Career Day--"I Want To Be An Artist"

Career Day: "I Want To Be An Artist!"

Last week I had the opportunity to talk to first and second graders at Hominy Valley Elementary School about being an artist. Whenever the Career Day letter comes home I am tempted to volunteer no matter how busy my schedule--especially because I know I would have LOVED having an artist come to visit when I was in elementary school. And let's not forget to mention the encouragement from my daughter!

Although my calendar is packed tight it worked out for me to be there this year for Career Day. Above is a photo of me speaking with my daughter's class...and that's my daughter Martha Grace beside me helping. Needless to say, she was happy I was there! (I love the proud look on her face!)  

It was fun for me to share with the children and teachers. I told them about my lifelong love or art, studying art in college, and how I have been a professional artist in The River Arts District since 2008. I also showed them my materials and gave a small demonstration. The children were bursting with questions and things to share. As we discussed how my subject is usually flowers and I like to help people feel at peace, one little boy very seriously asked if I've ever made a painting of bacon and eggs. Um....I cannot say that I have! But think about it--wouldn't that cause us to feel something unique? Perhaps the feeling isn't peace but laughter or even hunger. Don't kids say the darnedest things?!

Another little girl raised her hand and I could tell she really wanted to ask a question. "Do you have a question for me?" She replied,"No...but I wanted to tell you somethings. Yesterday was a very bad day for me. I went to time out a lot." Bless her heart! We all have days that aren't much fun, don't we? This led to a great conversation about the kinds of things we can do to help when we are frustrated...and one of those things is to draw! Ah...the therapeutic qualities of creating. I was glad she brought that topic up!

One particularly bright second grader was especially encouraging. He very intently looked at my artwork and had very perceptive comments, relating each of the pieces to various artists throughout history. It turns out he has a special love of art history and is fascinated by artists. During my demonstration I spoke about how I like to draw a flower from various angles--that I like for my painting to feel more like the experience of looking at a flower, with light bouncing off of it at various places, the wind blowing it, our eyes moving around the flower, etc. He quickly shot us his hand with something he was very excited about. "You know, that is exactly what the cubists were doing! You are like Picasso!" Well there you go...me and Picasso! I'll take it!

The Laurel of Asheville features Molly and her mother Bee Sieburg

photo by Leah Shapiro for The Laurel of Asheville

The following is a small write-up from the June issue of The Laurel of Asheville.  We loved meeting Leah Shapiro who conducted the interview and were even pleased with the photograph that she took!  (How often does that happen?!  And she only took a few!  Way to go, Leah!)  How wonderful that she was able to capture our style, work, and personalities in this short piece.  Thank you, Leah, for the job well done!  Bravo!

  Shop Talk:  Molly Courcelle and Bee Sieburg

 Molly Courcelle and her mother Bee Sieburg create oil paintings that inspire feelings of joy. Their passion for art and optimism for life run in the family. Sharing a talent for floral design, they opened The Gardener’s Cottage in Biltmore Village, which they sold in 2004. Bee’s paintings can still be purchased there. They also teach full-day oil painting workshops together twice a year. Molly’s works are as much about the process as they are about the final image. “They’re based on flowers and plants, but have a spiritual quality to them,” says Molly, whose Christian faith plays an important role in her art. Her style is abstract, but starts from a point of nature, such as a leaf or stem. Her paintings are peaceful and serene. “I like to paint things that make my heart sing,” says Bee. Her works are largely based on photographs she takes, and her subjects are often interiors, landscapes, and animals like cows. Representational and impressionist, Bee’s unique style is free and energetic. Molly & Bee’s working studios are located on the second floor (2A) in The Wedge, 129 S. Roberts Street in the River Arts District. For more information, visit mollycourcelle.com, and beesieburg.com, or call 828.275.0640, and 828.279.4945, respectively. - See more at: http://www.thelaurelofasheville.com/shop-talk-molly-courcelle-and-bee-sieburg.html#sthash.W1Y4q0rF.dpuf

 

Dorris Commission:  Bound Together

48x48 inch painting "Bound Together" in the studio, May 2014



 

    Recently I was asked what my typical commission is like.  Honestly there is no typical commission.  Most, however, are interested in a color scheme or a spiritual theme from my website.  Some have a Bible verse or a favorite hymn to reference.  Some simply admire my work and would like me to come up with something to go along with their fabric swatches and paint chips.  Each one, though, it special and memorable...and a creative challenge. 

