Meeting Notes, August 18, 2016

At today’s meeting Joanne T, Loretta U, Kristina, Tim, Charlie, Jeanne, Karen, Lisa, Diane, Scott, Teresa, Stephanie, Kay, John, Jeanie, Jill, Genie, Annie, Jerry, Eunice, (new)! Sandy Caldwell, Ward, Anna, Khanh, Tom, Joanne K, Stella, and me Celeste.

Today’s suggested table topic: mental and physical health as it pertains to painting--Is it important?  Do you have tips or suggestions about maintaining positive mental and physical health?

(Comments are offered below in random and anonymous order):

I know that whenever you say something out loud you hear yourself. It's OK to be self-deprecating and have humor, but sometimes what you say becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. We need to be careful with what words we use about our work. Don’t put yourself down. You have to believe in yourself to paint. As for physical health, I am starting to go back to the gym!

I have been a caregiver and it is important if that happens to you that you don’t turn over every ounce of yourself to the situation. You have to find some time for yourself.

I don’t have any physical problems. I am not going to get old! I went hiking the other day with young people. I recommend staying active.

I have about 15,000 photographs that I am working through. When I don’t feel well I just don’t paint. I think that maybe I should try to paint even when I don’t feel well-- Maybe that is something to do!

I really love this topic. I believe that the main thing is having a sense of humor. I recently did a painting and I realized it was reminding me up Thomas Kincaid! (Laughter)! I make realistic assessments of my paintings. I have a high bar and because of that I can become annoyed. I know that having gratitude is key to good health. I rely on gratitude and humor.

Old age is not any kind of an excuse to not paint--I think about Matisse and how he worked well into old age (and with poor health). And Georgia Keeffe too. She told her assistant what to do when she was unable to do it herself. What about the artist Annie Salsness? She had a stroke.  She had been right-handed, but when she realized she couldn’t use her right hand anymore she became left-handed!  And now she paints as well as she did before the stroke. Health and happiness can cycle. Things go up and they go down. What I find is that even when I have a bad painting it can be really fun to cover it up to do a new painting over it. Attitude is everything. I did this painting recently and it was just a joy to be in the moment.

I am a caregiver too. It has been difficult. Painting is an absolute paradise for me!  I am so grateful for painting.

I have bipolar disorder. There is a gallery here in town that shows work of people (specifically) with bipolar disorder., but I applied to them but they didn’t accept me! (Laughter! Laughter)! I also have a physical ailment that I have had for a long time. I know that I will have days that I spend on the couch. I call those days "couch days" and I've learned to accept them. I just have times where I cannot do much. Painting has been wonderful for me.

I am a Reiki instructor. People are "moving energy". The way to get rid of tension is to be creative. I have started painting again.

A great thing you can do for your physical health is to invest in good equipment.  I used to haul my heavy equipment around and it was so tiring. I have recently purchased a cart. The new cart has changed my life. I take rain gear with me to ensure that I won’t get cold or wet. As for mental heath, we are all own worst critics. I have a painting that I keep up that I did four years ago and I can really see the progress I have made since then. I can see that I’m making progress and the hell with everything else! (Laughter)! I think of my inner critic as a puppy dog. I ask puppy for some help with the values and then encourage puppy to go play and leave me alone. (Laughter)!

Sometimes my family will say “Dad, go draw something” (laughter)! Being engaged in art is a real benefit to my family. I have done some work on Yupo paper --- it has a mind of it’s own and will release you from expectations.

A year ago I was a caregiver and it took all the emotional energy I had. I had to adjust my creative time. I could not come here and I would read the notes from these meetings. Sometimes there are just circumstances that have to be dealt with. Things are world's better now. I do see the progress of my work. I will always paint.

I have battled depression during my life. Painting works wonders. It is very important to be creative and to "get out of your own head".

Having a mentor is important. Not a mentor that will tell you how good you are or what you should be doing, just one to encourage you. You should in turn also mentor a young person if possible. I like the idea of painting your friends. I guess I should make some friends! (Laughter)!

