May 29, 2010 in Current Art Blog, Things I've Learned by Marie

18. The Art of Listen to your Children

What’s that all about, why should we listen to them?

Don’t we as adults always know best?  Sad to say, lol that I discovered probably when my daughter was around 4 years old that this was not the case.  My son who is 4 years older than her, always accepted that we, the parents knew better, however our daughter challenged us on every occasion and boy I am glad she did.

ART BUSINESS CARD

We learned a lot of valuable lessons from both of them, and the one that stands out the most for me is listen to them,  pay attention, we can learn and awful lot, not just about them but about ourselves and the world around us.  Certainly also about technology, how many of us enlist the kids help when it comes to dvd recording, computers and the like.

So just the other night I had conveniently forgotten this fact, (Listen to your children), as I was showing my darling daughter the new art business card I had designed for myself.

You see I have been making my living rather successfully as an artist for the last 20 or so years painting, making sculptures and thought I was pretty good at graphic design too, when I was quickly taken down a peg or two.

ARTISTIC BACK-PEDDLING

Oh! Hillivi did it ever so gently but she did not like my card one bit, and guess what she was so totally right.  I had niggling doubts too myself in the same areas that she pointed out.  Although my first reaction was to defend my position, well that’s like a reflex isn’t it?  None of us like to be told – however I soon came to my senses and realized she was completely right.  So here is the front side of my card designed by my talented daughter Hillivi.

Pretty as a Picture

She is currently doing a nursing degree and also a model in her own right with a front cover of this bridal magazine.

She obviously does know more,  as she was booked to do her first cover 2 weeks after joining her Agency, whereas her mother had to wait a year for that privilege many moons ago.

Here is another quote that I like this time by Walt Disney, whose drawings and cartoons are also favourites of mine.

“You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”

Till next time, happy painting and sculpting to you all!

Love Marie xxx  (c)

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May 25, 2010 in Current Art Blog, Travel & Art in America by Marie

17. The Jail Bird in Alcatraz (the last bit of the San Francisco tales)

ART & TRAVEL

If you have just joined my art blog recently, you may want to check out numbers 6 &7 in the Blog archive for the start of the San Francisco travel tales.

You can’t go past the wit and wisdom of Oscar Wilde who quotes; “It is an odd thing, but everyone who disappears is said to be seen at San Francisco.  It must be a delightful city, and possess all the attractions of the next world.”

ARTISTS INSPIRATION

And yes it is, utterly delightful and full of interesting places and people; you can even surf under the Golden Gate Bridge, but only for the most experienced!  These images are details of my San Fran painting and going here has really inspired me as an artist, the ideas are swirling in my head of future sculptures in mosaic & ceramic and lots of paintings.

A day after we went on our Golden Gate Bridge bike ride, we decided to go down to the bay and catch the boat over to Alcatraz which we were told was like a village where some Prison guards and the Warden and his family lived and the kids went to school there too.

ALCATRAZ THE ART BLOG

What an experience that was, the prisoners long gone but their former home just as eerie as if they were still there. In one way they still were, because as soon as you got up to the main prison building, you went to the place where the prisoners used to exchange their clothes for the snazzy black and white numbers.    We were handed a set of head phones, whereby the former INMATES, PRISON GUARDS and WARDENS started talking to you, about their trials and tribulations.

Now I should tell you that I’m not one for old houses and museums as I’ve said before I’m a party kind of gal with a penchant for dancing, so Bryan did well to talk me into this and besides as I had already painted Alcatraz, I did feel the need to see it in real life and I did not regret that for a second.

They walked you around the whole prison and it was absolutely fascinating. We were perhaps 400 people wandering about totally in silence engrossed in the Alcatraz tales.

Half way through I stopped my recording, took off the headphones and to my amazement,  you could have heard a pin drop.  Never have I ever been with that many people at one time, where not a sound was uttered.

Here is a saying which you can contemplate by Charles Bukowski (writer);

“If you want to know who your friends are, get yourself a jail sentence.”

Till next time, happy painting and sculpting everyone!

