Managing Change

This is a series of digital prints on canvas (30 x 42 ea) commissioned for a hotel in Myrtle Beach, FL. They will be printed on canvas and gallery wrapped. The fish photos were taken in the San Francisco aquarium last year. It was such a challenge to get any good photographs in low light conditions with moving subjects. These aren't entirely clear, but they make up for it in character!


As I look around my small home studio and analyze all the equipment, storage, and supplies that I have crammed in here, I can't help but feel good about the new commercial space. There will be room to do everything, and everything will have its place. I need someone with space planning skills to lay it all out for me. What a relief that will be!

I haven't decided about moving my printers and home office. Obviously I will now need two computers, and some kind of network so that I can access my files from home. But just thinking about that makes my eyes glaze over. I'll have to hire that out.

Today I have a 2:00 installation, then I need to get home to pack for my trip to New England tomorrow. It's a photo shoot, and I'll be mostly concentrating on that, but it sure will be nice just to breath the air up there. My friend Helen has given me an itinerary to follow for the best scenery.

Creative Concepts

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.

Hybrid Photography

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.

When Play Works

Feeling guilty about playing with photos instead of doing the work for the purchase orders I have in house, I neglected to realize how important "play" is to an artist. If we continue to do same things in the same way each time, we end up with the same old thing. That does not encourage growth as a creative person.

So I threw the guilt away and am now embracing play.

It didn't hurt that the manipulated photo above received an enthusiastic response from one of my clients. AND the ten page request for quote yesterday included a number of images resulting from "play". That's positive reinforcement, for sure!

Inspiration of the Day: Play!

Get Over Yourself

Sometimes a person has to have a talk with one's self. Like me yesterday when I didn't want to work, I wanted to play. I wanted another Sunday instead of a workday Monday.

I had a talk with myself. I promised that after I finished my proposal I could play. It worked. Once I dove into the layout of the new space I'm designing, work mode kicked back in. I finished the proposal, and submitted it. Then I printed a photograph for a model room for a hotel in Orange County, CA. Then I varnished (four coats!) a digital painting I printed on Sunday.

I also had a opportunity to be humble. My client called looking for some prints that they had ordered a couple weeks ago. I printed them promptly, then totally forgot I had stacked them in my back studio behind closed doors. I swore that they had been delivered. Ooops! I was wrong. I'll be delivering this morning (humbly).

And it looks as though I have a new resin project coming up. This one requires sculpture of some sort. Another one of those undertakings that I will make up as I go along. I love that!

Inspiration for the Day: putting work first

Cleaned Up

that blue does not photograph well, especially with the sun shining on it! 60" x 30"

Well I've cleaned up since yesterday -- even had my nails done. I was through with the blue, anyway.

Today I'm painting the curly swirls on that blue background. On Monday I'll take the painting to have a transparency made and scanned, because I intend this image to go in my "giclee" file. Sometimes my clients don't have the budget for original paintings. I use the scans to print my own paintings, and sometimes to montage together for entirely new "paintings" created digitally.

That keeps my printer running while I'm in the studio. I'm giving it a rest today after two days printing round the clock for a room art project in the Caribbean.

Got a new project on my plate today, room art for a hotel in Southern California. My client called and gave me the color palette and design concept. From there I dig through my image inventory of both paintings and photography and submit appropriate things. That actually is quite an investment in time, because I always color tint whatever kind of image it is to fit the project. There's a lot of photoshopping involved. Still so much easier than painting something and hoping somebody likes it! Computers really simplified the commercial art business. I don't have to paint a thing until it's sold.

My New Year

Today is my birthday, and with the way it's situated in holiday season it feels like the real beginning of every new year to me. This year it's on a Monday, even better!

The image above is a "digital painting" created from a photograph. It's a little hard to see the brush strokes in the small web version, but the original size looks great. It was fun to do, and I submitted it for model room for the new Ritz-Carlton project I've been working on.

I delivered the Pensacola job today, and the gallery had a sign on the locked door that they were closed for a meeting. I pulled out my cell phone and found out that everyone was there but deathly ill from a virulent bug. I left the art at the door and watched from a distance as someone came out to collect it. I sure don't want to share that microorganism.

So I'm laying out more canvas for the next three paintings of abstracted landscapes. Don't have much energy for painting today, so I'm thinking I'll clean out a kitchen cabinet to make room for some of my new kitchen equipment that Santa brought me!

Inspiration of the Day: new beginnings

Using What You Got

I'm in my last phase of printing images for Texas Clinic. Instead of starting over from scratch developing new photography to combine with paintings for digital constructions, I am using photography that I already created for a different job. Why reinvent the wheel, right? I am creating these the same way that I do digital mockups, cutting and pasting, really.

