Ann Bell’s Blog www.annbell.net/blog

 About 4 years ago, when I was in a workshop with the renowned artist & author, Betsy Dillard Stroud, I participated in an exercise involving the 5 Universal Shapes. Betsy asked us to draw the 5 shapes & rank them in the order of our preference. Then she told us to use these 5 shapes to make a hand-carved block. If there were more instructions, I don’t remember them. I also do not remember the order of my preference at the time.
The block I carved has played a significant role in many of my paintings since that time. The exercise of ranking the shapes came from a book:

Signs of Life: The Five Universal Shapes and How to Use Them by Angeles Arrien.

I have tried unsuccessfully to find the book. Last week one of my students, a psychologist, was commenting on the symbols I’ve used in my work and I shared the story of how I happened to discover them. He suggested that I investigate…that they were more important than I realized.

Yesterday, when I was at The Jung Center to preview the show, I asked in the book store. I didn’t remember the author…and only part of the title, but Elyssa knew the book and immediately got it from its shelf. I purchased it and this morning I read it all the way through. NOW I understand why the block I carved has been so important in my subsequent work…AND in my life since that time. The amazing power of synchronicity has once again opened an important door for me.

This morning I did the exercise from the instructions in the book, before reading the  book. After reading the book, with the explanation of the symbols & how there meaning varies according to the ranking by any particular individual, I was able to understand better some of the feelings and transitions that have been occuring in my life.
There were about 20 people in that workshop with Betsy. I think that every one of them carved a block. All of them were different. I wonder whether anyone has realized what a powerful tool they were handed.

I’m sure you are familiar with the symbols…circle, square, triangle, spiral and equal-armed cross. Angeles Arrien calls the ranking process The Preferential Shapes Test.

If you are intrigued by the idea of this symbology in my paintings, you can see some of these paintings in my Mixed Media Gallery.

Ann Bell

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, whether the people you are mothering wear skin, fur or feathers.

It’s been an interesting week. Lot’s of accomplishments and events (which may or may not be accomplishments).

The highlights…chronologically…I would have a problem ranking by importance at this point…after 9PM on a VERY long day.are;
1. Lunch & extended visit with my precious daughter (pre Mother’s Day celebration)
2. Sale of a MAJOR painting to one of my collectors… “Techtonic Enneagram,” which was included in the VAA (Visual Arts Alliance) Open Exhibition last year. She is a MAJOR collector and I am VERY HAPPY and empowered that she has selected this piece
3. My 16 year old cat WEBO died in my arms last night. Needless to say, I was upset and up half the night. Poor Webo had such a hard time adjusting to being a cat. I buried him today under a rose bush I selected and planted. It is a Queen Elizabeth rose…I clipped roses from the blooming rose bushes and placed them around the new rose bush. I adopted Webo 12 years ago when my daughter Elizabeth could not keep him. It was two years before Webo was able to recognize me outside of the kitchen, where he spent most of his time. He is (was) part Manx…perhaps that explains his personality. I’m still very sad. His sibling Fluffy is also sad, although she is enjoying the extra attention.
4. Updated my web site, posting testimonials, removing past classes, and adding 3 new class dates
5. Investigated marketing and exhibition opportunities
6. Reconnected with an old friend I hadn’t seen in months
7. Visited 2 new (to me) art galleries and 2 more that are familiar. One was the NEW and exciting Darke Gallery. Linda Darke is a friend. Her gallery has been open about two and a half years. She has built a NEW gallery space on the property. It is wondrous. Congratulations, Linda!
8. Began seriously investigating Licensing as a means of bringing my art to a larger audience

I’ll stop here. It’s 9:30 PM. I am READY for the day to be finished.

This was a light week. There was NOTHING on my calendar on Monday.

How did your week go? Sometimes when I feel like I haven’t accomplished anything, I find that itemizing what has actually transpired puts things in a totally different perspective. Try it! You MIGHT like it. And perhaps you’ll be as amazed as I was when you see it in writing.

Ann Bell

I’m going to Venice. I am so excited. I’ve fantasized about Venice for years.

I’ve collected cards, lace, music and any wonderful item I could find that was made in Venice…in the effort to provide touchstones that would make Venice real for me. Now Venice is within my reach.

My open studio Saturday, April 10, noon until 5 PM will be my first effort to share with visitors & art lovers my Venice Ephemera and collages. Instead of hoarding my collected bits & pieces of Venice, I have used these wonderful items to create unique cards and collages that I will show and sell on Saturday.

Cards that are beautiful enough to frame and sure to be saved & enjoyed by the lucky recipient are priced around $10.

This is a sample of one of my cards.

Collages are priced at $25-$40, for unframed 8″ x 10″ size. I will frame a few of them.

If you come on Saturday, you will also enjoy my larger mixed media paintings, some of which are inspried by Venice. Maybe you’ll find a very special painting to enjoy in your own home.

Regardless of whether you acquire a treasure, you’ll enjoy a wonderful afternoon enjoying art in the creative spaces where art is made.

Ann Bell

PS. Please take my phone # with you, so if you have any trouble finding my studio, you can call me for directions.

281-330-3827  Remember, I’ll have maps of all the spaces. Saturday, April 10, noon until 5 PM.

I’m excited about my newest mixed media painting.

I call it “Dreaming.” I captured this big idea in a small 8″ x 10″ canvas.

This is (more…)

Each human being is creative. Young or old, rich or poor, educated or not! Each of us has hidden within us the capacity to be creative, whether (more…)

 
I’m tired of mass produced stuff.

I realize many esthetic and emotional benefits by surrounding myself with handmade items to bring joy, beauty & even functionality into my life.

When I use a handmade object, or view a painting,
I am reminded again of the wonder of human creativity.
You too  will get joy from handmade things, even if you aren’t an artist.

If you want to take the pledge, just click on the pledge banner.
A new window will open. After you take the pledge & close the window, this blog will still be here.

I listed new paintings in my etsy store.

I hope you have enjoyed the holidays. I certainly did.

And I have been busy planning new classes. Many of my students have asked me for a Composition class. I am working on it now. It will be on Saturday, January 23. I will be adding it, and other classes for January to my class schedule  during the next few days.

Last year in January I taught a Vision Board Class.
I have been working on my own Vision Board for 2010 & beyond.
(Most of my 2009 Vision Board is now reality!
They just seem to work that way.)

I haven’t decided whether to teach the class again.
If you want to take a Vision Board Class from me, please get in touch.

Ann Bell

If YOU want a creative break (more…)

Creativity is an essential human force. We are all creative and have a desire to express our creativity.

The desire is stronger in some people than in others. Some people have always secretly wished (more…)

Creativity improves your ability to solve problems. Creative thinking and creative play actually forms new neural pathways in your brain, between the right creative brain and the left logical brain. It makes your brain function better as a unified whole brain.

But creative play, (more…)