Tranquility Revisited

This is the time of year when most of us reflect on the past year and assess what was good,bad or ugly. Okay, make that reflect and/or judge time. It is for me. The bonus this year is that we can throw in all 9 years and call it a decade.

As I was going through shots on my digital camera for some upcoming projects, I came across many pictures from my Portland trip this past September. I remember these!! This is good. Several shots from the Chinese Classical Garden and some from the Japanese Garden. While viewing, I found myself becoming quite calm. Partly due to memories and partly due to subject matter. I will share two of them with you. You, too, may become much calmer. A beautiful thing this time of year (reflective.) Let's get this decade over with (judgmental.)

Portland Classical Chinese Garden

One of the rockeries that is configured to appear as mountains and clouds from a distance. The inscription reads, "Ten Thousand Ravines Engulfed in Thick Clouds."

Japanese Garden

This is a giant sandbox. It really is a Zen Garden. I can't find my notes on this with all the symbolism.
Hope to when I declutter my surroundings.

It is so nice to have memories and pictures that can evoke tranquility. Let's hope 2010 will do the same.


Tranquility of another kind -two new added artistic and inspirational attractions to my blog:
If you scroll down on the right sidebar, you will discover a Jackson Pollock doodle (aka widget) and daily quotes from the Dalai Lama. For Jackson Pollock, move your curser on it and click down for more colors.

Jingle Jangle Mangle

Wishing you joy, peace, prosperity, and happiness this holiday season. A sincere and heartfelt message with some global influences. However you prefer to sing it: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Shows and Tell

Today is a perfect day for blogging. It is gray and misty outside. I am surrounded by blue crates, unpacked bags, painted boxes,...actually I am surrounded by a cluttered mess but I want to set a mood for writing. If I keep my eyes closed, my mind open and my fingers working, we will all be fine. Where was I before I distracted myself?

Yesterday was my last holiday show for this year. It was first time I ever did back-to-back monthly shows; came to 1 each month. A mere stroll for most but phenomenal training for me. I felt so much better going into this show for many reasons. Let me count the ways:

1) the venue,

2) the participating artists,
3) my exhibiting neighbors,
4) More experience

I was surrounded by such helpful, supportive, generous, fun, and sharing artists. Much different from the loud evilness that I was next to at my last show. Was that why my sign and art kept falling? And she was there yesterday. Far away from me but I still saw and heard her- as did others. She has developed quite an unpopular reputation from what I have learned and witnessed. It makes a difference who is next to you when you don't have a physical wall separating you.

Location could have been better. Felt and looked like a cul-de-sac and I was on the bend. But what so rewarding about this particular show, personally speaking, was seeing what experience I have accumulated so far pay off. I was pleased with my display. I sold, definitely not as much as jewelry and clothing, but I sold some things. I got even more helpful hints, recommendations and suggestions for the future. My emotional reaction and responses to lags and set up/tear downs has gotten a little better. Still room for improvement. Yep, I do want more shows in my future. Now that it is over I can say that with a sadistic smile on my face.

What's next for me? More online technical tutelage and training (esp. when it comes to pix to show-already arranged), more marketing, more figuring out, and researching more shows to apply to that I can afford and hopefully get in.

I can not stress enough to try to surround yourself with supportive, inspiring and experienced show people. They are genuinely there to help, are willing to do so, and do so in a kind, constructive and motivating manner. You must be willing to ask for it. This is the life I chose and want.... experience every productive high and every productive low and all the in-betweens. Shows can and will do that to a person. Life does that too. I tell ya!!

*************************

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN: I just got an email from one the my FAVORITE ARTIST friends (really a friend who happens to be an artist too) who I met at the Spring show at Architectural Artifacts last May and was at the show yesterday. I must and will share a portion of it with you. She makes and welds magnificent sculptures and all from recycled materials. She doesn't have a website otherwise I would point you in her direction - that I could do! Technically speaking, we're kinda the same. She is brilliant, hysterically and sarcastically funny, and a beautiful and supportive person inside and out. She is very dear to me, and I found her at an art show!! She kept my spirits up yesterday when I was just starting to feel them dip. Jennifer Meyer, I hope you don't mind seeing your words:

I sold FIVE of my thirty poetry sculptures, and not a single solitary big one that I now have to store alongside all of my other many, many unsold sculptures, some being pretty large. I hope my rubbing your nose in my extraordinary successes does not make you feel too bad.