It's good to be working on something that doesn't have the level of anxiety of the carving. I took photos of the final piece before I delivered it to the mold makers yesterday. This is a nerve-wracking process. First I have never worked in that medium before (foam carving). Second, I've never had this company make a mold, and third, we have a Nov 1 install date. Yikes! Even my client called me last night (after work hours) for reassurance that it's all going to be good. How the heck do I know? We're all doing our best and trusting in a good finale.

More Digital Fun

Now that I'm winding up the Texas Clinic project I am not so stressed. I'm taking some time to develop new imagery for the project instead of filling the place with straight photography. I love the look of photographs layered with paintings, and now I'm pleased that I spent the money to have so many paintings digitized.

Packing in Supplies

You'd think I lived in the wilderness the way I check my supplies mid-week to make sure I don't run out of an important item over a working weekend. Like ink or paper. Things I can't buy on Saturday. I'm starting a big print job, and I don't really know how much of what it will take. I overbought, with the understanding that I will always need and use these supplies.

It's only 7:00 pm but I'm beat. I finished the boot painting today (minor adjustments and varnishing). Started a new Glorieta painting for my solo show next month. I still love that series. And I submitted about ten digital images for various projects.

Got the series of 15 abstracts all laid out and ready to go. They are all taped off waiting for paint. I need light for that, so will put it off til tomorrow.

Doesn't really seem like I accomplished that much for getting up just after 4:00 am. Silly me.

(yawn)

Painting, Traditional and Digital

Texas Roundup, 4' x 4' acrylic on canvas

Another day of multi-tasking. Moving between a canvas on my studio wall and the virtual canvas of my monitor.

I never expected my client to call and ask me to create a catalog of digitally created images. When computer generated art was first developed, it was looked at with scorn. Now there are companies who sell only that. Amazing! And the pitiful (to me) example I whipped up with a photograph and Photoshop was so well received by my client that they are clamoring for more. Like a whole catalog of imagery they can mix and match.

Digital Art

I actually am encouraged to do exactly that, since looking over the recent bid package I received for a massive hotel/resort project. It's mostly digital art!

I'm getting panicky looking at my deadlines looming. I have to install my solo show on Oct 2. Yikes!

Another Day of Organizing

Jeez! I don't know when I'll come to the end of the organization blitz. And I really can't imagine what a totally organized space would be like to work in. Probably fabulous!

I'm starting on my massive photo inventory now.

I have also gone round and round with my new computer. I had some Adobe issues that hopefully are resolved by now and I can load everything back up and get back to business. At least it worked okay for me yesterday when I did that digital mockup for Texas Clinic. Bottom line, Adobe owes me a refund for the Photoshop CS3 upgrade I bought. Although they don't tell you anywhere on the website you can't upgrade from Creative Suite 2.

I know I said this when I first started upgrading my equipment. Once you start, you have to buy new everything. I'm glad it's not like that in my studio. I am using really old brushes and none of my paintings care!

Changing the Schedule

I had agreed to housesit in Berkeley for three weeks starting in July. The dates changed, and I have a prior family commitment to be in Pennsylvania the last weekend in July. I still checked airfares trying to figure out how I could do it all.

Then a group of new commissions landed in the studio, and I've given up my creative planning. I just can't go to Berkeley.

Instead, I am working on new creative projects. One triptych is a blended color wash across all three canvases, and will have skinny long stemmed leaves stenciled on as the last design element.

Another triptych (a series of 24" boxes) is a random patterned minimal abstract from one of those paintings I did in my "white" phase.

The next three paintings are for the Mercury Grill, and will be a continuation of the 12 paintings I already have installed there.

Then there are three large photo paintings, not like the ones I've done lately, but an earlier version. There's a series of 10 photographs for this project, also. All this for a large hotel in downtown Ft Worth, TX.

AND there's more!

A 40" sq abstract minimalist painting on a box, silver leafed.

I'm still working on the two digital paintings for the golf resort.

I'm reworking the art placement and budget for Texas Clinic.

Have to make decisions for my solo show in October which will consist of 13 paintings.

See why I can't go to Berkeley?

Another Manifestation

I've mentioned this occurrence so many times it shouldn't continue to surprise me, but here I am, surprised.

I've just spent 10 days photographing the most beautiful seascapes and waterfalls in Oregon. Today in a business meeting about the Texas Clinic project, a fabulously contemporary space, the owner confided to me that his original idea for the building was to call it "Cascades" and use a waterfall theme. Perfect for me, since when we walked the space this morning he added at least 20 more images, which he would like to be photography. He mentioned the waterfalls in Oregon, and in the ten minutes I've been back from the meeting I've already sent him a photograph I took just days ago.

So is this a form of manifestation? I haven't read "The Secret", but I'm pretty sure I'm living it.

My studio is full of projects! Before I get paint on me I'm going to sit here and do some digital mockups for the Ritz-Carlton. I want to be sure to wow them the first time.

