Branching Out Into Boxes - by Annette Labedzki

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The week before Christmas and what a snowy mess! Vancouver is rarely blanketed with snow; however the past week we’ve had our fair share. When the snow comes we are never prepared, very few of us have snow tires so it becomes almost impossible to drive. When our hilly roads are covered in the slushy snowy mess it becomes very dangerous and the best thing we are told to do is stay inside; this becomes difficult when you’re running around trying to get ready for Christmas. The Christmas tree which I bought was a frozen strange looking clump. To my surprise after it had defrosted it transformed itself into the most beautiful tree I’ve ever had for Christmas. Due to this crazy weather, last Monday the furnace decided to die. By evening I had it repaired. On Thursday the pipes for the kitchen water had frozen. On Sunday water seemed to be leaking from the roof or skylight down in the walls and exited out of the light bulbs and ceiling fan in the bathroom. Thankfully that stopped after a few hours. Today I finally feel caught up with all the mini disasters and I have Christmas preparations under control. I was able to ease back into my art. I find it difficult to be focused and really creative when there are so many disturbances around me. I am working on some boxes, tin, wood and other materials that have a special history or patina. I’m creating little vignettes of items which I have made or collected. The interior and exterior of the box must have a relationship which forms one unit. My aim is simplicity which seems incredibly difficult to achieve. I believe it is a process of elimination; weeding out the junk within your creativity.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a bright and Happy New Year.

Please have a look at my website at www.labedzki-art.com

 

 

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Mark Rothko � An Abstract Expressionist with Complex Intrigues - by Annette Labedzki

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Marcus Rothkowitz or Mark Rothko, as he was better known, was born on September 25, 1903, in Daugavpils, Latvia. He was one of the faces of the "Abstract Expressionist Movement" sharing stage with the likes of de Kooning, Pollock, Guston, Kline, and Newman. Belonging to a Jewish family, the Russian community never accepted Mark Rothko. Therefore, he left for the U.S. in 1913, where he led a simple life, until his father passed away in 1914. To support his family, he worked at his uncle’s warehouse, distributed newspapers to the employees. Rothko was a bright student at school and he completed his studies with honors from Lincoln High School in Portland, in June 1921. He enrolled for studies in Liberal Arts, from the Yale University, during the period 1921 – 1923, but dropped out without acquiring a degree.

 

Mark Rothko was largely a self-taught, highly appreciated artist to emerge from the New York art scene. He co-founded an organization of like-minded artists, famous as "The Ten," in 1935. He also established an art school in New York, named "Subjects of The Artist," in 1948. The early works of Mark Rothko mostly included 'Expressionist' portraits and urban landscapes. Later, however, he moved towards more 'Surreal' themes, under the influence of the works of Arshille Gorky. In 1947, he started painting his now famous, "color-field pieces," characterized by simple bright or dark colors to convey his emotions. By 1950s, Mark Rothko started getting recognition as the master of "Abstract Expressionism."

 

Most of Rothko's works were unnamed or had forgettable names, such as "Black, Maroons and White (1958)," "Four Red (1957)," & "No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red)." In 1967, the artist joined hands with Johnson to make 14 related works on a church in Houston, Texas, which was posthumously renamed after him. For most part of his career, Mark taught in several universities and colleges, including Center Academy in Brooklyn, from 1929 to 1952, the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco in 1947 and again in 1949, Brooklyn College from 1951 to 1954, the University of Colorado in 1955, and Tulane University in the year 1956. In addition, Mark Rothko exhibited his work regularly in 1940s and 1950s. He was eventually allowed in Venice Biennale in 1958 & the Museum of Modern Art in the New York City in 1961.

 

Ironically, Mark Rothko had always maintained that he is not an abstractionist and is not interested in the relationship of color or forms. For him, his paintings displayed basic human emotions like anger, tragedy, loss, etc. Despite his professional success, Mark Rothko could not be considered a happy man. He had two failed marriages and throughout his life, Rothko had to struggle with penury. His heavy thinking also led him towards depression and alcoholism and eventually, he committed suicide on February 25, 1970, by cutting his wrists in his New York studio.

 

Please visit my website at www.labedzki-art.com

 

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Criminal Activity - by Annette Labedzki

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It all started in the year 2000 to 2006. We were unlucky enough to experience a long string of burglaries, break-ins and thefts. Vancouver is so beautiful and the climate is mild. We really don’t have any winters; a couple of months of heavy rain and that’s about the extent of our winters. This climate is perfect for every homeless drug addict from all across Canada to meander over here because they can survive the winters on the streets. Where there is addiction and poverty there is crime.

