New Small Paintings

Both of these paintings I created as a result of a Barbara DePirro workshop called "Collage De-Collage". It was a wonderful class involving sanding, tearing, carving and using various mediums. The first one involved crumpled paper adhered to the paper and the loose parts torn off after drying. Then there was sandpaper involved! It was a great class.

New Experimental Painting Group

I wrote earlier that I was going to have a second experimental painting group at my studio, and the first session was this past Wednesday. It is so wonderful to get together with a group of artists who share similar interests and get excited by the same things. Binky Bergsman wowed us all with a transfer method using parchment, which can be reused again and again. Tonnie Wolfe showed us embossed paper made out of toilet paper! There are an unlimited supply of new ideas out there, and we want to know all of them. We can learn so much from each other. Sometimes there are so many things I want to do, that I find myself paralyzed and unable to create anything. Fortunately, that always passes. I just have to sail into a new project and see what happens.

Something Different

For some reason I just love this little 8x8 piece. It doesn't look much like my work because the colors are more subdued. I don't think I have ever used gray!

Sales, Sales, Sales

Hooray! I sold the three paintings above at Parklane Gallery in November. I have had a bit of a dry spell there, so the sales were even more welcome than usual. As you can see they are all from the same series. The first one and third one were purchased by the same people from Texas.

Experimental Painting

Well, I see it has been a long time since I have written here. It is probably because I only write about art related activities, and I haven't been having many. We spent the last week in Palm Springs getting warm, so no art was being created then. I have so enjoyed my experimental painting group that meets at my studio on the first Wednesday of each month that I moved it to the second Wednesday this month so that we wouldn't miss it because I was out of town. So, yesterday the group (actually three of the seven artists couldn't make it) met and had a fabulous time creating and sharing. Most of the artists that I know are so generous that no one has any problem sharing new tools, ideas, papers, whatever. Recently I have been copying everything to do direct transfers with. An old piece of loose weave burlap, a tray with holes in it, a piece of wire mesh, decorative paper, whatever crosses my path gets copied on my new laser printer. Yesterday the whole group was involved in copying and doing direct transfers. Even though we were using a lot of the same copies to do transfers, none of our work resembled anyone elses. I had a wonderful time and it inspired me to get back in the studio today.

Because there are more experimental artists than I have room for in my studio, we are starting a second group that will meet on the third Wednesday of each month. So, I get to have all that fun twice a month from now on. I think that working with other artists really stimulates creativity.

New Series Sales

I am so happy to report that my latest series of paintings is selling! I paint because I love it, and I can't not paint, but it is just the cherry on the sundae when they sell as well. I seem to constantly move from one series to the next, and some sell and some don't. Some I love and some I don't. Lately I have found myself painting over the ones that I don't love and trying again for something I do love. I seldom need to buy canvas or boards anymore since I started repainting those that I do not love.

Barbara DePirro Workshop

I had the good fortune to attend a three day workshop put on by Barbara DePirro last Saturday through Monday. What a good time was had by all. She is a terrific instructor and always teaches such interesting classes. All of the supplies are provided, which is a big deal because you always need a lot of supplies in her classes. The class was called Collage/Decollage. It was the decollage part that I was attracted to. It involved sanding, scratching, tearing and grinding your paintings. How could that not be a fun thing for an experimental painter like myself?

I also have big plans for the coming weekend starting on Friday. I intend to spend a good share of it at home and in my studio. Yeah!

Painting Again

Hooray! I am finally painting again. I thought I was broken. I have managed to get into my studio and paint three or four times this week, and I am actually finishing some paintings. I can never figure out why I stop painting. Every once in awhile I just dry up creatively. It is usually because I am ready to start something new. However, this time, since I have gotten back to the studio, I am painting the same things, mostly figurative.

I finally had a sale at Parklane Gallery (the above painting). It was a long, long dry spell for me there. I also have sold 12 paintings at Matthew Robert Salon and have another two weeks there. What a great place, owned by wonderful, art loving people. They get so excited about the art that it flies off the walls. It is also up for three months, which I think makes a difference. When I hang my art at Parklane Gallery, it is only up for a month. Sometimes that is not long enough. I have started leaving some of my paintings up for another month to give them more exposure. You are supposed to change at least 50% of your work each month.

Today is experimental painters day at my studio, and I am really looking forward to being with this great group of women artists who are constantly discovering something new to add to their paintings. I am sure it will be a great day.

