Farewell to life as a gallery owner

Today was the final day for me as a gallery owner of Cool Mountain Art! I barely made it into the gallery, because I think I am just done with it. I am done sitting in there, feeling like I am a zoo animal, stuck in a cage for people to gawk at and poke fun of. Fortunately, I did make it in, since many good things happened in the gallery today. I can't write about it yet, because none of the things that happened have solidified, but the day held a lot of promise, and it was a magical, wonderful feeling. I needed the hope, since I was a little teary-eyed this morning before going in, about the whole closing thing. I think with big changes like this, there is always a mixture of excitement and sadness.

I was going to post a photo of the gallery, in the final days, however, I forgot to bring the camera home with the digital images on it, so maybe I can add the photo tomorrow. Instead, I am going to post a photo of a pastel painting I did in Hawaii, called "The Woodland Fairy." She is not the fairy you might have imagined a woodland fairy to be. As you can see, this is a Fairy you shouldn't mess with. I like that about her.

Post holiday post

Christmas is over now. THAT went fast! sheesh. It was a Merry Christmas here, despite the fact that my husband wasn't here. He is in Hong Kong, and he starts his new job with Cathay Pacific Airways tomorrow. (Hong Kong is one day - 14 hours ahead, so I am not entirely sure if it would be considered today or tomorrow, but whatever!) At least there is Skype, so we talked last night for about half an hour.

Yesterday morning, My dad and I took the dog for a walk, as always, along the river. It was cold, and when it is below 10 degrees, the river steams. It is quite something, and I have written about it before. So yesterday, I took some pictures and I am sharing one with you. I am no photographer, but at least you can get an idea! This is the Arkansas River on a cold winter morning.

I am trying to decide whether or not to go into the gallery today. I only have 5 days left in there, so I think it would be good. I won't sell art if I don't go in. I would like to sell two more big paintings before Saturday. Just so that I have two less paintings to pack and move. I am not looking forward to the packing, but I think it will go quickly, since I am getting good at it by now.

I have been struggling to finish a large oil painting, and since I have had people in and out of the gallery, I have it hidden behind my easel. I can't paint when I am constantly interrupted, and I am NOT a performance artist. I don't really want people to see it, or to ask me questions about what I am going to do to it to finish it. It is amazing, but there have been at least 3 people who have seen it, partially hidden back there, who have asked about it. !!! It isn't finished yet! I even had one man tell me to email him if I finished it before Christmas. Does he think I am painting in the middle of the night after working in the gallery all day? I also wonder if he thinks that since a lot of my other paintings have been discounted that he is going to get a brand new painting for 30% off??? I wrote down his email address, but I did think, deep down, that it was unlikely that I would be getting a sale on an unfinished painting.

Now all of you sales people out there are saying to yourselves "well, she isn't much of a sales person, if she has that kind of attitude!" You are right! When it comes to my paintings I am really not much of a sales person - I am an artist. For one thing, I am not about to sell a painting that isn't even finished yet. I don't care how much I need the money! I wouldn't be able to live with myself. The art has to come first, and my commitment to the quality of my own art is paramount. So you must understand that my talent is painting, not selling. Selling is something I have learned from necessity, and I know I have a long way to go before I am really a good salesperson. That's okay with me, as long as the art improves.

Thank you to collectors and art appreciators

It is almost my bedtime, so this will be a short post. I don't know if it's the short days, but December is flying by. I will only be a gallery owner for another week and two days. Wow. Three years of owning a gallery, almost completely over with!!! It has been a success, but I am looking forward to having more time to focus on my art, and promoting my art. It should be good. Of course there are things I will miss. I will miss those moments when someone comes in for the first time and falls in love with my art. There is nothing as rewarding as connecting with a person who loves my paintings, and acts as though they have been missing out because they only just NOW have discovered them. It's so cool.

