It Takes Nature to Nurture....Seriously Part 2

I actually have been serious this past month. I am walking my talk and reconnecting with my passion and Muse. I've been working on new paintings, experimenting, weaning some of the boxes, and shooting some new experimental (arty) profile shots. More to come, more to do but it is a new start. Seriously.

One of the steps I took to reconnect was to go to the Chicago Botanical Gardens, specifically the Japanese Gardens. I fell in love with them in Portland, OR and here. Here is a lot closer. Before I visually take you on this personal path, I have to buy a vowel. Yoo-hoo, Vanna. They let me in anyway. It helps to have the right connections or good karma.
My path so far this year has been interesting, frustrating, exciting, doubtful, and rewarding....in terms of personal and artistic growth.

Nothing linear about it:

I worked through my fears and doubts and made my decision to continue on my chosen path. Just needed to cross some mental hurdles and blocks, take a hiatus and make new connections.

What I discovered waiting for me:

OM MANI PADME HUM
The Jewel in the Lotus
Brings joy and peaceful vibrations

resulting in:

"Endearing Geisha"
Mixed Media on Recycled Corrugated Cardboard Panel

I mean....Seriously.....

"If you want to work on your art, work on your life." Chekov

It's time to take the business of my art of seriously. I feel and have felt like I am losing credibility with myself, family and probably others since January 1. I think the word "hobby," which is seriously not bad and "presently" true for me, really did a number on my head. Having just written this, I know so. I genuinely want to put the FUN back in the functional art I create.

I have stymied updates to my website, Facebook, esty, blog, marketing to brick & mortar stores...you name it. I need new photographs professionally shot for posting, shows and marketing. I do have a show coming up in October (and hopefully more) and a nice order due.

I have literally had a blocking, or tightening sensation in my throat because I have been creating less. It happens from time to time. Seriously. If you know chakras, this area, or fifth chakra, reflects the energy of self-expression. Believe it and listen when your any part of your body tries to tell you something or needs to be released. Verbally, physically, emotionally, ARTISTICALLY...

I haven't been ALL that serious because I still laugh, smile and maintain perspective between chokes. I've have been taking Chekov's advice and working on my life- new job and social life. That is what summer is about. Summer, like life, can be too short.

With my fifth chakra officially now open, I declare myself beginning anew,"UP" and ready to get down to business - making and marketing art. Unleash new ideas. Move on to NEW blog themes. Reconnect and recommit to my Muse. Have new pictures to show. Seriously.

"The stringent requirement of a sustained creative life is the humility
to start again, to begin anew. It is this willingness to once more be a beginner
that distinguishes a creative career."
Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way

Buried Treasure 2010

It was a year ago that I had the great fortune to find and participate in Seth Apter's Buried Treasure artist "blogfest." I know a great thing when I read it and I'm doing it again this year! Creatively and artistically correct, art bloggers get to recycle a prior post resulting in a grand feast for all. A lot to take in, digest and a wonderful way to discover new inspiration, talent and virtual community.

Repost from February 8, 2010

Working the Net: A Visualization Process

Rather than getting continually flustered, frustrated and overwhelmed in my quest to learn how to effectively network and market online, I decided to visualize a new approach. A more relaxed and productive one- technically and mentally speaking. Using personal images from a past trip and 4 unsuspecting bracelets, I shall illustrate:

Stone Pathway from Chinese Garden in Portland, OR

In my effort to grow and market my work, I want to better comprehend the networking and marketing possibilities that are out there. I just don't want to feel shattered or crack-up in the process- again mentally and technically speaking.
So what steps do I take...besides patience?

Zebra Black/White 4 pc Eclectic Bangle set

I keep an mind open. Purge outdated thoughts and attitudes with more productive ones. Get more mental RAM as a result! Continue to seek, research, read, apply and utilize the vast online, and APPROPRIATE resources that are available. Allow for and enjoy the learning curve. Networking and marketing decisions are not always easy nor are they always black and white. There are factors to take in consideration. For instance, these wonderful bracelets come in an array of colors, styles and textures.

Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon

So..with this new visualization and attitude, I see myself, online networking and online marketing start to flow and flourish, naturally. May my art and business follow. I love seeing green again.

To find more Buried Treasure 2010, please click here.

Without a Doubt....

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Desire???????????????????//Passion>>>>>>>>>>>>Artfairs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Painting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Creativity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blogging..................Motivation.

I am out from the creative abyss.

Phew.

More Randomly Speaking....Defining Moment

Time again for Randomly Speaking....random things I've read, seen or heard that inspires and helps me (and hopefully you!) in the artistic process.

