hälts apologizes for his loss for words, the following images are some highlights over the last few days here in BC and some art as usual, the sun will rise again and there will be more work to be done.
the artist and human both a work in progress.
I look out to the landscape and the landscape is looking right back at me.
enter
‘BC mind’ hälts hybrid art
true love lives on crisp mountain air.
A man on fire ran into a pileated woodpecker while on a walk down the village street.
to think this is a wild animal…
‘woodpecker’ hälts hybrid art, I found myself chasing around birds for the last two days, I was looking for eagle and instead encountered this pileated woodpecker instead, that’s life for you.
‘Windermere BC’ 🐖 hälts hybrid art featuring a layered portrait of Windermere BC, home of the elders, eagles, the whitehouse…pub, and crisp clean mountain air… when there isn’t forest fires.
As the year 2018 draws to it’s conclusion, I go a little introspective in the solitude of the Koots. That’s the east Kootenays where the elders live, a paradise, everyday a gift to the eyes and the soul. It has been an interesting year on a personal level, a lot of lessons learned, and with that a little bit of wisdom gained. I made quite a few follies along the way, and also felt a certain loneliness that comes with being an artist, specifically a painter, to quote Joni Mitchell, ” I live in a box of paints”. I have spent countless hours working on my art, occasionally it swallows me whole. My good friend art has been a strong horse, the one constant in my life. I did manage to get out a few times over the year and visited some truly magical places. I worked with the youth, passing on my knowledge whole also receiving some kid sagely advice, kids know best in many areas. There were many people who helped make these moments possible. I hold each and everyone one of them close to my heart and I will cherish these moments for the rest of days.
Mexico Reverie
passing on the knowledge to Otis, and learning a few things in the process.
I was asked to paint a wave on this wall and needed up meeting a few of local kids, we had a blast, the mural is dedicated to John.
Oaxacan coffee break whilst working on my Zicatela mural in Puerto Escondido.
I bumped into some truly remarkable people, this fellow was no exception, I can only imagine what he has seen in his days.
Brand about to catch some waves, he had some serious style and it was an absolute pleasure to meet new extended surf family.
‘Oaxacan Spirit’ a hälts watercolour made on my trip in Mexico.
I try to dream this every night, such a magical moment, might turn into a painting…
This is my great friend and surfing legend Al with his hälts watercolour in the wall, my art is all over
This is foamie sitting outside waiting for the next set.
You could say this is a bird paradise.
my Zicatela spirit mural, I met some many amazing people while I worked on this beauty, art the bridge that never fails…well sometimes it does but it’s pretty rare.
I also managed to spend some quality time in the BC interior with family and with friends. British Columbia Canada is my second home, specifically Windermere BC. Windermere is where my parents live who are both well into their senior years, however doing quite well in my humble opinion. I also like to chase the eagles around and I am certain they find me quite amusing.
These moments are vital to my well being, engraved deep within my psyche, softening any edges accrued along the way. I am not saying I am edgy, however there has been a few times this past year that made me question a few things, feathers were ruffled, the enigma of humanity never short of surprises. I also realize I am part of that so this isn’t a criticism on humanity, we’re all in it, in our respective and some not so respective ways. I am optimistic for the next cycle around the sun, and no doubt there will some spectacular sunrises, and sunsets. I am also in the process of releasing a new website in 2019, it has been a slow process which is alright, do it right the first time as they say.
minimo double feature
‘peace and chill’ ⛩ hälts minimoiton with soundscape ‘day 12’ and wishing everyone a peaceful chill day today, even if for a brief moment in time, I am sending lots of love to my friends and family, near, far and wide.
‘bc mind’ 🏔 new hälts minimotion with soundscape ‘sometimes easy’ made from samples played on my moms piano and featuring some bc wandering footage from the day 💚💛❤️
fotoMahaloness
I come to this place for many reasons, truth be told it would take a novel to explain. Perhaps than no explanation is required as a picture says a thousand words. December was a bit of a roller coaster ride, and my time in BC could not come at a better time. I have been painting steady and working diligently on my art every day with the exception of my film work forays. My last painting of the year turned out to be a bit of a disaster and sent my head spinning. Some time away from the studio has been a blessing and has give me a chance to recharge and get some perspective. With what looks to be a busy year ahead it is a good time to prepare and refresh the mental hard drive, and give the soul some love.
fotoMahaloness
BC moments
This is the place where I like to come think and tune out hustle and bustle of the city life.