I guess it's a little difficult to explain how it feels to have someone respond so favorably to my art. I don't know why, but it usually surprises me a little bit. Not because it doesn't happen much. It actually happens quite a lot. You would think I would get used to it, or not be surprised. Yet there is a certain amount of self doubt that is always present for me about my art. I mean, if I thought I had already painted my masterpiece, I would quit doing art right now! The main thing that drives me on is the knowledge that I am capable of more. So I look at my work with a certain amount of dissatisfaction. That is not to say that I don't like my own work. No, in fact, I really love my art. I just know that it has not reached its apex quite yet. Even still, admirers of my work are so important. Essential, really. Sometimes, my flagging spirits can be lifted up tremendously by my fans. And of course if it weren't for people buying my work, I would NOT be able to continue to create. It costs money to keep making art. New paints, brushes, paper, canvas, and other art supplies are amazingly expensive. So I thank all those who have invested in my work, and in so doing, have invested in the future of my art. I would not continue to improve without you!! Mahalo.

The monotype I have posted today is one of the most recent ones. These look so much better in person. This one is especially wonderful from a distance. The colors are so vibrant, and the two circles in the center almost pop out like lights in a dark doorway. It is a fairly small monotype, about 5 x 7". I have titled it "lights in the doorway". Enjoy.

White Christmas?

We woke up this morning to almost a foot of snow, and it snowed most of the day. It is amazingly beautiful. I am not a big fan of the cold, but if it snows, then I will forgive it for being cold. Snow is awesome. Pono the dog loves it. He loves to lay down in it, roll onto his back, four paws kicking straight up in the air, and then he will turn his head so that he can scoop up the snow and eat it, without getting up. Fun!!!

I haven't done much art in the past couple of days. I did rework some of the monotypes with pastel on Sunday, but that's about it. Too busy getting ready for Christmas. Wrapping presents, mailing out cards, etc. It is such a busy time of year. The monotypes are still selling, and I am thrilled about that. So not only do I have fun creating the monotypes, but I am selling them, too! Heavenly.

I was going to be in the gallery today, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. My husband, Matthias is leaving for 6 months of training in Hong Kong on Thursday, and I have been following him around the house like a puppy. I don't really think there would have been much in the way of business with snow like this. Maybe I was wrong about that, but with less than two weeks left of the gallery, I definitely have that short - timers syndrome going on. It's just too hard to really care that much about a business that will cease to exist when the year ends.

More on the figure

Today is Wednesday, the day the figure drawing group meets. I need to go, since my drawing is a little rusty. If I don't draw often, my skills are definitely not as sharp. I think I did mention this in my last post. It's NOT like riding a bike!! Maybe the reason fewer artists persue figure drawing now is because you must practice relentlessly. All of the great masters of art from history were masters of the figure in a way that would humble most artists of today. They could draw the human body as beautifully from memory as they could from life. That is a goal of mine.

In some ways, it does seem rather pointless to persist with figure drawing as a modern artist. Most buyers of art do not buy figurative art, unless it is highly stylized. I have never been much of a fan of stylized figurative art. Maybe because honesty is so important to me when it comes to the human figure. I am not interested, nor am I particularly impressed by the common practice of this kind of figurative art. I know you have seen it. If the figure is rendered with the least amount of realism, the body is a "perfect" nude, what common culture dictates for us as beauty. The face of the figure is hidden, or partially obscured by hair or a hat, or even a carefully placed shadow. The breasts are perky and round, the stomach flat, the arms and legs carefully muscled, but not to the point of weight lifter standards. I think it is repulsive. Have these artists even LOOKED at a real human body recently? Or should I say have they looked at a body that was over 20 years old??!!! I can see "perfect" airbrushed versions of the human form in magazines any day I want. In art, I prefer to see the REAL. The slightly rounded belly, the slightly or very drooping breasts, the not so muscular arms and legs. I want to see who this person IS. Do they look right at me? Do they look off to the side, as if they have something to hide? I suppose this is the reason I am so obsessed with drawing from life, with the person right there in front of me. If you faithfully draw what you see, rather than what you KNOW, discoveries are made. Things that do go beyond an idealized, stylized version of the world.

