"Pine Cone on a Doily"
8" x 10" acrylic on purchased 1" brown stain cradle panel
$100 includes shipping in the US
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This has been a strange few months for us. I've been stretching out in new ways with my mixed media work; have had a workshop on my work with paper casts and encaustic published in Cloth Paper Scissors this month, I've taught a workshop or two recently and people have a ball and report they LEARN things; done a few demos for local art guilds, have gotten really involved in Artists of Colorado and Contemporary Fine Art International and have thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it. I am co publisher of a good number of daily blogs (that you can see on my sidebar) , and I paint or create something nearly every single day! WHEW! It's a lot to keep track of, and I'm glad to do it...but STILL I work hard to find a venue for my particular style of work! I KNOW, we all are there...or at least the majority of us are there...we work at so many different things and still struggle finding just the right place for what we do! It gets frustrating!
I am frustrated and tired these days...but still smiling of course! I have tons of energy, and tons of things I know how to teach (yep, unabashed promotion of ME) but yet I struggle for places to do what I do, for people to venture out to try some of it! Yep, we all face this from time to time in life!
I have a friend who is a gallery owner and I recently asked his opinion. He gave it, and I was glad. He said he loves my work, but my website had too much on it...that scares gallery owners...they would be in competition with our website, SO I cleaned up my website to reflect mostly my new work...I've done all I know to do! So, WHERE is that place for our work...where do we showcase the work we have honed into something quality...but it is specific...aaarrrggghhh!
I paid for membership in Art Students League so I could do the Summer Art Market; even stood for three hours in the rain last year to volunteer...but I now learn that unless I took classes I may not even be able to pay THEM money to be in that this summer...I'd have loved to take classes, but the money just wasn't there this year...aaarrrggghhh again!
I was going to apologize for my venting, but I decided not to today...I just want to get it out there...to share frustrations with you all! I don't do it often, but I just felt led to do it today! sigh...(an apology is right on the tip of my tongue, but NO! :)
Recently my husband lost his job; through no fault of his own...the big mother company was doing badly so they got rid of over 500 people just like that...they are in trouble, so they let go all those who made a bit too much...restructuring, re-doing...trying to save their corporate butts...sigh...I'm sure he will land on his feet...he is talented and has lots of contacts, but still...aaarrrggghhh!
My father has Leukemia and Parkinson's disease and my mom is a trooper, but still I need to be there for them...My daughter is having her first baby and I'd like to do more with her, but life gets a little harried and money is tight, so I have to do what I know (paint for her) and just try to be positive and happy with her...which isn't hard to do cuz I AM so happy about that!
In short (which I see is really LONG) I've tried all I know to do what I can and still I am lacking in that all too critical proper marketing. I try just about everything people suggest, but still I am missing the mark. NOT on producing quality work born from my 35+ years working and learning and experimenting...that I've got and enjoy...but finding that right way to put it out there!
It is why I try to bring people together so much...as a group we can all find better avenues...but we get comfortable and busy in our separate lives and it is hard to remember when the struggling was on our plate. I am calling for all of you out there; where ever you are; to find ways to band together...to bring a united front to this strange world we find ourselves in these days...Help someone you know by offering your expertise, by sharing, by finding ways to meet together to work together on a regular basis...We all need each other...well, some of us do...IF you have made it...share that knowledge, that process...it WON'T take away from the value of what you do and have accomplished!
As artists I just don't understand WHY we get so paranoid that IF we share a photo someone will take something from us; IF we share knowledge we won't be valued anymore...Come on everyone...EACH of us has a way of working...If we ALL worked off of the SAME photo there would be THAT MANY different interpretations...It's FUN to see the differences...IMAGINE if we all got together and shared...how much FUN it would be! I've done it here on this blog...I've proven that we all have our own unique value!
I'm going to try again...AGAIN! I'm going to find a place and offer my knowledge in the form of workshops and TRY AGAIN to get people to come and learn and play and have fun together...I love to create, but I NEED to teach and help others learn something that will make them feel good too! I'm going to offer my services again (for a fair price of course tee hee, we are jobless remember? )and see what will happen. And, knowing me, if THAT fails too, I'll try again! Watch here for times and dates and such...If you are anywhere near me, try something new...it is FUN to work together!
Now as a way to offer a little beauty to offset the ugly reality of the struggle as artists here are yet some more photos of my Valentine Tulips...and YES, you are welcome to work from any photo I share! :)
Happy Creating and Happy finding ways to help and work together!!
The next challenge is a baby chimp...today is errand day and catch up day...so he's just begun...I've increased the contrast so you can see drawing and underpainting...tomorrow he should be finished!! PS...they all pretty much look crazy like this in the beginning...makes the end result so much more fun!
