For me personally, the most painful part of self-promotion is describing my work or my style. Really, I still truly fail at describing my artistic style. No... really... I stammer worse than when I was in seventh grade when I try to describe my own work. And now... I have to register for Lowell Open Studios...
This is good, because it's not only participation, but promotion and getting my work out there. The catch (other than the registration fee) besides having to be in the studio for two consecutive afternoons (October 1 & 2) is that I have to write my own "PR snippet"or as they would call it "artists statement for PR purposes." Whatever. Regardless 1) I don't know which person everyone else has written theirs from (1st or 3rd). 2) I suck at it. 3) If it was suppose to be more than 2 sentences than f*ck it.
Here is what I put... after WAAAAAY too much hemming and hawing. "Works of various media with heavy emphasis on animals and nature. Bold images meant to express both grace and whimsy. " I can always edit it. But yeah... I really can't do justice describing my friends' works & styles... writing about my own in a professional manner is painful.
So... if you have any suggestions PLEASE I'm really interested. How would you describe my artwork? or my artistic style?
Monday, July 18, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Humid Tuesday
The exhaustion made me punchy last night (I laughed the best maniacal evil laugh ever, by accident, in that state last night.) Today isn't much better. The humidity melted my brain. I've tried and failed at reordering my business cards thrice, fallen out of my chair... yeah my coordination has been off ever since my surgery but today is just crazy. Not a day to paint... but I somehow thought I could get something creative accomplished. nope. maybe if I find the energy to go back home (we have central air! yay!) something will get done.
I think my flames piece will look awesome as my business card. Psyched about it... if I can only trick my computer into properly uploading the image. The laptop doesn't like this heat much either.
Today would not be the day to be doing pottery. Thank goodness I didn't jump into that with both feet... I considered doing so 7 months ago, there's just something so soothing about clay (even if my skin disagrees) but alas, I did a few monetary calculations and decided against it.
Enough of this crap...
(in my best Cartman voice) "Screw you guys.... I'm going home"
I think my flames piece will look awesome as my business card. Psyched about it... if I can only trick my computer into properly uploading the image. The laptop doesn't like this heat much either.
Today would not be the day to be doing pottery. Thank goodness I didn't jump into that with both feet... I considered doing so 7 months ago, there's just something so soothing about clay (even if my skin disagrees) but alas, I did a few monetary calculations and decided against it.
Enough of this crap...
(in my best Cartman voice) "Screw you guys.... I'm going home"
Monday, July 11, 2011
It's just been one of those days
I've been tired all day, wanting to create art but exhausted.
When I finally got home at 8pm, the next 15 minutes went in this order:
unpack the backpack, ran a bath for my son, switched the laundry, helped son into tub, loaded washer, helped child out of tub to the potty, cleaned potty, washed hands, hung wet laundry to dry, dried up the floor from child's wet feet, plugged in the computer, fed the cat, poured myself a drink
When I finally got home at 8pm, the next 15 minutes went in this order:
unpack the backpack, ran a bath for my son, switched the laundry, helped son into tub, loaded washer, helped child out of tub to the potty, cleaned potty, washed hands, hung wet laundry to dry, dried up the floor from child's wet feet, plugged in the computer, fed the cat, poured myself a drink
Sunday, July 10, 2011
A positive aside
I DID find the sketchbook the full jaguar is in. I even still know where it is at this very moment (here at home!)
I did blow up last night but at least it means I'm completely out of denial now.
I'm not mad at myself, I'm frustrated with world circumstances. This is a very important place to be working from.
"flames" is almost complete. Still deciding on leaving it as is or lining it.
the cardinal piece is good so far. once I figure out what it's missing (like definitively which season I want it to be) I'll move forward some more.
3 more project ideas already planned.
(the DMN inspired, hypno-toad inspired piece should be fun to make once I have the time to gather all the materials. long but FUN project to look forward to.)
("mad to live" - kerouac inspired mini piece will be a challenge but I have a VERY clear idea what and how to do what I imagine so it's all good.)
