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.

Snow on My Parade

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

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

Lull

I am still feeling lazy, but have not delivered the resin boxes yet. I swear I will never do another resin box! I've been plagued by Murphy's Law, and the sooner I get them out of my studio the better. I gave them a good coat of Turtle Wax, and at least they will resist fingerprints for awhile.

I do have another project that I am working on. A lot of it is large scale photography on canvas, and I have already processed all the photos, so the printing should go smoothly. That's low-stress work. There are three large paintings that go with that project, but I am not in a hurry to start them.

Two other bits of good news. One is that the Ritz Carlton Dallas is looking for more art! I sent over some things that I was working on for my West Coast rep. The other is that I got a phone call last night telling me one of the tenants at Texas Clinic wants a big custom painting for their suite. The new year will be starting off with a bang.

My framer's having a big holiday meal at lunch today, and I am fighting with myself about whether to go. Fresh from watching the season finale of the Biggest Loser last night, I am not inclined to eat high fat high sugar holiday food. We'll see if I can hold out....

Artwork and Weather

I have an order for two big resin boxes. This is a process best done in summer. I normally use the back room of my studio for this, and open the windows. Can't do that now with temperatures in the thirties and a wintry mix knocking the rest of the leaves off the trees. I've plugged in a portable heater in there, it might be warm enough by tomorrow to start pouring resin. Brrrr!

Instead of trying that today I am putting together a proposal for a hotel resort project in Lake Tahoe. I have been there, though not in many years. I'll have to google and see what the area looks like.

And I'm working on an order for my West Coast rep, hope to finish that up this week.

I've heard from my client at Texas Clinic -- not with any comments about the installation (alas) but with a request for pricing to paint additional "Texas Roundup" paintings in different sizes for people who have seen the original installed at the clinic. I guess it's the most popular piece.

88 Pieces

Arrived back in Dallas late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning I jumped out of bed and started collecting all the paintings for Texas Clinic in one place. I printed out the wall layout, got all the paperwork together, and was ready when the installers (CAM Moving) arrived. They had made a pickup at my framers place first, and altogether there were 88 pieces.

We met at the building, and I placed all the artwork off my master chart. And everything fit where it was supposed to except for the four metal boxes. There was a big directory sign on that wall, so I relocated those pieces to the first floor lobby, where they coordinated beautifully.

I have to commend the installation company, Cam Moving, who did a fabulous job. There was one little hiccup which was quickly handled, and overall they were fast, extremely accurate, and professional. I've used other installers, but these guys were by far the best.

Looking at the installation at this point I would say that I could have hung less art. But the designer part of me was insistent, and my clients got a great deal for the money. It helped me to know that I had a fixed budget and a blank slate of grey carpet and white walls. The installation looks very much as I envisioned. It's great, and I got really good feedback, so far. The real test will be tonight when the building is reviewed by an elite group of doctors including the owner of Texas Clinic. Since this is the prototype for eight more buildings just like it, we all have a lot riding on it.

I was exhausted at the end of the day, even though I did little more than walk up and down the halls all day long. It's that this is the culmination of an entire year's work, and to see it on the wall and the project completed feels great. I have to admit that I'm proud of myself for pulling this off, it was a big challenge for me.

Inspiration of the Day: Completion

Travel Time Again

Tonight I'm packing, tomorrow heading home to Dallas. Wednesday morning the installers come to pick up all the artwork and start installing Texas Clinic. A few months late, and of course they want it when they want it. Which will be fine, but it's been a challenge to organize it from California. By Thursday afternoon it will all be on the walls, and the job complete. I can't wait to see how it all looks together, and if it matches the vision I have for the space.

I have more work waiting for me at home, and received another purchase order from my West Coast rep since I've been here, so it's nice to know that I've been away but not forgotten.

Taking a Break

After finishing the paintings for lululemon I quickly packed my camera gear, blue jeans and warm sweaters and headed off for the West coast. My photo friend Nancy and I spent two days in Yosemite before arriving here in Berkeley where we are housesitting two precious poodle puppies. Yesterday was a down day, we took the day off from frantically photographing every thing in sight and cleaned our equipment, went to the grocery store and had a nice home cooked dinner.

