Karen Lorena Parker Art Blog — BremerPark.com

“Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm” - Sir Winston Churchill

New work at Novo furniture, like an iced cake of creamy metallic frosting! Frenetic Beach is definitely Dubai inspired with it’s turquoise water and vivid color.

Jericho Boats 44″x30″ at Novo Furniture

Frenetic Beach 48″x28″

Dubai pictures and statistics
on the buildings, renderings and plans.


1990


2003


2007



All of this was built in the last 5 years, including the island that looks like a palm tree.
Dubai is said to currently have 15-25% of all the world’s cranes.

The Dubai Waterfront. When completed it will become the largest waterfront development in the world.



The Palm Islands in Dubai. New Dutch dredging technology was used to create these massive man made islands. They are the largest artificial islands in the world and can be seen from space. Three of these Palms will be made with the last one being the largest of them all.

Upon completion, the resort will have 2,000 villas, 40 luxury hotels, shopping centers, movie theaters, and many other facilities. It is expected to support a population of approximately 500,000 people. It is advertised as being visible from the moon.



The World Islands. 300 artificially created islands in the shape of the world. Each island will have an estimated cost of $25-30 million.

The Burj al-Arab hotel in Dubai. The worlds tallest hotel. Considered the only ‘7 star’ hotel and the most luxurious hotel in the world. It stands on an artificial island in the sea.


Hydropolis, the world’s first underwater hotel. Entirely built in Germany and then assembled in Dubai, it is scheduled to be completed by 2009 after many delays.


The Burj Dubai. Construction began in 2005 and is expected to be complete by 2008. At an estimated height of over 800 meters, it will easily be world’s tallest building when finished. It will be almost 40% taller than the the current tallest building, the Taipei 101.



This is what downtown Dubai will look like around 2008-2009. More than 140 stories of the Burj Dubai have already been completed. It is already the worlds tallest man made structure and it is still not scheduled to be completed for at least another year.

The Al Burj. This will be the centerpiece of the Dubai Waterfront. Once completed it will take over the title of the tallest structure in the world from the Burj Dubai.



Recently it was announced that the final height of this tower will be 1200 meters. That would make it more than 30% taller than the Burj Dubai and three times as tall as the Empire State Building.



The Burj al Alam, or The World Tower. Upon completion it will rank as the world’s highest hotel. It is expected to be finished by 2009. At 480 meters it will only be 28 meters shorter than the Taipei 101.


The Trump International Hotel & Tower, which will be the centerpiece of one of the palm islands, The Palm Jumeirah.


Dubailand. Currently, the largest amusement park collection in the world is Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, which is also the largest single-site employer in the United states with 58,000 employees. Dubailand will be twice the size.

Dubailand will be built on 3 billion square feet (107 miles^2) at an estimated $20 billion price tag. The site will include a purported 45 mega projects and 200 hundred other smaller projects.


Dubai Sports City. A huge collection of sports arenas located in Dubailand.


Currently, the Walt Disney World Resort is the #1 tourist destination in the world. Once fully completed, Dubailand will easily take over that title since it is expected to attract 200,000 visitors daily.



The Dubai Marina is an entirely man made development that will contain over 200 highrise buildings when finished. It will be home to some of the tallest residential structures in the world. The completed first phase of the project is shown. Most of the other high rise buildings will be finished by 2009-2010.



The Dubai Mall will be the largest shopping mall in the world with over 9 million square feet of shopping and around 1000 stores. It will be completed in 2008.


Ski Dubai, which is already open, is the largest indoor skiing facility in the world. This is a rendered image of another future indoor skiing facility that is being planned.

Some of the tallest buildings in the world, such as Ocean Heights and The Princess Tower, which will be the largest residential building in the world at over a 100 stories, will line the Dubai Marina.

The UAE Spaceport would be the first spaceport in the world if construction ever gets under way.
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The Dubai Metro system, once completed, will become the largest fully automated rail system in the world.
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The Dubai World Central International Airport will become the largest airport in size when it is completed. It will also eventually become the busiest airport in the world, based on passenger volume.
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There are more construction workers in Dubai than there are actual citizens.

A client of mine fell in love with Autumn Storm that had sold. I invited him to see some other paintings in the series but nothing caught him the same as that original painting. It could have been the time in his life, or it could have been the strokes.

He brought to my attention, my varying strokes. When i did Autumn Storm, it was a result of painting grey toned paintings for interior designers. My psyche needed some color and I painted Autumn Storm very quickly. But the timing of Autumn Storm, came from my Cloudscape series. Soft, billowing storm clouds that were built up in layers of color. Swooshy strokes that had subtle tones and lots of layers.

Autumn Storm has been a big favorite for many clients that appreciate Red as much as I do. I have another one that will be interesting to compare one day. If the collection is ever shown side by side.

Autumn Storm 2005

Autumn Kaleidoscope Detail on 8 foot painting

Autumn Storm Tree II
I need to get a better scan of it, as this has some glare and not as clear as the other one.

Had a wonderful time at the Richmond Winter Festival Exhibition. An incredible night as David Usher performed at City Hall. It will only get better next year!

Enjoyed visiting friends in Dubai, and being witness to another world. Extravagance, luxury, where everything and anything can be created. The city was under construction, but still managed to be breath-taking. The galleries were very approachable, and it was wonderful to see an international representation of artists in the UAE. (I hope to be one soon.)

The colors were luscious, beautiful against a warm sun. The interior designs were just as exotic. Figurative and abstracts were the most popular and I’m enjoying working on a new abstract series called Arabian Nights.

The Aislewalk Art of Weddings collection
will be featured at
WedBridal
3882 Main street. Ph. 604 875 1554
(Right next door to Novo Furniture!)
January 8- June 5th 2008.