(I don't know if I'll get the coloring book made and assembled by the next event. Finding my missing 4 by 6 artworks would go a LONG way forward in that project, but alas, the bullfrog, honu, dragon, chicken, butterfly and baby jaguar are ALL still missing. The jaguar is the only one of those that had been properly scanned. :(
Even with my punctured foot, round one breaking in the gold heels went with little pain.
My car is still running and the brakes aren't screaming loud for now.
My son is asleep. He's chosen to sleep on his floor tonight, but he's sleeping well (unlike the rest of us).
I have plans to go out once a week for the next 3 weeks. This gives me something to look forward to. (even if it means I might have to be creative in avoidance if the 'musician' who was sizing Heather and I up is back there.)
Cowboys and Aliens comes out this month! (the 29th) Pick on me all you want for that. But really, I'm a huge Harrison Ford fan and Daniel Craig... well Daniel Craig is just damn fine to look at. It's got to be more entertaining than Frantic, right? Seriously, as long as it has a better ending than that movie how can I not want to go? mmm....
Okay, and now that I'm smiling that stupid girly smile, it's really time for bed.
I did blow up last night but at least it means I'm completely out of denial now.
I'm not mad at myself, I'm frustrated with world circumstances. This is a very important place to be working from.
"flames" is almost complete. Still deciding on leaving it as is or lining it.
the cardinal piece is good so far. once I figure out what it's missing (like definitively which season I want it to be) I'll move forward some more.
3 more project ideas already planned.
(the DMN inspired, hypno-toad inspired piece should be fun to make once I have the time to gather all the materials. long but FUN project to look forward to.)
("mad to live" - kerouac inspired mini piece will be a challenge but I have a VERY clear idea what and how to do what I imagine so it's all good.)
(I don't know if I'll get the coloring book made and assembled by the next event. Finding my missing 4 by 6 artworks would go a LONG way forward in that project, but alas, the bullfrog, honu, dragon, chicken, butterfly and baby jaguar are ALL still missing. The jaguar is the only one of those that had been properly scanned. :(
Even with my punctured foot, round one breaking in the gold heels went with little pain.
My car is still running and the brakes aren't screaming loud for now.
My son is asleep. He's chosen to sleep on his floor tonight, but he's sleeping well (unlike the rest of us).
I have plans to go out once a week for the next 3 weeks. This gives me something to look forward to. (even if it means I might have to be creative in avoidance if the 'musician' who was sizing Heather and I up is back there.)
Cowboys and Aliens comes out this month! (the 29th) Pick on me all you want for that. But really, I'm a huge Harrison Ford fan and Daniel Craig... well Daniel Craig is just damn fine to look at. It's got to be more entertaining than Frantic, right? Seriously, as long as it has a better ending than that movie how can I not want to go? mmm....
Okay, and now that I'm smiling that stupid girly smile, it's really time for bed.
Forgiving is not forgetting
I wrote out a whole post before realizing it was a lot more... sad... than I'm comfortable with.
The gist of it that I do want to put out there is this: Too many of us have similar bad experiences that shape us to be going about our lives feeling so damned and damned alone. Forgiving is not the same as forgetting. Neither is absolving the assholes that we put our trust in only to have it blow up in our faces.
My recent rollercoasters, both medical and not, have only reminded me of all the times I've been told I'm lying when I was telling the truth because, simply, "She'd never do that." "Oh that couldn't have happened." or (thanks Mom) "What were you doing that caused that? It doesn't just happen." Seriously people, true jerks and people who get off making other people miserable are all over.
And either you're a part of a solution or you're a part of the problem. I've survived a hell of a lot and I'll survive the next round coming my way... unfortunately sometimes the solution is just forgiving and moving on the best you can, painful scars and all.
The gist of it that I do want to put out there is this: Too many of us have similar bad experiences that shape us to be going about our lives feeling so damned and damned alone. Forgiving is not the same as forgetting. Neither is absolving the assholes that we put our trust in only to have it blow up in our faces.
