Artist's Inspiration

Full House

2008-05-16T06:36:00.002-05:00

Travel is such a mind opening experience! On this trip I intentionally set aside my artist's eyes, and enjoyed the landscape and light just as it was. I set aside analyzing and composing that automatically happens in my brain. I quieted myself, and just soaked it all in.

I met lots of great people, and completely relaxed. Even lost a few pounds, always a bonus.

But I returned to thousands of emails, and deadlines that were set before I left town. Immediately, I turned my attention to the studio, and am working on the huge double-sided resin box swore I wouldn't do.

But the most exciting thing was an email from an art consultant in California who I've corresponded with over the past few years, but not actually worked with. She has a project with 300 rooms, and a nice budget for original art for every room. Today I will be focused on creating digital concepts for the project. This is a great opportunity for me with a new client, so the creative juices are flowing!

Stars

2008-04-29T20:11:00.001-05:00

Starbursts of blue on tall stalks greeted me as I entered my cottage. Each time I opened the door the sudden gust of air would cause the flowerheads to collide and jostle each other. As the days passed some could no longer hold on to their lifeline, and they dropped, in despair, to the tabletop. I would sweep them away.

When it became obvious that there was little life left in the remaining blue stars, I gathered them together and laid them gently as decorating a grave, in my own tiny grassed garden. There they laid, and my last backward glance appreciated the symmetry of the prostrate stems.

Next there were only blue stars, carried off by rainforest mist, some ground into indigo pulp on the tiled sidewalk leading away.

Inspiration of the Day: blue

Relaxation Techniques

2008-04-27T11:09:00.002-05:00

I've instructed my clients not to interrupt this idyllic time with anything work related. I have movies, an Ipod full of music and audiobooks, and this laptop. Wonder how long I'll hold out before I go searching for adventure??

Still mellow today, though.

Laid Back

2008-04-26T14:20:00.002-05:00

Ivy creeps up the window and blocks my view of paradise. I am on vacation. All I care about is the sound of the wind, the rustle of leaves, the sun's path across the sky.

I have told my clients not to bother me, and left a message on my studio phone that the studio is closed. I need this time to myself.

sigh

yum

I'm Off

2008-04-22T13:08:00.002-05:00

Now I need to quit answering my telephone. I've already had three requests, for today! One, print a giclee on canvas 44 x 60, come in and sign four paintings, what color spray paint to use to create a deep cherry brown, and a digital file. Now when I answer the phone knowing it's my client I just say "no". I'm off!

I finished a painting in the photo painting series this morning, one of five that I have a PO for, due a week after my return.

I've made sure I have everything I need on my laptop, I'm packed, dressed and ready to head out to the airport. I will have email, but no phone, yay!!!

Working it Out

2008-04-20T07:19:00.004-05:00

After a flurry of activity, and many hours thinking I'd never wrap things up enough to leave town, I'm breathing easier today.

Yesterday wore me out, though.

I've had to clean my front and back studios in preparation for resin pouring. I can't believe I'm doing another two-sided resin box! Not only that, but it's 6 1/2' long! Instead of having a solid box fabricated, I took another route, and made an open box, with the other side separate. This way I can pour resin on both pieces at the same time. It will sit and cure for the three weeks I am away. When I come home, I will glue them together - and voila! That's my last project, and it's under control.

I painted the cast carved sculpture yesterday. My intention was for the fabricator to tint the resin to a dark brown color, thereby eliminating much of the painting process. That didn't turn out as planned, so it was me and spray paint out in the back yard. I like the way it turned out, and hope the designer agrees. I'll know tomorrow. She wanted a "rusted metal" look, and I think I've achieved that.

This one is for model room, so we won't get it back. So, I'll be painting another one today for reference when we get to production stage. There will be over 900 of these.

My project of 22 pcs for behind the registration desk of a local hotel is still in progress, I've worked a little on it every day, but thankfully, I got a deadline extension and it can be finished up when I get home.

Today after the resin pouring I'll be working on the abstract commission. My client is coming to meet me tomorrow, and it would be nice to hand over the finished painting. Hopefully I'll spend at least a few minutes in a lounge chair by the pool!