Taking Advantage

I read a Call for Artists yesterday, responded and asked for more information. A new hotel is being built north of where I live. The hotel owners are looking for local artists to provide artwork for the facility. There will be originals in the public areas, and three reproductions (giclees) in each room. The hotel is asking for original artwork (with certain criteria) which will not be returned to the artist. Furthermore, the agreement clearly states that the hotel can use the artwork in any form they choose, because the artist is required to sign over the copyright to the hotel. They also state that the artist may or may not be credited with the work.

I wrote to the hotel contact person and asked how the artist will be compensated, but have not heard back, even though they quickly answered my email about applying.

In their favor they have specifically outlined that the artist has no rights and may not even be recognized. But what artist would agree to that? New ones! The hotel is targeting the Art Institute of Dallas, full of young creative artists looking for a future. I think that's despicable. Giving your art away will not make you famous.

I am finding it easier and more fun to do digital art now that the fear has been lifted. I am still working on the two large pieces, which happen to be grids. There are nine squares in each one so essentially it's like creating 18 small paintings that all have to relate to each other. Just another wonderful challenge.

I'm mourning the death of an artist friend, Kay Wilson, who passed last week. I knew her for many years, as part of an online artist group I belong to. We met in person at a group function in 2001. She loved to travel, and was a wonderfully sensitive artist. She will be missed.

Sharing Books

What I forgot to mention about my technological challenge yesterday was that one of the AT&T installers was an artist! He was so not what you would expect. Big African American who plopped himself down in front of my computer and speed-typed his way around the system. He talked jargon the entire time with his buddy, who was in training. They were making polite small talk and asked me what I did for a living (probably impressed by my 44" printer) and I showed them my studio. Taylor was dutifully impressed and announced that he was trying to teach himself how to paint. During a lull in the installation I led him over to my bookshelf and invited him to pick a book to take home. He chose a detailed book on painting watercolors. Hope he puts it to good use.

Speaking of books, I'm happy to announce that one of my early paintings, "Confession" has been chosen to illustrate a book in the Massachusetts Press catalog. They sent me a stack of copies. Nice to see my work in print like that.

I'm working digitally today. Indeed I've had requests from two different clients for digital imagery -- so I'm polishing my skills in that area.

No Show

Bougainvillea and Picket Fence

I know I said I was going to enter the painting "Blue Forest" in the TVAA show "Works on Paper". I rarely enter shows and thought this would be a good opportunity to do something local. What stopped me was the fine print that said "I agree to schedule a sitting time for at least one day Monday-Friday from 10:00 am to 4:oo pm." Yikes! Don't want to do that.

However, I really am entering the International Encaustic Artists show in San Francisco. Sure hope to get juried in!

Today I am sitting at the computer working digitally preparing several photographs for use as room art in hotel suites. I've posted one above.

My second digital project involves creating two large digital montages for a golf resort.

Blog Changes

I've upgraded my blog to the new "layout" system which promises to be much easier to work with. After spending the last hour rearranging things, I've got it working, but not quite happy with its appearance. Will work on that later when I get a little more patience built up.

Picked up a CD of digital images yesterday, which will be the basis of several new digital designs for a country club. Seems that I'm forced to keep up with technology!

Delivered and Packed

I'm late posting today, because I've been running all day. I varnished the digital paintings and they were dry enough to deliver this afternoon, with the 20 spa paintings, and "Blue Cosmos" which I posted yesterday.

So I'm all caught up, except for the order for my rep on the West coast, who will have to wait.

It's hard to pack both painting supplies and all my photo equipment for the same trip. There's a weight limit on luggage, and everything is heavy! I'll have to buy some painting supplies when I get there, and I've already shipped a package of paper to the workshop site. By the way, I'm going to the Mendocino Art Center, taking a workshop with Robert Burridge.

It's Earth Day in San Francisco, so we might have to make a few of those events before heading off north.

Today is my dad's 92 birthday! He's become a wonderful role model for me -- still healthy and mentally active at that ripe age. You go Daddy!

When Paintings Come Back

When I sell commissioned paintings the last thing I do is take photos because I know I won't be seeing them again, since so little of my work is local. Today I'm getting 12 paintings back, the ones from Mercury Grill that had such a short deadline because they wanted them installed for Easter Buffet. The restaurant still isn't opened and the paintings aren't framed. It seems that there's a small problem.

The client wants to deckle the edges and float the images on linen. They discovered that I used two different types of paper and the colors don't match. Apparently they want to leave a white border around each piece, and now they want me to paint the all the edges white so that they match. Amazing.

Since that was not discussed before the paintings were finished, I will be quoting my price to do that, and maybe they will change their mind. The last thing I want to do over the weekend is tape and paint 48 edges.

Digital Painting, 36" x 60"

In other news, when I told my client that I could not do the digital paintings she called me and told me I had to, that I had never, in all these years said "I can't" and that I couldn't say it now because she had promised her client that I could do it. So I did. Design is taken from carpet and fabric in the room. There will be a pair of these. I am delivering the test print this morning for approval.

Now I'm on my way to the gym for a workout I really need.

Inspiration for the day: movement