RyhopeWood

I have a New Blog!

2011-08-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

Just in case you've missed it, I wanted to share with all of you that I've started a new blog! Why? you may ask. Well, I wanted a place to write only about my thoughts on art and spirituality, to have a more focused purpose in writing a blog. So, I might still post here occasionally, but most of my time will be spent there. I've made a lot of good friends here, so I would love it if you would join me. Please click the link below. :)

http://www.angelasartblog.com/

(I've also written a little eBook called "What is it? A Short and Friendly Guide to Understanding Abstract Art." You can get that, free, on my new blog too.)

Lessons from an illness

2011-06-02T15:35:00.000-07:00

This is Sammy, the cat who recently adopted us.
I think I need to take lessons from him on how to really relax. :)

Looking at my last post a month later, it seems I focused only on the negative aspects of acute bronchitis. And while it was indeed frustrating to be so sick and so unable to paint, or really do anything much, for over a month, I did find something positive to hold onto from the experience. And I don't mean the cough that sometimes still plagues me.

What I learned during that time was the importance of being able to stop doing and just BE.

I rested, I got enough sleep at night, I drank a lot of tea, and I let myself not care that I wasn't getting anything done and just focused on self-care. I even gave up caffeine because it made me cough, and made it hard to get the rest I needed.

As a result when I did finally start to get well, I felt better than I had in years!

I don't consider myself to be a workaholic or anything like that, but I usually feel like I'm not doing enough, because all around me our high-paced high-paced modern society tells me that I really should be moving faster and doing more at once than I usually do. And even though I don't agree with that, I still can find myself feeling guilty when I'm not running full tilt. But because I was sick, and didn't really have a choice, I could LET myself act on my real beliefs. I could give myself time to be self-aware and take care of myself. I could LET myself not be pushed around by this culture of do, do, do.

These past few weeks I've been catching up on a lot of the things I couldn't do during that time. I'm back in the studio working on a couple of commissions, taking a marketing course, getting back to my Yoga classes, and steadily catching up on the neglected house and yardwork (since my husband was sick at the same time, we were lucky when we were able to get the dishes done, and much less mow the grass). And I can feel my lessons from illness fading.

So I'm writing this post to remind me of these lessons, and to keep them with me so I remember to make time for downtime before it's forced upon me. Downtime would probably be a lot more fun if I wasn't coughing up a lung. ;)

And what about you? Do you let the pace of our modern society guilt you into doing too much and not letting your self BE? Does it take an illness to let you feel like you can give yourself the gift of self-care?

Back to life...

2011-05-03T14:44:00.000-07:00

The day after I wrote this post, I started having the same symptoms as my husband. I went to the doctor and luckily I didn't have pneumonia, but I did have acute bronchitis. And now, nearly a month later, I'm finally feeling truly well again. The bad news is that means that it's also been a month since I've painted. Now I'm facing a huge amount of Resistance to breaking free of illness-induced inertia and getting back to my life. I tried to go to my studio and paint one day last week, but my coughing just got in the way.

So, tomorrow, I'm going to try again. Wish me luck!

Pictures of Amocat Cafe Show

2011-04-25T13:12:00.001-07:00

These are some pics I took after I got my show at Amocat Cafe all set up last week. My work will be on view there through the end of May, and there will be a "meet the artist" reception this Friday, April 29th from 5 - 7PM.

Cafe show

2011-04-11T12:39:00.001-07:00

After all that talk about routine and structure, this past couple of weeks it's all gone out the window. My husband didn't just have a bad cold, he came down with pneumonia(!) and suddenly my priority changed from being an artist to being a full-time caretaker. (How you mothers out there do this all the time I'll never know! Just a few days of it nearly sent me over the edge.)

So now trying to get back into the swing of things. I'm already getting back into my studio routine, so maybe by next week I'll be back on topic and routine with my blog too.

In the meantime I'd like to let you know about my upcoming art exhibit! It was originally scheduled for June, but got moved up to this month(!) so I've had to scramble a bit, but I should have everything ready to hang this Friday.

This is the postcard I just made for the show, and just sent off to be printed. The image is Ether Light, a painting that will be in the show and which I completed late last year. It's acrylic/mixed media on a 30" x 40" canvas. The location of the show is my favorite coffee house, Amocat Cafe, which also just happens to be right around the corner from my studio in downtown Tacoma. This is a very good thing! (Some mornings it's an essential thing.) My paintings will be on display there from April 16th - May 31st, and we're planning a "meet the artist" reception on April 29th, 5 - 7PM.

PS - this painting was a real bear to get a good photograph of, so I owe a huge thank you to local photographer Jason Ganwich for doing such a great job!

End of week check-in

2011-04-01T09:05:00.002-07:00

I was going to write an end of month check in, and I probably still will, but today I just have to say that this week is really testing my patience. And I know that this is not going to show me in my best light, but I need to whine a little bit about it.

So last week, I lost a lot of studio time because I was sick. My husband got a much harsher version of whatever cold/flu/whatever I had and is still sick. I'm trying to be a patient caregiver, but I think I've hit the wall on that. He's been home, coughing and looking miserable, all but one day this week. I'm used to a certain amount of alone time during the week which helps me stay on an even keel, and this week I did not get that which has left me feeling very bristly. Because of his coughing, I'm running on broken sleep, and since he's needed the car, I've lost another two studio days. (Today he needed the car to finally go to the doctor, so hopefully it will be worth the lost day!) I also had an orthodontist appointment that meant I had to skip my Yoga class on Tuesday, and the adjustment to my braces is still hurting 3 days later, so that's not much fun either.

Thanks for listening. I'm ending the week on a very frustrated and disheartened note, but hoping for better next week.

Thoughts on Routine: Part III

2011-03-28T14:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, so after a week of most of what structure I've managed to build being dismantled (my catching a cold, my cat needing to go to the vet, my husband catching my cold), I will attempt to share what that structure (usually) is.

As I said before, my routine is a constant work-in-progress, but one aspect that has been a constant for several years is that I work best in the morning, so morning is my studio time.

Another constant has been that, in spite of heady visions of painting dawn til dusk (or heck, why not midnight), seven days a week, sustained by creativity and paint fumes alone, I can really only work for about three (or, on exceptional days, four) hours at a stretch. And it's almost impossible for me to return to painting once I've done that much. And as for the seven days a week? Well, not so much. A really good week is me working in my studio five days a week, but usually it's more like three or four.

The hardest lesson I've had to learn has been accepting this structure (and then remembering that I have accepted it). To not push myself to be somebody else in order to fulfill my unrealistic vision of what a "true artist" does all day (which only results in meltdowns and having to start over again). I'm sure there are some artists who work this way, but I'm learning that it's okay that I'm not one of them. When I was re-reading "Creating a Life Worth Living", one novelist that the author interviewed works in much the same way as I do (except he does write seven days a week and views weekends and holidays as annoyances). The day I read his interview I felt such a sense of relief. And when I next headed to the studio I gave myself permission to only stay for an hour or two. Ironically, I stayed longer and worked harder just knowing that I was allowed to work less!

Now, the rest of the day is another matter. When do I do marketing and research and all the stuff that surrounds the making of art but isn't the making of art? What about the parts of my life that aren't art-related? I'm still working on all that. I'm finding some tools that are helping me with all this, and I'll talk about those next week.

End of week check-in

2011-03-25T15:28:00.000-07:00

This week wasn't so stellar. I had a cold (finally getting over that, I hope) and one of the cats had to suddenly go to the vet (she seems to be getting better too), so I only got to the studio one day this week - today.

But I'm not feeling too bad about this week. I think it's because I have a good feeling about where my art is going right now, and I managed to do some sketching and planning while I was stuck at home so I feel like I did accomplish something. And I've somehow managed to keep self-judgment in check so I can actually acknowledge that.

And, fourth week of two blog posts a week!

Thoughts on Routine: Part II

2011-03-22T14:30:00.001-07:00

color sketch "sprout", acrylic/pencil/oil pastel on paper

Last week, I wrote about wrestling with the concept of having a routine, finding a schedule that works for my creative life, and today I want to return to that topic because I have more thoughts about it.

One of the things I've found most helpful on this quest for a structure is hearing about other creatives' routines. Not only does this give me new ideas to try, but, more importantly, it reminds me that we are all different. And therefore we all have different approaches and techniques that work for us, and they are ALL VALID! What a relief!

