Michael Irvine ITN's Artist of the Month shares a beautiful sample of his inspirational painting, writing and photography. Background music was also created by Michael "Hearts Awakening and Healing Sense"
Free lesson how to make stained glass butterfly suncatcher.
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ON ART ~ by
Judy Mastrangelo |
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FOLLOW YOUR SHINING STAR
by Judy Mastrangelo
A Fairy made of
Sparkling Stars
Glows brightly,
floating through Violet Night.
"Follow Your
Shining Star", she sings,
Happily basking in
Glowing Moonbeams,
Creating a Path of
Flowers in Evening Sky.
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Most people have a Dream of
something they yearn to be and do in Life. Ever since I
can remember, my greatest desire was to be an Artist,
and I've never strayed from that heartfelt wish. I've of
course had many set backs in my career. But I must say
that I've always loved what I do, and will continue
creating, as long as I can.
And that is why I say:
"FOLLOW YOUR SHINING STAR." Some day you will realize
your wonderful Dream, if you never lose sight of it, and
keep working to achieve it. My painting pictured here
symbolizes this feeling to me. I'm always striving to
attain my Perfect Self (which of course I'll never be
able to do.) But at least I will enjoy the Journey. And
though it is an adventure into the darkest night, I
leave paths of colorful and cheerful blossoms to show
that I have passed by, and kept up my positive belief
that some day, I will fulfill my Ideals.
With most of us mortals,
things don't come easily. We have to put a lot of effort
into all of our endeavors. But if you really love your
Dream, you won't consider all the striving toward it as
toil. I consider it a wonderful Adventure, and all the
"blood, sweat and tears" are a wonderful and exciting
part of realizing it. So no matter what your Dream is,
keep it always deep within your Heart. What ever happens
on your Life's path, it will always give you Joy to
reach out, trying to attain it.
In my development as an
Artist, things have often been very difficult. I'm not
speaking about monetary gains, because I knew in the
beginning that it isn't easy to make a living from one's
Art. I am a perfectionist, and I often "struggle" with
my work. But it is a "Labor of Love". I am constantly
learning, and that is part of the Joy of it all. I work
a great deal on things, such as the concept, the anatomy
of figures in my paintings, the composition, fine
details, etc. And often I reach a point where my work
just "flows." It's as if I'm painting in a "dream-like
state." When I'm experiencing some difficulties with a
piece I'm working on, and need a little "help" with it,
sometimes I do some the following things:
I relax, and look at my
painting with my eyes half shut, so that the image is
out of focus. At such a time, my art work seems to move
and change a bit, as if my unconscious mind is
continuing with the "painting process." I then get
feelings as to what I must do to make my painting
better.
I do a similar relaxation
method while all alone in a room, or while lying in bed
before sleeping, where I just close my eyes and envision
my painting. There, alone in the darkness, I picture my
work. Often it seems a bit different from the original,
and sometimes it changes, as if watching a film.
When I am finished with
these meditative states, I go back to my "Problem
Painting" with renewed inspiration and insight as to how
I can make it a better piece. Over the years, I've been
able to control and harness this "Sleepy, Dreamy ~ Mind
Painting Technique," and it is quite interesting what
can evolve from it.
I suggest that you try this
yourself. It can be very fascinating to see what your
unconscious comes up with. You don't have to do this
only for a painting. It could be with anything that you
are creating or thinking about.
I look to many things to
guide and enliven me in my art work. Of course Fantasy
Literature is of great importance in this respect. Some
of my favorites along this line include the wonderful
personified animals of Kenneth Graham's WIND IN THE
WILLOWS, Lewis Carroll's ALICE IN WONDERLAND, Frank
Baum's WIZARD OF OZ, James Barrie's PETER PAN, Beatrix
Potter's ANAIMAL TALES, and one of my favorite plays of
William Shakespeare: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.
Several years ago, I was
lucky to have been commissioned to illustrate several
adapted stories for children from Shakespeare. When I
finished some of the art for MIDSUMMER, I know that I
had found my Realm where I could be very happy. I've
been painting the Fairy World ever since! I don't know
if I'll be with this theme forever. After all, I've been
through many periods in my life, including German
Expressionism, and Abstractionism. But there is
something about painting Elves, Fairies, Gods,
Goddesses, and other Nature Spirits that is very
fulfilling to me. It is an escape from the modern,
mundane world of course, but it is more than that. It
puts me in touch with the secret Worlds within Worlds of
Nature, where anything Magical is possible and exciting!