    Shown above is a painting that was delivered this weekend to sweet clients in Athens, GA.  They were interested in work that resembled colors and styles of a few of my former pieces and were especially drawn to the spiritual theme behind my "threads" paintings.  These pieces are about how the Lord is sovereign over all of the details of our lives...weaving them all together according to His will. 

     I came up with the title to this piece while reading through my Bible.  To me this painting is about how God's sovereignty binds people together...how he uses our relationships to grow us and encourage us and nurture us.  I found some passages in Colossians that speak about this nicely.  From it's words,  "Bound Together" became to title to the painting.

     "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." 

Bound Together, May 2014
 

 

    





Carolina Home + Garden, Winter 2013

 Garden of Verses

Molly Courcelle's floral-inspired paintings are rooted in scripture

By Joanne O'Sullivan

Portrait by Matt Rose

Molly Courcelle recalls her favorite art class in college: live drawing, where each student had just one minute to capture the model’s form. That quick study, she says, trained her to focus on line and gesture, something that still informs her work today. Her nature-inspired paintings start with a dark (sometimes warm) ground applied with a house paint brush. Then she fills in the space with a small brush loaded with white, leaving a suggestion of form — leaves, vines, petals, or a ginko leaf for example — to come through. “It’s a push and pull” between the dark and the light that produces the movement and color in her work, she says, and that creates a certain mood (ranging from soothing to energizing), that makes her work so popular. But in recent years, her work has been driven by a force more powerful than popular design: her Christian faith.
Broken Road
Growing up in Winston-Salem as the daughter of well known  painter Bee Sieburg, Courcelle says she was constantly exposed to art: her mother took her out to paint plein air and the family frequented museums, especially when they lived in Maryland, not far from Washington, DC. Courcelle majored in painting at Wake Forest University, teaching art at Camp Greystone in Tuxedo during the summer. She moved to Boston after college and worked in floral design and retail, but relocated to Asheville after her parents settled here.
Together, she and her mother opened The Gardener’s Cottage in Biltmore Village in 1998, with Sieburg operating the flower part of the business and Courcelle running the boutique. The mother-daughter team owned the business until selling it around the time the first of Courcelle’s two sons was born.
Fixed and Focused
The two now work across the hall from each other on the second floor of the Wedge building in the River Arts District, each with her own painting studio. They sometimes teach workshops together. Courcelle’s retail background has aided her success as an artist. She keeps up on design trends and works closely with an Atlanta gallery owner finding ways to interpret her aesthetic to marketable works. When her sons were very young, says Courcelle, she was content to paint what was popular. “I could paint a bird a day,” she says. But having the technical skills to do so didn’t necessarily make her feel fulfilled. She looked for a way to tie her work more closely to her growing faith.
Before meeting Asheville artist Carol Bomer, Courcelle says she never, felt “bold enough” to put references to spiritual themes in her work. Faith was strong in her family growing up, but it was a private matter. But Bomer — who has a studio across the street from Courcelle — offered an example of an artist whose work expresses Christian beliefs without being too representational.
Lift up Your Eyes and See
Courcelle started to focus her work on exploring different scriptures, trying to capture the essence of their message in paint. Rather than use liturgical images, Courcelle uses familiar motifs such as flowers and vines, or her signature loose, gestural abstracts. “I try to be gentle about it,” she says. A passage in Isaiah, for example, relays teachings about nurturing and growth. On the canvas, the teaching is expressed as a blossoming vine and branches emerging from a soft white background. While viewers can appreciate one of her spiritually motivated paintings simply for its aesthetic values, they may also find deeper meaning in them if they are so inclined. A client might walk away with a painting, print or postcard that touches them visually, but later discover that Courcelle’s intention behind it speaks to them, too.
Growth Pattern
“Art is a gift that I’ve been given, but at times being an artist can seem self-involved,” she says. “This is a way to give my work more purpose.” Her faith-driven approach to work renewed her energy and commitment to painting. “It’s true to my own voice,” she says.
Molly Courcelle’s studio is located in the Wedge Building in the River Arts District, at 129 Roberts Street and is open most weekdays and Saturdays. More of her work can be seen at www.mollycourcelle.com. Her prints, paintings and cards can be purchased in her etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/MollyCourcelleArt.

