Art Plunge

Dreaming in the sun...why not? Even though Sundays are technically no different from a Monday to a self employed person such as myself...they hold a different power. Maybe because my whole life it was regarded as "day of rest" whether that actually happened or not...but I give it that power these days. I slow it down. I decline doing things I don't want to do and I actually do try to rest a little more. Its particularly pretty today so maybe at some point I'll take a walk or find a nice spot to do what Tuco cat is doing...laze and daydream in the sun. I saw a great show last night and actually don't feel tore up from the floor up today! 🙌 I like to reflect on the weeks highlights on Sunday and take inventory of what the week brought to my shores: I accomplished using the GoPro camera and jumped into video editing. This will be a process but I started the ball rolling.🙌 Started a new painting and am working on it today. 🙌 Made time for friends and love...

I had the best intentions to paint yesterday but got sidetracked I decided to try out my GoPro my sister gave me since I've been itching to learn video...so I took it out when I went mushroom hunting and shot a couple things. Easy enough. By the way yesterday was primo for shroom finds...look at these babies That first one that looks like a crazy star shape....had never seen those before and I was so excited! I hadn't been having much luck and I spied a stump and almost didn't check it out...but glad I did coz there they were. Stumps are great places to find mushrooms.  That little round one that looks like a rock is possibly an edible Puffball. I would have to cut him open to inspect though.  But mushrooms aren't what sidetracked me....it was the VIDEO. When I got back into the studio I decided to get the video off the camera....this took some learning even on how to get the card outta the camera. Im a nube. And Im notoriously technology-dumb. And...

That floating pillow was pretty much my day yesterday....REST DAY It really doesn't take much to disable my energy. Something as simple as an early Rock concert but not getting to bed by midnight can make me feel like I've been up for three days and exhausted beyond belief. My whole body will be sore just from standing a few hours on a sidewalk. Welcome to my world of chronic whatever. So I've learned to be nice to myself and say YES to rest days when I can afford them. It's crucial to put my body right again. current work in progress Back in action today and ready to jump back into my current work in progress. A larger canvas inspired by my "Grutas" piece. This is a fun journey through textures and mark making and I'm enjoying the colors and layers immensely. It's also time to cut some more wood "bones" and resume that project. Hope everyone has a great weekend ahead and gets those "rest days" where they can get them....

Beautiful prints on Canson papers courtesy of @renerodzart Semi caught up on work projects so taking some time today to load up the Shopify shop. My sister in SF sent me some beautiful prints she had done for me from Dick Blick- they are on nice Canson papers and the colors are lush! My sister is also an artist and she's painting some lovely watercolors- you can check her out on Instagram @renerodzart So a little admin time today and also I started a new piece I'm excited to jump in to. It is actually based on the little print up there, "Las Grutas". Really enjoying exploring textures and different techniques of late. I feel like I had to go inward to next level myself..so no exhibits, no stressful deadlines and competitions. Just the pure art of creating/exploring and leaving the world to its own devices. I AM LOVING IT. Since jumping off facebook I have found myself filling my time with not just more creating but more learning. I've been watching tutor...

After each big project I do a little cleaning of the studio. Everything gets put back in place and tidied so my brain can feel like it has a nice blank slate to work with. My place has never looked so nice! I'm going to blame jumping off Facebook for the life upgrade. Oooh I have my brain back...and time...and focus to accomplish things again! I was a zombie for sooo long! Because I've turned to instagram for my "expressing" I've got more art followers (but really who cares) and I'm back in the blogging game. I say "who cares" because I am OVER the social media popularity contest and have been for a loooong time. Its also one of the reasons Facebook sucks. But its great if new people like my work enough to want to follow it- that Im totally cool with. But point of this blog was....oh yeah FOCUS AND GETTING IT DONE ✔ Turning my previously little "eh" stairwell into a little gallery. I've been in my new place for a year and ...

"Jardine Azul" in its new beautiful home Some commissions are just magic from start to finish and this was such a project. It helps that the client/collectors are super sweet and know what they like and they quickly go from "client/collectors" to lovely friends. I loved giving their already beautiful living room  a "WOW-factor". I was lucky enough to tour their gorgeous home and get a vibe for them and their style. They had an appreciation for Nature that was apparent in their landscaping and little touches in the house. So an organic design with their love of BLUE was a great fit. I measured the panels where they would hang and would design the piece to "flow" yet still be cohesive as a whole. So whether spaced apart as planned or hung together this piece works both functions. They sent me photos of its installation right away. Did I mention they were perfectly lovely collectors? 🌞  Now MY wall is noticeably blank and I can b...

