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LOCAL AND BEYOND is a showing of art by myself Rod Winning. 27 pces at the Tsawwassen Library Art Room

Inspiration: 'I SEE YOU' did it for me.

Sometimes the things that inspire you and bring ideas into your head are simple. It's like when you're sittng with a pen or paint brush in your hand, and a blank paper just waiting for the first mark and you can't get started. Writers block or blank out.

Well I was recently inspired by one of my simple paintings. Yes something I created from scratch, inspired me to do other things. Not necessarily an ispiration for a painting but being inspired to actually get going and do somthing. You see it's easy to just get through the day keeping busy but not accomplishing. Retired people have to plan their days and make sure to keep active, busy and worthwhile. Hobbies are fine but that's just not enough for most. If you have a hobby, then make it fun and get active. Volunteer and join the local group of that hobby. Get others involved and make it your business to become an expert at your hobby. Maybe it's golf, tennis, lawnbowling or another sport. Maybe it's reading, writing, debating, crafts or painting.

My hobby is painting and like most things you do, you get better as you do it more often. I got involved with the South Delta Artists Guild and joined other painters in a quest to not only get better but to enjoy. I network with other artists and enjoy the Painting, Learning, Showing and even selling paintings.

My little painting 9 x 12 acrylic I SEE YOU with the birds, people, animals and eyes talks to me and makes me want to do something. Hopefully something important enough to satisfy the need to not just keep busy but to be productive and worthwhile among friends and family.

I hope you can see something in my painting too. Maybe I should change it's name to INSPIRE!!

We surprised a lot of people with our energetic show of works by myself Rod Winning and Dennis SNL Walsh. The show was perfectly hung by our gallery manager and friend Lea Price. We did a lot of marketing via print, newspaper and social media surprise art show facebook page to ensure a good turnout. Then of course the work to get paintings done and ready to hang.

We instituted a dot system where each attendee placed a red dot on their fav painting of mine and fav of Dennis. I had over 300 dots on my paintings and I know which the people liked the most and just importantly which didn't get any dots. Important in future painting if one expects to make any sales although I would still have to paint for myself first.

Over 60 entries to the art contest which was juryed by FCA member Marlene Strain and her art class. Prizes will be awarded Feb 13th at the GAllery 1710 Tsawwassen BC to 7 winners Plus the winners of the draw door prizes.

The reception on Jan 30 was well attended by over 100 people who enjoyed the fab food by Corrine, Jackie and MaryAnn. One patron said ' you guys have set a new standard for art show food after 40 years of cheese & crackers'.Kudos to the cooks!

The Piano Bar entertainment in the gallery provided by Jim Olsen, professional musician, teacher and Royal Conservatory National Adudicator. Jim entertained everyone with his wide selection of music.

The continuous slide show of our works was shown to music in the Workshop Bistro, set up with coffee tables and chairs where the food was set out for all to enjoy the good food and relaxed atmosphere. We had help from several members of the South Delta Artists Guild as well as good support from the local Delta Optimist Newspaper with a nice article and photo. Our professional photographer took good pictures of our paintings and the show and people too for use in any further promotions. The Surprise Art Show facebook page will become our combined page to show up coming events. Like us there.

Thanks to all who came, bought, enjoyed, painted and had fun. I never did meet Harry Bellick but he wrote a great critique on the show. Nice to get good comments and reports.

Surprise! Rod Winning and Dennis Walsh

This is our first at show at a REAL art gallery. Gallery 1710, the South Delta Artists Guild gallery at 1710 56th St. Tsawwassen BC is the best little art gallery south of the Fraser.