Commissions!

Painting Commissions

My home studio

     Since this summer, my painting time has primarily been dedicated to painting commissions--custom pieces painted specifically for clients.  This seems to be a very appealing idea and I have had more and more people ask about getting onto my schedule to have a painting created  for them. Below is the overview I created to allow people to see how my commissions work.  If you are interested in a piece, please contact me and we can discuss it!  (I will tell you upfront that my biggest limitation is time...and I have a full schedule of commissions, currently.  As it mentions below, once I receive your deposit I will schedule you into the calendar.)

 

Commissioned Artwork Overview

Initial Meeting:

     The first step in the commission process is to arrange a time for us to meet and talk about what you are looking for.  We will discuss the size of the piece, the colors and style that interest you, and the timeline for completing the piece.  It is helpful for me to know if there are particular paintings of mine that resonate with you.  This gives me an idea of how I will approach your piece.  Images of previous work can be seen at my website (www.mollycourcelle.com) and on Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/mollycourcelle/my-own-paintings/).  Please know that I can try to emulate previously painted pieces, but it is impossible to recreate a painting.

     We will also go over my pricing format.  I charge by size and have a fixed price for most standard sizes as I like to keep things consistent among all of the places where my work is sold, including my galleries, studio, and commissioned work.  I have been able to offer a slight discount to designers in the past, however, custom paintings cannot be discounted.

     I often paint about Biblical themes and love expressing spiritual ideas in my work.  If you have a special verse or theme that has particular meaning to you, I am happy to try to incorporate it into the painting.  My website and blog can give you an idea of some of the things I have painting about previously. 

     At this initial meeting I will take a non-refundable deposit of $200.00.  It will go toward the total price of the piece, the balance which is due upon completion.   This secures your place on my schedule.  Unfortunately I am usually “booked” and am not able to paint something for you right away.  I can usually give you a ball park idea of when I will get started on your painting.  I allow three to four weeks for each painting. 

Next Steps:

   Next I will write up a proposal for you to review and to sign.  This will go over all that we discussed in the first meeting and will make sure that we are understanding each other as best as we are able.  Clarifications can be made at this point as well as along the way.

Painting Process:

     As mentioned before, I allow myself three to four weeks for each commissioned work.   My process is very spontaneous and reactionary which means that my pieces go through major transformations as I paint them.  (I plan to have a blog post about this soon.  I have been taking photos lately of my pieces as they are being painted to show how radically they transform along the way.)  Because my paintings change so much it is not helpful for you to see the work until it is nearly complete.  I have found that it can be very confusing to see the painting too early…I may be able to imagine it finished but you may be alarmed at how it looks.  I will reveal the piece at a nearly completed stage and we can discuss it then.  It is best to see it in person.  Photographs are often misleading…especially in regard to color and scale. 

      Hopefully at this point you will love the painting and we can plan a time for you to pick it up.  If small changes are to be made I will do my best to make them quickly and without changing too much of the overall painting.  Large changes are tricky.  Since the piece had been almost completed and is approaching a finished stage it is best for me to begin again if there are major changes instead of sacrificing a painting.  This second work will need to be completed at the next available space on my painting schedule.  If it does not work out at this point you may decline it and I will keep the deposit.

Receiving the Painting:

     The last step in the painting process is to glaze it and let the glaze dry.  Unfortunately oil paint takes about a week to dry. (I use water soluble oils which help speed the process.  Traditional oils take longer.)  You may then come to pick up the piece. J If you live in Asheville I can deliver it to you.  Delivery outside of Asheville may be done for a small fee or perhaps will be shipped.  Shipping will be added to the bill.  The balance of the bill is paid in full, either by check or credit card.  The painting then becomes yours!

