Life Is Change

This one is important to me

You know the old saying,.
 'The only constant in life is change'
We've been going through some major changes lately. Like so many of my generation I've become the primary caregiver for an elderly ailing parent. Also like so many of my generation I have kids who are in difficult relationships, who seem to still think Mom can fix anything. 
At the same time I'm  trying to manage my art career, and my businesses, all of which are keeping me really really busy, really busy.
The only way I've found to get through these times, are accept and organize. 
The serenity prayer hangs on the wall of my studio, you know the one...

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change; 
courage to change the things I can; 
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; 
enjoying one moment at a time; 
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; 
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it; 
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will; 
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next. 


To that I would add, stay organized, and learn to say no. 

Clear the mental clutter and time drains. Too much stuff can be deadly, as can too much to do.
 In all of our schedules there are cluttery bits, tasks that we don't know how we got roped into doing, or that we've 'always done'. 
One of the hardest things I've had to learn, is to really think about how important a task is to me, and to say no when I decide it's not important enough to keep in my schedule.  
This is the first year since I joined the guilds that I'm not up to my neck in setting up the shows. I've really had to fight my feelings of guilt on this.  I should...I always have...They need me...but to my amazement, the world is still spinning, the tasks are getting done, the shows will go on.  
It's change, not easy, but neccessary.

Time, Again

Looking over my postings for the last few months I notice that they all have a common thread, time, or the lack there of.
I had a conversation yesterday with a dear friend where she asked when do you want to retire?

Want to retire... that's a loaded question, yesterday or even better, last year, would be when I want to retire. The reality is that I don't see retirement in my future at all.
This is an all too common dilemma faced by creatives.
I love working with my 'old sweeties' in Long Term Care, but I am fighting a continual battle with the clock/calendar, and it get's very tiring.  
Retirement sounds like a dream come true, unfortunately having been self employed most of my life, the only CPP for me will be the little bit I get from the part time side jobs I've periodically had.

I'm at a stage in my art career where I need to be spending more time in the studio, but time is an ever more elusive beast. I hate turning down invitations to show that have been coming my way, I hate having no new art to show at the Art Emporium, and being under pressure to produce work for the next show

  STEAG 10th Annual Show & Sale 
November 11 - 13, 2016
Fri. 6-9pm, Sat. 10am - 6pm Sun. 11am - 5pmCASO Station, 750 Talbot St, St Thomas (behind Giant Tiger) 

Please don't think I'm whining, or have any serious regrets, because I'm not, and don't.  I don't have much work because I did some serious experimentation this summer, not all of which was successful and what was sold quickly... 
So, I continue to soldier on, dreaming about windfalls, and winning lotteries with tickets I never buy, and 'one day' when my ship comes in, though I'll probably be a the train station... painting in the moments I'm able to carve out of my day, it's amazing what you can do with 15 minutes here and there.



 

Time Precious Time

I used to 'play' in my studio, the light heartedness implied by the term play was intentional, I didn't want to get too serious for fear of chasing the muses away.
As children we weren't allow to play until our chores were done, a practice that taught us a deeply engrained work ethic and a very practical bent, the unfortunate consequence was that that word 'play' became a deterrent.
It took me years to figure out why I felt like I had to do everything else first before I could focus on my art, that darn word....
It's amazing what a difference specific language can  make. I've long called my art my work, but the process was different, or was it? After all the process is important to me, that's what I derive joy from.
Each painting is an experiment, a learning opportunity, a chance to push the medium a bit further, and the wielder of the medium too.
Calling the process 'work' gives it the respect that it deserves, and helps me to carve time from an overloaded schedule every day.
It's the all too common lament I hear from artists, there is paper work to do, marketing, networking, schlepping your work hither and yon, applications to fill out classes to prep/teach etc etc etc. Then of course there's family and house hold stuff...ARGH!
My solution? It's a job. I have to show up 5 days a week. I have a calendar hanging on the studio door that I check off every day that I work, even if it's only for a short time.
Some days all I can punch in for is a few minutes, but it's amazing what you can do if you consistently day after day work 15 minutes here and there.
As you have guessed, I don't wait for inspiration. Inspiration comes from the work, a lesson learned from Chuck Close who famously said "inspiration is for amateurs, the rest of us just show up and get to work"
Do you find it hard to find time for your art? What solutions work for you? Share share, we all need ways to create more time!

The Hill on Mapleton Line, Glazed Acrylic Robin Baratta, 16x20, juried into STEPAC In View Of The Artist Show.