Sometimes, when I forget this, I just get so overwhelmed with all the advice about how an artist should arrange their day, and so angry and judgmental with myself when I can't seem to live up to someone else's expectations about my structure. There is soooooo much advice out there - paint (or write, or sculpt, or…) every day, paint first thing when you wake up, stay in the studio all day every day, treat it like a 9-5 job, etc, etc. And don't even get me started on how we're told we should use the internet. I'm not saying these are bad ideas, I'm just saying that they are not one size fits all. And trying to keep up with some of these ideas just because we think we should, well, it just causes pain.

Thankfully, I was re-reading yet another of my books about the creative life (Creating a Life Worth Living by Carol Lloyd). Throughout the book she interviews creatives of all types in all sorts of fields (novelists, artists, filmmakers, designers…), and they are all successful, and they are all different. Some rise early and create for several hours, others work 2 or 3 hours at the same time each day, and one writer only works when the urge to write becomes too strong to ignore, usually at the end of the day.

And then today in my Yoga class, my instructor had us meditate on this topic of structure and expectations, internal and external, mental and physical. She allowed as how structure can be a good thing, but when held to too rigidly and without consciousness, it can also cause painful constriction. She reminded us to pay attention to what is and to release expectations of what we think it should be. By letting go of expectations, we can actually move beyond those expectations.

Next week I'll try to share my structure (a constant work-in-progress) with you. I'd love to learn about yours too!

Peace,
Angela

End of week check-in

2011-03-18T13:18:00.001-07:00

This week was much better.

I spent quality time in my studio three days this week, and the other two I got to spend with my husband when he returned from his business trip to Austin. I even went to my studio this morning in spite of some strong Resistance that was telling me, quite reasonably, that my time would be better spent at home today.

I was rewarded for my persistence with a note from my studiomate telling me how much she loved the painting I had just completed yesterday! She's never left a note like that before, and it really made my day. :)

And, week three of two blog posts per week!

Thoughts on Routine

2011-03-14T15:29:00.000-07:00

color sketch - acrylic/pencil/oil pastel on paper

Recently I've been wrestling a lot with the topic of Routine. Schedule. Habit. Trying to set one up, trying to keep to it, and oftentimes just plain giving up on it as soon as I get just a little bit distracted. Since I stopped being anyone's "employee" about five years ago, this has probably been my biggest challenge. I don't have anyone to tell me what to do but me, and I'm a very lenient boss.

Why do I keep trying? Because I know that I can't just wait for Inspiration to strike, or she never will. When I do go to my studio consistently, I might have three crappy days of painting followed by one fantastic day, and I know that the fantastic day was only possible because of the foundation I built by showing up for the three crappy days. And if I don't schedule the necessary time for this, then I don't treat it with the respect it needs and I'm too easily talked into doing other things and letting other people's scheduling needs trump my own.

Something I am finally learning though, through oft repeated and torturous lessons, is that my scheduling needs are just as real. I may not have to report to an employer, but I do have to pay respect to my Muse or she gets really miffed.

But I also know that if I push myself too hard to meet my (unrealistic) scheduling expectations that I burn out and give Resistance a crack to wedge itself into. So what I'm really seeking here is balance. But how to achieve this balance?

I'm working on it, and it's made me very curious about other creatives' routines. Do you have a routine? Do you work on your art every day? At a set time? For a set number of hours? Or as the muse takes you? What really gets in your way? Do you have any tricks to get yourself working even when you're not in the mood? I'd really like to know.

Another check-in

2011-03-11T15:55:00.000-08:00

So this week wasn't quite the gold star week I was planning on. First, there was the giving in to Resistance I spoke of in my last post. Then I had an orthodontist appointment the following day. And then the day after that Wade unexpectedly needed our car for work (and I was too lazy and wimpy to brave the cold, wet day and take a bus), so I didn't get to my studio until yesterday. I did go then, and I went again today, and I might even go tomorrow. Usually Saturday is errand day for Wade and me, but he's in Austin at SXSW Interactive this weekend, enjoying temperatures in the mid 70s and margaritas – oh, I guess he's working too ;), so I'm thinking I might restructure my weekend a bit.

And, this makes two blogposts this week.

So, not a complete loss, but want to do better next week.

More Resistance

2011-03-07T14:15:00.000-08:00

Today, Resistance got the better of me again.

After having such a great week last week, my guard was down and Resistance struck. It struck by weakening my resolve through lack of sleep (got up at 4:00 this morning and couldn’t really get back to sleep), and through it’s strongest tool and ally, Fear. I’m about to start a new series of paintings and I’m scared that I won’t be able to do it, scared that I’ll fail. And since I was feeling pretty sure of myself after earning that gold star last week, I let consciously re-committing to my work slide, and my focus and intention became unclear.

Result: muddle-headed fuzziness. Fuzzy muddle-headedness? Either way, you get the idea.

After a couple of hours of wallowing in the fuzziness, I made some coffee and set about reclaiming what I could of the day. I knew that studio time wasn’t going to happen, so I decided to focus on the stuff that surrounds my painting time but that I procrastinate doing, often to the point of forgetting all about it. In addition to some other things, I’m preparing a couple more submissions for competitions, I’m writing this blog post, and I might even get around to updating my website a little.

So, not the day I’d hoped for, but not a total waste either. At least I didn’t give in to the pull of the sofa magnet.

I’ve been working with some tools lately that are helping me to work through Resistance (though, obviously, it’s a constant fight) and I’ll write about those soon. For now I would like to share with you one of the most powerful quotes I found in The War of Art:

Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny. This second, we can turn the tables on Resistance.

This second, we can sit down and do our work.

–Steven Pressfield

End of week check-in

2011-03-04T12:55:00.001-08:00

I'm working on a longer blogpost, but since I want to stick with my goal of writing two posts a week (and I might not finish writing it in time) I've decided to have a brief check-in here.

My priority for this week was to get my focus back on my art, treat it with more of a professional attitude:
• Went to my studio and painted every day this week!
• Photographed some of my new pieces and entered a competition.

I also wanted to work on setting and meeting goals, and on reaching out to people:
• Posted one of the two promised blogposts earlier this week, and this is the second. And I am working on another.
• Commented on friends' blogs for the first time in months.
• My husband and I made plans to go to the movies with friends tomorrow.

I think I've earned a gold star. :)

The War of Art

2011-03-01T07:14:00.000-08:00

color sketch: tempera/pencil/crayon

“The warrior and the artist live by the same code of necessity, which dictates that the battle must be fought anew every day.” –Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

As I said in my last post, I am giving blogging another try. Kind of at a a loss as to where to start. I guess I’ll just start with where I am.

It’s a familiar place, one I’ve been to many, too many, times - stopped in my tracks by Resistance.

A couple of weeks ago, I let down my guard and I caved to Resistance: that lying voice whose purpose is to keep the artist from doing her work, and which sounds only too reasonable once it gets hold of your insecurities and fears. As a result, I only managed to get to my studio one time in over two weeks! Of course, the longer I was away, the worse I felt and the harder it was to go back.

Finding myself unable to combat this bout of Resistance on my own, I turned once again to the book that taught me to call it that in the first place, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield. What a lifesaver this book has been! I was lucky enough to get an advance reading copy of it when I was still a bookseller about nine years ago, and I turn to it again and again as I traverse this strange path I’ve chosen.

When I was only about 20 pages in, I could already feel myself getting stronger, and I knew I’d be back in the studio in no time. (Which I am!) It also made me realize that not only is Resistance holding me back in the studio, it’s keeping me from getting really serious about putting my work out there. I’ve let it stop me from setting goals for myself, and from truly treating my art as a career.

That stops now.

Since I’ve decided to blog at least twice a week this month (a goal!), you’ll be hearing about how I’m working toward achieving this. I know I’m not the only person struggling with Resistance - everybody does. It’s my hope that by sharing my journey, I can help others too.

Peace,
Angela

Let's try that again...

2011-02-23T14:21:00.000-08:00

For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you know that I had a horrible day yesterday. It all had to do with a car repair that took way to long and me being stranded in a coffee house in another city all day. Seriously, SEVEN hours! Anyway, I've already gone over that story many times, to anyone who would listen, in order to try and vent the anger and frustration away, so now I want to focus on something good (I think) that came out of it.