New Small Painting

Art Exchange II

It is now 4 days after the Art Exchange and I am just getting around to doing a post on what a great time it was. The reason for that is only partly that I have a cold and feel lousy. It was just as much fun as it was the first year, and I am already planning for next year. I was impressed with the art brought the first year, but this year was truly incredible. I think most people were happy with what they went home with, but it is hard to tell with so many people talking, laughing, eating, drinking and admiring their new art. I ended up with 7 new pieces of art. My first pick was a beautiful painting by Chris Cantu. Thank you Chris. After that I became the owner of a heart print by Tami Cole, a beautiful painting called "Fragrance" by Darlene Lucas, a tiny piece called "Swimmer" by Kim Weers, "Money Tree" by Cheryl Waale, "Neptune's Garden" by Jonlee Nunn and "Green Willow" by Marty Blu. I went for all 2D work this year, and I added 4 new artists to my Artists I Know Wall. I will write about that wall another time.

If you are reading this and you came to the Art Exchange, thank you for participating and making it such a memorable event.

Art Exchange

Today is the second annual Art Exchange at my house, and I am very excited. We did it for the first time last November, and it was the most art fun I have ever had. I am expecting 32 artists today. They all bring something to eat and something to drink. They also bring art that they wish to not have in their studio anymore. It may be something they just aren't crazy about, something they haven't been able to sell, or there is some other reason they don't want to see it anymore. In exchange they go home with someone else's work that they love and that is new to them. Some people bring one thing and some may bring a dozen. You just bring what you want to give away and don't expect to go home with exactly the same number you brought. We draw numbers and start to pick out what we want and keep going until everything is gone. Last year everyone went home with at least 5 pieces of art. I bet it will be just as much fun this year. I will let you know how it goes.

Busy Saturday

Barbara DePirro is presenting a program at ArtistsConnect today. If you don't know, she is the local representative for Golden Acrylics. I am sure I am going to leave the program with dozens of things whirling in my head that I need to buy right now and try tomorrow! It is very dangerous to the pocketbook to go to classes when you are an art supply addict.

After the ArtistsConnect meeting and Barbara's presentation, I must go to work at Parklane Gallery in Kirkland from 3 to 7 p.m. If any of you are in the area, stop and see me. I had the opportunity to switch my Parklane shift from tomorrow to today, and I jumped on it because now I can have a whole day at home tomorrow. I will be able to paint for the first time since the Edmonds Art Studio Tour on Oct. 19 & 20. I have been so busy that I haven't even been able to think about painting, let alone do it. I am really feeling the absence of painting in my life. I think it is time to simplify my life, but I can't seem to give up anything art related and that is mostly what I do. I think I am going to have to give up a couple boards or committees. I will let you know how that goes.

Seattle Men's Chorus Auction

The last Seattle Men's Chorus JustArt Auction was held this evening. I am delighted to report that my painting, Graffiti I, sold for more than the asking price of $775. Someone bought it outright for $1088! I just love it when that happens.

It's Over!

The Edmonds Art Studio Tour is now over, and it was a fabulous weekend. I just get so excited by all the people that I meet and get to talk to about my art. I also see people that I know that I do not see very often. Then there are the people that I know from non-art related venues that come to see my work for the first time. This year it was people from my water aerobics class, neighbors and my dentist. I get to stay in my own studio, talk about art with great people, share my space with other talented artists and sometimes sell paintings. What is not to love about that!

It was especially gratifying to sell "Daisies & Fire" to Carla. I hope you are reading this Carla. Carla and her husband already own a couple of my paintings, and I loved having the opportunity to spend time with her and talk about my work.

For the first time I had a discount table at the studio tour. Although some artists think that this is devaluing my work, I disagree. I love to paint, and it is the process, not the eventual painting, that really gives me joy. If I do not sell my paintings I will run out of room someday! I believe a number of people purchased items from my discount table that would not have been able to enjoy owning original art if the price had not been discounted. People are really worried about money right now, and I am happy that they are willing to spend anything to own a piece of original art.

I will definitely be particpating in Edmonds Art Studio Tour 2010.

Day One of Tour is Complete

The studio tour gets me so wound up that I can barely stop talking. When we shut down at 5 p.m. I just collapse. I fell asleep on the floor before 9 p.m. and staggered off to bed at 9. Today I am ready again and just as excited as yesterday. We had some good sales even though there were fewer visitors than last year. I set up a discount table which was a huge hit and a great way to move some paintings out of my home into someone else's home. There is nothing I enjoy more than talking to people about my art in the comfort of my own studio, and if I sell something, it is a bonus. It is so much more satisfying than selling in a gallery where you may never meet the people who are enjoying your work.

Even if I don't sell a thing today, I will consider the event successful because I had so much fun.

Edmonds Art Studio Tour

It's here at last. The tour begins in 3 hours and I am ready and waiting. Nancy Thompson has set up her work in my family room, and Meredith Arnold should be setting up in an hour or so. Meredith had a family emergency and couldn't get here to set up yesterday. We are crossing our fingers that she will be able to make it today. However, if her family needs her, than that is the way it will be. We will miss her if she cannot make it.

