My Top 3 Favorite Paintings (that I have created)
In the beginning, I used to think that I would always remember every piece that I created. But as the years have gone on, and more and more paintings leave the front door each year, it’s actually really tough to remember everything that has been made. Having said that, there are a few pieces that have found their way deep into my heart that I will never ever forget.
My Top 3 Favorite Paintings (that I have created)
I tried to sit down the other day and count how many pieces of artwork that I have created over the last 18 years. (It wasn’t till many years into my career that I started understanding the importance of creating an inventory sheet). But if I had to guess I would have to say about 250 pieces. And the cool thing is, other than the 10 pieces I have in my gallery at the moment, the other 240 have all found their forever homes.
In the beginning, I used to think that I would always remember every piece that I created. But as the years have gone on, and more and more paintings leave the front door each year, it’s actually really tough to remember everything that has been made.
Having said that, there are a few pieces that have found their way deep into my heart that I will never ever forget.
Here are my top 3 favorite pieces I have created.
1. VALE 50x60 inches 2012
If I had a nickel every time someone said they loved VALE and or would buy this piece if it was still available, I would be a millionaire! I still remember looking at the blank canvas as it was laying on my kitchen island in my apartment on Granville Street and putting on the first few brush strokes on this canvas. I never had a clear intention for this piece and I truly let in unfold organically. What did unfold was something that has never left my heart. The balance of composition, the illusion of a vancouver cityscape, and the softness of the colors all came together that day and I can say by far, that this piece has always been my favorite that I have ever created.
People always ask me, how do you let your creations go? Isn’t it hard to give away a part of your soul? The answer is yes. Wholeheartedly yes! But the best thing about letting this piece go was that it found it’s way to my best friend’s house and I know that I get to visit this one any time I want for the rest of my life. So that always made this one a little easier!
2. LIVE 48x72 inches 2017
I have never been more moved from a color palette than from this piece titled “LIVE.” I knew I wanted this one to be bright but what mesmerized me the most was the layers of all the soft blues, pinks, oranges and whites in the top third that bounced off the “in your face” use of turquoise in the middle.
When I was thinking about the inspiration and title of this piece, the world “live” kept coming into my head. I really thought this piece represented the concept of living your best life; Finding those things that spark joy and unapologetically living a life true to you.
I had this one hanging on the wall in the gallery for less than a night and it got snatched up by one of the loviest ladies I’ve met. One of the things that sparks joy in her life is collecting art and I couldn’t have been happier to have this piece go to her.
3. GEETA 48x48 inches 2016
This was a commission piece I did for a lovely couple from Calgary. We originally met at Art Vancouver and they were immediately drawn to my subtle texture and calm, snowy feeling of another piece I had displayed on the wall.
Sometimes you just connect with new people and that is exactly what happened with this couple and this piece for that matter. It was one of the easiest commissions I have ever created. Not easy from a technique standpoint, but easy in how it just flowed out of me. There was something about the couple’s energy, the story behind their recent travels and how they wanted this piece to somehow represent that story. I saw the vision of this piece perfectly and it came out even better than I could have imagined.
I knew that there was a pretty good chance I would never see this piece again in real life, but the couple’s excitement made it that much easier for me to let it go. I know that it is a feature piece in their kitchen and they get to enjoy the energy of it every day and that makes it all worth while.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF ART THAT I HAVE CREATED????
I would love to know what piece of mine is your favorite. Send me a screen shot, an email, a text, I’ll even accept a smoke signal. I’m always grateful for feedback and excited to know what piece you love and why? (info@donnagiraud.com or @donnagiraudart)
Donna Giraud
Tricks to Being an Artist
It takes A LOT to be an artist. I mean a lot!! Not only do I have to know how to paint (and well for that matter), I also have to put on the hat of a photographer, an accountant, a PR person, a graphic designer, a writer, an event planner, a salesperson, a retail store front operator, a gallery owner/manager, a social media marketer and oh yeah, a web developer (to name just a few). People always ask me, how have you managed to retire from nursing and be a full time artist? And a thriving one for that matter? What are the tricks to being an artist?
Tricks To Being An Artist
People always ask me, how have you managed to retire from nursing and be a full time artist? And a thriving one for that matter? What are the tricks to being an artist?
