Paradoxical Gypsy

Tied to the Untidy

2012-01-13T15:29:00.000-08:00

No, no, no, I'm not at all referring to my recent "tying of the knot" to the notoriously untidy Michael deMeng, aka the "anti-Martha Stewart" (and yes, that's a good thing).....rather I'm talking about MY studio.....no, that's not my studio....that photo is the studio of the equally messy Francis Bacon (I'm not really much of a Scotch drinker myself). Right now Michael is filming a segment for his Crusted, Crumbled and Cracked online workshop...and so we've been having interesting conversations about how many ways you can "rust" plastic....but I digress....

We're still in January and it's already been a busy year....but now with birthdays, holidays, and weddings off the to do list it's time to get back to work. I've been busy creating in the studio (to say it is very untidy right about now would be more than a bit of an understatement) and I'm excited to announce that this will be a hoppin' year of travelling and teaching: here's what's coming up for 2012...

It's a pleasure to be teaching in my own neck of the woods, right here in beautiful British Columbia and first up on the schedule is.....
February 11-12: Upstart Crow in Delta, BC registration is taking place right now! We'll be spending the weekend collaging like crazy with two separate classes: Veils of Psyche, and Iconic Allegory.

March 28-April 1: Don't miss your last chance ever to make it to Artfest (Port Townsend, WA)! If attending Artfest has ever been on your to do list...then this has got to be your year. Teesha Moore, Artfest organizer extraordinaire has announced that will be the last year for Artfest. So don't delay!

June 1-3: Small Studios (Avon Lake, OH) Come for a workshop and visit Ginny Smallenburg's new retail store to be open soon!

June 29-July 1: Valley Ridge Arts Studio (Madison, WI) has an amazing line-up of workshops this season (including a couple from yours truly) and Registration begins 9:00am CST on Saturday, January 14th...as I understand it, you really want to be online and registering early since classes fill up quickly!

July 30-August 7: Art Unraveled (Phoenix, AZ) is having their 10 year anniversary and offering a 10% discount on your classes as long as you sign up before March 15th! Registration opens January 17th!

September 19-23: Art is...You (Petaluma, CA) Registration will be going online soon!

October 4-9: Art is...You (Stamford, CT) Registration will be going online soon!

N'Awlins

2011-11-09T20:47:00.000-08:00

According to the Urban Dictionary, the first sign that you are a tourist all comes down to two little words...or at least how you pronounce them. If you say that you are in N'awlins you may as well have just put a big 'ol tourist sticker on your back. Locals actually pronounce the city name as New Awlins. People from other cities hear N'awlins because of the way locals drag out and connect their words. Most locals actually hate hearing people say N'awlins or New Or-Leans. So now that you know how to pronounce it properly, why not check it out for yourself....with me. Well, with Michael de Meng actually (but hey, I'm gonna be there too....)

La Fantome Maison Workshop

My darling fiance in conjunction with the fabulous Katherine Engen of Valley Ridge Art Studios are putting on one heck of a party, er, I mean workshop at the end of January and we'd love to see you there!

How I became a Paradoxical Gypsy....

2011-10-17T15:49:00.000-07:00

I’m often asked what exactly it was that sparked my intense interest in Tarot cards. After all, I’m logical, so logical in fact that my colleagues used to call me “Spock” back in my days of teaching as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (and while I think my colleagues thought the nickname would annoy me, just between you and me, I always thought of it as a compliment)….but I digress….apparently, it seems rather suspect for a highly logical person to find appeal in the completely illogical, unproven, realm of the occult….and so I am repeatedly asked….how? why?

The beginning of my love affair with Tarot …..truth is I can’t say that I know for sure, what specifically sparked my interest in the cards. It might have had something to do with the fact that as a child I moved enough times to fill up all the properties on a monopoly board – I mean if that doesn’t make you feel like a gypsy what will? And before you ask, no I wasn’t an army brat. I just had a very free spirited mother who went anywhere and everywhere….and boy did we (about 15 different schools by the end of the fifth grade, in case you thought I was exaggerating)! When you couple that with a very compelling story my mother told me about her romance with the Gypsy King of Bratislava (I'm trying to convince her to write her memoirs, so stay tuned....)….well, you can see how perhaps a young girl might become intrigued by a bohemian lifestyle and all that it encompasses.