I handled preparations for the tour a lot better this year than I have the past three years. I did a little each day, slowly moving toward the tour. By the time it came, I was all ready, with no stress. What a concept!

Sidewalk Sale

Yesterday I worked the sidewalk sale at Parklane Gallery. It was such a beautiful day. Perhaps the last beautiful weekend of the summer, but I hope not, as the Edmonds Studio Tour is next weekend. There were so many lovely things in the sidewalk sale, that I did really good to only buy one piece. I bought a small watercolor by Donna Wallace. Oops! I did buy one other thing, but it was a birthday present for my friend Nanci, not something else for me.

Her Seven Best Friends

Edmonds Art Studio Tour

Only eight more days until the 4th annual Edmonds Art Studio Tour! I am rushing around organizing my studio so that visitors can walk through it. I figure I will be ready if I just keep doing a little each day. I am going to show fewer paintings this year. I think the number of paintings I normally have hanging in my studio is overwhelming to most people, and it is easier to focus on a painting that has a little open space around it. It is hard not to put out everything I have, so that I will have a chance to sell everything. Even after pulling all the older paintings, I still have a lot left.

If you haven't recieved a brochure for the tour, contact me, or go to www.edmondsartstudiotour.com and check us out there. You can also print a map from the website.

Two Weeks Until Edmonds Art Studio Tour!

Today is the day that I am going to begin preparing for the Edmonds Art Studio Tour. Actually I have been preparing the last couple of weeks by getting some paintings completed. Now I need to begin the organizing of the studio and surrounding area. One of the most difficult things I have to do is take down my Artists I Know Wall. For those of you who have not seen my artists wall, I have 50 or 60 small paintings by artists friends arranged on one wall. I have finally gotten it to look the way I want it to, and it is complicated to arrange. So, a photo has been taken of it and now I need to take it all down. I would leave it up, but visitors to the tour get so interested in it they don't look at the work that is for sale! It is too much competition.

I have a huge 4'x8' piece of plywood in the center of my studio. The first year that we lived here I left it in the studio during the tour. Big mistake! It created traffic jams and people could not get around very well. So, that has to come out and be replaced by something a lot smaller. I will start to organize the studio and one thing will lead to another until I am cleaning and organizing all the shelving and going way beyond what I really need to do for the tour. Now I must get started doing the work instead of writing about it.

Experimental Painting Day

Today was the day that the experimental painting group met at my studio. Only five of the seven artists attended, but we were producing some fine work. I actually think the magnificent lunches that we share are as much of a draw as the painting we do.

We are all participating in the Edmonds Art Studio Tour that will take place on September 19 & 20. Check out the website at www.edmondsartstudiotour.com for more information about the tour. This will be our fourth year. It seems like only yesterday that a few friends and I started this thing that has now taken on a life of its own. I still serve on the steering committee, but luckily we have Barb Childs to chair the committee, and she has done a magnificent job for the last 3 years. I hope that she will continue for many more years. In any event, there is a lot to do around here, and I had better get started. I have been working on the most important part, which is getting paintings done. The other stuff, such as organizing my studio, moving some furniture out, and cleaning, remain to be done.

The painting above is one I did last week.

Art Books

I have some new art books that I just love and want to share them with you. They are Art Revolution by Lisa L. Cyr, Exhibition36 by Susan Tuttle, Image Transfer Workshop by Darlene Olivia McElroy, Printmaking & Mixed Media by Dorit Elisha. I also have the new Mary Todd Beam book, but cannot remember the name of it. I loaned it to someone already, so I can't run into he studio and look at the name. All of these books have useful information in them, but Mary Todd Beam's two books are my favorites.

Like most artists, I rarely actually read my art books cover to cover. I look at the pictures and if smething strikes my fancy, I read about how it was done, mark the page in the book and move the book to my studio. Then it sits there for weeks until I am tired of moving it around. Rarely do I actually try the techniques I read about. That is something I am trying to change. I have promised myself that I will try at least one technique from each book that I buy. Of the books listed above, I have tried techniques from two of them. I guess I shouldn't say that I never use the information from the books, because I do internalize some of the information and find myself using a variation of it sometime in the future.

I have discovered that art books about mediums other than those that I work with, usually still have something to offer me. I regularly buy the magazine Cloth, Paper, Scissors and often find techniques that I can use in my work even though many of the techniques are designed for fabric.

Something a Little Different

This one is a little larger than I usually paint. It is 24x36 and $900. I am having trouble naming it. If you have any suggestions, please send them to me.

