I did it. I mailed the canvases to the Art House. It's the first time in my life that I've done something like this and I have such an overwhelming sense of it being OK and not getting an ulcer. This is very exciting!
Contributors to this project were informed that if the pieces were going to be made available for purchase, the artist must include a price on the back of each canvas. I was just going to include the postage required to have them sent back, but my son insisted that I try to sell them. He reprimanded me when I suggested no one would actually BUY one. In order to take that one additional step out of the comfort zone, I went ahead and put a price on each painting. We'll see, eh?
This wasn't so bad, this business of pushing myself to do something new and different. I had to give myself quite the wedgie with my big girl pants to get up the courage, but I survived.
Next, it's time to work on the figurative pieces for the Boys & Girls Club auction. Of course, after I do a load of laundry and make sure the weasel's back pack doesn't have some disgusting remnant of lunch from the last school year buried in its nooks or crannies as we start the new school year. Yuck.
August 30, 2010
August 29, 2010
Finished!
Self-criticism is probably not the healthiest thing, so I'm going to try to limit myself. I finished my three canvases. The 3rd is my least favourite, but it's finished! Painting on canvas is just not my forte. I really like doing it, but not for display beyond my living room. Because these will be in public, I'm a little nervous. Because they'll be on display on the opposite coast, I'm a little less nervous :-)
The first one, "Pinky" was hard in terms of coming up with the plan. Once I had the epiphany and started rolling, it was really fun to finish.
The second one, "Atmosphere," was more of a challenge. I knew what I wanted to do, but struggled with the execution. I wanted to include a photographic image in a transparent envelope and attach that to the canvas. I ended up removing all of the staples and taking the painted canvas off of its frame, creating an envelope with paper that was designed for scrap booking and stitched it on the canvas using my sewing machine. Putting the canvas back on the frame was easier than I'd expected.
The third canvas, "Contain," was tough. I immediately thought of how I feel so stuck in the solitude of the house now that I'm in a studio versus a hospital-based office. What a different and lonely world (which I'm working on). I do chores and see activity going on outside - the neighbors with their little girls on one side, people walking their dogs out the front, neighbors across the gully who frequently throw large parties and have GREAT bands - and I feel so confined. I wanted to create an image that reflected that emotion - feeling contained indoors while seeing the world outdoors going on without me.
While the artist was encouraged to use any medium, my lack of skill in other areas that could be applied to a canvas are lacking even more, so paint was going to be it for me. I like it OK. I'm not Picasso, but I still feel pretty good about it.
The last decision I have to make before these hit the mailbox Tuesday is whether I've got the courage to put a price on them or just include the post-paid envelope to have them returned after the show.
How brave do I feel today???? Hmmmmm.
The second one, "Atmosphere," was more of a challenge. I knew what I wanted to do, but struggled with the execution. I wanted to include a photographic image in a transparent envelope and attach that to the canvas. I ended up removing all of the staples and taking the painted canvas off of its frame, creating an envelope with paper that was designed for scrap booking and stitched it on the canvas using my sewing machine. Putting the canvas back on the frame was easier than I'd expected.
While the artist was encouraged to use any medium, my lack of skill in other areas that could be applied to a canvas are lacking even more, so paint was going to be it for me. I like it OK. I'm not Picasso, but I still feel pretty good about it.
The last decision I have to make before these hit the mailbox Tuesday is whether I've got the courage to put a price on them or just include the post-paid envelope to have them returned after the show.
How brave do I feel today???? Hmmmmm.
August 25, 2010
Fighting with Art Supplies & Deadlines
The lid to one of my glass bottles of liquid acrylic is sealed shut. Seriously sealed. I used it only one time and thought I was really good about keeping the mouth of the bottle clean. This stuff sticks! Sigh.
I've nearly finished the second of the three canvases for my project. I like this one. There are some challenges like figuring out how I'm going to attach an envelope (vellum or transparent plastic) to a canvas this is almost entirely backed by wood. This is one of those 3x3 gallery wrapped canvases provided by the art house, so I had no choice in the matter. I'll figure it out. It's nice to have that mental challenge as opposed to the usual sitting in the studio with a blank mind.
Tonight, I start on canvas #3. They have to be postmarked September 1. The closer I get to the deadline, the sharper I feel my thinking is when it comes to the project ideas. Years ago I had a boss, the wonderful MaryJane, that teased me about the fact that my work was never closer to flawless than when we were under incredible stress to meet a deadline. Every now and then when things were slow, she'd stand by my desk and holler, "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" while whacking on my desk with rolled up paper or something else to make noise. She'd burst out laughing and chuckle her way back to her office. Some things never change. My house never looks better in the blink of an eye than when someone calls and says that they're in the neighborhood and want to stop by...in ten minutes. I should have more deadlines. That, or turn off the phone and disconnect the doorbell. ;-)
I've nearly finished the second of the three canvases for my project. I like this one. There are some challenges like figuring out how I'm going to attach an envelope (vellum or transparent plastic) to a canvas this is almost entirely backed by wood. This is one of those 3x3 gallery wrapped canvases provided by the art house, so I had no choice in the matter. I'll figure it out. It's nice to have that mental challenge as opposed to the usual sitting in the studio with a blank mind.