Actually, I was kind of surprised by how deeply this whole experience upset me. Sure, anger at being treated poorly and frustrated that my day was wasted seemed natural, and I was a bit worried because it was snowing so I was afraid I'd be trapped away from home because of the delay. But it went further than that and I started to experience a bit of a meltdown sitting there in that coffee house. After about the 5 hour mark, I could barely think of anything but how alone (in the world) I felt, and, not to be overly dramatic or anything, I became nearly consumed by fear and panic. Even after I got home and was safely ensconced in my warm bed I felt pretty shaky.

Okay, so that doesn't sound so good, does it. (And it's probably made at least a few of you wonder whether I should look into changing my meds.) Well, the good part is I think it's motivated me to move beyond my hermit tendencies and try to reach out more to people, including here on the internet (thus, this blogpost). There have been times when blogging has actually intensified my feelings of aloneness, so this is a test. In order to really give it a fair test, I am committing to blogging at least two times a week for the month of March.

Please, don't leave me hanging. If you're out there and you're reading this, please let me know I am actually not alone by leaving comments to these postings. Even just a "hi" would suffice (or a "like" if you come across them on Facebook).

Thank you for your time and patience, and for still being there after my long absence.

Angela

STUDIO TOUR!

2010-11-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

ANGELA'S STUDIO NOTES: November 1, 2010

It's November, the month the city of Tacoma celebrates its vibrant arts scene with hundreds of events, encompassing all the arts (visual, musical, performing, literary, etc.), throughout the month. THIS WEEKEND, November 6 & 7th, over 70 artists throughout Tacoma, including your's truly, will be opening their studios to the public. It's a fantastic opportunity to see where the magic happens, meet the artists, and see lots of great art. And I know many artists offer special prices just for this weekend, so it's a great time to purchase that great art too!

I invite you to visit my studio, one of the Court C Studios, located at 705 Court C (Opera Alley) in the heart of the arts district (enter at Fibers, Etc.), from 10–4, both Saturday and Sunday. This is my first year on the Tour, but many of the artists I've talked to say it's a very exciting time with lots of great people and energy, and I'm excited to be a part of it! Please, spread the word, tell your friends! And I look forward to seeing you there!

For more information about the Studio Tour, and the hundreds of other events taking place all month, please click: ART@WORK TACOMA

I'm alive!

2010-10-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

I know, I've been very… absent lately. In addition to not writing my own blog, I've also fallen away from reading anyone else's blogs. In a nutshell, I've been a recluse. This tendency to be a hermit has threatened my offline world as well. I can point to many reasons for this over the past year, including the move to a new city a year ago, away from the community and surroundings that I'd come to love. But now that I'm coming out of it, I know exactly what the primary cause was. My home studio.

Crazy? Probably. But, hear me out. Now that I have a studio in downtown Tacoma, I have a place to go! I might even see people! while I'm out. I had seriously begun to feel like a shut-in, talking to nobody but my cats (and myself) most days. When you spend so much time alone at home, you can go a little weird, and pretty soon you don't want to leave and you completely shut down your ability to interact with others. It's terribly lonely, and the saddest part is losing the ability to do anything about it. I found that even reaching out online was nearly impossible for me except for occasional forays onto Facebook. Painting and any marketing took a huge effort of will. It was when getting out of bed in the morning started taking an even larger effort that I knew I had to do something about it before somebody had to prescribe me some pills.

And thankfully I found my studio (and it turned out to be affordable!). It's in a fantastic location in the heart of Tacoma's arts district in a building that houses several other artists' studios, right around the corner from my favorite coffee house. At first I was nervous because I'm sharing the space with one other artist, but she's very nice, and we have totally opposite working schedules! I prefer working in the morning and she almost never gets there until after 3:00 in the afternoon.

I've been there about a month now, and I feel so much better. Within a week I was smiling more and wanting to be more social, and I had a ton more energy. I'm working a LOT more. I feel ALIVE again. And I wanted to say Hi! to all of you lovely people. I'd love to hear from you too! :)

Studio Moving Sale!

2010-09-29T17:55:00.000-07:00

Dear family, friends and patrons,

As you know, I've recently started working in a new studio space. While I'm moving, I'm coming across several older paintings (including "Twilight Silence" above) that I'd rather see in good homes than hidden away in storage again. So I'm offering them at deeply discounted prices here on my website. So far I've listed 14 pieces, but I'm sure to find more as I continue the process of moving.

And there's another reason for this sale at this particular time – I'm trying to raise some money to I can fly across the country for my sister-in-law's wedding in early November. This has been a very expensive year for dental work for me, including getting braces a couple of months ago, and my financial coffers are a bit low. So if you're thinking about getting yourself a painting, or maybe buying one as a gift for someone else for the upcoming holiday season (I saw my first Christmas commercial of the year yesterday - crazy!), now would be a great time! :)

Thank you for your continuing support!

Peace,

Angela

Studio Notes - July 2010

2010-07-21T17:03:00.001-07:00

Dear family, friends and patrons!

I have a couple of quick updates for you:

First, my painting "Tenuous Connection" will be on exhibit at The Robert Daniel Gallery in downtown Tacoma starting next Thursday, July 29th through August 28th. (And if you see me at opening night on the 29th, you'll be among the first to see me in my new braces, which are being installed on my teeth the day before.)

Second, the dates for my show in New York have been changed. In order to make room to showcase work by Judy Chicago, Ico Gallery had to move the October show so my artwork will now be there in January 2011. I'll let you know as I have more details.

Hope you're all doing well!

Much love,

Angela

___________

www.studiotenshi.com

Illustration Friday: Ripple

2010-06-16T16:06:00.001-07:00

This BP oil spill thing in the Gulf - it's just heartbreaking. There's a great blog (http://ripplesketches.blogspot.com/) that's been set up to help with the healing through art. As it says on that blog, this is how it works:

"Each sketchcard on this blog is $10.00. The $10.00 is a donation to help the animal victims of the Deep Water Horizon Gulf Oil Spill. Every penny is donated. The two Non-Profits that are benefitting are The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and The International Bird Rescue Research Center. You can purchase a card if you donate directly to one of the non-profits and email me the confirmation and your address to ripplesketches@verizon.net. The artist will mail you the signed card. We don't have to feel helpless. We can help. Our small actions together will ripple outward."

I hope and pray that these 3 small pieces can be a part of that healing ripple. Please visit http://ripplesketches.blogspot.com/ and be part of it too! (These pieces are numbers 509, 510, & 511)

Studio Notes - June 2010

2010-06-12T16:13:00.000-07:00

My dear friends, family, and patrons,

It's finally beginning to feel like Summer today. After what seems like months of cold and grey and wet, it's sunny and blue and warm! I figure it's a good day to make some announcements.

I just re-opened my Etsy shop today with some small and very affordable works on paper like this monotype, "Blue Sun", 6"x 4", $15. To see more, please visit my Etsy shop.

I've recently realized that I never got around to changing the prices on my small art blog once my Half Off Sale was over earlier this year. So, go ahead and take advantage of my laziness! Since Father's Day and Graduations are all around us, I've decided to leave the half off prices up until the end of June! Give your dad a work of art not a tie! Give that grad a painting, not a pen set! Or maybe you know a June bride who needs art for her new home, or maybe you just need to treat yourself to something nice. :)

And now for the BIG news. This fall my artwork will once again make its way to New York City!!! I've been invited to participate in a group abstract art exhibit, and six of my pieces will be on display as part of "Cryptical Envelopment" between October 7th – 30th at Ico Gallery in the Chelsea district. There will be an opening reception on October 15th which I do plan to attend, and I hope to see some of you there too! It's so exciting to be a part of this exhibit, and to have an excuse to visit New York again! The curator and I still have to pick out exactly which 6 pieces, but this new and as-of-yet-untitled painting will probably be one of them.

I hope you're all well and I wish you all the best!

Angela

www.angelawalesrockett.com

Soup recipe for a sore mouth

2010-06-04T08:51:00.000-07:00

I had gum surgery on Wednesday. I'm still sore and on meds, so painting isn't exactly happening. However, I did have success in another creative venue last night when I made dinner. I had underestimated just how sore my mouth would be and thought that soft pasta dishes would be okay, but turned out that just isn't so. After attempting some mac n cheese for dinner the other night only to have to turn to yogurt instead, I decided I should make some soup. My periodontist emphasized how important nutrition is to the healing process, so I wanted to make sure to pack as many nutrients as I could into a dish that didn't have to be chewed. The following is what I came up with. It turned out really, really good so I want to write it down here so I don't forget it.

