less than a week to go..

My show will be happening in less than a week. I am so psyched. Getting last minute stuff done but that is cake compared to what I have already done for this show. I think I am really just excited to be able to spend time with everyone.,,that is the ultimate reward to owning a gallery.

show hanging!

today is the day i am hanging my show at the gallery! i hope it goes smoothly with no problems..

yaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!

love this

strange place to be

I ruined one of my paintings today, out of frustration. Not sure what I will do, if I will finish it for the show or let it go.

I think I am just ready to be done with everything and be at the opening of my show drinking a lovely glass of red wine and talking with my friends.

art as a process

i think with each painting i do, the more i become aware of what i am doing. it's really a learning experience more than anything and i love to learn.

the most difficult thing is chosing colors for some reason. i think the worst place to be is figuring out which colors to use and which ones not to use. i mean, i suppose it's not all bad but it's frustrating when you like a color at first and then ten minutes later you think to yourself, 'this doesn't look right'. i think that happens to me more than it should. that's why i think for any artist starting out, you should start with painting in black and white to make things about composition and not so much about color balance..

however, i don't remember doing a single black and white painting. i like to make things complicated. i think if things were easy for me, i would get bored. art school was sort of like that. we were told to paint what we see. we had still lifes, models and landscapes. it wasn't until my last two years i was "allowed" to explore the realm of abstraction. i didn't like figure drawing classes because we were forced into making things life like. i always thought 'i know how to do that so what's the point?'

painting for me is like a suduko puzzle or a brainteaser. it stimulates my mind and makes me think outside the box. i like that. painting landscapes and figures exactly how they are- not so much.

morning is brutal sometimes.

coffee is such a comfort food to me. it helps me feel better when i wake up in the morning. i don't think it's the caffeine but rather the taste and the warmth.

i was up until 3 am again last night. the good news is, i finished two of my paintings. only one more that i have to edit and i am done! that makes me feel wonderful.

bacon!

how awesome is this bacon scarf? (sometimes i question my own judgement)

music makes the show

after working on these "surrealist" paintings for about a year now, i have finally figured out what i want them to be about and that's all thanks to the style of music i am listening to. i was asked to come up with a soundtrack for my show. i figured i would find artistic instrumental music so it doesn't take away from the show. however, in my search i came across eerie, space-like music that fits perfectly with my paintings. it is all clear to me now that my paintings are not about compostition..that is only the beginning. they are about being mysterious lifeforms, perhaps from a different planet or universe. i am bringing them to life through my paintings and through music.

it's so wonderful to be able to feel everything come together! i am counting down the days until the show..

last night i was very overwhelmed since i have so many deadlines to meet. i was about ready to make a post about being stressed out and wanting to quit painting for a while. after hearing this music, everything kind of clicked and i couldn't be happier. 

i also think some of the books i have been reading have helped put the pieces together. i have been enthralled by a contemporary japanese writer, Haruki Murakami for quite some time. his work is so lifelike and yet it has surrealistic notions and characters. it makes me want to venture out into that realm with my art. also other writers have come into play: Franz Kafka, Ray Bradbury, HG Wells, to name a few.

i feel like my art is actually going somewhere, even if no one understands it. i don't care anymore because i understand. i think really that's all that matters. for now, anyway.

Show Flyer!

art prints vs original work

so i've always been on the fence about making prints. i do it so that i can sell my art in some form. a lot of people, especially with the economy can't afford to own real art. so i think in that aspect, it is a great thing to make prints and catalogues of work.

i was having a discussion last night about this with some artist friends of mine. their opinions were different. they said that it cheapens the art and if they can buy a print, no one will buy original work. i agree to some extent but at the same time, you have to make art available to everyone, not just people with money. some of us can't buy original art that we enjoy because we can't afford it. and that's a terrible thing.

buying a print or a book of art is the next best thing. at least you have some representation of that artist. i think it is a great thing.

at one point in time, i was totally against doing prints. but now that i've done various shows i have come to realize that the majority of folks cannot afford original art but are willing to spend money on prints. it makes me happy to have my art out there, even if it's not an original they are buying.

i hope i do sell some originals at my show in December. but with the economy, my hopes are not high. it's discouraging but at the same time, i can understand because i am in the same situation.

also- i'm throwing around the idea of payment plans for my paintings.. of course i won't advertise this but if someone is interested in a painting i will offer that option. i want to be as open minded and flexible as possible.

art is important and people need it in their lives. so instead of feeling like prints cheapen my art, i feel it is helping the economy by having affordable art accessible and not having consumers worry if they are investing their money wisely.

if you like a piece of art, buy it! even if it is a print, you can still enjoy that image any time you want.

november and albums on vinyl

i think i like the month november. all the leaves are at the point of no return. the air is getting colder and that means i can break out my sweaters, scarves and hats. thanksgiving cooking and spending time with family. black friday discounts.

AND--preparation for my big art show. i am really very excited. all new work from yours truely.
for once in my life i feel like i've accomplished something that i want to accomplish. i am hoping to continue with this series and send out slides to galleries for shows in 2010.

however at the same time i don't want to rush myself. i'd like to get comfortable with my style and figure out what the heck i'm doing. i mean, i have some sense but it's still new to me since i only started painting this way last year. and i'm sure it will take awhile.

also, another random thing..i like listening to music on vinyl far more than anything else. it's nostalgic. i like the way the record smells and the way it makes scratching noises. it's just something strange that i enjoy. i guess i'm old fashioned that way :) not like that has much to do with art but i thought it was worth mentioning.

insomnia

the only bad thing about being inspired is not being able to sleep. it's almost one in the morning and i'm wide awake, breathing in paint fumes and turpentine.

ah well, it's the life of an artist i suppose.

day of painting

Today was a good solid day of painting. I got lots of new paintings started and to points where I can hopefully get them done in time for the show.  I love being able to have a day to spend in the studio and not have to worry about anything else.  

These paintings really mean a lot to me.  They are about solving the problem of balancing a composition and making an "original piece of art". Whatever that means. It should be a great show. I think they really represent who I am and what is important to me, as an artist.

I am also thinking of creating a new catalogue of my abstract work. I am working on getting it done before the show.  I would like to combine some written work as well but we will see what time allows.