Doodle me dingy

My second attempt with the lesson from the Doodles Unleashed free online class

It's that time of year! The time when Strathmore Papers offers their free online workshops. (www.strathmoreartist.com/online) I checked them out and signed up for a few. Sadly, they didn't start until spring and I was kind of looking for something new and interesting now.

I decided to check out the 'Doodles Unleashed' class. I am actually not a doodler and being the linear, A- personality type this free and flow-y work isn't my style. Which is exactly why I skipped it and why I then decided to check it out.

Recently Bravo channel had their "Works of Art" reality show where artist get assignments and a small amount of time to come up with something brilliant. I LOVE the show. LOVE IT! I think about it for days afterwards trying to visualize what I would have made. One thing I noted is how adept many of the artist seemed to be with a variety of mediums. I could improve in that area.

The above work is my second attempt. The first was a disaster. So bad I will not even show it to you. Normally I would have abandoned the whole project but I soldiered on wanting to force myself into something new. I look at this piece and don't see myself creating it but I did. And I learned some new techniques along the way.

Trying new art techniques is often frustrating. You get use to obtaining the results you want and when they fail, often miserably, you are ready to go back to what is comfortable. Pushing through helps you grow. Here is to a great growing season.

Sounds of Flamenco By Gina Edwards

It's the digital age. There are many parts of it I love. The fact that I updated my ipad operating system and lost all my play list is not a part I love. There is lots of love and hate with technology.

One thing I love is being able to send my art and art thoughts out into cyber space in hopes that someone will stumble upon them. And not just my faithful reader...also known as mom. I often get comments that surprise me from people that have come upon my blog or website. Thanks all of you who keep checking in.

In an effort to keep you all having art filled days I have added a new feature to my website. I hope to twice a month post a new 'Behind the Easel' painting. Instead of just having paintings on the website I will give you the story behind the creative process, the nightmare wrong turns and the challenges of making a living at what I do. The above painting "Sounds of Flamenco" is first up.

So check out my website and let me know what you thought. Was it too much information? Were you ready to quit reading before it was done? Did you learn something? I appreciate your feedback. Because no matter who you are, you should always have an art filled day!

The Bottom Line

The Little Sue by Mark Wedekind

This stuff is amazing right? Organic and beautiful and functional. The table almost looks alive with it's arm gripping tightly to the rock. Every piece of wood with it's grain and light is it's own art.

This is Mark Wedekind, a friend of mine. Mark did a show with me a few years ago. I felt honored to have my little gallery space representing him. His work is award winning and even sits in the Anchorage museum. But Mark is losing hope of continuing as an artist. I know, it's a horrifying thought. To think that kind of talent would go untapped but it all comes down to the bottom line.

Ug, the dreaded bottom line. With the economy having more bad days than good days making a living as an artist has become an even greater challenge. How do you not get worn down with the weariness of trying to make a buck? I was chatting with Ann, Mark's wife, the other day and I almost felt a bit guilty as we discussed the frustration of making a living creating hand shaped, custom furniture. Why?

A few year back I decided to start making prints of my paintings. Prints became note cards and notebooks and before I knew it I had several items $25 and under. Then I created a book. True, that was a large outlay of money to start with but with $30 here and $50 there I am keeping my head above water. Selling an original is not the regular event it used to be. But with a little here and there I do okay. How does an artist like Mark make that happen?

Mark and Ann have a plan. A good one and hopefully it will bring some relief to the nagging bottom line. It would be a crime to have Mark quit creating his magic with wood. Check out his website and friend him on facebook. An artist like Mark is too valuable to lose.

www.blackstonedesign.com

Making Hay

I grew up a Midwest kid surrounded by farms. My family didn't have a farm but we leased out parts of our land for cows and most my friends had farms. I heard my fair share of country speak. When I visit home I find myself picking it up again. You know things like, " She looked as dazed as a fresh, sheared sheep". But today we will talk about the phrase, " Making hay." It isn't the full phrase, I think it is, " You need to make hay while the sun shines." ( I need to call my sister in law who is a master at country speak) The point is this, when the hay is dry and cut you don't linger. You get it raked and baled, in the barn before the rains come. If you don't beat the rain your goose is cooked.

I have been busy making hay. Trying to find the balance of getting sales when there are sales to be had and not running myself self exhausted into the ground is tough. Here I am at the book fair, three days of hard work.