Love Marie xxx  (c)

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May 21, 2010 in Animal Art Tales, Current Art Blog by Marie

16. In a Jam with ART

TEXTURES & COLORS

My mother always cooked and really well too, she used to have all sorts of biscuits and cakes and buns waiting for us when we came home from school.She also made jams and so did my mother in law,  I was always fascinated by their skills although none of it unfortunately rubbed off on me.  Oh no not a skerrick rubbed off, my husband Bryan is the cook of this family and for a very good reason.  I burn everything even water he is fond of telling me,  you  know it is actually possible to burn water if you forget it is on and let it all cook away then you will burn the saucepan.. well I am good at that.  So lucky I at least could paint food to satisfy at least a little bit of my cravings!

FOOD IN ART

However I am fascinated by the process of cooking and I do looooove food,  I also like to paint food, I am interested in the different colors and textures.  Perhaps it also stems from a life deprived of food during my modelling days, when just looking at it would make you gain weight & old habits die hard even as an artist!

In a Jam!

Here is a acrylic on canvas board painting of Jam making in a country kitchen, whilst the cats amuse themselves with the mice.

This reminds me of a funny story that my brother just told me, which seems perfect for my art blog.

ARTISTS INSPIRATION

My mother had decided to make toffee and unfortunately it had not turned out that great, it was incredibly sticky so she decided to throw it away and make another lot.   She then thought, waste not, want not, and decided that the dogs may enjoy it instead.

I think they probably had a little go at it but also found it impossible to eat and left it in their dog bowls outside overnight.  So when my brother got up the next morning he describes a site for sore eyes.

Stuck in each dog bowl were 2 sparrows,   up to their knees in  toffee and flapping their wings like crazy when my brother approached but to no avail-my mother’s toffee had set around their feet like glue.

But, do not fear, they were duly rescued and all finished well.  So that will have to be another painting idea for me next time.

This is something Bill Cosby said, which made me laugh, being a vegetarian myself.

“Did you ever see the customers in health-food stores?  They are pale, skinny people who look half-dead.  In a steak house you see robust, ruddy people.  They’re dying, of course, but they look terrific.”

Till next time, happy painting and sculpting to you all!

Love Marie xxxx  (c)

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May 18, 2010 in Current Art Blog, Family & Friends by Marie

15. The Art of The grass is always greener

FRINGE FESTIVAL

We went out to dinner recently with some close friends, to Enoteca in Adelaide which I highly recommend.

There were 9 of us and afterwards we went and saw the Ukulele playing, Lady Carol at the Garden of  Unearthly Delights for the Fringe Festival and the whole night was such a treat.   You can see from this ceramic and mosaic wall hanging, I do like eating out and do so often which is a constant source of material for my paintings & sculpture as well as the Artwork blogs, as is everything that I see around me.  The title of this artwork is “The Grass is always Greener on the other side”.

I wish I was having what they are having!

In this artwork that is exactly what both the man and the dog are thinking about.

ARTISTS INSPIRATIONS

Every night we eat out, ‘that’ is how my husband feels about whatever he has chosen to eat.  As the food passes by him to their rightful owners he looks longingly at every plate and with wistful eyes and sad voice bemoans the fact that he should have ordered that instead.  Always cracks me up inspires another artwork.

One of our companions on the night, a very dear friend, is currently recovering from a triple bypass but you would never suspect this from looking at him.

THE ART OF RECOVERY

Never have I ever seen someone 7 days out of hospital walking all around the city and shoe shopping with his wife, dinner and lunch in different eateries and to top that off he has just spent  4 days at the Clipsal car race.

What’s with this man does he not realize he has just had a major operation, lol, his luck is certainly holding.  According to his doctors he could have dropped dead any time during the last 3 years, however being a non smoker would have certainly helped him.

He is, at the best of times, shall we say a grumpy little bugger, and was of course true to form, although I think the food and wine did pass muster that night.  He made me laugh though with his running commentary of the salt content in everything and heaven forbid just a little grain of salt should ever pass his lips again.

Here is a little wisdom about friends from Oprah Winfrey that I like.

“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”

I hope you come and visit me again, till then happy painting and sculpting to you all!

Love Marie xxx   (c)

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May 13, 2010 in Current Art Blog, Little Naughty, Sculpture by Marie

14. Adam & Steve 2 Sculpture

CERAMIC AND MOSAIC

I have actually painted a couple of paintings on this theme, as well as the original “Adam and Eve”, which I will tell you about another time.  What inspired this particular artwork which is done in handmade ceramic and mosaic was that my gallery here in Adelaide was having a Christmas show called Erotic and Exotic, and as I discussed this fact with a fellow artist (who paints wonderful landscapes mainly) she suggested the scene of Adam and Steve in the bridal getup.

