Becoming a Whole Brain Artist

You are all familiar with the functions of the right side and the left side of the brain. If not, I will tell you. It is said that the right side of the brain controls your creativity, intuitiveness, and visual patterns; while the left side of the brain is logical, analytical, and sequential.

Most of us that create realize that our right side of the brain is dominant in our lives and helps us achieve the creation of our pieces. As a successful business person for over 30 years, I must have allowed the left side of my brain to be dominant. During that time, I worked with numbers, analyzed and solved problems, and working in a sequential manner.

Retirement from that environment has allowed my right side of the brain to take over. My days are spent as a guide at the museum, painting, taking art classes and doing a lot of photography in preparation for my art. However, how can an artist be successful, especially in this day and age, without the left side of the brain? This new age has forced artists to become very familiar with ways to promote themselves on line with social media networks, such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs. Going beyond that, we must sell on line which involves learning how to create our pages, upload photos and all the technical aspects that goes along with that process. I now have this blog, a Facebook page, a Twitter account, a web page and most recently a RedBubble account. The painting above is currently being featured in the "Going Coastal" group on RedBubble.

A "whole brain" artist is the way to be.



http://www.redbubble.com/people/rosiebrown
www.artistamundo.com/rosiesart
http://twitter.com/Rosiesart

Dahlonega's Big Loss!!

Dahlonega is a very special town in Northeast, Georgia. It is not only peaceful and beautiful, but the people are warm and friendly. Each time I go there I slow down, relax and get inspired. The Hummingbird Lane Art Gallery, owned by Todd and Amy Strickland, on the historic square always helped me do all three.

I still remember how back in 2008 Amy and Todd bought some of my watercolors to sell at their gallery. I was so happy to be part of this huge gallery; so full of beautiful creations. They had oils, watercolors, acrylics, wood, pottery and textile art. Each time we went back, Amy would welcome us with a big friendly smile and ready to share all of the wonderful things happening in our town.

This week Amy sadly wrote about how these tough economic times have forced the gallery to close on July 25th. She wrote, "in true Hummingbird Lane fashion, we have planned an enormous event for you to come and enjoy next Sunday, July 25th. The Big Empty Room Party and Auction will take place at 1:00 p.m., and the auction will begin promptly at 2:00. We will be auctioning off all of the remaining artwork, our antique displays, posters, pottery, tables, lamps, iron work, wood work, curio cabinets, antique doors and door displays, glass work, and even our giant hummingbird!"

The closing of Hummingbird Lane is a tremendous loss not only for the owners and artists, but for downtown Dahlonega. Thank you Amy and Todd for tirelessly promoting the arts and our special place in the Georgia Mountains. Until we meet again.................

www.artistamundo.com/rosiesart

What Next??

Some artists find a medium or material that they like and use it to express themselves for life. Others enjoy looking at different ways and may continue to search. I fall in the latter group......for now. Oil on canvas was my first love, with photography as a close second. Four years ago, prior to my retirement, I started with watercolors. Through artist friends, organizations and workshops, I have found that there are many ways to paint with watercolors; on rice paper, on yupo paper, etc.

Acrylics is another medium that allows you to further experiment. I can use it on shells, wood, and rocks. Different areas of the country can also inspire you to change material. As I posted below, spending time in North Georgia has exposed me to painting gourds. Here in South Florida, it's palm fronds.

Wonder what other artistic mean I would find during these care free days of retirement? What about silk? A friend and fellow member of the GroveHouse Artists Gallery, Lynda Wellens, is also a teacher at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. She taught a two-day class on painting silk scarves. Here's a group of us posing with our newest creations. What could I possibly take up next? Any suggestions???

www.artistamundo.com/rosiesart
http://www.redbubble.com/people/rosiebrown

Gourds Galore!!!

Gourds have always intrigued me. The shapes can really stimulate your imagination. I remember my reaction to all that could be done with gourds when I attended my first Gold Rush Festival in Dahlonega, Georgia. Gourds were not just used as bird houses. There were beautiful boxes made from these. The paintings on them were also fabulous; from sunflowers to Santa Claus. You name a season, a flower or a holiday and you could get a gourd for each. I could not believe my eyes. We decided, on another trip to Georgia, to visit The Gourd Place. If the items at the festival were great, they could not compare to what I came across during my visit. The owners of this place know that once you see what can be done with gourds, you will also want to try it. To my delight, there were boxes of gourds (all shapes and sizes) that were for sale to let your imagination go. They provide you with instructions on cleaning them. I bought a few, and so did my Mom and my sister, but since I am the artist in the family, they were handed over to me for cleaning and beautifying. I painted one for each member of the family and stored the others for when I had more time. On my visit to Georgia this past April, I picked up three more. I decided that I could not continue to store these. I did not want any type of country theme, so I decided to do my "Flower Power" style painting on some of them. As you can see, my country gourds have now put on their City style!!

www.artistamundo.com/rosiesart