I love it when I read or find something that identifies and expresses exactly what I am feeling when I am at a loss. What's my problem? AHA .....I just read it. I found it the June issue of Art Calendar.

I have expressed being in an unsettling creative funk and ebb of artistic motivation over these past weeks. After reading several hitting close to my mental home articles in the June issue of Art Calendar, I am no longer at a loss. I can definitely see and say part of my creative paralysis stemmed from trying to create work based on WOULD this sell ( I dunno), do I think this would SELL, who would buy this, rather than just creating for ME. A little self-censorship. I am also guilty of occasionally defining my success based solely on sales. A change of thought process is due and in effect.

Thanks to a profile about featured artist Melissa Peck, I read and recognized my problem. Nothing random at all. It was all there. A few highlighted quotes from this fantastic article:

"When I was the only one I was creating for, that's when I tapped into what makes me unique, which is the thing that makes my work sell........It was such a gift to create for me."

"What I mean is to continue creating for me and not imagining who would be buying my art. By setting aside what I thought I should be painting and doing what I found most exciting I have stumbled upon
something that is uniquely me."
Melissa Peck

"Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art." Andy Warhol


I do feel so much better after having read this entire issue. Now I'm done stroking the keyboard and off to picking up a paintbrush. For me.

If you could HEAR a painting....what would you see?

I think it is safe to say that when either creating and/or viewing a work of art, our initial sensory response is to FEEL it. Understanding and appreciating the creative process, the emotional state of mind, and color selection follow. But HEAR? Allow me to indulge and share with you.

In March I attended a concert performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. This particular concert was entitled Portrait in Seven Shades with music composed by Ted Nash. It tells a story about seven painters; not through words but through music. The paintings were not displayed as a backdrop so we had to visualize on our own as we listened and heard Mr. Nash's describe his process and musical interpretation and inspiration. I bought the CD! and had it autographed.

Here is a YouTube sampling:


w.youtube.com/v/EZ6g_pmMtJw&hl=en_US&fs=1&">















I am also pleased and relieved to say that my funk is starting to lift and the wind in my creative sails is back. Music helps.

When Priorities Shift.....

and reality checks in:

I have been disconnected from my art these past couple weeks. I barely painted.Thought about it a lot though. I attempted blogging only to find myself revising and saving mucho drafts. Didn't want to commit to or advertise those thoughts. My artistic passion has ebbed for the moment and it feels terrible.

I can attribute some of it to a main shift in priorities. I started a new job last month which is great. With that comes news hours, new procedures, learning and adjusting to new routines and regimens. This, at the present moment, is my main source of income.

The other is ego interference. My goal is to be a full time artist. The reality is I'm not. I need the wind back in my sails and SALES to achieve that goal and vision. I admit I haven't been as aggressive marketing as I used to be and definitely SHOULD be. I am in the process of changing my work and ideas, assessing what worked, what didn't and what I need to do to make new things happen. I am confident it will come together and determined to make it happen.

In the meantime, I'll feel what I'm feeling and do what I need to do. Reality checks are good and necessary. Biweekly paychecks are great. Admitting where I am right now is uncomfortable and humbling.

It is important to express yourself.....provided the feelings are real and taken from your own experience.
This will be a completed post. Besides, I used up my draft allowance for April.

Tea Time at Chiaroscuro

High Tea begins April 5. Chiaroscuro in Water Tower Place will be showcasing and selling artist made teapots from around the country. It is an annual event and runs until Mid-May.If you happen to be in Chicago, or are a collector of teapots, I encourage you to stop by. My handpainted teaboxes will be there and are also available for sale.

Chiaroscuro
Water Tower Place
835 N. Michigan Ave. 2nd Level
Chicago, IL 60610
312-988-9253

Puttin' on the Ritz last year: My Geisha Tea box on display in the Ritz Carlton lobby as part of the Annual Tea Pot Show.

Thank You Henri Matisse

"When you have achieved what you want in a certain area, when you have exploited the possibilities that lie in one direction, you must, when the time comes, change course, search for something new."

Henri Matisse

I have just started my new job, departed the other and am very happy. I can now concentrate and delve more into the business of art. Coming up with new ideas, experimenting with new mediums, becoming less critical of my work- past, present and future, and marketing are my areas of focus and attention right now.

I am fortunate that I live in a culturally rich city when it comes to the arts. I am guilty of taking it for granted at times. I don't partake of everything I would like to but the venues I do to attend, I leave feel nourished and enriched on many levels. When I need inspiration and/or counsel, I can find it locally. And I did recently. The writing was on the wall.

