"Pushing Limits"

Two cradled boards and two dead bees.

As the "Elements" exhibit comes down this Friday I'm getting ready for a Group Show 'Pushing Limits' (Mar 11-29) at The Fort Gallery.  

I've finally decided on what it is to be. It pushes my own boundaries with technique and also addresses how we push the limits of the ecosystem for short term gain. 

Stay tuned.

"Elements" Exhibit

I met a few people at the opening at the White Rock Gallery. The exhibit is up for about 5 weeks. There is a range of styles, sizes and mediums from 3D to photographs. I took a few photos with my little Samsung camera.

"Run Off", 2014, (on left)

36" x 48" 

"Immersed", 2014, (on right)  49" x 39.5"

"The Elements" Exhibit

I am happy to be a part of the Semiahmoo Arts Council "The Elements" exhibit. Opening reception is on Thursday January 8th at 7pm.

Warm Wishes

ATC acrylic on cotton canvas, collage

Sending warm wishes to all. However you may celebrate I hope it is with people you care for and care for you. 

Hugs from Canada

Small Wonders

Inner Space 1 acrylic on canvas

Inner Space 2 acrylic on canvas

These are my paintings in the Small Wonder Exhibit and Xmas Sale at the Fort Gallery. 

Inner Space 1 & 2 are sketches for larger paintings I am planning for an exhibit in June 2015 at the Fort Gallery. They are based on brain MRI images.

I'll post more pieces from the exhibit later this week.

Scratched Surface & Torn Edges oil, wax on cradled board

Lower painting: Intuition, oil, wax on cradled board

Life on Mars oil, wax on cradled board

Small Wonders exhibit & sale

Fort Gallery 2014 Christmas Exhibit and Sale 
in Fort Langley, BC 

Come to the reception Saturday December 6, 1pm - 5pm or spend an afternoon in historic Fort Langley, visit the Fort Gallery, have lunch at Beatnik's Bistro then take in the Twelve Days of Christmas Trees exhibit at the Langley Centennial Museum and Exhibition Centre.

Artistic Alternative

I have been following Robert Genn's letters at his blog Painter's Keys for at least two years. He has been a mentoring voice gently shifting my point of view as another possibility. I think this article "Artistic Alternative" goes well with the previous post because it emphasizes the wide range of artistic expression rather than this is what's good and this is what's bad. The point of involving people in a discussion isn't to persuade but instead get to know each other. By doing that I would hope the person who is likely to buy your art will be revealed.

Dancing Lights

I can imagine talking about my art in the terms described in Genn's letter. "It's a matter of giving power to the mind's artist and allowing him or her to imagine some of the ways a given job might be done. The variations are really quite limitless: Bright primer, mixed media, blind palette, glaze gradations, big dumb brush, scumble, scrape out, roll on, chain saw." Framing the discussion about art in this way and combine it with the question "how does it affect you, the viewer?" might make for an interesting and revealing conversation. It's not that everyone has to like everything but maybe appreciate the "making".

Market Research for Artists - How to Sell More Art

I have exhibited in both juried and non-juried shows and received positive feedback about my work but I haven't sold yet. I realize that people buy for different reasons and tastes range.  I wonder who would be interested in buying my art. 



This article "Market Research for Artists - How to Sell More Art" describes how one may go about finding out. It encourages the artist to have an event in a non-art environment to find out how one's art is perceived by the ordinary person who hasn't taken art history or is a collector of fine art. It sounds like an interesting prospect. The goal is not to sell art (although no buyer would be turned away) but to be able to talk about your art in an accessible way and understand how your art is perceived.

I am curious if anyone has done an event to invite comments and feedback from people outside the "art world".

Create Anticipation By Promoting Your Art Event Early and Often

Create Anticipation By Promoting Your Art Event Early and Often



I am working on a new series for an exhibit at the Fort Gallery June 2015 and Alyson's article helps me think about ways to share my experience outside the studio.  I am very excited about the show which comes from creating new work for a specific destination in time and space.



