Keep Painting!

 

"Questions"    Mixed Media    15"x 22"   Ruth Hayes    $500.  

      It has certainly been a year to remember!  Isolating, scary, boring, quiet,  but also creative.

No shows, no reason to push to create new work but painting only becasue it is what I do.

A joke I have often found to be true is that for an artist a painting is only finished when a show deadline hits and it has to be framed.  With no deadlines I have a stack of unfinsihed partially explored work, but also old pieces reworked and finished, as well as work finally thrown away in the recycling. 

     I found a way to continue teaching by learning zoom. It's not the same and it has been a challenge but I am getting the hang of it thanks to supportive friends and students. Once again it feels like "We're all in this together" with students and instructors finding a way through the many snags and issues.

As I write this the year is ending and a vaccine is on the way. The new year 2021 promises to be better. Classes will resume in January and hopefully shows and exhibits can once again take place.

Happy Holidays!

                             Pandemic Painting

"Viral Universe"   Watercolour  11"x14 "

 

                                  Heading into September

 Painters, musicians, performers and many artists are struggling to express and connect in this time of covid. Things are improving but 

not back to "normal" by any means.  On a personal note I have found it a time to paint just for the pure pleasure of creating. No shows and no pressure. That has felt strange but oddly freeing. I create therefore I am.  Simple and basic and reminds me of  an early philosophy course covering Descartes..."I think therefore I am".

     Watercolour classes were to resume in September but as schools reopen there seems to be uncertainty around safety again. Rather than cancel as soon as classes start again they  are being postponed until later in the Fall. The classes are socially distanced and maximum five in a class. It is very hard to plan and because of that the class sessions are being reduced to 4 weeks in length instead of six. Again the focus is on creative fun and developing skills.  It is important to me to keep everyone safe. Check out my class page for more details. 

My web site gallery has some new paintings and feel free to call me with any questions or to arrange a private viewing or class.

National Arts Drive June 20th
RAW Drive by Art Exhibit

4pm-7pm

Location Ruth E. Hayes
17 Fernwood Park Ave.

I will be part of the drive by, walk by, National Arts Drive.
This Saturday, June 20th- go for a walk in the Beach and throughout Toronto and see some art.
Art will be displayed by participating artists on frontporch,
yard, driveway whatever. No contact, just enjoy the art.

                      

Painting in Isolation

      How often have creative types wished for a time of isolation with no distractions and only endless days to paint, write, or compose?   It is also said to be careful of what you wish in case it manifests.  Alone with time to do nothing but paint I found myself as human as anyone else floating disoriented in a scary new world and glued to news on the TV screen. It took some time before I realized "normal" was not going to return immediately and when it did it would be a "new normal". A bit daunting but over the weeks I adjusted to these new circumstances .
     With most art events cancelled, a population in isolation and a crashed economy it  has been a time for many in the arts to pause and reevaluate.. What motivates me as a human, as a creative being and what emeges from a time that seems collectively to have touched us all?  Respecting my fear I started painting again. I started small and only brought out three small unfinished paintings I thought I could complete each day. Just painting was what mattered. I pulled out unfinished paintings, I threw stuff out, then started new. My space started looking messier and more cluttered. No one to come in and see how chaotic it was and no judgment except my own. My fluffy dog was shedding her winter coat badly but dog groomers were closed. Her fine dog hair floated and collected in corners. Paintings  were piled up on tables and along walls.  Walking into my house from a socially distanced walk one day I noticed that my house looked like a true artist's abode. It felt satisfying. To create in isolation with no feedback of peers, or a public. Interesting.

I soon noticed however there was still the internet and artists were wasting no time reinventing themselves. I'm learning zoom. I'm learning to teach using zoom.  We are social beings,
There are still ways to connect.

I don't know how the "new normal" will develp but being human there is always hope.

Opportunity to Play

"Forest Light "  watercolour    Ruth Hayes

After painting for many years and working in various media I sometimes wonder why I keep returning to watercolour. Certain media seem to have their decade or so of popularity. Oils have always been popular and it is the media I trained in. Watercolours at some point seemed to be the media of choice and I was sucked in. Acrylics, pastel and mixed media have all fascinated me  and I love them all. But I ask why I return to watercolour . I think it is because of the challenges. When I hear comments such as "unforgiving medium"  "you can't make a mistake" or "hard to control" I question whether we're talking about the same medium. I love the surprise, the not knowing what will happen with the paint, the water and perhaps a bit of salt. Mistakes become "opportunities" and the "not knowing " becomes my expanded knowing as I stay with the process.

I offer ongoing classes in watercolour and you are invited to come and play in the new six week series starting in March.

Monday moring classes or Tuesday morinigs March 9th and 10

10 am- 12pm

Fee $140.00

optional materials fee

Thursday evening class 

March 12th

7:15-9:15 pm

For more information phone 416-699-8609