Mania Sets In

2008-04-18T05:38:00.005-05:00

With six projects all in various stages of production I have run out of studio space, which now includes my living room, dining room, and third bedroom. And when a client calls to ask me to do just one more thing before I leave town on Tuesday I freak out! Too much to do and not enough time.

I went to visit my Dad in Harlingen this past weekend, and we had a lovely time watching golf on TV. Golf has been his passion for many years, and since he can no longer play, he watches. He's lonely though, and I wish we lived closer because I don't see him as often as I'd like.

This morning I am printing three giclees for model room for a hotel resort. Purchase orders will be issued for this job when I get home. I'm printing all three images, with quantities of 900 ea, so I need to get a move on - it will take forever and I'll use both of my 44" printers. Also for this project I am painting the casting that I've had made of the original sculpture I finished this week.

I have struggled mightily to get three good prints on aluminum. I've had different problems with every print, and it has cost me hundreds of dollars since I'm buying pre-treated metal from Booksmart. Yesterday I pulled my last sheet out of the package and it has a big gouge across it. I'm a little high strung right now and fired off an email which was quickly answered by Eric, offering to replace the product immediately, and he helped with the other problems I'd had, too. Thanks Eric!

Spring storms are wreaking havoc here in North Texas. Besides tearing up my beautiful flower beds, the high humidity makes it hard for paint to dry. I'm trying to heed all the cautionary labels that say "do not use in high humidity". Well I can't wait forever!

My medical clinic project is coming along nicely. I love working with Denise! We have all but a couple of pieces picked out.

I have a new project that's a large grid painting for a local construction company. I went to their offices yesterday for a photo shoot, and got lots of really great ideas walking around their back storage yard.

The new abstract commission the Glorieta series (above) is almost done, but it just hasn't told me so yet. It still needs a tiny bit of tweaking. Lucky for me the wonderful woman who ordered it understands the creative process and will wait.

This weekend I'm fabricating another photo box with resin so it can cure while I'm out of town.

With all these things in process, nothing will get finished before I leave town, but I sure will have a lot of work when I get home. There's some security in that.

Sculpture, Illustrations, and Berry Stains

2008-04-10T18:17:00.006-05:00

The past few days have been full of extremes. Lots of different projects, with differing degrees of success. Here's the shells:

Pretty crazy, huh! Clear plexi cleats will be epoxied to the back, and they'll be cleated to the wall in a grid pattern.

And in the mail today came this:

That's one of my first paintings gracing the cover of this academic book. I licensed that image last year, and totally forgot about it until now.

The carving of the boot top is completed. I met with the designer yesterday so she could give it her blessing; instead she made a couple changes -- now it's done. Next step is the mold, then casting and painting, and it's ready for the model room.

While working outside on that piece I got berries stuck on the bottom of both feet, and thought I was tracking paint in the house, but couldn't figure that out since I wasn't painting. Nature's paint, I guess -- red berries!

Tomorrow I head to south Texas to visit my dad for a couple days -- for his 93rd birthday!

3d Artwork

2008-04-07T07:34:00.004-05:00

High Density Foam Carving, 36 x 36

So far so good. I made alot of progress on this over the weekend. Consequently it's Monday morning I am am totally worn out! I wanted a massage last night but Royce was in a volleyball tournament and couldn't come over. darn-it-all

This is the rough out. All the holes are cut, but not shaped, and I haven't dimensionalized it yet. Just a start, really. At least I got smart this time, and instead of dressing in a jumpsuit and hanging plastic to isolate my studio and protect the rest of the house from this static-y dust, I did the whole thing outside. It was a perfect 72 degree sunny day, low humidity. Then used a lawn blower to clean it (and me) off before bringing it back inside.

As you can see, the design has changed dramatically (more than once). If you can't tell by looking, it's the top of a cowboy boot, from the side. There's the strap down the middle, and lots of stitching and cutouts.

This is the piece that will be cast in resin and placed in 900 hotel rooms in a resort in Central Texas.

I'm on hold right now, waiting for a response from the designer before I take it any further. The thing about sculpting is that once that material is gone, there's no putting it back. Except for the swirly hole cut by the Dremel tool when I yanked on the cord and the drill slipped! I had to spackle that!

