The Abstract and Contemporary Art of Rebecca Wise Girson News

Today's Creation: Black Wallpaper

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 15:42:18 CDT

I'm not sure that the title "Black Wallpaper" is the one that will stick, but it's what this mixed media painting I created today reminds me of. Do you agree? It would also look good as fabric for a bedspread or a chair, perhaps. Hmmmm....?

Sometimes when I haven't been in the studio for a while, I like to start with works like this to just get me going. There's no particular subject I'm portraying, and there certainly isn't some deeper meaning I'm trying to convey. It's just something to get my hands dirty and my creative juices flowing.

So, here's a question for you. If you walked into someone's powder room and saw this on the wall would you think..."It's gotta go!" or "Gimmee some mo'!" (To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure I know the answer to that question myself ;)

Has Anybody Seen Rebecca Wise Girson, the Artist?

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 08:21:51 CDT

It's an understatement to say that a lot has been going on lately, although you wouldn't know it by looking at this website. No new paintings added (although I have painted a few). No new blog posts since October of 2010 (although I have been blogging...just not here).

The end of 2010 was pretty overwhelming in the Day Job department. I received a promotion and a Director's title, but before you get too impressed, this promotion came with no staff and no salary increase. As my husband likes to say "Will you be paying by cash, check or title today?"

I was finally able to convince the powers that be that I needed help (no, not that kind of help). After back-to-back sales kick-off trips to Bangkok and Puerto Rico, I finally had the help I so desperately needed and told myself that between the two of us, we'd get a handle on the outstanding projects. When every project I delegated was magically replaced by two more, it dawned on me that any thought of ever geting on top of things was a total illusion on my part.

So what did I do? I made a plan and drew a line in the sand. While on a wine-tasting, four-wheeling (not necessarily in that order) team-building trip to Israel this past April, I let my boss know that a member of his team was resigning.

Initially, my plan was to throw myself into my art and build a business around supporting other creative professionals (Artist With a Day Job). But my wallet soon came to the conclusion that it might be better if I create a new Day Job leveraging my former Day Job experience. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending upon how I look at it) I landed my first client almost immediately and, as a result, I've had to say "good-bye" to the summer sabbatical and "hello" to bi-weekly trips to Brooklyn.

So I think we've found Rebecca Wise Girson, the Artist. She's sitting here on a Saturday morning making excuses about why she hasn't been painting instead of taking advantage of the morning to make something. For shame...for shame....

Post Note: I know that many of you overcome huge obstacles in addition to your Day Job and still "show-up" at the canvas. My hat is off to you and you have my respect. If interested in the opportunity to be profiled on the Artist With a Day Job site, please let me know.

Art in the Morning

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:45:29 CDT

Not every day starts out like this (but maybe they should).

This morning I woke up at my usual time (approximately 4:30 a.m.), got up, fed the cats and pushed the button on the coffee maker. But instead of taking my first cup to bed and watching yet another episode of "House Hunters International," I stayed in the studio and got my early-riser butt to work.

Coffee, a candle, a kitty (or two,) nice music and art supplies all over the table- what a way to start the day (especially a Friday morning).

The piece above (Mosaic Boquet 2) is the end result. Actually, I lived with this painting for several weeks before deciding to add the "mosaic" part. Something just seemed to be missing. But when I started adding all these little snippets of paper, it came alive. I've used this approach on several pieces, like Mosaic Boquet (the first one), Cosby Sweater and Sun Over Sea. If you look closely, you will see that many of the same painted papers are used in all of them. I guess I'm going old-school with the term "cut-and-paste" (and when I say "old-school," I'm talking kindergarden, folks!).

Tis (Almost) the Season for Greeting Cards

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:31:40 CDT

Ok- I know it's not Thanksgiving yet. Heck, it isn't even Halloween. But the holiday season will be upon us before you know it. So here's an opportunity to take one, no- two....well...possibly three things off your holiday to-do list. Take a look...

Holiday To-Do List:

1. Buy greeting cards

You can color this one "done" with the click-of-a-link. Not only are these cards unlike anything you'll find in the store (because they were made by me), you get to choose from three cool designs or a sampler set which gives you four of each design. I am taking "pre-orders" through November 15, so you will receive them in plenty of time to send them out to your friends and loved ones. Click here for a closer look and to order.

2. Give to those less fortunate

All (and by "all" I mean 100%) proceeds from your purchase of the cards will be donated to the Children's Home Society of Northeast Florida just in time to make these kids' Christmas season a bit brighter.

3. Get a little somethin'-somethin' for yourself

Each set of cards you purchase buys you a chance to win a signed fine art print from yours truly (you get to pick your favorite from all of the pieces on www.rebeccawisegirson.com). There's only one catch- you have to be a Facebook fan of Artist with a Day Job to be eligible. Not a fan? Not a problem. Click here and that puts you one step closer to winning.

Fresh New Look to the "Rebecca Wise Girson" Web Site

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 11:15:36 CDT

Hard to believe, but it's been over a year since I first launched this site. So to give myself and my customers a bit of an anniversary present, I've done a little make-over.

When you visit www.rebeccawisegirson.com you'll be greeted with a new banner in my "signature" color and refreshed images on the home page. Click on the "art" link and you'll be taken to my master gallery page which looks a little more like something out of the pages of a decorating magazine than an artist web site. You won't have to wonder too hard what a particular piece may look like in real life. I've given you plenty of images in a variety of decorative settings in order to spark your imagination.

If you're looking for a particular type of art, you'll find it easier now that I've organized everything by style. Abstract works? I've got it. Decorative? Got that, too. There's a piece to fit almost any kind of contemporary decor. And those who visit often won't have to look to very hard to find the new stuff. My most recently added "unstaged" pieces now have a gallery all their own.

So if you haven't visited the site in a while, click on this link and take a browse. I hope you like the changes.