Imagination Food

As an artist you hope for this, a bright light of inspiration over your head. You eagerly reach for it hoping you can recreate the vision as clear on canvas, sculpture etc. Sadly, many days there is no light. Just a lifeless bulb annoyingly positioned over your head. What do you do?

I don't have the answer to that, not yet anyway. Some artist have routines that they fall into when the bulb has been unlit for too many days. Maybe it's journaling or sketching. Maybe it's a tour of art galleries or the museum. That can sometimes work for me but often the brilliance of others makes me feel even more insecure and colorless. Journaling just becomes a rant of my inadequacies as an artist and sketching just reminds me of how lousy I really am.

Sometimes an idea comes but your can't seem to execute it. You draw and redraw. Yeah, that's it. Smile. You look longer....no, it's cheesy, cliche, been done many times before. The bulb goes out.

The challenge is to keep challenging yourself while still being true to your strengths. You want each show to impress those who are kind enough to travel to your opening. Yet repeat customers want to see a consistency of sorts. Where is that perfect idea that encompasses all three?

If I could just find that elusive light switch.

Creative Cardboard

It all started with a mom having a conversation with her 5 year old son. Shanelle was sharing memories of how her and her sister would do box car races every year. Box as in cardboard box. The sisters loved working on their cars in preparation for the big race. She beams as she finished the story. Her son, following along with rapt attention, says, "Why would anyone want to race with a cardboard box?" Time for an object lesson. On a rainy Saturday we all gathered to enjoy the First Annual Box Car Race.

Aubrey stands ready, complete with accessories for the start of the race.
Here I am with my favorite to win. Breaux had a little design work help from his dad and was a bit of a cheater with a little electric car under the cardboard. We can cut him a little slack. At 18 months he is a bit new at the whole walking thing. The concept of heading toward the finish line was a bit unclear. Wherever he turned his head, that is where the car went.

Here is Katlyn and Brianne who didn't let the theme 'kid's' car race deter them. Actually the adults were donning kids cars by the end to try their hand at the race. My husband has already planned out his vehicle for next year. I best not give away his secret but it will be out of this world.

Ricco was more interested in the ice chips dumped on the ground than the race. Too cute in his car but again not really interested in the finish line.

Laya has us all rolling with her ice cream truck. Her mom actually downloaded bad ice cream truck music onto an ipod. The ipod, on a speaker, was in Laya's backpack. Laya's mom is pregnant. She admitted that when she bought all the ice cream for the truck advertisements the cashier commented on her intense cravings. She just smiled and laughed. How could you explain the cardboard car race competition.

I will be honest. On a cold and rainy Saturday I had no interest in standing around getting wet watching cardboard get soggy. But I promised my friend Adabell I would go to cheer on Breaux. And I loved the idea of creative, fun, family activity and wanted to show my support. Was it worth it? When 8 year old Bricyon was running his race he fell. His arms were inside his box and for about 8 seconds there was nothing but a cardboard car with flailing rubber boots sticking out. He did eventually right himself and finish the race.

I had a great time and forgot all about the rain.

Barnes and Noble Pajamarama

With a few butterflies in my tummy I walked up to Barnes and Noble ready to be the featured author of the evening. "If We Hopped on Our Bike..." was making it's first author signing bookstore debut. I couldn't stop the broad smile that appeared as I saw posters on the front window advertising my signing.

Since the reading event of the evening is called pajamarama some of my audience came in their P.J.'s. Barnes and Noble helped me get into the spirit of things by providing me with a fun robe. I quickly learned this was very important to my listeners. When I showed up in my 'book signing' clothes a bit of a riot broke out. The quick donning of the robe saved my reputation.

Here, Brooke, in her Strawberry Shortcake P.J.'s and break up boots helps me show the group where Alaska is located. My group had a lot of enthusiasm. It was really a lot of fun. When the reading time was done I headed back to my author signing table. There, employees told me they could hear the 'adventure' all the way at the front of the store. Oops.

Tuesday night was a huge moment for me. For many years I have dreamed of illustrating and authoring my own children's book. Standing in the bookstore, visiting with young and old customers, being invited to the reading night was honestly a dream come true. I apologize to those I might has disturbed on Tuesday evening. But you really should have joined us. We had a great adventure!

Jackson Pollock Gimmick

Yeah! I loved this comic. Apparently I am not the only one out there that is confused by the popularity of Jackson Pollock. I have cardboard acrylic palettes that look exactly like his paintings. Did you see he has a stamp out now? Oops I spilled a can of paint....I mean, WOW I created art. Sheesh.

But I digress. The comic did give me a good belly laugh, mainly the Pollock part,but the gimmick comment did make me pause.

My character Signore Greve has been very popular. I did cautiously branch out into bookmarks and small drawing pads with his image pedaling across. The question is at what point does it become over the top. It is art and I don't want to lose that but the little items help pay the bills. That is more important then ever. The economy has forced many of my artist friends to get cubicle, Dilbert jobs. (shudder,shudder) Greve has helped me squeak through month after month.

It was good for me take a step back and think this through. Greve makes people smile and I love that about him. His character really has no limits, he will never run out of places to go and things to enjoy. I guess that's my answer. Keep the gimmicky items to a minimum but keep Greve and Celli moving. They fit perfect on a drawing pad and bookmark. On school folders, bedsheets and little boys underwear....not so much.

The Good Ole Days

I know, I'm too young to be longing gazing back at days gone by. At least I think I am too young. But as the artwork shows there is one thing that modern man can no longer create with skill. The mighty eraser.

Today's erasers smear, smudge, gob, stain, they pretty much do anything but erase. Don't even think about that cute pencil with the panda bears on it. That green eraser on the end, it's just waiting to ruin your paper with a swath of green that won't come off no matter what you do. Working on a crossword puzzle, BEWARE! Today's erasers will not only smear your page so the clue number is unreadable but it will instantly tear through the tender newsprint.

Am I the only one who has noted this crisis in eraserdom? Are we without erasers because of rain forest damage or did someone in Eraser World find a cheaper (lousy) way to make them?
Now it's true, I have many perfect, purchased separately erasers for sketching. But what ever happened to that happy little partner on the end of your pencil. Standing at attention ready for service when ever the pencil turned.

Sigh....the good ole days. Thank heavens my computer has a delete key.

Goodbye Old Friend

Beezil Little River April 1997-June 2010

How do you paint with a broken heart.

I just returned from a trip to the states. I was in a few airports I haven't frequented often. And as always there was art to soak up and enjoy. Now, I don't mean to brag but Anchorage has jaw dropping cool art. Have you seen the Canada geese flying over head as you head to your departure gate? There isn't much that beats that nature scene but I did come across a few pieces that made me dig my camera out.

You may have seen this style before. Interesting, this was resin, not real wood. I am guessing a mold was made to create this sculpture. This horse was big, well past my head. It was awesome to see something made to duplicate earth in a space where NOTHING is organic. Well, except our over pressurized, exhausted bodies.

I am not a big fan of junk art. But when it is done well it always impresses me. I loved this figure, the artist even managed to give it personality. Truly an accomplishment when the face is a guitar neck. I always wonder how you would know where to start on a project like this. Was there several different faces, legs and hands until all the junk came together perfectly? Well, regardless, bravo!

The sad part of this story? For a moment picture yourself walking through an airport. As you look at people coming toward you what do you see? The tops of their heads. I watched and counted as dozens of people walked right by with their eyes buried in their cell phones. How many hours of sleep did these artists anguish and worry over this work. How many attempts, discarded sketches were involved in creating their art. Next time your in an airport please look up, look around and enjoy a mini art fix.