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My life in Art

Making art to inspire, to connect and to feel fully alive. 
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People Are Often More Creative in a Crisis

1/7/2021

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Bake Sourdough bread for the first time? Had a more elaborate garden this year? Got some landscaping and home improvements done that you have been putting off for years? Learn the guitar, write poetry, learn to dance... In Psychology Today, an article that was trying to answer the question why people are more creative in a crisis, they said that people want to apply their skills and resources to a problem. They also mention that fear is focusing and energizing, while creativity is a cure for feeling helpless. So it makes sense that you probably got more creative this past year - even if that meant learning how to become a teacher and to balance that with a job, family time, etc. 
It worked for me! I didn't want to fall down a rabbit 'hole of dispair' - although admittedly, I had my moments! I went back to my brushes, my canvas, my ART with little expectation, some trepidation and a lot of curiosity. This turned out to be a pretty good mix. 
I hope you got to try some new things out this year, and that perhaps you were able to ward off a sense of helplessness with a good dose of creativity. Please send me a story or a picture of YOUR amazing creative endeavors that happened or are happening for you during this pandemic! I will happily share your stories in my next newsletter (unless you don't want that, of course).  Here I have included only paintings created during the pandemic. There were also a few workshops, classes and new pieces that I haven't included here. So you can say, I haven't sat around very much. It is good to look back and take stock of what you accomplished and not just what you were afraid of. 

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Centre Street Bridge - SOLD
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C-Train Runs Through Downtown - SOLD
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Two Bridges Over the Bow - SOLD
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Chinatown Festival - Available
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Frieda's Heart - still in progress
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Canola Fields Round II- 42" diameter. Gallery in Okotoks
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Stampede of Memories - SOLD
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Analogue Cafe - SOLD
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Canola Fields Round - 30" diameter. Gallery in Okotoks
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Canola Field in Cochrane - 48"x48" - available
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Meeting at TZIN - SOLD
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Encaustic Paintings - Emotional Displays

1/5/2021

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Sometimes my work is all about my surroundings and how I interpret them. Sometimes I like to reflect inward and to communication my inner thoughts and feelings in my artwork. I love turning to the Encaustic medium for this. I am adding to a previous 'heart' series. Here is a view into the beginning of a new series. 

I use a combination of photo transfer, drawing, painting and encaustic work. I hope to tug at the heart strings of some viewer. Someone who would really resonate with the feeling I am trying to express. Or just really love the image. It is series I will continue to develop. Here are a few photos of the latest pieces and one little video clip that is a development of one piece. I hope you enjoy!
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How to Commission A Painting

1/5/2021

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I know many artists who wouldn't ever do a commission. They have in the past, and they really didn't enjoy the experience. Here are some of the reasons I heard:
  • The client can be so picky and hard to please
  • We never have the same idea in mind so the process is frustrating
  • I don't like to take direction when I create
  • It usually isn't something that I actually want to do, so it is a painful process
  • I don't usually charge enough and the process isn't worth it

On the other side, many art lovers are afraid to commission paintings and here are their reasons:
  • What if I don't like it in the end?
  • What if I change my mind after I see it?
  • How do I properly describe what I am looking for?
  • How do I negotiate price?
  • What if the artist takes longer than they promised?
  • What if the artist disappears or doesn't deliver the work at all?
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These can all be true! Commissions are difficult - they require some careful communication and negotiation. Don't be afraid to ask for the amount of money you need to do the project, and if you are a client- don't be afraid to negotiate.