4 cups low sodium chicken stock
about 6-7 small yukon gold potatoes, quartered
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
the leafy greens (not the stems) from 3 large beets, chopped

2 medium zucchini, sliced

1 can white kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 bag baby spinach

extra water as needed (probably about 2 cups)
salt and pepper to taste
about 1/2 cup heavy cream

Using my 5 quart dutch oven, I boiled the potatoes and garlic and beet greens in the chicken stock until very soft, adding some salt and pepper and about a cup of water

Then I added the zucchini and the beans to the pot and continued boiling until those softened, adding some water to keep the consistency from getting too thick

I followed that with the bag of spinach and cooked until wilted, then took the pot off the heat

Using an immersion blender, I pureed the soup until there were no lumps left, adjusted the seasoning, then I stirred in some heavy cream

YUM!

Uneasy relationship

2010-05-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

It's been nearly two months since my last blog post (why the sudden image of a confessional?) and I've had a lot of time to think why that might be. My relationship with blogging (and all forms of social networking) seems to have been an uneasy one for quite a while now. Computer work is always a bit of an effort because of the physical pain it causes in my wrist and shoulder, but the reasons for unease went deeper than that. I think I lost, if I ever had, the "why" of doing it. It had become a mindless activity that I felt I should do but didn't really know why I felt that way. I had never really examined my motivations or whether it was the right thing for me to do or not. Of course, when I started I didn't really realize how it can come to permeate your life if you let it.

I've been taking yoga at a local studio for the past few months now (I love it!) and a big part of a serious yoga practice is cultivating mindfulness, so I've been trying to examine many of the mindless things I do and, hopefully, make them mindful activities instead. In applying it to my life online, I feel like I need to define why I'm there and decide whether I even want to be there. As to the why, I can start with CONNECTION. I remember that being the thing that really got me interested. Being an artist is such a solitary pursuit and the idea of hundreds of friends as close as my computer is very appealing. But, and this is hard to put into words, in some ways it often made me feel even more isolated, more alone. And sometimes, when I wasn't feeling very strong emotionally and my rationality had left for a vacation, left me feeling as hurt and ignored and alone as I had felt on many school playgrounds.

So, what to do? Well, I think if I approach this more mindfully, I can continue to hang out in this imaginary place with all you wonderful people. I would like that. I love the connections I have made, and I miss them. And I miss sharing my artwork and my life with you. So, with an eye on connection, I continue.

For now I leave you with a couple of photos of Spring that I've taken over the past few days.

lake reflections and a duckling!

the sun warming the new leaves on our walnut tree this morning

If you want, you can see more on my Flickr account.

Lenten artwork

2010-03-09T14:53:00.001-08:00

I wrote a post about Ash Wednesday and Lent a few weeks ago, but what I didn't talk about was the art project I designed for our church. Inspired by the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, I designed this piece so parishioners can write the things they want to offer up to God during Lent on strips of rice paper, and tie them to the wire netting. Father John will then burn the prayers in the New Fire during the Great Vigil of Easter. An unforeseen (by me at least) and exciting result will be that all our worries will be reduced to ashes. Cool, yes?!

The pictures above were taken the day we installed it. In the weeks since, it has quickly filled with many pieces of tied paper, and there are more every time I see it! People are really responding to it. I'll try to remember to take a picture of it before we take it down.

and the winner is...

2010-03-01T14:44:00.001-08:00

Thank you all so much for your comments! Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I put all your names (from here and from the comments I got on Facebook) in one of my favorite hats and pulled three. Congratulations to: Melissa Gregory, Doug Arrington, and Ellen Sereda!

Please email your "snail mail" address to arockett at gmail dot com, and I'll ship out a small painting to you ASAP! :)

Birthday Giveaway

2010-02-23T13:22:00.001-08:00

My birthday is coming up in a few days, and I want to give something away. Don't get me wrong, I love receiving presents as much as the next person, giving some too just feels like the right thing to do this year.

Specifically, I'd like to give three of my small paintings to three of you! It might be a piece you've seen on my small art blog, or it might be one I never got around to putting there (as you can see, I never got around to taking the paintings there off of the 50% off sale).

To get your name in the hat, just comment on this post by midnight on Sunday, February 28th. On March 1st I'll draw three names and each will receive on of my paintings!

Ash Wednesday & Lent

2010-02-19T09:30:00.000-08:00

Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the season of Lent in the western church calendar. I've been asked by a couple of people what this actually is. I didn't really know how to put it into words until hearing the sermon during the Ash Wednesday service.

Ash Wednesday is a day to reflect on your sins and imperfections. The Ash Wednesday liturgy is a service of penitence, and ashes are place upon our foreheads as a reminder that we are dust, and to dust we shall return. (So if you saw people wandering around with a big black smudge on their forehead on Wednesday, they most likely just came from just such a service.) By the end of the service we are shriven - completely forgiven of all our sins.

So what's Lent about then? you may ask. Since all many hear about Lent is "I gave up _______ for Lent", they assume it's a depressing time of deprivation and solemn penitence and suffering. But it's really 40 days to work deeply on your spirituality, to put your spiritual life first on your list of priorities. It's a time to slow down and look within, to get centered and clear away distractions, to "patch the holes where your soul is leaking out", to become a stronger spiritual container. So the "giving up for Lent" part is really about creating a discipline that can help you to do that. For some, it's giving up a certain food (traditionally it's meat, but many give up caffeine or chocolate). For some it's taking on a discipline like reading scripture or meditating. Basically, something that helps you become conscious of your actions.

The giving up of a food has never really worked for me, so this year I'm cutting back on television watching. While I was sick I got very used to having the TV on all day, and it's difficult to stop that habit now that I'm well again. So my hope is that I can reclaim some of that wasted time and use it toward more spiritual pursuits. And hopefully that will become a habit that stays with me long after Lent is over.

Slow Recovery

2010-02-18T13:58:00.000-08:00

I'm finally over that cold. It came back, then it turned into a sinus infection, then I had medicine head… Bleh.

I've been struggling with my art for quite a while now - months really. At first I told myself that it was just a down cycle, that I was just in a creative lull and tried to keep my hands moving anyway. But recently I've come to the realization that I'm actually full of creativity, it's just that what's being expressed isn't what I've come to expect from myself. My art is changing, and I don't really know what to think about the direction it seems to be taking, so I've been fighting it.

One good thing that came out of being sick was having a good long time to think about this, and to get to a point where I can let myself let it happen. I also came to recognize that one of the new elements that's trying to become part of my artwork is narrative.

I'm very curious to see how this is going to turn out!

And just so there's some color in this post, here are some random photos I've taken this past month.

Spring?

2010-01-26T11:50:00.001-08:00

Even though we're only at the tail end of January, it was a beautiful spring-like day yesterday. The little birds were sunning themselves…

and sunlight streamed into my studio… and I finally felt like I was starting to recover from the cold I've been down with since last Thursday. A perfect day to paint!

And I did! I completed this 24" x 24" canvas that I started a couple of weeks ago (I apologize for the not so great photograph).

I also went to the library and checked out some gardening books. Just seemed like the right thing to do. :)

Encaustic Paintings October 2009–January 2010

2010-01-20T12:25:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are the encaustic paintings that I've done since October. Expressing myself in this medium still doesn't feel natural - I still need to learn so much. But I'm still really enjoying it. It kind of reminds me of when I was learning to use watercolors. I knew in my head what I needed to do, but it didn't really work for me until my heart learned how to use them. And eventually that did happen, but it took time and a lot of practice. So that's what I'm giving encaustics, working toward that aha! moment.

The two Angels of the Vineyard pieces incorporate photographs I shot using my Diana+ camera in the vineyards of Cave B Winery a couple of years ago. The shapes of the winter vines made me think of angels' wings.

You should be able to see more detail if you click on the images.

Paintings October 2009–January 2010

2010-01-19T12:46:00.000-08:00

I've really fallen behind on keeping up with blogging, and with documenting what I've been working on. So here's a bit of an update…

These are 3 acrylic paintings I've completed since October. I don't have titles for any of them yet.

Tomorrow I'll post the encaustics.

Some Random Notes on the first week of 2010

2010-01-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

First, today is January 8th, so there's only one week left of my 2nd Annual Half-Off Sale! Are your walls looking kinda bare once you put away all the holiday stuff? Maybe something here or here would look very nice on those bare spaces. :)

This painting was accepted into and is on view through the end of January as part of Parklane Gallery's 2010 Contemporary Juried Show. The opening reception is this coming Thursday, January 14th, 6-8PM as part of Kirkland's ArtWalk. I'm not sure if I'll be there or not as I have a schedule conflict, but it still looks like a great show with lots of great artists, so I'd recommend checking it out.

