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.

Distractions

For the past few months I have had an enormous amount of distractions. First I came out of self-imposed exile and created a new social life. Then I moved my painting studio out of my house and into a commercial space I share with my framer. I underestimated the time and energy involved in socializing (yes, dating!) and my work has suffered a bit because of that. Also, instead of painting in my bunny slippers I now have to get dressed and drive to work. aaack!

Now I am traveling (Berkeley, CA) and there are even more things here that I find distracting. There are a huge number of entertainment options, but above and beyond that is the great outdoors. I've been hiking and kayaking, both, and would gladly do a little of each every day. I'm afflicted with the California dream.

Pulling me back down to earth is a commission that I agreed to do while on vacation! Silly me! But I'm headed out to a friend's studio in a bit to work on that. And I have another friend in town visiting from Dallas, and we're hooking up for a couple days, too. By that time the whole two weeks will have flown past me and I'll be headed back to Dallas. I'm trying to remember why I live there when there are so many other options.

Making Progress

A rocky creek in southern New Hampshire

A set of circumstances and feedback from friends has created a desire for me to build my business. Those of you who read this blog regularly would be surprised to hear that I've been lazy. I've relied on one major client, and accepted any other work that came my way, but I haven't been marketing or trying to increase the volume of business at all. One reason that has become very evident is that my small workspace makes everything more difficult. With the advent of moving into commercial space, my ideas are growing with the huge size of the new work area. Two clients this week have asked if I can do high volume resin casting for room art. I would have said an emphatic "no!" before, but now that I have the space for it, more things become possible. I'm excited!

I'm busy this weekend. I have printed and varnished eight large canvases for the hotel in Myrtle Beach, and now I'm working on an abstract painting commissioned for a residential client.

Gettin' Busy

Texas Collage, 26 x 26 on paper

Not in the "street" sense, but literally! The studio is hopping as I count down the days before leaving for housesitting in California. I love Berkeley in August! Such a treat to get away from 100 degree Dallas days.

Had a commission from a client in Atlanta for two of the paintings (above). This was from a series of 6" sq collages I did about six years ago. It worked okay as a small image like that, but the new ones were 26" sq. Not so sure it's a good look, but hey. It was a purchase order and I filled it.

Finalizing the layout and installation for the 22 pc registration project. It will have to leave my studio this week if they want to install it on time. I'll be gone for three weeks and know they won't want to wait that long. Besides, it's taking up a lot of real estate in my studio, and I need to get it out of here! I'll be photographing each piece today to create the installation map.

Summer Time

Time moves slower in the summer. Days are long, sunshine prevails, and it seems that I accomplish so much more in a day than in winter. I painted six commissioned paintings yesterday, from start to finish. Not small ones, either, they were 12" x 24" photo paintings. They dried overnight and I rolled them up, stuck 'em in a tube and shipped them off to Ohio ten minutes ago. I couldn't do that in the winter. Too cold, paint takes too long to dry.

And today I've been out at the pool in my swimsuit, sanding a cast resin piece in preparation for painting. This one was cast very shallow, because I'm going to mount it on matboard and frame in a shadowbox. It's another image for Verity, located in Texas Clinic. I got that powder all over me, but I just hosed off and jumped in the pool! And it's no problem since I have tile floors in my studio. I've been going in and out regularly since it warmed up.

One problem I have in summer that I don't any other time of year is my watermelon addiction. There's a big juicy one in the fridge calling me right now. It's best to sit outside and eat it so that when that juice runs down your chin you can jump in the pool to clean up.

Meeting Deadlines

I have often talked about how deadline-oriented I am. So when I got an email from my client to set an installation date for her project, I accepted the challenge. The framers did a great job on all 30 pcs. Installation was Tuesday and went perfectly. The installers were on time, measured correctly and everything was level. They were fast and efficient, and took the trash out with them. My client is very happy, and that's my main goal, always. I'll have to get back there and take some installation shots.

I have a design meeting tomorrow to discuss a grid painting that I have been working on for awhile. Since it's commissioned I want to make sure to include everything they want and nothing they don't. I always submit digital mockups for this process. Best to get the design approved before the paint goes on. So far I have painted the background only.

Today I am working on another commission for five photo paintings from a new client in Ohio. And yesterday I got a purchase order from a seldom heard from client in Atlanta. Guess the economy is not affecting the hotel market!

Summer Doldrums

Something about the warm windy weather calls to me. I want to be out in it, not stuck in the studio. It's a problem since the pool is visible from the studio windows. I'm trying to have it all by working in my swimsuit and running back and forth between the paintbrush and the pool float. Yes, I know I should be swimming laps instead, but hey.

