To Dream In Color Solo Show by Ardith Goodwin

A vivid imagination is a terrible thing to waste. 

I think about this phrase often when I am creating my figures and the stories that go along with them. There are moments that I wonder just how many friends I carry with me in the nooks and crannies of my creative heart most days. Figures and faces and personalities feed my soul, and I am thrilled to have a show sharing some of them with you. "

I sketch and paint a lot of figures. From the simplest line sketch to the most complex ones, each mark serves an important purpose in building the stories that the characters exist in.  "To Dream In Color" is a showcase of 12 of these characters conveying a range of studies that I create for my much larger complex pieces, and which feed the images in the children's book I am writing.

June 1, at the Institute of Fine Arts of Edmond, Ok., the opening will begin at 6 pm. which will coincide with my four day workshop, The Imaginative Face, which I am teaching there.  Sharing my love of Framework and practice with others, especially young ones, is part of what I adore about being a working artist so I hope to meet and chat with many of you there. 

The Institute of Fine Arts of Edmond
27 E Edwards St., Edmond, OK 73034
June 1, 2017 6-8 pm. 

You can view my current figurative and abstract works at www.ardithgoodwin.com and follow me on Instagram or FB as well!

 

 

Expandorendative Solo Show of Ardith Goodwin

12 years ago, as an elementary school teacher at the top of my career, I was facing some major medical hurdles that I would have to jump whether I wanted to or not. I left the profession that I adored and was passionate about with great discouragement, to face a life on full disability and multiple surgeries. It was as if life had once again snatched the rug out from under my feet. One morning I lay in bed, watching the sunlight flow across the pane of the window and asked myself, "What on earth would I do now? Is this all that there would be in life?" 

Now if you know me, you know I have always had the outlook of extreme optimism, sometimes to a fault, so I tapped into that innate gift and gathered about 10 books on watercolor painting from the library. To set the record, I wasn't a painter. I didn't take art lessons, but when I was in elementary and high school I loved art and knew that I loved to doodle, and that was the extent of my creative talents at the time.

 It didn't matter to me that I didn't know how to paint, I just gave myself permission to try, to explore, to play with watercolor pigment and quickly found that I had three things going for me: I had the gift of visual transfer, I had a knack for color, and creativity came naturally to me.

Fast forward to this past weekend and I am coming off the most incredible experience of having my first major solo show with 35 paintings showcased at The Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope, Al. So what happened in the span of 12 years with a body that was lacking and a skill set that was brand new?

Taking in the moment before the crowd.

What I can share with you in this short space is a combination of several things: I turned to art for part of my healing process, I never had the voice in my head telling me I was doing it wrong, I practiced as much as I could to work hard and thrive, and I had the aid of the Big Guy Upstairs as part of the healing that would take part in my body. Looking back on it now, it has been a remarkable journey filled with struggles and pain and hurdles and moments of extreme joy. In essence, I have journeyed through a miracle to find that the gifts of creativity and communication I was born with, would be what would help save me. 

Over the course of the next few weeks I will be sharing part of my story here on my blog because as proud as I am about the impact and body of work I have created for this show, I am equally proud of the journey I took to get to where I am today. Very few people find a way to come off disability and reenter the work force with a brand new set of skills that are connected to divine purpose and heart, but I did. I heard a voice inside myself that whispered, "You are meant for greater things," and even though there were very dark moments, I never, ever let that whisper be silenced. Today I am beyond grateful for the gift of fortitude. 

www.ardithgoodwin.com

Expandorendative - A Peek Inside the Land of Ardithian is a solo show built around the framework of fracturedness, dynamic movement, pieces and parts, energy fields, transparent layers, and story. It showcases figurative works which are elements of the children's book I am writing and abstracts which carry the same framework. 

Over the last 12 months I have worked passionately and exhaustingly to master the craft that I needed to paint in a way that evokes this framework. I pulled the business elements together that I needed and I applied 12 years of study into a year of unexpected growth and discovery. Expandorendative is what I am deeply proud of. 

This show will hang until Jan. 5th and is free to the public for viewing. On Nov. 21 I have the pleasure of hosting a gallery talk to share with the audience my inspiration, my journey, and the framework that my creative heart worked within to dream and bring to fruition these conceptual pieces. 