But, I tend to think that perhaps, my attraction to the world of tarot cards came about because of the simple fact that they were around. My mother had a deck, the Aquarian deck, and the cards were ceremoniously kept wrapped in a silk scarf, next to a pile of books on the dining room table: books about the symbols of the tarot, numerology, the Kabala, the Hebrew alphabet, all just sitting on the table just waiting to be explored. The idea that an answer to any question could be unlocked through a shuffle of the cards and some symbolic deciphering had an irresistible appeal – whether you chose to believe the answer or not, it was still a pretty cool concept. Or maybe, just maybe, I fell in love with Tarot cards because of my love of puzzles and mythology. Deciphering the symbolic codes and artwork of the various decks can feel like trying to decode the hieroglyphics on the Stargate (sorry, but I just can’t escape my geekdom)….whatever the reason, I admit that I find them absolutely fascinating and I’m thoroughly enjoying creating the symbolic language of my own deck.

Artfest 2012

2011-08-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

Woohooo!!! Artfest 2012 registration is open...and I am beyond thrilled to be teaching three classes. For those of you who have never been to an Artfest, it's an experience like no other. Over 500 like minded attendees, creating art, sharing experiences, developing new friendships and creating a phenomenal energy that is absolutely infectious.

My classes:

Collaging the Transcluscent

Dorian Gray Portraits
Suspended Souls

Artfest will be held March 28 - April 1, 2012....hope to see some of you there!

Temperance - 14

2011-07-06T15:52:00.000-07:00

The concept of needing balance in one's life is not a new one. Elusive...yes, but definitely not new. In fact the principle of achieving balance has found its way into many cultures, religions, and civilizations. Native American wisdom says to walk lightly upon the earth and live in balance and harmony. Temperance. After first glance, the card seems to lack some of the sizzle that you might get with cards like Death, the Tower, the Magician....those are cool cards. Often underestimated though, the temperance card is about one extremely important aspect of achieving happiness in life. Balance. The unification of those things in this world that are diametrically opposed to create a new harmony. The way that fire and water create steam, the temperance card is about creating a balance where one would think that it cannot exist. But how does one create such balance? Patience. And a consistent movement between elements to bring them together. This card in many ways more than others reminds me of some of the magic that happens when we create art. At various points in the creative process we juggle, and when things go incredibly well, we often call it, "getting into our flow". We approach our piece with a certain amount of patience allowing the muse to work through us. A flow between different elements in a piece, the give and take necessary to create a balanced composition, and the perfect moment inbetween two extremes where we create the harmony, where we create art. Not surprisingly, in some decks, this card, magical number 14, is called the Art card.

The traditional depiction of Temperance is a woman, often winged, angelic and poised. She stands quite still as she continuously pours water, the elixir of life, between two vessels. Typically one of the vessels is silver and the other is gold...the union of Heaven and Earth. Cups in the world of Tarot often represents elements in the emotional realm. The water flowing tirelessly back and forth striving always for that perfect moment of equilibrium. The triangle, as a powerful symbol of ancient egypt signifies intelligence and a capacity for love. A symbol for movement and direction, the greek letter delta, mathematically defined as change. While not recognized by all tarot readers, the consensus seems to be that triangles pointing up also make a reference to that which is divine.

In my own version of the Temperance card, I've included symbolism for my re-interpration of the card. The elusive nature of achieving balance between elements is emphasized by creating the artwork on several layers allowing the interplay between the solid and transparent elements as they harmonize to achieve the finished image. On the bottom most layer is the image of a woman, head tilted engagingly, peaceful, and contemplative in her expression. Over this we see another face, staring directly at the viewer, almost through the viewer. The two aspects both depicted but united within the composition. The concept of mastery of emotions. Balance. In lieu of water flowing, endlessly, the use of stripes appears. Parallel lines that continue infinitely, and oriented vertically to visually show the link between the earthly and the divine. Black and white stripes, the light and the dark of everything, again visually emphasizing the harmony and beauty that can be created with an appropriate balance between two extremes. Yin and Yang. The number 14, the number of the card of course, as used to reference the halfway point in the lunar cycle. The number is below two additional layers that build the cup shape (the emotional aspects of the card) around it. The circle, a shape of perfection, symmetrical no matter how you split it in half. Below the circle, a hexigon, an intermediate geometric shape serving as a gentle reminder that emotions can have hard edges and can be pointed on the journey to that perfect equilibrium. A hand from above pays homage to the classic interpretation that temperance is affiliated with something other worldly.

