Playing with ChatGPT

I’ve been thinking that I should be more open to new technologies and decided to play with ChatGPT.  I was working on a painting of a lupin with a bee and frankly was stumped how to describe my work. I was looking for prompts - sometimes when I am painting my energy is all about how I want the painting to look not necessarily on how i’m going to describe it. Quite often I have a notebook where I write down my thoughts as I paint for this reason - sometimes not always and definitely not in this case.  

So I turned to ChatGPT for inspiration. The result was superfluous, verbose, and well…fabulously flamboyant.  This was too funny and definitely not sounding at all like me. 

My First Attempt:

Title: "Capturing Nature's Harmony: The Purple Lupin with a Bee - An Acrylic Masterpiece” (I should have stopped here)

Introduction:

In the realm of art, few things captivate the human spirit quite like the beauty of nature. From the delicate petals of a flower to the industrious buzz of a bee, each element holds a unique charm that artists strive to capture. In this blog post, we delve into the enchanting world of acrylic painting to explore a stunning portrayal of a purple lupin with a bee, a masterpiece that celebrates the harmony between flora and fauna.

The Artist's Brushstrokes:

With skilled precision and a keen eye for detail, the artist breathes life into the canvas through deft brushstrokes. Every stroke of acrylic paint captures the lupin's essence, from the intricate veins that run through each petal to the subtle gradients of colour that dance in the sunlight. Each brushstroke is a testament to the artist's mastery of their craft, imbuing the painting with a sense of vitality and realism that is truly captivating.

Well, verbose I got.  Doesn’t sound anything like me does it? I’m pretty much a casual straight shooter.  To the point. And sometimes rather funny (I’d like to think). So I thought I’d give it another shot with less descriptive text. Definitely much better and a good place to start editing.

My Second Attempt:

Introduction:

Nature has a quiet beauty that often goes unnoticed. In this blog post, we'll explore an acrylic painting that captures a simple yet striking scene: a purple lupin with a bee. This artwork offers a gentle reminder of the beauty that surrounds us in everyday life. The painting features a purple lupin standing out against a backdrop of green foliage. The lupin's slender stalk and vibrant leaves are rendered with precision, highlighting its natural elegance. The petals of the lupin are painted in shades of purple, adding a touch of colour to the composition.

The Artist's Technique:

The artist's brushstrokes are deliberate and measured, creating a realistic portrayal of the lupin and its surroundings. Each brushstroke adds depth and texture to the painting, capturing the lupin's form and essence with accuracy.

This acrylic painting of a purple lupin with a bee is a subtle tribute to the beauty of nature. It invites viewers to pause and appreciate the simple wonders that surround us, reminding us of the quiet elegance that can be found in everyday scenes.

Instant Grata

Sometimes we (I am) are just preoccupied with whatever is going in our lives.  It’s interesting, sometimes it’s as simple as a title for a painting that evades us.  Sometimes it’s a whole blog post we struggle with. Blogging in the days of Instagram has gotten harder as posts are usually longer and more thoughtful requiring more time. I find that it is really easy to neglect my web sites for the Insta Grata posting style. My thinking is that my web site is the only constant tool that I have any control with - especially in these days of algorithm unpredictability.  Investing in my site is really investing in me.

With that, I say we should use whatever tools that are out there to help us along with our journey. I’ll only use them as a starting point where I feel the need - and I’ll always make sure that I invest the time editing and rewriting so that the end result reflects my own authentic voice. 

It will be interesting to see how all this develops over time. I still really like to write and hopefully am never at a loss for inspiration. For me, I will play when it makes sense or when I am tired, or whenever…..

Fresh off the Easel

Events

35th Annual RNS Art Show & Sale

Until next time, may the sun shine on you warmly

The Prince of Rockwood Park

An oil painting of a Majestic Whitetail Deer Young Buck

In the heart of a city park is a forested area enjoyed by hikers and wildlife alike. This is often a quiet place where you may often see whitetail deer among other wildlife.  I met this young buck while out on a adventure hoping to photograph some birds. The Prince of Rockwood Park

When I pulled in to the parking lot, I was quite surprised to see this young buck by the path accompanied by his harem. I managed to get some ok photos from the car and figured I’d get some photos of the trail once they left.  The trial was nicely lit even though the light was diffused.  

Once I thought the coast was clear, I ventured out of my car to get photos of the area where he was standing.  Only he doubled back.  I am unsure who was more surprised to see each other - him or me.  I felt like he was looking into my soul.  I took a few photos as I backed away and hoped for the best and was delighted to see I caught that soul gazing moment.  Of course I’d be painting him.

