I was out yesterday at a craft fair as a patron. I don’t get to do that very often. When I do, I find myself watching people. Probably because that is what you do from the vendor’s chair: people-watch, I mean. There was this elderly lady getting up from the lunch table and her daughter helped her zip up her coat. At that moment I […]
I am a bed maker
I am a bed maker. I wasn’t always, actually; I never used to do it. Make my bed, I mean. Why should you? You are just going to mess it up again. It will only be made for a few hours, what is the point? I started doing it when I re-acquainted myself with a friend, Leah. She was going through a time of change […]
Saying No, Defining boundaries.
People in your life think it’s romantic to know an artist. They are impressed by what you do, or they love your work but they don’t always understand what professional means. Heck, they don’t understand that any creative work takes time, financial resources and energy from the creator. Maybe it is because our grandmothers used to make so much for us when we were growing […]
Be the best version of you possible, even if it means being somewhere else
I was doing this art show and it was going fairly well but, well let’s face it; there is always a but. A reservation, a nudge, an irritation, something that is bothering you. I’ve never done particularly well at this show and this year was much better, and yet; I was unhappy. Because I was frustrated about a few things, I was saying things that […]
Pastels are pastels. Chalk is chalk.
A Pastel Painter I follow on Facebook recently wrote the following and I decided to copy it in its entirety and post it in my blog. Sometimes, someone else writes exactly what you want to say. Why fix perfection? To see her work, I am including her website in the hopes that you might be fans of her as well. – T Kurtz Natasha Isenhour […]
Picking on the Parents
I’m gonna pick on some friends of mine: It isn’t their fault; I have this conversation with several parents over the year. They always look the same; the shy, sheepish teenager with the excited overzealous parents. You see the kid, burning with shame as the parents either ask, “How do I get my child to do this for a living?” or say, “See? You are […]
What is Duty?
I did a web search to find the definition; a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility. “it’s my duty to uphold the law” a task or action that someone is required to perform. “the queen’s official duties” I was caught up on the word watching a popular show recently. All the characters doing this gracious waltz of obligation and social leverage in the name of […]
Make it easy for everyone
I swore I wouldn’t do it to myself again. I wouldn’t book so many shows this year, I was going to make good choices and make my months less complicated. Enter October… I am hanging 40 pieces in the gallery at Spokane Art School (that opened Friday); Hanging 12 at William-Grant in Kendall Yards, Spokane (that opened Saturday), Doing the Oldfield Art Show in Puyallup […]
Leaving the nest
I have finished my residency and my ever-enduring spouse helped me schlep all my supplies and equipment back home. Being an artist is difficult, but I am always amazed when artists don’t have the support of their spouse. He makes a huge difference to me and helps to keep me going. It was with a catch in my chest that I bid the school […]
Keep it pure.
I’ve talked about business, failure, challenge and destruction. I have spoken about supporting others and looking for support, being the person you want to find in the world but this is about keeping it pure. Being an artist is hard. I have said it before, it takes endurance. You will get mad, frustrated, hurt and shockingly insulted so why on earth make it harder on […]
