Deb Magelssen's Blog

Keep Me in Christmas Postage Stamp from Zazzle.com

2011-11-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

Keep Me in Christmas Postage Stamp from Zazzle.com

Deb Magelssen's Blog: Completed MagelssenArt Video-Jazzy Java!-The Coffee Cup Series in Acrylics

2011-08-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

Deb Magelssen's Blog: Completed MagelssenArt Video-Jazzy Java!-The Coffee Cup Series in Acrylics

Deb Magelssen's Blog: Completed MagelssenArt Video-Jazzy Java!-The Coffe...

2011-08-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

Deb Magelssen's Blog: Completed MagelssenArt Video-Jazzy Java!-The Coffe...: It sure has been fun to work on my MagelssenArt video's! I am learning much and having a blast! Here is "Jazzy Java"! I just completed it an...

Completed MagelssenArt Video-Jazzy Java!-The Coffee Cup Series in Acrylics

2011-08-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

It sure has been fun to work on my MagelssenArt video's! I am learning much and having a blast! Here is "Jazzy Java"! I just completed it and am now working on the 4th coffee cup in acylic. These paintings are acrylic on 24"x24" canvas. I hope you have fun painting along with me or just sitting back and taking a look inside my studio as I work. Either way, I hope you enjoy this new video. There are more on my website or You Tube Channel. Just visit my website or Google, "MagelssenArt Videos" on You Tube. Thanks for watching and we'll see you next time.

DMS Summer Newsletter Available now!

2011-07-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

Hello! It's summer and I am loving the warm sunshine, lazy days, (well, busy, lazy days if there is such a thing), and painting on the porch and in my messy and crammed studio. Hey, believe it or not, in all of that mess, I get stuff done!

The new DMS Summer Newsletter is now available! Click on the link for the lastest issue.
If you are interested in receiving my newsletter-issued four times per year-go to my website and sign up! No purchase necessary-just fun artsy news on what's happening in my studio and much, much more!

http://debmagelssen.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/DMS_Summer_Newsletter_2011.181205823.pdf

P.S. You'll love my tidbit about Leonardo di Vinci in my newsletter! I welcome your comments and questions! I hope to hear from you.

Aww! Spring has come and new things in the studio are ready to bloom!

2011-03-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

Here I am on the floor while the dog supervises my work.

It is spring here in Minnesota! You wouldn’t believe it because a couple of nights ago we received 8” of fresh, white snow! It has been a long winter and everyone is a bit weary of it.

I look forward to planting my flowers and getting outdoors more.

Here in my studio, I am working on getting more focused and centered as far as my new work is concerned. I have been painting several series work-which I love and will continue to add to-but I also want to focus in on my goals and paint things that are more meaningful. If you are an artist, you have many, many idea's and thoughts swimming in your head like I have. Check out this book for 100 Contemporary Artist and their ideas!

There are so many ideas and fun things you may want to paint that sometimes you have to be careful not to get too scattered. Keep a good idea and start a series of ideas in your sketchbook that are cohesive with your more dominant intention. Stay focused and you will be calmer, more creative and your distractions will decrease with each new day. You've now got a plan and it's all laid out. All you have to do now is stay on course! Thanks for following my blog. Send me your comments -I would love to hear from you!

Deb
Hey! I have my newest DMS Spring Newsletter now available! Sign up at my website and I will send it to you!
Sign up for my newest DMS Spring Newsletter!

A January Day!

2011-01-27T07:46:00.000-08:00

Good morning! Here it is almost the end of January! It is winter-very wintry- here in MN. I am thrilled that most of the cold is behind us and that I am actually noticing that 16 degrees can be warm. Especially in the sunshine. Ah, Spring! Well, one can dream, right?

I have been busy and my studio shows it. A mess! I have had a great week working on paintings and video taping. My video's are very raw and uncut. Here's the newest one- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z21ucV31lS I know some of you could fall asleep watching artists paint and there are those who will watch the whole thing. Bless you all for watching at all!