Nan Robkin's Paper Making Class

I took a fun class today with Nan Robkin. We decorated papers to use in collages, books, whatever. I still have purple hands and think they may look like that for awhile. We used paint, ink, dye, pastels, graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, crayon and a lot of stuff I can't remember to decorate papers. The papers we put these mediums on were filter paper (which is a medical supply that you can buy at Creation Station), tissue paper, watercolor paper, and paper towels. I got into using all the fascinating texture plates that Nan had and ended up spending most of my time doing that rather than learning all the other possibilities. I made enough papers to last me for years, but I bet I will run out and buy some of the texture plates before a week goes by and continue making papers.

I also attended the ArtistsConnect meeting today. We had demonstrations by Janis Graves and Kelly Tissot. Janis discussed working with pastels and Kelly demonstrated her method of drip painting.

So it has been an art filled day, and I plan to spend tomorrow painting as well.

New Paintings

I seem to have gone through a flurry of painting lately. I was beginning to wonder if inspiration was not going to strike this time. These are a couple of my recent pieces. I have returned to exceptionally shiny finishes on these two.

The new website is live now and you can visit it at www.suerobertson.net.

New Website

Hooray for me! I have just finished putting together my own website that I will be able to keep up to date myself. I used FolioLink.com and a little help from my friend Jesse Young. It was frustrating at times, but I just kept at it until I got it all figured out. I haven't gone live with it yet as I will need Jesse to help me with that. I never imagined I would be able to construct my website, even using a template, so this is a huge accomplishment for non-techy me. I will let you know when you can actually see the new website.

Alone in a Crowd

Lynn Scott's Salon

Last night I joined 13 experimental Edmonds artists in a salon showing of new works. It was a wonderful evening at the home of Lynn & Randy Scott. The art was fabulous and so was the company. I showed two new paintings, which you can see here. The largest of the two sold last night at its very first showing. Hooray!

Matthew Robert Salon

On Sunday I hung a show at Matthew Robert Salon, owned by Matthew & Alicia Armstrong. They have been hanging art in their gallery for the last year, and have been selling very well. I love it that they love art and want to share it with their customers. Alicia's mother bought two of my small paintings before we actually hung them! Kathleen Johnson, a fellow artist, suggested that art be rotated in this salon, and she selects the artists. Thank you Kathleen. A couple of the paintings showing at Matthew Robert Salon are above this entry.

Local Color

Saturday night was the opening for my figurative show at Local Color. It was not particularly well attended, probably because of the heat. Local Color does not have air conditioning on because the front is open to street. It is located across the street from Pike Place Market, so it is always an interesting venue. While we were there a wedding party walked down the street with umbrellas like they do in New Orleans. Instead of jazz though, they had bagpipe players. It was quite a sight.

My favorite painting in the show sold before I got there for the opening. I sold another piece to a couple from Israel who are traveling the United States for two months. I now have paintings in Israel, France and England. I can say I am an international artist! The two pieces sold are above this entry, and the one traveling to Israel is the second one, titled Indulge Every Day. Although you cannot see it in the image, the dancer has a tulle ruff around his neck.

Attitude

I just wrote a long post about how lousy my birthday was yesterday. It involved a root canal. Then I looked at it and thought about what a bad attitude I was showing. I deleted it and wrote this instead. It only has to be a bad day if you let it be. I need to readjust my attitude.

The day did end with my Mother's really, really good lemon meringue pie, so how bad could it be?

New Works Salon

Hooray! I have finally got a painting started for the new works salon at Lynn Scott's home on August 8. I haven't been painting very much lately and have been worrying about having something new for this event. After all, it is a NEW WORKS SALON. The painting is not finished, but at least I have something going now. I will be able to stay home and paint on Sunday, so I hope to finish it then.

It is interesting to me how sometimes I just cannot paint. I go to my studio and put things away, look at old paintings, look at books and magazines, clean my equipment, anything but paint. When I try to paint at those times, I just make messes. I have two shelves of paintings that I started during those times, and they await a new life. I seem distracted, unable to settle down to painting. All creativity seems to have fled. Then, one day it is just over, and I never know why.

Local Color

I am going to be showing my figurative abstract work (both of the above styles will be shown) at Local Color for the month of August. Local Color is located directly across the street from Pike Place Market at the foot of Stewart Street, so it is a great venue and the opening is a lot of fun. The opening will be Saturday, August 1, 6-8 p.m. I had an opening there in February once and the Love Fairy came. You never know who might show up, so try to stop by and see the show. The paintings will be hanging the entire month of August.