Took my first ever "real" yoga class last night. Loved it! After years of using some great DVDs, it's nice to be instructed in person by a great instructor, in an actual yoga studio, and (this is the surprising part for me) with other people. I'm a pretty solitary person, and I was really afraid I'd be embarrassed or miss the solitude of doing yoga at home, but neither was true and I'm really looking forward to next week's class (thus, the schedule conflict).

And I recently discovered and am totally enjoying The Fluent Self blog. It's a delightful and fun place to be with lots of great ideas for getting destuckified*!
*one of the words you'll find their, and a small example of why it's so delightful

Half off Sale! (continued)

2009-12-09T15:43:00.001-08:00

In Bloom, acrylic on canvas, 18" x 18", ©2008
SOLD!

I've set up the SALE Gallery on my website for my larger works that are a part of my 2nd Annual Half Off Sale. I'll be changing the selection available there throughout the sale so be sure to keep visiting.

Second Annual Half Off Sale!

2009-12-07T14:33:00.001-08:00

Announcing the beginning of my Second Annual Half Off Sale! From now to January 15th, 2010, I will be offering all of the paintings on my Small Art blog, and most of my larger works for 50% off my usual retail price. I've gotten my Small Art blog all set up so the small pieces are ready to go at the click of a PayPal button! What a perfect holiday gift for a loved one (or for yourself!), original art for only $25–$60! For my larger works, I'll be adding a sale section to my website over the next few days and will announce it when that's ready, so be sure to check back so you don't miss it!

Upon Reflection II, acrylic on canvas, 8" x 8", ©2009

ON SALE NOW! ONLY $60.00

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-30T13:42:00.000-08:00

Hilton Head, SC beach on the afternoon of Thanksgiving Day 2009

I spent the past week on the other side of the country in Georgia and South Carolina celebrating Thanksgiving with my in-laws. Had a great time being with people I love and don't get to see very often, and eating great food.

Now I'm home trying restore the bit of equilibrium I'd managed to achieve just before we caught that plane to the east coast.

Encaustics in my studio: Day 2

2009-11-11T16:15:00.000-08:00

Today's encaustic session went very well. I spent some time sketching and thinking about the process yesterday evening, and went into the studio with some idea of where I wanted to go. And these two 8"x8" panels are the result. I'm very happy with them. I feel like I'm learning how to make this medium my own. Can't wait to see what happens tomorrow!

Encaustics: The Beginning

2009-11-10T11:45:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I took some encaustics workshops from Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch this past weekend. Had a blast! Intended to take more pictures than this, but I was far too involved in playing with the wax. Trish is awesome, and the other attendees were too! Lots of great energy and laughter. And The Ranch! I want to go back there again and again. A big hug and thank you to everyone there!

These are the pieces I came home with. Learned lots of techniques, and I need A LOT of practice. It's an interesting feeling to be a beginner again.

And this is my setup in my home studio, which I got set up and played with today. Still lots to learn, but I didn't set fire to anything, nor did I pass out from fumes, so I'm doing pretty well so far. :)

At the workshop and today I've just been getting used to the medium, seeing what it feels like, what it will do, and making myself get out of my comfort zone by trying something totally new. Tomorrow I'll start planning a bit more, see what I can do with the medium toward expressing my vision.

um, helloooooo

2009-11-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to write a quick note to say hi. Still recovering from moving upheaval, and really, really sick of it. It's sent me into a free-fall funk. Feeling totally disconnected from most of life. Feeling totally disconnected from my online connections here (I miss you!). And though I've managed a couple of painting sessions, I'm also feeling disconnected from my art and all the activities that surround it. Bleh.

I need some dynamite to get me out of this.

Fortunately I think that dynamite is waiting for me just around the corner. I've signed up for a couple of encaustics workshops with Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch at The Ranch in Snohomish this coming Saturday. I cannot wait!

Our new home!

2009-10-01T12:04:00.001-07:00

We are now homeOWNERS!

Wade took this photo with his phone when he went to pick up the keys yesterday. More photos soon.

testing the waters

2009-09-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

I went to my studio for the first time in about a month this morning. Many factors contributed to my absence there (and here too, and maybe I'll write about those in the near future) and even though I had sensed a need for a break a few months ago, I resisted taking it because I knew how hard it would be to go back. It was a truly nerve wracking experience to step through those doors again - my heart was pounding, my hands shaking - but it finally felt like time to get back to work. I tried to keep my expectations low and just allow myself to play with putting paint on canvas. And while I did manage to do that for the most part, I never really let go of the self-consciousness and anxiety that I entered with.

Even so, it still felt good to be there and I'm planning to go back tomorrow. :)

Call to Artists: Signs and Portents

2009-08-31T16:23:00.000-07:00

The word "advent" is defined as, "the coming or arrival, especially of something important." In the church year, the season of Advent is a time of looking forward to something greater. It is a season of preparation, a time of waiting and watching for signs and portents.

Some of these are signs of a beginning. The three kings saw and followed a star to Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph and the shepherds received visitations from angels. Other signs and portents of the season foretell that something is coming to an end: the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and other visions of John in the Book of Revelation.

But signs and portents aren't limited to Biblical accounts or religious seasons. Astrologers read the stars and planets. Comets have been linked to life-changing historical events. Shamans seek the visions of the trance. Farmers scan the skies and consult almanacs for signs of rain or drought. Fortune tellers read cards, palms and auras. We all have dreams and visions. We see pictures in the clouds, and have favorite colors and lucky numbers.

Our gallery seeks artwork that expresses the theme "Signs & Portents" for a juried art exhibit that will be on view in our nave throughout the liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, with an artists' reception planned for the evening of December 5th. All genres and media considered. Artwork needs to be two-dimensional – it can extend into the third dimension, but it must be able to be displayed on a wall.

Where: CR Gallery, Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Kenmore, WA

When: December 2 – February 2, 2010

Opening Reception: Saturday, December 5, 6:00– 8:00pm

How: Submit up to 3 jpegs (72dpi, 600 pixels on the longest side) via e-mail to arts@redeemer-kenmore.org. In your e-mail, please include your name, contact information, and a few words about your work. Also include title, medium, framed dimensions, and retail price of each image submitted. Submission deadline is midnight, November 8th, 2009. The work will then be juried and acceptance notifications and delivery instructions will be sent out via e-mail by November 16th.

Entry fee: There is no entry fee for this exhibit.

Please take note of the following:
•Artwork must be ready to hang, preferably from a wire. Photographs and
artwork on paper must be framed with a wire attached for hanging. Canvases
do not need to be framed, but the sides should be painted, either a solid
color or as a continuation of the image, in order to give a neat,
professional appearance, and must have a wire attached to the stretchers
for hanging purposes.

•For work that is shipped, all shipping costs will be the responsibility
of the artist.

•Artwork can be for sale. The gallery will direct buyers directly to the
artist and takes no commission.

•The gallery will take care of advertising and publicity, and artists with
accepted work will receive postcard announcements to distribute
themselves.

•In addition to being displayed in the nave gallery, accepted artists will
also be featured on the church's website.

•For ease of transport, and so we get to meet you, we are especially
seeking artists in the Puget Sound area, but this call is open to all
artists over 18.

•For more information, please visit our website at www.redeemer-kenmore.org/artsblog.
If you have any questions, please email Angela at arts@redeemer-kenmore.org.

Please feel free to pass this information along to other artists you think
might be interested.

Searching for the Light

2009-08-15T21:18:00.001-07:00

Into the sunset

2009-07-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

"Vashon Sunset", acrylic & pencil on canvas, 7" x 5", ©2009
available for purchase here on my small art blog

This has been a crazy couple of weeks. For those of you that follow me on Facebook (you can find me there as Angela Wales Rockett) you've seen hints of what I'm talking about. So here's the whole story.

