Power Outage

Sometimes after a painting or project is completed I experience a power outage.

I'm having one today. Yesterday my client came over to help me assemble a seven piece installation that they will use as a sales tool on presentations to design professionals. I was rushed to complete it, and wanted it to be my best work. I used an assortment of techniques: painting, photography, cast resin, poured resin, photos on metal and plexi, and a new process of frosted plexi boxes holding sticks, rocks, and other natural elements. I would post a picture of the completed design, but I didn't take any! Nor did I photograph any of the elements. So unlike me!

Today I still have some photography to print, but after that, it's basically a down day, where I regroup for the next project. Alarmingly, I don't know what that is, since my schedule seems completely clear.

Endlessly Tweaking

If a painting stays around here past it's time, I keep painting on it. That's not always a good thing. Sometimes I regret the "additions" but it's not digital and I can't go back or use the "history brush". Yes, there's a painting in my studio like that right now. The one above. It's still not finished, I have to add one more photo in the bottom right hand corner. They just decided that today. This is for a construction company, and I used photographs of elements in their yard to create the abstract patterns. There are three photographs, but everything else is painted. The eagle in the top left is an award they won. It's a sculpture, and I painted it from a photo I took.

I really need this painting out of here. It's BIG and I need the room. Plus, it's distracting! I can't stop painting on it!

I'm going to have to push back a deadline for six paintings for a hotel in Detroit. I'm going down to south Texas to visit my dad this weekend, and consequently lose three work days. But, hey, it's just art, right? Problem is, I got the purchase order when I was in California, and I'm already late. I'm doing the best I can!


This is one of my photos from California -- such an inspiring coastline.

Incompatible Materials

As a mixed media artist I have tried a wild assortment of materials to create artwork. Some work together and some don't. I try to think it through, but without being a chemist I don't always succeed.

This time it's the resin box that's the problem. Most varnishes work better on a horizontal surface. I found that out on the last resin boxes when I varnished the sides and made a big mess. This time I sealed the paint with a Golden UV polymer varnish, which worked great but did not give me the high gloss shine I was looking for. So I tried polyurethane over the top of it. Wrong! It's mineral spirits based and the surface immediately alligatored. I was able to remove it (quickly), clean with soap and water, sand, repaint, re-varnish with additional coats of the Golden varnish. Whew!

Today all the sides are varnished and dry. Two sides have resin, and the top will get resin today. And I'm done!

Also have five photo paintings with this project, and I'm on number five right now, so I will meet my deadline of next Tuesday with time to spare.

It's a good thing, too, since I have been the victim of identity theft.

Since returning home from three weeks away I've slowly been going through the big sack of mail. I pay all my bills online so I don't usually get anything high priority through the mail. This time I was surprised to find six new credit cards and four letters from credit card companies asking for more information in response to applications. I did not apply for any credit cards, and apparently have really good credit, because the companies happily set up new accounts for me. Yesterday I spent mostly on the phone with credit bureaus, the police, and each and every account that was opened. Also discovered four fraudulent charges on an existing credit card and had to cancel it, too.

I don't see the benefit to a thief of setting up new accounts and having the cards come to me. They sure know a lot about me, and that has me nervous.

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.

Spinning

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

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!

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.

Art That Matches the Sofa

My specialty is creating artwork for hotels. A big part of my income is derived from creating and printing guestroom art. My clients are commercial designers for high end properties who don't want to use posters that are readily available. They want something custom that matches the decor of the room. Yes, art that matches the sofa! I am not opposed to creating this type of artwork, in fact, it's a challenge for me. I think it's good exercise in keeping the creative juices flowing.

I get tired of it, though, and that's when I want to paint huge abstracts with wild abandon.

None of that is happening today, though, as I finish up that crazy painting-over-a-giclee process. Then I'll get ready to pick up Helen (from Berkeley) from the airport and visit a few galleries with her. I'm picking up a big purchase order today, too.

Reading Things Wrong

I made a mistake. Joanne Mattera will not be at the meeting of the Texas WAX group today. She has promised, however, to stop by our exhibition next Friday night at CAMP, 2631 Commerce St. Suite B, Dallas, TX 75226, from 6-8. Come see the show of Texas WAX artists!

I'm up to my creative eyeballs in work. This is the cerebral part, not hands-on, but brain-on. Have two new local projects looking for art. One is a project I've already got the PO for, and it's all design work, for a 3d installation piece with almost 30 components. That's the kind of project I stress over, because I am doing all the design, in multiple mediums, and have to arrange each piece to coordinate with every other element. Things like this always make me crazy, but it's so satisfying when it's all done and on the wall.

And resin is haunting me again, in the project I just mentioned, and also another one. There are fifteen pieces of cast resin, and they want a cleat embedded in the back for hanging. Yikes, have to do a sample to see if the two plastics are compatible.

Who would have ever thought that being an "artist" could be so demanding. Jeez! (I love it!)

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

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.

Artist's Communities

When I was in Berkeley last week I was moaning about how I didn't have an artist community to belong to in my hometown of Dallas. When my phone rang at 6:30 last night, it was Linda Rowe, one of my former partners in Artist's Showplace. They were having their five year anniversary party, and she wanted to invite me. I was there within thirty minutes. At the end of the two hours I remembered what I had missed most about leaving the co-op gallery. My artist friends! It was a delight to reconnect with the others who were there in the beginning of an optimistic effort to establish a retail gallery in a north Dallas neighborhood. We worked so hard! It's paying off now, as the present partners were happy to tell me.