I'll leave you today with this quote from Victor Hugo..."To live in balance is good, to live in harmony is better."

Death and Transformation

2011-05-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

There are a few cards in the tarot deck that have such foreboding imagery, that the very sight of them can make a person feel ill at ease.

Hello Kitty Tarot by Joe Rosales

The thirteenth card in the Major Arcana, "Death" not surprisingly is one of these cards. Typically portraying a skeletal figure, often robed in black, walking or riding into town, scythe on one side, petrified figures underfoot, there is indeed a very grave, if you'll pardon the pun, feeling to the whole thing. The menacing central figure is cloaked in symbolism as it personifies death through it's resemblance to the grim reaper as he is depicted in most artwork influenced by the aftermath of the Black Plague.

The Grim Reaper

Della Roca Card -- unnamed

To understand the symbolism we need only to answer one little question....."what is death...?" I think that no matter what your beliefs, there is no denying that "death" involves a change, from one state of being into another, and it's this concept of transformation that the death tarot card is referring to. Change, transformation, birth and rebirth - that's the true meaning of this ominous looking 13th card.

Deviant Moon Tarot by Patrick Valenza

I think one of the more interesting Tarot decks out there is the Deviant Moon Tarot. Shown in the picture above, this death card is absolutely fantastic, a woman, pregnant, and clearly demonstrating the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

So here's my depiction of the Death. I'm starting all of my cards as original collages...the final card will be photoshopped and put into a more traditional format, but for now..... I'm going to break down how I've added specific elements to heighten the symbolism and meanings behind this card as I interpret it.

The grim reaper, here is redefined as an angel of death, the black robe replaced by black wings, the figure is somewhat androgynous at first glance, but further inspection will reveal very clearly that death is being portrayed by a woman. As women are so clearly linked to the concepts of birth and rebirth, it seemed like a natural choice. The aspects of transformation are addressed in multiple ways. The skull makes its appearance, the transformation from life to death and back again...exaggerated here by having the image on a two dimensional plane, and having the skull protrude into three dimensional space, playing between realms. The white rose, again a traditional symbol of rebirth, is placed over "death's" hand -- her offering, her promise of something new that will await you. A ghostly, semi-transparent, version of death, whole, but not, as she fades into the background, the process of transformation itself. The background with its intense colours, reminiscent of fire which consumes, destroys, and then allows for new growth. Images of skulls neatly and purposefully piled up, a reminder of all that has already transpired, changed, transformed in the past to allow us to be where we are today. And all of it behind a symbolic gate, keeping the past where it belongs, but allowing us to look back and reflect on what we see there.

Change, certainly can be most foreboding, however there are times when it is absolutely necessary.

Life is occupied in both perpetuating itself and in surpassing itself. If all it does is maintain itself, then living is only not dying.

- Simone de Beauvoir

And on that note, I think I'll leave you with this little number...

Final Countdown....

2011-05-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

Whether you've taken a class from Michael de Meng before or not, I can tell you that his next online course is going to be fantastic. In fact, I've already signed my mom up. Naturally I have a "backstage" pass - and what I've seen so far really goes well beyond what's possible to cover in one or two day project based workshops. If you ever wanted to know what all the thingamabobs and doodads for the various gizmos are all about....click here cause time is running out..........

I See a Tarot Deck in Your Future...

2011-04-04T10:10:00.000-07:00

Well, my future anyway. My tarot deck is already under way. By now you already know that I've always been drawn to art that is rich with symbolism, where you could literally stare at an image for great lengths of time trying to decipher all of the hidden meanings. Each card is like a little puzzle, some decks use triangles and curves to indicate whether the influences are from past or future, other rely greatly on the readers understanding of various mythologies to get their messages across and some are purely whimsical, cool art without much regard to the symbolism.

My first introduction to tarot cards was the Aquarian deck by Palladini my mother brought home one day. Wrapped in a silk scarf, and with a stack of tarot books for reference, she began daily readings....who wouldn't be intrigued?

David Palladini's Aquariam Tarot, still one of my absolute favourite decks

So now having studied several different decks for years, I've begun tackling my own. Each card starts out with my original artwork, then scanned, or photographed, some photoshop magic and voila! A tarot card is born. There are 78 cards in total....I'll keep you posted on the progress and hope you enjoy the process as much as I am.

