Manawee

Oil on canvas, 36x48, Collection of Cindy Bilotti
Painted collaboratively by Cindy Bilotti and Katherine
Treffinger

Robyn Gordon (Artpropelled) responded to my 'Crow
Speaks' drawing by saying "Crow speaks to me and I
love it....a lot! Please write about your step into a new
way of expressing yourself. It reminds me of some of
the work in that amazing collaboration you did with
Cindy Bilotti."

I promised her that I would post a response. So let me try.
First let me say it was never, ever my intention to paint
abstractly. It just happened and took on a life of it's own.
At any point in my process of developing as an artist if you
were to ask me my life purpose I would respond by saying
that I was here to be a modern myth maker. I started
painting late in life and everything else in my life since 1980
has taken me in the direction of that purpose. Yet here I am
painting abstractly. Go figure.

It is my intention to move into a more story telling mode,
bringing together my figurative and abstract work. I want
to speak of the mystery, of the depths, the symbolic, of the
dream reality, but I don't want to speak directly. When Cindy
and I worked together we read a Fairy Tale and let it inform
the painting as opposed to painting the Fairy Tale. That is
what I want to do, without reading the Fairy Tale. Let the
story come to the painting and inform it. When I did 'Crow
Speaks' I let the images, the color, the strokes, the marks
come through impulse. I want to speak that language, the
language of impulse, intuition, a language beyond the
cognitive, yet something that is deeply understood. It is a
daunting task for me. I have tried and failed more than I
have succeeded. But the time is here and I am going to try
to follow the call.

I hope this answers you question Robyn.

Jane Tracy- Art and Meaning

Desert Dreams' 30"x36" Acrylic/Mixed Media on canvas

"What is the meaning of doing art for you"?

I paint because I must....and when I don't - I'm miserable,
guilt-ridden and all 'round unhappy. I love the struggle and
the battle between me and the empty canvas. The highs
and lows experienced with nearly every brush stroke are
great. I'm most thrilled with the joy I feel the day or two
after I've declared a painting 'finished'.....that is the best-
provided I don't want to 'fix' anything. I then know I
MUST begin anew...

Janes website: www.janetracyartist.com
Her Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ablemabel/
Her email: janetracy@gmail.com

Boca Raton- New Ebay Auction

Oil on canvas, 9"x6" SOLD

Today was the ending of my auction and one of my
lovely blog followers is now officially a collector, owning
2 of my small pieces. I was inspired enough by the sale
to post another painting. This time I am starting at $47.50
(half regular price).

Elizabeth Bunsen- Art and Meaning

"Dreaming in Chinese" mixed media 5 3/4" x 8"

"What is the meaning of doing art for you"?

Why do I pick up these tools day after day? I pick up these
tools because this is my path and it is always a path of
discovery - a path through time, memory and dreaming and
when these ephemeral elements dance and sing together in
concert a mirror is held up to my soul - that place of inner
yearning where all meaning resides. I pick up these tools to
find presence - to forget and to simultaneously remember the
place at the center of the whirling day to day - to reside in
that still point of joy and wonder.

Elizabeth's blog:
http://www.elizabethbunsen.typepad.com/
Her blog shop:
http://elizabethbunsen.typepad.com/be_dream_play/shop-eb.html
Her etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5185316
Her email: planetboone@comcast.net

Spring Moon-Crow Speaks

CROW SPEAKS
Mixed Media on paper 30x22 $395 plus shipping.
If you are interested in purchasing this drawing please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

I am posting a second piece of work today. I felt
a bit shy about posting this piece on my blog but
I have received enough support from my Flickr
friends to brave it. I am hoping this is my first step
into a new expression. I am working with materials
that are fairly new to me and with limited tools.

SPRING MOON
Oil on canvas 24"x30" $795 plus shipping
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

Speaking of the moon, I read yesterday that the moon
this month is as close to the earth as it gets. Cool eh?
Maybe that's what is messing with my computer this
morning, I keep losing my connection.