As I am in the process of creating online art coaching classes that discuss a variety of topics an artist must know about to be a thriving artist, I suddenly realized (maybe more than just subconsciously) that it takes A LOT to be an artist. I mean a lot!! Not only do I have to know how to paint (and well for that matter), I also have to put on the hat of a photographer, an accountant, a PR person, a graphic designer, a writer, an event planner, a salesperson, a retail store front operator, a gallery owner/manager, a social media marketer and oh yeah, a web developer (to name just a few).
I don’t know about you, but the last time I checked, each of those jobs are their own separate corner of expertise that each require a substantial amount of eduction to be good at either of them, let alone all 12 of them.
No wonder so many artists have a tough time balancing all the aspects it takes to do this creative path well.
So then why do some artists succeed and others don’t?
This question got me thinking and it made me reflect on what I do every day that has seemed to make the difference.
Here’s my top 4 tricks to being an artist that have helped me get to where I am today.
#1
I believe in myself. I’m not the best painter in the world. I have no formal training and I get rejected all the time. But I have built a very tenacious attitude and I always believe in myself no matter what happens. I don’t know if it was something that my parents instilled in me at an early age, or if it has developed over time, but I have found my confidence to be a very helpful habit that has helped me get to where I am today.
As we all know, there are going to be ups and downs in any career path, but sometimes it feels like there are a little more when it comes to being an artist. The process of creating art is already an emotionally charged one; then you add a rejection from a gallery or maybe you don’t make a single sale at a show you just did and you begin to question if this is the right path for you. Sound familiar??? Totally, right? This is the life of an artist.
What we have to always tell ourselves, is that the world needs more creatives. Your art has a place in this world and it has something to say. The right people are out there that will love it and adore it and buy it (see point #3). You just have to have faith and a whole lot of belief in what you do.
#2
I make buying art fun (and often accompanied by a glass of wine). Have you ever been into a gallery or gone to an art show and someone has made you feel inferior because of your art knowledge or no one made an effort to even acknowledge the you are there? Do you then start feeling out of your element and immediately start saying to yourself, “I shouldn’t be in here, I don’t know anything about art?”
Well, I promise you that a) that’s not true, you know lots about art and b) you will never have that experience with me. I believe viewing and buying art should be a positively enjoyable experience. I love to get to know my clients, prospective buyers and anybody else that comes to see my work. I make the conversation light, welcoming and educational without using fancy and pretentious words. All I care about is you feeling something when you look at my art and you believing that you do have a place in the art world despite your level of exposure.
I emphasize this practise most to artists because if and when someone is ready to buy art, and if they had an incredible experience with you, you are going to be the first person they think of when they are finally ready to pull that trigger.
Vancouver has so many incredible artists. Be memorable. Make buying art fun and wow everyone you meet with how awesome you are so you are impossible to forget.
#3
I pay attention to the details. I know I naturally have this talent, but if you don’t, please try and make it a point to learn how to make those special little efforts because the results will be brilliant.
As an example, writing down the couples name you just met accompanied by a little note that you learned about them (ie: they just built a new home in Abbotsford and have a daughter who is in art school) and send them a follow up email later that day saying it was a pleasure to meet them and include those details that you wrote down.
Tell them that you would be happy to come out to Abbotsford with some art so they can see the art in their space and let them know that their daughter can reach out if she ever has any art questions. By paying attention to these details you a) wow them with your ability to remember person details about them b) you give them an opportunity to see your work again by coming to their place and making it way easier on them and c) you wow them again by offering to be a resource to their daughter.
By doing the simplest actions, you have the ability to immediately win people over. Never underestimate the power that a properly place vase of fresh cut flowers on a shelf at your art show has, or how the design of the price tags you use beside your artwork can make the ultimate difference. People know when you pay attention to the details and they will be more willing to invest in you and your work.
#4
I am prolific. This doesn’t have to mean that you are doing an art show or fair every other weekend in a variety of towns and countries (but this helps too). I just mean, try to tell anyone and everyone you encounter that you are an artist. Always have your business card in hand, ready to give out.