Busy, busy, busy

2011-03-04T14:45:00.000-08:00

So the good news is that I'm back in the studio today with several "mini psyche's" under way. A bit of a challenge since my studio itself isn't completely unpacked yet, kind of making the whole process a bit of treasure hunt, but very exciting when I accidentally stumble upon just the right tidbit.

Recently got back from New Orleans and now getting ready for ArtFest next month where I'll be teaching a couple of classes on both my layered collage and illustration/painting techniques.

New Orleans was fantastic, well here, see for yourself....the best review of the trip you're gonna get is from my travel partner extraordinaire Michael deMeng. I could tell you all about it, but truly, he does a much better job (and he had the camera...).

I'll leave you with a quick New Orleans voodoo inspired sketch for now, and more from the studio later...

The Mystical Eight of Swords

2010-09-01T22:42:00.000-07:00

I may have mentioned once or twice before just how much I adore tarot cards. Beautifully depicted scenes rich in symbolism awaiting mystic and metaphoric interpretation - what could be better? In the course of doing personal tarot card readings (what?! you didn't know I moonlight as a gypsy?) I had noticed the recurrence of the 8 of swords in my readings. Now if you aren't familiar with the 8 of swords, well, it's not the friendliest looking card in the deck; sure, it doesn't strike the same fear in your heart as some of the other cards like "Death" or the "Tower", but it's not exactly what you want to see on a regular basis either.

Essentially, this is a card of bondage and oppression from an outside force, however, spiritually and emotionally you play some fundamental role in your current circumstance. The situation you find yourself in is of your own making and it fear that provides the bondage. You will typically see the eight of swords represented by a woman bound, blindfolded and surrounded by swords that stand guard around her or hold her prisoner depending on your perspective. A tower or fortress of some kind rises up in the background signifying the oppressor, and often the ground appears marshy and wet to show the discomfort and uncertainty. Because she is blindfolded she is unaware of the fact she is in fact surrounded by the very tools that will either prove to be her utter undoing or allow her to cut her bindings and result in her freedom, but the fact still remains that despite the bleak appearance, she does indeed have a way out.

After much reflection, I decided to reintrepret the 8 of swords like this:

Sometimes it isn't what you don't see that imprisons you, but what you don't say. Enough said.

The Visionary

2010-06-24T13:49:00.000-07:00

I promised my friend Angela Kennedy on the Creative Souls ning that one of these days I would actually explain what I was thinking while I was creating some of my wood panel collages. Usually, I prefer to let the viewer make up their own mind about what a piece might mean, I find it absolutely fascinating the way that our own life experiences, culture and personal bias colours the way we interpret elements of art, but I digress; which you've noticed by now happens often...

This latest piece titled "The Visionary" depicts a woman living in one time, but who is looking forward to another. She is trapped in her body and her mind is longing for something different. She is in such need for a different reality that she can clearly visualize it. This is emphasized through the addtion of the watch piece as a monocle. The chain creates a connection between the monocle and the door knocker at her chest (heart) further accentuating the depth and magnitude of her longing to be in a different time. The collage elements that form the woman's body heighten the awareness of a woman pulled between two places in time. The turban suggests an older form of dress, while the grungy ink covering her eye suggests a more recent time. The ink further represents her vision obscured by tears that trickle down her face as she is denied the existence she so desperately seeks. In the background collaged numbers and pencils represent a time that women were denied access to education. The antique brass compass and chest piece reminds of the same facts, contrasted by the metal plate from a microchip that brings us to modern times and the emancipation of women.

So that's my biased interpretation of "The Visionary" - now, what do you think it all means?

Working Backwards

2010-04-09T12:57:00.000-07:00

I don't know what happened to March. Really I just don't. One minute it was March 1st, then the next thing I know it's practically the middle of April....how did that happen? Anyway, as it appears that I'm in some type of time warp, I figure that I'm just gonna go with it and post events backwards....I promise that eventually I'll tell you all about ArtFest - amazing artists Richard Salley, Jesse Reno and Keith Lo Bue....and then go back in time a little further to the phenomenal Michael deMeng Vancouver workshop at the Upstart Crow, but for now...I've been working on something new. A new collage series that unites my love of different mediums and techniques and fuses them together to create these:

Le Couer Gardé (the guarded heart)

12" x 24" Cradled Wood Panel

Tons of layers and textures in this piece and yes her heart is covered in shattered mica pieces and guarded with wires and nails.

