Joseph Raffael- Art and Meaning

'Blossoming' Watercolor on paper 60"x90" 2009

What is the meaning of doing art for you?

Art's meaning for me.
This is the way it is for me.
There's no question. No ifs and buts. There is no choice.
I have no say.
There is nothing else to do. It's like breathing.
For me, it is our daily activity of opening-to-and-assisting
the invisible-becoming visible.

This is the life of the quotidian----an expression within
moments in time----a gesture, a knowing, a not-knowing
expressed & becoming part of eternity.

This art coming up and out, through an artist goes into
the world's air as imagery. It moves on and on and on just
as our breath does, in the same way as we breathe in the air
of our ancestors.

The imagery we help come through becomes part of the
imagery of all times' consciousness, like the unending,
unstoppable, unrepeatable flow of the rivers, or of
the powerfilled clouds appearing out of seemingless
nowhere moving across the mind's sky.

We birth that which has never lived before.------3 May 2009

Josephs website is: www.josephraffael.com

Sonata "Best of Show"

Oil on canvas, 48"x36", $1800 plus shipping
If you are interested in purchasing this painting
please email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

I know, I know you have already seen this piece, but
I have some bragging to do. I entered 'Sonata' in the
Open Regional Exhibit at the Pendleton Center for the
Arts and darn if I didn't win Best of Show. So there
she hangs with a ribbon next to her as proud as can be.
I have been in many juried and judged shows and I
have won a few awards but this is the first Best of Show.
It was very fun to see all the talent in the show and
there was quite a showing. I didn't know many of the
artists. I live in a remote area and the show covered
Southeast Washington and Eastern Oregon. There is a
good bit of artistic talent out here.

Prudence Roberts was the judge. She is an Art History
teacher at one of the better community colleges for art
in Portland Oregon. She curates the gallery at the college.
She previously curated the American and European Art at
the Portland Museum of Art. It was fantastic having a
highly qualified judge for the show. The director of the
Pendleton Center for the Arts did a fantastic job of hanging
the work. It is no easy task in an open show to orchestrate
all the different work.

Terry Rafferty- Art and Meaning

'32 Chevy Oil on canvas 24"x18"

What is the meaning of doing art for you?

The first thing I thought of when I read this
question was "peace of mind". That seemed
like an odd response, so I thought about it some
more... and yes, that is what it means to me.
I love the challenge of making bits of paint tell
a story, and I love the positive feedback when
someone sees a piece that speaks to him or her.
But its the actual hours at the easel when I am
totally engaged that I am at peace. The quiet,
the solitude, reaching for a goal and hopefully
achieving it brings a sense of order and well-being
that nothing else does. So, like many of the other
artists that answered this question, I would have
to say that painting feeds my soul like food and
oxygen feed my body and brain.

Terry's website is: www.terryrafferty.com
Her blog is: www.terryrafferty.blogspot.com
Her email is: terryrafferty@mac.com

The Musician

Charcoal on paper, 30"x22", Unframed, $295 plus shipping
If you are interested in this drawing please send an
email to director@pendletonarts.org or phone 541-278-9201

Today's post was delivered yesterday to the beautiful
Pendleton Center for the Arts along with 6 of my daily
paintings for the gift store. It was a lovely if a bit windy 65
degrees yesterday in Pendleton, Oregon...yes, home of
the Pendleton woolen mills. The drive was gorgeous with
beautiful views, hail and fluffy white clouds.

I drew this while the musician was playing. He was very
animated!

Perennial

Oil on canvas 24x18 $495 plus shipping
If you are intereested in this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

Today I am taking a day trip to Pendleton, so no
painting. I am excited to get back to the studio
and see what comes out. Hopefully this weekend.
I hope to post some new work soon, Yikes!

Does any one know anything about the Florence
Biennale of Art? I have been invited but it is hugely
expensive. Don't know if it is a scam or a real thing
or what.

Well have a fabulous day. I am thrilled to be putting
the pedal to the medal today, I haven't been out since
my fall.