The coffee cup series is going well-slow, but well-and I am excited because I think for once I will actually have them completed by Spring time. I am working on various other paintings as well so that is why there are patches of time where you will not see any video's. I would like to make it a goal of mine to release a video each week, but I will have to see how each week goes.

I have painting my Crosses of Hope litlle by little. I will not be video taping me painting my Crosses. To me, that is my time with God. Here is a book that you may like. "The Art of God" I do not have this one, but one very similar and I may be purchasing this one soon. It looks good and I collect books such as these. I really enjoy the photography because it makes me marvel at the creation that God has made.

Enjoy the rest of January! February is right around the corner. Let me know what you think of my art and/or my video's. I would love to hear from you. Have a great day today!

Deb

Deb's Winter Art Painting Party 2010

2010-12-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

Hi all!
Well, last evening was my very first winter art party! I've been wanting to do a painting party for a of couple years now. I had a summer "paint-out" party in my back yard a few years ago and that was super fun, but it stormed! Needless to say, many of us got wet and had to take cover under my deck! Winter in Minnesota gets pretty cold and snowy and a blizzard was expecting to blow in last evening so I was a bit fearful things would not turn out. I wanted this party to be fun and relaxing and I think it went just fine.

To prepare, I set up two large art tables in my porch, chilled the wine, and made some appetizers. I invited about 20 artist friends and about 6 showed up which was just fine with me. A small gathering is sometimes better because you can actually talk to all your guests! They all brought various appetizers and beverages and we had enough to feed an army.

We mostly sat and talked-I had planned for all of us to paint a bit, but we got to talking and the time just slipped away. Later that evening, I took my guests down to see my basement studio where we gathered and exchanged idea's and tips about studio's, art materials and art making. So much fun for me! It made me happy just to have fellow artists that were like-minded to bounce off idea's, art tips and various other topics.

It was a wonderful night and I so enjoyed having friends over for a relaxing "art evening". Suggestions were made to have another party during the day and later this summer. I loved that idea and am already looking at my calendar to plan a Summer Art Party. And, maybe next time we can even get to painting! HA!

MagelssenArt- Part 2 of Coffee Cups in Acrylic Painting #1

2010-11-05T13:56:00.000-07:00

MagelssenArt 3 of 4 each Coffee Cups in Acrylic

2010-10-21T14:53:00.000-07:00

MagelssenArt-1of4 Coffee Cups in Acrylic

2010-10-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

Repainting a Dud 2010.AVI

2010-08-16T09:39:00.000-07:00

MagelssenArt82010.AVI

2010-08-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

Fine Art America

2010-06-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

I am currently adding images of my artwork on a amazing website-Fine Art America. You can get my images printed on stretched canvas, in framed prints, posters and greeting cards. The printing is very professional and the quality is superb! I am a sucker for greeting cards. I love the very fact that they are personal and I can write a note to the person I am sending it to. I know snail mail is slow, but I still love the idea of holding a card from someone dear and holding their words in my hand. It's kind of a heart to heart thing. I'm a collector of other artist's cards, and of course, paintings. I am still adding more and more paintings to my series work slowly, but surely. If you are wanting to have a print of my work and do not see it on Fine Art America website, just ask me to post it for you. Then you can order what ever you want. I take professional digital photographs of all of my work. Here is just a sampling of one of my favorite acrylic pieces just newly released-Art Deco Dog: Papillon-that will be posted soon for sale.

Can it get anymore crazy around here?

