Camden Art Association Meeting

CAA Membership Meeting Monday evening

January 05, 2009, 7:00p.m.

Camden SC

Announcing their Guest Speaker Mary Gilkerson

MFA of Columbia, SC

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e-mail Val Puntillo (valpuntillo@hotmail.com) for directions or for more info on the league

Artsails1 is Thinking, Again!

"Journey" c by Jean Bourque
Silk Collage m/m on paper (sold)

Thoughts of an Artist by Jean Bourque 12-18-07

As artists, we wear many faces. When we create we are our truest selves, for there lays our freedom, our soul, our very being. Everything that I am stems up and out from the artistic soul I was born with.

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about what it means to be an artist. I mean not in the obvious sense but on a deeper level. What does it mean and what does it take in terms of commitment, time, passion, expense and love to develop one's self as an artist.

Then there are the practical concerns which at times can be more pressing than the joy of art. How can I be self supporting as an artist? How can anyone especially a single person, be above the survival level without a fund or supporters; be that an inheritance, a grant, or a family's financial support?

I have been searching, not just for the answers to these questions, but to many more. Somehow it feels like a puzzle with a few missing pieces. Can we create the larger picture of being profitable and going above and beyond just getting by? I do believe we can. I try the doors and some open, while others need a key. Perhaps sharing my thoughts will provide a key.

We wear a happy face. We are blessed, we know we are. All of us that have this talent are very blessed. In the blessings there is a key to another dimension. We walk thru the sheer veil and what we experience is all in the mind. We are our minds, our thoughts, our passions, our creations, and our talent must come from our soul.

You can tell when someone is creating from their soul. Their work will look like no one else’s artwork. It will be as unique as a fingerprint. If we are all to write a story about what we did last summer, they would all be different. Yet, a group may paint flowers together and many times the teacher assists them, so that they all look alike. Not all artists are creating from the soul. I can attend any art gathering and spot the ones without joy in their hearts. They typically are just copying other artists and always wear a mask.

I have been blessed to be a very talented writer and a visual artist. This comes natural to me just like doing PR, Blogging and Marketing do. I have had many classes with many great and well known artists and some fine writers as well. I have been blessed to do things my own way. For that I am very grateful. I have the joy, I have the passion. I create unique art that is my own. I have a signature style. Even when I think my work looks real different and no one will know it is mine; they do. Something from within me always presents itself in my work, so that others recognize it in a crowd immediately.

I am moved to write, I am not able to “not” paint. These are things I must do; they are within me and must be shared. The colors and words swirl within me; paintings in a slide show format run through my head. I have been hazed and dazed with tons of creativity. It is what propels me through life. It is my passion, it is me; it is what I am. Creating is 100% me. It is my natural state of being.

This writer, artist has never ran out of ideas or faced a blank wall for more than a split second. I am like the proverbial; cup runneth over, my artisan well, runs deep. The more I let out the more I have! The face of joy exists when I am, who I am. When my soul is set free!***********

I look forward to every art meeting to see the happy faces of other passionate artists like myself. Hope to see you at our next art gathering!
Yours truly,
Jean Bourque
PS Please fell free to add your comments here. You do not have to be a member. Just click below.

Painting by Jean Bourque

"Heart Series #2" Painting by Jean Bourque c

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About the artist; Jean Bourque

JEAN BOURQUE ARTIST, writer, web designer, art marketing coach, small business consultant, speaker, teacher, photographer, video artist, philanthropist, and so much more.
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Jean Bourque has been an artist at Ward Nasse Gallery on Prince St. NYC since the late 90's.
She also had shown her work at two other NYC galleries in the mid 90's. Her artwork traveled to R Trade Gallery in the Netherlands establishing her first international market before the turn of the century. She has received offers for shows from all over the world including Southern France, Brazil; St. Croix; Nigeria and Germany. Jean's prior career as a framed art rep where she had sold art throughout SC and parts of GA, set the stage for her own art marketing career.

She studied impressionistic oil painting for many years with Ilona Royce Smithken; the star of Painting with Ilona; pastels with Jason Chang of NYC, oil painting with the late Conrad Talbot of Boston, MA and collage with Gerald Brommer a national collage artist and many others. She worked with Guy Lipscomb on a daily basis in his studio and honed the craft of unique creations and marketing artwork. Jean is a forever student of the universe taking courses as far flung as Feng Shui, Faux Finishing, and Macromedia Fireworks as well as having earned a degree in Business Management with a minor in Marketing. (earning a 4.0 in her major and minor!)

Bourque has taught art lessons to people from 2 years old to senior citizens. Students love it when she tells them throw out all the negatives; yes you can create. Follow your heart, be true to your soul; because only there can you truly find the artist within! With her positive attitude and gentle encouragement her students find a new way to express themselves.

She also teaches a workshop called Marketing for Artists at galleries and for art groups.

Workshop: "Marketing for Artists" taught by Jean Bourque

Learn how to get your art into galleries and juried shows, how to promote your work and yourself as an artist; how to work the internet to your advantage; how to market your website, and so much more. Get your art out into the global marketplace; send Jean an email if you are interested or have a group that would like her to be a featured speaker.

She has completed several public art projects for The Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington County. Her "Op Art" Tree; a ten foot steel palmetto tree which stood across the street from the front of the SC State Capital during the "flag" debate; received national tv attention. She donated hand painted furniture to help the homeless after 9-11; and has been an art donor to National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations; Salvation Army, Sexual Trauma Services, the SC Heart Association, Artist Against Aids, and The Wild Woman's Tea Party in addition to many other charities. She was also involved with the Door Project; making a work of art from an old door to raise money for the Cultural Council.

Her door was the "Mondrian Door" a tribute to the famous artist; well known for his use of primary colors in geometric patterns. This door sponsored by Mike Kelly stood at Kelly and Suggs Law Firm on Huger St in Columbia; until it was purchased at auction by John Delgado, also a lawyer in Columbia, SC. For three years it was at the entrance way of John's law firm on Richland St. next to the Chamber of Commerce. For the Garage Art Auction Bourque created works of art from old car parts and to her surprise; 7 out of 8 of her Assemblage artworks; were auctioned quickly and raised money for charity.

Jean Bourque is a member of and former President of the Seven Oaks Art League. Prior to that she had been the art director at the WWTP silent auction and librarian at Crooked Creek Art League in Chapin, SC. She is also a member of Americans for the Arts, the Artists Round Table, The Cultural Council and SC Women in Business.
This Blog created by Jean Bourque March 2007