Changing Perspective

One of my photography groups had a meetup today in downtown Dallas. It was 30 min helicopter photo shoot. I've never been in a whirly bird before, so I was excited and anxious as we left the ground. Once we soared into the air I really got into it. The late afternoon light was yellow and warmed up the glass skycrapers, glinting and reflecting back. We made several sweeps around downtown, then around Texas stadium a few times, banking over the opening to shoot directly down. Wish there would have been a game going on -- that would have made a great shot! As it was, the light was perfect, the experience was thrilling. Now I want to do that everytime I travel to a new city. I took hundreds of photos in that short 30 minute segment, so now I'm downloading, deleting and processing. What fun!

Long and Winding Road

Fall in the White Mountains, AZ 2005

I decide I'm on the right path when things flow smoothly.

For the past ten years I have worked out of my home studio, cramming ever-expanding art materials into any available space. My house is more studio than living space at this point. It's been harder and harder to actually work there. But still, signing a lease agreement for a new space gave me a stomach ache! As a commitment-phobic, making the decision was easy, signing a document was hard. I know that it's a great place, a perfect space for me, in the same building with my framer. Intellectually, it makes great sense. It's that emotional impact that's working on me.

That part got easier this morning with the news that I have the opportunity to work on a big new project. So, going forward, I already have a project I might not have been able to complete at home. I will actually need that big space.

See, as things fall into place so easily, it's affirmation that I'm on the right path.

The ten year long road has brought me to this, a 3,000 sq ft space in a great commercial building sharing the same roof with my framer. It's a bigger step than I thought I could take, and right now I'm loving it!

Through the Fog

View of the Golden Gate bridge with Full Moon -- in the fog

After visiting with my friend David Arnone, glass artist, I headed up to the Golden Gate bridge. Last night was the night before the full moon, and since I'm here I couldn't bypass the photo op. I like to shoot from the Marin headlands so the moon rises over the San Francisco skyline and the sun sets behind and lights up the bridge.

Well, that's on a good day.

This wasn't one of those days. The sunny blue sky day quickly deteriorated as I headed south on 101 by Corte Madera. The wind driven fog swept across the highway obliterating most of the light. I perservered, as I am known to do, and headed for Hawk Hill hoping I could get above the fogline. Nope.

Forty five minutes later I was back down in Sausalito, where the fog was above me, and there was a clear line allowing the full moon to glisten down into the waters of the marina. I sat there for a minute and just looked. Totally forgot I was supposed to be on a photo shoot!

I headed home.

Today I've been running around town doing last minute things before my vacation ends. And I've got some clothes washing and house cleaning to do before my friends come home tomorrow. It will be so nice to see them and share stories.

Setbacks and Opportunities

Digital Composite - two layers, one a photo of a painted background, the other a beach photo.

My plans to have a design of my making plasma cut into steel have been thrown a curve. I got a couple of price quotes. Whoa! The piece is big (36 x 36) but still. So that gave me another opportunity to be creative, and now I think I'll be carving the darn thing out of balsa foam or something similar. Don't even have the design approved yet, so at least I won't be slaving over it this weekend.

Instead of doing that, I'll be creating illustrations of sea creatures. See? I never say no to an unusual project.

When I should have been working on that this afternoon I've been making digital composites of paintings and photos. What fun!

I delivered the balance of a purchase order today, so once again my studio is clean waiting for the next thing. Since I picked up a check today, I splurged and bought six colorful pairs of reading glasses. Big splurge, huh. I was reminded of my artist friend Annette who layers her glasses if she needs more magnification, and I selected several strengths.

Ahhh - Friday afternoon and no weekend stress. What a great feeling!

Land of Opportunity

Texas Roundup, 48" x 48" acrylic on canvas

I'm constantly amazed that I make a living with a paintbrush. And more and more, a camera. What a great world.

I woke to rain this morning. Lovely sound. Lately I associate it with our family farm in PA that I recently visited. It was the only place I was allowed to play in the rain as a child.

Another big project has come my way. It's a really really big hotel/resort. Not the one I've been working on all weekend, another one, this time out of state. It's a big opportunity, but I'm afraid it's price-driven and I may not fit in the budget. It's all giclees, from guestrooms to suites to corridors and elevator lobbies. Today my job is to go through the bid packet and pull out images of my own that are similar in style and color to the existing design concepts and then price it out. There are more than 30 pages, so that's my day right there. I can't NOT bid it, but it does take time away from the painting I've got going in the studio, the one above.

This is a big painting, and it's for Texas Clinic. I layered tissue paper over the surface with gesso before painting, just to give it some texture. Kind of a leather texture, really. I didn't want it flat. I went to the Western wear store and took photos for this, so all the boots are authentic. It's really fun!

How To Be a Successful Artist

"Negative Space, 1 & 2", acrylic and silver leaf on paper

I get more emails asking "How To Be Successful" than anything else. It's as though there's a well-hidden secret formula that I have discovered and other artists want me to share the secret.

