Susan M Gibbons

11-19-19 Well, I'm back.  Had a nasty bought of pneumonia during the month of October which kept me down for the count.  Obviously, my art making virtually ceased for that time. I was able to work on small collages and drawings when my strength gained but for the most part, I had to lay pretty low.  What hit me during this time was just how much I depend on my art practice for my stability and joy.  My time in the studio grounds me and keeps me focused on not just art making, but allows me the space I need to contemplate what is truly important in my life.  I realized just how much contentment I derive from making art.  It also gave me an appreciation of health and how fast it can be lost.  The pneumonia hit me overnight.  I've never been this sick before.  Being bedridden, not able to do for myself, gave me such gratitude for when I am healthy.  It also gave me an appreciation for my family and friends who helped me through it....

“I have no fear of making changes, destroying the image, etc., because the painting has a life of its own.”  Jackson Pollock Fear... it is the killer of art.  When working on a painting or any work of art, fear can ruin the creative process.  I've always told my students that fear shows in the work when they are not willing to take the risk.  It's better to take the risk and fail than to not risk at all.    Taking risks within the work allows the unknown to manifest itself.  It allows the painting to speak to the artist, guiding them in the work.  It heavily relies on intuition.  And that intuition is cultivated by doing the work. It is cultivated by working through the difficulties in a painting, failing if necessary, in order to learn.  But the process of learning what works and what doesn't, is all part of the process.     An artist has to be willing to completely destroy the work in order for it to be succes...

9-16-19 What Was Before Emptiness fills The void that Was left by you Sudden grief Takes a hold Of what was before Memory recalls Of times past And moments gone Echoing remembrances Sustained within Sorrow’s heart

I've been remembering the events of 9-1-2001.  It's been 18 years since that horrible day.  I distinctly remember what I was doing when I found out and will never forget the look on my husband's face during the attacks.  I remember feeling completely helpless as the events unfolded. The sorrow that overwhelmed me was intense.  So much loss.  So much pain.  The sorrow was smothering.  I kept watching the TV, trying to make sense of it all.  Of course, no sense was to be made.  It was madness.   I was also mad. Mad at the audacity of the attacks, mad at the loss of life, mad at the terror that was inflicted on our nation.  I remember watching a video later of Osama Bin Laden stating that the entire country of America was in fear.  'No, I thought, You're going to see anger, our anger and we're fighting back.'  Anger wasn't just the only response though.  We saw people coming together, helping one another. We saw ...

“I choose that my art be engaged in that which exalts the spirit of man.” Clyfford Still Clyfford Still is one of my favorite artists and his work, inspiration.  There is a quote that describes Still on a mural in Denver.  It states:  "The canvas was his ally.  The paint and trowel were his weapons.  And the art world was his enemy."  Pretty powerful words for describing an artis t but his work truly is powerful.  The boldness with which he painted has always struck me.  His mark making alone shows his confidence and his authority.  If ever you are in Denver, visiting the Clyfford Still Museum is a must.    Clyfford Still PH-1187, 1956 The museum is one of my favorite places here in Denver.  I can breathe there and just be.  I'm always ready to create after visiting his work.  Having such a wealth of inspiration so close is wonderful.  For me, Still is successful, his work does exalt t...

To be an artist, you need to exist in a world of silence.  Louise Bourgeois Louise Bourgeois is right, we need to exist in silence.   It is a part of the creative process.  Whether we create in quiet or not, silence is a necessary component of the creative life, our creative practice.  We need to create 'a world of silence'.  As artists, we think, we ruminate, we ponder.  We consider what we create and silence gives us the time and space needed to birth our ideas.   Silence connects us with our being; it allows us to be - to breathe, to be still, and it allows us to connect with something larger than ourselves.  Silence gives us the permission to be within ourselves, to tap into our creativity  so we can create.  Silence rejuvenates us in a way that no other activity can.  It gives us permission to let go of matters that weigh us down or hinder our process.  It brings relief to the chaos of the day.  ...

The greater the artist, the greater the doubt. Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize.  Robert Hughes I've heard this quote before from the critic and author, Robert Hughes. I like how he addresses doubt.  We all have it.  We all face those times in the studio where doubt creeps in and tries to take over our creativity.  And, it doesn't matter how long you've had your practice, it just happens.  I don't know of one artist who hasn't struggled with doubt.   But the issue is how we address and handle doubt when it arises.  I've seen doubt paralyze artists and I've seen it spur artists onto creating wonderful works.  It can do both.  Do we, as artists, rise to the challenge and face doubt or do we shrink from our calling and quit? Doubt is a nasty animal - it would love for us to quit but as artists, we can't allow it to dictate our creativity - or our practice.  Doubt can also be a gift....