ARTSplash

I will be one of the artists-in-action at ARTSplash in Edmonds today. Stop by and see me at 2nd & Dayton in the ArtWorks building. I will be there from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and 12 to 2 p.m. tomorrow. The show is doing well, and the reception last night was very, very busy. This will give me a chance to paint for 6 hours, which is more than I have painted in weeks.

Palm Springs

Whew! We spent the weekend in Palm Springs and it was 113 degrees. I don't believe I have ever been anywhere that hot. I spent most of the time immersed in the pool where it felt just right. We had gone there to see the place that we plan to rent for the month of March. We also had airline credit that we needed to use or lose. We loved the house. It is a lovely duplex with it's own small swimming pool and spa in a miniature backyard. The house was full of beautiful art since the one of the owners is an artist. We felt very comfortable in our new March home.

Art Shows

Well, I did manage to get something hung at Parklane Gallery for July. Check us out at www.parklanegallery.com. I have also gotten a body of work together for ARTSplash in Edmonds, July 16-19. You can find information on that show at www.artist-connect.com.

I still haven't managed to get any painting done though, and do not see any time to do so until next Tuesday! I need to prepare one or two new paintings for an Art Salon at Lynn Scott's house on August 8th. They need to be paintings that have never been shown before, so I had better get inspired pretty darn soon. Twelve artists will be showing never before seen paintings, so it should be great.

If you are in the area, stop by the ARTSplash show. There will be artists-in-action on the evening of July 16 (that is Art Walk in Edmonds) and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. I will be one of those artists painting on Saturday from 10-2 and Sunday from 12-2.

Donation to the Seattle Men's Chorus Auction

New Painting

No Studio Time

Something has happened to my life, and I am hardly ever getting any studio time. I fear it is lack of motivation. I must do something to inspire myself. I seem to work in flurries lately. I go to the studio and work on 6 or 7 paintings for a week and then don't accomplish anything for three weeks. I even had to cancel my experimental painter's group at my house this week, and that is something that always jump starts my creativity.

I am procrastinating about what to hang at Parklane Gallery on Monday. Also procrastinating about what I will show at ARTSplash in Edmonds on July 16-19. Once I get those nailed down, I need to start thinking about what I will show at Local Color in August. I just can't believe it is July already. I just got an e-mail about what I am going to donate to the Seattle Men's Chorus Auction in September. I swear I just went to that auction a couple of months ago, and it is almost here again.

My Latest Figurative Painting

ArtistsConnect

The June ArtistsConnect meeting was this morning, and it was great visiting with everyone. I had a chance to talk with Angela Rockett, and I had not seen her for a couple of years. ArtistsConnect is drawing artists from all over the area now, so it is not unusual to reconnect with someone you haven't seen for a long time.

Meredith Arnold was on the program today. She is a marvel and funny as well. She is a pro in the world of polymer clay. She also works in precious metal clay, fiber and just about anything else you can think of creating with.

Anyone who is interested in attending an ArtistsConnect meeting can get all the information at www.artists-connect.com. We meet the 4th Saturday of each month in Edmonds.

Edmonds Art Festival Again

I paid a second visit to the festival on Saturday. It is hard to resist when you live less than a mile away. I have such empathy for the artists in the booths that it is necessary to purchase a few things. I try to control myself because I have SO MUCH art, but you can never have too much. I bought a lion head birdhouse (you have to see it to get it) from Cynthia Jenkins and a beautiful piece of glass from Tim Fields. It is the first time in a long time that I have purchased art that wasn't made by one of my friends.

Edmonds Arts Festival

Well, it is time for the Edmonds Arts Festival, and the 30 day dry streak has ended. I feel so bad for all the artists sitting in their tents wishing more people would come out and see their work. Don and I are heading out there as soon as it opens and I am sure many others will too, but there are always more visitors when the sun shines. I have a couple pieces in the juried show and many of my friends do as well. I am particularly proud of Lynn Garka, who not only had ten pieces accepted into the juried show in various categories, but also won two first prizes! She is such a talented artist.

C'est la Vie

I am the art walk artist at C'est la Vie in Edmonds this evening. I will be showing my figurative abstract work, some of it new, some of it not so new. Stop by and see me between 5:30 and 8:00 tonight.

Blogging

I think I am actually getting this blogging thing. I have posted five times in June already, and here I am again. I am so inspired by Bridgette Guerzon-Mills' blog. I wish that I had really meaningful things to say like she does, but all you will get here is what I am doing and what I am creating. I guess all of my creativity goes into my paintings.

I have decided that I need to paint more and go to fewer meetings. They are art related meetings, but still meetings. The best meeting I attended was one where I got to make little clay ornaments to put in my paintings while discussing the Edmonds Art Studio Tour. Making art while meeting is the way to go. Barb Childs, are you listening? Let's do that again.