We had a small gallery which had been broken into one night. All the art was stolen. We felt like we had been a bit naïve because we didn’t have an alarm system set up. So we got our act together and had a security system installed. A few months went by and we were broken into again. The criminals actually snipped the wires and stole the alarm system (talk about desperate!)

In the following years only some minor incidents. Cars that were dumped behind the garage or in front of the house, and sure enough when I phoned the police the cars had been reported stolen. My husband finished work one day and went down to the car lot, only to find his car had been stolen. One other fine day he discovered that his new lap top had been stolen out of the office in broad daylight!

In 2002 one morning I woke up and came down to the kitchen, making coffee and getting ready for the day. All of sudden I noticed that the security bars on the outside of the kitchen window were hanging at an angle. We quickly went out on the deck; sure enough someone had patiently removed all the screws of the security bars and had managed to open the kitchen window. They got away with a cell phone and a briefcase which was always on the floor near the kitchen window. We called the police and when they arrived we noticed that a large kitchen knife was missing; so they must have heard one of us wake up to go to the bathroom. That really scared me when I saw that knife missing. I was upset about the stolen briefcase because it contained hundreds of dollars worth of watercolors and inks! I went to the front yard and to my pleasant surprise the creeps had opened the briefcase and then dumped the whole thing and the watercolors into the hedges!! Little did they know that one tiny tube is 15 dollars!

By this time I was getting really annoyed and fed up with all the criminal activity. We moved again and we figured it would be safer to have the security bars on the inside of the window. A few quiet months went by in the new house in a good neighborhood. One day I came home from work around noon. I heard some strange sounds before I even opened the door; I assumed it was the cleaning lady. I opened the door and walked right into a burglary.(He had kicked the basement door down) I didn’t know what was going on and by the time my brain registered everything the creep was one inch away from me. I think my height (I’m 5’10’’) gave me the courage to talk to him like a naughty child. I just looked at him and said” Oh my God, you better get out of here!” Of course I was in shock for quite sometime after that and I will never let a strange man in the house. The creep had left a drug syringe on the kitchen floor which the police picked up with her bare hands. The best piece of evidence was destroyed.

Well, since then we moved again! We have a lot of traffic and we also have a bus stop right behind our house. I think all the traffic keeps the criminals away!

My website is www.labedzki-art.com 

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Bookmarks-120 Art Websites, Art Galleries, Museums, Juried Shows and Art Dealers - by Annette Labedzki

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For many years I’ve been bookmarking websites that offer great information about art;art galleries, art directories, museums, art listings, juried shows etc etc. I was tempted to delete the bookmarks when I realized that I could create a “Bookmark” page on my website and share the links. The bookmark page is at the very top of the site in the right hand corner. There are over one hundred great and informative links. I hope you enjoy! Click on Bookmarks

My website address is www.labedzki-art.com 

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Every Artistic Choice I Make

Every artistic choice I make, from which paintbrush to use, to which color to pick up, is made directly in connection with, and in order to express, my mental and emotional energy. To engage with and release the maximum energy, I give my faculties free reign, for they are my strength. But what of beauty? Does the artist bring acceptance, honesty, and openness to her energies? With what attitude does she meet them? A native love of and passion for painting is the field into which my expressions consistently emerge. Power and beauty are the ultimate energetic combination, the combination and juxtaposition that create the quality of aliveness. For maximum constructive effect these must be in balance, or power is mere machinery; beauty hollowness. Triumph in the wedding of these two qualities, in artistic terms results in the second greatest gift humanity gives to itself: the work of art. It is an ongoing, dynamic relationship in which I am continually and vitally engaged day by day

The Color Red-Its symbolism and Meaning

Red is the most amazing and powerful color that we could ever hope for. Red symbolizes life, passion, power, heartache, heartbreak, anger and love. The color red is a stimulant; it is exciting. It has the most personal associations than any other color. Red draws attention; hence the “red carpet.” Red is also associated with poison, seduction, and passion. In many cultures red represents beauty. In Chinese culture red symbolizes fire. It also is associated with good luck and fortune in China. In England red phone booths and double decker buses are national icons. Chinese, Hindu and Islamic brides wear red. In the Aztec culture red is connected with blood. In Singapore red symbolizes joy. The color red is used for good causes such as the Red Cross and American Heart Association. The red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness. Red has been used in plenty of popular sentences; red tape, not worth a red cent, red flag, caught red-handed and the red-carpet treatment. When we think of red food our senses are also stimulated. Bright red strawberries, red apples, cherries and cranberries are all popular because of their color and taste. We see red food and we immediately believe that it will taste phenomenal