The Journey of a Man

12" x 24" Cradled Wood Panel

Vancouver 2 0 * 1 * 0*

2010-02-25T00:58:00.000-08:00

I can hardly believe that February is almost over. Living in Vancouver during the sporting event that I'm not allowed to mention by name has been pretty crazy, but crazy in a good way for a change. Unfortunately a little too busy for much art making. I did however manage to get in a quick digital challenge over at Digital Whisper, a Valentine's Day Card using a stock image pair of lips. Here's what I came up with:

Hope everyone's Valentine's Day was spectacular! Now I need to order supplies and gear up for Michael de Meng's class and ArtFest next month. Can't wait!!!

Why it's good to be a "PLAYER"

2010-02-07T20:09:00.000-08:00

It was last minute and very impromptu, but a bit of time for PLAY was necessary and what better place than Port Townsend, WA with Teesha and Tracy Moore at their PLAY retreat (and yes, everyone who goes is called a "player"). A group of very talented artists got together, shared ideas, techniques, and creative energy. It was fantastic! Everyone had an opportunity to work on whatever projects they chose, and many of us chose to create new journals using polymer clay following some samples and demos that Tracy and Steve Salic provided to guide us along the way.

I've never really worked with polymer clay before, so I thought I'd give it a try.....here's book number one:

The Book of Dreams

The crown and the keyhole are metal embellishments that were glued and then painted, the spine is leather, and everything else is polymer clay. I used a combination of molds, stamps and some freestylin' clay manipulations. All in all, not too bad for the first try.

Then, feeling fairly confident, I figured I'd make a journal for my oldest daughter, she has trouble falling asleep, so I thought that I would make her what I call a Tranquility Journal, where she could write down her thougths and quiet her mind before bed. I based it one of my drawings called Tranquility:

Tranquility sketch

Taking a drawing a turning it into something out of polymer clay, well, let me just say it was tougher than I thought it was going to be, but here's what I ended up with:

Tranquility Journal Cover

I must say that this isn't exactly the result that I was hoping for and there are definitely a number of things that I would differently next time, but it was a good learning experience. I also think that it was good preparation for my next polymer clay experiment which will involve making eyes in preparation for the next Michael deMeng class that I'll be taking in March. Yup, that's right, Michael is going to be teaching right here in Vancouver, if you are anywhere in the vicinity you are not going to want to miss it - he is a phenomenal teacher (and artist!)...check out his website for all of the details. By the way, if anyone out there knows how to make eyes out of polymer clay, I'm in desperate need of all the tips and tricks you've got!!!!

A Confession for Day Three

2010-01-24T00:13:00.000-08:00

Reluctantly, I have to admit I struggled a bit with this one. I looked at the original that Angi sent me, and I got nothing, no vision for what I wanted to do. I looked at the collage and wondered "What is she trying to say?" And then, as I was studying the collage, I began feeling that this woman seems worldly, not a huge stretch given all of the buildings on her head, I know, but hey at least now I had a starting point. Then I began reflecting on when the "Digital Smackdown" started: I began with the image of a young woman at the pivotal transition in her life where she is deciding what path she'll follow to find her destiny (see Day One). The second collage is a young adult woman which inspired the fertile and nurturing Empress (Day Two). Well now, I'm thinking that this woman has "arrived", she's chosen her life path, maybe raised her family, has a wealth of experiences, knows her own mind, and while she's still looking forward to all that is yet to come, she has accomplished much and is somewhat self-satisfied. Here's what the original looked like:

Now clearly to achieve my new found vision for this piece there were going to have be some changes.The turnkey in her back - gone, this woman was in control, she can't depend on being wound up to get where she wants to go, and she gets where she's going under her own steam, so bye-bye birdie. I added some of the great landmarks of our time into her headress, representing her worldliness and accomplishment. A tiny hot air balloon hovers in the distance to remind us of her desire for future adventures. A few more additions, some more photoshop adjustments and voila:

Smackdown Day Three is done! I'm hoping that you see her as accomplished and worldly as I do, and you've enjoyed these "smackdowns" as much as I have! Thanks Angi!!!

Smackdown Day Two!

2010-01-06T11:28:00.000-08:00

For day two of the challenge, Angi sent us this scan of her original collage. I knew in an instant what her transformation would look like:

So this is what I came up with...