2010-05-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

I am currently gearing for "Art On A Line" (go the link there), and I am trying to get a ton of paintings done, photograph them, post them in my computer for inventory, (great software by the way from Xanadu Gallery -"Art Tracker" see this website: http://www.xanadugallery.com/ to purchase. Only $45 -a great buy to organize your work), doing publicity, marketing and promotions, meetings, just finished the MN Watercolor Society Spring Show. The take down was last night and I am writing an article about the show and all the award winners for the newsletter, getting ready for hubby's birthday, cleaning house...does that actually have to be done? Maybe not! Gearing up for daughter's graduation and open house and mailing out invites. Teaching classes and scheduling summer one's that are coming up soon. Organizing and preparing my new Newsletter for my website and what else?...Blah! There is more and too much to list...Yep! Things are crazy here! The studio is messy, cluttered, and looking very disorganized and the dog won't even come in to visit me because there isn't any room on the floor. Just look at her forlorned face!
But, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love, love, love, my "artist" life!

Art on A Line and "Beyond the Shadows"

2010-04-17T21:25:00.000-07:00

I am so excited! I am going to be a part of the Northstar Watercolor Society's ART ON A LINE. 3000+ Original Paintings! Come and see and visit me if you are in town. It is a huge art show and sale. Starts Friday, May 14th and ends Sunday, May 16th. I will do a demo called, "Start with Dark" at 1pm on Sunday. (See photo of "Beyond the Shadows"). I start with a black canvas like I did with "Haiti's Cry" and paint intuitively...I just play around and see what happens and what happened was some beautiful forms appeared and very colorful images of transparency! Wow! I love what happened. What drippy, sloppy, messy fun it all was.
I will be doing this more with my classes and workshops-just having fun and experimenting. Keep painting...I would love to see your work as well. Try adding some citra-solv to the mix just to see what else happens. If you haven't used some citra-solv you are missing out on some great fun. Buy some today and paint with it. See you soon!
NEW Citra-Solv All Natural Cleaner & Degreaser - 32 Oz

Haiti's Cry is now released!

2010-03-08T07:40:00.000-08:00

After the earthquake, I was so distraught over the images that I saw that day that I prayed what I could do to help? When major tragedies happen, sometimes I feel so helpless to be able to make a difference. Even if I could help just one person, I wanted to do something! I didn't feel like sending in just a check for a donation. I wanted to do something more. I believe God inspired me to paint this work. It was painted very rapidly and precise-and I am not a precise person-I search and fuss over my paintings most of the time. I was moved by all the devastation and destruction. I cannot even explain how I felt, but after the first night following the earthquake, I went down to my studio the very next day and started to paint. My heart ached and I wept as I painted that morning. I started the painting with a black gessoed coating over a white canvas. (Something that I had never done before.) I started making a cross, simply because I thought I would start with a cruciform design, like my Crosses of Hope series, but as I poured the white in various places and started to paint the image of a cross with my hands, a figure appeared that looked like it was crying.

As soon as I saw this figured, I knew I had a painting titled, “Haiti’s Cry”.

I left the white alone and stepped back to look. It was a large white shaped figure crying out symbolizing all the people of Haiti. I stopped painting and decided to wait a few days to see what I should do next, so I worked on various other paintings and glanced over once in awhile during the week. The lower left shape is the earth’s energy that created the earthquake and the rope shape that wraps around the figure represents the earthquake trying to squeeze the life out of the people and their country. I added bright and bold colors painted and splashed randomly which symbolizes all of the hope that is, and will be, for the people of Haiti and their future. There are three hearts in the piece, one for the men, one for the women, and one for all the children who died from the quake.

Something New...or is it?

2010-03-03T18:47:00.000-08:00

Well....out of sheer boredom...now, I know what you are thinking, how can you be bored when you have so much going on?-I am now starting most of my new paintings with a black gessoed canvas. I am talking about "artistic boredom". Boredom that happens when I sit there in my studio and wonder what on earth I am doing there with all of these paintings surrounding me, not wanting to get off my butt and hold a paintbrush, and I just want to go wash the dishes. Maybe eat some chocolate and zone out in front of the TV. I am not overwhelmed...but in the winter when you are tired of the whiteness of everything, it just gets to a point where I need to mix things up a bit in the studio. Hey! Black canvas! If Carolyn Jasper can start her paintings with red paint, why not black? I gotta do something new!
So, I decided since I painted, Haiti's Cry-still working on it by the way-I will start more paintings with a black gessoed canvas. See what happens-I got some stuff rolling around in my head. I have done three so far and I am having a good time! I will post them soon. You know in Minnesota it can be challenging to photograph your artwork outside when it's cold. Things are warming up around here-yes, 40's- everyone's so happy- so I can get out there and take a bunch of photographs of my recent works. I'll get off my butt and get going. I am also doing the Spring Show for the MNWS...http://www.minnesotawatercolors.com/, and that has taken some time away from painting, but it is almost drop off and hanging time so I can get back to some serious art-makin. See you soon-keep painting!

