Monika Wright Abstract Artist - In the Studio Art News with Monika Wright - Blog

'SLOW FASHION'-THE ETHICAL CHOICE

12/2/2020

In this age of disposable ‘everything’, clothing is near the top of that list. In the past few decades there has been a sharp increase in clothing commerce, the manufacturing, consuming and discarding of clothing, which has come to be labelled ‘Fast Fashion’. On the other hand, ‘Slow Fashion’ focuses on the quality and durability of the clothing item, a step back to the days when your dress lasted more than a season before it was relegated to the forgotten dark corner of your closet, or worse tossed in the garbage to make it’s way to the landfill.

I debated whether to offer a Wearable Art Fashion line for this very reason. Would I be contributing to the mountains of discarded textiles? In Canada, over 12 million tons of textiles make their way to landfills; in the US it is said to be over 21 billion! Globally, 80% of discarded textiles are dumped in landfills; only 20% are reused. Add to that the environmental effects of manufacturing and transportation of goods, and I was tempted to start walking around buck-naked! But of course, that’s neither practical nor prudent.

So how did I come to terms with offering my own line of Wearable Art Fashions? I did some research.

COLLECTED STORIES + Art Auction for Australia

5/1/2020

A new decade . . . it’s a momentous occasion that beckons us to look forward with hope and great aspirations for changes, both personally and globally. It’s also a time for reflection. How can we change the future without looking at the past?

I lived much of my younger life looking to the future, looking for something new and exciting to capture my attention. That need for exploration, reaching for the stars and ultimately finding the ground beneath my feet was necessary; it was about ‘becoming’ the person I am today. I had to experience success and defeat, love and loss, regret and appreciation, and then finally, come to a place of acceptance for all that life experience.

ART AUCTION - The auction includes three original paintings by Monika Wright. To place your bid, please send me an EMAIL and include your bid amount, contact information and which of the 3 paintings you are bidding on. Auction closes February 1, 2020.
Minimum bids apply. Proof of donation will be sent to the winning bidders. Shipping costs, if any to be added to the bid amount. Please be generous with your bids as the entire amount will be donated.
Donations will be sent to:
New South Wales Volunteer Fire Department
Red Cross Australia

A BRIGHTER DAY - bidding starts at $100
12"x18" - acrylic on CP Watercolour paper includes mat - gallery price $400 - needs to be framed
COLLECTED STORIES - bidding starts at $800
40"x30" - acrylic on gallery wrapped (1.5") canvas - ready to hang - gallery price $1800
HEALING HUMANITY - bidding starts at $450
15"x30" - acrylic on gallery wrapped (1.5") canvas - ready to hang - gallery price $900

It was making art that taught me that living in the moment is positively exhilarating, a rush of energy and focus that creates clarity in all aspects of my life. When I go into the studio, nothing else exists – and everything exists – simultaneously. There are no barriers and yet there is pure attention. It has brought me to a place of intense gratitude for all the goodness in my life: the people, the experiences I’ve lived and the talents that I have. Gratitude shines a light on my responsibility to contribute and share my good fortune.

With the beginning of this new decade, a time of global turmoil, raging fires, flooding, politics creating division and hatred, we are called to look to the past, both distant and recent, so that we can create a better future together. Taking care to examine and respect our Collected Stories, to approach each other’s truths with an open mind and open heart, to listen without judgement…those are difficult but necessary strategies for moving forward. Letting go of our need to be right, of the ego that separates us, is the only path towards Healing Humanity and our planet.

This is my resolution for the turn of the calendar: I want to hear your stories. I want to listen and understand why you feel as you do about the world, and I want us to find solutions together so that we don’t live in fear, but rather love, respect and compassion to see A Brighter Day. Will you join me?

ART AUCTION - The auction includes three original paintings by Monika Wright. To place your bid, please send me an Email and include your bid amount, contact information and which of the 3 paintings you are bidding on. Auction closes February 1, 2020.
Minimum bids apply. Proof of donation will be sent to the winning bidders. Shipping costs, if any to be added to the bid amount. Please be generous with your bids as the entire amount will be donated.
Donations will be sent to:
New South Wales Volunteer Fire Department
Red Cross Australia

A BRIGHTER DAY - bidding starts at $100
12"x18" - acrylic on CP Watercolour paper includes mat - gallery price $400 - needs to be framed
COLLECTED STORIES - bidding starts at $800
40"x30" - acrylic on gallery wrapped (1.5") canvas - ready to hang - gallery price $1800
HEALING HUMANITY - bidding starts at $450
15"x30" - acrylic on gallery wrapped (1.5") canvas - ready to hang - gallery price $900

A Brighter Day - 12"x 18" - $400

'TIS THE SEASON - OF GRATITUDE & A GIFT FOR YOU!

8/12/2019

Foremost in my mind and heart at this time of year is the feeling that I am grateful for all of the friendships that life has gifted me, the family that loves me and supports the paths I choose, and this world that inspires me with all its wild and natural beauty.

I am one of the fortunate ones. I was born into a life that has not seen a lot of hardships like the lives of those who have suffered wars and famines, crimes against humanity or personal health challenges. I have had opportunities, both given and created through the choices that I’ve made. And for this life, I am grateful beyond belief. Truly, I sometimes pinch myself in awe – you should see the bruises! (smile)

Along with that sense of wonder is an equal measure of responsibility to share my good fortune with others. Giving one’s time is a most precious gift, making space for those who need to share their thoughts, need a friendly face, shoulder to cry on, a helping hand, a smile. And that, I believe is what this ‘Holiday Season’ is about. Regardless of one’s religious or spiritual beliefs, I think we can all get behind the intention to make the world a better place by giving from our hearts, not just our wallets, giving from a place of compassion.