I have been in ladies bathrooms and managed to hand my business card out because I overheard one lady yelling to her friend across the stall that she had just moved into a new home and her walls seemed really empty. I have also had the balls to give my card to someone that was at the cashier in Home Sense, buying one of those prints/paintings for $199.00 and said to him, “when you are ready to invest in some original artwork, I’d be happy to help you out with that.”
It’s about seizing the moment and making any opportunity work in your behalf.
Meeting my favorite Interior Designer Amanda Aerin
Being interviewed for Art Vancouver
Now this doesn’t mean you get to be a slimy car salesperson and just randomly blurt out you are an artist to everyone who will listen. Have some class. It means that you listen for the right moment to insert the fact that you create art. 9 times out of 10, people get very interested in this fact and then you the door is open to tell them all about what you do.
The more people that know about you, the better chances you have to connect with people that will buy your art. And once you connect, you do the above three practises and “Bob’s your Uncle!!!”
From first hand experience, I know that it is incredibly hard to be a thriving artist. I by no means have it all figured out and I still do the hustle every day.
Hopefully these little tips can help someone out there create a more thriving practise because what I do know, is that the world needs your art.
Donna Giraud
Dreams Can Come True
Everyone has the opportunity to choose this path, but not every one does. For what ever reason, (combination of luck and hard work), I was given the clarity that this is what I wanted to do and I did what I needed to do to make it work. And every day I am grateful and present to the fact that I am living my dream.
Dreams Can Come True
It was 2001 and I was sitting in the restaurant Cats Meow (in Granville island for those who are old enough to know what I am talking about). With my coffee in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other, in mid conversation, my boyfriend at the time decided to proclaim his love for the piece of art that was hanging on the wall behind my head. Annoyed that he interrupted the story I was just telling him, I turned around and I kid you not, thought to myself, “I could paint that.”
Having had about 20 minutes of painting instruction in my grade 12 art class, I have absolutely no idea why I thought I could so confidently paint something like that. But whatever made me think that in that moment is ultimately why I am here today writing about my fairytale story of becoming an artist.
To explain that story further, what ended up happening was that I returned to the restaurant the following day with my point and shoot camera (this is way before smart phones ladies and gentleman), pretended I needed to pee, snuck a photograph of that art, developed the film, bought some crappy art supplies and tried to recreate that painting that my boyfriend loved so much.
Funnily enough, I ended up finishing the piece and gave it to my boyfriend for a Christmas present. Even funnier, he thought I had purchased the piece from the restaurant. To his (and mine for that matter) amazement, he overwhelmingly thanked me for the thoughtful and well executed gift and that was that.
(The penguin painting is the first painting I ever did. At the time I loved it! Oh how I have progressed!!!
It wasn’t until years later that I picked up another paint brush and finally had the balls to create something of my very own (previous to this, I had just been trying to copy stuff I found on the internet). With this creation of my very own original artwork, something changed. And with the help and encouragement of another boyfriend (don’t judge ;) I decided to paint a bunch of new work and hold an open house in my home, invite everyone I knew and hope to hell someone felt bad enough for me and buy a piece. Well, it ended up being one of the coolest nights of my life (up until that point) because I sold a ton of work. Everyone seemed to love what I was creating and it was one of the most encouraging events I had ever had.
What was most profound about that night was that a complete stranger bought a piece from me and that was a game changer. (Family and friends are supposed to buy because they love you and want you to feel supported). But this stranger had no obligation what so ever and he still bought. He saw something in this small, black and white textural, 12x12 inch piece and he just had to have it. And I still know to this day that it is hanging proudly in a beautiful apartment in Coal Harbour.
After that open house event, everything snowballed from there. I got the opportunity to hold my first solo at Raw Canvas in Yaletown, (which I sold out and filled the place to fire capacity), joined the incredible group of exhibitors of IDS Vancouver (now doing my 10th year this year), exhibited in my first International show in New York City at the prestigious Agora Art Gallery, have my own gallery with 6 other artists (The Space An Art Gallery), teach the best paint class in the city (Paint with Donna) and a million more little things and strokes of luck that have brought me to where I am at the moment.
Oh, did I mention I was also working full time as a head nurse at St Paul’s Hospital while doing the art thing as well?