Top 7 Ways to Earn Money as an Artist - by Annette Labedzki

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Included in this article are the 7 most successful ways to market your art. Remember to always be professional no matter what path you are pursuing. These are the 7 steps you should follow:

 

 1.    Create a Professional Marketing Package.

 2.    Find a Gallery.

 3.    Become a member in an art club, association or organization.

 4.    Advertise for free or inexpensively.

 5.    Apply for juried shows.

 6.    Make prints of your work and other ways to leverage your work

 7.    Find Corporate Art Representatives or Rental Programs.

 

1. Create A Professional Marketing Package.

Included in your package should be a biography, artist statement, resume, slides or digital images, business cards, stationary, and a portfolio. An Artist statement is a brief description of why you do your art and what it means. A resume should include awards, exhibitions, collections, education, memberships, and commissions. Use high quality paper for your resume and business cards. You want your marketing package to be as professional as possible. Your slides or digital images should be high quality as well.

 

2.  Find a Gallery.

Commercial galleries have a small stable of artists therefore it is difficult to get in, but not impossible. Attend openings in galleries and always make sure you have your business cards with you. Introduce yourself and your work to the galleries that you have selected. It helps if you have insider connections with people in the arts; a gallery owner, or a museum director. Stay away from the galleries that want to charge you a fee upfront. These “vanity galleries” are not respected by other galleries.

 

3.  Become a Member in an Art Club, Associations and Organizations.

There are many organizations in your area. It is worth your while to join these groups because they have: gallery space, publicized shows, mailing lists, social events, art classes, art openings and an established clientele. Memberships look good on your resume as well. It’s a good idea to volunteer. The more you give of your time; the organization will keep you in mind for future important events. You will be able to network and promote your work through the people you meet while volunteering.

 

4.  Advertise for Free or Inexpensively.

One way to advertise your work for free is on the online websites. There are many websites that allow you to join and upload your images for free. Some websites charge an annual fee which is usually quite minimal. Another way is to have your own website. These can be designed for a low fee as well. Media advertising isn’t the right venue, because it is usually very expensive. You can also advertise your work on bulletin boards in community centers for free.

 

5.  Apply for Juried Shows.

You might not get accepted into every juried show you enter. Here are a few steps to improve your chances. Make sure you read the instructions carefully and follow all the rules. Do not send work that exceeds the size specifications. Do not send any artwork that is against the rules. For example, don’t send a collage piece if it is an oil painting show. Label your images properly. You can find calls for submissions in art magazines or on the internet.

 

6.  Make Prints of Your Work and Other Ways to Leverage Your Work.

Apply for a grant. This money is a gift to promote your work. Digital imaging is a wonderful way to market your work. Your work can be printed on canvas, watercolor paper, T-Shirts, and mouse pads. Phone your local printer to get costs on these items.

 

7.  Find a Corporate Art Representative and Look into Rental Programs.

Try to find someone who deals with supplying hotels, banks, and large corporations.

Interior Designers are also an excellent source to contact. Check out your local library and art gallery rental programs as well.

 

The most important winning steps in promoting your work are: always have your marketing materials ready. Try to market your art and yourself at all times. You and your art are one package. Be as professional as possible on your road to becoming a successful artist.

 

Please visit my website at www.labedzki-art.com
Artists are welcome to join for free 

 

                                     

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Hitting the Brick Wall - by Annette Labedzki

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Everything seems to be running smoothly. I’m on a certain artistic path happily working on a number of different projects, setting plans and making goals. All of a sudden and with no warning, I hit the artistic brick wall. Everything comes to a dead end. I feel like the world has stopped. If I try to continue I’m greeted with a huge migraine. Over the years I’ve come to understand the symptoms and usually when I’m unpleasantly greeted with the brick wall it means two things. Either I have to change the way I was working from 2D to 3D or vice versa, or wait for an external change that is about to occur. Either way I don’t really enjoy the “Brick Wall” experience, however usually the changes that occur are for the best. Sometimes it just means that I have to slow down and rejuvenate the artistic batteries. These are some of the disadvantages of being an artist; there is no one who can tell you what to do. You have to figure it out for yourself; it is after all your own path!

Please visit my website at www.labedzki-art.com. Other artists are welcome to join for free and your image upload is unlimited.