Adam and Steve in the Garden of Eden

ARTISTS SUGGESTION

The second she said it, I saw the whole finished image in my mind.  That is a funny thing with me, it often happens like that, one sentence and the finished painting or sculpture is already formed.

Well in any case home I went to start it, but it never made the Christmas show instead I kept it for my solo exhibition where it sold before the opening.

This conversation was related to me by the gallery director, and I found it quite amusing.

An elderly client in his 80’s came in to have a look with his elderly wife and after having looked around the exhibition for a while he pointed at “Adam and Steve” and said that he would like to buy that one.

His wife was up in arms over this suggestion and told her husband in no uncertain terms; “Goodness me, whatever for, you are over 80 years old and for goodness sake, what are you going to do with THAT artwork?”

Whereupon the elderly gentle man replied “That is exactly why I would like to purchase this artwork, because I am TOO OLD to do all the things I used to do or would like to do, but what I Can Still Do is to sit at home and look at this artwork and be amused by it.”

And without further discussion he went ahead and purchased the piece. (I may also have to paint that interaction at some later stage. Lol)

ADAM & STEVE IN A BOOK

It should also be said that this image was use for a book published in America (Hendrickson Publications Peabody Massachusetts USA )

Here is a quote I think fits here by Walt Kelly (cartoonist) from the book which I find very amusing called ‘Don’t forget to sing in the Lifeboats’

“Don’t take life too seriously.  It ain’t nohow permanent”

Till next time, happy painting and sculpting to you all!

Love Marie xxx                                                                             (c)

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May 8, 2010 in Art & Children, Current Art Blog, Things I've Learned by Marie

13. The Art of Happy Mothers Day

BEING A MOTHER & ARTIST

I drive my kids nuts, but hey that’s a mothers job, keeping them safe and out of danger.

Happy Mother’s day to all you wonderful mothers and being one is the most fantastic gift but at the same time a guilt ridden curse.  It was hard enough when they were little but at least then I was the boss and could tuck them safely into their beds at night and keep the monsters from the door.  Now I need a Lear jet and an Uzi to be of any use.

This Painting is one of several artworks I have painted over the years on the trial and tribulations of motherhood. Having a family is very inspirational for an artist and this acrylic on canvas painting is called ” A Mothers work is never done”.

ARTISTS AND IMAGINATION

Just had a call from my baby boy Kai, well baby boy is a bit much he would say, after all he is 23.  Funny though I know that, but he will always be my baby boy and I will probably be annoying him and his sister till I die, with various warnings of imminent danger just as I have done now.  I wonder if my imagination and worry is worse because I am an artist?

You see he has just called from Sweden in transit to London, and as you know they have had a terrorist attacks there, never mind that said baby boy has been living and surviving perfectly fine in London for the last 10 months or the fact that his’ imminent doom preaching mother’ takes us all off to Bali nearly every year for a holiday.

But oh no, that does not count, I am there to protect them.  Like Darth Vader against a terrorist bomb, that’s me! Then there is the volcano to worry about, he already had his flight to Sweden cancelled for a week.  Let’s not forget there is also swine flu, Pick pockets, the Bangkok riots, sitting no further that 7 seats from an exit on the plane, drink spiking and gangs with knifes!

( our family is the 4 people on the right on the detail of the painting below)

Oh grow up girl and get a grip, I know I should, but my children are so precious, bad enough with baby girl here in Adelaide, I know I drive her crazy too.  Poor baby girl 19 years old now and still having to text her mum after every car trip to say she is safe, never mind the fact that one could get ones eye poked out with a sharp stick (lol that was always my ARTIST dad’s warning too, as soon as me or my brother did anything remotely dangerous).

The Swedes have a very good word for my behavior and that is “Mesar” which is a bird in Sweden that is known as a little coward, wimpy, so that’s what an overprotective mother preaching excessive caution is called!

So Mums take a deep breath and enjoy your day, relax, permit yourself to get pampered and forget about the worries for one day.

Oh Bugger I wish I could….my baby boy is still in transit, London-Bangkok-Adelaide, I guess I will have to wait till next year……

Here from Douglas Pagels book “30 Beautiful things” -a thought, I wish for all of you.

May trouble, worries and problems never linger; may they only make you that much stronger and able and wise.  May you rise each day with sunlight in your heart, success in your path, answers to your prayers, and that smile – that I love to see – always there in your eyes.

