Always Be Prepared

Tree Bark found in my front yard after the rains

My handy dandy cupcake calendar says there are about 3 more weeks left in January. That means 3 more weeks to make a stack of GLAM records appear for the Texas Theater show and finish up some commissions. There's also a little word floating around that I might get called on to work on a 4 week mural project that will involve working at night. That could get crazy but I can hang. The important thing is to be prepared by knocking out all my work as it comes in.

As soon as Januarys batch of orders are done I will have to do some time management to make sure I'm on track for my art show this July. It sounds like a long way off but it's really NOT when you're pulling together a whole new body of work....and planning an installation idea. Yes. I am stepping into the world of installation and I've got some cool ideas I need to experiment with. I've been collecting interesting pieces of bark (like the one above) for this purpose. Also there is a chance (I'll know more soon) that my work could be going to another major city soon and that means....I need work for THAT first. I have successfully sold almost every piece in my PATH OF series before they've even had a chance to all hang in a show together. All that is left is the Path of Fruitfulness hanging at {neighborhood} in Bishop Arts. So right now I need to make MY WORK and I need to make it SOON. I'm going to have to turn down a lot of group shows and events for awhile and I hope everyone understands....there is a finish line in my sights and I won't get there if I'm zigzagging to this and that and trying to do it all.

It's time to get prepared and I'm not there yet.

(I like the crop of this detail, I'm thinking cards and postcards later this year- for SPRING!)

Knocking out commissions today and thankful the studio is clean and organized, it really does a lot for my mental well being to sit and create in an organized room without that nagging feeling that thats something else that needs doing- cleaning! I found an IKEA bread box (I think that's what it is!) at the thrift for 3 dollars and it's huge enough to stash all my lovely over-sized decorative papers in AND has wall mounts on the back so that's the next phase in STUDIO BEAUTIFICATION project.

It's cold and grey and possibly rainy, the perfect weather for staying in and knocking out work. Have a great Sunday everyone!

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