Haiti's Cry

2010-02-25T08:12:00.000-08:00

I am almost done painting a work that I plan on donating to Art-A-Thon-for-Haiti. After the earthquake, I was so distraught over the images that I saw that day that I asked God in my heart what I could do to help. When major tragedies happen like this particular one, I feel so helpless to be able to make a difference. Even if I could help just one person, I wanted to do something! I just didn't feel like I wanted to just send in a check for a donation. I wanted to do something more. I believe God inspired me to paint this work. It was painted very rapidly and precise. Now, I am not a precise person, I search and fuss over my paintings most of the time. It was like I had someone take over - and I believe it was God. I was so moved by the devastation and distruction and it was, and still is, almost unbelieveable. I cannot even explain how I felt, but after a sleepless night, I went down in my studio the very next day and started to paint. My heart was aching as I painted and I wept as I painted that morning. I started the painting with a black gessoed coating over a white canvas. (Something that I had never done before.) I started making a cross, simply because I thought I would start with a cruciform design, like my Crosses of Hope, but as I poured the white in various places and started to paint the image of a cross with my hands, a figure appeared that looked like it was crying. I left the white alone and stepped back to look. It was a white figure crying out. I wanted to wait on what I should do next so I worked on various other paintings and glanced over once in awhile to just see what it needed.
The next day I added various colors and some symbolism. It is almost done. I titled it, "Haiti's Cry". My hope is that someone purchases it at the auction and it bring some relief to someone in Haiti. See the link. www.oxfamamerica.org/events/art-a-thon-for-haiti I cannot add anything more to the painting except for a few brushes of color here and there. I will be posting it soon. Love to all of you out there.
Blessings and peace be upon you.

Happy New Year! 2010

2010-01-13T17:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all of You!

It never ceases to amaze me how each year I start out with so many things I want to get done! I love that I can start new, and reflect on what worked, what didn't, what if? Questions to be asked, solutions to be solved, challenges to be overcome and goals to be met.

Looking back, I am happy that I accomplished a good many of the intentions and goals that I wrote down in my "Dream Book". There are some things that were not accomplished and I will re-evaluate those, but I never look at the "unfinished" things as negative. Like an unfinished painting, unfinished wishes and goals are just another thing that will come into completion in time. I don't worry about it.

This past year was quite busy. I developed my curriculum for my workshops and classes and launch those mid-spring at Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts. I am gearing for more venues to teach and will continue to expand my calendar. I find that when I teach, my heart is enthusiastic and I have a ton of energy. It is another way that I can pay it forward and help others with their artistic journey. My dream is to be able to get a group together and travel various places on the globe and explore new "vignettes" that stir our hearts. Wouldn't that be fun?

I also painted more each day and that was a challenge, especially running a household, organizing Exhibits and Shows, being on art society boards such as ISAP and Minnesota Watercolor Society, marketing and promoting my art and also this year, teaching my "Expressive Workshops and Classes", marketing my husband's business-and so much more. My calendar was full!

Now as I ponder this year, I want to work on getting more cohesive works of art. I have several series that are ongoing and I want to push to complete several for upcoming shows and festivals.

I have also opened more online store's such as Cafe Press, ImageKind and Simply Licensed which are all wonderful opportunities to sell my art. These sites are fairly new to me and I post specific images to those venues and the rest will be on my website. Speaking of websites, I will be continuing to update and tweat my website month by month. I love having the availability of social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Twitter, and many other online sites. I have met some wonderful people online and will continue to explore Social Media for more marketing and promotions.

