. And sometimes to you.

The resulting image is a mystery, a collision. And ultimately, the exact feeling I was looking for all along.

hannahreimartistca: Ramblings from a SketchbookAfter posting blog ent...

hannahreimartistca: Ramblings from a Sketchbook
After posting blog ent...: Ramblings from a Sketchbook After posting blog entries with the "finished" product, I thought it was a good opportunity to...

Ramblings from a Sketchbook

Ramblings from a Sketchbook

After posting blog entries with the "finished" product, I thought it was a good opportunity to go back in time. I am not a fan of process as I have mentioned on many occasions. Rarely, do I lose myself in the actual task at hand. Yes, that's right. My art is a task, and I am a reluctant taskmaster. In other words... fearful of the final outcome of my hand and heart.

When I thought about the actual pleasure derived from decades of producing art, I reverted to looking through my many sketchbooks. A tribute to the real freedom and outpouring of the artistic construct -without hesitation. Without thought of opinion, judgement and critique of  anyone other than myself (and sometimes my art teacher).

Shockingly good, I thought after turning pages. The earlier the sketch, the more I liked the piece. Does that mean that the less trepidation I was feeling about laying down an image, the better the work? All the knowledge I have gained has coloured (excuse me) my ability to really paint or pot with reckless abandon. Is that a good thing? Who knows. Early work is rarely superior to a mature eye and hand. But tell me. Are not these sketches powerful, emotive and meaningful?

But it's too late. You can't go home. Or back to your initial instinct in art. My head is filled with unabashed fodder- educated and cemented in years of lectures and published how to's. The drive to be free is still there but tempered somewhat. Art education is critical- I always say that deconstruction can only be achieved when the parameters of formality of technique are firmly in place.

Happily, my sketchbooks make me feel successful, talented and confident- momentarily,but I can always go there with these overstuffed, private and dog-eared journals of my travels in art.

Paint What You Know

Watercoloured Water- Watercolour on Paper - Unframed. 22.5"x 15"


When I first began my writing career, the cliche of "write what you know" was my mantra.
So if the subject was foreign to me, I did as much reading and research as the subject dictated. I worked for a financial newspaper initially so the subject was complicated and diverse and not fascinating. But I understood that I could only convey to the reader the information which was integrated in my body of general knowledge.

Needless to say,I became conversant about RRSPs and Stocks- neither of which I had at that time.

Clearly, that has translated into my subject matter when I take out my paper and watercolour paints. I only paint what I understand, what I have touched, smelled, tasted and viewed. Unless I am deconstructing an image, the core of my subject has to feel familiar and comfortable. Not adventurous. I have never painted an airplane, a boat, or a location which I have not seen in person. Is this common to painters? Of course, landscape painters who create en plein air know this precept all too well. The eyes have it. Right?

This painting is the result of a photo I snapped on the crater-filled,un-beach-like shore of Barbados. And yes, it is water and rocks; two aspects of nature which I have inhaled through all my years. I know this scene, visually and in my gut. And now you know it too.

hannahreimartistca: Woodnymph- Sculpture in ClayJust for your edifica...

hannahreimartistca: Woodnymph- Sculpture in Clay
Just for your edifica...: Woodnymph- Sculpture in Clay Just for your edification- This is my mythical creation, part tree, part woman. Grounded in roots that w...

Woodnymph- Sculpture in Clay

Just for your edification- This is my mythical creation, part tree, part woman. Grounded in roots that will be buried. You can't see what is not exposed to the naked eye. Forgive the pun. For most woman, the body is the centre of attention, unfortunately. What is unseen is the structure which holds the person in place. Unwavering, able to withstand harsh winds,pecking birds and a public hachet blow.

For those who just see the body, look at little closer. The strength eminates from the core - often called the soul.

This handbuilt, coiled piece is available for purchase.

$250. Canadian. 14"

When "Untitled" is Appropriate

Untitled- Mixed Media on Gallery Canvas 3'x4'

When I first set out to paint a sizable expressionist abstract piece, I had planned to work instinctively. Most artists know that there should be a modicum of a vision. Otherwise a primate could paint (yes, I know they do). As I choose my palette, I did make some hard decisions. It should have some depth. It should have some lights, some very lights. And then, it should be textured because that's who I am. Textured. Yes, rough parts, soft parts, the dark side, and the exquisite bright. My life in paint mirrors reality. 

Off I go, brushes in hand, fabric, water, paint, an apple beside me, because I think I will eat something at some point. But I never do. Hours go by, I am so covered in medium to make the papers and the fabric adhere to the canvas. My back is hurting as usual. But I never stop to breathe.  And once done, I stand back and glow with pride because I covered a large canvas and it is awesome. For me, anyway. When I show it to my daughter's boyfriend, he asks, "what inspired you?". And the question makes me laugh. (Artists will get this).

So the only question left is the name of the piece. I realize that only the viewer can make that decision. I have made too many decisions creating it. Now it is your call. I call it "Untitled". 

hannahreimartistca: IT IS ART. AND IT POURS TEA BEAUTIFULLY

hannahreimartistca: IT IS ART. AND IT POURS TEA BEAUTIFULLY: Porcelain Tea Set- 4 Pieces. $500 Can. One of my forays into painting came from the inability to explain why craft can be art. Functiona...