Dime Museum
Donation protected
Me
My every waking moment is spent moving towards a goal, one goal.... to be able to put onto canvas the things I see and want to say that are in my head. To have this be my full time job is what I believe that I am meant to do.
My work is not always pleasing to the eye and not everyone would like to hang one of my paintings over their couch but I believe that what I do is important, is a gift and is something that needs to be realized. I feel as if I have only had a chance to glimpse what it is I am capable of doing with my work.
Dime Museum
This series of paintings, which is close to my heart and I am determined to finish captures contemporary women who live on the edge of society through circumstance, birth defects or choice through body modification. Paintings, rendered in oil bring forth an atmosphere reminiscent of sideshows and dime museums that were once home for anyone who didn't fit within societal norm.
The Judy, 2013
oil on panel
~
I have an amazing family, full of creative types, writers, musicians and artists. They have given me so much encouragement through the years, helped me believe in myself when it was hard to see what I have and they have kept me moving towards a life that not all would have the courage to follow.
My Story
I’ve spent my life struggling to make a living, hand to mouth. When you don't have much you don't need much. I've always worked hard for those I've worked for. Working hard never it never made a difference when it came to how much I am paid. My bosses made money and I struggled. I've worked in stained glass shops off n on for many years. In St Jacobs, Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto. My skill in designing and building stained glass panels, domes and lenses is greater than I can ever dreamed and alto I loved my last job I know in my heart I can never make the kind of living I should be able to with what I can do with glass as I should. And in the end I am left still with my voice, my story needing to be told.
At the age of 36 I took a risk and walked away from my life in Montreal to go back to school. I moved to Toronto after being accepted into the Drawing and Painting program at OCAD University. I struggled at first with the written work required but quickly found my visual voice. I ended my time there living and studying in Italy, happier than I had ever dreamed of being.
Upon returning home from Italy and finding a new job that I loved I had a bad fall on the job and injured my back (three fractures on my lower spine) and suffered brain injury and fractured skull by falling from scaffolding onto cement floor I had just finished school and felt I was on my way to the life I had always wanted At first after an accident such as that my instinct and survival kicked in and I wanted to get right back to work. The more I pushed, the more my body rejected what I was doing and broke down. I suffered depression from the brain injury which crept up on my and I resisted getting the help needed thinking I could keep moving forward.
I lost nearly 4 years struggling with my injuries...spent time doing rehab at Toronto Rehab (a great program). My spine has never healed properly as the priority at the time was my head so now I deal with pain daily. I cannot sit for too long, lay down for too long or I stiffen up. I've learned to work around it and it has forced me to once again to change my life to try and get it back on track.
I managed to buy a home in a small town with cheap land taxes. It’s an old church that needs a little work but it has high ceilings and space where I can create. I've managed to make friends out here. I tried my hand at a small business but had to face reality, my talent lies in creating and not selling what I do. I have managed to find a following out here for my work. I've been in a few shows, won some awards and sold a few pieces.
Americana, 2013
oil on panel
won the People's Choice Award at The Judith & Norman ALIX Gallery Juried Art Show in Sarnia, Ontario
I now have a job working and writing for a small town paper out here. It works for me but it's not always enough to pay my bills and when it is I have little time to paint. I also work one night a week in a local restaurant, which helps out.
This is all great but I know that it is not my path. I should be painting and I know if I could finish a few pieces that I will be finally doing what I should be doing.
My Dad told me a very long time ago that once he started just doing what he loved instead of running around and trying to find money so he could do what he loved...that’s when he started to find success. I know in my heart that is the way it will be for me.
My project 'Dime Museum' is a series that needs to be finished. I have three paintings completed to date: Dance of the Dead, The Judy and Americana. I also have a woman in Toronto, Jaene Francy Castrillon who is also going to be a part of my series that I have to find the time and money to go photograph her and then paint her. There is a woman in Ottawa who has agreed to model for this series, one in Vancouver and a potential model I would like to photograph and paint that lives’ in London England. What stops me is money. I need to raise the money.
Dance of the dead, 2008
oil on panel
the paintings I have for this series are important. The three that are finished had had an impact on the viewers that I never expected. I've touched women, young and old when they see my work. Young girls have told me how important it is to them that I paint 'real' women. Not the perfect model type that media is usually showing us. My work touches, changes and affects those who see it. I haven't yet found the market that will buy all I do but I believe it is a matter of time before it takes off. I believe. Help me believe.
Since this will go out to my Facebook friends.... don’t just tell me what a good artist I am. Help me continue what I do. I have so many visual pictures ready to paint in my head and I want the chance to realize them. Like an Olympic athlete, I need help, sponsorship, support and a boost to create and use a gift I was given. Please be a part of my dream. Help me give my vision a voice.