"Jardine Azul" acrylic/ink on canvas For a brief moment after completing a painting it gets to live in my home and make my house look like an upscale snazz pad. In the case of this commission it was always destined and designed for another's home. Le sigh! But really, Im excited the collectors are coming by today to see it and pick it up 🙌 And knowing I would have guests over lit a fire under my buns to: GET THIS PLACE CLEANED UP! So its been a hustle and bustle doing just that. I also thought that while Im cleaning and organizing I should start taking steps for the Fall open studios- so I started hanging up the work that had not yet sold. Tuco the studio cat likes helping me hang the art. I have a darling little stairwell with big blank walls so that was a great place to start hanging. A nice 100 year old church pew is a cute little spot to take a sitdown and see the art. Wild pieces in the Stare Well Gallery (pun intended) I've also been readi...

Current work in progress, panel of a triptych This month I decided was the month of "settle all family business" Rounding up all the unsold work from my galleries and starting to plan the display of the open studio for Fall. Also making a list of new galleries to approach which has me thinking of certain aspects of the business: were my pieces properly and proudly displayed where they were? Were they shoved into little crannies where you couldn't see them? Were they in back rooms of galleries where they wouldn't be seen or sold? Were the gallerists on time for meetings? Was there good communication about all movements of the artworks? What artists WERE proudly displayed and promoted? Was there preferential treatment? Lots of things to consider when going the route of galleries- and the artist is interviewing the gallery as much as the gallery thinks its interviewing the artist. I've got a lovely stairwell with a big show wall just aching for art that won...

"Las Grutas" mixed media on canvas (Proulx Collection) How to get everything done that needs to get done? Well in my case you wake up at 3 am sometimes. Also you have to BUNKER in! So after quite a few social engagements- more than Im used to all stacked up on top of each other...its time to zip myself up in my tent and get some work done. Today in particular I'm working for many people. I do payroll for one client, working on a painting for a collector and doing a digital/watercolor mockup for a wall I may be doing in Houston. So hello 3 am and hello coffee! Everything must get done and done by me. My own projects rest by the wayside, waiting patiently... Mixed media wall sculptures in progress I have some paintings to put in the shop and some new prints coming soon. My plan is for a Fall open studio and I've been steadily planning since I moved into my new studio/house on making it happen. Little by little it's falling into place. Point of this ...

I've been doing the 100 Days of Happiness thing- where you record something you are happy about for 100 days. Yesterday (Day 13) was the Native American Pow Wow at Traders Village. The place itself gives me the old childhood feels and memories of hanging out there with my Dad and sister. The Pow Wow itself is an entirely different good feel- spirits dancing on our Earth, connected to Nature and beyond. Yes it sounds very cosmic but that's what it is to me. The smell of sage, sweet grass and fry bread fills the air. The tinkle of bells from the dancers costumes and the drums....the drums that call and lead you. You can hear them well after you leave.  A walk through the market is a treasure trove of goods. I particularly like the art, handmade stuff and natural material items. And the people who are out- just down to Earth "folks". So nice to leave the pretension, hipster-y vibe of my own city and mill around with "just people being people...

I don't remember how to blog. It took me awhile to even remember where my blog was and how to access it but...here it is. Please ignore all the About Me section...that needs to be updated from a lifetime ago...so why a blog? I deactivated my main Facebook page. My business page is still up (Tigerbee Arts) and I remote update it so the art fun lives on and anyone interested in following/collecting can still contact me there. I don't know how often I'll blog here but I did want to let everyone know: 1. I didn't delete you. I deactivated my account for a bit. 2. I also deactivated Messenger but you can message me via Tigerbee Arts facebook or email me: djtigerbee@electriclollipop.com 3. Miss all my stupid updates? Lies! But Im on instagram and when I warm up to the crowd there I might get funny again. So, Im two people on instagram...the real silly me complete with cats and grievances with tiny pizzas is @djtigerbee The very professional me with her hair in a li...