Tag Archives: artist

Blog Post 1.15.12 (Working my Left-Brain!)

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Well, if you are coming across this blog post, my left-brain worked!  I decided to move my blog over from WordPress.com to a WordPress.org hosted site.  There were quite a few details involved, and it will take a bit of tweaking, but the basics are done. (Yay!) I won’t explain all the details, since the few people I tried to do that to told me all they heard was blah, blah, blah, blah… and I figured if you are looking at my art/photo blog you are probably not that interested in the details.

The main reason for my change is that I wanted to be able to have ads eventually and monetize my blog a bit (I have to support my art career somehow! :) ) and I was not allowed to do that on WordPress.com.  Since I am writing more about my painting process I would like to have links to books I like so that they are easy to find and purchase.  And we will see where else this blog adventure takes me.

Stay tuned for links & info to my favorite things I like to use for my art.  I may do a special page, not sure yet.  This is definitely a work in progress.

Blog Post 1.11.12 (My Artist Epiphany)

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(The reason I have been sharing my experiences as an artist are so that other artists out there can relate!  I hope that in me talking about my experiences, others can realize that there is not right or wrong way to do this.  And it is not just to talk about me!)

I sat down with an artist friend this afternoon talking about being an artist, and trying to figure out how to be full-time artists and make a living at it (now, THAT is the question!).  We got together at my studio, since she had not seen it before, and she spoke about the artist “30 second elevator speech”.  She asked me if I had one.  Well, I feel like I am still discovering my “style” as an artist and I told her I didn’t think I had one.  I had explained to her how I came to do my latest paintings, but to me is sounded childish, not professional, like I am just “throwing paint on a canvas”.  Well, I thought about it after she left, when I was by myself, painting, and my Pandora was playing some soft mystical music, and I realized that superficially that may seem like the explanation, but it is so much more than that!!!  As I was working on some paintings in progress, I asked myself:  “Am I just randomly putting paint on a canvas?” “What is it that I am doing?”.  I analyzed what I was doing and it came to me!  I realized that it’s a relationship with the paint and canvas.  It’s experimental, it’s instinctive, it’s learning from the paint, the canvas, the process.  It’s almost like being one with the painting!  I know… I started thinking about those artists statements I have read in the past that were so “deep” and I wondered what the heck they were talking about, and realized “that’s me”!!  Am I one of them now?  Oh!!!  I am now an “Artist”!  :)

Blog Post 1.5.12 (Another painting- in progress?)

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I have been working on several new paintings in my studio.  Some of them I know where I am “going” with them, some are just plain experimental.

A bit of history about me and abstract paintings.  I love abstracts.  When I go to museums and galleries, the paintings that are my favorites are usually the abstracts, or very loose paintings.  My history with art has been mostly drawing.  As a very young child I started drawing everything I would see.  I learned by copying, a lot.  As a teenager I drew faces for fun (yes, I really did!).  As a result my artwork was very “tight”, realistic.  I am not saying there is anything wrong with that, but the abstracts are what has always excited me, what I am drawn to.  Since I am mostly self-taught, I have struggled with how to even start an abstract painting.  I have bought several books that have guided me through the process, but as any of you artists know, it takes a lot of work to make some of that very “simple” looking artwork.  At least for me anyway.  You can look back at some of my previous posts (last year) with some of my abstract paintings, which I have been very happy with. The workshop this last summer also helped me a lot, learning some techniques, and also knowing to just trust my instincts and have fun.  (And I am having a blast!!)

Now to my latest piece.  I “think” I am happy with this new one.  It has gone through many many layers and reincarnations.  I think it looks like a loose landscape.  This has been a painting that I have had sitting in the corner of my studio and I keep looking at it and adding to it.  Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don’t.  With the last layer I decided I like it.  Let me know your thoughts!!!

Blog Post 12.31.11 (What I learned as an Artist in 2011)

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I think this has been a very good year for me as an artist.  No, I did not sell tons of art, but I think I finally realized how seriously I want to be an artist.

Up till this year I passively was waiting till something would happen so that I could be an artist full time.  I don’t know what I was expecting, but I was just waiting.  Now I feel this determination to just make it happen!