Five Friends

The round pieces at the bottom are clay. Fun stuff. I also took a class in polymer clay so that I can make pieces to add to my paintings. These are , since I don't know what to call it, real clay.

Artist's Garage Sale Report

What a fabulous day at the Arts Council of Snohomish Artist's Garage Sale! I sold a ton of paintings at very low prices, and want to thank everyone who bought one, or two, or three or more. It is so good to clear out old work and have room for all the new things I am going to paint. Made a little money too, which is always good. The best thing about the day is all the artists that I get to reconnect with, some of whom I have not seen for months. The unfortunate thing is that there is no time to get around and look at all the great stuff available. Next year I am going to ask my husband to stay for the first hour so I can get out and take advantage of the great bargins. I did manage to purchase a wonderful piece from Lisa JonesMoore as she was located next to me.

Artist's Garage Sale

I am off to the Artist's Garage Sale in a few minutes. Hopefully many of my paintings that have not previously sold for their very reasonable prices will go to new homes today for really, really inexpensive prices. Think cheap! If they don't sell and I can't paint over them for some reason, they go to the garage sale. It is in Mukilteo about two blocks from the ferry landing. Follow the signs.

Experimental Painter's Group

Once again, first Wednesday at my studio with the experimental painters was inspiring and much fun. We had a smaller group today -- just Tracy Fraker, Nancy Thompson and Lynn Scott. However, we were joined for lunch by Mona Smiley-Fairbanks, her daughter Alyssa and her sister Tina from Alaska. Lunch is slowly taking over more and more of our painting day because it is always a feast and we have so much to say to one another. I did finish two paintings that have been nagging at me, and almost finished a third. So, I am very happy with my day. Sometimes you just have to let go of those spots in a painting that you just love too much in order to get it finished. It is always painful to let go of those special spots though.

Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Show

I had these two pieces accepted into the Edmonds Arts Festival juried show this year. That is one more than I usually get accepted! This is the only juried show I enter, so it is nice to have something accepted. The second piece is 9 small canvases fastened together with brass plates. The black that you see is just what the painting was photographed on.

New Painting & A New Gallery

The news is that you will soon be able to find my work in a gallery in Colorado. Helen Rice of Willow - An Artisan's Gallery will be showing my work in either her Littleton or Boulder gallery, or maybe both. My thanks to Helen for giving me another venue for my work and to Nanci Drew who took the visiting Helen to galleries where she happened to see my work.

Tropical I

Artist's Garage Sale

The Artist's Garage Sale, sponsored by the Arts Council of Snohomish County is coming up on June 6. It is held at the Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo (just two blocks from the ferry landing) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is not to be missed if you are an artist or art lover. It gets larger every year and you can find art and things to make art with at bargain prices. Be sure to bring cash and your checkbook!

ArtistsConnect Meeting

Yesterday was the May ArtistsConnect meeting, and it was a very special one. We had Wendy Lee Lynds demonstrating the Jonathan Talbot collage method. She was a huge hit, not just because her subject was interesting, but also because she was so entertaining. If you ever have a chance to take a class from her, do it. I think yesterday was the largest attendance we have ever had. I stopped counting at 65, and I think others came after that. Although the ArtistsConnect group started with artists from Edmonds and it is located in Edmonds, all artists are welcome. Check out the website at www.artists-connect.com. Also, if you are interested in a Wendy Lee Lynds class, check her out at www.badabling.blogspot.com, which is her always entertaining blog.

Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History

Kirkland Art Studio Tour

The Kirkland Art Studio Tour was last weekend, and I was hosted by Rebecca Devere. We had a good crowd and sales were pretty good. At least they were better than last year and not as good as some years, which is how art sales always are. You just never know how it will be until it is over. I do love having the opportunity to meet the people that buy my work. Since I have retired from outdoor festivals, the studio tours are my only opportunity to do this.

Now it is time to prepare for the next big art show. I have the Artist's Garage Sale on June 6th in Mukilteo, then I will be doing Edmonds Art Walk at C'est la Vie for June. After that comes an August show at Local Color, across from Pike Place Market and the Edmonds Art Studio Tour. The Edmonds Art Studio Tour is my favorite event because I get to stay in my own studio, talk to lots of people about my art, and sell art! It doesn't get any better than that.

New Books & Polymer Clay

I am currently immersed in two new art books. They are The Creative Edge by Mary Todd Beam and Creative Paint Workshop for Mixed Media Artists by Ann Baldwin. They are really great books for artists who are into experimental work, with many interesting methods to try. I have also really enjoyed Ann Baldwin's most recent DVD.