I don't regret leaving, because owning a retail gallery and all that that entails was really not part of my business model. But I tried. I did it, I gave it my all, and I decided it wasn't for me. More power to all those wonderful artists who are continuing to make it a success.

I got a nice big purchase order on Friday, so it's back to work for me, just what I like. I'm actually in the studio today, finishing up a commission for a photo painting. And I'm doing some internet research on a new process I want to try. I'm always up for a challenge dontcha know!

In the Flow

This photo was taken outside Ste Colombe, France last year. I've been thinking of France since a couple of my artist friends just returned from a lovely visit there and I'm jealous!

We've all experienced times when our lives just flowed without conflict. I'm in one of those periods now, and things are good. I've completed a number of large projects, and have a couple of purchase orders in house for new things.

This weekend I attended the Healthcare Design conference, and made some contacts that seem promising. I printed tear sheets to hand out, and one person I met said "oh! You're "A Walker"? I just sold 25 of your paintings on a hospital project!" She promised to send me photos of the installation.

And Carl told me that he sold 50 giclees of my work for a hospitality project. Guess the check will be in the mail.

Solo Show at Scott and White hospital

Yesterday I took down my solo show at the Smith Art Gallery at the Scott and White hospital in Temple, TX. I met the art consultants that are just completing the installation for all the art in the new addition to the hospital. That's another company that might turn out to be a nice new client for me, too. They were already familiar with my work.

cast resin, 36 x 36

Today I got to see the final painted cast of the carving. The colors weren't exactly right so I made a few touchups, now it's perfect! Looks like rusted metal, right?

longhorn photography, 32 x 42

And the other thing that I haven't talked much about is the large photograph for a huge resort project. I sold the rights to the image, and someone else is printing it on metal. The color isn't right on that either, but it will have to do for model room, we can make adjustments after the purchase order arrives!

The Pain of Arrogance

I paid little attention to the order for three small (8" x 12") photo paintings for the large hotel project. I've done hundreds of those paintings, so there was no challenge for me at all. Their significance was further reduced by the drama of the carving, and an intricate layered digital construction for the same project. I forgot about those paintings, actually.

So I rushed through them, tried to skimp on the paper size, changed my process entirely, used a different printer, and basically ruined them at the end. They're trash.

I had to start over late last night, and today I'm following established processes and paying more attention. It was my own fault.

Planning An Escape

It's been too long since I've had a change of scenery, and I'm planning just that. I need to get away, I need to be alone, and I need some distractions. Luckily my artist friend Helen is going away over Thanksgiving and she needs a petsitter for her little dog Redford, and her two new poodle puppies! How could I resist the allure of northern California and two puppies?

Hopefully all these projects that have made me so crazy over the past few months will be installed and off my mind.

Today I am painting three abstracts (the ones I forgot about) and delivering the abstract I painted yesterday that will be turned into digital wallpaper.

Had some major complications with the carving. The casting estimator got the numbers wrong and now it's not even close to being affordable for room art. It's possible that we'll have enough time to get it to China for casting, but that's a long way off, and decisions can be made after model room (Nov 1). We're doing the first one here, that's for sure.

Still doing last minute prints for Texas Clinic. I have one 46' wall left to lay out, and I'm done with that. Can't wait to see what turns up in my inbox today.

Magnetic Dust

carved foam, 36" x 36" x 1"

It's not really magnetic, but it must have some sort of static cling to it. Carving this foam (Last-A-Foam) is the messiest thing I've ever ever done. Even more than sandblasting! I made the mistake of going from the studio to plopping down in a living room chair. Foam dust went with me, loosed itself from my clothes and attached to the chair. And the remote control, and the pillow, and the carpet, and my coffee cup. I got undressed in my studio last night, and bagged the clothes. Even with shop vac-ing every ten minutes, it's a huge mess. But as you can see above, I've made good progress. The design is an abstracted mesquite tree, which is native to central Texas. This is the original from which mold will be made and then cast in resin.


Also completed one of the metal boxes. The photos are printed on metal and adhered to a cradled wood panel (box). I've surrounded the image with aluminum tape which has been imprinted in a design. Can't really see that part on the photo. Also antiqued it a little with black ink, then scrubbed it with steel wool. I'm really happy with how this turned out. I have three more to do. These are for Texas Clinic.

Dust and Debris

I knew it would be messy, but I didn't know the dust would have such sticking power. After gluing two pieces of foam together and cutting it to size I couldn't wait to start cutting. First I took my full size pattern and transferred it to the foam using graphite paper. Then I got out my Dremel tool, Exacto knife, and other various cutting tools. And sandpaper, the screen kind you use for wallboard.

I've just started, and can immediately see that this won't be as hard as I expected. What you see about is about twenty minutes work. The Dremel tool can get away from you, so that was a surprise. I'll have to use a gentle hand with it. But the cutting bit I'm using is very effective. I think it's all going to work out fine. Deep sigh of relief!

Photo Processing

I've known for months that I have a 60 ft wall of photographs to provide for Texas Clinic. And I have a theme: water. Sounds easy - I choose 15 photos from my extensive inventory of appropriate images, process and print to size, then deliver to my framer. Well installation is weeks away and I've only printed four images. What takes so long?

See the example above? That's only one choice of image processing. I always go for drama and my style may not suit everyone. But to get to that point ( the processed image) I can literally spend hours if not days. Perfection is elusive -- but I never give up the search for it.

In other news, I got approval for the sculpture design, and the modeling foam arrived yesterday. That means I'll be teaching myself how to carve this weekend. What fun thing do you have planned?

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.

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)