Eventually, the artwork became so busy that I began to struggle with keeping up my energy and devotion to do both full time nursing and art. So as every 38 year old decides, I gave my notice at the hospital on April 9th, 2018 and gave up my license right then and there. I didn’t think twice about this decision because I knew that I had to give my artistic career the full attention I thought it deserved.
And here we are, over a year later and I can honestly say, I am living the dream.
Every day is different. Some days are lonely and boring, while others are jam packed with exhibitions, emails, newsletter writing and selling art. But what I have come to realize throughout this whole journey of living my dream is that it is hard. It takes dedication, devotion, tenacity, energy, love, passion, a crap ton of support (you can’t do this alone), and most of all, the awareness that you are one of the lucky ones.
Everyone has the opportunity to choose this path, but not every one does. For what ever reason, (combination of luck and hard work), I was given the clarity that this is what I wanted to do and I did what I needed to do to make it work. And every day I am grateful and present to the fact that I am living my dream.
And I can’t wait to see how this dream unfolds……………… (stay tuned and find out with me)
I hope that this blog post at the least made you giggle about something, but maybe one of you have been thinking about changing up your journey and taking your passion to the next level and maybe my story has inspired you to take that next step you have been waiting to take. If that is you, YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!! And let me know if I can help in any way.
Thank you to every person that has been a part of my journey. Without you, none of this would have been possible.
Donna Giraud
2018 Solo Exhibition 'Dare to Connect'
DARE TO CONNECT is a show that abstractly depicts onto canvas, 12 of my most impactful relationships and how I have discovered the beauty of connection in each of them. My hope is that this body of work encourages you to take a deeper look at how you are connecting and perhaps inspire you to find a little more. Maybe turn off the Netflix a little earlier, stash your phone away when you’re having coffee with a friend or only take one picture of your dinner. May this work open up a dialogue and help us all find the courage it takes to truly connect.
It is with great pleasure, a sore back and overwhelming excitement that my solo exhibition is a month away. Titled, “DARE TO CONNECT,” this whole new series of work will be on display at The Space, An Art Gallery from February 15th to 17th.
The opening reception (party) is February 15th and your presence is requested!!
When: February 15th, 2018
Where: 1063 Hamilton Street Vancouver BC
Time: 7-11pm
Show Description
“Authentic connection takes vulnerability, transparency and integrity” and it can be found through a variety of ways. Whether it is through trust, friendship or unconditional support, connection has the power to transform lives. Unfortunately, the myriad of everyday distractions makes it really hard for us to be good at it.
DARE TO CONNECT is a show that abstractly depicts onto canvas, 12 of my most impactful relationships and how I have discovered the beauty of connection in each of them. My hope is that this body of work encourages you to take a deeper look at how you are connecting and perhaps inspire you to find a little more. Maybe turn off the Netflix a little earlier, stash your phone away when you’re having coffee with a friend or only take one picture of your dinner. May this work open up a dialogue and help us all find the courage it takes to truly connect.
Looking forward to showing all of you the result of many many months of preparation and hard work. I have never been so excited to show my work and I am so grateful that you will all be there to help share in this momentous step in my career.
See you on the 15th!
It's ok to take a break!
I often hear other artists complaining about the guilt they have when they take time away from their art. I am not going to lie, I too have had these feelings of guilt when I am sitting on a patio in Argentina drinking a spectacular Malbec rather than sweating away in the studio. But then I have to remind myself about the power of taking a break.
It's ok to take a break sometimes to recharge
I often hear other artists complaining about the guilt they have when they take time away from their art. I am not going to lie, I too have had these feelings of guilt when I am sitting on a patio in Argentina drinking a spectacular Malbec rather than sweating away in the studio. But then I have to remind myself about the power of taking a break.
There are times that you must be in your studio for hours at a time, preparing for your upcoming show but when you are outside those intense times, it is imperative that you remember to take a break because it is only going to benefit you in the long run.
Pay attention to those things that bring you inner peace, that make you smile and that continuously inspire you. And then do them regularly! That way, when you do set aside the time to create in your space, your head and heart are in the right place. Then you can let the magic happen!
If you are constantly exhausted and frustrated, your creative process will not work properly.
