tree people and send good thoughts

ART

Keeping up the groove with tree people.


A sketch I did in my book during work


A piece I started - sumi ink on yupo paper.
(inspired by one of my sketches.)


another sketch from the sketchbook.
______
Be Original, Own Original Art!
I just gotta mention that some of the work I posted in my last post
is now at my Etsy.
______

I wonder, as I sit here trying to think if there is anything else
I wish to share, and I remember how 5/6 year ago I used to post all the time about my thoughts and daily happenings... why do I not desire to share such things anymore? *shrug*
I'll give it ago, but I'll be brief.
- Dad is getting heart work done tomorrow, send him good energy.
(I spare the ramble on worries, and how it should be a standard procedure,
and the details, as that is not my story, its his.)
- I started reading Anne Rice's "The Witching Hour". Borrowed from a friend. Otherwise, I've been obsessing over Clive Barker's work.
- I feel bad for having just now killed a beetle for looking like a roach. I like beetles, but I don't like roaches... in the dim light, it looked like a roach. Sorry mr. beetle. :/ Oh wait, research reveals it was a carpet beetle, in which case maybe thats ok. The less carpet beetles there are, the less carpet beetle larvae I have, and that can be a good thing (still, I'd rather have put it outside)
- On a lighter note, I signed up for an event the first weekend of October - 'Horror Weekend' in Gatlinburg TN. I missed the opportunity for any September events. Now I'm waiting on word from Horrorhound's November show in Cincinnati.

FULL SPEED AHEAD *HOOOOONK HOOOOONK*

First, some RAMBLES on RANDOM Updates.
Goodness!
I have one depressing day where a demon of idleness and frustration farts in my ear for several hours and the next day is a train-ride of productivity. WOO! I'll take it I guess.

Things are both picking up and slowing down - I missed the opportunity to get into an event I was sorta hoping to do (Lexington Scarefest), but was hesitant as I need to juggle which events I MUST do (the bohemian $ juggle, I'm sure most of you are familiar with the act?) Anyway... Yesterday must have given me an extra hour or 2 in the day to make up for wasted time the day before. Self drive *YAY!! SCREAM, its the MAGIC WORD!* kicked in and stuff happened! Art was done, errands were run, frames were found and manipulated, people contacted, information found out, etc etc.

I am currently waiting on word from the HORRORHOUND staff on whether the event is already sold out or not. If room is available, I will be at the next event in Cincinnati. *crosses fingers* ... NEED MORE CONVENTION. Speaking of which,,, I got my square device in the mail... so I can take credit card payments at my next event... (so long as there is network) I can't wait to try it out!

MOVIES: (just gotta share) I just watched 'Sling Blade' today. Now I know what my bf is talking about when he asks in a strange voice for some french fried potaters... mmm hmmm. (lol) Though seriously, it was a great movie... and I can't stop thinking about it.
I also watched 'The Man with 2 Brains' a few days ago with Steve Martin. HA! fun little movie. The drunk driving test scene keeps playing in my head ~ and I keep singing the song 'If you like-a me and I like-a you and we like-a both the same...' etc etc. :) :)

ok, ON WITH THE ART!


MY BABY!!
3D manipulated babydoll in progress! What is up with my colors lately?
I'm thinking... gold hair. OR whatever it is emanating from her head. Rays of creative inspiration it is!
I also started a 3D hand for a commission, perhaps I'll share photos with that later.


"Wind Blown Memories"
10" x 10" painting on panel ~ acrylic, collage and oil pastel. available.


Sumi ink on Yupo paper - experimenting with a new technique.
Now framed, and available.


A ~nice~ little 5" x 7". "Curiosity". available $25.


A strange compilation of line, dreams and colors. 16" x 20"
"These stories are not yet Written" ~ available


In the sketchbook.


in the sketchbook. Inspired after finding a freshly emerged cicada.



More sketches. Ideas pertaining a cd cover commission.