It's a lot of work promoting the show to make sure friends, colleagues, relatives and associates attend and then to get people we don't even know yet is another task. Reception night food, entertainment, fun, painting, presentations all take time to organize. Business Cards, posters, letters, Facebook, Linkedin, Guild website, personal website, blogs, on on on

When do we actually get more paintings done, some new stuff to put in with the old paintings. Will they like them. Will Dennis's be better than mine, Will we be lonely sitting there for 9 hours a day? Well it's only a week so why not. It's a great chance to show off our work and hopefully get a few compliments. I've been busy identifying all my work with name card with prices but thought I'd put that on the back of the painting and just have a list ( catalog ) with prices so anyone could see how the prices range and check on any particular painting. I have also make up story cards so each framed painting will have a name and story. I'll have lots of unframed paintings and the matted paintings which have been put into sleeves and prices reasonably to sell. Ill have them iin tubs so anyone interested can flip through them at their leisure.

We have a lot of support from some Guild members and we're looking forward to this event.

BTW

We'd like to get discovered by someone who would ask us to show our works downtown or at least somewhere different. Maybe you're that person. Come and see our show and have some fun.

At the South Delta Artists Guild, we are collaborating with the South Delta Secondary School for the 4th annual Poets and Painters Art Show. 60 poems are written by the creative writing class and then distributed 30 to student artists and 30 to Guild member artists to be interpreted into a painting.

The theme this year is A Cappella music without instruments, beautiful harmonies of voices ... here's the poem I received to paint. Looks like it's a serious matter requiring much thought and attention to do it justice.

I hear you though you do not call,

I wait though you do not come,

you are not here to see me fall.

Inside my soul your voice still sings,

no longer in harmony with mine,

Hopelessly I hear its ring.

Too tired to fight the numbing pain,

I curl up inside myself,

and wait for the healing rain.

A beautiful haunting poem which will remain anonymous for now. My painting has to be completed by mid Decmber for the show hanging first week January '14.

If this brings a vision to you or an idea for a painting subject, please let me know. Remember, I don't do people, animals or faces. Each year this is a very popular show because of the community involvement of the youth, adults, teachers, sponsors and general support from parents, sibs, family and peers of the arts and the school.

Waiting

Rod Winning

Have you ever looked at the faces of people on the street, in the shops, on the busses, hoping to see that someone you used to know? The one that got away? Dr Zhivago looking for Lara?

Do you see shapes and 'things' in the clouds or stop the car to watch the sunset or get up early to see a sunrise? Do you look at trees, bushes, flowers and mountains and think how they stand out from each other, how the shadows define thier shapes or how individual they all are? I guess I've always been a dreamer and have always taken an interest but not like I have since taking my first watercolour classes in 2009. Ever since, I see all these things differently, as objects to be admired, studied, painted.

Well it's pretty obvious that no artist can paint everything they see. That's a really tough part. All those subjects and so little time. I see why Van Gogh and Monet just couldn't handle the stress of trying to focus on just a few things. How are we going to zero in on the few subjects we can actually paint? how can we multiply our efforts to do more? Which subjects will I paint? So many questions, so much stress, how do artists handle it? Painting is supposed to be calming and therapeutic, time consuming and easy on the brain. Perfect for retired people who have got themselves out of the rat race.

Is there an answer or is it just the way it is. I'll just keep painting and appreciate the fact that people enjoy my art. It hangs in our home and in some friends homes. It has been purchased by nrealated patrons that love it and hang it in prominent places in their homes. Even got a couple of paintings hanging in England. Okay then, that shoud be enough to keep me going, shouldn't it. Rod Winnng Artist

Surroundings Sept 23 to Oct 5 at the Tsawwassen Arts Centre has been a lot of fun. It's great to see most o my artwork up in one place, I didn't know I had so much. At the reception on Sept 27th we had fine canapes made by my world famous Chef son Michael Turner which just wowed the art friends and family that attended. I sold 6 smaller paintings but the important part for me was the brilliant comments i got about my work. Mostly I think I surprised a lot of people with the quality but also with the quantity I put up.

We had people from England who took home a couple of shrink wrapped paintings so I guess I can say my work is hanging in England.

Jim Olsen, a concert pianist sat down at the Grand Piano and played for the guest for a while.

Harry Bellick was in attendance and has written a piece for my facebook timeline.

The show ends Oct 5th. Rod Winning Artist