Many people may not realize this, but the main difference between Van Gogh and Gauguin is that Van Gogh believed it was better, more honest, to work directly from life. In contrast, Gauguin believed in working from the imagination. It was one of the things they argued about, causing the rift between them. I have to say, one of the reasons I am such an admirer of Van Gogh is that I agree with him. I think it is more honest to work from life.

Yes, I realize I am an abstract artist. I suppose that is why when I DO paint or draw something recognizable, I work from the source. If I am not working from something directly in front of me, it is the reason why I no longer want it to refer to something recognizable. If I want reference to the visable world in my abstract work, it is only symbolically, as metaphor. So there is a split in my work. The figure seems to command my most honest attention, whereas the abstract work remains my poetry: Symbolism and metaphor, where interpretation is essential.

Drawing and Painting the human figure

It has been a busy week. Tomorrow night will be the last opening I have in my gallery, Cool Mountain Art. So I have been busy with preparations, and getting some new art framed and matted to sell. I always love a good opening. I guess I do like throwing a party! However, I won't miss the work that goes into each and every opening. There are so many details. I am thankful that I have had this experience of running my own gallery and owning my own business.

I did get a chance to draw this week. I met with the drawing group here in town, and I did a drawing of my friend, Carla Sonheim. It wasn't a drawing I am particularly happy with, or I would post it here. The good part is that I have been drawing long enough to know that there are days when drawing goes well, there are days when drawing is like a gift from heaven, and then there are those days when you can't remember if you have ever had a pencil in your hand!!! The more frustrating days you have, the more good and great days you have coming. So that is my consolation. I won't take so much time in between drawing next time, that is for sure.

I do love to draw the human figure. People are so fascinating, with their infinite variety. The challenge of capturing the uniqueness of each person is rewarding. It is also gratifying to know that all the persistance is worth it, and does pay off with better and more successes. I know there are artists out there who have such an ease with drawing. They make it look effortless. I don't think it is that way for me. I have worked hard at drawing, and as I said, I still have my bad days, even after 15 years! Yet, I really do have the passion for drawing and painting the human figure. I suppose it is because I have a great passion for human beings!! I love the silent communion that occurs between model and artist. It is without words. It is beyond words.

a cold morning walk

It was 0 degrees F this morning when I took the dog Pono for his walk. The Arkansas River was so beautiful. There was steam rising from the surface of the water, and all the trees were coated with white frost. I looked downriver, into the sun, and the mist from the water glowed. It was amazing.

On the walk, I ran into another dog owner who I see from time to time. Her name is Laura, and her black lab is named Virgil. She was telling me about an alzheimer's patient who she met through hospice. This woman was elderly, and Laura visited her at her home. She said when she first met this woman, she just thought of her as an old Salida housewife. Something amazing happened during the last visit Laura had with her. The woman was barely lucid when Laura got there. Laura managed to turn the television down, and began looking around the room. She noticed a large number of paintings on the wall. She got up to look more closely at the paintings, and the woman tried to get up, as if she had something important to say to Laura. Laura helped her up, and the woman headed into her bedroom. She was gone a long time, and Laura wondered if she was getting into some kind of trouble. So finally, Laura headed toward the bedroom, to see what the old woman was doing. Apparently, she had a book in her hands, and when she saw Laura, she pushed the book toward her, and indicated it was for her to look at. As Laura leafed through the book, she realized she was looking at an artists' portfolio, and the artist was none other than the woman standing in front of her. This elderly woman, who Laura first thought was a Salida housewife was actually once an accomplished artist. The memory of her art, and the sight of her old paintings caused the woman to begin forming sentences. She was able to communicate to Laura how she accomplished things with her painting, and used analogies that Laura, who is a writer, was amazed by. After a fairly lucid conversation with Laura about art, she looked my friend in the eye and said, "Painting knitted me. It is so sad now, because I cannot do it anymore." Laura asked her why not, and the woman just shook her head. Perhaps, in time, Laura can encourage this woman to go back to her brushes, and find once again the joy she experienced with her painting.