The Art Institute of Chicago is currently showing an exhibit of Henri Matisse's work from 1913 to 1917 entitled Radical Invention. I went to see it and after viewing, a creative weight was lifted. Not only was I inspired by his work but liberated by his process! Matisse was quite progressive. He recycled. Several paintings that appear in the YouTube video were included in this exhibit. I would like to share a few paraphrased writings on the wall with you:

• Matisse would reuse compositions in an effort to pare down forms to their most pure and meaningful state. He found great creative potential in reusing subjects.
  
• Reworking an already familiar subject could free him to focus on other issues pursuing the essence of form, a still simpler means of making or moving a piece in a whole new direction.
  
• The challenge in reworking a familiar subject was the preservation of the original feeling or expression as Matisse called it. It took on a greater improvisational and inspirational role.
  

"One should be able to rework a masterpiece at least once to be very sure that one has not fallen victim to one's nerves or to fate." Henri Matisse

Thanks to Henri Matisse, I can and will revisit and reinvent my earlier designs and work, explore new possibilities with them rather than totally discard, abandon or classify as old. Very liberating.

Getting in the Game

The waiting is over. My colorful mind is no longer spinning in circles. I will now share my new beginnings.

"Blue Orbit" Box
Acrylic and texture paint, wood

• I am soon leaving my current job surrounded by lots of art and challenging clientele for a new location within the same industry-hospitality. I don't have to take on a third job that I don't want so I can continue making art.
  

• I am also going to be a contributing writer/blogger for artsavvy.com
  

• I now have a brand new laptop computer!! No longer will I feel like the artist left behind because of my outdated software and technological handicaps. No more excuses. No more holding back.

• I am dedicating more of myself to creating and marketing my art.
  

*********

Alright, so what exactly changed? Where did this new fire, or agni in Sanskrit, in my belly come? Was it:

• Watching the Olympics? Seeing and hearing about the athlete's hours, months and years of training, sacrifice, attitude, visualization techniques? The medal ceremonies?
  

• Watching and listening to the Oscars last weekend and hearing two winners accept their Academy awards:

Mo'nique was asked if she ever envisioned herself winning an Academy award and

her response was a resounding YES! "Why get in the game if you don't imagine it?"
and

Peter Doctor's acceptance speech for the movie "UP" on the inherent value
and importance of being creative and making art: "It's not a waste of time."

• Getting my taxes done and knowing going in that these past 3 years were not my best, that I was closing in on my window to show a profit like I had before or otherwise risk being classified as "hobby."
  

The envelope and answer please: ALL OF THE ABOVE.
I believe the fire in my belly just needed to be fanned some more. It's game time. Whatever it takes......

I will be the artist formerly known as hobby.

Supercalifragilious OM

I am presently in a state of wait. Anxiously and eagerly waiting to hear about several wonderful new beginnings. As soon as I have definite answers, you will read it here first. Since I am a slight bundle of nerves and having a little difficulty writing what I mean or want, all I can say is Supercalifragiliciousexpealodocious and OM. I've invited Mary Poppins to drop by to help me out today with my post. You are welcome to sing and chant along.

Supercalifragiliciousexpealodocious:

Mary Poppins(speaking): Of course it�s a word. And unless I�m very much mistaken, I think it�s going to prove a rather useful one.
(singing) When trying to express oneself, it�s frankly quite absurd
To leaf through lengthy lexicons, to find the perfect word.
A little spontaneity keeps conversation keen
You need to find a way to say precisely what you mean.
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Even though the sound of it is simply quite atrocious
If you say it loud enough, you�ll always sound precocious
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Um diddle um diddle um diddle ay
Um diddle um diddle um diddle ay
and

OM

Om
4"x4" Acrylic on Canvas

The chanting of OM drives away all worldly thoughts and removes distractions and infuses new vigor in the body. The chanting of OM is a powerful tonic. I feel better.

OM diddle OM diddle OM diddle......AY!!

Winter Whine-ter

I love the natural color of these thin handpainted bangles. I wear them! I sell them! Seeing these same shades on the streets and sidewalks of Chicago in the likes of dirty snow and gray sky and my affection fades. I've got the blahs. I am ready for a new season. Just a few more weeks to go.

Until then, I'll just retreat to The Bubble and make sure I continue to fill and surround myself with positive things and productive thoughts. It's not like I don't have anything to do. I do. It was almost a year ago in a post that I was feeling the exact same way. I learned to create my Bubble after reading Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit. I think I'll visit it again to get me through the Winter whining.

I find hope in the darkest of days and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe. Dalai Lama

It might as well be Spring.