AND HERE'S THE GIFT FOR YOU!

A few years ago, I created a book ‘The Breath of Life’ which was simply a portfolio of some of my art and observations on life at that time. I’d like to share that, as my gift to you, to uplift you and lead you in the direction of an open mind and an open heart. May it inspire you today, and all year long to share your own gifts with the world. And speaking of sharing, feel free to share this PDF. It’s yours to enjoy.

One more thing: This year I built a new 600 sq. ft. studio overlooking the lake (see, there’s another pinch – ouch!). I’m planning on sharing the space for a long-weekend retreat of painting and fun, just a very small group with accommodation available here. It’s still in a development stage, but if you have suggestions or are interested in participating, feel free to send me an email.

Wishing you all a Loving, Peaceful and Fulfilling Holiday Season. May your hearts overflow and spill kindness into many others.

FALLING IN LOVE

6/11/2019

Being captivated, having that emotional response to a piece of art is much like falling in love, isn’t it? There’s no explanation for those emotions that take hold, that set our heart racing, take our breath away at the mere sight of the . . . artwork!

We’ll always remember the first time we laid eyes on that art. We’ll remember our reaction, and when we tell stories about the experience, our appreciation will grow. We’ll remember the sense of validation that we felt when we acknowledged those emotions, the way we were cheered, inspired, or even stimulated to experience something on a darker level. The unconscious was made conscious when we interacted. Art that resonates with us is, quite simply, good art. There is no better measure.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR?

15/10/2019

What’s your favourite colour? It’s one of those questions we are often asked, along with ‘What’s your favourite food, place to travel . . . or wine? ‘

What is it that draws us to certain colours, what makes us fill our closets or our houses with hues of blues, yellows or reds? I’ve had an affinity for shades of blue, especially since I moved to Nova Scotia. I think it’s the colour of the sky, the ocean and lakes I see wherever I look, the trees that surround me. Clear, cool colours dominate my palette both in my home and in my wardrobe – and of course in my artwork. But that hasn’t always been the case.

SIZE MATTERS

15/9/2019

Let’s face it; we have wall spaces that come in all shapes and sizes. There are those narrow spaces between doorways, that awkward little place at the foot of the stairs, the tall wall at the landing going upstairs, the space over the king size bed. How do you find a painting that’s going to fit AND look so good you never want to part with it? After all, making an investment in art can be expensive, so you want to make sure you love it with all your heart and you know where you’re going to hang it. Unless, of course, you’re like me, and you do ‘art on rotation’!

But first, let me implore you, do not be afraid to hang that massive painting that you have fallen in love with on the wall where it takes up most of the space. It will absolutely add drama to the room; it will be the statement piece that makes your heart pound and makes your visitors drool with envy and admiration at your decorating style. Paintings that fill the wall are amazing. It’s your home; don’t be ordinary, be rare, be you!

PAINTING WITH THE 'OTHER HAND', OR A BROKEN BONE WON'T STOP ME!

15/8/2019

I live in paradise, on a lake with views that take my breath away every single day, no matter the season or the weather. The fog rolls in and then lifts slowly to reveal layers of islands against a wide expanse of sky and water. Or the faintest whisper of a cloud streaks the perfect cerulean sky, reflecting like a mirror at my doorstep. I enjoy it all year long, but mostly, I anticipate those warm and sunny days when I can kayak and swim and be the water nymph I dream of being on the cold and dreary days of which we have far too many in Nova Scotia.

So when summer comes along, I want to make the most of it and be outside whenever possible. That means that studio time is a little less, but I promise you, I make up for it during the rest of the year. From Autumn to Summer, early mornings can turn into late evenings in the studio with barely a break.

THE EVOLUTION OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION

15/7/2019

Recently, while preparing for an Open House weekend in my Studio, I opened the ‘vault’ and surrounded myself with some of the artwork from my early days as an artist, to the most recent works still in progress. It was a fascinating and somewhat emotional journey to see the evolution of my art, and to experience the memories that were tied to those periods in my life. There was certainly a common stylistic thread amongst the artworks, even dating back to the times of ‘jewellery making’ and abstract photography, and yet it was clear that transitions had occurred.

The similarities across the mediums I explored were most noticeable in the shapes I created. There were always fluid, organic shapes and lines, a sense of irrepressible movement, a flow of energy. And there were a lot of circles and lines, especially in the earlier works, dissipating into more ethereal splashes of colour, as if the restraint and the control of the past had been released and a new freedom and confidence were emerging.

THE ART OF LETTING GO

15/6/2019

There is one question that I get asked more than any other: “How long does it take you to make a painting”. It’s a tricky one to answer and most artists have practiced the standard reply, something like: “I’ve been at some version of this painting for 15 years; I just keep improving it.”

If a painting works out well in just a day, does that mean I haven’t put enough effort into it, or does it mean that the skills I’ve developed over many years and many paintings, after practice and patience - and impatience - have come together in a sweet moment of joy in this painting? Has my intuition and skill merged in perfect synchronicity?

THE BLANK CANVAS AND THE PARADOX OF INSPIRATION

15/5/2019

The blank canvas stares back at me. Will I treat it as a challenge fraught with trepidation, or an invitation to be brave and explore the emotions of this moment? That’s what I do, I paint emotions, not scenes you’d recognize, so I rely on what’s built up inside me, or what I allow to enter into my soul when I open myself to the universal energy, the magic that is waiting for expression.

My paintings are intuitive interpretations that develop into series organically. With this series, though, I’ll be creating with intent: an exhibition inspired by water, the oceans, lakes and clouds that sustain us and demand that we pay more careful attention. "Our Water, Our World" will open at Art Lab Studios in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia on June 1stand will show until June 20th.