Donna Marsh- Art and Meaning

'Yesterday' Oil on canvas 16"x20"

What is the meaning of doing art for you?

It's odd, but in popular culture artists are portrayed as
flaky-crazed individuals who drink too much and worse.
But I am never quieter or less crazed than when I'm
painting, planning a painting, or thinking about painting,
because it requires everything from me, and I'm willing
to give it. So for me, doing art is an island of sanity in a
strange world. It's the one place I can make sense of
what I know but can't put into words. And it's not some
exalted knowledge or anything like that. Everybody
knows it. But they are equally tongue-tied about these
matters. Perhaps they will come across  my painting and
not just see it, but recognize it. And that is my favourite
conversation, because it's something that can occur with
people who have very different experiences from me,
different beliefs, likes, dislikes and yet, for a moment,
we have a little agreement about the human condition.
Mi casa, su casa.

The rest is about my relationship with the paint. I love
everything about the paint. I love the colour, the texture,
the smell. I can argue with it, I can push it, but most of
all I can trust it.  The studio is where I can continue
growing this competence. It is also where I can break the
bonds (but quietly) of my Canadian couth and restraint.
These hands that are gloved most of the year get dirty.
Those snowy wastes I find so compelling don't just live
outside. It's a wonderful thing to get up in the morning
and go colour my world.

Donna's website is: http://www.dmarsh.artspan.com/
Her Flick address is: www.flickr.com/photos/hotmedia/
Her email is: dmarsh451@gmail.com