Keeping Records

Last night at the St Thomas Elgin Artists' Guild Meeting the talk came around to record keeping, with several artists giving suggestions, there were lots of creative ideas-not surprising considering the group.
Out of the discussion there were a few gems some of which I'll use IE: lining up all of your show submissions and taking a picture, because sometimes after the passage of time a name might not bring the painting to mind. Some were too involved for my taste or too simplistic for my needs, but the point was, keep good records, and back them up.
I pride myself on being organized, but I rely too much on technology, a point that I've learned the hard way when a computer crashed and took all of my files with it. Luckily I printed a hard copy of my business books and forms, but I didn't create a back up file, which I've been kicking myself for.
I also lost all of my pictures. Some are on a stick but others were on a disc and my current computer won't read them. Technology changes mean I may not be able to retrieve them even though they were 'saved'.

The learning; update storage types as things change, and print the pictures and files you most cherish.
So much for my cautionary tale.

There of course is much more to this. 

Artists need to recognize that they are in fact a business. 

Most of us will never get past the hobbiest stage in the eyes of the taxman, but you need to act as if, and be prepared. 

If you do start to make a profit no matter how small, the taxman will want his share, and they can ask for all of your records dating back 7 years. If you don't have the records they can and will assume you lied and penilize you at an amount based on your current year. 

I'm not making this up or trying to scare you this is a fact and I personally know artists this has happened to. 

Even if you think you'll never make a profit, you MUST keep all business related receipts. 

Keep track of household and vehicle expenses, and how much you use them for business. 

The taxman assumes you are guilty and it is up to you to prove youself innocent. 

Talk to an accountant, or the small business centre in your area for more complete information. 

Your record keeping doesn't have to be complicated, just complete. 

Just Down the Road, 6x6, $65.00, will be at the ST Thomas Elgin Artists' Guild Show Nov 13-14

Show aftermath

The St Thomas Elgin Artist's Guild show and sale was an awesome success. I'm not just saying that because I won a judges choice award for 5 Yellow Butterflies, and subsequently sold it, either. It truly was a wonderful show!
I've had some other really amazing news, which once the details are worked out and the contract is signed, I'll fill you all in on....for now though, lets just say, my feet haven't touched the ground in days!

Onward and Upward

Last weekends STEAG show was wonderful, and I'm pleased to report that as well as sales I garnered a honourable mention award for 'Eden'.

The juror commented she 'loved' my textural effects, which of course is where my art has been going so-yeah!

I've got a couple more paintings at early stages, they'll change a lot as they progress, but this is the beginning.

*Poof* and an art show appears

Well, not quite *poof* there actually was a lot of work involved. 

The 6th annual STEAG Art Show and Sale 'the Art Before Christmas' has fill the CASO Station (750 Talbot St., St Thomas) with art of every kind. Stupendous. Superlative. Sublime. Be there!

Opening tonight (Friday Nov 9th) 7-10, and continuing Saturday 11-5, and Sunday 12-5, 2012.

2012 St Thomas, Elgin Artists' Guild Show Coming Soon!

I hope you have Friday November 9th 2012 on your calendar! The opening gala is 7-10 pm, and features the art of  The STEAG artists and the music of David Jolley.
The show continues Saturday, Nov 10, 11-5, and Sunday Nov 11, 12-5.
It's at the wonderful CASO Station, 750 Talbot St, St Thomas.

This is one of my contributions, it's working title is '3', but it's whispered in my ear that it's 'real name' is 'on the other side of the fence'.   It's 3 staggered 5x15 panels, and a bit darker in the top right corner than the photo (I really suck at photography) also the 'waves' have gold leaf embedded in them, which barely shows here.

Morning on the Moon

Oops I seem to have skipped a week, dang I hate it when that happens, time slips into a black hole, and just....disappears. Very Scary.
Of course it just means that we're all so very busy, teaching, making, and hopefully selling art.
The Elgin Colours of Fall Studio Tour was a rip roaring' success, and once it was all over I slept 12 hours straight!  So very unlike me, but I was bagged lol.
The advertising for the St Thomas Elgin Artists' Guild show and sale -Art Before Christmas- is just about done, mark your calendars, Nov, 9/10/11 will be here before you know it!
I've got art to make for it, and I've been trying to keep to my studio hours schedule, but the gotta earn a buck thang keeps getting in the road.  Luckily I do love teaching my Alzheimer's clients, it's all about joy, and with them, joy is a very pure thing.
My friend Philip took a much better photograph of this work ( morning on the moon-which moon? Io maybe ).  I saved it in 'my pictures', but like the last week, it's fallen into a black hole, so you'll have to make do with my poor photography.

