Win Some Lose Some

How could I forget to mention that I am in a group show this weekend at the Bath House Cultural Center in east Dallas? There are two concurrent shows, one is printmaking, and the other is encaustic wax. I'm in the encaustic show. The two exhibitions compliment each other nicely. Come see if you are in the Dallas area - Saturday Aug 30, 7-9 at the Bath House, 521 E. Lawther Dr., Dallas. It's on White Rock lake.

That's the "win".

The "lose" is that I was not the chosen photographer for room art for the renovation of what used to be the Adam's Mark hotel in downtown Dallas. It has been rebranded to a Sheraton. They are using photography as room art, and I submitted about 50 pcs of which they chose three for model room. But that's as far as I got. There were 4 model rooms, with 4 different photographers. I don't know who was chosen yet, and I don't know what criteria was considered in the decision. Could have been a framing issue, or budget restrictions, or they just didn't like the imagery. Oh well.

Another event I forgot to mention is that I took part in Scott Kelby's (of Adobe) international "Photo Walk" in downtown Dallas Saturday night. Fifty registered photographers gathered together at the West End and quickly dispersed looking for a winning shot. Submitted photos can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/groups/scott-kelbys-worldwide-photowalk-dallas/. Mine are the ones marked "artgirls".

One last thing. I finally succumbed to the pressure, and I now have a Facebook page.

Good News Friday

Historically Fridays are good days for me. My client likes to release purchase orders on Fridays. I did get a PO yesterday, but not from my client. It's from a purchasing company in Atlanta ordering something that I don't even know about. I'll have to get clarification on Monday, but I do remember quoting something for this project. I think it's for photography which will be printed as digital wallpaper. Nobody told me what images, though, and the PO says "HOT! Deliver ASAP!" Nice, but I don't know what to deliver or to whom. Glad to have the work, though.

I had a last minute request late yesterday, to resize and recolor three photographic images. I was deliriously happy to comply when I was told that these have been chosen for model room for a hotel with almost 2,000 rooms. It's a competition -- I don't know how many model rooms there will be, but I'm not the only artist. Sure would love to get this huge project -- and I have a good shot.

Slacker

I've been such a slacker lately! Among other things, some medical problems are interfering with my ability to create.

But in the good news department, a big project that I've worked on for half a year has been approved by the owners. It's the 900 room JW Marriott down by San Antonio, TX. I have five pieces in every guest room: 3 prints of original paintings, one processed photo on metal, and the big carving that I worked so hard on! The carving will be cast in resin. It's good to have the security of knowing that project is on track, and on my schedule.

Haven't heard about the two other very large hotel projects that I have pending. On those I was competing against other photographers. Should be a decision soon about who gets the job, whether or not they decide on the exact images. Mine were highly manipulated, and "artsy" instead of straight photos. I don't know if that will work for or against me.

I would like to hear something soon, though, so I can plan the rest of my year, with some time off for surgery. I'd rather say "time off at the beach" but I don't see that happening.

Big installation next week. 3o pieces for Verity Radiation, a suite at Texas Clinic. Will have two more pieces to finish up for that job. After that there's a photo installation for a long ramp wall that I am designing.

Will have a preview Happy Hour for some designers at my studio next week. They want to see the completed components of a 22 pc installation for a local hotel. I better get busy!

Saturday night is a charity function. I normally wouldn't go to something like that, but I've been trying to get out more.

I haven't kept up with this blog lately, either, but now that I see how helpful it is in motivating me to get in the studio, I promise to be better!

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!

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!

3d Artwork

High Density Foam Carving, 36 x 36

So far so good. I made alot of progress on this over the weekend. Consequently it's Monday morning I am am totally worn out! I wanted a massage last night but Royce was in a volleyball tournament and couldn't come over. darn-it-all

This is the rough out. All the holes are cut, but not shaped, and I haven't dimensionalized it yet. Just a start, really. At least I got smart this time, and instead of dressing in a jumpsuit and hanging plastic to isolate my studio and protect the rest of the house from this static-y dust, I did the whole thing outside. It was a perfect 72 degree sunny day, low humidity. Then used a lawn blower to clean it (and me) off before bringing it back inside.