Yesterday's featured artist Judy Molyneux lives in a beach
town in California. That town was the next town over from
the one I lived in....Stinson Beach. That is how I knew of
Judy's work. I wanted to ask her to be involved in the project
so I began the search to obtain her email. Turns out she
doesn't even have a computer. This alone could get me going
on a very long telling of the story of the quirky town she lives
in, but I won't be detoured. So I sent her a card explaining
the project and gave her the question. I received a very quick
response, a note in a lovely book titled 'Molyneux'. The note
gave me permission to get an image off her website (which
as I said yesterday would not come up) and that was it. I was
disappointed that there was no answer. I hungrily sat down to
look at the art in the book and toward the end there was a
statement by Judy. It answered the question. That was what
I posted yesterday. I found the image at one of the galleries
representing her. Thank you Judy.

P.S. Spring Moon was formerly Petroglyph

Judy Molyneux- Art and Meaning

'Surfers Changing by Their Cars' Oil, 24"x30"

"What is the meaning of doing art for you"?

I paint for many reasons, some unknown even to me.
Fame, fortune, the sheer love of it, the exciting and
wondrous "what if...."

A painter has to be a gambler, has to be able to throw
all cautions to the wind and step off into the unknown,
to face both disasters and the wild rush of the universe.

But the reason that continues to haunt and sustain me is
the right for all of us to hold onto joy; through war, horror,
dull stupidity.

The laughter of a child.
The beauty of red.
A dogs rough and wild play.
The song of existence.

Painting reminds me of this over and over.

More of Judy's work can be viewed at:
www.williamlestergallery.com
www.cchapline.com
Her website is down at the moment but try later: www.rebeccaart.org

Souza's March

Oil on canvas 9"x6" SOLD

Always one to experiment I have put this on eBay
today with a starting bid of $35.00. What the heck?
One has to have fun with life!

I am on the look out for a new gallery. Anyone have
any ideas of a gallery that would be a fit for my work ?
Especially my larger abstract paintings. Let me know.

Diane Kramer- Art and Meaning

'The Guardian' Clay and Cloth 5'x3'x2' award winner

What is the meaning of doing art for you?

Making art for me is like breathing. Without it my spirit
would die. This act of creating is not separated from my
daily life; it all flows together.

Some of how I create today stems from my experience
as a young girl. While my mom and grandmother would
tell stories and share their dreams from the night before
I would make things. I was very inspired by them and
I would listen with my ears, eyes and heart while my
hands began to use elements from nature to make things.
It was, and still is, magical for me.

For many years now, I have let my nightly dreams and
dream states be the channel through which I arrive at
the form and content of my art work. My art is the
expression of an interchange between two very divergent
ways of seeing the world, the intuitive and the rational.
It is my desire to give voice to the invisible reality, crossing
the boundary of the known into the mystery, from which,
since the beginning of time, travelers have returned with
sacred, spiritual, and alchemical revelations.

I feel it is through this process of alchemy that I have
sought to bring harmony to myself through my art.

To see more of Diane's art:
She Wolf Flickr
ArtSlant
Her email is: studiokramer@yahoo.com

Yellow Jacket

Oil on canvas 14"x11" $275 plus shipping
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com
This mornings post is 'Yellow Jacket', a painting I did
in 2002. It has been a part of my personal collection.
I have decided that I am now willing to let it go.

Kirby and I went for a long beautiful drive yesterday
to celebrate his birthday. I am constantly amazed at
the beauty of this area. We saw a home for sale in
our travels with 2 different real estate signs, there
was a sign on the gate that said "DANGER Rattlesnake
Infestation, Please stay on road" Infestation...now
that is a word that is not kidding around! Then there
was another sign that said "Rattlesnake Estate".
Besides that we saw 2 coyotes.

Cindy Bilotti- Art and Meaning

Poplars 8x10 oil on panel

What meaning does doing art have for you?

My time spent doing art is meaningful to me because I enjoy doing it.

I enjoy the materials

I enjoy the process.

I enjoy the visual.

I enjoy the challenge.

I enjoy the unknown.

I enjoy the discoveries.

I just can't help myself. I do it because it is fun.

Cindy's website is : www.cindybilotti.com
Her flickr is: http//www.flickr.com/photos/26076381@N02
Our collaborative work: Cindy and Katherine

Mary Ann Wakeley- Art and Meaning

L'art de la Seduction 18"x18" Mixed media on birch plywood, 2009

What meaning does doing art have for you?