My recent rollercoasters, both medical and not, have only reminded me of all the times I've been told I'm lying when I was telling the truth because, simply, "She'd never do that." "Oh that couldn't have happened." or (thanks Mom) "What were you doing that caused that? It doesn't just happen." Seriously people, true jerks and people who get off making other people miserable are all over.
And either you're a part of a solution or you're a part of the problem. I've survived a hell of a lot and I'll survive the next round coming my way... unfortunately sometimes the solution is just forgiving and moving on the best you can, painful scars and all.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
wow
Seriously, I am not enjoying the rollercoaster ride I've been on since waking today.... but the damn invisible carney doesn't care that I want to bawl my eyes out, he's not stopping the ride. Apparently it's the thyroid faerie's job to fray your nerves.
On the up side, I was able to paint today and made much progress on that front. On the down side, I've been erratic all day while in a place of people I will see on a fairly regular basis.
So I have to focus on the positives.
And when life hands you lemons...
find the tequila and salt!
On the up side, I was able to paint today and made much progress on that front. On the down side, I've been erratic all day while in a place of people I will see on a fairly regular basis.
So I have to focus on the positives.
And when life hands you lemons...
find the tequila and salt!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Life is crazy... enjoy the ride
Really, that sums up the past week of my life pretty well. I've had enough ups and downs, still going through enough of them, to know that if you don't take the opportunities when they arise, if you miss what's around you when it's there, you miss the point of living.
The quote from Ferris Buehler's Day Off is going through my head.
"If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
Some things are just timeless. :)
Due to my lack of motivation/ unclear vision for the next canvas, I am tempted to make this my day in Boston sketching instead of tomorrow. grr. And my motivation to go to studio to have a screaming monkey war (woot sold them for $1 months back so we have one) is sunk because the other artist with one is on vacation at the moment...
I finally figured out how it is that I am racking up all this time "off-leash". My husband is about to be occupied for 3 weekends in a row and is going to pick up another reffing position this fall... after I directly asked him to choose football or rollerderby, but please for the love of god don't do both! So... the upside... I apparently can go out 80% of the Wednesday nights that I want to AND nothing is going to be said against me going to NY whatever weekend events (mostly family) arise as long as my son comes with me.
Why does "home" feel more like home when my parents are in Florida? Seriously, this weekend wouldn't have been so chill had they been in the same state. I love my parents, but me going out on Friday nights still doesn't fly with them.... much less me crashing at a friend's place.
So now I am home home, procrastinating, looking beside my laptop to an adorable sleeping kitty . I am very happy with the relaxing events of the past week and have my new schedule for ambitions for art... another 8 projects in 8 weeks goal... though I'm going to cheat slightly and include the cardinal that I've started in the 8 :-) Now... time to go to work in earnest.
The quote from Ferris Buehler's Day Off is going through my head.
"If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
Some things are just timeless. :)
Due to my lack of motivation/ unclear vision for the next canvas, I am tempted to make this my day in Boston sketching instead of tomorrow. grr. And my motivation to go to studio to have a screaming monkey war (woot sold them for $1 months back so we have one) is sunk because the other artist with one is on vacation at the moment...
I finally figured out how it is that I am racking up all this time "off-leash". My husband is about to be occupied for 3 weekends in a row and is going to pick up another reffing position this fall... after I directly asked him to choose football or rollerderby, but please for the love of god don't do both! So... the upside... I apparently can go out 80% of the Wednesday nights that I want to AND nothing is going to be said against me going to NY whatever weekend events (mostly family) arise as long as my son comes with me.
Why does "home" feel more like home when my parents are in Florida? Seriously, this weekend wouldn't have been so chill had they been in the same state. I love my parents, but me going out on Friday nights still doesn't fly with them.... much less me crashing at a friend's place.
So now I am home home, procrastinating, looking beside my laptop to an adorable sleeping kitty . I am very happy with the relaxing events of the past week and have my new schedule for ambitions for art... another 8 projects in 8 weeks goal... though I'm going to cheat slightly and include the cardinal that I've started in the 8 :-) Now... time to go to work in earnest.
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