Other Places to Display Art

This afternoon I was reading on the Ann Arbor Women Artist' website about the various places members can show work. I think it was two years ago that I showed 4-5 pieces at The Women Center on Maple Road in Ann Arbor Michigan. I created the works I showed specifically for that venue. The works were to be happy, uplifting pieces. "Just Over That Hill", which can be seen if you scroll down on the right side of this blog and "When All Else Fails...Hope". Both pieces hang in my living room. The latter hangs over the TV and so is in constant view. I love these pieces. I entered them in the fall of 2009 in the Ann Arbor Women Artists Show at the Ann Arbor District Library. They did not make it into the show. The shock of this slowly wore off. I've been a member of the Ann Arbor Women Artists for the past four years. I haven't entered any shows since my pieces were rejected. I wonder how I'll do if the two I entered for the Northville Art House are rejected.

Happy As a Clam

Today was a great day. I spent time thinking about the art I submitted for the Ann Arbor Women Artists. I really don't care for the oil pastel painting "The Best Laid Plans" because it is muddy and doesn't seem to really be as amazing as I saw it in my mind. Does this ever happen to other artists? Does this ever happen to you? I'd love to read your stories of creative mistakes and the outcome. Who knows if this piece or the other one--"Celestial Lime" will make it into the show. Even so, I tried and today, that's what mattered to me.

Decisions

I know I said I was not going to, but I did. I downloaded two images and mailed a check for $10 to Ann Arbor Women Artists in hopes of being included in the Spring juried show at the Northville Art House in Northville Michigan.

Last night, as I sat watching TV a commercial came on. In the background was a wonderful minimalist abstract painting in faint blues. I don't remember what it was a commercial for but the thought came to me that I needed to show my work more. I looked up Ann Arbor Women Artists online to see when is the deadline for the Northville Art House show. It wasn't until later this month. Yeah! I got to work rephotographing my recent oil pastels "Celestial Lime" and " The Best Laid Plans". After downloading the files onto the Ann Arbor Women Artist's website, I felt a sense of relief. No, I didn't feel the best--over the weekend my sniffles turned into a full blown cold--but I want to show my work whether or not anyone buys it. I just want people to see what I've been doing holed up in my home over recent or not so recent weeks.

The other matter I had to decide as I prepared to submit my work to the show is how much to charge. The frames for these two pieces run around $50 each. I want to encourage buyers of my work. So "Celestial Lime" was priced at $125 and "The Best Laid Plans" was priced at $175 even though Northville Art House will take 35% of all sales. It didn't matter. I want to sell my work. If one or both sold for this I would not have any regrets. My work would be out in the world being enjoyed by another living soul. Isn't that what matters in art? Sharing your feelings through your work for others to enjoy and contemplate? Yes, I think so. Thank you for reading :)

More Art

A couple weeks ago, I created a couple of paintings I planned to enter in the pop up gallery "Red" benefiting The Jackson Michigan Area Red Cross. I created two new works "Celestial Lime" and "The Best Laid Plans" both are oil pastels. I wanted to show them in the juried shows "Red" and one in Northville with the Ann Arbor Women Artists--I don't remember the name of that one. I would need to take time off of work if accepted into one or both shows to deliver my artwork. So, I did not enter either show.

I emailed one of the Red Show coordinators, Maggie Riggle. I asked, if chosen, could I deliver my work early. She emailed me back and said she would be happy to help by allowing me to deliver my work to her studio at Art 634. She said she would take it to the gallery for me. The deadline for "Red" was Tuesday, Feb. 28. I photographed my work, but didn't download it onto my computer. Tuesday came and went. I wish I felt better so that I would have at least entered the "Red" show. Back in December I has a knee procedure done to clean up a torn meniscus in my right knee. I'm still dealing with pain because both knees have arthritis. The procedure helped, but I still have pain and when I do not feel well I don't move as much. So then, I didn't enter these shows or create art.

Need to Photograph more Art

It has been a while since I've photographed my artwork and posted it anywhere. I closed my website www.gretaart.com earlier this year. It was more for vanity than for business and sales, so, to save money, I closed it. Eventually I may reopen it...or not. I hope that I can get followers of my art blog who will repost my blogs for others to read and follow. In this way, followers of my artwork will grow. I hope.