It is very important to make the time to participate. I find the time to actually paint and to go to things, like for example the plein air convention. Before I started learning to paint I just didn't know what I didn't know! Painting has brought me a lot of joy. I spent some time looking at
 Facebook and other places to become inspired. I had to give myself permission to do all this, because I have obligations to my young family... but painting is helping my health.

I am sorry I was late today. I was rerouted and my GPS wasn't working! I advise everyone is to keep painting!

At the start of my day I make my bed. It just sets the tone and starts my day off right to make my bed. I've told my sister that she should do the same...it just helps somehow! Then I have coffee and I start painting right away. A thought that keeps me grounded is “You're never as good or as bad as you think you are”. I had a heart attack last year and this is a true story ---as I was being rushed down the hallway on a gurney at the hospital I thought to myself: "I just want to paint again please let me paint again"--- that’s how important all this is to me.

Try to fall in love with what you are painting..because every mark that you make shows what you are feeling. If you are exuberant it shows. If you are afraid it shows.

I had an old studio easel that I have just replaced. I had to hunch over the old easel and it gave me a knot in my neck! It is important to have good equipment and materials. It seems strange.. but it really is good for your health to have the right tools.

I'm relatively young. Nothing healthwise concerns me. I don’t know, maybe that it’s coming? (Laughter)! It is true that when I was in school I had depression and depression made me go into art. 

God helped me overcome addiction. Art and music helped me cope and get used to a non destructive  lifestyle. It was an outlet for me. I have had surgery too and art got me through it all. I am thankful.

During down times I picture myself with athletic rings. You know-- the kind of rings that are suspended from the ceiling. I imagine myself pulling myself up. The imagery helps me to really actually get up. If I don’t do it no one else will.

You know that song I never promised you a rose garden? That is something I think about.

I paint for emotional stability. It affirms who I am. Here is a poem that was written by Roy Strong. I will read it to you. I feel that this poem is mental health. There is an old Hymn that is called "How can I keep from singing?" That is how I feel ---how can I keep from painting!? 

I am surprised no one has mentioned this yet ---there can be the problem of isolation. It is important to get out into the world like we do here and to be together and to make friends with one another. I like coming here. I have had problems with being able to stand for long periods of time and I’ve had problems with my arm. Nutrition is important!

I have Parkinson’s. Painting helps me. Sometimes I get so engaged with what I’m doing  I forget to take the medication. I become entranced. We need to be nice to ourselves. ..and you have just inspired me to spend a lot of money (on a new easel)!  laughter!

When all else fails just get a puppy ---a real puppy! (Laughter)! I have no studio now and I was not really prepared for that so I have a chaotic studio situation-- but I will get through it!


Announcements:

The Pacific Northwest plein air event is beginning next week on Monday. The reception will be August 26 at Maryhill Museum from 5 to 7.
http://pleinairhoodriver.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/pnwpleinair/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED
https://pacificnwpa.com


OSA Perk up your Paintings (Joanne Radmilovich Kollman) (Drop in)! Fridays 1-4pm $25
Come at noon and Joanne will help you prepare your surface

Peaceful Painting Sundays with Joanne Radmilovich-Kollman meet up with SHERYL this Sunday at the  The Cracker Barrel Store – 15005 N. W. Sauvie Island Road

Others teaching at OSA (Ward, Susan, Brenda and others):

 Portland Open Studios

Villa Catalana is looking for people to paint at their annual paint out (August 20) http://www.villacatalanacellars.com  (there is a cover charge, but no charge to artists) contact owner through their website.

OSA demonstrations:

Joanne Kollman Art in the Rose Garden at Peninsula Park 11 to 4 on Sunday.

Ask an Artist: (Mentoring with Thomas Kittshttp://www.askanartist.com


Brooks Hickerson poses this question via email what would you call a group of plein air painters?

Thanks everyone for sharing your ideas and paintings...it was noisy today, thanks for speaking up and doing your best to be heard. :)

Next meeting Thursday,  August 25 suggested table topic: Arranging your palette. What is the reason you set out the colors as you do? Do you set out colors the same way each time, or do you sometimes make changes? why? 

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