OK internet, I bid thee farewell. I need to sleep SOME... I Get up VERY early tomorrow to
paint at the T.C. Steele paint out! Its my once or twice a year opportunity to attempt and possibly reject
traditional subject matter, but I do enjoy it however, and I like to paint from life when I get a chance.
I can't promise my imagery will STAY in the realm of completely from life, but hey, I'm here because I'm me right? I wonder if there will be slight controversy again. ....
(ok, quick story time - I won first in my category one year, but the image turned out to be mainly swirls and bright colors, inspired by the trees I was painting. Very non traditional, but the event is mostly traditional - so there was some apparent controversy with the judges. HOWEVER, earlier while I was painting it I had given up hope of competing, and frustrated with my image, I merely resorted to having fun with color experimentation and swirly shapes. So funny I won first prize. )

FIN.

*post FIN... if I went back to daily posting, I'd probably have less to post about* or not... ? the eternal query: to share or not to share (all the time)? ... that is the question. 

Stutz Residency ends with a BANG! And an art show! Also other updates

SEPTEMBER 3rd - First Friday - 5-9 pm

See the Stutz Press Release for a great description of my and Patrick's work.

_____The Stutz Residency_______

In August 2009, so many of my career seeds sprouted at once, kickstarting this year into one of the best yet. I was offered 2 part time art appreciation Teaching jobs and I was one of the 2 recipients of the Stutz Residency Award - This allowed me to have a free studio for almost a year at the Stutz Building in Indianapolis.
My self drive went up, my professionalism spiked, and I met some pretty cool people while at the Stutz.

_____STUDIO?________

Now it is ending - I'm in the process of packing up the studio and bringing things home. (where am I going to put all this STUFF?! I have a big basement... but that means I have to organize, clean it again and possibly get a dehumidifier)
I'm in the process of talking with some buddies about possibly sharing a space, but the expense would be something to consider NOT lightly... I'm at a point where my art is just starting to take off. If this trend continues, and I do well at the next events I've signed up for - I shouldn't have a problem, but I don't want to make any deals I can't deliver yet.

I'm actually looking forward to working at home for a while, and have all of my supplies in one place. My biggest concern is keeping a downtown presence. Having a professional space to show people my work is a huge advantage. In the meantime, I will start looking for businesses in which to hang my work (cafes, shops, etc)

____CONVENTIONS, Especially horror ones_________

My biggest focus right now is finding events to vend at. Specifically Horror cons. Financially, I tend to do best at these events so far, and I really love the people at atmosphere. I have truly found a big branch of my family in the horror entertainment industry! I am not surprised by this, as I have been mad about dark and scary things since I was a little child. YES, its true darnit. I remember drawing monsters in kindergarten. Sure, they look like squiggly lines if you can find those old drawings, but I remember they were monsters.

This last weened I was at Paranormal Scare Fest (in TN) - while it was small and poorly attended, I'm not complaining. I'm not sure if it was fluke, mistake, luck, or talent, but I managed to do quite well at the event while around me I heard many grumblings and vendors were leaving early. I ended up spreading my prints out on the empty table next to me and stayed there till I was the last one.

_______Non-Money Talk________

I find myself talking lot about vending and events and advertising and building funds, etc. Sometimes I feel I've lost touch with expressing experiences and emotions. Perhaps my dilemma is the fact that I don't like to talk about specific people online without their permission. I don't speak other peoples business. And I havn't been in the mood to express my own emotions and/or personal stories online. I almost feel that it is a 'chore' to relay these experiences, so I stick to the basics of what, where, and when. Then, when I AM in the mood to ' blog' or whatever, I'm way behind on my stories, and there is too much to tell in one post, so I simplify it too much.

________ANYWAY____________

thats about it.

Who am I? BIG ART DAY yesterday

Yesterday was a busy art day.
I had a casual open studio at the Stutz from 1:00 - 5:00pm, but at 5, there was an official 'open studio' show called "One Flight Up" for our section of the Stutz building - I am getting much better at the meeting and greeting people part of this business. Many awesome people showed up, we shared ideas and updates and potential projects in the works. (Thank you to everyone that showed up!)
I sold a few magnets, and a small work. (Thank goodness for internet connection in my studio and paypal, and friends who like my stuff.)

