I need an ergonomic everything. Everything aches. My brain is cramped after trying to figure out how to resize a quilt pattern and still have it come out, then cut all those evil strips. The pillow I stuffed behind my back keeps wiggling out the back of the chair. It's time for some duct tape! It's nice to still be in the studio after 4:30 p.m. Progress!
Aside from spending time at the studio desk, I have also spent an enormous amount of time filling out forms for school for my son. I can't imagine why, why, why we are required to fill in 87 copies of the same form on 87 different colours of paper. I want to take a Sharpie and write, "See forms from last year. Please just write 2011 on every page and consider me finished." I don't know how that would fly. Something tells me my picture would end up on the office door with a red circle and hash mark through it.
Time for a pool break followed by chardonnay and a bendy straw.
August 28, 2011
August 27, 2011
Fibbing Can be Good!
I was happily plotting the design for the rocking chair I'm painting when my friend made a comment about painting fairies or something similarly girlie. I don't paint fairies. In fact, I really stink at figurative painting. If I tried, I'm sure the auction attendees would wonder who thought a troll would be a good design on a little girl's rocking chair.
Pawing through old magazines and children's books, I searched for inspiration for a fairy or some other super girly image to get my creative juices flowing that direction, but I just can't do it. Maybe there's a way to make polka dots look like fairies. Ha.
What's the worst that could happen? I bought this unfinished chair at least ten years ago and it's just been sitting in the garage gathering dust. There's a huge stash of paint in the studio, so there's been no big investment in materials. I just got through posting about this being one of those projects that was stress-free for me, and now I'm stressing. Time to let it go, paint what I want and pass it along, hoping the chair finds a home with a little girl that likes it as much as I do. So there. That, and I won't be at the auction to stress more. I'll imagine everyone loves it and tell my friend to make up a ridiculously huge, big fat fib of a sale price just to make me feel better. That' works!
Pawing through old magazines and children's books, I searched for inspiration for a fairy or some other super girly image to get my creative juices flowing that direction, but I just can't do it. Maybe there's a way to make polka dots look like fairies. Ha.
What's the worst that could happen? I bought this unfinished chair at least ten years ago and it's just been sitting in the garage gathering dust. There's a huge stash of paint in the studio, so there's been no big investment in materials. I just got through posting about this being one of those projects that was stress-free for me, and now I'm stressing. Time to let it go, paint what I want and pass it along, hoping the chair finds a home with a little girl that likes it as much as I do. So there. That, and I won't be at the auction to stress more. I'll imagine everyone loves it and tell my friend to make up a ridiculously huge, big fat fib of a sale price just to make me feel better. That' works!
August 26, 2011
I'll Never Be Donna Reed.
I'm having a really good time plotting the design for the little rocking chair I'm painting and love checking the mail and finding more fabric for the quilt has arrived. I feel like I should sport a string of pearls and kitten heels or an apron. Just call me Betty Crocker.
Starting a new art project has often been a real challenge for me. How often have I fussed about that dilemma? Sitting in a studio surrounded by a million different art supplies isn't motivating and often results in time spent less productively than if I were just roaming the house and doing chores. I have to keep in mind when I'm cursing in frustration near the studio window that there are little kids next door. Oops.
This evening I'll have my favorite six-year-old visiting for a bit while her mom works late. She always wants to play in the studio which gets me thinking about new and simpler ways to use the art stuff I have on hand. Of course, then there's the challenge of trying to get through the evening without the little smarty pants calling me a bird killer. Two times she's come over and those are the days the kamikaze finches do their thing. She's under the impression that I must have a hand in the death of the birds because there's just always a dead twirper near the bird feeder. Her first words are always, "So, any dead birds?" at which point she stomps over to the bird feeder and gives me a look of total surprise when she DOESN'T find one. Well, I started off thinking it would be a fun evening. Now I feel like I need a lawyer. Ugh.
Starting a new art project has often been a real challenge for me. How often have I fussed about that dilemma? Sitting in a studio surrounded by a million different art supplies isn't motivating and often results in time spent less productively than if I were just roaming the house and doing chores. I have to keep in mind when I'm cursing in frustration near the studio window that there are little kids next door. Oops.