There will be many moments for me of looking back at all of this, to see the lessons, to share the wisdom of it all, but for today, my heart is full and seeking a bit of rest to let it all sink in. If you are interested in following my story as I write, sign up for my newsletter or follow me on FB! I share quite a lot there. 

Many thanks to the staff at ESAC and to all of the friends, family, and supporters that attending the opening. It was an amazing evening that exceeded all of my expectations! 

Friends sent me flowers and flats!!!!

10 Tips For The Self-Taught Artist

14 years ago I wish I knew then what I know now about choosing to be a self taught artist. My journey has been filled with learning experiences about creativity, skills, business, marketing, people, and the challenges that go with even owning the label of being self-taught. 

Because I am a voracious learner, I committed to the practice of learning what I needed to so that I could be successful. The effort paid off in droves. For those of you just starting out, maybe my insight can save you some time. It is possible to be a successful artist and have a career as an artist, don't let the naysayers tell you other wise. It does take a huge amount of passion and effort though......which leads to a very, beautiful life. 

1. Fall In Love With The Creative Process

At some point, you LOVED making stuff as a child. Either with crayons or clay or even mud...you loved being a creator. As an adult who chooses to become a self-taught artist, you must fall in LOVE with the creative process all over again. 

Explore ideas with reckless abandon. Test out new techniques and supplies and mediums to see what your heart loves...and what it doesn't. View the works of master artists and contemporaries of our present day. Learn what you are drawn to, what styles captivate you, what genres you feel akin to. Then ask yourself why...and then ask again. 

Wake up with the excitement that every day is a new experience to create and learn and experience the act of being an artist....for no other reason than because you love it, because you can, and because it makes you happy. First be true to creativity itself.

2. Pay Attention To What Fascinates You About The World

A Self-Taught artist needs to know what fascinates them about the world. Are they drawn to lines and patterns or textures and light? Do birds and everything about birds keep and hold their attention like no other animal? Does love or heartbreak move them...to music...to color...to expressions? 

We are each hardwired with a brain and heart that finds some things in life more fascinating than others. When we truly find those juicy tidbits that rock our own world, we then are able to tap into our own, unique point of view which is the pathway to our artistic voice. Create in response to what fascinates you. 

3. Practice Your Art Everyday In Some Way 

There is no getting around it. If you want to be a successful self-taught artist you must practice. You must not just practice...you must adopt being a creative as a way of life. Seek out the practice that moves your joy. Create a consistent pattern of showing up and doing the work. On off days, think creatively in a different capacity...bake something, grow something, build something...but keep creating. 

When you are called to rest, rest. Give thanks for the ability to practice and do what you love, and create the next day. Practicing our gifts...and growing our skill sets is what we are called to do. There is no short cut to success...you must do the work...you must do the work. 

4. When You Decide To Go From Hobby to Profit....Learn The Business

The minute you choose to go from creating because you simply love it for fun...and that is a beautiful thing, to creating with the intent to sell....LEARN THE BUSINESS. Get a business license, study and become informed about taxes, pay attention to the market and what you are up against. I say that because in business you are always up against something....know your mountain. Learn how to climb it by viewing what other successful artists are doing. 

Make a plan. The business side can zap an artist's spirit so fast and believe it or not, not every artist is set out to be a business person. Get help. Ask.... and OWN the fact that you are now in business and that your work is ready to sell to a greater audience. 

Put meticulous care into creating the best product you can and develop a beautiful connection to customer service. It will always pay off...it will. 



5. Find Teachers/Mentors/Study Programs To Help You Master Your Skills

Be willing to study...to learn.....and to seek help. Choosing to be a self-taught artist gives us a lot of freedom, but it also calls us to truly understand our craft and practice. Depending on what type of art you create...become a master at that type of art. If there are techniques you need to learn, be willing to sacrifice if necessary to pay for the best training you can. 

Let go of the mindset that you don't have the money for workshops or mentors. Start setting aside a little everyday...or every week. Make your business and your passion a priority. Ask yourself, "What am I willing to give up so that I can do this or that?" I literally gave up eating out for 4 months to save enough money to attend a week long workshop that changed my entire artistic life. It was worth every single can of beans I ate instead. 

