Finding Even More Happy In August

I scheduled some much needed time off from work starting today, Saturday, August 27. I mention that because I don't know if I'll finish this post tonight so I want to be honest about my "today." Having just returned from my today, let me tell you it made me more than happy. It made me blissful and blessed.

I chose to start my day attending two of my favorite farmers' markets, greencity Market and another on Division Street, both I now miss due to my weekend schedule. It's a see-good, smell-good, hear-good, feel-good and TASTE good festival. A healthy high.

 I bought basil, tomatoes, blueberries, parsley, peppers and honey. I've finally learned to discipline myself at the market because so much of what I would buy ended up getting wasted and pitched. Money doesn't grow on trees or in the ground unfortunately :(

On to another festival: the Bucktown Arts Fest. It is a good show, quite competitive  to get into, tried twice unsuccessfully several years ago. I had a mission/intention going to this show. I have not attended many this summer and was feeling it. I felt the need to be around and connect with other artists - those brave souls doing an outdoor show- for inspiration and kindred-ship (is that even a word?)

First stop, one of my favorite artists/heroes, Anne Leuck Feldhaus as she was literally wrapping up a sale! She was unaware that this was even taken. I never want to intrude on any artist at a show with a camera. I bought a small painting.

Another artist/hero , who I recently wrote about, is Melissa Banks. She was also unaware that I took this.  But I wanted to visually introduce you to her and her phenomenal jewelry since I didn't before.

And then there is Jennifer Meyer, sistersan, a beautiful and phenomenal sculptor and welder of recycled materials. We met three years ago doing an Architectural Artifacts Holiday show and she is one of the greatest gifts to enter my life from that show. She is richly soulful, spiritual, wise and ridiculously funny. I haven't seen Jen for two years? but we are so connected that the physical didn't matter. Seeing her after this lapse of time was the best! She knew her picture was being taken and didn't want it. She was exhausted from the preparation for this show. I begged. :)

 

Two bookcases made from recycled filing cabinets. These are jaw dropping in person!!

Talking to her for some time at the show was empowering, touching and emotional for me. We never truly know the impact we have on other peoples lives, be it from our art or being, until your hear or read their words directly. I am so grateful I got to hear those words and take home a piece of her art as well.

Why Don't I Do More Shows, You Ask?

One of the many things I absolutely love about being an artist is getting in my safe, secluded creative bubble and creating out of my comfort zone. It doesn't take long before that particular creative bubble is maxed out, along with some finances, when the itch and necessity to venture out, face the public and Internet with my art takes hold. Yep, don my marketing and selling hat and get to the real work. Beret, fascinator, stetson, hard hat, your fashionable choice.

Art fairs and shows are a natural and necessary vehicle for artists to show and SELL their work. Indoor and outdoor. It is the best way to interact and connect with the public one on one, artistically and professionally. You can get verbal and non-verbal feedback about your work, SELL IT direct and build a customer base. 

Now that I officially declared my new artistic style as mixed media from functional, it is time to get this new work out there and sell it. No holds barred. It is Show time!

Except.....I have a fear of doing shows and some excuses for not doing them. Let's rattle off three fears:  financial-recouping my booth and expenses and not selling my work or enough of it; emotional-EGO/rejection; and physical - I don't own a car and limited residential space to store a tent. I actually sold my new tent several years ago after only two shows to a macro green farmer for farmers' markets in Wisconsin.  I have indoor and outdoor show experience so I do know of which I speak. Outdoor leaves me traumatized.

Artists put their heart and souls into their creations and most of all COURAGE into their  shows. There is an investment on EVERY LEVEL and I admire and respect their courage for making the haul and going the full distance(s). I'll have what they're having :).

Let me share one example of an extraordinary artist profile in courage and another one of my personal artist heroes, Melissa Banks of Rapt In Maille.  She is a full time WORKING (and oh does she) artist and designer of chain maille jewelry and does lots and lots of shows. She posted a recent outdoor experience at the Ann Arbor 2011 show on her blog that left me gasping. I want you to read it too. Perhaps you will gain an ever greater appreciation and insight of and for an artist's show life. Why do they do this?

Please click on the link below, to see what it is and can be like doing an outdoor show:    

http://www.raptinmaille.com/blogs/news/3688562-ann-arbor-2011

I would love to again possess what it takes to do what she and every outdoor artist in particular does. I suppose I will some day. I certainly have a reason to do more shows- New Mixed Media creations and old excuses to go with them.

Thank goodness for the artists who help, instruct, inspire, lead, share and are honest with what is it truly like doing shows- Retail, Wholesale, Indoor and/or Outdoor. They are the pioneers and models for me to again GET OVER IT!

Recent read: Ceramic artist Eva Zeisel is 104 years old and still making art. She is introducing a new line of lamps and when recently asked in the WSJ:

Q: What do you want to achieve with your new lamps?
 A: I want to sell them.

Ms. Zeisel, that's all I want to do with my new art. Did you do shows? If so, how long did it take to get over the fear?

P.S. I have an indoor show coming up in October-Ravenswood Artwalk!  We'll see about more before this year is up. I'm not holding my breath. Definitely 2012.

Mixed Media in Motion

I know it takes time for new sources of creative energy to find their way and take hold. That hasn't stopped me from continually getting impatient and frustrated with my creative process and progress. Juggling a full time job with full time artistic aspirations, dreams, and goals leaves my head spinning. It also produces wasted energy, frustration, and delays. 

8"x8" Whim(sical)  Mixed Media Painting on wood panel (Marilyn Grad c@2011)

Going through Indiana recently on my way back to Chicago, there are several fields of wind turbines. If you've ever driven through Indiana there isn't too much to look at. It's boring. As a passenger and not a driver, I was observing these supreme functional art sculptures in  simplistic and powerful motion. I started thinking about ways I can change my thinking and approach. The answer my friend was blowing in the wind.

Wind turbines in Indiana.

Two ways to officially change an approach is to alter a word and modify a font. And last week I did just that. I went from being "Functional" Creations to "Mixed Media" Creations.  You can see it at the top of this blog, on my website and business cards.  Mixed Media is so much easier to describe than functional, believe it or not, which saves energy in the selling and marketing process.

Like turbines, it is going to take time and far more effort on my part for my new found mixed media creative happiness to catch on. Naturally. Organically. Creatively. It is also going to require me to get over some of my show issues, and do more shows. That will be the focus of my next blog post.

 If all you can do is crawl, start crawling.  

Rumi

So next post: a change in approach to doing shows... with some real help from artists that do them and live them. Honest, insightful, and inspirational perspective. (One tease: Melissa Banks of Rapt in Maille)