Marjolyn van der Hart

Small Art can Make a Big Statement

Small art in little boxes. There is nothing like a small package. The receiving, the opening, the discovery of a small little moment that says “love”. Really nothing like it. I know you are thinking about the diamond, the bracelet, the pair of socks. I’m not talking about that. I am talking about the handmade…
Is Art Dead?

Is the power of art dead? Does art still have power that it used to have? Is art dead? Do we care about the handmade or the one of a kind? Does it have the same power that art had in the 17th and 18th centuries? Although it does not have the same power as…
Is your Children’s Art enough?

Children’s art in your home does not help your children. Can your home just have your children’s art? Is it enough to hang the naive, lovely, personal pieces of art that your kids make in your home? A few weeks ago I was invited to a beautiful home in Seattle. The people who lived here…
Know your history to know yourself.

Know your History Learning about ourselves, to know your history, gives us deeper understanding of who we are. Knowing ourselves with the knowledge of our past, with the understanding of where we come from, can enable our lives to grow. Looking back at our ancestors, the people in our lives who made us, give us…
How Art increases Creativity.

Creativity comes from looking at art. This is a simple fact. Living with empty walls is boring and uninspiring. It makes sense that when walking into your home, art is there to remind you of vibrancy and life. But what about your workplace? Do you work in a cubicle or office that has empty walls?…
Art in the Digital Age

Art and the digital question. Is there an “aura” to art that that doesn’t appear in a digital form? Or is it the idea that is the main value of the piece? In the age of digital reproductions, there seems to be a dissolving break between the “original” and the “print”. Is it important that…
Where do Ideas come From?

Past Images can Inspire the Ideas Where do ideas come from? Nothing is original. You may disagree with this, but it is true. Everything spins from something else. A piece of music, an old photo, a place that reminds us of our younger self; all are triggers for ideas. Ideas that I can use to…
Memory and Forgetting

We are all a String of Memories. We create our identity by experiencing moments. Every moment is a memory as soon as it passes. I often think of a moment in the past and put myself back at that time. Like trying to remember my daughter at the age of two walking for the first…
It All started With the Word No

There are No Women Artists As the 2019 International Women’s day approaches in March, I am once again reminded of where my creative voice started. It started with the word NO- No you can’t do this because you are a woman. The message was that because I was a woman I would be paid less,…
Memory; Reality or Lie?

Memories as a Reality Memories as a reality? Are our memories truth or a lie? If it is a lie- can we rely on these memories to truly define us? Confusing questions, to be sure. But I am interested in how this relates to Art. My art. Memories are my inspiration, but I interpret the…
Just Show Up

Show Up “Just show up”, she said. What does that mean today? What does it mean to be there, to act, to react, to give, to take and to be? It means that being in the moment and acting like you are producing and contributing is showing up. That being part of life, sharing your…
Art Has a Power.

Art and its Power Can the power of art change your life? Can art change the world? It’s a question that many have asked and answered. Art, in its many forms, can reveal the power that we can acquire through the engagement and understanding of the stories behind art. For this reason, just filling a…
The Business of Art

Selling of Art has its Challenges The business of art is challenging. First of all its not just the making of the art, but being able to market, distribute and sell it. Finding collectors that love and support my art is the ongoing uphill battle. Many artists choose to use galleries to sell their work.…
Surround Yourself with the Good

Surround yourself with the Good What does this mean? The “good” is the positive energy we get when we look or experience the positive. How do we introduce the positive into our life? We surround ourselves with good people. Mentors who tell us that we Can Do It. Most importantly we should make our environment…
Enjoy the Everyday Sounds of Life

Sounds of everyday life can be taken for granted. When my daughter was young, she would wake up everyday with a song. Singing in her childlike voice I would listen as I wake up and revel in this moment of happiness. Just to stop and listen. The other day I asked my 14 year old…
Buying a Gift of Art

Buying a Gift of Art Actually I find that buying gifts is challenging. So this time of year can bring on the grumps. In the last couple of years I have asked my teenage daughter to just send me the link of what she wants for Christmas. This is the time of year that this…
How to be Happy?

How to be Happy can be Easy A question that we often asks ourselves is how to be happy? What makes us feel satisfied that we are doing the things in life that makes us feel fulfilled. Is it service to others that makes us happy? Is it having a work life that is challenging…
Weed and Art- What do they Have in Common?

Does Pot make you more of an artist? Can you be more creative when you smoke pot? Today is a monumental day in Canada. Consuming marijuana has become legal. A major cultural shift in this country. One that inspired my 14 year old to ask me if I would now be smoking a joint in…