I've been fascinated with the gorgeous designs featured on Tarot cards for a very long time. I just love the way every single element on the cards have a purpose, no single element is ever there by chance. With skillfull intrepretation the "reader" can divine the cards meaning and significance. So when I saw Angi's original collage, the nest, flowers, and bunnies immediately made me think of the Empress. Surrounded by the bounty of the earth and symbols of fertility, the Empress represents Matriarchal authority, the birth of new ideas, and creativity. I placed three eggs in the nest to represent her maternal nature and also the new ideas that she is nurturing (three specifically, because the Empress is the third card of the Major Arcana in the deck). The crossed arms are added embracing the nest in a gentle, yet protective fashion. A crown, a halo, a few more layers and adjustments and ta da....The Empress.

Smackdown!

2009-12-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

So, my good friend Angi Sullins comes to me the other day and asks if I want to take part in a "Digital Smackdown". She creates a collage the "old fashioned" way scans and sends it to a bunch of us graphic designer type geeks and we see what we can come up with by digitally altering the image. The challenge is on to create the most appealing result - and may the best guy or gal win. The rules are that there are no rules except that each design must be completed in one day, we can do whatever we want to the image as long as you can tell in the end that we did use Angi's original image as our starting point. Sounds like fun, so I'm in! Here's what happened on day one:

This is Angi's collage, the starting image for everyone in the challenge. I was really drawn to the youthful sweetness of the face and the whimsy of the hat, so here's what I came up with:

This piece I call "Destiny at the End of a Branch". The green background is infused with pastels and greenery indicative of spring and therefore the beginnings of life and youth. Our young friend here wears a whimsical hat indicative of the folly of youth and has several butterflies in their airy spirit to represent the different possibilities and paths that may yet be chosen. The body is a symbolic cage, or simply a home for the spirit or soul that takes refuge here for now; the cage is monochromatic, while the soul is full of light, life and colour. At the end of the branch is the gilded cage, where one butterfly is feeling things out. The door is still open, all things are still possible.

Between the Covers

2009-11-17T23:38:00.000-08:00

I attended Journalfest last month because there were a couple of bookbinding workshops that I just had to take. I've been fascinated with the book making process for sometime, in particular the dimensional books with beautifully stitched exposed bindings that just beg to be examined and filled with all manner of inspired paraphernalia....but I digress. I thought I would start out by learning the basics, from some of the best in their craft. Daniel Essig, who is by all accounts what you could only call a true master craftsman, taught an enthusiastic group of artists and amateur bookbinders his technique for a smock stitched Mica covered book. This is my book here:

Corpse Mica Journal

This is one of Dan's books featured in the Smithsonian. Hey, when you really want to nail down your ideas...

Dan Essig - Book of Nails II at the Smithsonian

Then LK Ludwig taught us her unique techniques for painting journal pages and binding them together using some cording, waxed linen thread and a couple of old book covers. Her easy manner, generosity and thorough directions made the class a pleasure to attend.

Criss Cross Journal

If you ever have the opportunity to take classes from either of these two artists - I highly recommend them! Now I.m off to hit the books...

An Artful Fetish for Words

2009-11-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

I've had a love affair with words for as long as I can remember. As a precocious youngster, I would read the dictionary for fun. (Hey, I didn’t say I was popular, just precocious). I understood all too well that the pen truly is mightier than the sword, and a word once spoken would linger and continue its impact long after it has been uttered. Words are powerful indeed and "fetish" is one of the greats - it's an attention seeking word, it has sizzle and as many exciting synonyms as you can imagine: obsession, fixation, mania. Fetish is a word with a dark side; a word perfect for the world of art!

Fetish:–noun

1. an object regarded with awe as being the embodiment or habitation of a potent spirit or as having magical potency.

2. any object, idea, etc., eliciting unquestioning reverence, respect, or devotion: to make a fetish of high grades.

3. Psychology. any object that causes a habitual response or fixation.

Yes, I confess, I have an art fetish. There's no question in my mind that every artist pours at least a little magical potency into their work and that it is meant to elicit strong feelings. That the artist aspired to create a sense of awe and wonder, and more than likely went through at least a brief period of fixation before the piece was done.

I wish to share with you some of my favourites here. The artists and the artworks that embody a potent spirit, and along the way I promise I’ll share with you my fixations and challenges in creating art that I hope will inspire others.