Art in Life

It's true.  It is just the size of a shed in a trailer court.  But you see it don't you?  It's one of those great moments where your truckin along through your day and something just makes you stop and laugh out loud.  You don't see it?  Here, I'll help.

BONJOUR!  Okay, I know I stereotyped him just a bit but the shed was wearing a beret!  When were in France we again and again passed French carrying their fresh baguette still warm from the bakery.  I almost wish this shed was in a route I regularly took.  You know I would shout back a 'bonjour' when ever I passed.

Don't miss your 'art in life' moments.  They're all around.  I will bring you another one in a couple days.  It's amazing what you can see in a potato.

What's wrong with this picture?

There is lots of bad information floating around in this world.  No, ostriches don't stick their heads in the sand.  What doesn't kill you DOESN'T make you stronger it just makes you scarred and traumatized. And most importantly 40 is not the NEW 30 it is just plain 40.

If any Alaskan travels outside the state they get asked bizarre questions based on bad information.  Do you travel by dogsled?  ( that is an actual repeated again and again question) or one of the most annoying, do you know Sarah Palin?  Well of course.  All 660,000 Alaskans get together for family dinner once a year.  I always make my famous mashed sweet potatoes.  Sheesh.

Getting a book published is challenging and that is a fact I think all people know.  But recently I saw something that stopped me in my tracks.  Here was a book on how to draw animals and featured prominently on the cover was a black bear.  Now, I must pause here to empathise that this artist found a publisher that said, " Wow, you're good!" and shelled out money and effort to promote his book.  Are you ready?  Here is the bear.

 

What's that?  He looks like a moose from the chest down?  EXACTLY!  Has this artist even seen a black bear?  I don't mean in real life but even a photo?  Here let me help.

 

 

One of the charming things about the bear is that they walk with a serious pigeon toe gait.  One of the scary things about a bear is that they are fast, fuzzy tanks.  It's the stocky build coming at you that causes you to panic.

I don't mean to pick on this artist.  I always try to do my research before I paint an animal but I am sure I have misdrawn a beak, paw or snout along the way.  But let's not add to Alaska's misconceptions.  There is very little risk of a bear silhouette being confused with a moose. Yes, we use the U.S. dollar as our currency,  English is our language and we don't kiss by rubbing noses.  I hope that helps clear up some strange ideas floating around out there. Now, I gotta run, my dog sled is double parked.

There's always a heckler

 

Hecklers don't come much better than the cranky old men in the opera box on the Muppets. Their names are Waldorf and Statler. 

 Here is a quote with a little Alaska humor : 

 Statler: "Why did they want the igloo?"

Waldorf: "I don't know.  Maybe someone broke their ig."  Great stuff.

 

When I do school programs the teacher will often give me a heads up if a difficult student is in the class.  I understand their motive.  They know how to keep the student engaged, to not be rattled by his or her shout outs.  The thing is they don't need to warn me.  You see, I myself was a heckler.

 

My mom sent me some old school papers a while back.  This is an actual comment from Mrs. Main who I believe was my 3 grade teacher.  "Gina usually works without disturbing others."  Well, Mrs. Main was being nice, she was one of my favorite teachers, because I excelled at disturbing others.  Why concentrate on your reading exercise when I can show you a picture I just drew of a giraffe!

 

This patterned continued as I progressed through school.  Mrs. Larsen just laid it out by saying,"Gina visits too much and disturbs others by chatter."  CHATTER??!!  You mean brilliant epiphanies generously shared.   Another teacher said I had trouble handling leisure time.  Trouble?  I know for a fact I was rocking my leisure time.  I would start a comic strip and hand it to whoever would be willing to draw the next panel.  Trouble....please.

 

I imagine my mother let out large sighs while reading my report cards.  She knew she had a high energy kid.  That's right, not disruptive or chattery but as the great Mr. Goegde said," Gina is enthusiastic".  Ahhh,my hero.

 

 

 

None of Your Business

"What other people think of you is none of your business".  I like that quote.  It is true.  We can wear ourselves out worrying about other people's perception of us.  We can even forget who we are by trying to conform to what we think are other people's expectations.  No one want to be the beautiful bird that has decided he's ugly because of other peoples comments. That is just too much work!

I was visiting with a good friend of mine and since I turned another year older this month the discussion of age came up.  He said that when he turned 50 it was great since he realized that he really didn't care what other people thought anymore.  He was happy with who he was.  I can relate to that.