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Beware Of Email Scam- "Phishing Email" - by Annette Labedzki

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Recently I received 2 emails, each slightly different, from paypal. They were warning me that someone has logged into my account, and that I must log in ( and fill in all of my personal information)  within the next 72 hours or my account will be suspended. The threat made me nervous. The email is crawling with blue links to your account supposedly. DO NOT under any circumstances click on those links. These emails are called phishing emails. They want your personal information and then God only knows what they will do with it. When I received the first email I almost clicked on a link but became slightly suspicious because there were at least 4 obvious spelling mistakes. So I sent the first email to the guy who deals with our computers, crashes, viruses etc. He first warned me about "phishing emails". Today I received the threatening one, I immediately forwarded it to my computer tech. He again said it was the same. So the best thing to do if you receive an email like this is actually open a new window and log in to your paypal account. You can click on their security tips and they give you an email where you can forward your nasty "phishing email". Another tip: my husband recently had a legitimate transaction for around 1000.00 and guess what? Immediately a phone call came from pay pal checking to make sure that it was in fact a transaction made by my husband. My point is that we must keep in mind that there are administrators who are keeping an eye on things. So whatever you do "DON'T CLICK" on links and don't fill any form with your personal information. If you have, contact paypal immediately.

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How to Make Marbleized Paper in 5 Easy Steps - by Annette Labedzki

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Paper marbleizing is a very old tradition originating in Japan. The process can be addictive because it is so much fun and quite easy to do. The method is also applied on fabric, handmade paper, ornaments, rocks, and seashells to name a few.

In this article I will explain how to create marbleized paper in 5 easy steps.

         

         1. Water and Tub.

         2. Types of Paper.

         3. Assortment of Paints.

         4. Techniques.

         5. Drying, Pressing and Beautiful Results.

 

Before we begin you should have a well ventilated area work space whether it’s in the garage or basement. Your work station should be protected with plastic sheets or newspaper. Keep lots of newspaper on hand for easy clean up as well. Use rubber gloves or surgical gloves to protect your hands. You will also need a few plastic spoons.

 

1. Water and Tub.

You need a shallow plastic tub filled with approximately 2/3 of luke warm water. The temperature is very important. Don’t make the water to cold or to warm, or the paint will not float properly. Place the tub on your protected work surface. The size of the tub depends on the size of paper you want to use. I would suggest a medium to small size tub to start with.

 

2. Types of Paper.

The paper you should use must be of medium weight. I found that almost all types of paper work fine however make sure that your paper isn’t too thin because you don’t want it to disintegrate in the water! The size of your paper must fit into the tub, so at least one inch smaller than the size of your tub, and you can use an additional assortment of smaller sizes. I always keep a few stacks of different sizes placed beside my tub. The paper should be white or ivory in color.

 

3. Assortment of Paints.

The type of paint you use is important. It can not be water soluble. The purpose of the paint is that it must float on the water. You can buy a marbling kit from a craft store, however I prefer to use enamel paints from the hardware store. You can start with 4-5 different colors. Choose black, red, yellow, green and blue for now. As some of these colors swirl around on the water, new colors will automatically be created. The only tools you will need are plastic spoons. Make sure your work area is well ventilated while you work.

 

4. Techniques.

This is the fun part! Use your plastic spoon to remove some paint and drizzle it gently all over the surface of the water. You can do this with 2 or 3 colors and create some interesting drizzled lines. More effects can be created by blowing in the paint in certain areas and also using a toothpick or the plastic spoon to twirl the paint around gently. Quickly yet gently lay your sheet of paper on the paint. Gently tap on the paper to remove any air bubbles. Lift the paper from left to right or right to left. Flip over and place on floor to dry. You will love the surprising and beautiful results. Repeat the process and once in a while you can place some newspaper on the surface of the water to clean the area.

 

5. Drying, Pressing, and Beautiful Results.

Continue the process, experimenting with different colors and sizes of paper. Place them on a covered floor or table to dry. Drying times vary depending on how much paint and what types of paint you used.  The results are amazing! If you have white blotches, these are air bubbles that left a white mark. So just keep experimenting and have fun! When your works are dry press them under something heavy to flatten. You can make cards, gift tags, and wrapping paper.

 

Most importantly, practice, practice, practice, and have fun!

 Please take a moment to visit my website at www.labedzki-art.com

Other artists are welcome to join. Just click on the "join for free" button on the very top right hand corner. 