When I am making art, I am experiencing the highest form
of communication with myself.....I am light and free, much
the way I feel when running with my favorite music on a clear
day and everything just flows..no obstacles, just pure good
feeling.....it is flying without wings...pure bliss. Making art
means being free to be who I am. It is the self created world
of personal meaning that connects me to everything and everyone

MaryAnn's site is: www.maryannwakeley.com
Her Blog is: http://maryannwakeley.blogspot.com/
Her flickr site is:http://www.flickr.com/photos/maryannwakeley
and this piece of art can be viewed at: flickr

Snow in June

Oil on Canvas 24"x30" $795 plus shipping
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

Today I woke up to a very sunny clear day, first in a
while. It seemed perfect because I felt sunnier and clearer
than I had in a while. Yesterday was a day of completion.
I repainted the sides of many of my paintings after
bringing them back from different venues. The sides
always get a little funky and I paint them black so I like
to clean them up before sending them back out. I was in
touch again with a new expression that wants to be born.
But like the genie in a bottle I feel a little mystified about
how to access it. My committment to letting it surface
renewed yesterday.What that means??????

Lisa Pressman- Art and Meaning

July 4th 26"x 38" encaustic 2008 @Lisa Pressman

What is the meaning of doing art for you?

"Making art is who I am and what I do- that simple."

Lisa's site: www.lisapressman.net
Her blog:www.lisapressman.blogspot.com
Galleries:
www.therosenfeldgallery.com
www.bennettstgallery.com/lisa_pressman
www.jackmeiergallery.com/main/cafe/text/pressman

Boca Raton

Oil on Canvas, 9x6, $95 plus shipping
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

I just counted the number of Art and Meaning posts
that have made there way to my blog....23!!! And isn't
it amazing how each person has something uniquely
their own to say? Well I guess it isn't that surprising,
they are artists after all! I have a vague goal of 100
artists before I start hunting down a possible publisher.
I love the art that is coming with the responses, so
much talent with so many different ways of expressing it.

Angela Wales Rockett- Art and Meaning

"The Unknown Region", acrylic on canvas, 30" x 40", ©2009

"What meaning does doing art have for you?"
Doing art means searching the depths in order to find
the Source. Doing art means honoring my gift. It means
honoring the mystical encounter with the God who is
the Source of all beauty. Doing art is a spiritual practice,
a place to slow down and deeply observe in a world that
seems to be constantly asking, even demanding, that we
speed up and skim the surface. And through the completed
paintings I hope to provide a place for others to do the same.


Angela's website: http://www.studiotenshi.com
Her blog: http://ryhopewood.blogspot.com
Her small works: http://studiotenshi.blogspot.com
Her Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/angelawalesrockett/

Mike Peyton- Art and Meaning

'The Gathering' Snake Gourds and ink (Sharpie)
3'H x2'Wx1'Deep

"What is the meaning of doing art for you"?

Working on my pieces is like therapy for me. My work is
very detailed and the level of attention required to achieve
this detail requires complete focus and concentration. This
intense focus serves to clear my mind. It releases all the
"noise" in my mind.

I am a single parent of two boys (Hunter, 9 and
Garrett-Lee, 7) and when they go to bed I go to "therapy".
I work 3 to 4 hours a night on my pieces and by the time
I'm done the worries of the day have been absorbed by
my "piece in creation". I believe that it's not the end result
that matters but the process involved in getting there.

Of course, it is nice when your creation satisfies you and
it's even nicer when others enjoy it, as well. But that's not
really the purpose. It's about releasing my inhibitions and
just letting my creativity flow. The key is to not be afraid
to take that journey. As I always say, "Creativity is nothing
more than your willingness to set your mind free."

Mike's website: www.freewebs.com/peytonartwork

His email: hgmpey@yahoo.com

Mooring

Oil on canvas, 9x6, SOLD

Yesterday I sat at my easel listening to an Eckart Tolle
CD and painting. It was great re-listening to The Power
of Now. When I listen to him I become so very present
and still. It was very refreshing. He spoke on how artists
know that creativity comes from the place of presence.
I know that when I am really in the groove I enter a
place of timelessness, excitement, and total presence
with the piece.