As always, I will paint from my heart. I paint what I love-nothing more, nothing less, and that is all I want to do. I will continue to paint those aspects of life that cause me to feel deep emotions and express those emotions in my art with bold, bright beautiful colors. I plan to have fun adding more pieces to the Sister Series, make more Mountain Messages, continue on until I complete twelve large Crosses of Hope, will goof off making Art Deco Dogs, and whatever else this year will unfold that will be an inspiration to me!

Blessings and love to all of you who stop by to read my blog. With all the information on the web-it's a wonder that we get anything done at all! Happy New Year!

2009-09-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

Come and join me in my "Expressive Workshops" that are posted on my website. Many new workshops and classes are coming up soon for Winter. They workshops are for beginner to advanced students in acrylic and watercolor. Many times and days are available. I am happy to be teaching again. I taught in the early '90's in watercolor and had a blast! My most rewarding thing about teaching is having the student achieve another level of creativity with their artwork. They never cease to amaze me with the level of artistic development that comes with some encouragement and coaching. Teaching and painting are ways that I give back to others what I have been blessed with.

Minneapolis Skyline- "Sweltering Summer"

2009-04-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

I call this painting, "Sweltering Summer". It is a 16"x24" acrylic-a fun cityscape. I had a blast painting it! I was going to paint the sky red, but decided at the last minute to paint the buildings red. It is from a photo I took of the Minneapolis Skyline while I was lazily enjoying myself at the Stone Arch Bridge Art Festival last summer. I love going to Art Festivals and this particular one is a favorite of mine. It was June, in the morning, I had stopped to have coffee and croissant, and had my camera with. While I walked along all the booths, I decided to walk along the Mississippi river behind all the booths and there across the river was an amazing scene-the skyline was lit up with the rising sun and the colors were fantastic! WOW! I shot a few photo's, came back to my studio, and started to paint. The painting became alive with color- I tweaked it several times until I was satisfied with the shapes, colors and mood. The dark sky is gradated from blue to darker blue and looks better in reality. This painting was in the Minnesota Watercolor Society's Fall Show.

Still in Process...

2009-04-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought I was just about done with this painting, I let it sit for awhile-a good month-and pulled it out to look at it. Good thing I did-Ugh! I needed some major changes! I wanted to change the protruding cliff on the left especially. I thought it was just too much, too prominant, and now I am planning something new. I have sketched another image in my sketch book and will be redoing and reworking the foreground. Another thing I noticed is that the foreground is too green and I want to mix it up a bit. The focal point needs some work as well-it is just there-boring! So I will be adding different shapes and different colors in the foreground, working on the focal point and mixing things up abit. I still love the mountains in the back ground. I am asking myself alot of "What If's?" to see about new things that could develop. At this point, I am feeling that the painting is taking off by itself and wanting me to back off- and basically telling me to let go of the control. Some artists will say that their "paintings talk to them, tell them what they need and basically paint themselves". I totally believe in this idea. My paintings do that all the time! I start a painting with my own intentions of what I want and then half way, or even sooner, the painting just starts developing into something else! When this process starts to happen, I find it fun and exciting because I usually become challenged to learn and grow to another artistical level.

On another note, what do you think of this new one on the left? It is a close up of another painting I just finished called, "Mountain Moonshine". I will post the total image soon on my website. Let me know what you think- I would love to hear from you!

Deb

Creating something from nothing....

2009-01-01T12:28:00.000-08:00

Well, I cannot really say this is nothing. It is simply a canvas with paint on it with shapes that create a landscape scene. God only knows how to create something from nothing. Like the Grand Canyon, the oceans, mountains, fish, animals or us! But as a humble little human, I think is it really fun to create-even if it is just a painting of a landscape. It is just a canvas with paint on it but it has the potential to touch another human in an emotional, spiritual and/or intellectual way. I think that is amazing. No wonder so many of us love to create.

