Keeping Up

Feast or famine - it's always one or the other in my life. Which isn't surprising since I'm a full time professional artist/photographer. But now that I've taken on a bigger than big project I can hardly sleep anymore. Not time to, and also very difficult to quiet my mind. Sigh. Not that I'm complaining, understand.

In an economic time when many professionals are out of work I'm very happy to to be spending quality time in my studio working on commissions.

I did take a break last weekend and made a quick trip up to Chicago for my boyfriend's son's college graduation. He got a degree in computer game design, imagine that! Since Victor added me as his registered travel companion, it's a lot easier to jump on a plane with available seats and take off for somewhere, anywhere. While we were stuck at DFW because flights to Chicago were delayed, it was very tempting to take a flight to Honolulu instead. Of course then we would have missed the graduation. Next time, though, I'm going to pack for all possibilities.

I have a lot going on in the studio. Four 40 x 60 landscape paintings on gold/silver leaf, one large abstract, two 24 " sq paintings with gold painted leaves cascading down the surface, two 48" and two 36" sqs with raised stencil medallions. That's all for this week. I'm also still processing photos for another job which has deadline in a week. aaack!

I'm pouring resin for a job that was rejected! The resin had bubbles. I've poured two more, and they both have bubbles, too. There is no way to prevent that unless you use a pressure tank, and these pieces won't even fit inside one. It's bubbles or nothing at this point. I'm voting for nothing because I'm sick of the whole resin fiasco!

Going to San Antonio mid week for a photo shoot with a friend. I know I don't have time, but the photos are for a specific project. I hope to work in a short visit with my dad.

I've canceled my June vacation to Italy. Just can't take the time right now. Hope to do it in September, instead. And maybe between now and then Victor and I can take a few long weekends somewhere.

Back in the Studio

After a long hiatus I'm back at the studio painting. It seems that there was a stronger demand for photography for a good long time. Right now I have orders for paintings instead. Yay! I have to say that it has felt SO GOOD to be painting again. I'm getting the hang of the "new" studio, and putting a workflow in place. I'm leaving painting clothes and dress clothes there in case I have to meet a client or something. It just lets me be more flexible.

I thought that four 4' x 8' work tables was overkill when I first had them built, but they are all covered with paintings now. And the 16' slant wall has four paintings in progress on one side. Just as I suspected, I'm expanding to fill the space! Glad to have the work, especially in a down economy, and so glad to actually throw some paint around.

I have completed two surfaces of gold and silver leaf - in preparation for landscape paintings. Then I have three more landscapes on paper, a big abstract, and a cowboy painting. Must be a project in Texas!

I'll take pictures soon, I promise.

Head Above Water

Current deadlines threaten to overwhelm me, so why did I decide to take scuba lessons now? Bad timing! Especially since I'm doing my best to keep my head above water. Seems so wrong to breathe under the surface.

I am processing photos for a hotel job right now. They are mostly sepia, so require post processing. I have another project just resizing and processing a client's photos. That's not something I would ordinarily do, but these are unusual times, aren't they?

My pilot boyfriend and I went to San Antonio and the Hill Country over the weekend. It's the week of my dad's 94th birthday so we went for that, but made a side trip to do photographic research for a project. It's bluebonnet season and we expected fields full of blue flowers, plus the red Indian paintbrush. Looked high and low, but it's a bad year for wildflowers in that area. Pretty scarce.

Took my dad up to the Tower of the America's for a birthday lunch. We ate assorted appetizers, and Victor broke from the mold and tried Ahi Tuna for the first time. He liked it! And my Dad liked Victor, so it was a win-win for me.

My projects are all on track, but with a heavy painting schedule for me. I'll be worn out by November when my last project is shipped out. Guess I'll be ready for a dive trip then!

Social Media

I've had a few emails recently, from people noticing that I am neglecting this blog. It seems that Facebook has been my preferred method of keeping in touch, but I promise to get back to blogging.

Just returned from a week in Florida, where I toured Sawgrass (golf resort) for a golf-related project. I'm a novice, it was all new to me, so I learned quite a lot. First and foremost, never tease a golfer about the game. It's like church, they are serious!

The course itself was manicured to perfection -- lots of water and palm trees, with a profusion of azaleas. Gorgeous! Got in some beach time, even though every time I laid down the towel, clouds started rolling in. But hey, it was still the beach!

Met with a new client in Jacksonville, and hope to establish an alliance with them. Business is off in the commercial art industry, but the one segment that is still strong is healthcare, and that's their focus.

It's Sunday, and not normally a work day, but I'll be downloading and processing photos today. Might even make it over to the studio to work on the two paintings in progress.

Back From the Beach

I'm easily distracted these days, even with all the projects I am trying to manage. Or maybe because of those projects. It can be overwhelming.

I made a quick trip to San Antonio 2 wks ago, to visit my dad and to preview the site of the large resort project I am working on. It happened to be a rare rain day, so the site was mostly mud. I was denied entrance anyway since I didn't get prior permission to go onsite.

Then I took off in the opposite direction, spent a day with Monica Linville in San Juan, PR before heading to the island of Anguilla for 10 days. Wow -- the beaches are gorgeous. Puffy white clouds everyday, clear azure waters, and warm temperatures, what could be better? Oh yea, pina coladas on the beach! I have tan lines in February. It also was a work trip, since I hauled my photo equipment with me, including the underwater housing for my Canon G9. Those photos aren't great since it was my first time to use it, and it's a little hard to see what you're doing underwater through goggles and the housing. I have newfound respect for divers who produce those great shots.

It's back to work now, and yesterday was mostly spent in meetings. I'm almost ready to get the brushes out again, it's been so long I might be a little rusty!

Settling

The weather is always unsettled this time of year, with Spring approaching. With the stirrings of new growth in the world around me, I am also infused with a new creative spirit. I have a few new paintings being "born". I've done some sketches, but they don't really come together. They never do until I put paint on canvas.

I've been processing a lot of photos. Photography is still trendy in the commercial design field, and with a database of over 20,000 images, I work on them all the time. When a client calls for particular images I need to be ready.

I'm trying to design a new logo. I'm not really good at graphic design, and once I firm up an idea I'll turn it over to one of my friends who do that professionally. I did my own logo when I first started Art Girls, and it wasn't very good! My friend Gary did the next one, and did a great job. Maybe I should call and turn it over to him now.

I've got three new projects for this year. They are all medical office buildings for the same group that built Texas Clinic last year. It's a great group of people, and we have a good team. They just give me the plans and I do a proposal based on their budget. I'm not really accustomed to doing the complete job with all the framing and everything, but they were really happy with Texas Clinic so this should turn out well, too.

Weather Effects

Winters are different in all parts of the world, but for the most part they bring temperature changes, winds, rain, or something else that's different than summer. Northern California, where I am right now, has a temperate climate. The first week here in mid January was exactly like the week I was here in August. Sunny, high sixties, deep blue skies. The rains have started now, and unlike the torrents that whip through Texas, they are soft and sweet, gently bathing the thirsty vegetation.

Yesterday I watched the rain from this comfy leather chair where I have my laptop set up. This is my favorite seat in the house, so I also sat here to work on a couple of concept drawings. I'll do some more of that today, since it's not going to be a good day to go hiking, kayaking, or even walking around the neighborhood with my camera.