Yosemite was a bit of a disappointment. We arrived in the park at daybreak, hoping for the pink morning light. It took awhile to realize that the sky was grey, and unfortunately it stayed that way all day. With flat light the magnitude of the granite cliffs was lost. Of course that didn't stop us, and we drove every road in the park. Since they've had no snow all the roads that would usually be closed this time of year were open, so we were lucky in that respect.

Besides the overcast skies, we were also surprised and disappointed to discover that there's no water in the park right now. Yosemite Falls showed as a bit of ice at the crest, and that's it. None of the other falls had any significant water, and even the Merced river had only a trickle. Mirror Lake was a sandbed.

So now we're in Berkeley, trying to decide if it would be better to drive to the coast and photograph there or leave the cameras behind and Christmas shop in Union Square. Tough decision!

My Texas Clinic installation that I've been waiting for all these months is now scheduled for the day after I return to Dallas. Very short notice, which makes me nervous -- but I've got a good crew and I'm sure it will turn out great. I'll be glad to get all that artwork out of my house and on the walls.

I've heard from my client in Dallas, and already have work waiting for me there, so I'm going to enjoy this downtime as much as possible.

Judging Others

Normally I would have to say that it's not our place to judge others, tempting though it is. However, yesterday I had an experience that thrilled and excited me. I judged an elementary school art show. I guess submitting was entirely voluntary, because the number of entries varied widely by grades, with second grade having the most. The color, creativity and imagination made me feel like we're leaving the world in good hands with this generation of kids. What a thrill for me to see this work. Luckily I was able to award more than one first place per grade, which means that those entries advance to the next level of the competition. I found out afterward that I chose to promote the artwork of one of the kids who lives across the street from me. No favoritism, I promise!

I got an email yesterday from a retail store opening soon in the Dallas Galleria. They want to commission a large abstract painting for the store. Sounds like fun, so I said yes, and will talk to them more about it today.

I still have not followed up on the contacts I made at the Healthcare Design 2007 conference, will be doing that today.

Trying to plan a trip down south (Texas) to see my dad, it's been over six months since I visited last.

Finalized plans to go to Berkeley after Thanksgiving. My photo friend Nancy will be meeting me there, and we'll haul our cameras into every nook and cranny we can find. Hopefully do some tidepool shooting, if I can find out where to go.

The clinic says they need a few more weeks until installation, so I don't know if it will get installed before or after my trip. But it's done, that's for sure!

Endings

"Categories: Texas I and II", acrylic and collage on gallery wrapped canvas, 36 x 48

These are the last two original paintings for Texas Clinic. I've been tweaking them for several days, but they're off the wall now, and ready to go. They'll go in the first floor lobby.

Monday my solo show at the Smith Art Gallery at the Scott and White hospital in Temple, TX is coming down. I've had five inquiries, four of them for the Glorieta abstracts, and one for the Blue Vase still life. Nothing sold. I doubt that I would have done this show if I would have known the circumstances. For instance, the gallery is not attended, there are no prices shown, and not even a price list. Each person who contacted me had to physically describe each painting they were interested in since there was no reference. It was expensive to do since I had to frame so many paintings, and that's an expense I can't recoup. My normal sales do not include framed paintings. I guess I could list them on my website, though, that's a thought.

I will be using at least four of those paintings for Texas Clinic, however, so that worked out.

It's such nice weather, and no art emergencies this weekend, I'm thinking of taking off in the car with my camera. Wanderlust!

Well, duh! I totally forgot that this weekend is the Healthcare Design conference here in Dallas (for the first time) and I'm attending tomorrow. Then having dinner with Carl from ArtXP.com, my giclee publisher.

Scary All Right

It's All Hallow's Eve and when I put this ten year old costume on it's scary for sure! It's an old "Pebbles" costume straight from the Flintstones, as if any kid these days would know that!