As you can see, the design has changed dramatically (more than once). If you can't tell by looking, it's the top of a cowboy boot, from the side. There's the strap down the middle, and lots of stitching and cutouts.

This is the piece that will be cast in resin and placed in 900 hotel rooms in a resort in Central Texas.

I'm on hold right now, waiting for a response from the designer before I take it any further. The thing about sculpting is that once that material is gone, there's no putting it back. Except for the swirly hole cut by the Dremel tool when I yanked on the cord and the drill slipped! I had to spackle that!

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!

Planning Ahead

I thought it appropriate to title this post "planning ahead" when my last one was "be in the moment". How can a person do both?? To anyone who has a busy schedule, you just do it. While I am waiting for paint to dry I scan through emails. When I plan a trip I think ahead to that time off and plan work around it, both before and after. While I'm gone, I'm in the moment.

Today I have been at the computer most of the day, and printing almost the whole time. I had three separate art layouts for hotel model rooms to put together for the designer's approval. It's mostly photography so I made prints. Then I printed some marketing materials. I put together a series of photos documenting the carving, moldmaking and casting process. And I printed out the three section layout of the 22 pc installation that I have designed. Busy day, and the printer is still cranking.

I should have a tracking system, but once I'm paid for the originals commissioned for a hotel model room I put the project out of my mind. It's usually a long lead time between model room and purchase orders. And I don't necessarily get a PO just because I did model room. Sometimes the owners don't like it and they change it up and the order goes to someone else.

In case anybody has an idea that I am successful with everything I present, let me tell you it ain't so. Got a really big rejection this week. The second design for the cast piece was completely wrong, according to the hotel owner. I wish I could get a handle on what they are looking for, because I don't see a connection between their very thorough criticism and the sketch itself. I better have a lightning bolt of an idea soon!

I know it's Easter Weekend, but I'm being blasphemous and working the whole time. Some in the studio, some at my desk, and some in my flowerbeds! My poor poppies have been valiantly blooming, but since they've lived here they have had to endure several freezes, high winds, and this week's 7" gully washer. They're still blooming, but they're beat up. I'm going to give them some neighbors and plant begonias around them.

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.

15 Minutes of Panic

Midday yesterday I realized that I didn't really have anything to do. No deadlines to meet, nothing to prepare. No concepts to dream up.

I considered worrying about it -- and spent 15 minutes doing so until the phone rang and I was right back in it.

A project that I thought I lost came through, only one photographic image, but it's room art, so it's multiples.

And two new projects needed concepts, so I was busy photoshopping most of the day. I got very confused because the two projects are completely different. One is a Texas location with lots of color and Western imagery, the other is beach, with a pale khaki and cream palette. One is over-saturated with color, the other under.

I did find some photos on a hard drive that I barely remembered taking, and some of those were perfect. I always have to submit new things because I work with so few clients they can't show the same things all the time. That's good and bad. Good because it keeps me out there with my camera, and bad because I don't often sell the same image for more than one project.

And I'm happy I had the foresight to get transparencies made of the last two landscape paintings I did, because I've already had an order for five giclees.

I've been contacted by one of the tenants of Texas Clinic and I'm meeting with them on Friday to discuss custom paintings for their suites. Right before that I'm seeing Henry, who wants to talk to me about the next clinic project. That's REALLY good news!

So I'm sending thanks and gratitude out to the universe for once again providing work so I don't have to go out and get a real job!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Outside the Studio

My plans for yesterday were waylaid by 7 inches of rain. Delivering artwork in such weather just wasn't worth it. So today I'll put my good clothes on (something without paint splatters) and get out to the gallery. I'm delivering the 15 paintings completed on Sunday, and picking up paintings that I will take to the framers for my solo show in a few weeks.

Yesterday I started printing. I didn't think this project through, and now I'm extra glad to have two printers, because both of them are smokin' right now. I'm printing large photographs for hotel guestroom art. The print that's 24 x 24 takes 11 minutes to print, and there's 311 of them. That means 4 3/4 12 hour days. I have to sleep sometime! I tried to print through the night, but both printers ran out of ink and stopped.