The thing that I find so intriguing about this story is that when Laura first got to the house, this woman was unable to even form a complete sentence. Yet, after the encounter with her old portfolio, it was as though something brought her "back", and she was able to communicate with my friend. I see this as an example of the power of art. I have heard other stories, regarding art, and its ability to connect people and to heal. These are the stories I like to remind myself of, when I begin to wonder why I spend so much time in the studio, brush in hand.

the road less travelled

To those of you who don't know this already, I have worked my way from realism to abstraction. I did not simply pick up a brush one day and start painting whatever came to me. That might work for some artists, but it wasn't good enough for me. I have a degree in art. I studied art history, drawing, design, color theory, painting and sculpture. I have been drawing from the human figure for almost 15 years. I think there is a notion running rampant out there that painters who work abstractly do so only because they cannot draw. I am here to tell you that is NOT true. Maybe for SOME artists it is true. It is not true for me.

There is also a segment of the population who think that abstract art is easier than realistic art, and that anyone could paint an abstract. I suppose you might as well say anyone could paint a landscape, the figure or even a still life. That does not mean anyone can do it well. The same is true for abstract art. In fact, after having explored still life, portraits and the landscape, I have discovered that painting abstractly is by FAR the most challenging. If I am painting a bowl of fruit, for example, I have the fruit right there in front of me. I know what I am trying to achieve. I know what I want the painting to look like. There is the fruit right there. That is what I want the painting to look like. There are all kinds of guidelines to follow, from years and years of art history. The path is well defined. Now, in contrast, if I am painting something completely out of my mind, NOT trying to make it look like fruit, or a person, or a landscape, I do not know exactly where I am going. There is not much of a path. The way is not clear. There is much more mystery; there are fewer rules to follow. It is so easy to create a horrible abstract painting!!! It is difficult to produce an abstract that has harmony, a solid composition, and beauty. For me, this is the challenge I find fascinating. This less familiar path is the path I want to travel.

Discovery

Monday is supposed to be a "day off" - whatever that means. When you work for yourself, it means another day just like any other day, where you try to get done as much as you possibly can! I did get a framing order called in, and that was a major load off my mind. I really hate pretty much everything about framing, except for the end result. As soon as I am rich enough, I will just pay someone whatever it costs to take care of it for me. YUCK!

I did get to go up to the college in Buena Vista and use the printmaking press today!!! Yay! I really LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Why do I love it so much? Well, it's fast and it's fun. I had a rather short day, but better short than not at all, right? Right! I am posting one that I did today, but not my favorite one. That one is top secret, and I will probably hide it away until I do one I like even better. The one I am posting is still a good one. There is always a chance I will rework this a little bit with pastel. Although, maybe not. I really like this one.

I did rework a few of my other monotypes yesterday. I liked what I did, but I don't have one with me to show you. So I guess you just have to wait.

I am not going to write much today, since I am tired. I guess I wore myself out. There will be more to come, so stay tuned.

the juggling act

Here is another watercolor from this past summer (early fall). This one is a little bit bigger - just under 8" square. Hopefully, you can see that I worked on it more than the one I posted yesterday. The composition is strong, and I like the transparencies. The other part about it that I am happy with is the balance of light and dark areas. I am enjoying the square format. Traditionally, canvas and paper are more rectangular. As much as I enjoy the rectangle, the square format seems to provide me with a freedom from the idea that a painting should be a figure (usually vertical, especially for portraits) or a landscape, which is typically horizontal. (I am generalizing here, of course.) The square is a departure from these preconceptions, and has provided me with interesting compositions.