Notice how I just laid in the shapes with various colors and values? I was searching for the layout and design of the composition and where I needed to go. The process of painting is really, I believe, what creating art is all about. Most of the time I plan my work out in my sketchbook. There are times that I just play around and see what develops. I know the end result is important too, but when you start creating and you are playing in the studio and thinking of a landscape image-or whatever image you have in your heart and mind-that is where all the fun begins!

The finished piece can develop into something that surprises. So many artist love that about art. The surprises and the "Ah Ha" moments. I learn along the way with each painting I create. I love that about my painting process.

You will see the new release when I post the final piece in a few days. Come back soon!

By the way- "Happy New Year!' May all of your dreams come true!

"DAZZLING DAWN"

2008-11-20T06:16:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!

I want to introduce to you my newly released,

"Dazzling Dawn". A 24" x 36" Acrylic on canvas. It is another addition to the series I call, "Mountain Messages".

"Dazzling Dawn" is inspired by my love color and mountains. They are so beautiful and take my breath away-they AWE me! How about you?

This particular painting started in a High School Art Class where I was invited to come and do a demo and teach about Acrylics. I had a blast and the kids were awesome artists!

I really did not know where "it" was going to take me. I used a few photo's to get a composition set up, but that was it. From there, the painting emerged into a colorful fantasy mountain landscape with an ethereal feel. I divided the two huge mountains into various shapes using color and value changes to break up the large triangle shapes and to create a sense of connectiveness. The ridges and cliffs are there to remind us that there are always challenges and tragedies to encounter in life. I wanted to create a sense of eternity and the river of life I painted zigzags through the beautiful meadow, and carries you into the ethereal eternal light.

Mountain Messages-"Mountain Secrets"

2008-10-03T14:06:00.000-07:00

Here is another phase of Mountain Secrets. I added more color and worked on the composition creating a lake and pushing the mountains back further into the background. Adding more lights and darks. I am not happy with the stark edge of the lake and the line it creates in the lower 3rd of the image. I love the atmosphere of the sky and the mountains. I also need a focal point and will create that where the two horizontal lines of the lake and the lower shaped mountains converge. I also am thinking of adding clouds and softening the mountains even more. The colors in the foreground are too strong and there are no shapes that make your eye travel throughout the piece. So, I continue to ask, "What if....?" and search more of what I can do to make it better. I let it sit for weeks and let it "cook" hanging in my studio. I study, look, listen, let it be...

So, here is the finished piece! I added a river instead! Ha! I am happy with this one. It looks very colorful in reality and with the added 3 coats of gloss varnish, I must say, it looks pretty cool!

I am working on another one for this series that is coming along nicely. I will post that soon, too! Thanks for visiting my blog!

October brings COLOR!

2008-10-02T10:56:00.000-07:00

Oh, how I love October! The colors here in Minnesota are just starting to burst and pretty soon there will be an explosion of color. It inspires me to paint more boldly and with more color.

As you can see on the left is the beginning colored paint-sketch of "Mountain Secrets" to add to my Mountain Messages Series.

This one was challenging. I did not know where "it" was going to take me. Yes, paintings talk to me sometimes! In this photo, I have reversed the image because I wanted to see what it would look like with the main mountains on the left. Ugh!! I do not like it at all! And thank goodness, that is not how I had planned it from the beginning. I first started "paint-sketching" this with the mountains on the right using just my fingers and paper towel, (I love VIVA!). Keeping with this series, I pushed my paints, (Golden Acylics), around on a 12"x12"x2" canvas being careful not to blend the colors too much. I used a small brush here and there for some tiny detail. My plan was mountains, sky, and a lake. I wanted to keep simple shapes and have brilliant colors dominate the piece.

I have since completed the painting and will post it this weekend. You will not believe how different it looks. I really am happy about this one! It is very colorful, bold and fresh. Come back soon and see the completed painting! I will Blog more about my thoughts during my painting process. For right now? I'm going out for a long walk and enjoy October's colors!!