Of course it's not that easy, nothing ever is.

But today I have an example.

If you've read this blog for awhile you know that I have quite a busy schedule. Most people would say that I don't have time to drop what I'm doing and paint two new images for a presentation no matter how important the client. And most people would think that's a crazy waste of time anyway. Obviously I'm not most people.

Yesterday I got a call about another opportunity to get artwork in the Ritz Carlton. I don't have a lot of inventory, and none of the paintings I've completed for Texas Clinic are appropriate for the Ritz. So I re-read the client's specifications, and painted the two images above. It's only 2:45 right now, and I painted them today. They're already signed and photographed, and if I wasn't in the middle of printing out contact sheets of photography for the same project, I'd get in my car and deliver them to my client.

I have no idea if the Ritz will like them, but making the effort was worth every minute it took.

The idea of time is just that - an idea. We limit ourselves by measuring time and coming up short. Instead, I told myself I have plenty of time. What's the worst than can happen, anyway? I don't finish something. If I hadn't finished these paintings in time for the presentation I still end up with two cool new paintings.

Inspiration of the Day: Short Deadline

More New Things

Glorieta TC, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 48

Gloriete TC, detail

Back in the electronics category I had to replace my keyboard and mouse yesterday. See? Once you start upgrading electronics....

I bought one of those ergonomic models, and now I have to learn how to type again, jeeez!

I had forgotten how much I love the Glorieta series of abstract paintings. Spent the whole day in the studio yesterday working on the painting shown above for Texas Clinic. I had such a good time that I stopped and stretched a new canvas so I can paint another one for my solo show in October. I keep forgetting about that show, and that's dangerous since I'm slated for 13 paintings. I'm feeling the pressure, believe me.

I'm getting another opportunity to place paintings, and/or photography at the Ritz. My gallery called yesterday asking for anything I might have in the right color palette for the Spa (which got a big write up in the newspaper recently). I'm submitting today. It's another fast turnaround since the hotel is now opened.

Shaping up to be another busy day.

Life Review

Black and White photo of Queen Anne's Lace wildflower,
for the Ritz-Carlton hotel guestrooms, Dallas, TX

Let's face it, I'm not a young chick anymore. On the other hand, I still feel like one, pretty much. But as I age, and lose people I love, I become more committed to living a full life. I gave up acquiring things some time ago, and have been in an extended period of examining the "things" I have. If I don't love them, or if they don't make me happy, they move on. And the things that make me feel bad when I look at them for whatever reason, those things I just throw away. There's something wonderfully final about that.

I still have a hard drive full of emails back and forth between me and my sister who died in January. I read them from time to time, I miss her so much. Today I found this gem from her:

"Grandpa Jim told me about regrets when I was fairly young. He said never end up your life regretting that you didn't do something."

That was my Dad's dad. I didn't know him very well, but loved him madly! He was outspoken and bold, characteristics not evident in my own home. I must take after him in that respect. I remember in the mid 70s sitting in the back of a tour bus in Europe writing a poem about regrets -- how I didn't intend to have any.

I've pretty much adhered to that, which is one reason why I always say yes to projects I have no idea how to do! Yesterday I had a request for a metal assemblage (8 pcs). They want old photos of the town printed on each panel. I have no idea if I can do it, but I'm sure I will learn something trying. It's an opportunity I can't pass up.

And I'm pricing the photo the Ritz chose for the additional artwork in each guestroom. They need them soon, artwork is already being installed - so my printer is really getting a workout!

Pointing in a New Direction

The past few months have been a time for me to reconsider where I am going with my art and my life. Losing my sister was tough, and it was yet another reminder that we never know how much time we have. Some jealous friends chastise me about traveling so much, but hey, if not now, when? My 92 yr old Dad has always loved to travel, and only lately has he decided maybe his roadtrip days are over. Must have been a tough realization.

But me, I'm still young! And I intend to maximize the time I have on the planet.

Regarding my art, I have considered and discarded many suggestions by well-meaning friends. I'm not going to make and sell greeting cards, either painted or printed. I'm not going to make a hundred ATC's to sell on Ebay for $25 or trade with artists around the world. I'm not going to join MySpace and see how many "friends" I can accumulate who might buy my art. I'm not going to sell small originals on Etsy. All those things might work for other artists with different goals, but it's not where I am headed.

I want the big bucks, and I'm not afraid to work for it.

I've been spoiled by my relationships with art consultants. I paint, I get paid. That's great, and I know a lot of artists envy me that. However, I still want more. On this Saturday when I have no commissions in the studio other than some photo paintings for my West Coast rep, I am still painting. I have some ideas to express.

I also have two large incentives looming ahead of me. One is the Texas Clinic project on which I am acting as both art consultant and artist. It installs in October. Also in October is my solo show at the Scott & White gallery in Temple, TX. I have free rein with both -- so it's an opportunity I plan to take full advantage of. Wheels are turning, carrying me down that new path.