Last week I took a polymer clay class with Meredith Arnold. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with her one on one. My goal was to make clay pieces to incorporate into my experimental paintings, and I went home with some amazing things. Meredith had many more methods than I was able to absorb in one day, so I mostly stuck to the simple things. Now I am looking for a pasta machine so that I can make more elements for my paintings. Of course I have not used the ones I have already made, but as usual, I must have more! Someday my studio is going to burst at the seams. It gets so that I cannot remember what I have to work with.

Today's Painting

An Article I wrote for the Parklane Gallery Newsletter

An Artist's Dilemma

It happens all the time! An artist begins to make an impression in their community. Customers like the work, associate the work with the artist and buy the art. It is what every artist dreams of. But, wait----the artist continues to grow and experiment with other styles and materials. Oh no! Should the artist continue creating the successful style that everyone knows, loves and buys? Or should the artist follow her heart? What to do?

This is a dilemma I know all too well. For years I sold much of my artwork that had bright representations of fruit and flowers. But I needed to decide whether to continue creating the recognizable style or whatever new style moves me.

The further I move away from my original impressionistic work to abstract and experimental work, the more challenging the art is to sell. However, I love creating the experimental work. I have become obsessed with making and buying unique paper, and I want to put it into all my artwork. The paintings still sell if the paper is incorporated into my figurative abstract work. When I add additional elements such as string, yarn, ink, pencil, ceramics, hardware, foil, metal into my painting, it is more difficult to connect with the customer. Customers no longer immediately recognize my style and the art doesn't sell as readily.

I believe that if you love what you do, it will show in your work, and people will want to own your paintings. I experience great joy in creating my art, whether impressionistic or experimental. I am hopeful that customers will find that same joy in my work.

My next step will be to do more demonstrations to show potential customers how the experimental work is created so that they will more readily connect with the work.

I am participating in a fantastic show with six other experimental artists, and my heart sings when I look at the art. I see something new and interesting every time I visit the show. I want everyone to experience the same feelings when looking at experimental mixed media art.

There is no question as to whether or not to evolve as an artist, I have no choice. The challenge is to bring my customers along for the fun.

The Glove

There have been some questions about my painting "The Glove". It is actually one of the gloves I was wearing in a Bob Burridge Class. It looked interesting, so I stuck it on a piece of paper, and there it is!

E.A.F. Donation Boxes & Experimental Painters

Well, I certainly have not been attending to my blog lately. On Tuesday the experimental painters group met at my studio, with all seven of us present. We started another group project, which means that we each brought enough of one or two elements for each of us to add to our paintings. In the end we have seven paintings that are absolutely different. It is a fun exercise to do with a group.

Today I am meeting Mona Smiley-Fairbanks, Tracy Fraker, Barb Childs, Molly Winton, Lynn Garka, Lynn Scott, Nancy Thompson and Dawn Rieck at Tracy's house to work on two donation boxes for the Edmonds Art Festival. This should also be an interesting project with nine of us working on the same 2 boxes. You will be able to see the results at the festival in June.

Bob Burridge Workshop

I just completed a five-day workshop with Bob Burridge in Palm Springs. I didn't really learn anything new, but he inspired me as he always does. I love almost all of his work. He seldom paints anything that I really don't like. He loves what he does so much that it is inspiring just to be around him when he is painting. I painted about 40 paintings in the last five days. Not all of them are finished, but they are not far from done. I don't do that anywhere else. My painting loosens up a lot when I am in one of his workshops too. I am exhausted now and ready to head back home to my own studio.

I have ordered two new books that I saw in Bob's workshop. Ann Baldwin and Mary Todd Beam both have new books out that look very interesting. They should be waiting for me when I get home.

Where's My Muse?

I have not been ignoring my blog lately. I just have nothing new happening. We are still in Palm Springs enjoying the sun and the pool. I am getting some painting done, but am not satisfied with what I have done. My muse appears to have taken a break, so I am forced to do so also. I haven't taken any photos of the work I have done here, so have nothing to show you. My Bob Burridge class starts on Monday, so I am sure I will get my creative juices flowing by the end of the 5 day workshop. I should have much to share after that.

Sunset Bay Gallery

I forgot to mention that the experimental painters show has been extended to April at Sunset Bay Gallery. So, if you haven't seen it, you should try to make it, as it is a great show. The gallery is only open Saturdays from 2 to 8.

Palm Springs Continues

I have spent most of four days in the pool and not gotten much painting done. The weather is cooling down for the next few days, so I will probably get more painting done. I have no new paintings to post partly because we are not home to photograph them, but partly because I haven't finished anything for ages. A person could get very used to seeing the blue sky everyday. When I say there is a cooling trend, that means that it is only around 70. I am sure that those of you at home would be delighted to have 70, but here it seems kind of cold! I got quite a bad sunburn on my upper back yesterday, so will stay out of the sun for a couple days. That just means more painting time.

