STREETS RIDGE ARCHAN KNOTZ: Seeing with Intention The other day I was at th...

STREETS RIDGE ARCHAN KNOTZ:
Seeing with Intention

The other day I was at th...: Seeing with Intention The other day I was at the Buddhist Center outside of Tatamagoushe, Dorje Denma Ling. Mary was on a silent retrea...

Seeing with Intention

The other day I was at the Buddhist Center outside of Tatamagoushe, Dorje Denma Ling. Mary was on a silent retreat and I was to pick her up, since we are still operating with one car. I was sitting in a quiet area the sun was warming my back and I was looking through a magazine. Fitting to a place for deep contemplation, I found an article inspiring me of deep reflection. At first glance the article was about a woman who was drawing, teaching herself to draw everything she saw and where every she was. Why? She wanted to learn how to see with intention, she said, it helps her to see. Reflecting on these words I came up with wanting to do the same.
However, I found hindering thoughts. The exposure of sitting and drawing moving people, what will I be drawing, what will I be willing to remember or will I be wanting to move impatiently away. Setting up in my studio seems easy, doing art when I am in the mood for it. However, seeing with intention seems to be a different kind of art. Learning, exposing, relationship with people drawing and then the spectators. Life! Isn't this Life? Entering Life on a different level, not with the quick and superficial click of the camera, rather with a commitment of time and intensity. I shatter when I think of it... surrender... !!

STREETS RIDGE: "Fair Trade" - Sold!Experimenting - Feelings Overl...

STREETS RIDGE: "Fair Trade" - Sold!Experimenting - Feelings Overl...: "Fair Trade" - Sold! Experimenting - Feelings Overload! I have been experimenting with creating woodcuts and mono-prin...

"Fair Trade" - Sold!

Experimenting - Feelings Overload!

I have been experimenting with creating woodcuts and mono-prints and last Friday my second show exhibiting prints opened in Tatamagouche. 
As a painter and as a print-maker, I need to be inspired by looking at other peoples art, taking an image and making it my own. I have been working hard for this show and was satisfied with the result.  
You may think when creating a wood plate I can print numerous prints from the same plate, frame them and off they go. However, it is not that easy it becomes quite a process to select the 'perfect' print, even though, I may print 4 or 5 one may only be good enough to frame for the show. 
At the show, I wanted to say to people looking at my work, that these "prints" are really one of a kind, forget the term 'print'. Even though, the term "print" means the image can be reproduced but when working with a handmade print from a woodcut plate no print is the same. An ink-blotch there and sometimes adding ink with the brush later makes each print one of a kind.  My experimenting with coffee stained  backgrounds makes them even more unique.
Coming back to the show of last Friday evening. We, the Pugwash Artist Collective, have a great support/fan fair, they came out and applauded our efforts. My gratitude goes out to the people who came despite the heavy rain and fog - Thank You!

Opening at the Fraser Cultural Centre in Tatamagouche, August 15th 2014

Openings are always difficult for me, I never know what to do.Yes, you may think, talk to the people who come but it is hard, I felt vulnerable and spacy on Friday evening, the worst feelings to have at an opening. What to say, when people ask about my art when feeling disconnected to the human race and my feelings. Feelings overload!
So, the evening went on wonderful people commented on my art positively but I seem to never arrive at the Gallery while flying through space (Maybe, I shouldn't have watched all these episodes of Star Trek Voyager recently) .  

"Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind"

"Telling" - Sold!

"Now" - Mono-print

"Then"

  

STREETS RIDGE: Lore, is approaching fast. The preparations a...

STREETS RIDGE:




Lore, is approaching fast. The preparations a...: Lore , is approaching fast. The preparations are going well. I found myself getting a little 'anal' about my printing. Which ...

Lore, is approaching fast. The preparations are going well. I found myself getting a little 'anal' about my printing. Which is unusual since I am more the spontaneous type .  However, I may be growing in producing woodcuts and mono-prints. This will be my second show displaying prints. I am very excited about the results. I have been exploring with coffee stained paper as background and like it very much. 

So, today will be the last day I will be picky about my prints. I have a coffee stained background ready for the last print. Then, they will be going into the frames. Tomorrow is the 'hanging', always an intense time. One of our members has lost her mom last week, we will support her the best we can with our love and friendship. 

After the 'hanging' we will celebrate our achievements at Big All's, the local tavern. The best sweet potato fries are on the menu.
Friday at 7:00 pm is the opening at the Fraser Cultural Center in Tatamagouche, 
makes me always nervous. The prints may have been looking good in my home but when they are hanging in the Gallery it adds a whole new outlook. 

At the opening a sense of vulnerability overcomes me, art is creating, joy, pain, and letting myself be vulnerable.  

Cheers!!