The jack-a-lanterns are lit, the motion-activated skeleton is situated right by the sidewalk to scream as kids approach. Got a boom box with sound effects, and new this year, a fog machine!

I finished the last two original paintings for Texas Clinic, everything else is at the framers, and I'm done done done.

Did some last minute printing for another project, and that one's wrapped up, too.

Still need to do some design work for a hotel/resort in Turks and Caicos, guess I'll get to that tomorrow -- but maybe I'll sleep in first!

The Real World

"In the real world, there are things that we can't change, and endings come to us in ways that we can't rearrange." Roy Orbison

I can't seem to get that song out of my head. Appropriate lyrics for me right now, as the seasons change and cold winds whisk dry brown leaves off maple trees. I keep telling myself, change is good.

I'm glad I have work to keep me busy. Today I am working on an abstract painting that will be digitized and printed as wallpaper. Technology is amazing.

Then I have three small paintings still to do for the same hotel the carving is for. I had actually forgotten about them completely in the drama of the sculpture!

And I am still printing images for Texas Clinic, just about to wrap that up.

An ordinary day overlaid with a veil of sadness.

The Final Final

The promised photo of the Texas Clinic grid painting. Another thing I thought of regarding my deadline extension is that my solo show comes down on Nov 5, which means that whatever didn't sell out of that show I can use in the clinic. That gives me even more breathing room.

On the table in front of it is one of the giclees I've just printed for a hotel in Fort Worth. There are two of those and I've varnished them this morning so they will be ready for delivery tomorrow.

I'm going to take more personal time today, and maybe go to the Greek Festival. It feels great to be more relaxed and not under so much pressure. whew

Finishing Feels Good

Texas Clinic grid painting, 120" x 60" x 4"

I completed the Texas Clinic grid painting yesterday. I've looked at it a hundred times, and still happy with it, so it will come down off the wall, so two new canvases can go up. They are the last two to be painted for this project.

I'm going to the framers today with photographs for the same project. The deadline is getting nearer, but I'm making good progress.

I worked in a couple of photo shoots yesterday, and today will do the same. Although the TC is a major project, it's not the only thing on my schedule right now, and I still have to keep up with those things.

I Said No Again

Yesterday a client called looking for photographs of a particular industry. I have a few, and forwarded them on. Not enough, they said, we want more. So they requested that I make elaborate arrangements to get permission to go to a certain place to take the photos that they want. On my own time. For free. With no guarantee that their client would buy them. My response? "No."

Another client called and asked if I could create some pseudo-vintage posters if they provided the photography sources. Can I? Yes. But not this month. I said "no".

Yesterday was a tough day for me. Anxiety levels are running high (Will I complete everything on time? Will the framing get done? Will they LIKE it?). Sleep sometimes eludes me, and I'm up in the middle of the night processing photographs for printing. Yesterday followed a night like that. I only had a few hours of fitful sleeptime, and suffered the physical results. Consequently I took care of myself by having bacon and eggs for dinner (yum!) and watching TV til 9:00 when I went to bed with my book. After a recuperative night's sleep full of interesting dreams, I'm back to normal today.

I have to be very careful about how I allocate my time in the next six weeks. My solo show gets hung next Tuesday. Texas Clinic installs at the end of October. I have a sculpture due on Nov. 1 for a hotel model room. Time is an elusive thing -- can disappear or stretch out to infinity depending on the circumstances. I'm just trying to stay on an even track until the clinic job gets installed. Then I'll need a vacation, for sure!

Painting a Cow

First thing this Sunday morning I painted a cow. It's not quite as neon colored as it looks on my monitor. Maybe it will look different on yours. I did intentionally make him/her more colorful than my reference photo, though, because I decided that overall the painting needs more color.

I'm still printing, and will run out of ink again before tomorrow morning. At least it will be Monday and I can make yet another run to the ink store. At least I'm collecting all this valuable data and can plan better next time. I hope. I think I'm going to make my deadline, yay!