This particular painting pleases me in the way that there seems to be motion without feeling unsettled. Because the elements seem to converge in one area which is close to the center, my eye is drawn there. There, my eye finds rest. I think it works well.

This is a painting which I have considered blowing up bigger, maybe in oil. There are always so many ideas for new paintings. My hope is that I find time to paint them all. I had the gallery open today, and so I did not get to paint. I have been painting on Sundays, and keeping the gallery closed. Today, with the holiday, I had traffic all day, and several people asked me if the gallery was open tomorrow. I told them "no", but now I am feeling that old pressure to be open, since there are people in town. The problem is, if I open the doors, I will not get to focus on painting. I will be focusing on people coming in. I guess the question is: "do I try to make sales, or do I make art?!" I know I'd much rather make art, even though my checking account is depleting. I will wait to see how I feel tomorrow, and then I will decide.

I never realized owning my own gallery would be such a juggling act.

big art, small art

Thanksgiving has come and gone. One day off has a way of going by very quickly! I am staring at my brushes, and the big oil painting on my easel that needs finishing. I would like to get to it right away, but you know I am paying bills, doing paperwork, and trying to sell art to people who come in. So it must wait. This is a painting that I have reworked 3 or 4 times now. I think it is close to being finished, but it ISN'T finished yet. It still needs resolution.


The watercolor I am posting today is a recent painting (from late summer). I like the looseness of it, and I find the color combination appealing. I have always liked the look of watercolor and ink together. It is small, measuring just under 6" square. I have been told that some artists who work big are not able to work small, and vice versa. I have always enjoyed both. There is a time when the intimacy of small work pulls me in. Then, there are those days when nothing will satisfy like a huge painting. In a big painting, a line is the result of whole arm movements - even body movements. The act of painting is almost a dance with a brush to record it. It is unlike a small painting, where a line is a result of a finger or wrist movement. Sometimes, I find that I can work out composition problems in a smaller work and then blow it up big. I will continue to work both ways, no doubt.

thoughts of art

I did end up going up to print monotypes today with my friend, Carla Sonheim. It was fun!!! It is energizing to go up with someone else, and see other techniques and ideas, and just to have someone to talk to. I wonder if non-artists realize how much time artists actually spend alone, in the studio, creating art. I decided as long as I am here in Salida, surrounded by artists, I am going to take any chances I can to collaborate, to work with other artists, to fuel the fires, etc. that I possibly can. I feel lucky to know so many talented people, and I want to see them, to watch them create, to be inspired by them (and hopefully inspire them!), and to really seize the opportunities I can to immerse myself in this hot-bed of creativity. It is such an exciting thing. Carla is certainly on the top of my list of people who inspire me.

I had a pretty good day. It is interesting how I am not always as happy about the work at first. I seem to have to go home, or go away from it, and then pull it out later to look at it before I really see something I like in it. One thing I learned today is that I am thinking I no longer want to bottom weight any of my work. (For those who don't know, a bottom weight is when you put more empty space underneath a piece of art than at the top. Your eye seems to balance this out for some reason. It works if you are doing something like a landscape... but with my work, I no longer think it applies. It is too limiting.) I think I know which end I want at the top, and then when I get a second look, I realize it is almost always as interesting, if not more interesting with the part I put on top, at the bottom. (or even on the side!) And vise-versa. If this makes any sense. I like to turn my art around and around. It changes my whole perception of the composition, the strength of the individual elements, and even the meaning of the piece. Just to turn it around!! Does this mean that I am just a rebel?? I suppose. But I don't really mind being a rebel, as long as it means I am doing my OWN art. Creativity is destroyed by conformity.

There is more that I have to say about abstract art, and why I am so obsessed with it, but now is not the time. You have to wait if you want to hear more about that.