Loving Artistic Passion

Enough about risk taking, online marketing and networking and creative blocks.....for now. Phew. Write about taking a load off! YOU and me both.

It's Valentines Day. A time to show and share artistic passion.... with music. C'mon, keeping this is a wholesome art post. The Artist: Keith Jarrett - solo. I had the incredible great fortune to see him perform again live two nights ago. Totally improvisational. Powerfully eerie and positively mesmerizing to watch and hear. More about that later.I am highlighting a much earlier version of SOTR on youtube to show a morsel of his expressive passion. He performed this during for his third and final encore that night:

I LOVE seeing artists of every medium living and performing their passion. Even more when they get to make a living at it! I love witnessing their process. I occasionally get green with envy.Watching Keith Jarrett was witnessing a genius the likes I had really not felt before.

In between one of his improvisational improvs, he digressed and entertainingly divulged to the hundreds in the audience his process: "Ya ever wonder I how I do this? It's not drugs." That's for sure.

Share your love and artistic passion this Valentine's Day. I just did.

Working the Net - A Visualization Process

Rather than getting continually flustered, frustrated and overwhelmed in my quest to learn how to effectively network and market online, I decided to visualize a new approach. A more relaxed and productive one- technically and mentally speaking. Using personal images from a past trip and 4 unsuspecting bracelets, I shall illustrate:

Stone Pathway from Chinese Garden in Portland, OR

In my effort to grow and market my work, I want to better comprehend the networking and marketing possibilities that are out there. I just don't want to feel shattered or crack-up in the process- again mentally and technically speaking.
So what steps do I take...besides patience?

Zebra Black/White 4 pc Eclectic Bangle set

I keep an mind open. Purge outdated thoughts and attitudes with more productive ones. Get more mental RAM as a result! Continue to seek, research, read, apply and utilize the vast online, and APPROPRIATE resources that are available. Allow for and enjoy the learning curve. Networking and marketing decisions are not always easy nor are they always black and white. There are factors to take in consideration. For instance, these wonderful bracelets come in an array of colors, styles and textures.

Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon

So..with this new visualization and attitude, I see myself, online networking and online marketing start to flow and flourish, naturally. May my art and business follow. I love seeing green again.

Quote Me: Worth the Risk

"Always be willing to give up what you are for who you can be. "

Mark Twain

No sooner do I write about about risk taking and I'm tested. The instigators: a quote, a 15 minute rule, and a supplemental job opportunity.

Some background info:
Things have slowed a bit these past couple months at my steadily fluctuating paycheck job, along with art sales. I love having the flexibility that this job affords me and it helps to be surrounded by art, art curators, and interesting people. I do have some commissioned orders due in the Spring. However, this increasingly reversal trend of my income is unsettling. So I started looking and applying for additional part-time work that will still provide the flexibility to create and market my art.

A hiring opportunity presented itself last week which I was excited about until I heard my hours were all Fri-Mon PM hours. I am an AM working person and AM/PM creative. I love painting at night. Combine those hours with my already existing schedule and that would leave me with little time to create, DO EVERYTHING I need to do to grow, or even have a modicum of a social life. But it is $$-not much but it's still welcome $$.

Something just doesn't feel right. I can continue doing MORE of WHAT I am doing, which I don't want to, or REALLY REALLY RISK WHO I CAN BE, which is a seriously committed and successful artist. With a third job, I would be procrastinating my goals even further. What it really boils down to is money and playing it safe or going for it with more faith and conviction. There is ABSOLUTELY no right or wrong. Just gut and intuitive instinct.

Enter the Risk Instigators:

A small section of my "as yet to be titled" acrylic painting

Instigator #1: One of my co-workers is a fantastic jewelry artist, who like me, is reinventing her professional direction. She is weaning her artistic talent to study and pursue her new passion in urban planning as I delve more into art. We talk and share. Neither one of us is doing exactly WHAT we want full time but it works and we are grateful to have it. She is responsible for igniting the first phase of this particular risk thought process. She sent the Mark Twain quote that appears at the top of this post. Yeah Robin!!

Instigator #2 : Alyson Stanfield's Art Marketing Action newsletter/blog discussed devoting at least 15 minutes a day to stay connected to your art in some way. "If you don't, you are telling yourself and everyone in your life that making art is your lowest priority." Oh no. That is what I am saying, doing and feeling and that isn't right. To fully appreciate and put in context, please click on this link to read the wonderful blog in its entirety.

I didn't want my bluff to be called. I took the risk test. I summoned my left brain. I evaluated and re-evaluated EVERYTHING. I declined the third job. The hours of the third job made me realize HOW much I really want to create art and NEED IT. I even thanked the prospective employer for that.