I repainted 3 of my small pieces yesterday. I am trying
to finish my small format reworks before I get into the
larger ones I want to rework.

Cirque (reworked)

Oil on canvas, 9x6, $95 plus shipping
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

I haven't been doing any work in the studio lately and
I am grouchy. Back in I go today! The whip is cracking
(can you hear it?). It is funny how quickly life loses
it's depth of meaning if I am not creating. YIKES!

Today's post is a reworking of Cirque.

Summer Rain

Oil on Canvas 9x6 Sold
The weather has been so dramatic lately with lovely
sunny, warm days. Then in the afternoon the black
clouds and wind rolls in, then the lightening and
thunder and rain, at time downpours. So in honor
of this I am posting a painting I reworked a bit and
then renamed. I have already posted Gemini, it is
now Summer Rain.

I also have an Art and Meaning request. I have a
feeling that it will be the known artists that are
going to convince publishing companies to look at
this project for a book. So if any of you have
connections to artists of any 'fame' that might be
willing to participate could you send them my way?
I now have 21 responses posted......cool huh? I love
that they range from beginning to world famous
artists.

Nadia Minic-Art and Meaning

"Fisherman" watercolor

What meaning does doing art have for you?

When ever I have time I paint. This has been true since I was
a child. I have always been a contemplative person. The words
of my deep inner voice are not expressed easily. Everywhere
I look I see, in colors, pictures of my feelings. I attempt to
express them in an impressionistic, symbolic or abstract
style. I paint for myself and when I exhibit, I hope to touch
people in a way that allows them to connect with their own
inner world. I like to bring out a certain aesthetic and
atmospheric mood to many different themes and subjects
using composition and colors. I need to paint as it is what
makes life worthwhile. It is another world in the normal
world. It is a wonderful chance to create our own personal
world and, if we are lucky, to share with like thinking and
feeling persons. For me painting means to dive into a new
dimension in my inner soul.

Nadia Minic from Luxembourg/Europe
watercolour-painter
Nadia's webites are:
www.art-aquarelle.lu
http://yellow.rtl.lu
Her flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35475855@N05/

Circus Life

Oil on canvas 9"x6" $95 plus shipping
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

I have been busy repainting the paintings that are sitting
in my studio. This little piece was named by my friend
Rachel whose mother actually worked for the circus.

I have also been putting together the ground work for
the Giclee print of my 2 Crows drawing. It's going to
be beautiful! I posted the drawing on Facebook and it
sold immediately to a high school friend. That was
amazing to me! Ahhhh the wonders of the internet.

Jo Horswill- Art and Meaning

2 plate print, collagraph & aquatint, printed onto BFK Rives, 15cmx10cm (approximately 6"x4")

"What is the meaning of doing art for you?"

I spent a large part of my childhood being taken from
art gallery to museum to art gallery.My father is a lover

and collector of art…so at home I was constantly surrounded
by paintings, antiques and other interesting old stuff. I’m
sure growing up in an environment like this, was a strong
introduction and had something to do with why I create
and love art to this day. As a strong willed child who needed
her independence and clashed with parental rules on a

regular basis, the peace I felt when I picked up a pencil to

draw, was my saving grace, where time would just slow

down enough, for me to calm down, and work through

whatever it was I was needing to sort out!

Although I grew up around art, it was never really

encouraged that I follow art as a possible career. So never

really being formally trained in the “arts” I have had this

lifelong, ongoing thirst for art and art knowledge. To be

really honest, I have always felt art to be a struggle, not so

much the technical side of it. I have troubles in the conception

side of it all. Besides all of this, I am drawn to art, like a moth

to the flame, and although I get singed at times, the lure is as

strong for me as the need to breath. So the answer to the

question of "'What is the meaning of doing art for you?" has

got to be, that art gives me a "place to go", where I have

the time to calm down, and indulge my need to explore all

sorts of things, including the questions and problems of life

and the human condition.

Jo's blog : http://mystory-jo.blogspot.com/
Her email: johorswill@yahoo.com.au