This evening I'll have my favorite six-year-old visiting for a bit while her mom works late. She always wants to play in the studio which gets me thinking about new and simpler ways to use the art stuff I have on hand. Of course, then there's the challenge of trying to get through the evening without the little smarty pants calling me a bird killer. Two times she's come over and those are the days the kamikaze finches do their thing. She's under the impression that I must have a hand in the death of the birds because there's just always a dead twirper near the bird feeder. Her first words are always, "So, any dead birds?" at which point she stomps over to the bird feeder and gives me a look of total surprise when she DOESN'T find one. Well, I started off thinking it would be a fun evening. Now I feel like I need a lawyer. Ugh.
August 21, 2011
Nothing to do with art or mothering
An article appeared in a recent issue of one of my favourite magazines on the topic of hair removers. As a 50-year-old woman, this is serious business. Our husbands lose their hair as they age; we become feminine versions of wooly mammoths. It's revolting. So of course, I read all of the little blurbs hoping for news of a pain-free modern miracle and quick, permanent fix. I see the item that the author describes as the "best at-home wax," the description for which reads, "Yes, the pain is on par with that of pro waxing, but so are the results." My first thought is that a pro would not stop mid-yank while screaming. I tried waxing my legs once. Once. I remember that frantic point where I yanked and screamed at such a high pitch that I set off car alarms and neighborhood dogs started howling. I then freaked out about HOW I was going to get this instrument of pain and horror off because I SURE as heck wasn't going to complete the yank. There's the blow dryer, a heating pad to melt the goo, begging the husband to yank and promising not to kick him in the head (he heard the scream and was worried) Never, ever again. I'd rather be mistaken for Sasquatch.
Then there was the gizmo touted as the "Best Investment," the Tria hair removal laser. It reads, "Aim the beam onto the skin to halt hair growth, just like at a dermatologist's office." A tester reported that "it stings" but after twice-monthly sessions for six months, she happily reported "no more stubble or shaving." Really? Six months? Am I willing to zap myself once, feel the sting, and then keep doing it? For six months? I think not. Anyway, my first thought on this little toy was that it would be a great Plan B for waking up the teen. The alarm goes off, he doesn't get up, so I zap him. "Really, Officer, he had a stray chin hair and I was just trying to help." That's my story and I'm sticking to it. I think it would be as effective as the air horn, but not hurt MY ears (or chin).
Some things are just not good for those inclined to do-it-yourself.
Then there was the gizmo touted as the "Best Investment," the Tria hair removal laser. It reads, "Aim the beam onto the skin to halt hair growth, just like at a dermatologist's office." A tester reported that "it stings" but after twice-monthly sessions for six months, she happily reported "no more stubble or shaving." Really? Six months? Am I willing to zap myself once, feel the sting, and then keep doing it? For six months? I think not. Anyway, my first thought on this little toy was that it would be a great Plan B for waking up the teen. The alarm goes off, he doesn't get up, so I zap him. "Really, Officer, he had a stray chin hair and I was just trying to help." That's my story and I'm sticking to it. I think it would be as effective as the air horn, but not hurt MY ears (or chin).
Some things are just not good for those inclined to do-it-yourself.
August 18, 2011
I Had an "Out"
My friend Deb asks me every year for donations of my artwork for the Boys & Girls Club holiday auction. She called me this morning to double check - was I still willing to make a quilt and paint a child's rocking chair for the auction? I said yes. OMG, it's due in a month! There's nothing like a deadline to reinforce the need to schedule studio time. I had the chance to say no, but I just couldn't. Frankly, there's a part of me that loves the fact that someone other than my husband will buy my work this year. Ha. Now all I have to do is find someone to stand behind me with an air horn every time I appear distracted, blogging or flipping through a magazine instead of working.
I joke about having an "out," but the commitment really is not a bad thing. These are the two projects I can pull off without stress. Sewing and painting furniture are so relaxing for me, so my only pressure is having an actual deadline. We talked about the design of the rocking chair and whether she should list it as for a boy or a girl. I told her that unless I painted dump trucks or footballs on it, it's perceived as being for a girl. When my son was an infant and toddler, I struggled with finding clothes and decor for his room that didn't have sports junk on it. Golf clubs for a six-month-old? Really? What a pain in the neck. Since a few of the board members have new baby girls in the family, that made it easy - it'll be a rocking chair for a little girl ;-) I start working on everything on Saturday.