It is true that nothing stays the same. Everything that we know is always in flux, always in motion. The oceans tides moving in and out, the moons path across the sky, and the sun’s rise at dawn. When I experience the glow at dawn secretly I never want it to end, and yet it does every time. Or how about those periwinkle coated clouds at sunset, you know the ones. It all seems infinite. It all seems so perfect. I cherish the connection I have to the natural world, it is a such a gift we share with so many things, it really is everything.
I looked into the sun as child, and a I learned to respect the sun.
…and now a new minimotion for your viewing pleasure.
‘stare into the flame (day 15)’ 🌖 new hälts minimoiton with soundscape ‘night void’ featuring a meditative timelapse of my newest painting WIP, along with some footage gathered along the quest.
fotoMahaloness
Today’s letter of the day is E for everything and effort, because it takes effort to get something done right.
hälts hybrid art ‘cold moon wolf’
Future
I am currently working on a new project for the spring, a mural in my neighbourhood, a redo if you will as the first mural was destroyed. Out of destruction something new will come to life, I am both excited and honoured to make a new mural the community can appreciate and visitors alike. I will do some future posts on that, you’ll just have to imagine it for now.
studying the material is a key step in any mural project if you want it to last.
The sun went down and I couldn’t find another one…for a while. -Kurt Vile
in the studio
This is a new painting I have been working on. I stretched the canvas, primed it and now painting the painting, all of which is very satisfying and keeps me sane in this bassackwards world. It’s far from done, however the elements are starting to come together. Painting is constantly teaching me patience, and for the most part it has been an enjoyable experience.
except for he spilt paint, it happens…
paving the studio floor in gold and the sweatpants apparently…
‘spinning’ 🌍 Nuevo hälts minimotion with soundscape ‘maple syrup on pancakes’ featuring a bunch of different segments working on a very special painting, one close to my heart.
fotoMahaloness
We only get this one.
hälts hybrid art
The following three images demonstrate how I use my drawing and paper cut outs to get composition, I do use modern technology as well but this method is tried, true and tested.
just the ever so slightest adjustment to the garment
At this stage I am respecting my first marks made, before I continue on with the work. This is the stage where my brain switches to 3-D as I bring the subject to life. I will trust my drawings but also let the paint show me what’s possible.
hälts painting ‘SLO’ and his new WIP chilling in the main room
Sometimes things go bassackwards, that’s alright, I appreciate you to the utmost degree.
hälts hybrid art which features a watercolour called Oaxacan spirit, made in the mysterious land of southern Mexico, this is what I would call a spirit document.
I think as an artist you have to write your own history, you cannot rely on the outside to do this for you. Whether or not you think your story is worthy, it has been my experience it is.
hälts looking at his work looking back at him. -Bassbus circa 2011-12
The truth is I don’t have any idea where this ship is going because I haven’t gotten there yet. I have set a course, I follow the stars, putting trust in their guidance, which has gotten me this far. I have been on this vessel for quite some time, and there have been moments of complete peril when I thought she was going to sink. The thought of sunken treasure does have its appeal unless of course you are the sunken treasure than what is good is that?
something new in the works
A Pirate’s Dream
I dreamt once about an ocean vanished, the only thing left a desert of rolling sand dunes, for as far as the eye can see. As I walked, further and further, I climbed one dune and then another. Each dune getting incrimnetally higher, and each one I climbed the same view once on top, endless dunes for miles and miles. As the desert swallowed me I slowly lost touch with my own identity. It was as if the blowing sand was scaling away all of my scorn, my guilt, and my shame. Petty things that had clouded my mind dissipated, leaving me at peace in the solitude of her embrace. Slowly polishing me into a soft shine. I woke up from this dream in peace and in that moment I felt my sense of dignity return.