 

 

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Notes from an Art Student, September 8th,1988-In Search of Inner Peace - by Annette Labedzki

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The student’s project is called “In Search of Inner Peace.” She decided to paint a face to see how well she would execute the image without actually having a model before her. She left her eyes uncovered by wire because the eyes are searching and asking the questions. They prove that she is in fact SEARCHING. The wire is a symbol that in fact she does not have inner peace at the moment. The lock is a symbol of her being locked within herself. She is on the journey of self-discoveries. She also wants to be locked into solitude until she finds the inner peace. The lock is a symbol of protection. She doesn’t want any negative influences that could prolong her quest for inner peace. When the wire and lock unveil themselves she definitely portrays a peaceful feeling. Again, the artist wanted to keep the project as simple as possible. In order to bring her point across in a clear and concise manner! Some people might think she is in prison but that is not what the art student had intended to express. Who knows she might add or change something before Monday when the project is due, but for now she will just analyze it the way it is and see what happens…Right now she is trying to decide whether or not she should add little portraits at the top of her head to represent the different parts of her which she is trying to unite. The wire over her mouth symbolizes silence. Silence is not negative but rather positive. Silence is the condition of being quiet or silent, absence of sound.

Susan Sontag wrote “ By silence (the artist) frees  himself from servile bondage to the world…Once he has surpassed his peers, his pride has only one place left to go , the craving for silence is to be superior to everyone else. It suggests that the artist has had the wit to ask more questions than other people, and that he possesses stronger nerves and higher standards of excellence.”

The artist feels that one of the safest ways to achieve inner peace is to be silent for awhile. Sometimes it is healthier to listen rather than speak. She decided to add the circular wooden pieces to the back of the canvas and paint them to match the portrait. These circles will symbolize parts of her mind where she can relax and search for inner peace.

As far as the colors are concerned; the polka dots show that the student is having fun! Black is beautiful, red is warmth and yellow is peace.

 

About the project the class said: trapped, sickly color of skin, spiritual, polka dots threw him off, trapped within the fashion world! The critiques are wonderful. It’s really important to give critiques and to receive critiques. It is important to hear what individual people think! One girl said the color “yellow” of the girl’s skin made her look sickly. Even though the student didn’t really agree with her, it nevertheless is interesting to know that one can fall into traps like that. The student could have portrayed the girl “In Search of Inner Peace” in such a way that she doesn’t look trapped. Given the time allowed to creating the project there wasn’t enough time to be objective. Then also the art student’s objectivity is still only subjective! Sometimes negative minds look at things negatively and positive minds see things in a positive manner.

Please visit my website at www.labedzki-art.com. Other artists are welcome to join. Click on the "join for free" button at the very top for further instrctions.

kind regards,

annette

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The Color White- Its Symbolism and Meaning - by Annette Labedzki

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Whiteness can be a classic state of intellect or represent the snow on Kilimanjaro. White is used to give other colors different hues and shades. White is used to create space on the surface of an artwork. White is cleanliness, innocence and purity. White is a brilliant color that can cause headaches for some. Bright white light can be blinding. In western cultures white is for brides. White is associated with hospitals, doctors, nurses and dentists. Angels usually are portrayed in white. Certain words are used to represent white; such as pearl, snow, ghost white, paper, seashell, ivory, chalk and milk white. White picket fences surround a safe and happy home. White affects us mentally and physically. White helps to clear our mind. White encourages us to clear obstacles. White enables new beginnings. White is the color of mourning in China and Africa. A white flag is recognized around the world as a symbol of truce or surrender. The Japanese have six terms to define whiteness. White is the best selling color for the popular T-Shirt. White paint comes in more shades than any other color. The color of white coats was chosen by scientists to represent hope and expectations for healing. Some white clichés are: white lie, White Christmas, white sauce, white goods, and white flag. Leonardo Da Vinci said “The first of all single colors is white…we shall set down for the representative of light, without which no color can be seen; yellow for the earth; green for the water; blue for air, red for fire; and black for total darkness.” My favorite white of all is: white chocolate, white frosting, white cake, white jelly beans, white sugar, white taffy and white marshmallows.