I mentioned my dog and the eating of mice rice last time, so I don't want to leave those of you who are interested hanging. I am hoping that two little turds are not an indication of a mouse problem. I prefer to remain optimistic. The mouse was just visiting. I haven't seen it, or any indication, other than the two damning brown rice. Which were, incidentally, eaten by my beloved dog. It's one of those things you try to forget about. Except this morning, when it was too early to wake up, and a warm, wet tongue licked my face, ...suddenly I was reminded of the mouse turds. Well, let me tell you right now that a thought like that can jolt you out of bed in SECONDS!!! No kidding. I bolted like a colt at the sound of a car backfiring. Wet, turd tongue. Yuck. I think I prefer the alarm clock after all. I mean, I love my dog, but come ON!!! Why can't he be the exception to the rules of dogs and unbridled ickiness??? !!! Really.

Well, that is enough of that. I am a professional here. No point in getting off the subject. Which, now that I think about it, was art. Where was I??? Oh, something about conformity. I have never been very good at conforming. I will say that in my own mind, abstract art is the rock and roll of painting. Realism, if done well, is probably classical. Surrealism, well, if pressed, I would say it is the elevator, easy listening of the art world. I mean, it is slick and refined, but if you spend any time at all with it, it has an underlying creepiness that makes me turn the dial. This is my opinion, only. The thing that I love about art, as music, is that there is a song, a style, a painting, out there for everyone. My likes are only MINE. I do not expect, and I hope hope hope, that you have the nerve to disagree. That means you know who you are, and aren't afraid of it. That is what makes it truly intriguing. I will say that it is good for a person to expose themself to something they thought they didn't like, really to spend time with it, and allow themselves to get to know it. Then, if you still don't like it, you can come up with reasons why, and you won't be afraid to say it. If you find yourself surprised, you have learned something, and grown. Art is like people, you have to spend time with it, to really get to know it.

Just so you know, the image I am including with this post is a monotype from a couple of weeks ago. It is not from today. Today's monotypes have to be looked at and thought about before I can expose them to the public eye. I just wanted you to have an image. I do like this one.

cleaning and a dog

I spent the day cleaning house today. Now, all I can smell is bleach. I must have gotten some on my clothes or something. Yuck. I used to clean house all the time - no kidding - every week. Then, I realized it was one of the things I used as an excuse not to do my art. So my once perpetually clean house has become more like a home for dust bunnies. I get a lot more art done now! One thing I've realized for sure is that cleaning is totally overrated. I wouldn't mind having a housekeeper - I mean, is there anyone out there who DOESN'T want a housekeeper? I am just glad I stopped my obsession for a clean house before my entire life passed me by.

My dog, Pono, who is my sweet love dog, is very fuzzy. So cleaning now is sort of like chasing clumps of wispy dog fur around. No matter how many rooms you chase the fur from, there seems to always be more fur. Despite this irritation, I must say I wouldn't trade my dog in for anything. He is good for me. He makes me laugh, out loud, at least once a day. I have read that pet owners are a lot less stressed out than those people who remain pet-less. (In fact, I just read that today in Jane magazine.) So think what a basket case I would be were it not for Mr. Pono!

Right now he is on the futon behind me, licking his foot. Oh, for the life of a dog! I mean, I realize that not all dogs have a life like Pono has, but Pono has it pretty good. If I didn't have to eat dog food, I might consider trading him places. For one thing, I think he sleeps about 15 hours a day (or more!) I like sleeping. This is something I could get into. He gets a hike every morning, for at least an hour, if not longer. And if he wants his tummy rubbed, all he has to do is roll over on his back when someone is looking at him, and there ya go. Not bad! I have to say I have had a much harder time getting a tummy rub. I guess people just don't walk up to complete strangers and rub their tummies. I've seen them do it to strange dogs, though.

I have a photo for you, so you can see Pono and I together. This is for those of you who have not met my Pono. (Or me, for that matter.) Doesn't it look like love? If you are contemplating getting a pet, I am here to tell you that it is well worth it!