Sincerely,
Liana Russwurm
My every waking moment is spent moving towards a goal, one goal.... to be able to put onto canvas the things I see and want to say that are in my head. To have this be my full time job is what I believe that I am meant to do.
My work is not always pleasing to the eye and not everyone would like to hang one of my paintings over their couch but I believe that what I do is important, is a gift and is something that needs to be realized. I feel as if I have only had a chance to glimpse what it is I am capable of doing with my work.
Dime Museum
This series of paintings, which is close to my heart and I am determined to finish captures contemporary women who live on the edge of society through circumstance, birth defects or choice through body modification. Paintings, rendered in oil bring forth an atmosphere reminiscent of sideshows and dime museums that were once home for anyone who didn't fit within societal norm.
The Judy, 2013
oil on panel
~
I have an amazing family, full of creative types, writers, musicians and artists. They have given me so much encouragement through the years, helped me believe in myself when it was hard to see what I have and they have kept me moving towards a life that not all would have the courage to follow.
My Story
I’ve spent my life struggling to make a living, hand to mouth. When you don't have much you don't need much. I've always worked hard for those I've worked for. Working hard never it never made a difference when it came to how much I am paid. My bosses made money and I struggled. I've worked in stained glass shops off n on for many years. In St Jacobs, Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto. My skill in designing and building stained glass panels, domes and lenses is greater than I can ever dreamed and alto I loved my last job I know in my heart I can never make the kind of living I should be able to with what I can do with glass as I should. And in the end I am left still with my voice, my story needing to be told.
At the age of 36 I took a risk and walked away from my life in Montreal to go back to school. I moved to Toronto after being accepted into the Drawing and Painting program at OCAD University. I struggled at first with the written work required but quickly found my visual voice. I ended my time there living and studying in Italy, happier than I had ever dreamed of being.
Upon returning home from Italy and finding a new job that I loved I had a bad fall on the job and injured my back (three fractures on my lower spine) and suffered brain injury and fractured skull by falling from scaffolding onto cement floor I had just finished school and felt I was on my way to the life I had always wanted At first after an accident such as that my instinct and survival kicked in and I wanted to get right back to work. The more I pushed, the more my body rejected what I was doing and broke down. I suffered depression from the brain injury which crept up on my and I resisted getting the help needed thinking I could keep moving forward.
I lost nearly 4 years struggling with my injuries...spent time doing rehab at Toronto Rehab (a great program). My spine has never healed properly as the priority at the time was my head so now I deal with pain daily. I cannot sit for too long, lay down for too long or I stiffen up. I've learned to work around it and it has forced me to once again to change my life to try and get it back on track.
I managed to buy a home in a small town with cheap land taxes. It’s an old church that needs a little work but it has high ceilings and space where I can create. I've managed to make friends out here. I tried my hand at a small business but had to face reality, my talent lies in creating and not selling what I do. I have managed to find a following out here for my work. I've been in a few shows, won some awards and sold a few pieces.
Americana, 2013
oil on panel
won the People's Choice Award at The Judith & Norman ALIX Gallery Juried Art Show in Sarnia, Ontario
I now have a job working and writing for a small town paper out here. It works for me but it's not always enough to pay my bills and when it is I have little time to paint. I also work one night a week in a local restaurant, which helps out.
This is all great but I know that it is not my path. I should be painting and I know if I could finish a few pieces that I will be finally doing what I should be doing.
My Dad told me a very long time ago that once he started just doing what he loved instead of running around and trying to find money so he could do what he loved...that’s when he started to find success. I know in my heart that is the way it will be for me.
My project 'Dime Museum' is a series that needs to be finished. I have three paintings completed to date: Dance of the Dead, The Judy and Americana. I also have a woman in Toronto, Jaene Francy Castrillon who is also going to be a part of my series that I have to find the time and money to go photograph her and then paint her. There is a woman in Ottawa who has agreed to model for this series, one in Vancouver and a potential model I would like to photograph and paint that lives’ in London England. What stops me is money. I need to raise the money.
Dance of the dead, 2008
oil on panel
the paintings I have for this series are important. The three that are finished had had an impact on the viewers that I never expected. I've touched women, young and old when they see my work. Young girls have told me how important it is to them that I paint 'real' women. Not the perfect model type that media is usually showing us. My work touches, changes and affects those who see it. I haven't yet found the market that will buy all I do but I believe it is a matter of time before it takes off. I believe. Help me believe.
Since this will go out to my Facebook friends.... don’t just tell me what a good artist I am. Help me continue what I do. I have so many visual pictures ready to paint in my head and I want the chance to realize them. Like an Olympic athlete, I need help, sponsorship, support and a boost to create and use a gift I was given. Please be a part of my dream. Help me give my vision a voice.
Sincerely,
Liana Russwurm
Organizer
Liana Russwurm
Organizer
Alvinston, ON