Tonight, I start on canvas #3. They have to be postmarked September 1. The closer I get to the deadline, the sharper I feel my thinking is when it comes to the project ideas. Years ago I had a boss, the wonderful MaryJane, that teased me about the fact that my work was never closer to flawless than when we were under incredible stress to meet a deadline. Every now and then when things were slow, she'd stand by my desk and holler, "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" while whacking on my desk with rolled up paper or something else to make noise. She'd burst out laughing and chuckle her way back to her office. Some things never change. My house never looks better in the blink of an eye than when someone calls and says that they're in the neighborhood and want to stop by...in ten minutes. I should have more deadlines. That, or turn off the phone and disconnect the doorbell. ;-)
August 17, 2010
Back in the game
I've recovered from my fit of yesterday. I worked out, the endorphins kicked in (I had great music blaring, which always helps), and feel good. My artists' round table group is all home and I have some good advice to get moving in the studio, so I'm looking forward to putting something together more than I have for a few weeks now.
I promised myself that I would stop referring to books and magazines for help getting motivated or confirmation that my own ideas were OK. Last week I went back and looked at the web site for the Art House Co-Op and checked out previous entries for the project in which I'm participating. Shame on me. For the first time, I didn't feel like beating myself up and chucking my work. I reflected on the words of my cyber-mentor Debbie and was really OK with what I'm doing. This is a nice change for me. Better yet, I went out and purchased three copies of the magazine in which my swap pendant was published which really made me feel good. My teen son even asked if he could have a copy. It was a simple project, but a great confidence booster.
Yeah me!
I promised myself that I would stop referring to books and magazines for help getting motivated or confirmation that my own ideas were OK. Last week I went back and looked at the web site for the Art House Co-Op and checked out previous entries for the project in which I'm participating. Shame on me. For the first time, I didn't feel like beating myself up and chucking my work. I reflected on the words of my cyber-mentor Debbie and was really OK with what I'm doing. This is a nice change for me. Better yet, I went out and purchased three copies of the magazine in which my swap pendant was published which really made me feel good. My teen son even asked if he could have a copy. It was a simple project, but a great confidence booster.
Yeah me!
August 16, 2010
Two Days on Weight Watchers, a million more to go...
The cats better not slow down. Even the finches on the bird bath are fair game at this point. I worked out this morning, cursing for most of that time. I watched a television program about getting fit that I thought would inspire me. One of the hosts was grunting, groaning and complaining more than me which amused me greatly and reminded me that I'm not alone. I will never understand people that run long distances or for a long time that aren't being chased by an axe murderer or bribed to do so. Who really loves this stuff, honestly? I kept waiting for that endorphine-induced delirously happy mood that I've heard about to kick in. Someone is a big fat liar. I zipped along for 2.2 miles on the elliptical and I never felt like a party on the Precor. Thank goodness for microwave packing material (aka popcorn) and that sprinkly try-to-tell-yourself-it-tastes-like-butter dust I doused it with this afternoon. Otherwise, I think I'd have resorted to biting my nails and calling it a snack.
Do I sound like a mad woman or what?
OK. That's it. That's all the fussing I'm allowing myself. I am just having a hard time with so many changes at once that I'm distracted from art. Oooh, and I just saw TWO sticks from lollipops that my son left by the computer. Ack!!!!
OK, really. I'm finished.
I have just 15 days to complete my canvas projects and get those bad boys in the mail. I'm still working on #2 of 3 and am determined to have it finished by Friday at which point I'll post photos. I was also reminded that I agreed to contribute art to a fundraiser in October, but I'm not terribly worried about meeting that deadline.
Apropos of nothing (but that I mentioned art), I stumbled on this alley in Vancouver, BC on our recent holiday there. Initially I thought there was just a small mural at the end of the alley, but as I approached to photograph the work, I was startled to see the entire dumpster-filled alley covered with work of various artists. What a fabulous accidental find!
Do I sound like a mad woman or what?
OK. That's it. That's all the fussing I'm allowing myself. I am just having a hard time with so many changes at once that I'm distracted from art. Oooh, and I just saw TWO sticks from lollipops that my son left by the computer. Ack!!!!
OK, really. I'm finished.
I have just 15 days to complete my canvas projects and get those bad boys in the mail. I'm still working on #2 of 3 and am determined to have it finished by Friday at which point I'll post photos. I was also reminded that I agreed to contribute art to a fundraiser in October, but I'm not terribly worried about meeting that deadline.
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