At Home:

     Seeing the artwork hung is a joy…and often more effective than I even imagine as I paint the piece.  I would love to have a photograph of your painting installed at your home.  I have started a page on my website of installed paintings and it would be a blessing to be able to add your home to the collection!

Questions:

     If you have any questions about the process, my work, my schedule, etcetera, please feel free to contact me.  I have tried to go over most of the important parts of the commission process on these pages without being overwhelming. 

     Thank you for your interest!

   

A Special Visit: Blog Writer Amy Heywood

 Playing Sublimely

    Painting in the studio, August 21, 2013.  Photo courtesy of Amy Heywood, Playing Sublimely for the King

     Now that my boys are back to school I have been busy at work painting.  Nose to the grindstone.  I have five commissions right now, as well as a new gallery...plus an empty studio, since my summers are spent with my kids.  I am in need of some new work!  I have been working like mad to get things done.  My current project has been a fun one:  a large abstract, 4 feet by 5 feet, a stage of it shown above.  Initially it "fell off of my brush,"  as my mother likes to say.  But finishing it has been a struggle.  I am glad that there are fun things that happen in the studio almost weekly.  Being open to the public assures that!

     Last week I had an unexpected surprise. Blogger Amy Heywood, who writes the gorgeous and inspiring blog called "Playing Sublimely for the King" paid me a visit.  Talk about fun!  We did not have nearly enough time and I was, sadly, distracted with my large commission.  I still have lots of questions for her, especially about her faith journey--I always find it exciting to hear how the Lord got a hold of people's hearts :).  She is a sister in Christ and is using her gifts for His glory--and doing it well.

     Instead of my writing any more about our visit, I'll let you take a look yourself at what she has written.  Needless to say, I was blessed by her visit.  Here is a link to her blog:   http://www.playingsublimely.com/2013/08/asheville-its-kinda-the-place-to-be/http://www.playingsublimely.com/2013/08/asheville-its-kinda-the-place-to-be/

    And here is a photo of Amy and her family.  Stunning, aren't they? 

 

     As I mentioned before, Amy's blog is called "Playing Sublimely for the King."  This title shows that she understands the absolute thrill of being a part of God's divine plan...the joy and gift it is to be His vessel.   She explains it in the following paragraph taken from the about page on her blog:

 Antonio Stradivari was a seventeenth-century violin maker. The name Stradivari, in it’s Latin form, can be translated as excellence. In Max Lucado’s book, The Applause of Heaven, he explains that Antonio believed that to make a violin any less than his best would be to cheat God, who could not make Antonio Stradivari violins without Antonio. Though God is all powerful and needs nothing from anyone, out of His grace, He has allowed us to be a part of His story. He has gifted me with certain things that only I can do, and gifted you with unique things that only you can do.  He says, “In the great orchestra of life, you have an instrument and a song, and you owe it to God to play them both sublimely”.

Don't you just love that?  

Lift Up Your Eyes and See What is Promised

Lift Up Your Eyes and See What is Promised

Lift Up Your Eyes, 24x24, oil on board

     Just this week I completed a pair of landscapes for a client.  The titles are "Lift Up Your Eyes and See" and "See What is Promised", both from Genesis 13. They are inspired by the Western North Carolina mountains but are a reference to the goodness of God. Isn't it true that we can see His goodness when we look at His creation? Glorious.
      Today the Lord showed me something new--that this glorious creation is also a reflection of His promises. While coming up with a title for these pieces I could not stop thinking about Abraham and his great faith as he traveled to new lands.  He trusted the promises made by God. The Lord comforted him over and over by revealing His covenant to him--"Lift up your eyes and see the land that I will give to you and your offspring forever," Genesis 13. Again, in Genesis 15, Abraham is told, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars...so many shall your offspring be." In the past I have focused on the result part of these statements--the things that God was promising specifically to Abraham and his descendents.  But today I see the action involved to get to those promises.  I was shown that I can view beautiful world around me and recall His promises.  This beauty can be a physical reminder of what He has done and is doing!  When we need encouragement, when things are not going as we think that they should, when we cannot imagine that our situations are working toward any purpose or good, He says, "Lift up your eyes, Look up; believe in the goodness of my plans, trust in my promises." I have been given a new perspective.  

See What is Promised, 24x24, oil on board