Mostly I hope you took to heart the unsolicited comments from the coffee house owners who stated that the only real art in the show were the unique creations, like my boxes and your boxes. Life ebbs and flows my friend, it is the rhythm of all life, and while it may be at an ebb now, it will not stay that way because nothing ever does. Ever. Except my ability to be nice, give compliments and smart ass remarks. That is a constant. Oh yes, and me always looking like I am only 29 years old. Be at peace.

I was, and am, ecstatic about her success yesterday, today and always. That's what artists and friends do. They support, share and teach and rub things in your face. The timing of her email could not have been better!!!

THANKS JEN!!

Seek and Ye Shall Find on Twitter

"Sometimes I wonder if searching is a greater pleasure than finding what one is looking for."

Tweet from Hazel Dooney, artist

I was planning to make this a rejuvenation day and take a break from everything. Feeling physically run down and mentally drained. Those detox plans included napping, reading, no art, less or no internet time,less distractions, just good ol' ME time. I was even going to let my Monday blog entry slide. You are now reading how long those plans lasted.

Inspiration always finds a way to seep in, especially when you decide to relax, and Twitter-ly Speaking, it did this morning. I recently wrote about my experience and respecting "the process" re: art shows. Someone asked me what is the secret to staying detached and not take it personally? Being less experienced than others, I did not have a great answer except get more experience. Today I found the answer from a recent tweet from Leo Babauta, author of Zen Habits. There were 19 other question/answers. I highlighted this one since it was so timely and relevant.

2. How do you stay motivated in business when you have never done something before & the results won’t show up until down the road?
Learn to love the process, and don’t let your happiness be so dependent on the outcome. Be passionate about the actual things you do, do them because you love it, and you’ll stick with it. The great things that result will be a natural by-product.

Zen Habits

He used the word "outcome" which is where I had put my attention and how I initially, or habitually, measure(d) my success. Within 48 hours after the show, I recognized and honored "the process" and have since moved on. I have one more show this weekend at Architectural Artifacts.

I have lots of goals for 2010 to achieve and fulfill. I will heed this timely advice.
Now it is time to turn the computer off and get back to my initial plan. It is part of the process and I love it.

That's Show Biz

For those who follow or read this blog (I know I do!), you know I tend to focus on the process of things. Especially as it relates to creating and pursuing my passion.. ART. I just finished the second of three holiday shows that I signed up for before year end.

I am trying to process "the process" of doing shows-emotionally, mentally, financially, physically, creatively and observationally. I need to do shows and to promote myself to get ahead. That requires working through real and imagined obstacles. For instance, coming home from this weekend's show disappointed and allowing the tears to flow in the privacy of my apartment. You may see me sweat but you won't see me cry in public in a professional setting.

My actual show experience is limited. I probably have done seven art shows total (3 outdoor -sold my tent after 2) over the past four years. My m-o these 8 part-time years has been primarily to sell to retail stores while I worked a steady paycheck job. The only shows I did were trunk shows. That paradigm is no longer working. My retail outlets have shrunk from double digits to single digits partly due to closures.

My experience attending shows is excellent. I observe and take in a lot- the exhibitors, diversity of work, booth display and price points. Part of the reason this was not the best show for me, which is a family based show, was participants' price points, most considerably lower, lack of diversity-tons of beaded jewelry and less art ,which is good and bad, and the actual timing-Thanksgiving weekend. Will not mention the economy-oops-just did. I knew this going in to this particular show but I also knew I needed this for the experience. And I was graciously accepted. This was the culmination of me going from show spectator to show participant- emotional challenges and all.

This show was great for me in that I tinkered and experimented with my display ability.Tried to make my own fun during the lulls. One day I used a black tablecloth, the next day tried purple for "pop". I brought in a different display piece for my bracelets. I rearranged boxes. As always, I met some great artists with lots of prior show experience, and those like me. I reconnected with a few I hadn't seen in a while. It helped to interact directly with the public who attended, and there weren't many. It was interesting to observe buying habits at all booths, see who and how they looked at my work, listen and get feedback, all to a get a better feel for my audience. I got names to add to my mailing list. I met people who already own or have seen my work in stores. I would not that get personal touch if I did not do shows.

I started writing this blog Sunday night when I got home and it is now Tuesday. The tone is much different now than when I began. The process of healing and growing after creating some distance has begun. The One-of-a-Kind Show starts in two days where I will be a spectator this year. In two weeks, December 13th to be exact, I will be a participant in the Architectural Artifacts Holiday Show. With more experience and time, I hope my confidence will grow. I will try to respect where I am now. I am proud of what I have personally accomplished this year. I plan to have more to show in 2010.

It definitely is a process. And That's Show Biz .