Last Tuesday my friend Sheila and I were talking about our careers (she's a musician) and our goals and the conversation naturally started turning toward what the future holds. And without my brain even being aware that this thought was even lurking in the vicinity, my mouth popped open and said, "who knows, maybe we'll even be moving to Tacoma." Sheila lives there, so we joked for a while about being neighbors and I thought that was all there was to it. (for those off you not familiar with this area, Tacoma is about an hour south of where I live now, and a half hour south of Seattle)

Woke up the next day and the thought of Tacoma would not leave me alone. So I decided to look at real estate options there just for the heck of it. What I found nearly knocked me over. Homes going for less than half of what they go for in my neighborhood, and half of what foreclosures gof for in Seattle! I had no idea there was such a huge difference. Suddenly, the old dream I thought was long dead of owning a home, strangled by ever rising outrageous home prices, came to life in a big way. I told Sheila about it and she recommended her real estate guy. (Since she and her husband are both musicians and he found them a house, I figured he might be able to do something for us too.) I called Wade (who was away on a business trip) and told him that we really needed to think about this and I could almost hear the thought "I can't leave her alone for a second…" through the phone lines. And I made an appointment with the Realtor and a date with Sheila and her husband for a tour of Tacoma.

We met with him on Saturday morning, talked about what we were looking for, and about what we thought we could afford and where we wanted to live. After about 2 hours we left his office with about 40 property listings in our price range to look over when we got a chance and a recommendation to take a look at some of the neighborhoods to get a feel for the place. Then we drove over to Sheila's place, had lunch, and started driving around. We really thought we'd just look at a couple and leave with some impressions and work from there, but it turned out that they were pretty determined and by about 8pm, we'd seen them all (some of which were truly scary), and absolutley fallen in love with one. (Yes, we've been warned not to fall in love, but how could we not?)

It's a beautiful old 2-storey home, 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath in a nice neighborhood about 4 miles from downtown Tacoma and a little over a mile from Sheila's place! It's not perfect, but it's in decent shape so we could move in without having to perform any major renovations first.

Then Sunday - a day of rest. Saw new Harry Potter movie!

Monday, got pre-approved for a loan. Tuesday, drove down to Tacoma and walked through the house, decided we still loved it and made an offer. Wednesday, offer accepted! so back to Tacoma to fill out more paperwork. Whew. What a whirlwind. Next week is the inspection and soon after that, the appraisal. If those go well (oh please oh please oh please), we should close in early September.

So, now I'm in an absolute state. I'm not sleeping well, I'm having trouble painting, I'm even having trouble getting into reading! What I really want to do is sit and watch HGTV for hours on end, but we had to give up cable in order to afford the house we're renting. (Oh, did I mention that we'll be paying a lot less on a mortgage payment than we are on rent?)

Of course, in the meantime, money will be very tight. We're scrounging every corner and looking under every seat cushion to make sure we have enough for the necessary up front costs and the move, and the gas for the drives to and from Tacoma, and still be able to meet our obligations at our current address. This all means that I don't have any money to buy art supplies with for a while :P, and our groceries might have a much higher proportion of Top Ramen and Mac & Cheese in them than they've had since our college days.

So, if you've been thinking about buying art from me, or starting a purchase with a downpayment, now would be a great time! :)
(Seriously. I might even consider making a deal – I'm what's known as a motivated seller in real estate terms. Check out my website and my Flickr, email me at arockett @ gmail dot com to let me know what you're interested in and we can talk, or you can buy some of my small canvases directly from here on my small art blog.)

this and that

2009-07-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

It bothers me when there are no pictures on my blog, and the last two posts don't have pictures! So here's a bit of this and that of what I've been up to lately. (you can click on the images to enlarge them)

In early June I went to Ocean Shores, WA for the first time, with my husband and our friends Glenn and Sheila. We had a really lovely time in spite of the constant fog and mist that descended as soon as we arrived. And I took lots of misty photos which you can see here on Flickr.

I've been gardening. This photo is from a couple of weeks ago, and everything is so much bigger now. It's so satisfying to get dinner from the backyard! And with the berries, breakfast too. :)

Starting a new altarpiece for church - actually got to start this one from scratch and make a new canvas! More on that at Redeemer's Arts and Music blog. I'll be updating the progress on that as we go.

And, of course, I've been painting. I haven't managed to photograph everything yet, but here's one I completed a few weeks ago. It's kinda different for me, isn't it. I saw this composition in a vase on a table next to a window, and I had to paint it. So I guess it's an abstract still life.

Great blog and artist opportunity

2009-06-29T15:42:00.000-07:00

Check out this amazing opportunity for artists over on Tony Moffitt's blog:

Independence Showcase

I've just recently discovered his blog myself and I am so impressed by it and by Tony's generosity.

Art & Meaning: Treffinger Daily

2009-06-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

Katherine Treffinger has started a wonderful project on her blog about Art & Meaning, and she asked me to be part of it! She describes it as follows:

Art and meaning is a project in which I am including in my postings the answer to a question from various artists. I will introduce one artist at a time along with an image of their art.
The question is: "What meaning does doing art have for you? In other words why do you show up in your studio, or wherever, and pick up your tools day after day?"

Check out my answer here!

And as long as your there, check out Katherine's wonderful artwork and the other artists' responses. :)

Light in the Storm

2009-06-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

I completed this piece last week but had no idea what to call it. Then one of my contacts on Flickr said "I love this little light in the storm… Strange feeling of security inside huge forces." And right then I knew what this was a painting of, and what the title is. I love it when people can make me see more deeply into my own work!

detail of Light in the Storm

cracking up

2009-05-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

Having trouble getting my brain to settle. Feeling a bad case of the "why bothers" coming on. Not so much in the realm of creating art. I don't have much of a choice about that – it's as much what I am as what I do. But in the efforts required to share (and, yes, hopefully sell) my work, well… Though I'm not the best at motivating myself to do the marketing stuff at the best of times, that's just because I don't really enjoy it much. I'm usually pretty good about ignoring the naysayers (I'd say most artists have to be) and the pessimistic talk about external forces (the bad economy for instance), but for some reason there has been a breach in my defenses recently and it's all starting to get me down.

How do you (yes, you) keep at it even when it doesn't seem to be worth it?

The Unknown Region

2009-05-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

Darest thou now O soul,
Walk out with me toward the unknown region,
Where neither ground is for the feet nor any path to
follow?
–Walt Whitman, "Darest Thou Now, O Soul"

Details of Unknown Region

Every time I looked at my blog this week I was surprised to see that my last blog post was still my last blog post. Working with my morning pages and The Artist's Way I've been thinking and writing about so many things it seems impossible that they haven't appeared here. But all those words are on (*gasp*) paper. Crazy, I know.

I completed this painting last Thursday, and the title finally came to me when I happened upon the quote above. That's exactly what I'm trying to do, let go of the need to control the outcome and just "walk out". As part of that effort, this week I've been staying away from canvases and playing with some small color studies on paper, and with being more visual in my journal. It's hard because there's a part of me that is trying to convince me that I'm wasting time if I'm not actually putting paint to canvas, but that's the part that got me all blocked up in the first place.

Catching up with myself

2009-04-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

Don't even know where to start here. It's been so long since I've really done a blog post, so I was going to write about what's been happening over the past month or so, but there was so much that it feels a bit overwhelming, so maybe it's just best to start with now. Quick overview to get caught up on the past month or so: Easter and all the preparations that went into it, including a new altarpiece and a new art exhibit; recovering from all that; my garden; probably more that I can't think of just now. I'm slowly adding photos to my flickr account for all these.

Of course, the most prominent thing on my mind has been my recent frustrations in the studio. I've managed to paint a few good pieces, but my creative flow feels all gummed up and it's like trying to swim in molasses when I work. In frustration, I found myself turning for inspiration to my bookshelf. After flipping through a few books, I finally opened The Artist's Way. This is the book that started it all for me, and I've read it several times since I first read it about 13-14 years ago, but I hadn't picked it up in years. Thought maybe since I am a working artist now that I'd learned all there was to learn from it or something.

After just skimming through it for a few minutes I had several "Ah-ha!" moments and I realized that there was still a lot to learn from this book. The words that really stuck with me were on page 153:

Over an extended period of time, being and artist requires enthusiasm more than discipline. Enthusiasm is not an emotional state. It is a spiritual commitment, a loving surrender to our creative process, a loving recognition of all the creativity around us. Enthusiasm is grounded in play, not work. Far from being a brain-numbed soldier, our artist is actually our inner playmate. As with all playmates, it is joy, not duty, that makes for a lasting bond.