6. Own Your Confidence, Share Your Journey

Self-taught artists seem to come out of the gate feeling the need to prove themselves or measure up. I get it. To offset this way of thinking, know your place and time in your journey. If you are a beginner, celebrate being a beginner. Own every single moment of practice to learn and better yourself.....and to show up for the creative process. 

Do your very best not to compare. In fact...thump the comparison fairy on the head every time it flies into your head. The very fact that you are willing to show up every day and do the work is golden. Be proud of that...be PROUD. 

With that confidence, share your journey. There are many artists in the world in the exact same place you are, so sharing your journey helps them relate to theirs. Don't profess to be more than you are, but don't profess to be less than you are either. When you choose to share your journey you become a Wayshower. The world needs more Wayshowers. 

The Wayshowers 30" by 48" Ardith Goodwin

7. Practice Authentic Marketing

Be true to who you are...and to the profession of creators when it comes to marketing. If you copy to learn, bravo...but don't share that as your own. Market what you create that is uniquely yours. We are all influenced by external forces, especially visual ones, and at the end of the day, we must choose to honor the artists who create from their unique voice and honor our learning path as well. 

Realize that marketing is important, creating your own brand is important, but underneath all of that,  honesty and integrity in the business world should rule the day. Don't undercut your galleries, be consistent with pricing. Don't sell high one day and then cut your prices in half the next for a 'flash sale.' Really seek out the steps in marketing that ring true to the customer as well as your artistic brand. 


8. Serve Others 

At some point, give back. One of the beauties of living a creative life is that it gives you so many opportunities to give back. Volunteer to speak at a school, offer to share a craft with a local senior center, write a blog offering how-to lessons for free. Find a way to use your gifts for the greater good. It will fill your wellsprings, it is a community minded way of thinking, and it is so very needed in this world. 

If you are called to teach, teach...but know your subject matter. Don't jump on the bandwagon of teaching because you only see profit, truly know what you are going to teach and meet your students needs as best you can. Serving others is how we move creative love forward. 

9. Understanding That Timing Is Everything

Patience is a big deal. Just because you see a painting that you love...and you want to paint like that, doesn't mean you know how to just yet. Give yourself the time to develop as a creative. If you put in the work and the effort, the doors will open. They will...but all in good time. There is a level of work ethic that you must find your balance to...and be willing to put in the hours, but when you do, the timing of opportunity will reveal itself. 

Some artists study for years before they know they are ready to go full time. Explore, learn, have a riot of a good time, and trust your inner voice. He/she knows the way for timing. 
Trust the timing. 

10. Understand That Everyone Of Your Marks Matters 

Never let anyone else, or yourself, convince you that your marks don't matter. Every mark we make from doodling to scribbles to the fine lines of a finished piece are the steps it takes to achieve greatness. Without the little steps, the big steps wouldn't connect. We are not giants...we are humans that through courage and grace have chosen the calling to be a creative. We create marks to learn, to grow, to expand our point of view, and to share with others. EVERY SINGLE MARK MATTERS...it does. Go make your marks. 

Flowers After The Dance 18" by 24" acrylic

Ardith Goodwin is a self-taught artist of the highest order...she also loves to write and teach about her passions. You can learn more about her offerings HERE. 

Ceramic Mark Making Tools

Finding a unique mark making tool to me is like finding the Golden Egg on Easter....a prize that puts a smile on my face so wide it might crack open. I constantly seek them out, and lately, I have been making quite a few. Last week, I opted to try making some with ceramics, and I had no idea what I was doing, I just knew I wanted to make some. 

What I gave great thought to were two things: 

1. How they would feel in my hand.
2. The type of mark they would make. 

It was harder than I thought, but I am all about seeking out a challenge, so I mushed and molded and considered what type of mark each design would make. 

I created ones that marked and that could be used for stamps. 

I created ones with little circles and big circles. I even created one with the head of a hawk because I have a thing for hawks....they are good medicine in my world. If I have a deep connection with a tool, I am more likely to use it. 