It's a Beautiful Day

2008-09-20T17:53:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I've blogged. It has been 6 months since my sweet mother passed away and the tears and grieving are becoming more sporatic. Missing her still at night seems to be happening. Night time is the time when we all settle down and ponder, make lists, and do our creative thinking.

My painting process has been going well. I am doing the "Mountain Messages" series along with others-"Sisters Series, Dance Ballet and Hidden Treasures". They have all been keeping me very busy. I am presently working on 20-40 paintings all various sizes at this time. It is wonderful and challenging. I love going from one painting to another. Painting parts here and there where I feel the need to touch with my fingers or brush. It is very rewarding and fun to do. The painting on the left is called, "Slide into a Dream" and is from the "Mountain Messages" series. These are all done on 2"x12"x12" canvases. I am finding I prefer a more ethereal feel to these paintings bringing more fantasy and dreaminess to them. I will continue to paint until I find other challenges and pathways to "fall into" as I ask "what if?" while I paint. Look for more paintings to be posted soon or check my website at www.DebMagelssen.com.

"In the Fire" from the "Sister's Series"

2008-06-18T15:06:00.000-07:00

This painting is actually a part of my "Sister's Series"© and is called, "In the Fire"©. It is inspired from the loss of my mother and the grief my family experienced. My sister's were very supportive and courageous during my mothers two year illness and subsequent death. It would have been very difficult to go through the surgery, horrid hospital stays, etc., and all the pain my mother endured, had it not been for them, and for my father. Watching someone you love go through so much suffering is not what any of us expects or wants.

Since my mother's passing, I am finding "Hidden Treasure's" in many of my recent paintings. You may, or may not, have read about my "Hidden Treasure's"© series, (see previous blog), and how the series was birthed, but in this Sister's Series painting, I am seeing the hidden treasure of suffering along those you love-without being bitter. I believe this is a gift. It is all what we tell ourselves. Positive or negative-it is our choice to choose how we are going to react to difficulties and challenges in our lives. Even though this experience is hard to embrace, I am able to say that it has left me feeling free and joyful. Don't get me wrong, I will miss my mother terribly and I still need to keep tissues close by, but I am seeing some positive things happening-especially in my paintings. As my heart and emotions heal, I am excited to see the results as I expand into new expressions in my paintings.

Blogger Buzz: Show off your favorite blogs with a Blog List

2008-06-18T15:05:00.000-07:00

Blogger Buzz: Show off your favorite blogs with a Blog List

New "Hidden Treasures" -Just released!

2008-05-30T20:38:00.001-07:00

When my mother died back in March, I found that sorrow and grieving made it difficult to pick up a brush, let alone paint anything. Then, shortly after she passed away, I was at a workshop and we were working on completing a series. I was struggling with all the sad feelings inside of me, and wondered what on earth I was doing along side of some very respected artists that I admired when my heart was so heavy. I wasn't about to miss out on a wonderful workshop that I was looking forward to for a long time, so I forced my self to go-even as my heart was aching.

I was feeling a bit teary that day, trying to hold my emotions in, all the while painting on these 4 paintings that were to be a series. After working awhile, I realized that just the process of painting again became pleasureable, and my heart became energized and joyful. I just let the colors flow-it was like tears coming from my heart to the canvas. I picked the color blue to be the base color only because it reminds me of water and I felt my whole heart needed to have all that space, if I was going to cry into the painting. I never shed a tear-it was all the emotions from my heart emersing themselves into the canvas. The other colors were added into it with an energy that I find even today, hard to describe. It was like I had no control over what I was doing- I just needed to get the color into the work, all the while watching my compostion forming into an abstract that had my tears and sorrow into it. But, there was something more to it..