My name is Annette Labedzki. I am a Canadian abstract painter. I have been
a full time artist for 25 years.
I have a web site in which I am able to invite other artists. The address is www.labedzki-art.com
 It's quite simple to join, click on "register", "login",  "create/order album"(this is where you give your album a title only,) then  "upload images", I usually only load two or three at a time .Once you've loaded you can go to home page click on "user gallery" and you'll see your images! Of course there are no fees and your image upload is unlimited! For art collectors this is a great place to buy original art for a great price.
Thank you so much and I really hope to see your work there
Regards,
Annette Labedzki

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Art and Its Difficulties-Is it True that Anyone can be an Artist - by Annette Labedzki

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Well, I’m just not so sure if anyone can be an artist. Just because you can draw or teach yourself to paint a small landscape doesn’t mean you’re an artist. I think there is so much more involved than most people know. Being an “artist” is such a loose term nowadays and anyone can use the term. I use this analogy: my husband studied sciences and then dentistry; it took him ten years to graduate. Now just because I can floss my teeth does not make me a dentist. This is my strong opinion about art. Creating a few drawings does not make a person an artist. That’s not to say that they couldn’t become an artist; if they studied their craft, improved their skills. This takes years and years on a path of self-discovery. I think of course that genetics plays a role in this as well. Being an artist means being unique, expressing yourself in a way that no one else ever has. This is extremely difficult. Discovering who you really are as an artist; and then to be able to express this in the medium that best describes you. Top that off by also being great at what you do. Now you have a recipe for a very assiduous and difficult task. How do you know whether it’s sculpture, painting, acting, writing or dancing, that you want to pursue? These are difficult and confusing questions you have to ask yourself. If I twirl around in the living room does that make me a dancer and if I sing in the shower does that make me a singer? I don’t think so! I think the difference is to call yourself or to tell other people that you are a doctor; you need a few degrees to prove it and a license to practice but to call yourself an artist or tell other people that you are an artist all you need is a pencil and one drawing.

Joseph Beuys was famous for saying “Jeder mensch ein Kuenstler”/”Everyone is an artist” however his remark is very misunderstood. He didn’t mean that literally everyone is an artist, nor did he mean that everyone has the ability to become an artist. He also didn’t mean that we can obtain this artistic creativity just by being a human being.

What he meant by “everyone is an artist” is that in societies many questions and problems arise and no matter if we are a politician, worker, child, or painter we always look for the best possible solution to any given situation. To look for the best possible solution is the most important question in art. This is then the common thread between  artists and anyone else; to find the best possible solution to any circumstance in art and in life.

 Please visit my website at www.labedzki-art.com.

Other artists are welcome to join

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Notes from an Artist-My Trip to Poland and the Breaking of Communism - by Annette Labedzki

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My husband and I decided to visit Poland back in 1993. Andrew was originally from Poland but I had never been there. Communism had just ended and the whole country was in a strange turmoil. I could sense it; the Polish people were in a hurry to westernize their country. There was a feeling of trauma and relief throughout the country. I witnessed scenes of beauty and scenes of horror. I will now share with you excerpts from “My Trip to Poland” journal.

June 23, 1993: We were stopped by the police again today, but Ella (this was a friend that we were driving with) told them that she was a doctor and this was an emergency! Ella was in a fact a doctor; a dermatologist. That’s the fourth time we’ve been stopped by the police since we arrived in Poland. Everybody seems paranoid! They stop you on the road for no reason, just to check you out.

Today on the train, Andrew slipped off to the washroom and I was sitting across from my father-in-law who had his eyes closed and was enjoying a short nap. As I stared out the window a scene flashed before my eyes, and it happened so fast that I couldn’t quite believe it. I saw a policeman standing on the side of the railroad tracks and he looked very grim, beside him was the body of man who was upside down, body twisted in a strange position and dried blood on the side of his mouth, stuck in some sort of electrical pole. I felt a little bit sick. When my husband came out of the washroom I told him what I had seen. His dad hadn’t seen it because he had been sleeping! My husband had a hard time believing my story.

June 25, 1993: I just found out from our friend Benedict Jozefko, who had read the newspaper that the man I had seen had indeed died from jumping off the train. He had come from the Ukraine looking for work to feed his four children. He didn’t have a train ticket so when the conductor came by to collect tickets the man had panicked and jumped to his death.

The Basilicas are absolutely beautiful here. I’m inspired to do a black and gold sculpture when we get back to B.C.

Right now we are on a train to Auschwitz.

June 26, 1993: It sure was creepy being in the concentration camp. Somehow I wanted to honor the people who had suffered such unspeakable horror and tragedy. I felt stronger emotions than I ever did in a church. Pictures of the victims were everywhere on the walls. I had only seen images of Auschwitz and the prisoners in the movies; let me tell you, no actor, no matter how talented, has been able to capture the sheer terror I saw in the eyes of those victims. We saw a short film which was in English. We walked through the camp; there were large rooms with huge piles consisting of thousands of shoes, other piles of hair brushes and toothbrushes, suitcases and eyeglasses. We walked through the gas chambers and the crematorium. It was a very frightening experience. I saw the so-called beds, made of wooden planks and a bit of straw.