I highly recommend Alyson's blog if you're looking for marketing info specifically designed for artists.

Emancipating Genius | Dorothy Barenscott | TEDxKPU

Let me introduce Dorothy Barenscott one of my professors at Kwantlen Polytechnic University Visual Arts degree. Her talk about artistic genius challenges us to examine traditional beliefs about what is art and what makes an artist.

Children Learn and Create

I came across this article about what skills children learn from the arts and want to share with you. Top Ten Skills Children learn From the Arts

Painting by one of the children in my 6 - 8 years old Sketch and Paint class at the local community centre

Event Alert for Photographers and People who like toTravel with a camera

Photo Walk:

 Finding a Sense of Place sponsored by National Geographic

Go here to find out more info.

Cryptic: The Use of Allegory in Contemporary Art with a Master Class from Goya | Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis

In my quest for getting outside myself and experiencing other points of view I came across how the device allegory is used in contemporary visual art. Curator Laura Steward discusses and shares an exhibit, "Cryptic" she curated which combines the work of Goya with contemporary paintings and sculpture. She asserts that the question needed to be asked about art is not "What does this mean?" but instead "How does this work create meaning?"

Cryptic: The Use of Allegory in Contemporary Art with a Master Class from Goya | Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis

Hollyhock: Robert/Sara Genn (White Rock Gallery)

A little Canadian art experience from Canada's west coast where I live.

Implement a Postcard Strategy

Implement a Postcard Strategy



I have been following Alyson for over a year and she has helped me to visualize my art practice outside my head and into the world. I encourage you to take a look on what she is offering especially if you find art marketing overwhelming.



Alyson Stanfield is an artist advocate and business mentor at ArtBizCoach.com. This article was originally published in her Art Biz Insider, which is sent weekly to thousands of artists who are elevating their businesses. Start your subscription now and get Alyson's 6 free art-marketing video lessons athttp://artbizcoach.com 

Fort Collective

Happy to announce that I am a member of the Fort Collective. My  my portfolio should be up on their web site soon. I'll keep you posted.

My first activity as a member is to participate in the annual Blue Plate Special fundraiser. I finished two new paintings for it.

Reflections 1, oil & wax, cradled board, 18" x 11" x 2"
© Elizabeth B Anderson 2014

Reflections 2, oil & wax, cradled board, 18" x 11" x 2"
© Elizabeth B Anderson 2014

Children Are Artists, Play Learn Create in Mixed Media

I am excited to share that I am partnering with the Langley Arts Council to offer art classes for Grade1 to Grade 3.

Sunshine flowers

Wishing you all wonderful weekend.

Postcard watercolour, inspired by Van Gogh, sunshine and warm summer breezes.  

6"x4" watercolour on paper                                                              Elizabeth Anderson ©

I'm Back

Way more time than I wanted has gone by since my last post. I've been painting, joined a mail art group, an index card a day group and started teaching kids art. 

The kids are ages 6 to 8 years old. It's been both challenging and rewarding. I am thankful to all the art teachers who share their art teaching experiences. This knowledge helped me to plan for activities that suited the time frame (five one hour classes).

I just finished five days of one hour classes teaching drawing and cartooning. They were hard workers and displayed a range of interpretations of the projects. At the end they all received certificates of excellence for completing the course. I said I hoped they continued to draw and one boy's response was "I plan to because I love to draw". I'm getting ready to do a mixed media at the local Arts Council in August.

On the art making front I finished "Running" and am happy with it (photo to come).

I also finished a new painting, "Clouds", for the Langley Arts Council exhibit Summer Magic. 

Elizabeth Anderson ©


Another bit of news is that I was accepted into the Fort Langley Art Collective. I am in the process of signing a contract at which time I will be listed as a member. I'm quite excited about this new venture.

Getty Publications Virtual Library free downloads!

I want to share this great resource at Getty Publications

There are a whole range of virtual books free to read online or to download. Browse the selection and start reading! Below are just a few samples available.

Have a great week everyone!