Latest & Greatest

Wow! 4 years since the last blog.... um, apparently I have not done enough art!!

Well, that all changed when I signed up for an e-course on line with Flora Bowley. I had purchased her book the previous year but never really dug in and gave it a try. I am a very visual learner and her video demonstrations and her philosophy about her artwork and life in general resonated with me deeply. So, I started the class and I started painting and I kept painting, then I kept painting....:).

In the past, my inside critic would just stall me out before I could even get started. With this course however, there was no pressure, just simple steps to take at our own pace and keep working with what was working (Flora's words, not mine: For additional support, there was a closed Facebook group that allowed the participants from all over the world to post and be vulnerable, without fear of judgement or harsh critiques. It was so comforting to know that everyone, whether beginner or not, could express there creative self and know that everyone was in the same place even if they were somewhere different.

So here are my painting I have completed so far. Since it has been awhile since I posted anything, it may take me several attempts to get everything up but hey, its been 4 years, whats another couple of days.

Enjoy :)

 24 x 48 Acrylic on canvas

48 x 60 Acrylic on canvas

18 x 24 Acrylic on canvas

12 x 16 Acrylic on canvas

20 x 20 Acrylic on canvas

18 x 24 Acrylic on canvas

My First Sale

I have been making paste paper like a mad woman and just freely creating, which is a new thing for me. I must thank Albie Smith again for showing me how to "play" and have fun being creative. What an amazing gift.

Today a friend showed up while I was "playing" and said she would love to give one of my books as a wedding gift. So she picked out the paper, I made a couple of 16 page signatures, sewed them together, glued on the cover, glued on some book cloth, stamped it a little to make it look complete and Voila a book for sale... $20 cha ching!

Wheeeeee. :-)

Transitioning

Well, its been awhile since the last post and lots of things have started, completed and are still in flux. The career change is a work in progress but just yesterday I actually completed my first paste paper and that is a huge step. I have converted my garage into a makeshift studio until my new studio space is ready. I will get about 300 sq. ft to spread out and make books or whatever else suits my fancy.

Latest on the plate of exciting new things is the Humboldt Arts Festival, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 15 & 16 in Arcata. It will be a live performance and art festival with up and coming new artists from all over Humboldt County, a huge sculpture garden in the parking lot of Ace Hardware and Ironside Gallery - the gallery I have been working on painting, will be the hub of the event. We are looking for vendors and volunteers and it should be a whole new experience for Arcata! Check out www.humboldtartsfestival.com. It is really pretty exciting!!

Be Open to All Things.

Blessings.

Gallery painted & Blog Followers

A private bookkeeping client of mine who is fearless and adventurous and generous recently rented a space in my town of Arcata and told me of his plans to open a gallery/retail space for his metal working design business. Since I manage his finances and the space is closer than his home where I have been doing his work for the past year and a half, I suggested that I could work from there and be more on top of cost of goods, etc when he is doing custom work. He agreed and we proceeded to discuss some of his ideas for the space. A month came and went and in the interim I attended An Artful Journey. Upon return from that journey I made the switch to reduce my hours at other jobs and focus on trying to become a book artisan, making and selling custom journals, books and paper. When I spoke with Chris (above mentioned client) I spoke to him about having a retail space in his gallery. He quickly agreed and also proceeded to tell me he was in escrow on a commercial building that had 3 seperate spaces, one which he would use for his shop and metal fabrication, one for storage and one for "studio" rental. Upon further discussion, I suggested that I could manage the gallery, with some of those hours paying for the rental of the studio space. Again, he quickly agreed and so now I am managing a gallery and have a 400 sq. ft space paid for. In addition, I can work at the studio doing the messy stuff, painting, drilling, spreading out and then do the fine painting assembly work while at the gallery where my books will be for sale!

So, for the past 6 days I have been painting the gallery space and visualizing what it will be like when I have books on the shelf for sale. Ideas are continuing to come to me and people are offering other ideas that are great for niche markets and specialty shops. Love it!!!

This journey has barely begun and I am so excited.

And!! I have blog followers.... ha ha, who woulda thunk it??

Tomorrow I am helping a friend paint a mural... which is another new adventure and learning from it that everything has its skill. Whoa... so much to learn.... and I can't wait.

Big Changes

Well, I am sitting here contemplating giving my notice to my employer so I can go play and make books for a living. It is scary and exciting, brilliant and foolish, and totally a jump off the cliff of actualizing creativity. I have purchased a ton of supplies, confirmed some work that totally supports this vision, manifested the dream I want to live and trying hard not to feel bad for wanting to totally indulge in taking care of myself and my priorities.

The universe is telling me to do this and I must yet it is still difficult to disappoint people you care about.

Wish me luck....

New Abilities

On February 2nd, I drew a card from my deck of Medicine Cards. I drew the 4- Peyote Ceremony - New Abilities Card. At the time, I knew it was the card I needed but did not know what it applied to.... yet. On February 18th, I traveled to Los Gatos and the Presentation Center for An Artful Journey - a 5 day art retreat. Upon arrival everyone was friendly and open and gracious and I couldn't wait to get started. I set upon a path that had been 12 years in the making and by the end I knew my life had changed. When I went back to my room and looked up what the New Abilities card had to say, it was this:

Attributes: Reclaiming Skills - Acknowledging the talents now emerging - Employing new tools to conquer life's challenges - Embracing your potential - Using the new gifts being offered.

Challenges: Using these new abilities with courage - Risking setbacks while learning new skills - Letting go of old tools that did not work - Discovering how new talents will best serve you - Developing the new talents fully; and most importantly

ACKNOWLEDGING THE SELF'S RIGHT TO USE THE ABILITIES TO TAKE CHARGE.

Inspirational words from Martha Graham via Albie Smith

"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable it is, nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep your self open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open." -