I took one reed of grass and a white little flower from Auschwitz and taped it into my journal.

July 5, 1993: The scenes that I really love are the huge stork nests up in the telephone poles. It just looks amazing, the nests are at least 3 feet in diameter and they are everywhere. Sometimes the nests are made on top of old wooden buildings. While I am staring at the stork nests an old carriage with two big old horses and a mound of hay comes walking by .This looks like a scene from a Van Gogh painting.

July8, 1993: We are on a plane back home to Vancouver, B.C. We had a stop over in London. At the airport in the boarding room, Andrew went to the back to sneak a cigarette. While in dental school he started sneaking cigarettes because it just wasn’t “cool” to smoke and study medicine! So here he was in London, England sneaking cigarettes and I reminded him of where we were and that nobody would care if he smoked. All of a sudden a really loud voice yelled “Hey, Andrew,” “Hey, Andrew,” we couldn’t believe it, it was someone that Andrew had just graduated from dental school with. We are all on the same plane together going back to Canada.

I have a website where other artists are welcome to join for free at www.labedzki-art.com

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The Function and Significance of the Signature - by Annette Labedzki

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The signature is usually placed at the periphery of the picture as is customary; however in some instances the signature stands out, and becomes another element of the artwork. It becomes a label or a tag. Is the signature created with the same expressiveness as the artwork or does it become a plastic autonomy? Is there a huge ego popping out of the signature or a timid voice?

Sometimes one senses that the signature doesn’t really belong; it isn’t really a part of the initial composition of the artwork. It becomes and afterthought and perhaps should be on the back of the painting. Not signing the artwork is a strange sensation as well. The artwork becomes an orphan or an object floating in purgatory. No sense of ownership and no place of belonging. Could you imagine if all the great masterpieces hadn’t been signed and dated by the artist? Anarchy and mayhem would ensue within the art world.

The painting also must be signed in such a way that it doesn’t destroy the art. In other words it must be the correct size and in proportion to the initial composition.

In my case as I am drawing the lines, curves and scribbles my signature is a continuation of one line which may have started at the opposite corner of the artwork.

The signature and painting form a new combined relationship. The signature becomes a pattern by which our painting can be identified.

 Please visit my website at www.labedzki-art.com

Other artists may also join my site with unlimited image upload and no fees. just click on join for free button 

 

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The Beauty of the Bead - by Annette Labedzki

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I’ve always wondered why I love beads so much. I' m not from African descent, there is no history of beadwork In my family; so why do I have this fascination and obsession with beads? I have a large collection of beads, including vintage, wood, and glass, plastic and shell beads.

Well, the most obvious reason is that beads in themselves are a work of art. Each one has its own story to tell and its own beauty. Beads have the ability to transform a utilitarian object into a work of art. Therein lays my fascination and awe. I have a great passion for books. My collection of sketchbooks and hand made books consists of nearly 1800 in total. There is no better feeling than to create my own book with beautiful paper and fabrics and then embellish it with beads!

The Yoruba tribe is known for their art with beads. Beads represent symbols of status and hierarchy, protective charms and accessories and for rituals and seductions. Beads were also used for trading. They symbolize wealth, power and desire. Beads that were made from certain materials represented specific beliefs and status. Early on beads were made from bone, seeds, clay and shell. Later they consisted of glass, metal and ivory. Beads were used to decorate almost any object one could imagine from clothing and jewelry to furniture. The power of the little bead continues on in the 21^st century. Beads still represent wealth for example. Only the wealthy can afford a beaded gown worth 200 thousand dollars! Woman and men still adorn themselves with beaded jewelry to make them attractive. Nothing has changed over the centuries. The bead still has the ability and power to transform.

Please feel free to visit my website at www.labedzki-art.com

kind regards,

Annette

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Throwing Away My Embarrassing Experiments! - by Annette Labedzki

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Over the years I’ve had plenty of “bad” art, experiments gone awry; however one step leads to another…

I’ve had bonfires in my back yard and my husband would sit there and watch my experiments go up in smoke! However so many times I’ve tried to throw away some of my less-than-perfect pieces and it just seems to be impossible. A bonfire seems to be the only solution however those bonfires are illegal in the city. The bonfire I did have was when we were living up north in a small town .Everybody had them because they owned farms etc..