It was life again-that feeling of coming alive. As I was working, I was thinking about how I need to remind myself to discover again what it is that makes me want to be an artist and a painter, and I realized it comes from the discovery of our gifts and talents that is God-given--and the joy that comes from doing what we love. I looked around the studio where we were, and felt a connection with all the other artists that were working on the same thing-using whatever gifts, talents and hidden treasures we have in our hearts to create our own pieces of artwork. And, when we get stuck, we use discernment to try to figure out where we want to proceed. The joy comes from the actual process of creating, and not the end result-at least for me. By the way, the workshop was hosted by Susan Fryer Voight for fine art painter, Robert Burridge. www.RobertBurridge.com Thank you Susan and Bob!
So, I want to invite you to visit my website and take a look at the "Hidden Treasures" series. Let me know what you think. This blog really states in detail my feelings about the series - come and visit me: www.DebMagelssen.com

Finished!

2008-05-19T18:58:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is! The finished piece: "Moving Mountains" One of many in my Series- "Mountain Messages".

I had a bit of a challenge in that there was that body of water that was ever changing, moving, and growing lighter while I worked on it. You can see some of the changes from the previous photo. But, after some tweaking, and looking, and seeing, and then looking some more. And waiting, and having it cook a bit- I am done. Finished! More "Mountain Message" paintings will be posted in my website soon. (June 08) www.debmagelssen.com

Ta Ta 4 Now. Love, Deb

The Winds of Artistic Change

2008-05-10T16:01:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, I have painted in watercolor for over 20 years. I did not prefer the chalk like apprearance of the paint after it dried. Part of it was my own ignorance of the medium and all that goes with it. I thought it looked so awful,and told myself that it would "be a long time, if ever, that I would work with the medium". I began to take many watercolor classes with Victor Cagliati at the U of M and also painted under the late, Malcolm Meyers and found my love for watercolor. Malcolm and Victor were instrumental in my development as a watercolor artist. Both gave me the freedom to "paint my feelings", however, I had little training in the techniques that I needed. So began my own journey to develop my skills and I learn the techniques to achieve the realistic qualities that are evident in my previous works.

In the last year, I started painting with acrylics after taking a workshop with Robert Burridge.

www.RobertBurridge.com. I purchased some Golden paints and started painting in a new direction. I was thrilled and for once enjoyed the "process" instead of working toward the end result. Painting this way today has become a wonderful way to advance my artistic expression. Thanks, Bob, for "Permission".

One of series I am developing is a mountain series. It is based on the idea of faith and moving mountains. I am still working on these and will post the changes as I go. I have several series I am working on, and they can be viewed on my website. However, for this blog, I will keep the mountain series here.

Posted is the "Moving Mountains", piece. It is not finished. I will be posting the changes by the end of this week. I love the fantasy-dreamlike qualities of this piece and will continue in this direction. I will be discussing my intentions, thoughts and feelings about this piece as it develops. I will also include other new works that I am developing as well. Keep in touch!

Newbie Contemporary Acrylic Artist Blogger

2008-05-02T06:56:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone! My name is Deb Magelssen and am a professional artist. I have a studio in my home.
My goal and intention as an artist is to "Paint Creatively with Inspiration, Hope and Heart."
In 1994, my business, Creative Clinic, Inc. was born.

My God-given gift is being an artist and have loved making art since I can remember. During high school, I had a wonderful teacher that allowed us to try our hands at jewelry, ceramics, sculpture, painting, and a whole host of other mediums. I was always in the Art Room! It was in high school where I fell in love with painting, (oils), and sold my first painting. I painted in watercolor for over 20 years and now I am finding acrylics to be my choice for my contemporary and abstract work. I am having the time of my life!

I consider myself a painter and have painted most of my life. I took time off for raising a family and have quit my "day job" and started a professional career in Fine Art. I have a website for you to visit- http://www.debmagelssen.com/. I would love to hear your thought's and idea's concerning my art. If you see something you love on my website, and it isn't quite what you were looking, for or maybe the wrong size, feel free to contact me for a Commission. I can give you the details by email or over the phone.
Ta Ta for now. Check back soon! Paint with your hope in your heart. Deb