The result: I feel more motivated, excited, and determined.

Balance
4"x4" Yin/Yang acrylic painting

I am BALANCED. I passed. Definitely worth the risk.

WHY Risk It

"Try to remember an artist-any artist-from more than 20 years ago who didn't take risks. The ones who didn't have all been forgotten. "

- artist Hazel Dooney on Twitter

Yes, I want to be a remembered artist. I admit it. I have my risk work cut out for me- personally, professionally, financially and artistically speaking- to positively and successfully achieve that. I know and can confidently take the WHY risk. It's the HOW, WHEN, and WHERE risks that continue to test and challenge me. They are not stopping me. They're just very uncomfortable, questionable and sometimes most inconvenient. Which is exactly Hazel Dooney's point and WHY her posted tweet got me. As her tweets tend to do quite frequently.

Asian Red Thin Bangle set

Since the new year and decade are still young ( note: I, on the other hand, can not make that claim and it's not worth taking that risk) I officially proclaim and renew my commitment to taking RISKS. I now gently place my bracelets into the proverbial ring, see how they stack up, along with ALL my other creations, possibilities and dreams, and remember WHY. Why not. Care to join me?

More Randomly Speaking

Time again for Randomly Speaking. Random collections of eclectic things I've read, heard, and seen in the present HOPE of opening up and unblocking my creativity:

Eclectic 4- Purple Passion Bangle Set

• "Creative art demands that the artist should know life, either by experience or by inspiration, and this knowledge of life must develop a profound sympathy with humanity. The technical method of expression may be whatever the ARTIST WISHES*, whatever seems the simplest process. There is not a variety of creative arts; there is IMAGINATION* and IMPULSE TO CREATE* and a variety of methods." - Giles Edgarton

• "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed* is more important than any other one thing. " - Abraham Lincoln

• "For one who has conquered the mind*, the mind is the best of friends*. But for one who has failed to do so, his/her mind will be his/her greatest enemy." - Bhagavad-Gita

• The work of art is above all a process of creation, it is never experienced as a mere product.* - Paul Klee

• Go see the movie "Nine." See creative blocks in action except lose the cigarettes.
  

• Do a handstand*.

*My subliminal attempt to help unblock. I actually think this might be blatantly effective. I'll see. What do you think?

There is nothing Randomly Speaking about this:

We are the artists that create our own lives..

Especially with creative blockage.

Personal Artist Hero: Anne Leuck Feldhaus

In celebration of this new year, new decade and one year blog anniversary, I am excited to introduce a new blog feature: Personal Artist Heroes, highlighting artists who I have met, admired, observed at shows over the years, and/or read about that help inspire, enlighten, challenge and aspire me to persevere and excel.

In my VERY first blog entry, I mentioned meeting, listening and talking to many talented artists from around the country while participating in the 2008 One of a Kind Show Chicago. There was no sugar coating the life of an artist in their conversations. Just passion, raw honesty, candid horror and loads of inspiration. I called these artists my artist heroes. It is with pleasure that my first blog entry of 2010 shifts some attention away from the I, me, myself to highlight one of my personal and high ranking artist heroes. And I didn't have to look very far- she's local:

anne leuck feldhaus

Anne is an incredibly accomplished, talented and unselfish artist. She is a personal artist hero to me because of the" feel good" quality and cause to her work, her marketing savvy, the diversity and crossover of her product line, and the demonstrated generosity of her time and space. She is gracious sharing resources, experience and the art of gabbing.


Her art is self-described contemporary folk and urban pop art. She paints with passion, color, humor and for her pet causes - the adoption and support of animal welfare organizations and other projects. Her work has appeared on expressway billboards, neighborhood banners, t-shirts, magnets, and in art fairs, galleries, Starbucks and cornfields. She has embraced and utilizes all technology to promote her art. She plays and experiments with new mediums. Last year she recently opened her own studio/shop/gallery/in Roscoe Village. To see more (and better shots) of her studio, visit this link to her blog.

What I take away and am reminded from all of this is that this did not happen overnight. She makes it look easy. It took some years to get where she is, live her dream, grow her business and she is DOING IT! A terrific role model. Can you see why she is an artist hero?

Another chance to visit Anne's website and blog.

This is the first year anniversary of my blog. Happy 1st Blogyear! In one year, I have grown from techniphobe to blogging aficionado. I've come a long way, baby, if I do say so myself. But this is only a beginning. I hope and look forward to having a lot more to show and share in 2010.

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!