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.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
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!!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Creating Art
I haven't felt much like creating art for several months now. The reason for my lax is because I am not selling any work. Why continue to create when there isn't anything going out the door? As one Internet friend reasoned "because you enjoy the process of creating". Well, I do enjoy the process of creating, but it is small consolation when I see my framed work sitting on the floor next to a dresser my grandfather made or what I like to call my creativity station.
I'm trying to make room by hanging pieces on the walls in my home, but they are only reminders that in this too I have failed. It feels like such a failure if I'm creating art, but not selling it. Yes, the economy is bad right now...blah, blah, blah...but if I were good, I feel people would buy my work.
This is just another low spot for me with no remedy.
I'm trying to make room by hanging pieces on the walls in my home, but they are only reminders that in this too I have failed. It feels like such a failure if I'm creating art, but not selling it. Yes, the economy is bad right now...blah, blah, blah...but if I were good, I feel people would buy my work.
This is just another low spot for me with no remedy.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Hanging at Sweetwaters Cafe in Ann Arbor Michigan
On Monday, May 31, 2010,I will be hanging 7-10 pieces of artwork at Sweetwaters Cafe in Ann Arbor Michigan. I'm not feeling at all confident about my work or this show. I've really lost a lot of steam in the creative department probably because I had two major art blows this year. The first being not getting into the juried show at the Ann Arbor Library for a second time. The other--none of the three pieces I submitted for the "Water" show at River Gallery in Chelsea Michigan were accepted for their juried show. The first blow was bad enough, the second? Well, it was devastating. I haven't created anything fresh since Feb. And even that piece still hangs taped and unfinished on my dining room wall.
Did my muse run away or did I slam the door in it's face? What a terrible thing rejection is to the creative spirit. Feels like I'm back writing again and finding letters of rejection in the mail. The last letter of rejection was for my very first young adult fantasy novel. It came with a personal note as to why it was rejected. Even so, it was rejected--not good enough to be published. This is how my art feels right now--not good enough to sell.
I have no idea how to price my pieces either. Most are 22x28" oil pastels. I'm thinking of putting a price tag of $150 each on them...but will this be too little? There is one I love and do not wish to sell it, but it is an oil pastel and like some others...pricing must be consistent, so says me.
I'll figure it out before Monday.
Did my muse run away or did I slam the door in it's face? What a terrible thing rejection is to the creative spirit. Feels like I'm back writing again and finding letters of rejection in the mail. The last letter of rejection was for my very first young adult fantasy novel. It came with a personal note as to why it was rejected. Even so, it was rejected--not good enough to be published. This is how my art feels right now--not good enough to sell.
I have no idea how to price my pieces either. Most are 22x28" oil pastels. I'm thinking of putting a price tag of $150 each on them...but will this be too little? There is one I love and do not wish to sell it, but it is an oil pastel and like some others...pricing must be consistent, so says me.
I'll figure it out before Monday.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Sweetwaters Show
So today I was notified that a spot is open for me at the Sweetwaters Cafe in downtown Ann Arbor Michigan to show some artwork from June 1-Aug 1. I'm excited to get to do a show, but wondering what in the world do I have to put up at it.
I didn't make it into the A2 Women Artists Spring Juried Show at the Ann Arbor District Library. I only entered two pieces into the show. I thought for certain one at least, if not both, would have made it in. I guess my "Ode to Mark Rothko" oil pastel paintings were a bust for the juror. I wonder if Mark Rothko himself would have gotten into that show...probably because he is Mark Rothko.
I'm learning and playing and creating and discovering more and more about this art process. No, my work is not popular, but I'm creating it for myself as a catalog of what I thought was important at the time. I'm trying to capture moments in time and put those down on paper so I remember what was important...views of Lake Michigan and the peace visiting that spot on the world gave me...the near collapse of Wall Street and the fear it invoked and the dreams...my body--the celebration of the fat woman that I am and the embracing of it. I fear failure. (Is it okay to fear failure, but to try anyway and maybe not have my art liked because it's not from someone who is an "accomplished" artist or understood?) I feel so cold thinking about the failure of getting into that juried show.... I sent out a disc for the upcoming show at River Gallery in Chelsea...I hope I make it into that one. If not, I may question why I do art if I am not selling it. Is there really a reason to have so many canvas's lining the walls in my home if that is all they are doing?
My work is not that great, I admit. But it is mine and that must be worth something to someone. Yes it is. It is worth a lot to me.
I didn't make it into the A2 Women Artists Spring Juried Show at the Ann Arbor District Library. I only entered two pieces into the show. I thought for certain one at least, if not both, would have made it in. I guess my "Ode to Mark Rothko" oil pastel paintings were a bust for the juror. I wonder if Mark Rothko himself would have gotten into that show...probably because he is Mark Rothko.
I'm learning and playing and creating and discovering more and more about this art process. No, my work is not popular, but I'm creating it for myself as a catalog of what I thought was important at the time. I'm trying to capture moments in time and put those down on paper so I remember what was important...views of Lake Michigan and the peace visiting that spot on the world gave me...the near collapse of Wall Street and the fear it invoked and the dreams...my body--the celebration of the fat woman that I am and the embracing of it. I fear failure. (Is it okay to fear failure, but to try anyway and maybe not have my art liked because it's not from someone who is an "accomplished" artist or understood?) I feel so cold thinking about the failure of getting into that juried show.... I sent out a disc for the upcoming show at River Gallery in Chelsea...I hope I make it into that one. If not, I may question why I do art if I am not selling it. Is there really a reason to have so many canvas's lining the walls in my home if that is all they are doing?
My work is not that great, I admit. But it is mine and that must be worth something to someone. Yes it is. It is worth a lot to me.
Friday, January 1, 2010
1 a.m. Tis the creativity bewitching hour
This morning around 12:35 a.m. I created a small, 12"x12" size oil pastel of a larger work I want to do. I wanted to see--actually see-- how the colors would blend together on paper. I only have one more piece of the stonehedge paper I like to use and don't want to blow it on something that may not turn out like the image I see in my mind. It's best to do something smaller and play with it.
Instead of calling the small painting something, I put "AP" for the name. "AP" means artist proof. Even though it isn't a print it was the only thing I could think of in terms of a name. My first thought was "test" but that really didn't convey what I wanted.
Even in the course of continuing to paint oil pastels, I'm learning new things. One technique I learned tonight is once the paper is wet with turpentine I don't need to keep wetting it to try to blend in the colors. I used my fingers and a rag to blend, both of which worked well.
I don't know when I'll actually work on the larger painting because I really didn't like the results of the smaller painting. I'll give the same painting a few more tries before I start something larger. I want to feel confident that what happens on the large paper is what I want the end result to be.
Instead of calling the small painting something, I put "AP" for the name. "AP" means artist proof. Even though it isn't a print it was the only thing I could think of in terms of a name. My first thought was "test" but that really didn't convey what I wanted.
Even in the course of continuing to paint oil pastels, I'm learning new things. One technique I learned tonight is once the paper is wet with turpentine I don't need to keep wetting it to try to blend in the colors. I used my fingers and a rag to blend, both of which worked well.
I don't know when I'll actually work on the larger painting because I really didn't like the results of the smaller painting. I'll give the same painting a few more tries before I start something larger. I want to feel confident that what happens on the large paper is what I want the end result to be.
Creating Art at 1 a.m.
It isn't unusual for me to be up creating art at 1 a.m. It was part of my goals for 2010 and I wanted to get a quick start on it. After attending a singles get together, at home watching TV, I was inspired to create three charcoal drawings--two of me and one of something else. I don't remember.
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