Snooping in other artist's studios (with permission of course)!

But I'm not here to talk about my writing habits...
I'm here to to bring surprise and mystery, confusion and ambiguity!!

STUDIO FEATURE BLOGS
I am posting to share my new endeavor.
I have become a guest blogger at the http://www.stutzartspace.com/ -
Where I am featuring the inside of other artists studios at the Stutz building.
I have over 20 artists interested in this project and counting, so needless to say, it will keep me busy for a while - and I have an excuse to snoop around in other artist's studio spaces - something I find inspiring and full of *Endless Wonder.* (Warehouse 13 reference there, if you haven't seen it, go to Netflix now and watch the first 2 seasons. NOW.)
Of course, this also means that if I find myself in a NON STUTZ studio, I will also be compelled to feature it on my own personal blog(s).
Check out http://www.stutzartspace.com/ for all things Stutz Artists,

For the specific studio features, check out

Elise Schweitzer

http://www.stutzartspace.com/inside-the-artists-studio-elise-schweitzer/

and 
Julia Wickes:

http://www.stutzartspace.com/inside-the-artists-studio-julia-wickes/
_________

VIDEO
And while I'm here, I might as well give you a link to a video I posted recently -
of me painting on clayboard HERE

(total finished piece below)
"He Sees Spirits"

Peek inside my brain with sketches and experiments

Greetings out there in internet land.
I am in the mood to post.
Much of my daily work now is either a commission, or a painting I'm going to post everywhere else so
I decided that my experiments and sketches can find a good home here for now.


Students and doodles, on break at work. Blue BIC Pen <3


FLAME BRAIN! Inspired after a late night internet chat about fire and Leos and brains. of course, what else?!


 
More sketches, possibly a few weeks ago. I love the horned figure in the center. 
Those are dreams at the bottom. Tis where I write my dreams if I remember them.What was in these
particular dreams? Theme parks, vampires, trees, and the emotion of excitement over an artist's art and music.


trees, hand studies. and an awkward woman beast thing. 


COLOR in the sketchbook. When I have excess paint from other projects, if it doesn't end up getting slapped on a wooden panel it goes in my sketchbook. 




Experimenting with shapes and colors and textures in Photoshop. 

_
Stay tuned folks, till next time!
I'd write more but I'm sleepy!

sketches, work in progress, dreams, books

Yesterday I took a trip to Borders to say my goodbye - there are still a lot of good things there. I might go back, but I don't really had the room for more books! I found a neat book "Art Revolution: Alternative Approaches for Fine Artists and Illustrators" - - amazon link
Pretty too look at, probably fun to read - I'm inspired and frustrated as always when I pick up a great book like this - inspired because its neat and I can identify. frustrated because I feel less unique and talented. (Stupid words, stupid thoughts, but valid thoughts none-the-less, and I know I'm not alone in these thoughts - they are good to share)
I realize I need to take a picture of all my bookshelves sometime, just for fun. Maybe next post. 

Also, a good chunk of my day was spent figuring out my next step with my phone company. I am now on a slightly cheaper plan, but have upgraded to a *gasp* smart phone with a data plan. This is so I can use that squared app thingy that takes credit cards. This is so I don't lose sales at my next event due to my inability to take said credit cards. Hurrah for keeping up with technology and being a *gasp again* business person!

Anyway, lets get to some of the art and art progress. 

SKETCHBOOK IMAGES


I included this because of the 2 women - me in a dress I wear during the fringe show, and the other is my surreal rememberance from another fringe show. 
 
Based on a photo I took behind the Indy convention center during gencon. Somewhat stormy day and factory.  


strange creature 


I actually drew this during Chicago Comic Con when I was feeling particularly drained. 


OTHER:

A small work in progress on masonite - not sure what to put in the middle, or if this is going
to be a smaller section of something large.

   
part of the Cook Theatre. I took this the other day when going to see a fringe show. I loved the shapes in the building.

Thoughts
As an artist, I keep asking myself all sorts of WHYs. and WHAT. What am I doing? Why? What is my focus? How can I connect with other people? Is there something wrong with personal work, can I make personal work connect to others? Do I illustrate? Am I a fine artist? Is the midwest good for me? How can I justify my nonsense and randomness? What do I do with OLD work, or work I don't like?
There may or may not be answers to these questions, but these questions are what keep me wanting to reinvent myself. I feel like I'm on a step up, but unsure of my current footing (artistically). 


 
Again, tell me your dreams. ...