The Subjects and Style I Choose are....Because...

Spring Fever.

That is the first "exercise" I had to write about in my first attempts at creating an artist's statement. I am using Alyson B. Stanfield's book, "I'd Rather be in the Studio" as my guide.

I have to say, after writing for the required thirty minutes on that topic alone, I did unearth some things I didn't expect. Namely, that I really am passionate about living, growing things. I know that about myself and yet I hadn't really put it down in words before. Alyson's point that artists have to understand what they are trying to accomplish with their art before they can explain it to others in a coherent fashion really hit home.

Saturday, the first really warm spring like day here, I spent three hours hand-digging a new garden spot with a pick. Then while turning soil in one of my garden spaces from last year, I was plotting and planning how I was going to try and outwit both weather and chipmunks for a more successful growing season this year. I hadn't planned on spending so much time outside, but I was so inspired by the idea of beautiful growing plants. It is no wonder that I love painting them and try to capture the light shining through their leaves.

This is, of course, only one of the required writing exercises. I have a lot more to do. Hopefully digging about in my subconscious will eventually yield a harvest of good ideas to put in my final statement.

If anyone would like to know more about Alyson's ideas on artists and self promotion, check out her blog at http://www.artbizblog.com She has some really helpful suggestions.

Jeff's Corner: Always call the utility company before digging around in your subconscious!

Hello Kitty

I have not made much progress on my "artist statement" and was wondering what to write about since that was my plan to document my progress on writing it.

Hurrah! A commission has come my way for another cat portrait and I am thrilled to have a good reason to take a little more time for the writing of said statement.

I had fun this weekend getting acquainted with my new subject, Muffy, a beautiful cat with a lovely disposition as long as you were petting her ears and not trying to take her picture! She is fourteen years old and would make such faces of disdain by squinting her lovely green eyes everytime I pointed the camera at her. I wasn't using a flash at all, she just did not like to have her picture taken.

Finally, some neighborhood dogs stopped by outside the glass doors and I got one really great picture of her while her attention was on those dogs. Thank you doggies! I am still working on the flowers, but I am excited to get working on this portrait.

Jeff's Corner: "Who let the dogs out? Who, Who, Who..." Baja Men

Poppies in Process

I finally made progress on the pink poppies this week since I wasn't distracted by sneezing and coughing. I still think they need a little color balance work, the smaller bloom seems a bit too purple, but overall, I feel the painting is close to being done.

I've decided that I am going to go ahead and do the backlit flower series that I had originally planned on. I am setting a goal for 15 paintings. I recently saw an opportunity in the Art Calender magazine for an open call for artists to show in the Community Convention center in Santa Fe. I thought this would be a good goal to try for since there isn't a hard fast deadline for me to stress out over, yet it gives me something to reach for.

To apply for this opportunity, I also need an artists resume, and an artist's statement, neither of which I have written and need to do. Again, another reason to get me moving. I also like that they are considering artists of all levels, so I don't have to have had years of gallery experience to apply. It feels good to have a goal again.

Jeff's Corner: Calvin:"A good artist's statement always says more than his art does!"
Hobbes: "You misspelled Weltanschauung..." Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Waterson

Reality Check

Let the sunshine in!

I had every intention of having the pink poppy painting I was working on ready to post on the blog this week. Two weeks ago, I had a suspicious scratchiness in my throat and the next morning there was no doubt about it, one of those tenacious viruses had made itself at home and I was going to suffer the consequences for its visit.

I thought since I wasn't going in to work, that I would "make lemonade" and try to get some painting done. I managed about an hour's worth of work before I had to admit defeat. It may not seem like a person is working very hard when they are painting, but for me the concentration and focus did take a good deal more energy than I even imagined. I was glad I could at least make it to the Miniature Show opening with the help of Ibuprofen and Coca Cola.*

The next week, I did manage to go to work, which was good since there was a deadline for a piece of artwork that had to be finished that week. Jeff had been able to work on the piece while I was sick, but the bad news was that stealthy virus decided to visit Jeff and he took his turn to feel miserable.

I thought maybe I would paint in the evenings, but I was still feeling drained from being sick and after working all day, I just didn't have the energy. I am glad a didn't have a real deadline other the the one I put on myself to have the painting done. I think it is a good reminder that sometimes other realities happen.

While lying in bed, I did see some great sunlight through the leaves of one of my houseplants and I just had to take a picture. I am sharing it with you today. I just love backlight!

Jeff's Corner: *"I hear Keith Richards lives on that stuff!" (see above)

Miniatures Show

This Saturday, Feb 21st, was the opening for the miniatures show at the Millicent Rogers Museum. "Miniatures" was defined as any artwork that measured less than 10"x 10"inches. Paintings did not have to include the frames in that measurement. The museum has been hosting this show for artists living in the county for the last six years. Last year was my first year participating and this was Jeff's first year.

We were able to invite a few friends as our guests and apparently everyone else did the same because the opening was very well attended. A new feature this year was to have those attending vote for their three favorite artworks. With two hundred artists participating, it was hard to choose just three! Besides paintings, there were wood carvings, pottery, and jewelry.

It was an enjoyable evening. We have been to many excellent art shows for the artist we work for, but it was really fun for us to have our own work in the show for a change. There were some works there by some really well known artists in our area and it was great to be in the same show with them. Best of all was that we were able to meet our goal to be there.

And I personally think that Jeff's painting was the best "church" painting at the show.

Jeff's Corner: So do I!

Spinning My Wheels

"Morning Light" 16"x 12" oil on canvas, ©2009

I finally finished one of the flower paintings I had planned for the spring show that isn't happening. I knew it would only take me a couple of hours, but I just couldn't seem to get started. It took me two weeks to get the momentum to paint for two and a half hours! That painting sitting on the easel just waiting did add to guilty feelings and caused me to wonder what was wrong with me.

The other bothersome thing is that I had developed an annoying muscle twitch under my left eye. After reading up on what might be happening, the diagnosis of "eye strain" is what I found. I guess working all day on carving detailed designs on pottery and then painting at night was taking it's toll. My eye muscle is less twitchy, so I guess I did need the rest.

I also had a bad round of feeling like my paintings are too stiff and lack a real sense of emotion and meaning. Thoughts like these are great for adding slick stuff to spin my mental wheels in. My goal this week is to get to the bottom of what I am feeling so I can get some traction again. This being an artist business really makes a person think.

Jeff's Corner: My policy is to take a break if any of my body parts start twitching...

The Saga Continues...

We had been hoping for a spring show of our artwork at a local resort as many of the great readers of this blog know. We received an e-mail this week from the art director that the General Manager decided that he wanted a "consistent" look, so he is going to continue with one artist they are showing already and not use us!

It just goes to show that the lesson from last week of pleasing ourselves was the best lesson possible. I have to admit, I was a bit relieved because I have been working so hard on paintings every spare minute I had in order to try and meet that deadline. It was nice to feel like maybe we could go snowboarding on a weekend and not feel guilty about it. We haven't gone at all this winter. At the same time, I do feel a bit let down not having a specific goal to meet. But, I am confident that with a little research and thought, I can come up with another one.

Speaking of other goals, we are submitting a painting each to a "miniatures show" at a local museum. This is full circle for me, since I did some watercolor paintings for this same show last year. It was the first thing I did in honor of making the resolution to myself to start making artwork again. The really great thing is that this year, Jeff has one to enter too.

Jeff's Corner: It's no use forcing a square peg into a round hole.