For several months now, I have been exploring new workshops I would like to facilitate. My hope was to study a “master” and create by using their techniques and style. In doing so, I discovered artists I had knew very little about (and also a few I knew something about but now know quite a bit more). In the end I created a series of six at first. I love the artists, and their style. The first series studied six artists, five men and one woman. Each had something to teach about the foundation of art. Each had a story. But then I dug deeper. It felt as though I should concentrate on underrepresented artists.
Historically female artists are not seen the way male artists are. This is evident by the fact that many female painters who created notable works used male names or pseudonyms to sign their work. It seemed as though it was more important for their work to be seen than for the female artist to have credit for it. It seems females have not been taken seriously, and yet, throughout history there are countless (suspected) examples of female art that has been attributed to male counterparts. With that, my focus shifted.
I then developed a series exploring twelve artists- all female. I researched artists that were very well known, and a few that weren’t. Each inspired me for a different reason. The foundation of art is vital, it is the gateway to creation, but it does not end there. We need the tools to create, we study other artists as well as their techniques to learn from what has already been accomplished. But then we take it further, we make it out own. We share our own voice.
As an artist myself, my work is my oxygen, it is my prayer. It is a way to show the inner most vulnerable part of me. When I am at my best, I create with my soul and not so much with studied techniques. In her voice- is a series of women that have accomplished their art with meaning and intent. They create to share what moves them, what calms them, what shares their soul.
For this series – the artists I have studied and will represent are Faith Ringgold, Lee Krasner, Alma Thomas, Frida Kahlo, Yayoi Kusama, Georgia O’Keeffe, Berthe Morisot, Hilma af Klint, Heather Day, Harriet Powers, Beatriz Milhazes, and Emily Carr.
This series is not to inspire you to create exactly like the artists mentioned, it is more to be inspired by and learn from the artists. In Her Voice is a way for you to listen and see differently. It is a way for you to know the women that have gone before you and be inspired by them and their journey. It is a way to take a moment for yourself, to be truly creative and step into another world, a world in which women are honored and uplifted. A world where your only task is to be open to creativity, and the inspiration laid before you.
This series in September. I hope you are curious enough to join me! You can find details for Faith Ringgold, Lee Krasner, and Alma Thomas by clicking the links attachted to their name.
To see these workshops and even some provided by my friend, Lisa Robinson- view them here on “Create with Me” or my e-commerce site- Greetings4Good
