Mental Fuzziness

I am in artistic disarray right now.  

I have no clue which project to focus on, what deadline to meet first (you would think it's the one looming over my head) or whether or not to ditch activities with friends in order to get shit done.  I can't decide: work on my paintings, turn those sketches into prints, pump out some magnets, work on one of the three projects that NEED to be finished within the next week, learn how to sew (no, I do not know how....stop laughing) or just shut the hell up.  A friend of mine said it perfectly today; "When I get to an indecisive point in whatever I'm making, I walk away, thinking,'oh I'll just get to it later'".  Wow!  That's precisely what I'm feeling!  My focus is off.  Way off.  I'll quit doing something that's near genius and, well I don't know, start washing my dishes (mainly because I can't stand to see dirty dishes in the sink).....or talking to my cat or calling my best friend.....or......update a blog.

Maybe I should entertain you for a brief moment on some random thoughts:

Random thought #1:

I find people completely annoying.  It's in the details really.  

Random thought #2:

Not so sure I want kids.  I thought I did, with me about to hit my mid-30s and all.....but......I think I'd be completely fine with none.  Or, I'll just adopt. 

Random thought #3:

I need an art studio that I can actually close off from the rest of my dwelling.  I'm constantly worried that my cat, Sasha, is going to swallow/eat/taste/play with something she has no business messing with.  It is a silly, yet not so unrealistic, fear.

Random thought #4:

I need a F*$@ING vacation!!!!!

Bored you yet?

Ok, list for the next seven days:

*finish a friend's stamp design

*create a drypoint etching for a hand-printed recipe (this needs to be done in more like 4 days)

*make 20 more magnets

*seal/varnish two paintings

I think that's enough to keep me busy on the artistic front.

and..........................GO!

What tha??

There are times when I think I overextend myself. Adding on to my plate over and over again until suddenly, I can't keep up anymore. I forget to do things, stay on track and if I don't make a list....well.....you can probably bet your ass it will not get accomplished.

My November show was nice. Everything came together just as I planned it to, with a little help from an absolute wonderful friend of mine. Did Isell anything? Nope. That's the only downfall to all that time I spent on it. However, the little magnets I've been making over the last two years seem to find their way into the homes of New Orleans. I'm ok with that. I'm currently working on a new stock and there will be new images to admire, in addition to the best-selling marbled paper magnets. I need to get into a production mode. I will admit, it's easier said than done, especially when finances do not allow you to stock your supplies up in preparation for mass production. Bleh!

My friend, Melissa, and I had a little holiday card-making workshop in December. The whole thing was a wonderful idea, but we think it needsto be arranged for an earlier time, say October-ish. The cards came out well. Melissa letter-pressed the inside of the cards and people decorated the outside. We had a lot fun!

I decided to take some time away from art and focus my mind more on myself. I don't pay attention to myself much. So, I signed up for a 30 day yoga challenge. Oh I finished it and finished it good! I feel great. I feel mentally rejuvenated. So, maybe I can start working on something that will put some money in my pocket. After all, it is Mardi Gras season in The Big Easy!

Taking a Break for Banter

Show is less than a week away and I don't think I'm halfway done with everything.  The problem:  money, or lack of it.  I'm trying to come up with time AND money-efficient ways of framing and presentation.  Thank goodness I'm not showing any of my photos!  Paper and canvas are much easier for me to wrap my head around as far as creative problem solving.  

I made a big mistake as I started marbling last night.  I forgot that I've mixed inks instead of paint.  So when I dipped my first canvas into the marbling vat and looked to see what the result was.........the colors were running all over each other.  Mission: FAIL!  I rinsed it off, BUT there's this pretty cool ghostly image on it now, like the ink simply stained the canvas.  I thought about just leaving it that way, but it really needs something else.  I ended up marbling the paper-half of my show instead.  

I ordered my postcard flyers for this thing at least 2 weeks ago. I just got an email notice today 

that my order's been shipped. Today!??? It's Monday and the show is SATURDAY! WTF!? I

guess I'm going to have to hustle out those things as soon as they get here.

I have to get through this weekend. LOTS going on and I'm ready to move on to the next creative

adventure (more on that later). I also plan on taking plenty of photos of my work so I'll post them

on here......................eventually.

Production Update

I believe following through with an art project is like taking up a yoga practice. You have to be consistent and try to stay on some kind of schedule.

I'm failing miserably!

It is now the end of September and all I have accomplished is stretching two canvases. Well, scratch that. A friend of mine built three frames (which, by the way, are beautiful!) as well as the canvas frames....but that's about it. I'm supposed to have my wonderfully huge marbling vat by this weekend (fingers crossed) so I can get started with that phase of production. I'm playing around with the idea of screen printing on some of them. So many ideas.....I really need to sit down and decide instead of running around with a cluster of them in my head.

Photos to come. Now, I'm off to plan a baking venture of about six dozen cupcakes. Hopefully, it will put a few bucks in my pocket.

Up and Comings...

I have a show over at my friends' coffee shop in November. I've decided that I don't have anything ready for it....and that's fine. I'm starting from scratch, developing a "theme" and running with it. I've been playing around with the idea of marbled paper being the dominantly played force during the exhibition.

Along with hand-made paper..........



I have until November 10th to get everything done, start to finish, concept to framing.

Wish me luck!

A Little Selfless Promotion.....

I got an email today from 4over4.com, an online printing company. They started a campaign in the name of trees! I'm jumping on board because....well....I care about trees. Yeah yeah, I'm a printmaker and papermaker so why would I give a hoot about trees? Well, these giants of the forest are what keep my artwork in business. I also love to admire them when they're standing tall in all their glory. I'm also a firm believer in the whole "take one down, plant another" concept, so yes, definitely jumping on board.

It's simple really:

For every click on this link

http://www.4over4.com

A tree will be planted in that click's honor.

So, click away my dear friends!!!!!

Oh, I also posted this link permanently on my sidebar (to the left) so if you're ever in the mood......

Pet Peeve of the Week.......

....Sell-outs - I have no time for them.

You know, those people who stand beside you, struggle with you, hold conversations about how pretentious the art community can be and express gratitude they are not in that percentage of haughtiness? Then, after making a few bucks and landing a show on Julia Street.....all bets are off. Their attitude is different. They believe they are "better". They have no time for you or your silly little art projects. A show in the Bywater? Nah, I'd rather stay on a "professional" level. What the hell is wrong with you? What exactly are you saying about EVERY artist who lives AND works in that part of the city, MY part of the city? Hey, I had my work up in an Uptown gallery, but you'll never hear of me believing I'm too good to exhibit anywhere. My theory is this: a show is a friggin show. Exposure is exposure. I'll take whatever card is dealt. You really just never know whose wallet will show up.

Those people piss me off.

Either you are a part of the revolution or part of the establishment, you choose, but don't expect me to have any respect for you if your blood runs thick with contradiction.