Wouldn't You Know

2008-04-05T09:17:00.005-05:00

The designer has finally approved the sea shell casting. I was in such a hurry to get the samples to her that I didn't even take a picture! I'll have time for that later, but for now, the one she chose was the first pour, the one with a distressed surface from using too much mold release! It did create an interesting texture, so I think it was a good choice. I just hope it can be replicated. We'll know today, when the second set comes out of the molds. (fingers crossed)

I did get a two month extension on my major project, the 22 pc installation for the registration desk, but since I was already in the big middle of it, I haven't entirely put it away. Everything involved has multiple steps. I'm getting as many done as I can, so every layer has a chance to dry completely before the next step.

Yesterday I got approval for the next carving, to replace the one I did last fall that was not approved by the hotel owners. This is the sixth design; it was a struggle to get something that was acceptable to both the designer and the owner. I hope to be carving it tomorrow. And with the experience I got the last time I did this, I'm doing it outside so I don't have that terrible mess in my studio. The dust from carving foam has a static charge that won't let go.

36" x 36" carving

Also yesterday my client called to ask if I had any photography of colorful bowls. I said no. Then she emailed me what she had in mind, and in digging through old travel photos discovered that not only did I have exactly what she wanted, it was as though the photo she sent me as reference was mine, since it was in the same market in Istanbul, Turkey!

Had a great meeting with my new medical clinic client, and we chose all the artwork for the suite in two hours. Amazing! She understands that I'm traveling and then she's traveling, so I don't need to stress about deadlines with this project.

Have another project in the works for a large grid painting for a construction company, will meet with them next week. It seems it's always like this before I take a trip.

Spinning

2008-04-02T14:28:00.004-05:00

The seashell project has me spinning around in circles! That's what I get for accepting a project I had little idea how to do. At this point, a mold has been made of the original sculpture. I made up three batches of colored water for the designer to pick a color from, and we cast the first "sample" piece in tinted transparent resin. The color is perfect, but because none of us had cast clear resin before, we had a couple problems. The main one being that the mold was saturated with mold release. All that liquid pooled in the mold, and created interesting textures on the final casting. Interesting to me, but maybe not to the designer, who hasn't seen it yet. Who knows, she might like it better. The casting is off at the plastics guy right now, he's trying to come up with an innovative cleat to hold it tight to the wall. We're still in the designing phase since the first pour wasn't completely successful

In the meantime I have plenty of other things to keep me busy. The first being the 22 pc installation for a Westin registration desk. There are lots of steps to this project, so I'm doing a little every day.

Tomorrow I meet with Texas Clinic again, to make some decisions about artwork for one of the suites.

I have an abstract painting on the wall I've also been working on a little every day. It will tell me when it's finished!

Getting ready to leave town, absolutely can't wait to get out of here for awhile to let the dust settle and simply chill out.

Taking My Time

2008-03-29T07:41:00.006-05:00

Invariably I am swamped with projects before I leave for a trip. This time is no exception. I'll be gone for three weeks, and there are several deadlines during that time, which means I'm working like a madwoman! I have projects in every room of my house, not just the studio. I am printing on metal in my second office for the large registration installation, printing original photography for public spaces for another hotel in my main office, the front studio is full of platforms in various stages of completion, my slant wall holds an abstract painting commission, the table in the living room is covered with sketches for another carving, the kitchen holds glass bowls of colored water where I'm adjusting color recipes for the cast resin pieces, my back studio table holds the printed metal photography which is being coated with layers of clear varnish. So when I got another purchase order yesterday afternoon, I almost went over the edge! But how could I say no to this? It's the hotel in Arlington that I did etched glass for back in the 80s.

This is the original glasswork that I did in the 80s. At the time the wavy pattern matched the fabric on the chairs.

Door to the lounge, I sandblasted the logo back in the day! Soon to be replaced.

This is the colorboard for the new space.

This is the drawing of the photographs and installation of artwork for the new space. The photos are mine, black and white, which will be printed on 44" x 44" plexi and mounted with standoffs. Cool installation.

It's just so very odd that my work would be featured so prominently in the same hotel I worked on twenty years ago! I have original photography in every guest room, and according to the PO I just received, twenty large scale photographs for public spaces. Amazing.

The good news I received after that PO was a phone call that one project's deadline has been pushed back two months. Yay! I can finish it up after I get home, and can go visit my Dad in South Texas without worrying.