I'm working overtime because this is a short work week for me. Taking Debbie to New York City for her 50th birthday for the weekend, leaving Thursday. I've kept it a secret from her but she got so depressed about the 5-0 that I told her on Sunday. She's ecstatic, and I'm glad to do it for her. I've actually had it planned and booked for months. And in order to make it a true vacation I'm not even taking my camera. Only a carry-on and a backpack -- traveling light. Got tickets for three musicals, and will not eat breakfast so we can splurge on big dinners. Booked a hotel in midtown, so it's convenient. It will be nice to visit the City - haven't been since my group of artist friends met up there in February 2005 for the Gates exhibit in Central Park.

I will do some galleries, and already have a list of where I want to visit. And of course I'll go to MOMA. Other than that -- free time! woo hoo!

New Project Today

Got a new project to start, 15 abstract paintings, line drawings on painted backgrounds. My client will give me three colors to match to.

And I'm in the big middle of printing images for Texas Clinic, since yesterday's printing for the Ritz went so smoothly. I'm loving my new printer, it's twice as fast as my old one, and that means a lot when I'm printing multiples.

Still waiting for that PO for room art for a local Sheraton, almost a thousand pieces. It was supposed to be here last week, but nothing yet.

And I'm painting. I got a good start on a new Glorieta painting yesterday, this one for my solo show in October.

Inspiration of the Day: Primary Colors

Claiming My Share

Texas Bluebonnet, print size 23.5 x 39.5

I've been listening to The Secret, and am still surprised at how easily negative thoughts can erase a good mood. But I am persevering, and claiming my share of the abundance of the universe. I know that sounds all "woowoo", but hey, whatever works, right? I once read a mathematical computation that concluded there was plenty of money in the world for every person to have much more than they need. I think of that every time I have a moment of worry about paying the mortgage (for example). At least when my flat screen Samsung went out this week I still had two weeks left on the warranty!

I've got another big job headed my way this week, a purchase order for almost a thousand photographic prints. One of them is a big bluebonnet that I shot just this year during the bountiful wildflower season nurtured by heavy Spring rains. This will be a great opportunity to use both big printers at once. Smokin'!

I've got another painting almost finished for Texas Clinic, photos tomorrow.

Solving Technical Problems

Dahlia I, guestroom art for San Diego hotel, 22 x 22

It wasn't my fault. Trashing so many ruined images inspired me to research every possible solution to my printer problem. I dug through the Epson website. I read blogs. I gave up.

I changed paper, and everything is running smoothly once again. Forty more prints and I'm done with printing guestroom art for a Mission Valley, San Diego hotel. Whew. I'll be returning the two rolls of paper that would not feed through my printer to my supplier next week. They have promised a refund.

Thank goodness I've also been painting during this ordeal, otherwise I would have gone crazy. Painting is so soothing to me, and when my hands were busy my mind was investigating different possible solutions.

The sun came out yesterday for the first time in a long while. Today may be my first day in the pool this year. Amazing weather patterns.

An Off Day

It was bound to happen. Not every day can be spectacular. Today I've had a run of bad luck.

I'm having trouble with a print job. Repeated paper jams, after the image has completely printed. I've thrown away 9 images today because they got stuck in the printer and ripped. These are big - 23 x 23 - full color, so we're talking $$. Ouch!

Every time the printer jammed I had to reboot my computer to clear the print spool. My computer doesn't want to shut down and restart anymore. Several times it just refused. I got very nervous.

I've called a computer repair place who does office calls. I think I'm going to have to do three things. 1. Reload Windows on my old computer. 2. Get a new computer. 3. Get a new printer.

My Epson 9600 is five years old and it's well used. New 9800's came out last year, and I think it's finally time to upgrade. Epson is offering nice rebates right now, almost $1000, which really makes it attractive.

So what else went wrong today? Since my images didn't print right I had to hand trim several of them, and sliced off a piece of of my left index finger with a razor blade. Why did I use a razor blade? I always do - nothing unusual about that.

What else?

My client called (about 10 times today) looking for photos that I don't really have. I didn't have time to do much of a search, because I've been rebooting most of the day. So that's a job that's passed me by.

I also didn't have time to reply back to three other things they asked me for.

Sigh.

Tomorrow will be better.

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!