It seems that art is like a living organism, you can’t just chuck it in the dumpster and hope that it dies. Many times I’ve thrown away hideous paintings, only to see someone digging in the dumpster and walking off with my embarrassing experiments!

A few years ago I sorted through all of my stored art and threw all of my miniature sculptures into green garbage bags. It was an artistic phase I went through which led to a dead end (maybe not, but it felt like it at the time).

One sculpture was a barbie doll size silver P.T. Cruiser (I drive the human size silver P.T. cruiser, which I love, by the way) filled with hand made dolls. The dolls were going to a birthday party!

I took all of the garbage bags, I had about a dozen and threw them in a construction dumpster a few blocks away; which you’re not allowed to do. I just didn’t know where to take my yucky stuff. Not to the local thrift store where it would continue to live. The next day as I drove by in my silver P.T. Cruiser to my shock and disbelief, a construction worker must have opened some of my discarded green bags and I saw my Barbie doll P.T. Cruiser sitting on the ledge of the dumpster along with a few more of my miniature sculptures. That night I slithered to the dumpster in my p.j’s. and wet hair, grabbed the P.T. Cruiser, stuffed it inside my jacket, pushed the other sculptures deep down into the dumpster and slithered back home.

Now as I am maturing as an artist (and as a human being) the quality of my “less-than-perfect” paintings, is good enough to keep the work. Perhaps not to show but at least I don’t have to worry about throwing pieces away.

Please visit my website at www.labedzki-art.com.

regards,

Annette 

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I Would Still Like To Get Paid! - by Annette Labedzki

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I Would Still Like To Get Paid!

 

Many years ago we lived in a small town in northern British Columbia, however I was preparing for an exhibit in Vancouver. I drove down for the opening. It was wonderful, friends came and I also met other people whom I knew. One of my paintings was hanging right next to an ink drawing created by none other than Sarah Mclachlan.

 I drove back up north and a few days later the gallery owner phoned to let me know that one of my paintings had sold! Wonderful! A few days later she called again, to ask me if someone could come retrieve my paintings from her gallery because she was filing for bankruptcy! She said that I was one of the “lucky ones” because I was getting a “phone call”!  Luckily I had a friend who was willing to pick up my paintings. Of course I never saw the money for the sold painting.

A couple of months later we were having lunch with a friend who had come to the opening. This friend is a dentist and her practice is right beside a doctor’s office. I was telling her how the gallery had sold one of my pieces but had also filed for bankruptcy and that I had never received my money. My friend smiled and said  I know where your painting is; the doctor next door bought and it’s hanging in his practice!” This was so surreal to hear! It was really great to know where my painting ended up but I still would have liked to be paid! I was tempted to go and tell the doctor but I realized that it wasn’t his problem! I’m over it now of course!

 

I just wanted to mention that I have a new website atwww.labedzki-art.com. I am welcoming other artist to join! Just click on the join for free button.

Best regards

Annette

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New Exhibition - by Annette Labedzki

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 Four paintings were accepted in an online juried exhibition from July1-Sept30, 2008. 

 

You can view the work at  www.abstractexposure.com

Thank you so very much for looking!

regards,

Annette

 

 

 

 

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Three of my Paintings in a Group Show - by Annette Labedzki

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Three of my paintings will be in a group show in Philadelphia from July 23 to Sept 13 at

Art Jaz Gallery

www.artjaz.com

Please feel free to take a look at their website!

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Passion and Art

Passion and Art

by Louise Osborn

Passion is love with energy, with action, practical love, active love, love that changes the world. Passion is mobile, motivated, not just focussed or possessed, but fully participatory with the object of that passion. Annette’s work is nothing if not vibrant, engaged, a true expression of her energies.

The studio is a sublime space as a result of passion. The merest line, painted or drawn here, is effected by a pressure, an angle and a pace informed by an active love of the process. We know, if we are not strangers to the language of visual marks (or spiritually blinded), what we are looking at. We read in the line the condition of the artist at the time of its creation. It can’t be faked, unless the viewer cannot read the art.

Where does this passion come from? Who knows? From talent? Aptitude? Or just from being alive, from having lies cleared from the eyes?

Her special gift, who she is, what her place in society, or rather culture is, where she fits, who she is born to be, these are truths not to be denied on pain of darkness, the darkening of her light and her life. Where success is present in painting (and color is light) it must indicate that the painter succeeded in staying in the light of herself, of living fully. This is what we admire, as we may do so ourselves in our own ways, or deny for fear of influence or comparison.