Below are the finished pieces, and they look a bit like candy lol. 

I played around with them today, made some marks, made some stamps, and overall I am a believer. They didn't all work like I thought, but the surfaces that worked well made me swoon. The weight of them felt really good in my hands too, so that was a win win. 

Here are the test papers where I played around with the marks. Many of the marks are organic type lines, but the pulled print off the marks, that is luscious. They are worth their weight in gold just for the print marking aspect! 

Sample of the marks

Sample of the pulled print marks

After I got finished with those, I made some little weird heads, because I like little weird heads. The ears look as if they would make funny marks. We shall see!

Most likely I will go back to the drawing board and refine my designs but I have to say, as mark making tools go, they are some of my top faves! 



After playing with my tools, I cranked up the Native American flute music and let my heart lead me on a romp. It led me to this piece.....  "Walk of the Cherry Picker" 10"  by 10" acrylic on paper

Lovely way to end a play session. 

Hope you make time for some play in your world these days, it is so very important! 

If you have kids, you can also let them create their own mark making tools out of potatoes, carrots, and broccoli....broccoli makes great tree marks. (just don't eat them afterwards :)

Looking Ahead:
Huge news coming your way about new workshops I will be offering in Seattle this summer and one year long classroom to teach creative awareness! Stay tuned! 

Proust, Painters, and Creativity Art Journal Page

Throughout this book "Perspectives on the Arts" 1961, I have enjoyed immensely getting to delve into the perceptions and points of view of the art establishment during this decade. Proust was showcased for his writings, and this morning, as I landed on the page which I would alter, I read this: 

"For Marcel Proust, communication was of the very essence of art. Among the multitudinous solitudes that populate the great Thebaid of A la Recherche du Temps Perdu, art is the only means by which any man can enter the soul of another man. Only by art can we get outside ourselves, know what another sees of his universe, which is not the same as ours, and the different view of which would otherwise have remained as unknown to us as those there may be on the moon. Thanks to art, instead of seeing only one world, our own, we see it under multiple forms, and as many as there are original artists, just so may worlds have we at our disposal, differing more widely from one another than those that roll through infinite space, and years after the glowing center from which they emanated has been extinguished, be it called Rembrandt or Vermeer, they continue to send us their own rays of light." 

The worlds spilled right off the page and hit me directly in the gut as powerful and moving and so very true. I sat for the longest looking at this page spread and when I looked up, I saw one of my dolls, Found Friend, who always seem to be desperately trying to make a point. The direction for the page was found and I began sketching. 

Throughout the process I kept hearing the message of how important it is for each of us to understand our value, especially in light of being created as creative beings, and with each stroke I sent forward to the hope that everything I create and share will send forth the message which is just that....we matter, our creativity matters, and the world needs us to own that. 

When I create these pages, I alway seek to stay open to the message my heart wants me to process. I paint and write and draw with the tools in front of me, and with the addition of each one, a layer is added to that knowing and in turn gives me more creative passion to hear my own, unique voice. Young artists struggle with this I think, finding their voice, finding their style. I can only share what has worked for me: 

Stay curious. 
Look for the wonder in the world. 
Make records of it. 
Seek out that which you find fascinating. 
Study that. 
Practice every single day. 
Trust your path. 
Express your wonder through the skill set you have in the moment, the heart will follow. 

I hope, for today, those of you who are aware of how very important you and your creativity are in the world will know that in a more powerful way and begin to share that message with others. With all of the hate we find in this world, our love and creativity holds the power to change that. I do believe this with every thing I am. 

Reflections on Robert Burridge's Mentor Workshop

This past year was a pivotal turning point in my art career as I decided, for the very first time since teaching myself to paint 11 years ago, that I would invest in myself and take a couple of in person workshops to help me better prepare my body of work for gallery submissions and to broaden my knowledge base for the students I teach art to at St. Paul's.  With this decision came excitement and then trepidation as I set some really specific guidelines as to what type of workshop I was willing to attend, especially in light of being on a tight budget. Along with the budget, I was seeking out an experience which would give me the freedom to work on my own body of work,  rather than learning a specific technique or style from a specific artist. I also wanted to apply all the fine art concepts I would learn to the lessons I use for my 3rd - 8th graders and.... I really needed him/her to have a reputation for having a big heart. I prayed about it, let it go, and payed attention to the buzz and goings on in my art world. Thankfully...there was a great deal of buzz around The Mentor Workshop from Robert Burridge, which just so happened to meet the needs I had for a professional workshop experience...and, everything I have ever heard about him was that he had a HUGE heart, that coupled with the workshop I have booked in October and... I was sold. 