I have done a few commissions over the years. I look forward to doing a multiple painting commission project one day! Here is the process that has helped me:
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  1. Ask the potential client what paintings of yours they like and what they like about them. Take some time to get specific so you can see that the client understands your work and they actually want something very similar! I was on the phone with this client and we talked while he was looking at my website.
    1. Client - make sure you have studied the artist's work!
  2. Ask them to describe the painting they hope you can create for them. What feeling are they after? What is the reason for the painting? Where will it be hanging? This was a painting for his wife and it was where they had their first dates - romantic! He wanted to capture that time - at night, in late fall
    1. Client - if you don't know specifics, then be ready for the client to take more liberty
  3. Get details: size, subject, colours, finish (coating, framing, hanging). He had a specific spot for it and that determined the size.
  4. Collect photos - yours or theirs. The client budgeted for me to go and take photos. This worked out well because I suggested a different view point then he originally had in mind.
    1. If the commission is in reference to a real place or person.
  5. Do some sketches and send them to the client. Make sure you are both on the same page. Listen to any concerns they might have and talk about them. 
    1. Client - look at the sketches and ask questions if you have any. This is the time to make changes, not later once the painting has begun.
  6. Do the painting and send updates to the client in terms you both agree on - it is great when the client is positive and encouraging!
    1. Client - be positive and encouraging - nothing slows an artist down like criticism. Ask questions if you aren't sure of the direction.
  7. Before I sealed the painting with Resin, I sent a photo to the client. I would hate to make any changes, but it would be impossible after the final coating.
    1. Client - this isn't the time for any big changes, but perhaps a small detail or two
  8. Charge enough for your time and energy! Commissions are more expensive because it is a collaborative process. It takes some energy and time to make sure you capture what the client has in mind. 
    1. Client - be prepared to love your piece forever and to reward the artist for their hard work and attention to your needs.

Here is a glimpse into how I created this painting:
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Expressing Your Own Voice in Your Art

11/5/2020

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Of course the Calgary Stampede will be back, but everything changes - especially after a pandemic! Not only has our social landscape changed, but there are plans in the near future to tear down the Saddledome. Does a painting ever capture anything but a memory? Maybe not, but a good painting stays current and changes with you throughout the years even if the subject matter is of a memory. Just like your favorite movie that you watch over and over. They change and grow with you. You notice new things. It brings up new feelings for you over the years. 

I like to leave unclosed lines and free-flowing paint that you can trace across the canvas. I like to layer texture and colour to imitate complexity, wonder and high energy. I guess you can see a real style and voice emerge in my work and it has happened very organically over the years. Many years ago a more advanced painter told me that you can't 'pick' your style, rather it happens naturally out of your brush. It is influenced by how you see things, how you hold your brush, what colours you gravitate towards. How you like to put the paint down on the canvas. I took that advice to heart. I have always experimented and tried many different mediums and subjects. I had no intention of staying with one thing unless it took over my soul, my energy, my desire, my passion. Each of my Big City Living Series paintings are a labour of love. I dream about them at night. I am so excited to start the next one - this is a good sign. I will keep creating them until I feel drawn towards something else. So right now, I am painting the city. But 2021? Who knows what is coming in the new year. For anything! I'm not afraid of uncertainty. I love it. It gives me energy to create and to embrace the beauty of each day. I hope everyone feels a fire inside of them that lights their way regardless of what is happening on the outside. Keep creating - every act of creation no matter how small, radiates positivity and generates good things. 
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New Big City Living Paintings

10/27/2020

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Top left: C-Train Runs Through Downtown. Middle Top: Fireworks over Centre Street Bridge Top Right: Analog Cafe
Bottom left: YYC Chinatown  Middle Bottom: Two Bridges and Eau Claire

These are all mixed media paintings creating with ink, drawing and collage. They are then covered with a top glass - resin like coating. They are painted on birchwood canvas and ready to hang. I'm really enjoying getting back to my Big City Living Series. The colours make me happy and I have memories of all the spots and places where I took photos and sketched. Almost every painting I create is of a spot that I see repeatedly throughout my travels. Colours and images begin to grow in my mind as I visit the spot. For me, painting is about capturing the energy of a space. The vibrating colour and texture all bounce off each other to give the impression of a dynamic place full of life. I see the world this way. 