Palm Springs

Two days on the road, and we have arrived in Palm Springs. It was 86 when we got here and we are loving it. I got my painting things set up today, and will commence painting by the pool tomorrow. Don's golf clubs didn't arrive until this evening, and he was extremely happy to see them. He will be off to the golf course tomorrow, and I will be spend the day trying to watch
Duffy while painting. He is probably going to need to be confined or I will get nothing done.

Meeting New Artists

Yesterday and today I attended the BizArt conference in Everett. I was a presenter today on a panel discussing cooperative galleries. The best part of attending the conference was the opportunity to see old friends and meet new ones. I had the opportunity to spend some time with Meredith Arnold and get to know her a little better. We usually do not have time to talk much when we see each other. It was great to spend some time with Jules Anslow too. The cooperative panel was well received, and I suggested to the organizer that next year we do a panel on opportunities to show art and networking with other artists. There was as much interest in those topics today as in cooperative galleries.

Experimental Painting Group

Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting at ArtWorks with three other experimental painters to spend the afternoon creating. The artists that attended were Meredith Arnold, Lynn Garka and Wendy Lynds. We also had visitors--Nancy Thompson, Linda Bontecou and Tracy Fraker all dropped by to say hello and see what we were up to. There was a perspective class going on next door, and a couple of those artists stopped by to check us out as well. I love meeting with these artists and with the other experimental group I attend because it is the only place where there are other people who get excited by a small piece of paper that they found or the wrapping in a shipment from Thailand. We can all find a use for whatever treasure we find.

Fun New Painting

Clay Thingies

While attending a meeting of the Edmonds Art Studio Tour today, I entertained myself by making little clay thingies to incorporate into my mixed media paintings. We met at Barb Childs' house and she was kind enough to let us play with some of her clay. She is going to fire all the little thingies that we made, and then we will go back to glaze them. Since she knows how impatient I am, she allowed me to pick a bunch from a group that she had already made. I can start to put them in my paintings tomorrow. Hooray! Well, maybe not tomorrow since I won't be able to paint tomorrow. Soon though.

Experimental Painting Group

Yesterday was Experimental Painting Group day at my studio. It is always one of the high points of my month. There are 7 artists, including me, and we all work on whatever is inspiring us at the moment. Everyone brings something to share for lunch, and it is always a wonderful feast with great company. The members are Mona Smiley-Fairbanks, Tracy Fraker, Lynn Garka, Lynn Scott, Nancy Thompson and Dawn Rieck. The show I recently mentioned that is currently up at Sunset Bay Gallery is this same group of painters. It is a great show, so if you haven't seen it yet, come to the reception on February 14 from 5:00-8:00 p.m.

No Painting Time

I must make time for painting. I bet I haven't spent 3 hours in my studio all week. I just seem to fritter the time away when I am home and should be in the studio. Maybe I just needed a break, but it is a bit unusual. I need to focus. I did watch an interesting DVD called Acrylics: Textures, Layers and Metallics, by Jacqueline Sullivan. I just need to get into the studio and try the new techniques I learned about.

Hey, I figured out how to add a picture to the main part of my blog! Now I have to figure out how to write and put a picture in the same post. Hopefully I will one day have it all figured out.

Be Suspicious

Shoreline Center Gallery

I forgot to mention that I also have a show up at Shoreline Center Gallery, and it will be up until February 27. Stop by to see it if you have a chance. The address is 18560 1st ave NE in Shoreline.

Show At Sunset Bay Gallery

I attended a show last night that was comprised of work by the seven artists who belong to the Experimentals Painters Group that meets at my studio. It was a great show, and I enjoyed it more than any show I have seen in a long time. I intend to go back and do some buying. It was too much fun last night to actually decide what I wanted to buy. There will be another reception on the evening of February 14, so you can still come. Get your sweetie to bring you and buy you something for Valentine's Day. There may be tango lessons as well.

Blog List

Hooray!!!!! I figured out how to add my Blog List to my page.

Time

I am still struggling with how to get the things on my blog that I want on there. I just don't get back to it often enough. I am struggling with how to use my time. It seems like I am constantly busy, but when I look at my schedule, except for health related appointments (of which there are a lot) I am only spending my time on things that I want to do. It is hard to cut down on your commitments when they are all things you like. I suppose trying to start a blog is not a wise thing to do when you are trying to cut back on things that take up your time! I also find more and more art related things that I want to try, and I tend to fight them off so that I won't fritter away my time. However, perhaps those are the things I really want to do. If I want to take a class on precious metal jewelry making, maybe I should do it and cut back on the time I spend painting. It is time to figure this out.