During the day I also got some advice about what other kinds of art to explore. I know the kind of work I do has a very limited audience. If I want my 'art' to be my career, I have to be willing to expand my practice, and create other bodies of work that are more... 'appealing' . This doesn't mean I'm going to CHANGE myself or my work, or that my work will become boring, standard, etc. But, I'm willing to explore parts of my art that may be somewhat safer for general consumption. I also like doing 'safe' work - such as landscapes, still lives, etc - and I've been wanting to do some of these things anyway as practice. Perhaps even exploring a more abstract side to myself, or doing surreal work involving trees that is more... LIGHT-HEARTED, rather than dark, creepy and disturbing.

Yes, I often question who I am - I do not have a specific direction in my work - but I do have obsession, drive and excitement about the act of creating art.

Anyway, I got a chance to explore abstract last night. At 9:00 pm, I packed up some supplies from the studio, and headed over to a restaurant in town called the Taste of Tango - upstairs is their lounge, and last night it was being used for a techno event. I had been invited to do a live painting! This is my first experience doing an official 'live' painting - to loud rhythmic music played by DJs. I stayed till 2:00. I think I survived the day on a can of rockstar and parmesan goldfish crackers.

I was using a 2.5' x 2.5' canvas (30" x 30"), acrylics, brushes and rags. I used my french easel to hold it. Dave was there too. The atmosphere was excellent - not too crowded, not too wild - just a place to get into the GROOVE. The lights were dim, I couldn't quite tell what my colors were doing, but I lost myself in the music - I got carried away on the sounds, and I let my brushes release my dreams and emotions.

"Alpha Romeo Tango"

Hopefully I will be doing more live painting soon.
I plan on visiting more events with my easel in tow... invitation or not, its time to paint. (I also need more paints and surfaces on which to paint... time to sell my soul for art supplies)

I really need to start creating a larger body of work (of everything) for the Stutz open house in April. I did 2 small abstract/tree mixed media works tonight (5" x 7")

And I keep questioning myself. Who am I? Does this question matter? Am I betraying myself to do Non-dark and creepy work? Inner dialogue can be quite confusing and exhausting. Time for bed.
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INSPIRATIONS

I cannot forget to at least briefly mention - I have rediscovered an old childhood movie I had not thought about in ages.
I saw an actor on tv that made me think of this movie - I was sent on an internet search for hours trying to find said movie - turns out that none of the actors I thought were in it actually were (making it harder to find) and that I was combining said movie with its own sequel. These are "Mr. Boogedy" and "Bride of Boogedy!" During the daytime open studio, I finished watching these on youtube. What a blast!

Also inspired by a lot of other internet videos recently. Time lapse mushroom growth, time lapse creation of a group painting, and many artists. Last week it was the Northern Renaissance artists. Gotta love teaching art history!

new banner, goals, doubts, rambles, new work

Here's a new banner for my site.
Anyone out there do banner exchanges? I'm going to be adding a links section to my site.

Created today, inspired by the fact that I have been severely neglecting advertising myself in the right (right?) places.
Also the fact that I'm not really sure which part of myself to advertise - I've landed on 'oddball creations' as it seems to cover all aspects of my work.



I always run into a wall trying to decide what kind of artist I am. Especially realizing that I may not be up to doing the kind of fantasy illustration I had always dreamed of doing. I still dream of it, and keep trying to improve upon the skills that will get me there But... as I have no singular artistic ambition, I sometimes feel very lost.

Plus, I only had about 1 professional commission last year from someone who wasn't in my circle of friends. In my low moments, this kind of thing makes me question my self worth. People LOVE the work - but its difficult work to market.
I have to keep reminding myself of successful artists who also have strange interstitial artwork work - like Dave McKean and Nick Bantock.

________anyway....______

NEW WORK!!!!!!!

Creating

I am consuming the universe and belching strange forested galaxies.
It is crunchy and obscure.

Life continues and I leave a trail of color washes, drips, graphite chiaroscuro , dry scalp and expressions of psychological uneasiness.

Where does this growth matter come from? The air? Dirt? Whispers of sweetness? All this strength and beauty seems to make itself out of nothing.

I am fascinated.
___

And now for a random photo of a snow face. I did this in January after a light snow. If I did anything now, it would have to be a sculpture. We have a good buildup and it looks beautiful despite my hatred of cold and having to drive in it.