Apropos of nothing, I broke the rules last weekend and took just one photo at the Laguna Arts Festival. I regret that I can't provide the identity and proper credit for the artist (I ran away after the camera clicked!), but I can report that this is the product of a school-aged artist. There is always a section with art created by students in kindergarten through grade 12. This piece was in the area exhibiting older students' work. This dragon is made of plastic utensils and was amazing! To the artist, I'm really sorry but I just had to share. You rock.
I joke about having an "out," but the commitment really is not a bad thing. These are the two projects I can pull off without stress. Sewing and painting furniture are so relaxing for me, so my only pressure is having an actual deadline. We talked about the design of the rocking chair and whether she should list it as for a boy or a girl. I told her that unless I painted dump trucks or footballs on it, it's perceived as being for a girl. When my son was an infant and toddler, I struggled with finding clothes and decor for his room that didn't have sports junk on it. Golf clubs for a six-month-old? Really? What a pain in the neck. Since a few of the board members have new baby girls in the family, that made it easy - it'll be a rocking chair for a little girl ;-) I start working on everything on Saturday.
August 17, 2011
Shopping for Art
Traffic was beastly, but the trek to the Laguna Arts Festival was worth the struggle. It didn't hurt that we had to park so far away (at least a mile) on a day that I didn't have time to work out.
The best part of the show was meeting April Raber, the artist that created the beautiful "Mandala" painting that we just hung in the living room. What a wonderful treat! Even nicer was the flood of wonderful, warm and heartfelt praise of April from every single artist with whom we spoke about our most recent purchase.
Coming home without artwork is pretty much impossible for us ;-) We met so many incredible artists whose work I would love to have in my home (self-taught painter Paul Bond, ceramic artist Carol Tripp Martens), many of whom were happy to talk about their art. We bought a small piece from Stephanie Cunningham, an artist that creates "duets" with Betty Haight. Stephanie paints beautiful landscapes and Betty creates lovely figurative work, both of them incorporating other media. The two canvases are joined and a story is created, written on a tag and tucked into the backside of the work. The notion of collaborative work is fascinating to me. I asked Stephanie who wins when they disagree on which pieces should be joined. She smiled and reported that she wins because it's her husband that joins the pieces. LOL. I told her that I'd often thought of putting an ad in the local paper soliciting artsy friends. It would be fun to have a partner in creativity!
For now, I'm happily plodding along with the collaborative art journal project with my sister Lisa. She's continues to be much more productive than I am. The inspiration of the art festival came at the right time and offered a gentle kick in the caboose to get moving on my end of the project. My son will be back in school in a little over a week, and I'm making a mid-year resolution to schedule studio time as if it were a job starting on Monday. We'll see how much I accomplish!
A friend took me to lunch this last week and we spent a few hours catching up with each other. I shared with her the challenge of a recent dinner at the university where my husband works. My table mates were a former congressman/now senior administrator, two college/university presidents, and faculty. Everyone at the table but me had a Ph.D. or was in the process of completing one. I think the thought most often occupying my mind was, "Duh." Seriously. I was unable to participate in any conversation (something anyone that knows me well would claim to be impossible ;-) My girlfriend asked me why I didn't share that I was an artist, and I about choked on my iced tea. She gave me a stern look, told me that I was incredibly talented, a true artist, and then suggested quite seriously that I might need electroshock therapy to snap me out of my lack of confidence. That was a good laugh! It was also a good reminder to relax, and remember that there may be a lot of folks with a Ph.D. that don't know how to pronounce "giclee" and probably think gesso is some kind of frozen dessert. Bahaha. That's my story and I'm sticking to it to make me feel better. ;-)
The best part of the show was meeting April Raber, the artist that created the beautiful "Mandala" painting that we just hung in the living room. What a wonderful treat! Even nicer was the flood of wonderful, warm and heartfelt praise of April from every single artist with whom we spoke about our most recent purchase.
Coming home without artwork is pretty much impossible for us ;-) We met so many incredible artists whose work I would love to have in my home (self-taught painter Paul Bond, ceramic artist Carol Tripp Martens), many of whom were happy to talk about their art. We bought a small piece from Stephanie Cunningham, an artist that creates "duets" with Betty Haight. Stephanie paints beautiful landscapes and Betty creates lovely figurative work, both of them incorporating other media. The two canvases are joined and a story is created, written on a tag and tucked into the backside of the work. The notion of collaborative work is fascinating to me. I asked Stephanie who wins when they disagree on which pieces should be joined. She smiled and reported that she wins because it's her husband that joins the pieces. LOL. I told her that I'd often thought of putting an ad in the local paper soliciting artsy friends. It would be fun to have a partner in creativity! For now, I'm happily plodding along with the collaborative art journal project with my sister Lisa. She's continues to be much more productive than I am. The inspiration of the art festival came at the right time and offered a gentle kick in the caboose to get moving on my end of the project. My son will be back in school in a little over a week, and I'm making a mid-year resolution to schedule studio time as if it were a job starting on Monday. We'll see how much I accomplish!