Today I'm in yard, it's time to plant flowers!

It's All Art

2008-03-26T08:14:00.003-05:00

When my client and I got in an argument about a current sculpture project we're working on together, she announced, "I'm sorry but I don't know all your capabilities." At that point I had to laugh and tell her that I don't either!

I certainly didn't know how to create the clay sculpture you see above. My only experience with clay was back in the 70s when I worked for a wholesale ceramic supply company as a bookkeeper. I just applied a little knowledge and common sense to create the shell form. I bought a bag of air-dry clay, a few tools, spread out the plastic and went to work. How hard could it be, right? My client and I met with the designer yesterday and got approval (with a couple minor changes - she said it was too perfect). Next I will let this piece dry (it's hollow underneath), then make a silicone mold. It will be cast in clear resin, tinted an aquamarine color. There are 15 of them for a hotel installation.

I Am Not Special

2008-03-23T17:57:00.004-05:00

In most of the emails I receive artists thank me for inspiring them to create more and reach further for their goals. In fact, that's the main point for this blog. Sadly, there is a also a small percentage of messages announcing an inability to compete with me and a general attitude of defeat. Some think that there is something special about me, and want to know my secret. There is no secret, as I've said many times. If I had to detail the one factor that contributes most to anyone's success, including mine, it's the Survivor strategy of forming alliances. In simpler terms, networking.

Of course that's after you have the technical skills necessary to produce the kind of work you are proud of. After that it's all about who you know, and the relationships you nurture. In my case, I identified my market, and focused on the people who were most likely to buy my work. My criteria has changed over the years, and so have my clients. I continually re-examine my strategy to make sure it's still what I want. So far, so good.

I was reminded of this by three recent phone calls. One from an artist who said she could never be as successful as me. I agreed. A statement like that is self-fulfilling. Besides, it's unrealistic. How could she know how "successful" I am? Even the word "success" means different things to each of us.

The second call was from another artist friend who has been in my market for longer than I have. Even though I have always shared leads, ideas, and my clients with him, he doesn't follow up. You can't get where you're going by sitting still.

The third conversation was with a new artist friend who asked for my help in critiquing his work for it's appropriateness for the decor market. After spending several hours analyzing 20 images he agreed to make the changes I suggested and get some new images to me by the next day. That was a week ago. Again, no follow through, but this time it included a broken promise.

Bottom line, produce your best work, don't compare yourself to other artists, and keep your promises.

Planning Ahead

2008-03-20T17:26:00.004-05:00

I thought it appropriate to title this post "planning ahead" when my last one was "be in the moment". How can a person do both?? To anyone who has a busy schedule, you just do it. While I am waiting for paint to dry I scan through emails. When I plan a trip I think ahead to that time off and plan work around it, both before and after. While I'm gone, I'm in the moment.

Today I have been at the computer most of the day, and printing almost the whole time. I had three separate art layouts for hotel model rooms to put together for the designer's approval. It's mostly photography so I made prints. Then I printed some marketing materials. I put together a series of photos documenting the carving, moldmaking and casting process. And I printed out the three section layout of the 22 pc installation that I have designed. Busy day, and the printer is still cranking.

I should have a tracking system, but once I'm paid for the originals commissioned for a hotel model room I put the project out of my mind. It's usually a long lead time between model room and purchase orders. And I don't necessarily get a PO just because I did model room. Sometimes the owners don't like it and they change it up and the order goes to someone else.

In case anybody has an idea that I am successful with everything I present, let me tell you it ain't so. Got a really big rejection this week. The second design for the cast piece was completely wrong, according to the hotel owner. I wish I could get a handle on what they are looking for, because I don't see a connection between their very thorough criticism and the sketch itself. I better have a lightning bolt of an idea soon!

I know it's Easter Weekend, but I'm being blasphemous and working the whole time. Some in the studio, some at my desk, and some in my flowerbeds! My poor poppies have been valiantly blooming, but since they've lived here they have had to endure several freezes, high winds, and this week's 7" gully washer. They're still blooming, but they're beat up. I'm going to give them some neighbors and plant begonias around them.