Painting Challenge #4 Love

Crazy week, means I'm only now getting my painting of the week done. It's been a good crazy, with lots of good stuff happening.
The Art Emporium, Boathouse Gallery is now full, and has a waiting list.
We're still taking submissions for the Gift Boutique, we want to carry all kinds of quality, hand crafted goods by regional artisans there. We can hardly wait for February! You'll be getting regular updates, as time gets closer, and an invitation when we open, it's gonna be awesome!
I also went to an 'Arts Country' meeting, and found out that they used my art for the print ads, cool! AND my painting 'True to Type - Portrait of a Printers Daughter' was accepted in the STEPAC juried 'Identity Transfer' show, I haven't received my invitations to hand out yet, but my friend Candy tells me that they show her submission and mine, it's just amazing, how things all happen at once, just amazing!
Back to the painting... I haven't quite decided what to call it, but it's based on the double wedding ring quilt pattern, and has a free association poem running through it.
'Love is an old dog, young child, new bride, old couple, constant, enduring, rough or smooth, always changing. Love stands the test of time, forever, eternity, steadfast, handfasted, whole hearted, healing and heart rending. Love is holding a grand child for the first time, a parent for the last time, and a heart for all time, watching the years fly by, and the days trickle down, until we are all dust together, and start again. '

Have a Merry Christmas, one full of love.

STEPAC The gift of art show/sale TONIGHT

Christmas is in the air. The hospitals I work in (art teacher/hort tec) all have their decorations up, the malls and stores are in over drive, and ST Thomas Public Art Centre (STEPAC) is having their annual Gift of Art show and sale. The artist's who regularly contribute to the displays in the gift shop will be setting up tables in the main gallery showing and we hope selling our art, and hand made jewelry etc.

A portion of sales (debit and credit only, cash sales go directly to the artist, without commission) will be going to the gallery to help support ongoing programs like children's art programs, education programs, and special events. So come on out and get those credit/debit cards smokin'.

On with the show! 5th annual St Thomas Guild show

The St Thomas Elgin Artists Guild's 5th annual 'twas the art before Christmas show opened last night, with the 'Black Birds' , beverages and goodies, and most of all Glorious ART!

The show continues Saturday Nov 19, 11-5pm and Sunday Nov 20, 12-5pm.

Our artists are exhibiting every manner and style of paintings, photographs, sculpture, stained glass and Rose Klein's art jewlery and textiles.

Everyone has worked very hard to make our annual show spectacular.

See you there!

St T Guild Show and Gallery News

It's almost here!

The Show in St Thomas 'Art Before Christmas' is less than a week away.

(Friday 6-9, Saturday 12-9, Sunday 12-4, 810 Talbot St, see the side bar for details)

The women who are organizing it, June Anne Reid and Sandra England (also members of the gallery) are doing an amazing job. It's going to pull all the stops!

I haven't been as involved in the organizing of this show as I have been in shows past, which has left me with more time to do marketing etc for the gallery, this was, of course, 'the plan'. Gotta have a plan.

We finished painting the gallery this week, and have the furnishings in. Rose Klein and Vivian Tserotas did an amazing job on the furnishings. The gallery is very sophisticated and contemporary looking. This week Viv and assistants will start hanging the art, and then..........Wednesday November the 17th...........we're open!

OMG

I have butterflies the size of pterodactyls.

Also, Saturday November 13th Mary Louise White, and artist I truly admire, has her opening at the St Thomas Public Art Center 7-9 pm. I Love Mary Louise's work. She's a great inspiration to me.

Showy Lady Slipper painting Queen of the Fen

Queen of the Fen is an apt description of Cypripedium Reginae. In most of it's range it's under sever pressure or even extinct.

However here in Ontario thanks to the far sightedness of the Purden family there is a huge colony of these beautiful orchids in the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority near the village of Lanark, about an hour east of Ottawa. We saw these beauties on a Canada Day (July 1st) weekend a few years back. All I can say is WOW!

Part of the problem is that like all wetlands the importance of Fens has been misunderstood until recently. A Fen is fed by a moving water source ie: a spring or stream, and is therefore less acidic than a Bog which is fed by rain and is a 'closed' system. Every time 'they' dredge a stream... a popular thing to do around here... a potential/former Fen is destroyed.

This past week (busy busy busy) we went on a 'gallery crawl'. Most of the shows were great, but the one that most stands out in my mind is the Cambridge Galleries Fiber Art show. It was totally amazing, and made me glad the warmer weather is around the corner, so that I can make some more paper (room and mess issues=outdoor activity).

On of the best reasons to crawl galleries is the inspiration that you/I get by looking a wonderful art.

Speaking of wonderful art, at the last STEAG meeting Candy Mcmaniman gave a presentation on how she achieves some of her effects, I've always loved Candy's art, and my art has probably subconsciously been influenced by contact with her, although I was already on this road before we became friends. Candy, Catherine Roxanne Jervis and I, and several others will be at St Paul's Cloister Art again this summer. Come check us out in July and August, and if you're near Ottawa between mid June and mid July, go and pay homage to the Queen of the Fen.