Another Art form that has
greatly inspired me, is the world of Dance. In my
opinion Dancers are the epitome of gracefulness and
refinement. Their elegance and delicate high spirits
bring to mind how Ethereal Beings might appear as they
move through space, and that is why they personify that
world to me, here on Earth.
To me, Fairies are far more
than just "Little People" who live in flowers and trees.
They are Divine-like Spiritual Beings from a Higher
Plane, other than our Earthly one. They are akin to an
Artist's rendition of Angels, surrounded by glowing
Auras of Light. Sometimes it may appear as if they have
the "Bird~Wings of Angels", or "Butterfly~Wings of
Fairies." I have never actually seen these amazing
creatures, only in my Mind's Eye. Of course I also enjoy
the concept of "Little mischievous, impish, Child-like
Elves and Fairies," and I often portray them in my art,
as well as the "Ascended and Divine, Highly Evolved
Fairy Beings." And as I mentioned, to paint them gives
me Joy and Hope, as I glimpse into a Higher World, My
wish is that my art will do the same for others.
Even though I don't paint
in the Gothic Fantasy style, I appreciate it very much.
Many of the wonderful Fantasy artists of today who paint
in that way, have been influenced by great Fantasy
Artists of the past in that genre such as Hieronymus
Bosch, and Salvador Dali, etc. I love all of those
Artists very much also, but at this time in my life, my
themes tend to be softer, and not surrealistic. My work
also tends to be more decorative. I like to think of my
current paintings as ones which can be hung on the wall
in order to be lived with every day. I hope that they
can be meditated upon, give comfort and pleasure, and
provide inspiration to anyone who views them.
I surround myself with
prints, postcards, and calendars showing art of Master
Artists that I am inspired by, in hopes that they will
influence my paintings. I consider them my Friends and
Teachers, even though they may be long gone. I often go
to them when I want inspiration for my art work. Some of
my favorites include John William Waterhouse, Raphael,
Cicely Mary Barker, Sandro Botticelli, Da Vinci, etc.
One of my favorite Impressionistic paintings is a
wonderful piece that exemplifies Magical Twilight colors
in a lovely Children's Garden. It was done by the
American painter John Singer Sargent, and is entitled
"Carnation, Lily, Lily,
Rose." It is quite Beautiful! I
would love to capture that kind of feeling in some of my
paintings.
My practice is to have
several prints of some of my favorite paintings near my
easel as I paint. This inspires me to constantly strive
to be a better Artist, and to marvel, and study the
amazing talents of Great Artists of the Past. Recently,
I've kept a print of the beautiful painting "Saint
Cecilia," by John William Waterhouse
within view as I work. His beautiful art never ceases to
uplift me!
I find it humbling and
exciting to study the great Artists of the Past, and to
visit Art Museums in order to see original great
Masterpieces! I encourage you to study Art and Artists
as much as you can, in order to discover what you Love,
and who you consider to be your Great Hero Artists. It
is an amazing experience!
Another one of my favorite
Artists is Maxfield Parrish, the great turn of the
Century Illustrator. I have also sometimes been called
an Illustrator in my art, even though I've studied
classical painting methods of the "Old Masters." But
even the great classical Old Masters did Illustration -
such as Michelangelo, when he painted his magnificent
Bible stories on the Sistine Chapel. But I don't mind
whether I'm classified as a Fine Artist, or as an
Illustrator. What is important to me is the fact that
some people appreciate my work. If it gives them Joy and
something memorable to reflect upon, I'm very satisfied.
Some of my Art Work has
Youthful themes. But I don't intend them just to be
appreciated by children. I direct them to the "Young at
Heart" also, with the hope that they will appeal to the
Child that still dwells within all of us.
I have been told that my
art is too cheerful and light hearted, and not serious
and deep enough. But I feel, as I said, that the "Real
World" is in a very chaotic era. While listening to the
news, the future often seems so bleak, that I feel as if
I would like to fly away and be a little Fairy living in
a Lovely Flower Garden, or a Magical Woods somewhere!
And so I escape into my Magic World of Painting, and
invite my viewer Friends to walk into my canvas
creations with me. We can then play in the wonderful
Worlds created by our unconscious, and made real by a
painter's hands.
And so I encourage all of
you to develop your Artistic endeavors, and "FOLLOW YOUR
SHINING STAR!" Try your hand at fulfilling your Dreams!!
I must say it is thrilling Joy Ride Forever!!
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