In the Moment

2008-03-17T09:22:00.004-05:00

At the request of Kesha Bruce I am posting one of the photos from Saturday's meditative shoot. This was one of 20 that I shot of a rapidly decomposing pile of corrugated cardboard. Lots of abstract patterns and texture. I loved it! I was working with a macro lens and a very shallow depth of field. Why this photo fits the theme? If I went back to this location today everything would be different. The strong winds today may have sent some of this pile down the alley, the light is different, and even I am different and may see this in a new way. Since the point of the shoot was to be in the moment and document that moment, I think this particular series (more than the requisite wildflower shots) are particularly appropriate.

But that's not all I've been doing. I finished two 48 x 48 abstract paintings in the Red Circles series. They are commissions for a local hotel project.

Meditative Photography

2008-03-16T18:15:00.002-05:00

My new friend Henry taught a Meditative Photography class at his house on Saturday. There were six of us. I went with no expectations, but early on I realized I knew exactly what it was about. It's about being present in the moment. It's discarding any other thoughts except "be here now". I didn't know the name of it, but it's something that Nancy and I remind ourselves on the first day of every photo shoot. It always takes us a little time to get into that special place where everything in front of us is precious. We tell each other that this is the only moment we have in this place at this time. We photograph with those eyes.

That's what we did at Henry's. We did a slow examination of the things around us in his backyard, then we took our cameras out and about, returned in 30 minutes and shared our photos. It was fun.

Since I was in the neighborhood I popped over to the arboretum, which was really bad timing for three reasons. 1. bad midday light 2. weekend crowds 3. kids

At least I scouted out what was planted where and I can return for a more efficient shoot next time.

Today was the monthly meeting of Texas WAX, and we took down our show, and made plans for the next venue.

I'm back at the computer, processing photos for the purchase order I received on Friday. After this I'm designing the remaining two parts of the large hotel installation so I can get approval on it this week. Yep, another busy week ahead.

Creative Concepts

2008-03-15T08:04:00.004-05:00

Lots of things inspire me, but bringing a creative concept to completion is always a challenge. When I did the carving (above) as a concept for a cast piece for hotel room art, it presented a huge challenge. I had no idea how to even start. So I started with a sketch, did a lot of internet research, bought high density foam and carving tools and went at it. Had the mold made, and we made a casting which was hung over the tub in the model room. The designer loved it. Apparently she was the only one. The owners said it looked too tropical for a resort located in the hill country of central Texas. With that as the only comment, I was commissioned to create a new piece.

It has been on my mind for a couple weeks now. I didn't know what direction to take it. I tried modifying the original design. Didn't work. I thought of other plants and trees located in the area that I could abstract into something cool. I did extensive internet research. I drew some digital designs. Nothing really worked until I got out a pencil and paper and came up with this:

I sent it to my client who replied "that's my girl". Yay! Have not heard from the designer yet, but I'm confident I'm on the right track. Once the design is approved I will go through the whole carving, moldmaking and casting process again. And these are big pieces, 36" x 36". But there are over 900 rooms in this project and that sculpture will be in every one of them.

I am having a similar experience with the cast resin shell project, only it's proceeding much slower. I've had a purchase order for awhile, but getting all the information from my client and the designer is proving to be a real challenge. This is an instance where my client insists on being in the middle, and not allowing me to discuss the details with the designer directly. I don't understand that at all. It's just not efficient, as I talked about in my last post. We are disagreeing on the mounting method. Now I have agreed to make a small sample piece with a cleat embedded in the resin for the designer to approve. I won't even get into what a waste of time I think that is, because the customer is always right -- right?

In other good news, yesterday was Purchase Order Friday -- and this one is all photography for a healthcare project.

I'm rocking and rolling, it's Spring, birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and I'm headed off to a Meditative Photography session with a new friend. I'll report back.

It's All About Relationships

2008-03-12T07:42:00.002-05:00

In my "business of art", art consultants are notoriously protective of their clients identity. There is an obvious inclination for designers to go directly to the artist and leave out the agent in the middle. Having worked as both an art consultant and an artist I understand the delicate balance of the relationships.

So I never was surprised when I would create a mockup or artwork concept for a project, deliver them to the art consultant, and some days later would hear back with comments from the designer. As in the transfer of any information between people, the comments were influenced by the agents' ideas. Over the years (many!) I have apparently finally earned the trust of my clients, and they now allow me to interact directly with the designers (both with and without them being present). This has resulted in a much more efficient process. Case in point, meeting yesterday with my agent, and a hotel designer on two very different projects. We had done some preliminary culling of ideas, so I was able to print and bring the designs that showed the most promise.