The scene was bathed in soft, diffused light that provided me the inspiration for the background of my painting. In the end, the painting of the whitetail young buck is more than just a painting. For me it is a celebration of the living with wildlife in an urban environment and of how wonderful these surprise encounters are - and a reminder of the importance of coexisting with the natural world for all of us, and for generations to come.


Rockwood Park

Rockwood Park is a haven for many in the centre of Saint John. It is a place I almost lived in during my school years.  Weather permitting, I would spend every day possible swimming in the lakes, sunning on the lawns and visiting the petting zoo. Now the Park is one of our favourite places to paint En Plein Air - and in every season! Many happy memories indeed. 

A nature park in the heart of Saint John, and a recreational jewel in the City’s crown. Located in the eastern area of the North End, Rockwood Park is one of Canada’s largest urban parks, at 890 hectares of forested hills, caves, and freshwater lakes. It was designed by Calvert Vaux, one of the designers of New York City's Central Park. 

Rockwood Park is a City hub for outdoor activities and entertainment year round. Over 55 trails and footpaths will guide you through unspoiled wilds. The park features a golf course, camping sites, stables, wellness spa, and freshwater lakes for fishing, swimming, boating, and skating. A Stonehammer Geopark site, Rockwood’s billion years of history can be seen in unique rock formations, caves, and waterfalls.  The park’s Interpretation Centre is the hub of information for all events taking place in the Park, trail maps, interpretive displays, and helpful  staff. Make a day of it!

Home Away From Home

I packed up my art supplies so I’d be able to “studio” paint while visiting my daughter and her family on the West Coast. My home away from home whenever the opportunity arises. Since this is still the rainy season in Vancouver, water mixable oils and Plein Air painting are not in the cards.  It felt a bit weird leaving them home but when flying one must be practical mustn’t one? 

Travelling with paint adds another dimension as well - weight - so you have to be really discriminating as to what you pack. The other challenge is this is the shoulder season with spring creeping in on winter so you need clothes and footwear to bridge both seasons.  More weight. I had to be really selective with my art supplies.

To the Shops!

So, I packed up a few cradled panels and acrylics knowing Jenn also has acrylic paint that I am able to use.  I perused my reference photos and made a few selections on what I thought I’d paint while visiting. 

Lovingly drew out “crow one” and started to squeeze paint.  Where’s the white paint? Only…I forgot about packing white (insert facepalm). And coincidentally we both were out. Such a funny colour for neither one of us to have. And it’s pretty difficult to crow without it.  To the shops!!! 

I have a question for you… has anyone else noticed the shortage of inventory in art shops this past year? It’s like they are all going out of fine art and professional supplies…what the heck???

The Three Culprits

A murder of crows (gasp) up high in the roosting tree.

The Caper

It all began early one morning when a loud ruckus was heard from the roosting tree. Crows have never been accused of being quiet but on this particular day almost everyone in the neighbourhood took notice. A cacophony of crows loud enough to hurt your ears. Everyone was wondering what they were up to.

Now what was actually happening in the tree was anyone’s guess but speculation of what happened next became the squawk of the town.  The flock all flew off all at once accept for….

These Characters

Three remaining crows were acting quite strangely.  They were looking all around and especially at each other. Nonchalant and yet somehow suspicious. 

  • One remained in the tree “Out on a Limb” closely watching the other two on the ground.

  • Another was on the ground “Leaving the Scene” on foot and making good time.

  • And Buddy decided to go “On the Lam” running as fast as his feet could possibly carry him.

    Stay tuned - there will be more to this developing story

Capturing the Essence of Feathers:

We usually think of crows with their glossy black feathers - but in reality a successful crow painting is far more than monochromatic. I approach crow paintings by teasing out a variety of colour and value in order to capture the play of light on their feathers - looking for opportunities to add contrast in order to create interest. The feathers require a lot of layering, shading, and highlights to create a realistic image.

I hope you enjoy these three paintings as much as I enjoyed creating them.

Plein Air Adventures:

Happiness is thinking SPRING is on the horizon. Cheers

Well, I'll be spuddled

Well…I’m a thinking that I’ll be Spuddled

Definition: to work ineffectively: to be very busy while achieving absolutely nothing

Spuddle. A lovely new word that often describes my quest as a Master Procrastinator. Makes one feel productive in the middle of avoidance.  And it’s fun to say.