Unlike the workshops that he teaches as he travels, the mentor workshop is offered in his studio at his home, in a small group (we had 7), and over the course of several days. 

I had shipped my supplies out to California, walked in the first day after flying at length, and felt at ease as I began to set up and met the fellow artists that would share this journey with me. 

The mess was joyous, the energy exciting, and at the same time, my spirit felt right at home amongst the drips and runs and marks of color along the walls and floors. 

Bob's Figure Studies

Over the course of the next 4 days we talked and talked and questioned and talked. We slung paint, lots of it, played with glazes, talked about master artists, watched Bob paint demos and work on his own body of work, and ate some of the finest food ever  prepared by his lovely wife Kate and assistant Debra.

 Between painting sessions, which started for some, at 7 am, we enjoyed the sounds of chickens laying eggs, horses asking for carrots, and a couple of times of day watched ever so gently as the deer came up to eat and take in all the excitement between the studio and house. The setting was idillic for an art retreat, and I soaked it all in. 

Throughout the painting process I was open to trying new ideas and techniques within the scope of my own style. Because I was flying, I chose to paint on paper and opted for the 25 3/4" by 40" 260lb. Arches cold press which worked out beautifully. I was able to have full sheets, two 18" by 24" sheets, or two 12" by 40" sheets along with my smaller studies on paper.

 One of the things I found extremely valuable was understanding the importance of the four C's before each painting begins. That intention made a world of difference in my focus and completion of each piece. It will be a concept I share with my students as well, which I believe will give them a much stronger foundation in their focus. Below are some of my pieces with intention, title and/or insight. 

Figure Study with Acrylic Washing

Figure Study with Acrylic Washing Technique

Figure Sketches

Complimentary Color Quick Paints

Complimentary Color Quick Paints

Complimentary Color Quick Paints and Ink washes

Color Palette Study 12" by 12"

Acrylic Washing Technique

Texture Study 18" by 24" with glazing and Rembrandt Lighting Study

Mark Making, Glazing, and Subtlety Practice

Diebenkorn Inspired piece after studying his planes of color

"Headed For Change" 40" by 26" 

"The Tourists" 18" by 24" 

"Marks of Time and Place" 18" by 24" 

"Blue Lemons" 18" by 24" (deliciously odd texture)

"I Am An Artist" 40" by 26" (test of black gesso vs. tar paper

"Pogo Sticks and Love" 13" by 40" acrylic on paper (sold)

As the workshop came to a close, we all celebrated our finished pieces and reflected back on the experience a bit. It was worth every penny for me in the first 30 minutes.  Not simply because of all the joy that was found there, but the professional goals I set to move my career forward were met in spades. I felt confident leaving, sure of where my style lands, sure of my talent, better equipped to teach my young ones, and sure that investing in my career was a sound decision. On the heart side, mine was full to the brim with gratitude for Bob, Kate, and Debra holding that space for us and opening up their home. What a testament it was to living the life of a creative, being willing to share their knowledge, and give credence to the artists walking in their footsteps. 

Many of you have asked me about my experience and I am eager to share more specifics if you wish to message me: ardithgoodwin@gmail.com. But first, if you haven't already, head over to Bob's website, www.robertburridge.com and sign up for his Artsy Farsty Newsletter and Bob Blasts. They are chock full of his vast buckets of knowledge, techniques, product reviews, book suggestions, and some of the best music options for painting I have found. You can also find their 2015 Mentor Workshop details there, and as I understand, spots fill up quickly. 

Next month I head to my second workshop for the year in Raleigh with the also HUGE hearted Jeanne Bessette. I am looking forward to taking what I have experienced here, applying it over the next two months, and heading into that with rockets fired. Can't wait, :)