The three of us mixed and matched the artwork by holding it up to the fabrics and other samples of finishes in the room, and put together two different schemes for each room. The designer gave me fabrics to take home, so that now I can tone the paintings and photography to the colors in the room. Truly "match the sofa"! We accomplished all this in less than an hour. The old way of leaving me out of the face to face would have taken a week at least.

I am convinced that one of the reasons that my work is chosen so often for projects is that I am willing to adjust any artwork to fit the project. What you see is NOT what you get from me. Too many artists find their work so precious that they refuse to change it. That's fine if you have another source of income. For me, the process is more important than the finished product. I am in love with the process.

Snow on My Parade

2008-03-07T15:09:00.002-06:00

Even with 3-5 inches of snow predicted in Dallas, hundreds of people still showed up for the Grand Opening of Texas Clinic. And did it up BIG. There was a band in each lobby, abundant tables of elegant party food, and at least six open bars. They had placed a placard on an easel in each lobby with a picture of me and my artist statement. What surprised me the most was how many people came up to me and said "you're the artist!" rather like an announcement. I don't think I've said "thank you" so many times in one night in my life!

Other than me, the star of the show was the linear accelerator, which is leading edge technology in radiation therapy for oncology patients. It's the only machine like it in this area. A physicist runs it, and she gave talks all night about the technology. That's in the suite that is my next art project. I'll be meeting with them next week to discuss imagery.

And yesterday morning's design meeting for the 20 pc hotel installation went very well, too. Once they saw my preliminary concepts, they pretty much gave me free rein for the rest of it. I love it when that happens! That allows me to get really creative since the budget is already set and I can work within it's parameters.

I'm taking a small break today, since it's a gorgeous sunny day. My poppies have now been snowed on twice, beat with rain, now burned by the sun. And tonight we're having a hard freeze. And there's one spectacular red one that's battered and bruised but a gorgeous color.

Crunch Time

2008-03-05T11:38:00.002-06:00

Isn't that always how things happen? In bunches?

Last night was a big mess at the Dallas voting precincts. Who's idea was it for voters to have to go to the polls twice anyway?? Everyone who watches the news knows that there was unprecedented turnout, and I was certainly glad to do my part. The Democratic fight isn't over, though, so we have more months of political propaganda before the convention. The message sent by Hillary is "don't give up", and it worked for her last night.

Anyway, back to business for me.

I've gotten approval for a 31 pc project for a suite in a medical facility, the purchase order for the 15 cast resin shells, a meeting to decide design specs for a 20 pc hotel installation, four large commissioned abstract paintings for the same hotel, and an internet sale of a 30 x 30 commission in the Glorieta series!

None of that would bother me except I have a 3 week trip scheduled leaving April 22. Talk about some stress!

And tomorrow night is the Grand Opening of Texas Clinic. Apparently it's a really big deal. There will be a band playing on each floor, lots of wine and snacks, and of course some high level hobnobbing for me. I think I will hand out postcards instead of business cards this time.

Inspiration of the Day: Hillary

Motivating Factors

2008-03-03T17:20:00.003-06:00

I am always distracted by warm weather in the winter. I always know that it can't last, yet every year I plant spring flowers before their time. So it is that my poppies might have their little heads frozen off tonight. At least I got some photos yesterday.

I have a set deadline to have some sort of ideas put together to present to the designer for the large installation I've been working on. It's really not easy to assemble so many pieces that relate to each other. It's like pictorial storytelling. It has to flow from left to right, and it has to be balanced by color, light and dark, opaque and transparent. Just the type of thing to stress me out. So I had my masseuse come over last night to loosen me up. Wouldn't it be nice to get a massage every single morning? Just dreaming....

So my presentation is Wednesday morning. Thursday is the open house for Texas Clinic, which I will attend with pockets full of business cards. Another busy week!

Inspiration of the Day: storytelling

Leap Day!

2008-03-01T15:05:00.002-06:00

Even an extra day in the month wasn't enough for me to catch up.