Hopefully I will have an Art and Meaning post soon.

Ugly Duckling I

Oil on canvas 48x36 Collection of artist
Collaboration with Cindy Bilotti (and her Flickr)

I am going to talk a little astrology today. Be warned I know
very little about it. This evening Mercury the planet of
communication is going retrograde.

"When a planet is in retrograde, it appears to be moving
backwards in the sky when viewed from earth. Of course it
is not actually moving backwards, but the illusion of
backward motion is created due to the differing speeds of
planetary orbits around the sun."
www.mercuryretrograde.wordpress.com

What I have learned about it is that when it is retrograde
we are advised to do things that start with re. Rework,
rewrite, rethink well you catch my drift.

I can already feel this movement in my own life as I
rethink my expression in art. What is my next step,
what is it I want to express, what is my true artistic
voice? I know the answers are continually evolving,
but here I am again. In search of the answers to this
I find myself going to this piece Cindy and I collaborated
on which is the painting I kept in my own collection.
It is speaking to me and wants to inform me, to guide me.
I am listening.

Zydeco

Oil on canvas 24"x18 $495 plus shipping
If you are interested in this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

A few days back from my trip and I tripped and I mean I
tripped. Flat on my face, black eye, bruised shoulder and a
knee that refused to bend for days.

OK I'll start at the beginning. I was in a great mood and
was taking a walk with my partner, our 2 dogs, and three
neighborhood kids that have adopted us. We were joking
and generally having fun when a truck comes down the
road. My dog Maggie a Poodle/Border Collie mix just
had to chase it. I am trying to break her of this very bad
habit. I was in the road so I just stepped toward the middle
to intercept her. Unknown to me Damian, the 7 year old
of the bunch, who is riding his bike goes to stop Maggie
and we sort of collided. I tripped over something on the
bike and boom, I fell.

The body is amazing I have been sleeping for days as it has
been taking care of itself. I see a little group of workers in
there with their tool box going to work on the damage.

Long story short...I haven't been painting. I go to the studio
and stare with an ice pack on my knee.

Just saw the date, happy Cinco de Mayo!

Robyn Gordon- Art and Meaning

What is the meaning of doing art for you?

Art is something I just have to do to feel normal.....or I end up
being miserable. The most important aspect for me is the
healing and spiritual aspect. Though I have always found
solace in my work it was only after losing my young daughter
to cancer that I realized the healing qualities of creating art.
It was my life saver then and many times since. I felt stronger
to deal with my emotions as well as the grief my family was
experiencing. I know without a doubt that it soothes and
balances me in a way that nothing else can. Just as one feels
relaxed and replenished after meditation, I feel the same way
after several hours of carving. Art is my meditation.

Robyn's blog address is:www.artpropelled.blogspot.com

Matt Lamb- Art and Meaning

Untitled, mixed media on paper, 2007

What is the meaning of doing art for you?

Katherine, thanks for asking me to participate in your project,which I think is an amazing idea!

To answer the question you’re posing, I feel that I have absolutely no control over making my art. It is a complete necessity to my psyche. To make art is the same as
deciding to breathe, eat, or walk. If I were not able to do it, or if the ability to do it was taken away from me because of physical impairments, it would be as if you’d
cut off my arms or legs. I’d be a useless engine. People might come visit me, but life wouldn’t be meaningful anymore.

I am part of my art. You could say I’m a slave to it, but I don’t see it that way. I believe it’s a blessing that’s been given to me. My attitude is that it’s part of the higher goals I try to manifest in my life: peace, tolerance, understanding, hope, and love. I channel those things through my perception of art and the message it brings to me and others, to either be loved, scorned, or disregarded.

I am blessed every day to get up and create art. Nobody has to wake me up to tell me to go to my studio. People ask what I do for my vacation, and I say, “I’m always on vacation, because I’m making art. It means everything to me. It makes my life a great journey and pilgrimage.

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to your blog. I’d also like to invite you and your readers to look at my blog, www.mattlamb.org/blog.

Up, up, and away,
Matt