I have recently done about five pieces--oil pastels, which I need to photograph and post here. It is just a matter of doing it. That's the hold up...the doing it part.

Feel free to leave a comment and repost my blogs. I appreciate hearing from viewers. Thank you!!

Art and Beyond Belief on Primetime TV

Lately I've been creating art while watching TV. The art I'm doing is done either using oil pastels, which is a standard favorite of mine, or I use pencil with which to draw.

Right now I'm watching a "Primetime" special called "Beyond Belief". A reporter, who died and came back to life, interviewed various people who died and came back to life also. Though their experiences were somewhat different, most of them included seeing a calming white light and meeting deceased loved ones on the other side.

I wonder what my experience will be. I like the idea of the calming white light, seeing loved ones who have gone ahead and such, but after that I want to explore this place and I hope there are mountains and lovely landscapes on which to explore.

Sold Grapefruit on the Horizon

Back in March, okay, so I am having a bit of trouble keeping up with my blog posts here because I currently only have 4 followers and they do not seem too interested in my random ramblings.

Anyway, back in March, I was invited to be in the fund raiser art show for the American Red Cross here in Jackson, Michigan. I submitted four small paintings to keep the price down and so that they all might make it into the juried show. They did make the show. The show only lasted four days. When I went to pick up the artwork, I was informed that Grapefruit on the Horizon, a watercolor and pencil drawing, sold. The Horizon was of New Mexico...I was very impressed visiting my brother down in Carlsbad has left some very favorable impressions on me.

He's thinking of taking a different job in another state. Oh well. I guess I'll have to pull images from my memories of visits and the hundreds of photographs I took on my first visit several years ago.

Motivators for Creating Art

Here in New Mexico on my brother's patio, I think about what has motivated me in the past to create art. One of the best motivators is pain--emotional, raw pain. Well, okay, pain and TV allow me to explore and release my inner self. Pain helps because painting then becomes a positive outlet for it--something I can productively translate into something better.

TV is a motivator too because sometimes I see shadows and forms, which catch my attention and usually go to the sketching pad or tape up some paper on the wall and create my interpretation of what I saw with new colors, added depth or shapes, etc. It is a very freeing experience to create art.

I think too of Georgia O'Keefe and all the motivators she had to continue and expand her art in this dry, seemingly barren place. Did she run from her flirtatious husband who loved young women more than her? She grew up, no longer the ripe young flesh that his lust desired. She was a cast away of his love. Yet, she did not wallow in pity, but made her break and set her mind to deeper things. (But why in the world did she come here? It is nice now, but it is so dry and so barren. Yes, the shapes and colors of the homes and landscapes are beautiful with subtle colors and depth, but I do not want to live here like her (and my brother--for now).)

(My hands are so dry. I need some lotion and to drink a lot more water.)
On my brother's wall above the entrance to the kitchen are two of my oil pastels--"Pomagrante" and "Apple #2" (or #3). Lower down beside the doorway hangs "The Three Sisters" landscape painting. He bought the two oil pastels from me and I threw in "The Three Sisters" because he liked it and I didn't. I'm very glad to know that I have a fan of my work from someone within the family.

Down in Carlsbad New Mexico

I'm here visiting my brother, Mitch, in Carlsbad New Mexico sitting on his patio listening to the ground popping as twilight deepens into night. He flew me down this week, March 17, 2011, to photograph items he wants to list on E bay. I'm thrilled. I got a free trip to the southwest. We haven't gone sightseeing like we did the last time I came out two years ago with mom. I am very content to sit here on the patio, listening to the cooling ground, feeling the warm night air caress my skin, knowing a comfortable bed is ready anytime I am.

I don't need much to be happy. I am happy now, by myself, in this simple moment. Here and now is all I need and it is good.Thank you Lord.

Made it into the RED show

I was chosen to be in the Jackson Michigan American Red Cross charity art show "RED" happening March 24=27. Yeah!!