I've gotten so caught up in making sure I have a good finished product, I think I've forgotten how to have fun! I've forgotten how much I love the process of painting, the joy of color and texture. The fun of making a mess! And what's worse is that I realized that I've also lost enthusiasm for a lot of other things in life too - let myself get mired down in boredom. And then I read this on page 18:

Boredom is just "What's the use?" in disguise. And "What's the use?" is fear, and fear means you are secretly in despair.

Wow.

So, I'm doing the Artist's Way again. I'm doing my morning pages and artist dates. I'm only on Week 1, but I can already feel the gears turning more smoothly. And I'm already much more excited when I paint. This painting was the first one to feel the effects of letting go and having fun again. I had been working at it for weeks and getting nowhere, but when I consciously decided to just enjoy making colors and textures, it came almost effortlessly.

I'm very interested to see where this turn through the Artist's Way will lead me, how will it be different now that I've been a working artist for a while now. I'll let you know! And hey, if anyone wants to join me, that would be great!

golden

2009-04-08T07:38:00.001-07:00

untitled (goldnpurple), acrylic on canvas, 5" x 7", ©2009
(available for purchase here)

"The situation of the soul in contemplation is something like the situation of Adam and Eve in Paradise. Everything is yours, but on the one infinitely important condition: that all is given."

–Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation

Spring Walk

2009-04-06T15:17:00.000-07:00

The sun is finally shining and it's actually over 70 degrees (Fahrenheit) outside! After a morning spent in the studio, I could not resist taking a walk along the river. I was very glad that I'd brought my camera when I spied this heron patiently stalking something good to eat.

It's amazing how uplifting such a day as this can be after such a gray and soggy stretch. And energizing. I love the rain, but I must admit to feeling a bit waterlogged lately. I feel a renewed excitement toward my painting, a breaking out of late winter inertia.

Lent and the internet, and an update

2009-03-27T15:04:00.000-07:00

We're currently in the season of Lent in the church year, and this year I decided to use the internet less as my Lenten discipline. I was going to give up refined sugar, but then our priest mentioned how part of the purpose of Lent is to simplify our lives in order to make more room for God as we prepare for Easter, and it struck me that I've let the internet take over a bit too much lately. So I decided to simplify by limiting it.

It wouldn't have been very practical for me to give it up completely for the entirety of Lent (40+ days), so I decided to become more aware of how and why I use it by only allowing myself to sign on 2 or maybe 3 times a day (instead of checking it compulsively every hour or so), and then only with a clear idea of what I wanted to accomplish while I was there. I've still got a little over a week left of Lent, but so far it seems to have been a very good idea to do this and I'm pretty sure I'll still be doing it long after Lent is over.

In other news…

I've managed to complete a few more paintings, including this large one. It felt good to paint big again. I don't have a title for it yet, but this one feels like some of my impressions of New York City are expressing themselves.

Three of my paintings (here, here, and here) were accepted into SOPA Fine Art's Under 8 Event in Kelowna, BC Canada. The show opens on April 2nd and will be my first international show! I wish I could be there for the opening, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.

the madness of art

2009-03-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

"We work in the dark–we do what we can–we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art." -Henry James

New work - finally!

2009-03-03T15:31:00.000-08:00

I finally completed these two paintings - the first in about a month that I feel good about (the photos aren't so great, but I'll retake them later). They're each 9" x 12" (no title has come to me yet), and I picture them hanging together side-by-side, though they each stand alone just fine. And so far I'm pretty happy with the canvas currently on my easel. Can you hear my sigh of relief?

The weather is also turning around (for now at least) and there's a strong sense that spring is right around the corner. Renewal is in the very atmosphere.

Elizabeth Gilbert on creativity

2009-02-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

Still struggling in the studio. Came across this video (thank you, Ellen) which speaks to this sometimes maddening journey by the author of the wonderful book "Eat, Pray, Love". Enjoy.

practice and preparation

2009-02-13T18:41:00.000-08:00

It's been a frustrating week in the studio. Nothing turning out right. Some sort of barrier between me and what I want to express. Had a couple of days that were actually pretty good studio days, in that I was in the studio a lot and I felt good being there. But the results left me feeling like I'd spent all day doing nothing. Not my favorite part of the artistic cycle.

But I'm re-reading "Creative Authenticity" by Ian Roberts (awesome book!) and yesterday I read these comforting lines: "The making of art offers a poor example of efficiency at work. Yet all that practice and preparation makes us ready when for some reason everything gets lined up and we become as if conduits for the spirit. It shows in the result. The rest of the time we work to keep the channel open until things realign."

So, I keep working.

(and I post a painting completed a couple of weeks ago)

Call to Artists: Gift of Water

2009-02-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

Our gallery is seeking artwork expressing the theme “Gift of Water” (exploring the various associations with water and baptism: renewal, rebirth, resurrection, cleansing, life, oceans, rain, etc.) - a juried art exhibit that will be on view in our nave gallery throughout the 2009 Easter season, April 8 - June 3, with an artists’ reception planned for the evening of April 16th. All genres and media considered. Artwork needs to be 2-dimensional–it can extend into the third dimension, but it must be able to be hung on a wall.

Where: CR Gallery, Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Kenmore, WA

When: April 8 – June 3, 2009

Opening Reception: Thursday, April 16, 6:30– 8:30pm

How: Submit up to 3 jpegs (72dpi, 600 pixels on the longest side) via e-mail to arts@redeemer-kenmore.org. Please include your name, contact information, and a few words about your work. Also include title, medium, framed dimensions, and retail price of each image submitted. Submission deadline is March 23, 2009. The work will then be juried and acceptance notifications and delivery instructions will be sent out via e-mail by March 25th.

Entry fee: $15 (USD) for up to 3 images, payable via PayPal. This needs to be paid before work can be submitted to the jury.

Please take note of the following:
•Artwork must be ready to hang, preferably from a wire. Photographs and
artwork on paper must be framed with a wire attached for hanging. Canvases
do not need to be framed, but the sides should be painted, either a solid
color or as a continuation of the image, in order to give a neat,
professional appearance, and must have a wire attached to the stretchers
for hanging purposes.

•For work that is shipped, all shipping costs will be the responsibility
of the artist.

•Artwork can be for sale. The gallery will direct buyers directly to the
artist and takes no commission.

•The gallery will take care of advertising and publicity, and artists with
accepted work will receive postcard announcements to distribute
themselves.

•In addition to being displayed in the nave gallery, accepted artists will
also be featured on the church’s website.

•For ease of transport, and so we get to meet you, we are especially
seeking artists in the Puget Sound area, but this call is open to all
artists over 18.

•If you have any questions, please email Angela at arts@redeemer-kenmore.org.

Please feel free to pass this information along to other artists you think
might be interested.

New Painting - Cloister View

2009-02-03T13:57:00.000-08:00

The painting above was inspired by the view from the water of The Cloisters in New York. Sadly, I didn't end having time to go there, but it's first on my list for next time.

I've been spending a lot of time over the past few days photographing several of my most recent paintings, adjusting the files in Photoshop, and uploading them to my website, and playing with the design of my website too. I'd love to hear what you think.

I feel like there's probably more to say, but the sun is actually shining(!) so I'm going to go take a walk now.

Branching Out

2009-01-26T14:43:00.000-08:00

(Ha! You get it? Branching... out...?)

Ahem…

I've really been enjoying playing with my Diana+ camera, and with it I've taken some pretty cool images that I'd love to share. I shot the above photo this past December during our first snow of the winter, and I finally got the film developed a week or so ago.

So, I'm adding frameable photographic prints to my Etsy shop. As I write this post there are only a couple of images available, but I'll be listing more over the next few days, both color and black & white, along with more size options, all beautifully printed on Kodak Professional Endura paper. I'll be adding notecards soon too, so be sure and check in often.

I took photography classes in college, but this is a relatively new arena for me, so I'm starting small and simple, and I'd love to hear what you think of the images. Also, if you see any other images in my Flickr Diana+ photostream that you'd like as a print or notecard, contact me and I'll see about getting that done for you.

In the meantime, I'm still painting, though you can't really tell by my blog lately. I'm planning to photograph my most recent pieces tomorrow so look for posts about them very soon.

A Winner! and another sale!

2009-01-16T17:15:00.000-08:00

And the winner is… Tracy Helgeson! It is so wonderful when an artist you admire turns around and admires you right back. :) Her copy of Mapping the Depths: an art exhibit and a trip to new york city is being made over at Blurb.com right now.

My sale is over, but I just heard that the very talented Andrea Pratt is having a sale here! Go check it out. I understand she's willing to dicker.