I'm so easily distracted these days! When my neighbor calls to see if I want to walk the dogs I say yes! When my friend calls to go to a movie I say yes! When I'm invited to Happy Hour, I go. What happened to my focus? Aha - maybe my life is becoming more balanced.

This weekend I beat myself up until I finally did a resin pour at 8:00 last night. I planned to do it over the weekend, and waited until the very last minute on Sunday night. At least I did it, it's cured today, and that's another piece completed for the Westin Park Central.

Photography Presentations

The internet has made a big impact on how I do presentations. Now it's strictly email. I still remember making appointments to show artwork where I would have to (1) bring original art (2) bring food and drinks (3) entertain the group of designers. Those days are (thankfully) over for me since my client base is well developed. We know each other. They call me when they want something they know I can produce. In return, I know what to present because I know what they like. It's a win-win.

For the past two days I have been working on a series of photographs for two massive hotel projects. It's for room art and each project is too much volume for me to print, so I'll be collecting royalties. It hasn't been decided for sure yet, but there will be at least three pieces in each room for both locations. So far I have submitted more than 50 photos. Most of those follow the parameters that I was given, but there are a few that are out-of-the-box. My rationale for that is that if the client has never seen anything like it before (1) they can't reject something they don't know about and (2) they might love it! Experience tells me that commercial designers are always looking for something new and different.

I'm competing with other photographers on this project, so I took a lot of time making sure that each photo I presented was appropriate for the two different locations.

I'm also painting. Seems like I'm getting back into the swing of things since I've been back in town for a couple weeks now. Finally! I've got several commissions I've had for awhile but haven't been inspired. Well, the creativity is finally kicking back in and I'm rocking and rolling.

Summer has arrived in Dallas, with it's corresponding hot weather. I'm actually glad of that since I have a couple of resin pieces to complete in the next couple of weeks. One is cast resin, and that's always tricky.

My dog ate through the outside door in my back studio this week. I have no idea what inspired her to do that since she's never shown an interest in it before, in all her 7 years. There is a metal grid shelving unit blocking that door on the inside, so she knocked everything off the shelf to get in -- was a big mess! And that flimsy sheet of plywood won't last long, I'm buying a new steel door that I'll have installed this weekend. Bad dog!

Delivered and Moving On

I couldn't have been happier to deliver the 6 1/2 foot long double-sided resin box on Tuesday. I started it before I went out of town so the resin would have a chance to completely cure, and that's what saved me on that project. But the last step was pouring resin on the top, and I'm afraid I got a little cocky since everything had gone so well, and poured too much resin on the top, and it started running down the sides. I cursed loudly while grabbing a roll of paper towels and a bottle of alcohol. I caught it before it did any damage (thank goodness), but I was terrified at that point, thinking how close I came to ruining the whole thing. I was much more careful after that, and once the resin was spread, I closed the room up in plastic, and left it to cure. I applied car wax on it before delivery, and it looked really great.

There were five large paintings for that project, too, but they were photo paintings that I can do with my eyes closed now that I've done so many. Now it's delivered and invoiced I feel much better!

So it's on to the three other commissions I have in the studio. One is a 7' x 4' grid painting for a construction company. I've got the background painted, but haven't finished the design work. There's a second grid painting for a suite at Texas Clinic, it's a little smaller, 36 x 60. And the colors are completely different, as is the subject matter.

The third is a commission I finished yesterday, a 30" x 30" in the Glorieta series, for a law office downtown Dallas.

Also have been working on a lot of concepts for two large hotel projects. Developing new images is really hard. I have to create something from nothing in order to differentiate myself from other artists. I want to stand apart, but in a good way. There's a fine line. But I always love a challenge.

Full House

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!

I'm Off

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!!!

Mania Sets In

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.

In the Moment

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.

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

Paint Under My Fingernails

Lest anyone think I've been slacking off the past few days, what you see above is my hand, right now. This is the color I'm painting with, and as you can see, I'm a "hands-on" kind of person.

I have finished up a number of projects and delivered them today: digital printing of photography for Mobile, AL project, a digital painting for a hotel in Fort Worth, printing of photographic room art for a hotel in the Caribbean, three original paintings for that Charlotte project, and one extra painting because I painted it wrong the first time.

The turquoise painting on my wall today will be behind the registration desk at the hotel in the Caribbean. Sigh. With this cold and windy weather just the thought of the islands is so enticing!

I've got another order for room art for that same hotel, and while I'm in my office updating this blog, I think I'll set up the printer to run that print job while I'm painting. We never know how many minutes we have left in this world, and I don't like to waste any of them.


