In checking my search engine postings, I found this feedback I wrote posted at rgenn's painter's keys. His newsletter includes an opportunity to comment on concepts surrounding the Artist, Artwork, and Perceptions in Life: ~Endured the test~ In background and education and experience, I was gifted, and my best work, and my financial success and stability in the work, in a range of situations, as with most people, has been best when properly supported. In my work with children's groups for many years, it was rule one in setting up for the work. I expected, as teacher and mother, to give the children an improved sense of self esteem to take home, as well as a "picherr" to show their parents. In start up daycare projects, some of the children came from first-generation liberated blacks, first-generation working mothers...what I gave was useful; well-funded, organized, conscientious, clean and everything in very good order... However, at midlife, during an overnight disability, I worked part-time as I could at my art, in pain, at one point surrounded by danger and stress and oppression, and financial insecurity. I was amazed to discover that creativity with some people, simply IS as much a part of the person as the heartbeat, the blade of grass growing through concrete, the ray of light in the darkness, my confidence is forever innoculated against some pitfalls, even attack, for having endured the test. Elle Fagan springY2K

Watercolor A recent visit to my hometown found me visiting the church where I took most of my Grammar school education, painted my first watercolors, did Gregorian lettering and chant in the choir, and the lovely May Things to the Virgin... sweet chorals, flowers from our gardens on the altar, and beautiful displays of many kinds to honor the Mother of Christ...shrines backed and draped in the special blue, tucked, pouffed, pleated as swirled...my color training is pro enough, but I still call it Virgin Mary Blue, for the special grace it seems to share. Here I received the sacraments, was married and was thrilled to christen our firstborn. Father showed me a lovely painting in oils of Saint Francis, done by his niece, and asked me to do one of Saint Anthony. He asked that it be done also in oils, although I am focusing in drawing and watercolor at the moment. I told him I had experience in the range of media, and liked most of them, but that a picture in oils from me would take longer since it is not my focus at the moment. He said fine, and I sent him a corroborative letter, with some little bookmarks made of ribbon that I'd done up for the exercise in keeping flexible, and to show that I remembered some of the simple holy crafts and revered them. But his remarks got me thinking about my watercolors and what it is that keeps it interesting for me. I am sure that it is the intellectual challenge of it, and the kind of thought and self-mangement that it demands that keeps keeps me interested. On more than one occasion, arts commentators have remarked that watercolor is painting done in reverse, rather than the logical layering of background to foreground done in other media. Also, in other media, errors can be simply removed and corrected easily. In watercolor, the image can become muddy and overdone-looking if there are too many errors or two many layers of the paint on the paper. So, for these two reasons alone, watercolor may require more forethought and a more definite image in the mind of the finished picture. I am speaking here of the classic watercolor imaging, since there are many styles of watercolor, and I do more than one of them, and like the freedom to do so, expressing a specific image in the mode I feel will describe it best. The transluscence of the watercolor is similar, actually, to the concepts of layering present in graphic arts, and only much later did I realize that I'd been able to Photoshop my art online easily because of that concept. The things light does in watercolor, both with the layered paints and the sparkling unpainted areas, is its hallmark, and I have always believed that such light effects are very good for the health of mind and body. However, I do private commissions, and am usually delighted to make changes, corrections, and improvements, up to a point, to please the client. The point is to share an image that will portray what the client wishes, through my skills. This is a controversial point, since some artists would disagree with me completely. However, again, I am so happy to be able to relate more or less normally after all the bodylanguage and fine motor skills problems I had, that the people dance in achieving the desired result in the work delights me. I am hoping to take a technical refresher in color theory, though, since I found that my grasp of the technical in color should be updated periodically, since science is always making neat improvements in the chemical abilities of color media and perhaps someday, be able to contribute something helpful. The scientists in my background inspire me, still...perhaps a pigment that fades less, is easier to correct, and imparts a new luminosity of its own. A precise understanding of the chemical interaction between paint and papers, since variations in the one, effects the other. In any focus worth following there is an endless range of opportunity for discovery. Most artists become known for one style, a signature that IS their work, that defines them more than any other, but most have training in the range of media, and do a little of several styles and media to keep it all alive and skilled. Arts experts have fun with this concept. Like the detective, finding the telltale signature in the "lesser works". Personally, I have enjoyed watching my work evolve and reflect my basic state. I have a Scorpio ascendant, astrologically...I like skill, discipline and mastery of medium. But born in May, I giggle. When I was young it caused problems and conflict, so I hit into it straight on. It was not that difficult to get to the place where I could march, but also dance. I valued deveoping a nice pro behavior in my work, but went therapeutic, when I began recovery from a bone and joint injury, brushstrokes would reduce me to a sweat. During a bereavement, happening at the same time, I found that my style became sculptural, I disintegrated some brushes normally good for a lifetime, and the colors were intense, almost brooding. Redeveloping the light-yet-definite brushstokes has been, at such times, helped the healing, and I think I enjoy allowing life to do its best work in me, from this phase riding out through difficulty and recovering ease. At midlife, I remember my twenties,and needing to be actively philosophical, tolerating overspontanaeity-to-downright sloppiness in some of my work, reminding myself that the youth and energy of it all would be gone too soon, and there would be time later for the effects I craved, back then, in total futility. And the children's arts groups were rewarding doubly, for that reason. I felt in pace with life, and treasuring the times. Scorpio with children must play with a number of them in a group to be sure they are not getting too bossy to inspire the children, nurture and encourge them to find their own creative foci. I am sure my first grey hairs came from this concern. The children often eased my mind on the subject, sometimes to the point of evil genius. Their initiative truly delighted me, though, and memories of the happiness of those times in spite of the responsibilities are treasure now. Well, those days are under way, and the satisfactions in the work make up for more of the downside of aging than I thought possible. I am a pretty happy lady. On the business level, everyone is busy, often stressed, and so I like the positive influence that selling my work in the community brings. If I am doing my day right, clients usually feel refreshed and ready to go on to the next task with good energy. My parents were moderate sociologically, so I avoid both profanity and ultimate refinements, though they seem to be right for others. Staying into my Truth, in the nicest way I can usually produces the best results. And business meetings about paintings and other of my works, or those of others, artshows and other show/sale events, with goals of doing the nicest job of it, for the best effect and happy financial arrangements for it usually improves everyone's day, including mine. Well, you asked.....:-) elle fagan