But here's the rub. When you paint pictures for a living you need to care about what other people think about your art.....right?  NO, I should just paint what wants to be painted.  BUT I need to paint what people want to buy.  Not ever one will 'get' your random creative moment.  TRUE, but good art is art you feel.  You see this giant circle that traps me.

Of course my two favorite subjects are Greve and Celli and animals.  Not everyone wants a gorilla in their living room.  And not everyone wants a whimsical, playful bicycle scene.  I have a gallery that is a wonderful supporter but tells me, "no mammals".  Some customers are only interested in my fine art pieces and others only look at Signore Greve.  I almost need a flow chart!

Don't see this as complaining. I really do have the best job in the world.  I have so many wonderful customers that say kind things and buy my work as gifts and to hang on their walls. But some days I stand at my easel with all this swimming in my head,  "The beluga, elephants and seal haven't sold yet.  Should I paint another animal?  I just did an entire book worth of new paintings of Greve, I need a break but......."

I try hard to be a good person.  I treat others like I want to be treated. And I try not to worry about what others are thinking when I walk away. So could I adapt the quote to "What other people think of your ART is none of your business"?

Did you just Cabbage Patch?

 

My dog hates dancing.  I mean seriously hates it.  You wouldn't think this would pose a problem since I am not in the theatre as a professional dancer.  You would be wrong.

Any jiggle related to music sends my puppy into an angry frenzy.  It's not the, "Oh, how fun! Let me dance along."  No, it is clearly, " For the sake of all humanity STOP IT!"  I didn't realize how much I dance during a work day until I got Ginzee.  A little hip wiggle as I step away from the easel sends her into an annoyed growl.  A finger snap?  Don't even think about it.  Jazz hands?  It's go time.

She passed her obedience class with flying colors.  But the funny thing is they never covered what to do when your dog hates dancing.  Am I the only one with this problem?  She seems to have some kind of built in radar for it too.  Try to moon dance across the kitchen floor. She suddenly appears like a mother of a teenage daughter who senses some line of celibacy has been crossed.

My old dog would allow me to dance with her.  She didn't really like it but when I picked up her front legs to waltz around the room she was tolerant for a respectable amount of time.  I have tried this with Ginzee and it ended with a wrestling match on the floor.  I am pretty sure I won....pretty sure.

I won't quit dancing.  No dog is going to tell me what I can and can't do while I am in my creative flow.  Now if you don't mind, 'Footloose' just came on the ipod and the dog is outside.  Look out Kevin Bacon!
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One Serious Art SALE!

Here is your chance to have an original piece of art for NO MORE than $150.  My storage is packed to the gills and I need to make some room.  You can get some great art as a gift, for your second bedroom, office, spare bathroom or kitchen.  If you would like a better image send me a note at ginaart@gci.net or call me at 336-2457.   Happy shopping!

 

 

 

Out of my wheel house

 

Isn't this card stunning?  My girlfriend Vi bought it for me.  Of course, the connection is obvious. My love of bikes is certainly no secret to anyone who knows me or my art.  But the timing of this was interesting.

 

I have been busy this week cleaning.  No, cleaning isn't the right word.  I have been gutting my little dome home.  My office was borderline hoarder territory and my closets aren't far behind.  My studio book shelf, appalling. Whenever I catch myself saying,"This house is too small!"  What I am really saying is, "I have gathered too much stuff!"  The problem is artists are natural pack rats.  Every bit of string or fabric, any scrap of paper or bead or mat board has potential to be artistic brilliance!  I don't only buy things at the store that fill up my house, I collect things I come upon or worse yet, someone gives me something that they think I can use.

 

Years ago I worked in a newspaper next to a woman named Ann.  She was a fiery redhead who loved to create cards.  She was VERY good at it. At this time in my life my creative outlet was relegated to sewing or the occasional craft project.  I thought, why not create cards?  This was before Internet or texting.  I regularly sent cards to family.  Off to the store to buy all the supplies.  Then I realized to my horror.....I was terrible at it.

 

Did you catch the detail in the handlebars?  The bike seat has the same stitching.  I can't quit marveling at the card!  But I will be strong.  After two loads of donated fabric, screen printing rack, craft totes and frames I will resist.  I will remember to leave the card making to someone else.  I am a painter,illustrator NOT a card maker!

 

Vi is taking an online card making class next month.  I know she will make some awesome things.  I will ohh and ahh over her creations.  I will then walk away and pick up a paint brush. 

 

Did you note the three D flowers?