Chalk it up to experience

Things are about to get bright, hot and chalky around here!

As a freelance artist I am duty bound (in order to pay rent, eat and pay off my dental bill) to take some odd and end kind of jobs. You really never know where you're going to go, what you're going to do or who you are going to meet. This Friday I will be meeting a big hot concrete wall for instance. Well, I did meet this wall yesterday actually. I looked him up and down and decided he and I could work together on this little project.

This wall is located where the Cedars West Arts Festival is going to be taking place and I'll be creating a nice bit o' signage in colored chalk. I'll also be creating little colored chalk "fun stations" at various sidewalk points along the festival path so kids can come and color in, draw and get chalky too. There are challenges to taking on this job, namely the HEAT and also that little hindrance of not having a car. It's going to be an adventure for sure, how will I get this accomplished? I don't know but I know that I will! The project has to be done after hours when the businesses are closed and traffic all over my chalk projects are not an issue. Yesterday I rounded up 6 giant tubs of colored chalk with 52 pieces of chalk in them. I am hoping this is enough for both me and the kids. I think so. The other challenge is the colors- I really wanted some super bright high pigment chalk but all the chalk was kinda pale. Meh! I will have to get creative and try to find some black chalk to offset everything. Maybe vine charcoal? Then Saturday I'm working with the ol' crew I was doing murals for helping them with the Sue's Zoo and the Magic Garden area. Come find me! I may be multicolored and chalky and fun to point and laugh at!

So this is what is on my freelance plate this week aside from trying to get some records done and stay healthy and fit. PiYo today and trying this stuff called BUCKWHEAT. Apparently I need more potassium, magnesium and calcium in my life and this stuff is supposed to be awesome. Otay?

It's getting pretty hot in Texas and my water bottle is my new BFF, I'll update and document the project so you can see how glamorous it is to freelance. It's all pearly necklaces, long velvet gloves and oysters to be sure dahlings!

Not. More like flea and mosquito bites, sweat and black charcoaly stuff when you blow your nose. YEP!

Comments

Jim Rockford was keeping me broke

Ah Rockford files, a comfortable and silly way to unwind after work. Yes, I am completely aware that I've turned into my Dad and watching Dad shows totally cements that theory. I had to start looking at the handsome James Garner in a new light though... He was a rich and famous star in his time and every evening spent curled up watching Rockford Files was an evening a painting wasn't getting worked on. No painting, no art show material. No painting, no galleries. No painting, no money. Would James Garner be watching TV every evening in a tired drowsy ball and not getting stuff done? Probably not. So I pulled myself away from TV land in the evenings and devoted at least a little time in the mornings as well. Even if it's just ten minutes. Even if you are just filling in all the blacks, blues or whatever... It is progress. Something is better than nothing. I'm proud to say this little habit tweak has totally kicked my butt into gear and I'm producing at a rate I'

How I had the best art year

This was the year I got rejection letters from every open call I applied to. Granted, it wasn't very many I applied to because I am very picky about what I sign up for AND I am also very jaded about these things of late. However, this was my best art year to date and I kinda love that it was all rejection notices this year and I STILL HAD THE BEST ART YEAR EVER. Takeaway: Today's open calls are very "agenda based" and the jurors they choose to judge have their agendas. Some want more millennials and younger artists and shun the older artists, some want you to tackle race, gender identity, politics, feminist, pro this or that.... And my art does not. I'm going to stick by my "Nature is more important than most bullshit" stance till I die because the very atom of life and Nature is more important in my eyes than most of the stuff humans do to feel more important than another group. But I digress! I did not get into the velvet rope clubs and it was gre

The Backstory- cliff notes edition

Skip navigation little backstory I was totally working for myself as an artist and you know what? It was HARD! Harder than hard and harder than any job ever. But it was the most rewarding experience and I learned so much about so many things and I want to share that knowledge with you guys... My VIP art club. I didn't get a fair shake from the very beginning of my art career. I suffered a back injury at my "muggle" job which required a lot of physical therapy to get over and which I will have with me forever now. It was actually the impetus for me to quit my job and start being an artist! So I turned my bad luck into fuel for my fire. I saved 5k (painstakingly while enduring all the BS at a terrible job) and then I made the leap. I was so excited and optimistic about working for myself! I had sold little pieces here and there and was sure it was only upwards from there. 2 weeks into my freedom- my Dad died unexpectedly. What came next was indescribable DEPRESSION and a

Art Plunge

Search This Blog