I spent a big part of the day on Friday with my friend and fellow artist Beata Szechy who runs the Hungarian Multicultural Center, with artist residency programs in Hungary. She lives in Dallas, but I actually met her when I attended a residency. She's a very accomplished artist in her own right, with a lifelong exhibition schedule worldwide. The residencies are a way for her to give back to other artists, and provide them a space for working away from their "real" lives, plus international exposure. When I attended in 2005 I sold both my paintings at our first show. Beata was kind enough to retrieve the paintings from the owners to enter them in a large show last year in Budapest. Of course an Eastern European residency isn't for everyone. It's not America in any sense of the world, and most artists are open-minded explorers who appreciate that. I know I did.

Last night I attended the opening reception for Trayc Claybrook, who is showing her whimsical-on-the-surface encaustic paintings. The colors are light and playful, the meaning much darker. I love them all! If you are in Dallas, you must go see her work at Times Ten Cellars (it's a wine bar!) 6324 Prospect Ave, Dallas, TX 75214 through March.

I'm designing the 20 piece installation for behind registration at the renovated Westin here in Dallas. It's really fun, but tedious. I never was good at spatial relations, and it seems I've been needing that skill more and more lately. How do you learn that?? I've noticed that most of my "cool" ideas are a little too "out there" for the lobby of a high end hotel.

And I've almost got the purchase order for the shells. "Almost" because I don't have it in my hand, but my client said go ahead. That's the project in California, and I'm sculpting a shell shape which will have a mold made from it, and 15 castings in colored resin. They are 8" in diameter, so not too big. That's going to be fun!

I planted poppies in my flower beds this week, and there are pink, orange and yellow blooms already. They won't last long, but I'm enjoying watching their bobbing heads in the breeze out my office window.

Inspiration of the day: spring blooms

Hybrid Photography

2008-02-26T07:24:00.004-06:00

I admit that I am not a purist in any artistic endeavor. I use multiple mediums, separately and in unconventional combinations. At least at this point in my career I mostly know the "rules" and consciously break them in ways that still allow the resulting artwork to maintain its technical integrity. Meaning it won't fall apart over time.

As someone with a short attention span and a home studio, I constantly track back and forth between the studio and the computer (with a stop at the kitchen in between!). More and more I am spending design time at the computer instead of sketch book. I need a more comfortable chair.

Since photography is a hot design trend right now I've been working to get more images online. I want to keep this gallery more traditional and expected. I want my crazy digital designs to stay on my own hard drive, and sent out for concepts for specific projects. It's too easy to steal digital imagery, and I'd like to have a line that really is my own.

I've been tagged by Judy Vars. Following her instructions:

"...all their wonders, were an extension of the PCs and modems already in use -- AOL had trained millions to use email, and word processors were popular applications on those computers." From "the myths of innovation" by Scott Berkun. I have that book on my desk because (1) it's a good book and (2) he used a photo of mine as illustration in it.

Otherwise, I don't see the point of this "tag" -- and I don't think I'll be passing it on. Sorry, Judy.

Packed House

2008-02-24T10:36:00.003-06:00

Guitar Player on Bourbon St, New Orleans

The first exhibition of Texas WAX opened with a packed house reception Friday night at CAMP, 2631 Commerce St. Ste B, Dallas, TX. We were honored that Joanne Mattera, Richard from R&F Paints, and the Encausticos people all made an appearance to view the show. Like my friend Cheryl McClure remarked "you couldn't stir 'em with a stick" referring to the crowded space.

We sold two pieces that night, and I have my eye on one, too. I always like to remind my artist friends that artists buy art. Maybe we have a higher appreciation than others for the work and thought processes that go into the creation. Especially encaustic, a process that requires special tools, lots of electricity, and real technical skills. The results, as showcased in the work of Texas WAX, is well worth the effort.

Saturday I caught up with my friend Helen and took her to a few places in town to see my work. We've known each other a long time, but I always go to her house in Berkeley; this is her first time to visit mine. She hadn't seen my work before, and it was fun to visit paintings I hadn't seen in a long time. And I introduced her to my two boxers, who were very happy to make her acquaintance, since she's a serious dog lover!

Today I am working a little, designing an installation for a local hotel. And hopefully I'll get to the nursery for some poppy plants for the flower beds out front.