So over the years, I have paid attention and made it a priority to create balance between my time in the studio and things that make my heart sing. I have learned to let the guilt go because I have seen the benefit from my actions.
So for those of you who haven’t found those things that heighten your inspiration yet, here is a list of a few things that I do that might help you find your own.
1. I walk. I walk and I walk and I walk. And now that I have mynew puppy, I walk even more! There is something about the solitary time, being by the water, gazing into the many windows of the condos that line the seawall that I tend to find clarity. I get a sense of calm when I walk with no intention of getting to a specific destination. The power of wandering with no time constraints seems to reset my focus and I am always more present and inspired when I am back in the studio.
Favourite spots on the seawall in Yaletown are sitting in the yellow chairs in the park at the end of Richards street, walking with a coffee from the best coffee spot in town (Coo Coo Coffee at 417 Davie Street) and walking under the tree coverage just past David Lam Park.
2. I travel. When I spent a month in the Philippines about 15 years ago, I was bitten by the travel bug and I have developed a ferocious appetite to be inspired by other cultures and experiences. There is something freeing about stepping outside of your comfort zone and experiencing something you never thought you would. When I come home from traveling, I not only have thousands of photos to pull inspiration from, I also have a huge sense of gratitude and energy. That mindset fills my heart and I always notice better work on the canvas when I return back from an adventure.
Favorite places to travel are New Zealand, Argentina, Chile and Iceland
3. I surround myself with my real friends. As I get older, I have realized the importance of surrounding yourself with people that make you feel better and more energized after leaving them. I make an effort to reach out and have spontaneous drinks on my patio or take the sea bus over to the north shore to have dinner on my parent’s boat because I know that after I leave these people, I am fired up! So make sure you find those favourite people and cultivate incredible relationships.
Taking a break and stepping back is sometimes all you need to do. So remember to be kind to yourself and take a moment to recenter.
Donna Giraud
The Space, an Art Gallery
Welcome to The Space, An Art Gallery. Located in the heart of Yaletown, The Space is an artist run gallery that is unlike any gallery you have ever been in. As a collective, we feel art should be a thing that brings people together despite your knowledge of art. We believe that you should have a glass of wine or beer in your hand while you are in our space enjoying all of the fine art we have to offer.
Welcome to The Space, An Art Gallery. Located in the heart of Yaletown, The Space is an artist run gallery that is unlike any gallery you have ever been in. What makes it so difference you ask? Well let me respond by asking you if you have ever experienced the following situation? ……….
You are walking down the street and you notice an art gallery and you think to yourself, “wow, that’s some nice art, perhaps I should go in there and have a look?” So you build up the courage to go in and you are a little nervous because you don’t think you know too much about art and that perhaps you shouldn’t be in there in the first place because you don’t really have any intention of buying art. You notice someone behind the counter and they don’t even look up at you or welcome you into their gallery. You want to take some time to look at the art but you find yourself walking around awkwardly and quickly because you don’t feel welcome and you eventually leave with a feeling of deep inside your gut.
How many times has this happened to you? I know that I have had that experience first hand on numerous occasions and I vowed that if I ever had my own gallery that things would be different. And boy are you in for a treat when you visit The Space.
Armed with the same mentality and vision, the 9 resident artists in The Space (Donna Giraud, Bill Higginson, Olga Rybalko, Gina Sarro, Jolayne Devente, Ben Lumb, Philippe Sokazo, Dale Dziwenka and Annie Frind) are focussed on making your time at our gallery a unique and enjoyable experience.
As a collective, we feel art should be a thing that brings people together despite your knowledge of art. We believe that you should have a glass of wine or beer in your hand while you are in our space enjoying all of the fine art we have to offer. We encourage you to ask questions and get to know us and our art, because I assure you, we’ve got some great things to say. And lastly, we believe in the importance of bringing the community together through art and that is why we will be doing a ton of events through out the year and we invite you to come to them all.
I am so proud to say that after 16 years of hard work, I have landed the ultimate gig; I get to create art in a beautiful space, surrounded by like-minded and exceptionally talented artists, all the while meeting phenomenal people that want to be a part of our art movement.
So if you are in the area, please come down to The Space, An Art Gallery at 1063 Hamilton Street, Vancouver BC because we would love to see you.