Painting and Printing

Current shot of the Texas Clinic grid painting. I've moved it to my top row of nails so I can paint the bottom.

It seems like a never ending cycle. And I'm really having trouble multi-tasking. There are three major components to my artwork production right now. Digital mockups,( including processing digital photographs), printing, and painting. I can't move between painting and printing because of contamination. Paint, I mean. If it gets on me, it will surely travel to a print easily. Can't have that.

I'm enjoying the painting process so much I let the printer stop. I have to take a shower and scrub myself before I can start it up again because I have completely lost track of how many images I've printed. I have to count and pack, and get them out of the way so they're protected.

I'm planning to get out of the house for awhile today and attend the 40th Anniversary celebration of Southwest Gallery. Several of my friends will be there and it will be nice to be social for a change.

Deadline Monsters

Texas Clinic grid painting, 120" x 60", in progress

I'm scared of a deadline. But it's a healthy fear that completely motivates me. Over the years I have found that lacking a deadline I don't do much. These days I'm in overdrive. I really did not fully grasp how long printing these 900+ images would take. I was up at 4:15 this morning changing paper in one of the printers. I still don't know if I'll make the deadline. These are big images and take almost 20 minutes to print one. That means 8 12 hour days for the batch! I'm running the printer longer than that, but still it takes time to tally, to change ink and paper, to pack, etc. I decided not to sign them just because I didn't want to spend the time to do it.

I do feel like the printing is under control, though, and I'm back to the studio painting. The picture above shows the progress of the grid painting for Texas Clinic. I usually design these paintings digitally, make a printout, then change things as I feel it. I've marked off the grids, and started underpainting. Since this painting is already finished in my mind I'm relaxed and enjoying the process.

Got a call from the framer yesterday and everything for the solo show is completed, so that's off my mind, too. I install Oct 2 and the show runs through Nov5 at the Smith Art Gallery and Scott and White hospital in Temple, TX.

Getting My Hands Dirty

In preparation for attacking this big white canvas I had to clear the studio of all the digital printing I've been doing for days. Once again I lost track of how many of each I printed, and came up short by 22. Those are printing right now. The rest are in a safe place.

It's a good thing because my first step in painting one of the grid series is throwing paint. Yes, literally. My preferred background color has always been quinacridone gold, and I'm using the very last little bit of it on this painting. The color is not being made anymore, and my stash is depleted. Nothing else (including Nickel Azo) I've found has come close to the color and staining abilities. Ah well.

An important lesson I learned earlier this year is to cover myself with liquid gloves. Really does a good job in protecting my skin from the paint that inevitably makes it way to anything uncovered. Yes, I should cover my hair, but I don't. I do lay newspaper down on the floor though, and that helps a lot with drips....because after the paint throwing comes the spray bottle!

Then I use water soluble crayons to write on the canvas. Sometimes prayers, sometimes things about the painting itself, sometimes numbers, just whatever comes into my head. I always say my mantra at this point, and often it goes on the canvas, too.

I'm happy to be painting. I've spent too many hours at this computer doing mockups for hotel rooms, and all this digital printing that's still going on. At least I'm down to one printer now, which frees up the other one to print photography for Texas Clinic. I hate to jinx it by saying this out loud, but I think I'm on schedule to meet all foreseeable deadlines!

I Saved $90

The last time I had a huge canvas transportation was a big issue. I finally paid a local delivery service $120 to bring it to me from about 8 miles away. This time I was more prepared, had searched out individuals with pickups who advertise on Craigslist. A nice guy and his wife delivered this beauty. It's 120" x 60" and will be a custom grid painting for Texas Clinic. He only charged me $35, so with a $5 tip he well deserved, I got a real deal. That's my dog Dempsey you can barely see. Wanted to show the scale of this thing.

But how can I turn off the studio lights and pack for NYC with this enticing surface seducing me? No, I won't do it. I won't get out the paints and dirty it up. I'm packing. The work day - heck the whole work week- is over for me, and I'm outta here!