a commission painting for Jeff called ‘a pirates dream’
I have often wondered what is the soul of human. Is soul a shared spirit that transects in all directions, mutual to all species, planets, and the universe. Or is soul an individual experience, something within, which occasionally meets another soul that has similar soulness, if you will. Sometimes you just have to make up words. Is their even a soul? I can think of a few individuals who seem soulless however I am going to leave that up to your own imagination. It has been my impression that the art I make has a soul. In many ways I have been extremely protective of it. In a predominately soulless art world which includes commercial art (galleries, ad agencies, public art), all of which I have experience with, my observations have been that they rarely scratch beneath the surface of their own superficiality, where plasticity rules and imitation is applauded. It is no wonder that art as we have known it for hundreds of thousands of years has been stripped of its dignity and sophistication. Instead it is reduced to condensed soup, selling things to people they don’t really need, and making a few very rich people in the process. It’s all about the next publicity stunt that will help that artist(s)/ agency rise to the upper echalants of the boogie, which might be considered an art in itself, however I think history shows time and time again it often misses the soul part. There are a some rare exceptions no doubt but every compromise has its toll on the soul. So with that said lets move into a Paul Bowles quote from ‘The Sheltering Sky’, shall we.
That night he awoke sobbing. His being was a well a thousand miles deep; he rose from the lower regions with a sense of infinite sadness and repose, but with no memory of any dream save the faceless voice that whispered “the soul is the weariest part of the body”.
fotoMahaloness
Currently in the studio….
a feather from my cap on my palette board which will also turn into art, nothing wasted.
colour therapy
a gesture to the experience
hälts hybrid art, do city buildings have a soul purpose?
Nothing is what it appears to be. This perhaps is the mystery of life. Some days it would appear that everything clicks, paint flows nicely, brushes do what they are supposed to do, and coffee is delicious with milk and honey. Other days it is as if the polarity of earth switched 180. Gravity seems heavier, things that are simple tasks turn into arduous treks up a mountain during a winter storm. Still it is the layers that I must go through to get to that place where I am free to create and see the bigger picture. This is not via talent, it is through hard work. I get up, I drink water, I eat, I draw, I write, I work. It seems like such a simple thing doesn’t it? Well I am not so sure about that, all those things I listed are some precious gifts that allow me to do the things love to do. I think we live in a society that has lost sight of where we even get simple things like water, coffee, it’s just expected and even demanded, “where’s my latte!?”….but I digress. So where’s wa Si oh right, the nature of my work is not the normal 9-5 day office shuffle, it’s much different than that. It starts as soon as I awake, and it goes until I am exhausted, however still mentally driven. This is something I have had to work on, as sleep is a good thing. A few things I have tried are yoga, meditation and walking. All three are great and I can clear my mind if only temporarily. I have always wanted someone to design a food pill, so I could just keep going, and then I learned the art of cooking and realized that is just plain crazy talk. I now make time to cook and bake and eat. They too can be artful, and I art the living shit out of them. Now I do know what it’s like to work on art and not take care of myself, it is the quintessential a double edged sword. One blade is the creative magic. This occurs during what I call marathon paint sesshins, when I go a day or more straight art, minimal breaks and minimal sleep. However, and yes there’s always a down side withth upside, the journey is a relatively difficult and completely taxing on the mind and body, however I will not say spirit. And this is am important point, because in my case when the physical and the mental breakdown, my spirit has never disappeared. It has grown weary however quite capable of carrying the load. I have faltered a few times, has been in the area of relationships with partners, which is a whole other blog, probably not even worth the time, let’s say it’s also a mystery and I am working on the case. When my spirit wanes I know it’s time to go to the ocean, or the mountains, or spend time in nature. Life has been an interesting experience for me, I have no shortage of memories, and I am no stranger to lovers, oh those moments of bliss. These are distractions.
miniMotion
‘inner spirit’ 🎥 new hälts minimotion special edition sick as f☕️🤒k edition with soundscape ‘slowly know’ featuring an intimate behind the scenes look into the making of my latest watercolour, when the brush hits I am in that place that you only know about if you have been there, than you know (I will say it is a very peaceful place where time slows down)
fotoMahaloness
Slices of the work pie.
idea generator and power nap facilitator zone
the studio featuring inner spirit watercolour WIP in the middle.
the current stage of my 3-D wolf paint WIP
hälts hybrid art ‘moment of solitude’
my grandfathers palette knife has seen many marks, what a wonderful tool, it has taught me the soft touch.