Please RSVP for the launch party Thursday January 17th, 7-9pm.

2008. My resolutions.
- Smaller paintings
- Artists Statement

I have been enjoying CBC podcasts as I run along the Fraser River. Laughing to Vinyl Cafe, listening to Tapestries interesting interview with Bruce Feiler, Goldfarmers in World of warcraft… and the news. It has been a big adjustment for me, as I find the news too sad and unbearable to listen to daily. How do children addicted to opium in Afghanistan, the poor, the innocent compare with the strategies of political elections. The Kite Runner devastated me for a few days! Slowly I’m trying to shed the Canadian cocoon. Working on my artist statement is helping with that.

I have been accepted by Shorewind Gallery in Tofino, and have had interest from Minnesota. Fantastic to be distributed in the US. And how fantastic to have an excuse to go to Tofino for inspiration!

I am travelling this month to pursue other galleries outside of Canada. My current struggle is working in smaller sizes to meet clients requests. The energy is very different. You try express exuberance in a little brush hair. I always appreciate the commission challenge— when they are finished!

Sisters on the Dock

This recent one was for the daughter of Dan McIvor (Martin Mars) A very sweet commission of her memory. A present for her big sister. Inspired by an old photograph, the two waiting at Skaha Lake for their dad to fly in from a days work. How wonderful it must have been for Dan to come home, to see his daughters waiting on the dock for him. I wish I could have known Dan McIvor longer. I think of it as an honor to know his extended family now.

ROUGH DRAFT
(See final version online)

Enjoyed Tofino and Ucluelet for the first time over the holidays. A nice way to bring in 2008. The beautiful trails, the dense and furry lined rainforest, Long Beach and the high-end restaurants like The Schooner. theCabins.ca was a great place to stay, exactly what we were looking for. Tofino inspired series coming soon.

Wow. What a Launch party!

Amazing to keep an entire collection of work secret for so long. Painting bridal portraits without knowing the brides, and not having them ever see it, until now. Erin Gilmore and Tammy Lyon did an incredible job on the magazine, and what a launch party! They had such vision for the new book. I am looking forward to how brides respond to the Art of Weddings Collection.

See the paintings from Dec 6-Jan 8 at the Pacific Palisades Art and Soul Gallery. I really enjoyed showing here. They have a fantastic wine hour from 5-6 pm everyday where I was able to meet collectors and talk about my work.

It seems some collectors are interested in the artists’ life. How artists work, what their studio looks like… their habits. I think we are all creative, that my life is just like anyone else’s, and find it hard to believe we would be of interest. (With that in mind, I will try to make this interesting!)

I am always trying to make individuals and the collective similar, versus different. I see professional similarities: artists have deadlines, commitments, managing their career path in a competitive environment. Focus, dedication, perseverance, attention to detail; allows for mastery of your career, and brings clients back for the rewards of a timeless piece of art. The only professional difference lies in the perspective: managing a business or being an employee, but remaining motivated and disciplined regardless.

My life filter of “OOoh, that’s interesting!” is what I rely on to keep me engaged with my work. If I demand a constant feeling of interest, I will either seek it out when needed, or let it flow through my work when it exists. I paint when I’m “on”. Since painting is a happy daily habit, I am cranky when I’m not working. I listen to high energy music during rough drafts, and quieter more relaxing music when I am finishing, or needing more focus.

My mornings are generally informing my work: reading, writing, organizing, meeting with clients or colleagues — which often inspires me. By afternoon I am engaged in the act of painting. The balance of rendering/producing vs. writing/reflecting the choice of subject, the intent is constant. I can flesh out a work quickly and have time to review. Layers of work complete a final piece that I’ve had a month to review. There is always time to reflect and find meaning and purpose in your work.

A piece of paper and pen is all you need — is something I always remember when discussing glorious gothic windows and a gleaming hardwood floor for studio requirements. Painting and selling work since high school, I was used to working in small spaces. Previously my live/work studio at the Calgary Grain Exchange, last year it was my kitchen wall. Now I live in a quiet community neighborhood, and 600 sqft dedicated studio space definitely helps with production, being more organized and saving my marriage.

Being a mom dictates my routine. Part-time daycare allows me a full day to concentrate, or have meetings. I work from home, which allows me to add a layer of varnish after picking up my children, or before I drop them off. It also (hopefully) gives my children an introduction to my business where they can pick up habits and routine.

In my studio, they have their own easel, toy box. When possible, I work on projects that require shorter periods of focus (exuberant rough drafts, varnishes, organizing, administration, website) when they are around, and leave the intense focus (final finish, working out drawing/painting problems) for when they are napping, or in daycare.

They sit patiently in car seats, underneath 6 foot canvasses packed in the minivan. During deliveries they mimic me on the phone “BremerPark, Karen speaking.”. They ride their toys around the studio commenting “Nice painting mom!”. When I was painting a portrait they ask “when are you going to paint me?”. They remind you that running a business can only have so many overtime hours. Balance, time for friends, family, and life tasks; building a rewarding life is the big picture, the successful career just a piece.

Like running your own business, you have only yourself to complain about. If you don’t like the work environment, job, the income, you sit yourself down and have a one-way conversation. Karen (employee) and Karen (sales, marketing) bring their suggestions to Karen (director) to decide on how to manage tasks. Gossip and office politics, are minimal — I live vicariously through others.

I pursue mastery of rendering, a high level of authenticity, paintings that have personal meaning for myself and collectors. Commissions, different subjects increase my rendering skills, as do galleries, pop culture, and my memories. A mastery of technique that aids the emotional connection between painting and viewer. I persevere, and hopefully will look back on a series of successful decisions in my lifelong career.