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Glazing with Inks to achieve depth and control how 'dark' your colours go.

10/25/2020

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Progression of a a couple paintings

10/23/2020

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Photo-transfer vs. Collage

10/16/2020

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Collage started showing up as early as the 1860s, whereas transfer came along with photocopiers.  In my workshops I often demo photo-transferring and I always use collage in my artwork. These two techniques are similar, but have some very particular differences. Specifically what kind of images are different for each. Collage has the most versatility. You can add in any printed material by glueing it in and taking care to make sure it is flat and properly glued. Photo-transfer is about transferring the ink and only photocopies or laser printed images will work. In this video I talk about the differences and what images work best for photo-transfer. 
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Cityscape Painting Workshop with mixed media

10/2/2020

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Saturday 12 - 5pm. &  Sunday 1 - 5pm  Oct 24-25, 2020
​Cost: $195 - includes most supplies.

Yes!! Our second Cityscape workshop. The first one was a big success. Everyone was amazed at the outstanding work they created during the workshop. City scenes launch our paintings because they can include so many different elements. Buildings, trees, transportation, skies, people... your imagination is the limit. What is most important is to experiment and play with form, colour and layering. You will create a painting starting with the sketch of a city scene, using markers, collage and photo transfer to complete your painting by the end of Sunday. 

I love this workshop because everyone's results can be different from each other. Some want to draw an exact replica of a scene, while others want to work from a fantasy place. Following your creative desire is encouraged.

During the last workshop, some students brought ipads or laptops in order to work from a picture they like. Other's worked from a printed photograph from their own collection. I will have some city scenes available that are both inspiring and accessible for all levels. YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DRAW to enjoy this workshop.

I always work on board - never canvas. If you want to work on gallery quality birchboard canvas please bring these to class. I will be providing small boards for experimenting. 

Please bring a sketchbook, felt pens, pencil and sharpener/eraser and apron. The rest of the supplies will be included. 
  • To register please send full name, address and phone number to: jakejoyartist@gmail.com.  
  • Refer someone else to the workshop who signs-up and receive one of my signed prints at the workshop!
  • Once I receive your payment, I will send you a receipt.
  • It is fully refundable if 5 days notice are given. After that there will be a $25 fee kept to cover extra supplies purchased for your spot. If the workshop is cancelled, then 100% will be refunded. ​
($40 discount for previous cityscape workshop participants who also bring their own paints & Acrylic medium)
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NEW Youth Painting Workshop!

9/30/2020

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Saturday &  Sunday, Oct 17 & 18, 2020. 1 - 5pm  Cost: $150
LIMITED SPACE available - max 10 students. We will be following all recommendations to stay safe, including wearing masks.
I am so excited for this, as it will be the first workshop dedicated specifically to young people! I want to support the next generation who has had to put up with such a crazy world these days! I want to offer a joyous place to create where complete self-expression is encouraged and accepted. If I can supply a place for 10 teens  to relax, be themselves and express feelings they may have about life these days - then I will rejoice!

I will be showing lots of techniques that I use, but also, students will show and share things they have learned along the way. It will be a very collaborative approach. You bring: sketchbook. felt pens - like sharpies, pencils you like and a sharpener. I supply the rest!

Some techniques we will explore are: painting with ink & acrylic. Collage and Ink transfer. Linocut printmaking. Wax layering. Expect multiple activities to be happening at once. Embrace variety and experimentation.

To register please send full name, age, address and phone number to: jakejoyartist@gmail.com.  
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    great connector of people, places and dreams. It speaks the language of the heart when it is authentic and created from an open and non-judgemental space. It is passionate pursuit of creation with a playful mind.

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Copyright: All content on this web site, such as text and ARTWORK is the property of JACQULYNN MULYK, and are protected by karmic laws. Steal = using my images as your own artwork may result in some not so favourable karma in your life. Just saying - drop me a line first. 

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