Late Night Ramblings

I'm having to set some priorities.

Comic Con is out.  I simply do not have time to commit to it.  It's ok though.  I went earlier this year and had a blast! 

priorities...

December show is coming along......slowly, but it's happening.  I'm on a tight budget right now so my projects took a left into Cheapville.  There has been an exchange.  "Cheap" takes a back seat to "time consuming" so it all evens out in the end.  In conclusion, I believe the show will be a great time. 

(P.S., the show is December 8th)

I'm creating a lot of paper sculpture lately.  My desire for something 3D is finally rearing its head.  I'm ok with it. 

What could it be?

Good grief, I'm exhausted!

October: Artistic Blocks & Costumes

Tis the season for haunted houses, costumes, glitter, candy.........and art!!!

Yes, it is Halloween......in New Orleans no less.  Besides Mardi Gras, this is the place to be and after all the years I've lived here, I wouldn't want it any other way.  Even if costumes aren't on the agenda, there is still a good time lurking around the corner. I don't really have solid plans for this evening.  For some reason, this is the holiday that most people either flake on me or don't participate in much with me so I've made peace with staying at home, if it comes to that.

It is also high season for selling art.  The holidays bring the potential customer to the forefront so artists are making friends with insomnia, trying to get their work out in the public eye.  It isn't easy.  With all the parties, shindigs, potlucks, and costume contests, there's hardly any damn time left over.  That's where I'm at right now.

Next is putting a costume together for Wizard World Comic Con, here in NOLA late November.

I also have a show in December to get ready for.

In the deep thick of it all, where is the money gonna come from?  (le sigh)

I've decided not to stress myself out too much over the upcoming exhibition.  It's a dual solo show with a good friend so I don't have to pull my hair out trying to fill up the whole gallery.  I am only 90% sure of what I'm going to put on the wall though.  My desire to be in twenty places at once has left me overwhelmed and mentally blocked.  Instead of just pushing through it, I'm just staring at it.  Not good at this point in the game.

I submitted a bid for a screenprinting commission last week.  I feel really good about it, but since I haven't heard anything yet, my confidence is dying a slow death.  I can only hope this company will let me know their  decision, whether good or bad.  I can't stand the hit and run approach.

I'm doing a small, short art market this Friday, November 2nd from 5pm - 8pm.  Harrah's Casino started this First Fridays thing on Fulton Street (one of the many things they own in the downtown area) and the arts organization I work for is one of the featured vendors.  I get 100% of the profits, which is a deal for me...although it is possible I won't sell anything (all five of us artists have come to the same conclusion).  It's worth a shot though.

In summary, I just need to get through this week.

Catching Up

August.

This whole summer has been a blur!  Between summer camp and dealing with a ridiculous amount of drama at work, I am exhausted.

My friend's wedding invitations were put on hold.  As a matter of fact, the wedding was put on hold.  So obviously, that did not get accomplished.

The magnets I haven't addressed yet, but I have decided to go forward on a book project with a friend.  We are almost ready to launch a Kickstarter campaign, just missing the music to accompany the video.  More information on that later.

I decided to give up my table at PhotoNOMA.  At the time, I just had too much going on.  It was a wise decision I believe.

A vacation has not materialized yet either.  My progress is like a hot New Orleans summer, slow.

Note to self: update this thing more often!  Geesh!

On the Horizon

The planning stages of something big.......

It is challenging to take on an adventure that is potentially life-changing, especially if you have a day job.  Struggling with the energy to be productive after working 7 to 8 hours is my biggest hurdle.  I leave work, get home and after changing clothes, I am just done.  I know I have to stop this sabotaging behavior.  My goal will never be reached if this continues. 

Now, don't get me wrong, I am motivated.  A ton of sketches for projects and lists of supplies and things I have started already fill my studio and have recently bled into my bedroom.  I guess I just feel unorganized in my space although by looking at it, one would think there is a place for everything.  It is hard to work from home.  It is hard for me to be creative in a place, where I associate the words "peaceful" and "relaxing" and "meditative".  Sounds like a nice place to do yoga.  Actually, it is a nice place to stretch out and meditate.  But I do not feel inspired to create things in my home.  Guess I do need a studio space, away from my apartment.  It will come with time.  Meanwhile, I need to figure out a way to juggle everything efficiently, without stressing myself out.