All of this supports one of my other claims to fame of getting things done on deadline - just under the wire - squeeking through as the saying goes- some of us (namely me) apparently work better under pressure. The desire to spuddle often hits when I am about two thirds done a painting.  In this case two of them.  Close enough I can see the finish line and I somehow can’t get back at it.  But I can rearrange stuff in my studio a few times - even without cleaning up that pile of papers on the counter that drives me crazy.

So what am I currently Spuddling?

Ahhhh -  some administrative work that I know really has a to be done (like documenting taxes and blog posts) but I sure do not want to do it (yet). Oh yes, and these are the two paintings:

I just counted

And I completed 23 studio paintings in 2023 - how cool is that? Here is a little video below showing most of them. Plein Air works and a few commissions are not included.

A New Year Full of Promise

Knowing that I have a long history steeped in procrastination, I once again look to the New Year with my heart filled with promise and good intentions. The real questions are what must I do different to shift my pattern of behaviour? And do I really need to? (I really do get a lot done) And do I really care? (Unsure actually) So many questions that only I can answer. (If I really want to).

So am I indecisive or Spuddled? or heavens forbid…both?

I’m thinking that at the end of the day the answer may lie in my self talk.  What do I tell myself over and over? What I hear in my head most often are things like “that painting is not going to paint itself” - “no one can exercise for you” - “it’s up to you”. And then I get-er-done! Do you ever talk to yourself?

Thank you all for helping 2023 be such a great year and following along with my artistic journey!

To my husband - for your continued love and patience with me especially when I don’t seem to have any left

To my family and friends - your love and support is so appreciated

To the many artists I follow - for your comradery, support and inspiration in our artistic journeys

And to my collectors - your continued support allows me to continue on my artistic journey

May 2024 be a wonderfully colourful year for all! May you be blessed with good health, love and good friends, peace and happiness!

I'm happy to be OUTSIDEY!

I just learned a new wonderful word. Outsidey.  And I identify with it so much.  I love the fresh air, the warming sun and gentle breezes. Long walks on the beach.  A hike in the woods.  All the little critters (except ticks, hornets and black flies) I also love creature comforts.  Like heated car seats and heated steering wheels. Air Conditioning! Indoor heating and warm showers!  I’m essentially a wimp.

I’m kind of amazed that at this point to discover a new way to describe myself.  I mean I always sort of knew it - but never had a word to describe it. Outsidey!  

Discovering something new, no matter how simple,  makes me think of how much more I should be open to expansion. This is especially true living life as an artist. There is just so much to learn. 

So what’s in a word?

I struggle with calling myself an artist or a painter.   Is it a bit arrogant to refer to oneself as an artist? An artist may be so many things, a creator - may also be a singer… a painter may be scaling ladders and painting houses and other large structures.  It comes down to how one self identifies.  I describe myself as a fine artist and a Plein Air painter. It fits. I’m mostly comfortable with it and yet I still somehow suffer from that dreaded *Imposter Syndrome (GASP)!  and the funny thing is - they are only words and still I trip over them.

As an Outsidey, I get to spend a lot of time in the elements with my paint gear and wonderful painting friend Dale Cook. We regularly check in with the weather app to see how conducive the weather may be.  What time is high tide? We almost never get it right for some reason. Looking at wind strength and direction - it really matters.  Temperatures.  Chase the clouds. All so that we may venture outside in relative comfort to pursue something wonderful to paint.

Fresh off the easel

I’ve been quite busy in the studio since my last post - which was far to long ago I have to admit. Apparently I am also a Master Procrastinator. Ahh, it feels so good to be so good at something! (insert laugh track)

And then there are the Mighty Minis

Delightful little painting to tuck into a special corner or hang in a surprise space. I think they will make really nice Christmas gifts! Featured at $150.

Plein Air Adventures

Our Plein Air adventures had us venturing a bit further out. Inland to Harvey, NB and to the Atlantic at Parrsboro, NS to visit the other side of the Bay of Fundy!

And here is another good bad example of me being a Master Procrastinator - I haven’t uploaded all of these to My Plein Air Journey as of yet. If you see something you like, reach out to me on the contact form.

Until next time, May your days be blessed with happiness and sunshine!

*Imposter syndrome is the condition of feeling anxious and not experiencing success internally, despite being high-performing in external, objective ways. This condition often results in people feeling like "a fraud" or "a phony" and doubting their abilities.