You Can't Win if You Don't Play

I have been working on my pieces for the show "Touched by Cancer" which are due Thursday. So far I have one done and framed, and have to mat/frame the print.The encasutic piece is still in the works, and is more time consuming as it has many parts and layers to it, but I have a few evenings after school to finish things up.

I also submitted work for the Jewish Federation fund raiser "Fall for Art" for the first time. It is a juried show, and I don't know if I will get in, but I figured if I don't submit, I won't get in anyway, so what the heck. I gave them four samples of my painting, and four samples of my mixed media work and I will see how it plays out. I will then have the summer to work on a small body of work that I will show and hopefully sell at the show. If not, that just means that was not the right venue for me to sell at.

It has taken me a long time to become brave enough to start submitting my work to something other than group shows at the local art society. Not to say that all those shows don't count, but I need to reach out beyond that.

I have a trunk show scheduled for June 15Th too, so I have a month and a half to finish works, mat/frame etc. what I have. If I get some time maybe I can get a few more pieces done too.

And, when I feel overwhelmed or frustrated at how little I seem to produce, I remind myself--it all is what it is.

Here's to sticking one's neck out now and again!

Patti

PS Tonight's work was made many years ago..one of my first collage exchanges. Someone bought it, I don't even remember when or who....or for what exchange, but I still enjoy this primordial collage image from time to time!

In Design

I am taking a three week course on In Design. I have completed 2 out of the 6 three hour classes, and have decided that I will NEVER become a graphic artist. I like making my business cards and my own things well enough, but to do it for a living?

NO WAY.

Give me paint, scissors and a pot of glue.

Photoshop is ok, and I enjoy Dreamweaver some, but this program is above my head AND interest.

LEADING. KERNING. GUTTERS.

I am taking it for school, so that I possibly can use it for the yearbook, and to teach students some very basic work in it, but now I know that I will not be a graphic designer as a second career.

Blech.

I hope this weekend brings me time in the garden and in the studio. I need a bit of sunshine, but I also need the smell of the wax and the oils....

Happy spring to you all...as it has FINALLY arrived here in the great northeast.

patti

TONS of work ahead

I am sick, which now makes it even more difficult to get into my studio. Chest cold and a myriad of other health problems besiege me. I hope to be able to control them through diet and have to deal with the fact that I have to follow through with the tests the doctors have ordered.

In the meantime, I have an order for 24 cards, 15+ pins, paintings, more cards for another store, and I am having a trunk show mid June. I will see if I can hire one of my students again to help me as I cannot possibly do it all myself, especially with having to be in a class two nights a week for 3 hours at a pop, for 3 weeks IN ADDITION TO A FULL TIME JOB. (and I hope that I will learn In Design well enough to actually use it!)

I also have three art pieces that must be done by the end of this month. One is complete, one has to be printed up on a professional printer, then matted and framed, and the last is just in progress.

I am going to pump myself up with green tea, perhaps my body will tolerate it, so that I can go out and work.

I have also been selling some of my art supplies on Etsy, as I am determined to minimalize what I have in my studio. I want it to be bare bones-----if I haven't used it in a few years, I will sell it, or give it away.

OFF TO WORK!!!

Healing Hands

As I had previously mentioned, I am doing a few pieces for a show on cancer.

I had submitted this image as I thought that if I sold cards at the show, I could donate a large portion of the proceeds to the organization. But, as the curator kindly told me, though she thought it was a great and generous offer, she could not do it as there might be other people who would feel slighted by not being offered the chance to make cards and put them in the show.

I was fine with that, it was just an idea I had in my head to make money for the group as I figured that not many would want to buy art images of other's experience with cancer, but something more positive and smaller priced might bring in some money.

BUT the flip side of it is, that they want to use the image in their brochure that they are mailing out. It is gratis of course, and I will get credit for the piece. I is free advertising, which was not what I had intended by my offer, but was honored to be asked.

I am considering putting a print of the image in the show, and have to find someone who will make a giclee print of it for a price I can afford.

I guess if I do sell any of my pieces, I can give the gallery their cut, and give the organization another percentage of my sale. The social workers do such an amazing job ..... as I have witnessed Jean at work when she came to visit my friend Gary before he died.

Off to bed...it is late, but I wanted to post as it has been far too long.

More soon! patti