Love Marie xxx

( Thanks Sonja and Jimmie )

Happy painting and sculpting to every one and a Big Happy Mothers Day to Nanna and Mormor and all of you too xxx

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(c)

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May 6, 2010 in Current Art Blog, Modelling Stories, Other Artists, Travel in Europe by Marie

12. Salvador Dali and C’est La Vie

SCULPTURE BY GAUDI

My son Kai has recently been to Spain a country that I love.

I spent a considerable bit of time there in my modelling days, enjoying lots of great work, great food, people, language and culture.  Most of my time was spent in Barcelona, where I actually did manage to go and see the wonderful artwork of Gaudi, images that stay on my mind.  He built houses and sculptures like no one else I have ever seen.  (And as I have said before about my party days, I think I did rather well to fit that into my busy schedule.)

I spent fantastic days and nights on Ibiza, my most favorite Island in the world when I was young, and would go there whenever time permitted.

This painting “Let it all hang out” was purchased by the Australian artist Pro Hart and hung in his house.

Let it all hang out!

The image of this painting is probably a cross between Ibiza and Maslin’s Beach (designated nude beach) here in South Australia.  I can almost smell the scent of the sea and feel the pulse of the music from the amazing nightclubs in Ibiza (well we called them Discos then and I was the Dancing Queen. lol)

SALVADOR DALI

I remember doing a swimwear catalogue in Sitges, the town by the sea that Salvador Dali called home.  At the time I was only interested in that fact because my father is an artist and liked his artwork.

Now when I think back on that time and remember, I  was on Salvador Dali’s doorstep for the most part of a week, doing bikini shoots all day with hairdressers and makeup artists fussing over me and then wined and dined at night.   I think, boy I should have paid more attention, what a fabulous opportunity to see and find out more about one of the world’s most amazing artists.  Oh well, C’est La Vie, no regrets, it could do your head in to think about all the what’ Ifs’ in life.

Here is another saying I like from The Mammoth Book of Useless Information

‘Most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one’s mistakes’

Till next time, happy painting and sculpting.

Love Marie xxx                                                                             (c)

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May 2, 2010 in Country Life, Current Art Blog by Marie

11. “SMOKEY” The Chip eating sheep Art blog

PAINTED PICTURE OF THE COUNTRY

As a lot of you know by now we live on a farm, although recently we have reduced said farm’s acreage substantially.  However it is and has been a wonderful place to live and for our children to grow up on, and with so many tales to tell. The farm and the country side in general was a wonderful and inspirational setting for an artist, supplying vistas that I never got tired of recreating in artworks or paintings or writing about in Art blogs.  Here is a painting which sold in America which pictures the country side here, not quite our farm but a romantic view of it.  What it does show is the White Ute (pickup truck) and that is what this story is all about.

One of our friends had a sheep called Smokey, not your normal type of sheep, no this one was the potato chip eating variety, that had been hand raised in a Hotel, all you had to do was to rattle a chip packet and Smokey would come running and nearly bowl you over whilst licking her lips.  The Publican and his wife were now moving away, the cute but by now Big sheep was looking for a new home.  Yep and that was us, so Bryan dear hubby of mine thought he would swing past said friend and pick Smokey up.

WHAT A PICTURE

He rolled up in his White ute and now with a bit of blokey discussion back and forth they decided that the only way they could transport this sheep (as he was you know, more like a family member than a sheep) in the FRONT Seat of the ute.

Yep that’s right, that’s where Smokey sat for the 25 minute drive from Mallala to Balaklava.  Oh did I forget to tell you, of course he had his seat belt done up, that’s the road rules you know.

So here is little wifey-poo patiently waiting for hubby and sheep to arrive home, you know on the back of the ute like, and I cannot tell you of the fright I got when they arrived home late after dark and I looked into the passenger window and saw this very strange creature sitting there looking at me, sitting on her bum mind you, upright with the seatbelt across her and looking out the window.

Crazy men, I just thank the lucky stars that she sat perfectly still the entire trip cause otherwise neither of them would probably have made it home that night. Lol

Here is some more of the wit and wisdom of Oscar Wilde with his quote:

“I sometimes think that God in creating man somewhat overestimated his ability”

I hope you will come and visit me again, till next time, happy painting and sculpting to you all!

Love Marie                                                                (c)

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

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