After The Storm

After The Storm

Several things happened that I think made me feel very strongly about it.  Starting 2010, with an artist friend’s encouragement, I read the book “The Artist’s Way”, by Julia Cameron.  I had it for a while, but I had a hard time getting into it.  My friend was going to join a meet-up group to go through the book and asked me to join her.  It was the best way for me to get through the book, and even though I did not think I got much out of it, everyone I know said I definitely got a lot out of it!  Then this year, another thing I think helped me a ton was investing in an art workshop for myself.  I took a 5 day Abstract Acrylic & Collage workshop from Robert Burridge.  Well, let me tell you, it definitely lit a fire under me to get painting!  Since the workshop (5 days of painting, a bit of eating, painting, sleeping and more painting) all I want to do is paint all the time!  I think also, just watching a successful artist paint and go through their “process” was fascinating, and made me realize that I “do” know what I am doing and I am not doing it “wrong”.  Watching someone go through their creative process was amazing, and I could understand what was going through his head while he was painting.  It was just awesome!!!  I strongly recommend all artists invest in themselves and take a serious art workshop.  Last but not least, thanks to an awesome friend (that I met during the “Artist’s Way” group- talk about serendipity!) I got a studio space to paint.  It has made such a difference!!  Now I can paint for hours non-stop, have several paintings going at once, it’s just too fun for words!!!

I think also getting involved with social media helped me.  There is a lot of information out there from different artists, and a lot of encouragement also.  Doing blog posts sort of regularly about my art, sending out info on Twitter and Facebook, and also helping other artists with their social media needs has been good for me.  I started “Flourish Social Media” this year, after I had artist friends wanting to pay me to help them set up their Facebook pages, Twitter & blogs.  I hope that with that on the side I can support myself with just than and my art!  That is the goal anyway…

In the works...

In the works...

I am really looking forward to what 2012 has to offer.  My goals are to paint as much as I can, and get my work out in the world.  Along with a few other artist friends we will be brainstorming together and encourage each other to be able to make a living through our art.  It’s a scary “art world” out there, but I am determined to do it!  Life is too short to not do what you love and were meant to do!!

Blog Post 11.5.11 (My Pursuit of an Art Dream…)

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Well, some of you might have seen that I just recently got an art studio space.  Since I have been in a small apartment, it’s been difficult to make myself paint.  As us artists know, if you have to take all your supplies out, then put them up when you are done, you will talk yourself out of doing it.  I was painting outside most of the time, which it was either 100+ degrees, or I was being chased inside by bees.

Old "Studio" (balcony)

Old "Studio" (balcony)

I had several things happen this summer that made me determined to find a way to get a studio space.  First, I attended an Abstract Painting and Collage workshop with California Artist Robert Burridge.  I kept hearing my friends that had attended his workshops in the past say that he was amazing and they have attended his workshops numerous times.  Well, I saw why!  I was extremely inspired and felt that whatever it takes- I must paint every day!!  (By the way, I highly recommend his workshops, his enthusiasm is contagious, and yes, you WILL want to paint!)

Then I read the book “The Secret”, recommended by my friend & my sister.  A few little things happened that really made me believe in the book, and that what I want I can achieve.  I could not afford to rent a studio space, but I knew I just HAD to find a space.  So I posted a comment on Facebook asking if anyone had or knew of a space I could use.  Well, the Universe sent me a space!  It just happened to be a friend that I met through an “Artist’s Way” book group.  Talk about Serendipity!!! It’s a garage that she needed help fixing up, and so in exchange I use it as a studio!

My New Art Studio

My New Art Studio

I have not gotten into a routine yet.  Several weeks of working on the space, organizing, a bit of painting and celebrating (I threw a big Opening Celebration party), but I think now I am to the point that I can plan on going daily.  It is hard to do when you work full time at a very “non-artistic” job, but I have to make myself do it.  Part of my plan to make myself “accountable” is getting the word out, I feel that if I let everyone know I am an artist and I have a studio, I am now expected to paint!!  So there it is…

Inside the Studio

Inside the Studio

I plan to post some of my progress in the studio, my thoughts on being an artist, and a bit of my work on this blog as well, so I hope you will follow my pursuit of my Art Dream! :)