I'm creating wedding invitations for a friend right now.  These are much different than the design I made for Tom and Becky's wedding.  I'll post photos as it all comes together.  Gathering paper and color samples today.

I also have a handful of magnets to make, high resolutions scans to create, postcards to lay out, a fundraising party to plan for a book we're trying to get out, meetings to have with my business partner......it goes on and on.  Not really stressing out about it (yeah right!), but I'd love to do most of this during the day.  I am afraid that until money rolls in more smoothly, I am a prisoner to my day job.

I signed up to participate in PhotoNOMA again this year.  Basically an open portfolio review to the public, I've had a positive response from the past two events.  Referring to my previous mention of having too much on my plate, I consider backing out and handing the spot over to a photographer who has the damn time to prep for this thing.  It is a decision I don't take lightly and will have to make by the end of the week.

All of this said, I am desperately trying to find some time this summer to get out of here and relax.  A friend and I want to do this together, but like I keep saying, finding the time to discuss it and make plans.......we're finding it difficult.  This.......will.......happen!!!!

Finished!

Well, the painting, that was inspired by the one in the previous posting, is finished.  I like it.  I don't think I love it, but it's ok.  People have given it great reviews so I'm sure it can't be all bad.  A series of these paintings would be more visually stunning, I believe.  A body of paintings is in the planning stages right now. 

The show was fantastic!  Lights, music, food, dancing, freestyle MCs, you name it.  We all had a great time.  I also did a 4-color screenprinted poster, listing all the open studios.  It was one of the first little projects for a much bigger project that me and a friend are working on (more on that later).  Photos of the event can be seen HERE.

Another project slowly gaining speed is wedding invitations for a good friend of mine.  I have a meeting with her on Friday to discuss the design, paper choices, etc.  I'll write an update on that when I have more information.

Contact cards.  I ran out of them last week at the Southern Graphics Council's Conference.  I NEED to get more of those printed and soon.

Let's see, what else?  Eh, I think that's about it for the moment.

M.I.A.

I thought I'd never see a photo of this painting anymore.

It went off to a show in the downtown area almost four years ago.  I've never seen it since. Having it returned to me was part of the deal if it didn't sell.  If it did sell, 40% of the money went toward a non-profit organization, which is fine.  But did I sell it or not?  I guess I'll never know.  I have no clue how to get in touch with the lady whose home this painting was in for the show.  Does she even still live here in New Orleans?  Again, I may never know.

I have a lot on my plate right now.  The latest additions are pieces for a show in the building I live in, scheduled for March 10th.  The painting above would've been perfect for it.  Counting my losses, I've decided to do more of these, maybe a bit bigger than this one.  Included on my itinerary of "things to do", I also have a print show to participate in during mid-March for the Southern Graphics Council's visit to New Orleans this year for their annual meeting.  It may not be such a big thing though, after all, the print show will be at my place of employment and printmaking usually does not take a front burner, but we'll see.

Ya know, I was never really a fan of framing a painting, but now that I look at all the paintings on my wall and the photo above, I think I may start framing them.

New Post for a New Year

Happy 2012, All!!!!

Everyone ALWAYS says, "This is the year for me! Things are going to happen this time." Do they? New Year's resolutions? Not usually, but this year IS going to be different. I'm in the midst of two genius ideas (a road trip and a business venture) and neither one would be possible without two incredibly artistic friends of mine. In the meantime, I have a lot of writing to do: proposals with a sales pitch. More information on both of these projects as I wrap my head around them.

It is also Mardi Gras season here in New Orleans, which means that many creative ventures will present themselves to me. I have so many potential projects floating in my head. Of course, I'm going to make some Carnival-themed magnets so I'll have photos of them up later. My friends and I are playing around with the idea of hand-made head accessories for this time of year......and maybe year-round. Oh, and I am going to make a damn king cake this year! I've been wanting to do that for a long time so why not?

My friend, Teena, has a blog about her creative adventures. One artistic creation a week = 52 projects. Check her out at www.projectvoila.wordpress.com

Other things in the works: art for a friend's restaurant, new body of work (etchings), rearranging my apartment, selling my paintings for CHEAP and finally getting a decent amount of business cards printed (letterpress-printed to be exact).

......and that's my update. Sorry, no photos this time around but there will be plenty on the way soon. I do, however, have ONE photo for you that pretty much sums up my life right now:


Cheers!