This is the replacement painting I had to do. Not much different than the first one, except the color is much more muted.

Destiny?

Stained Glass Kitchen Window, circa 1986

Do we each have a path we are destined to take? I am accumulating more and more evidence of this.

Today I received an email reminder to register for the Southwest Professional Photographer's Association convention being held in Arlington, TX next month. I noticed that the host hotel is the Arlington Sheraton for which I have done all the room art, including suites. And it's all photography!

I snooped around the hotel website to see if any of the photos included my work (nope) and came across a photo of the outside of the hotel. That's when I had the "whoa" moment.

I recognized the hotel as one that I did artwork for back when I was a glass artist in the 80s. I provided etched glass door panels, and booth dividers in one of the restaurants.

So is it my destiny to create artwork for hotels??

When all this happened a couple hours ago I located my old portfolio of glasswork (shabby thing). I have very few photos of installations, sadly. And I couldn't locate any of that hotel, although I'm fairly certain some of the slides were of etched mirror that was installed behind the bar. I did find the photo I posted above, of a kitchen window. The flowers are cyclamen, and I loved that window. Still do, really.


And here's a photo of one of the paintings that I had to redo:

Winding River, 50"w x 41"h, acrylic on canvas

Boo Hoo!

I got all three paintings back from my Charlotte hotel project. Very vague instructions on how to "fix" them so that the colors work in the room. Two are abstracted landscapes that I think I can salvage, but the largest one is the geometric painting that I was so proud of. Due to the layering of color and line, it can't be "fixed". I have to start over! That's what commission work is like. I truly have been spoiled by having so many commissions run smoothly. This is just balancing the equation. Dammit!

So I'm painting today. At least I have now been provided fabric and wallcovering swatches to guide me. And since I've worked out the geometric formula for the large one, it won't be so hard to paint again. I sure didn't want to, though.

The reason I'm starting over on a new canvas is that I have confidence in the painting I originally produced. I think I can sell it on another project. You can see it on my Jan 15 post.

Rescheduling

Okay, I'm a wuss. When I went to my welding class on Tuesday night I sat on a metal chair. Since the work area is outside (duh) it was like sitting on a block of ice. It was cold, and I was ill prepared. I'm rescheduling the class to March, when days are longer and it's a little warmer. Jeez - it's not like I HAVE to learn welding in the dead of winter! Interestingly enough the instructor is someone I knew already. He made the brackets for a cast resin installation piece that I did a few years ago. He works with one of my clients.

And I may have someone onboard to redo my websites for me so I won't have to learn Dreamweaver or anything else. Sure hope so.

Final submittals have been made for the Ritz-Carlton project. There are only four pieces of art in each room. I don't even know how many rooms there are. It's not that this is a big money-making job, but hey, its another RITZ! They will commission originals for model room, then prints will be made from those.

I'm painting today, in the middle of a three painting commission for a hotel in Charlotte. This piece is completely geometric. Geometry was the one class in high school that was beyond me. I must have developed that part of my brain since then, because I laid the whole thing out manually, and it worked. So that's something.

I'm also printing. Another purchase order arrived in my inbox yesterday for a project I didn't even know about. All photography, couple hundred pieces altogether, for a hotel in city near me.

Looking forward to next weekend in New Orleans.

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....

Working in the Rain

It's typical winter weather in Dallas. One beautiful 65 degree day and five days of rain and forty degrees. I'm having trouble with the resin, I'm late on my deadline and my client is unhappy. I sent her a list of everything I have done on the boxes each day since I started. Today I sent a "resin report", and will do so everyday until I deliver. The weather is not my fault. I did, however, go to Home Depot and buy two new heaters to place under the tables where I am working. That should help warm things up and dry out the air a little.

Yesterday was "art emergency" day. A client had forgotten to send me a purchase order for some photography. The framer went looking, and there's nothing to frame. Backtracking led them to the unsent email. Lucky for them I was in town and could drop everything else and print five large photos at the very last minute.

I'm almost finished with the six photo paintings for my West Coast rep, will be able to ship on Monday. The weather has interfered with that process, too - nothing will dry!

I got a call from an art consultant in the town where my father lives, Harlingen, TX. What a surprise to know that there are commercial designers down there. Seems there's a project at the airport where they are interested in commissioning my work.

Christmas is coming, presents are wrapped, the air smells like gingerbread (scented candles), and I'm taking off early tonight to put on my flannel jammies and snuggle on the couch (maybe with a dog). Rain makes me feel that way.