The next weekend I did a First Friday show at Gallery 31 Fifty which continued over to Monday. I did a special promotion with the Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage at this show. Anyone who came to the show on a bike got a free print.

I painted over 10 new paintings to feature at all these events. And I got to tell you, I am as tired as a stud horse in spring time! I am as freaked out as a chicken with a fox roommate! I am....okay, I have tortured you enough.

I am SO very grateful for all my customers old and new that help me 'make hay'. Being an artist full time is a dream come true and even the rough patches don't dull the fun of this job. You could say I am as happy as a lark.

Realizing a Dream

Me and Shannon with her Alaska three bears prints

My set up ready for customers

The book fair last weekend was very successful. I sold art and books. Met a lot of customers and made some new customers. So many of the visitors had great ideas for paintings. I love being inspired by my patrons and supporters.

This was the weekend that almost wasn't. I kept waiting for my email giving me the details for set up, etc. and it never came! When I called, the organizers admitted they had forgotten me. Fortunately they squeezed me in. WHEW!

Then, as I am setting up I realize I am next to Shannon Cartwright. Yes, THE children's book illustrator for Alaska. Will this help me bring crowds or will I get shadowed by her popularity and get missed completely. My business brain was in full speed. I said hello and told her I was a fan. She was cool and distracted.

The show was off and running. By now Shannon and I were more relaxed and started to chat. We are both from Michigan. She shared some very personal, sad stories of her life. We bonded. Later I am driving home and I realize I have bonded with Shannon Cartwright. She would roll her eyes if she read that line but even though I told her my story she doesn't appreciate what her art symbolized to me.

When I moved to Alaska and started working for Alaska Magazine I was told to go buy art for my office. No problem. I bought Shannon's prints of the three Alaska bears. I would sit at my desk at a job that wasn't what my heart wanted. I went to college to be an artist and yet here I sat working in sales at a magazine, staring at these prints. Staring at the career I was sure I would never have. I hated Shannon, loved her, admired her, was jealous and some day wished I could be like her.

So on that drive home it hit me. I was an artist, a children's book illustrator at an art show sitting across from Shannon. She bought some of my art. We talked business, we talked life. If the 'me' staring at those prints in that Alaska magazine office could see me now she would be whooping for joy. And that is what I did in my car, laughed and whooped for joy.

Dizzy Days

Signore Greve - Imagination

My husband is going to see this post and think, " Why isn't she painting?!" He is right of course. I have a 'to-do' list a mile long and it all needs to be done and dry by Friday. The above Greve is one painting I have created for the Read Alaska Book Fair going on at the Anchorage Museum this weekend.

Cheesy Day

The book fair and art show in the atrium is free and is a LOT of fun. I was excited to sneak in last year and am happy to be there again this weekend. It is 10-6 Friday and Saturday, 12-5 on Sunday. There are so many awesome authors and artists in Alaska. This show does a great job of highlighting so many in one location.

Stop in and see me. You can see the first practice painting for the new book, "Have You Ever Had a Daydream..." Why am I not showing it to you here? Gee, there is no time, I got to get painting.

The Power of YES

Have you ever seen the movie "Yes Man" with Jim Carrey? I watched it on an airplane once. The premise is that through an enlightenment seminar he is told to say yes to everything and his life will become limitless with wonder. The typical Carrey adventures ensue.

But there really is a good point to that idea. Saying 'yes' can often open other doors that your not expecting. I said 'yes' to doing a companion painting for a woman and ended up being hired to illustrate her children's book. I said 'yes' to doing a book presentation at a local school and now have several visits to different schools under my belt. I said 'yes' to karaoke once and am still living down the shame. 'Yes' doesn't always go the way you want it.

There are so many things to do and experience in this world. And saying yes when your brain is screaming NOOOOOOO can really open up wonderful things to you. When I walked in with my portfolio to my very first gallery the 'no' ringing through my head was deafening. My bowels felt I wasn't getting the message so they chimed in. My sweat glands couldn't believe I wasn't listening to the other two so they added their comment. I was a MESS! 20 minutes later I walked out smiling (and headed for the bathroom) with the first date for a gallery show.

Try to say 'yes' this week to something different. Would you like to try our new spam latte? Why, yes, that sounds tasty! Okay, maybe not a great example but you get what I am saying. And NO Ginzee, you may not eat the cat.