I don't have thoughts about art today. Only dogs. One dog in particular. By the way, the word "pono" is a Hawaiian word. It means "goodness; to be just or upright." We got Pono from the pound, and when we named him, I told him he had a big name to live up to. Luckily for us, he has done a pretty amazing job in that department. Other than the two little mice rice I saw him eat this morning, he is pretty good. (More on the mice rice later.)

Tomorrow is printmaking day. So perhaps later this week I will have some new monotypes to post. Stay tuned! Not all days are "dog days".

Thank you, artists of Salida

As promised, I have a new monotype for you to enjoy. Thank you, Alyson, for your helpful suggestion! I did remember my camera today, but scanning is so much easier. This is a small monotype, and the printed image is only 5 x 7". It is one that I did the last time I went up to CMC to use the printmaking press. It is a favorite of mine, because I like how the colors came out: so rich and velvety. I also think the composition is quite strong, and the round forms in the center become almost figurative for me. I could use a little help with the title, if you have any suggestions. Tell me what you think!
I am in the gallery, again today. I am working on the postcards for my final party at Cool Mountain Art. I would like to get these postcards sent out, so that I can focus on all the other things I need to do like ordering framing, beginning the dreaded packing, and of course the marketing of my art.
The idea of moving has totally overwhelmed me, and I am finding that I am freaked out today. Hopefully, it is just a phase that will pass, because I don't like how stressed I feel about it! I know I will survive it all, but it is always hard to leave friends, and I am going to miss this art community! I have never had so many artist friends in my life. It has been a priviledge for me to be part of such an exciting group of talented people. Mahalo, Salida.

Gallery Sitting

Another day of sitting in my gallery, Cool Mountain Art. One would think that with the upcoming holidays, things would be picking up around here. However, I have been here since about 11:15 this morning and I have only had 2 people come in. They were artists. I do actually like it that artists come in. It is fun to meet other artists, and to talk to them. I even have artists who buy my work - a huge compliment!! But these two were not the buying sort. The good news is that I am getting a lot of work done.
I have just made an appointment to go up to AVAC and use the printmaking press next Tuesday. Hooray! I am actually ready to go up there right now, but I do have other business to take care of. I forgot my camera today, so I can't put up another picture of a monotype. I do have one of my new favorite oil paintings to post. The thing you can't see in this photo is that the painting is continued around the edges of the canvas, which is deep, and it looks really cool hanging flat against the wall. I will find a photo of the edges so you can see that, too.
I will have to burn the midnight oil now, if I expect to have a new body of work before we move. I thought I would have about 6 months to create more work, but it is now looking like that might not be the case. We might end up listing our house right away, and if it sells quickly, we will move quickly!!! eeeks!
For those who don't know, my husband, who is a pilot, just got a new job and we are moving near LA. Somewhere. Don't know where yet. I've never been there, so

printmaking

My new favorite thing is printmaking. I am doing monotypes, thanks to Sallyann Paschall. I am going to post a couple of the first monotypes I did so you can see. There will be more coming, as soon as I can figure out how to take a halfway decent photograph. Repeat after me: "painter, not photographer!" That's my excuse, anyway.

I have already managed to drive myself crazy with this blogging thing. I managed to merge my blog account with my husband's gmail account. So this is actually the second blog that I've created. At least this one is linked to MY gmail account. Is there a point in life when computers DON'T make you want to break things??? I am going to pretend that there is.

Not to jump around, but the thing I am enjoying most about printmaking is that it is so quick!!! I am not a fast painter. Most of the paintings I do involve many hours, days and weeks of work, contemplation, and reworking. But the monotype process has allowed me to do at least one, if not two, finished pieces in an hour!! unreal! Every time I pull the paper up off the plate, there is this moment of excitement: what will it look like? Some of the time I know what it will do when I roll it through the press, but there is still so much unexpectedness in the results. I love that! I hope I can get up to the press (it's The Arkansas Valley Art Center's new press at CMC) soon.

More photos will be coming.