A New Chapter: Archiving, Writing, and Teaching

My life as a visual creative – typographer and designer, fine artist, and jewelry designer – shifted several years ago to a new form of creativity: archiving books and documents.

This passion fulfills the youthful consideration of being a journalist, a social science researcher, or a librarian. For my archiving project, I read and summarize articles about philosophy, business, and creativity and then file the materials for reference. I visualize thought flow for optimal physical and digital data placement.

After a lifetime of making physical items, I now craft ideas, words, and images in my blog, The Idea Soup, a journal of inspiring ideas, people, and things.

The problem when I began to write was, ironically, the utter disorder of my ideas, reading notes, and draft articles.

I attacked the problem as if working on a client project, and developed a simple online course – Just 20 Files – that shows how to file everything easily. The files are the same for emails, computer files, paper files, and thoughts.

With Just 20 Files, you will develop organizing skills and clarify your values.

. . .

Barbara Giles

barbara@barbaragiles.com

Saint Helena, California

ABSTRACTION / REALISM

Since the beginning of 2017 -- about four months -- I have focused on painting small, representational still lifes and landscapes. I have sharpened my observation skills, color matching skills, and worked on painting from "outside in" -- looking at something, recording what I see, and noting my perception and reaction to what I see.

I recently posted this painting -- "Reflection" -- which I have worked on for at least two years. It represents the style and process of how I have painted for the last several decades -- "inside out".

This painting, "Garden Play" was painted recently and was also painted "inside out" but was inspired by an actual place. It was done without reference to a photograph. For me, "Reflection" tells a story just as "Garden Play" does. I don't need a story to find a painting meaningful or satisfying, but I know some people do. 

I have long been interested in exploring the continuum -- of everything. Politics, aesthetics, morality, and sexuality. My work falls into about five stylistically and thematically distinct collections. Work made thirty years ago could be hung with work made last year and two pieces of work made this year could be hung and thought of as from two different artists. 

More to think about this ... Frost's "Road Not Taken" ... deveoping A Body (not bodies) of work ... representational vs. non-objective ... Gerhard Richters photorealism and abstraction ... the juncture of radical left and right politics ... fluxus ... 

"Wine Country Mustard Field" -- also painted recently -- would be at the other end of that spectrum from "Reflection"...

SPRING IN SONOMA

"Wine Country Mustard Field"
It is feeling very springy in Sonoma County California!

This 5"x7" oil painting is at auction now.

ALMOST SPRING

"Garden Play"
Ahhh ... the promise of Spring. Things are popping in the garden!

PURPLE MUMS

"Purple Mums"
Color and the balance of active flowers and passive vase.

Available at auction:
 http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/660993

TEA HOUSE

"Tea House"

Available at Auction


The trees are bare now and I can see this charming tea house across the creek.

The painting is on an 1/8" thick canvas panel and will look great on an easel, tucked in a bookshelf, or framed. Please note that the painting will need to dry and then be varnished. It may take 30-45 days before shipment.

To see my almost daily paintings hot off the easel, subscribe by emailing me: barbara@barbaragiles.com

Enjoy!

FIRST CARD ASSORTMENT

This is my first notecard collection with images of recent paintings. I will be printing cards and stocking my Etsy shop over the next two weeks. Email -- barbara@barbaragiles.com -- to receive previews of new paintings, and other news via email.