A friend took me to lunch this last week and we spent a few hours catching up with each other. I shared with her the challenge of a recent dinner at the university where my husband works. My table mates were a former congressman/now senior administrator, two college/university presidents, and faculty. Everyone at the table but me had a Ph.D. or was in the process of completing one. I think the thought most often occupying my mind was, "Duh." Seriously. I was unable to participate in any conversation (something anyone that knows me well would claim to be impossible ;-) My girlfriend asked me why I didn't share that I was an artist, and I about choked on my iced tea. She gave me a stern look, told me that I was incredibly talented, a true artist, and then suggested quite seriously that I might need electroshock therapy to snap me out of my lack of confidence. That was a good laugh! It was also a good reminder to relax, and remember that there may be a lot of folks with a Ph.D. that don't know how to pronounce "giclee" and probably think gesso is some kind of frozen dessert. Bahaha. That's my story and I'm sticking to it to make me feel better. ;-)
August 9, 2011
Stitches
After a lengthy and unplanned break from art, I have made my way back into the studio. Earlier this week I delved into the art journal project. I tore down watercolor paper, folded and stitched it and have a lovely and stark white blank art journal. My sister had a fun idea of each of us doing the artwork on our respective journals, then swapping them for the other to do the writing, and finally returning them so that we each have a shared project. I love the idea! Tomorrow I start on painting the pages.
Sewing is always my fall-back stress reliever, great when I feel panic from deadlines or just cranky from having a teenager. Ha. Today I worked on a quilt until my back screamed from bad posture. Regardless of the discomfort, I continue to find time at the machine or pinning or just cutting to be so relaxing.
The best artsy moment of the day came with the delivery of a wonderful painting. Last year, my husband and I enjoyed a wonderful day at the Laguna Arts Festival in Laguna Beach. As I turned a corner, moving from one artist's work to another, I was stopped in my tracks at the sight of a large painting. I was quite literally and inexplicably moved to tears. It took a moment to place the subject, the ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier. I have only been to the pier twice and can't figure out why it moved me so but for the sheer beauty of the piece. Alas, the painting was unaffordable for us at the time and, sadly, we had to walk away from it. Here we are one year later, and my husband surprised me with the news that he hunted down the artist, called her, and found that the painting was unsold and sitting wrapped up in storage. The painting was delivered today. I have a lovely addition to artwork in my home, all of which I'm so happy to look at every day. Every piece of art in my home has deep meaning to me, beyond just the pleasure of the visual. I am proud to call some of the artists represented my friends, and I am grateful to be surrounded by inspiration to be creative.
Today, I am the proud owner of April Raber's painting entitled "Mandala."
Sewing is always my fall-back stress reliever, great when I feel panic from deadlines or just cranky from having a teenager. Ha. Today I worked on a quilt until my back screamed from bad posture. Regardless of the discomfort, I continue to find time at the machine or pinning or just cutting to be so relaxing.
The best artsy moment of the day came with the delivery of a wonderful painting. Last year, my husband and I enjoyed a wonderful day at the Laguna Arts Festival in Laguna Beach. As I turned a corner, moving from one artist's work to another, I was stopped in my tracks at the sight of a large painting. I was quite literally and inexplicably moved to tears. It took a moment to place the subject, the ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier. I have only been to the pier twice and can't figure out why it moved me so but for the sheer beauty of the piece. Alas, the painting was unaffordable for us at the time and, sadly, we had to walk away from it. Here we are one year later, and my husband surprised me with the news that he hunted down the artist, called her, and found that the painting was unsold and sitting wrapped up in storage. The painting was delivered today. I have a lovely addition to artwork in my home, all of which I'm so happy to look at every day. Every piece of art in my home has deep meaning to me, beyond just the pleasure of the visual. I am proud to call some of the artists represented my friends, and I am grateful to be surrounded by inspiration to be creative.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)