This sale has been a great experience, and it's given me some things to think about. I sense some blog posts in the making…

Last day of sale

2009-01-15T11:42:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure what to write about, but since it's the last day of my sale, I thought I should write something.

Firstly, a huge THANK YOU! to everyone who made a purchase (or 2 or 3!). I have paid our heating oil bill and I still have some money left to buy art supplies, and maybe even more heating oil should the need arise. :) Thanks also to everybody who was so supportive, even if they couldn't buy anything. Every little bit of that means so much to me.

And secondly, I mentioned in my sale announcement that all purchasers would be included in a drawing for a surprise gift. At the time I said "surprise gift" because I had no idea what it would be, but now I know that tomorrow I will draw the name of one of my lucky patrons to receive this:

Mapping the De...

and a trip to new ...

By Angela Wales Rockett

Book Preview

I made a book! It's title is Mapping the Depths: an art exhibit and a trip to new york city, and that's what it is. It catalogs all the paintings in the exhibit, and includes many of my photographs from our visit to NYC this past summer. I originally created it in order to be a souvenir of the event for me, and as a thank you to my biggest patron of 2008. She pretty much paid for the trip through her continuing support of my work (including purchasing several of the pieces in the exhibit) so I wanted her to have a souvenir too. The book is also available for sale through Blurb's website - just click on the image above, or the badge over in my sidebar.

There's still time to take advantage of the sale on my website and my small works blog, and to be included in the drawing!

Upon Reflection

2009-01-08T15:08:00.001-08:00

Only one week left in my 50% off for 50% of January Sale. I just completed and added this piece today, and you can purchase it here.

Since it's the beginning of a new year, I've been reflecting a lot about the goods and bads of the past year and about how I want to approach the new year. I've got the usual resolutions running around in my head, but from experience I know that these generally don't really mean anything past the end of January, so I'm trying to approach it a little differently this year.

One idea that really grabbed my attention is one I found on Christine Kane's blog, and it is the idea of choosing a word for the year and making it your theme. I've been thinking and thinking about this ever since she posted about it, but I have to admit that I've had some trouble thinking of one word that encompasses all that I want for the new year. I think I've chosen fulfill, but I've still got others like clarity and courage bouncing around in my head.

I am also, very gently, trying to set some goals for myself. I'm very good at thinking up a bunch of goals and improvements and then feeling overwhelmed and not doing anything about any of them. If I'm brave, I might even post them here.

14 years and counting!

2009-01-02T16:17:00.000-08:00

Wade photographed me while we were on a date in Santa Monica back in 1994.

Yesterday (January 1st) my husband and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary. It was a pretty low key celebration involving going to bookstores and having lunch at Goldberg's Famous Delicatessen (since the trip to NYC we've been craving good deli food).

Wade also gave me what is possibly the best anniversary gift yet - he made me a mixed tape! Well, not exactly a tape. He gave me a collection of MP3s of the songs from mixed tapes that we gave each other while we were dating. Back then he made one for me that he called "I've had it with blondes!" (our courtship was a bit tumultuous) and I made one for him called "Life's (Beautiful) Complications". He entitled this new collection "I Guess I Still Haven't Had it with Blondes". :)

I was seriously choking back tears listening to the songs that so vividly brought our beginnings back to me, and the reasons that I fell in love with him, and why I love him still. The song that hit me the hardest was probably Runaway Train by Soul Asylum. These are the lyrics:

Call you up in the middle of the night
Like a firefly without a light
You were there like a blowtorch burning
I was a key that could use a little turning

So tired that I couldn't even sleep
So many secrets I couldn't keep
I promised myself I wouldn't weep
One more promise I couldn't keep

It seems no one can help me now,
I'm in too deep; there's no way out
This time I have really led myself astray

Runaway train, never going back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I'm neither here nor there

Can you help me remember how to smile?
Make it somehow all seem worthwhile
How on earth did I get so jaded?
Life's mystery seems so faded

I can go where no one else can go
I know what no one else knows
Here I am just a-drownin' in the rain
With a ticket for a runaway train

And everything seems cut and dried,
Day and night, earth and sky,
Somehow I just don't believe it

Runaway train, never going back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I'm neither here nor there

Bought a ticket for a runaway train
Like a madman laughing at the rain
A little out of touch, a little insane
It's just easier than dealing with the pain

Runaway train, never going back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I'm neither here nor there

Runaway train, never coming back
Runaway train, tearing up the track
Runaway train, burning in my veins
I run away but it always seems the same

He did indeed help me remember how to smile!

There are 30 tracks total and the other artists include everyone from Cud and Social Distortion, to Billy Joel and Blondie, to Erasure and Oingo Boingo. It's an awesome collection!

50% OFF SALE ON NOW!

2008-12-31T11:18:00.000-08:00

In Bloom, acrylic on canvas, 18" x 18", ©2008, SALE PRICE $300.00

In the spirit of clearing the decks for the new year (and in the spirit of buying heating oil for the rest of this unusually cold winter), I am having my first ever

50% OFF FOR 50% OF JANUARY SALE!

From now until January 15th, 2009 save 50% off the paintings found in the HALF OFF SALE gallery on my website and all the paintings on my small art blog.

Everyone who buys a painting will be included in a drawing for a surprise gift!

Prices listed are the sale prices and include tax and shipping. (If shipping outside the continental U.S., additional charges may apply.)
Questions, leave a comment here or email me at arockett@gmail.com.
Interested in a payment plan? Just ask!

Stay Tuned…

2008-12-30T10:01:00.000-08:00

So far the response to my last post has been pretty great - I've even made some sales already! Thank you all!

I will indeed be having a sale. I'm working on getting my website and small art blog set up for it (changing prices, making PayPal buttons, adding pieces, etc.) and plan to "open" by tomorrow sometime. Maybe I'll time it to coincide with when the oil truck shows up!

Even though it's not fully set up yet, go ahead and take a look and let me know if there's something you'd like.

Baby it's cold outside - and inside too!

2008-12-26T17:07:00.001-08:00

(I've asked a question at the end of this post that I'd very much like to have your answer to…)

Okay, our Christmas has been, ummm, interesting this year. Being snowbound was just the beginning, and the root cause of much of our dissatisfaction with the holiday season thus far. A couple of days into the snowboundness, our DVD player decided it didn't want to work anymore. We don't have cable right now, but luckily, we still have a VCR and some Christmas specials on VHS tapes, but our Netflix DVDs are just sitting there waiting for our new player to arrive. Then, we couldn't go out and find a Christmas tree. Then, we couldn't get to Christmas Eve service at our church (this was the biggest blow). Yesterday we were finally able to get out of the house for a bit because our friend sent her dad over to pick us up with his 4-wheel drive capability and so we all went to the movies and had dinner together. Ah, nice. Maybe we can salvage something here.

Oh, wait. Woke up this morning to a non-functioning furnace! It's still snowing! The melted snow turns to ice at night! And we have no heat?! Repairman arrived this afternoon, tuned it up a bit, then announced that in addition to needing that, we are now out of oil. Placed an order for it immediately only to find that the earliest they can get it to us is WEDNESDAY! I'm cold NOW!

And I'm also very, very broke now. After Christmas expenses, on top of moving expenses, money for fixing the furnace and filling the tank with oil is a very large, very unexpected expense. We're new to this land of furnaces and our landlord thought for sure we'd have enough to get us through the winter at least so we thought we wouldn't have to worry about it until next fall at the earliest.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to raise some extra cash in a hurry. Maybe have a big sale on my artwork, say 50% off? That would make my small 5" x 7" canvases $50 (tax and shipping included).

But if I was to do that, would anybody be able to take advantage of it? Would anybody want to?

Seriously. I'm asking you. Would you be interested? Please let me know. If I get enough positive response, I'll do it.

Favorite Books of 2008

2008-12-24T10:27:00.000-08:00

Yet another snow day. So much ice on the roads (and our roads are mostly of the not flat variety) and our car just can't handle it, therefore spending a lot of time very close to home. So I thought it might be a good time to write what's turned into my annual post about the books I've read over the past year. So far I've read 83 books this year, and I'm reading 84 and 85 right now. I'll be limiting my list to my favorites. (click on the titles to be taken to Amazon.com for full descriptions)

Mysteries - Lots of great mysteries this year, many in series but also a few stand alones.
The Wine of Angels by Phil Rickman - in last year's post I mentioned this fantastic Rev. Merrily Watkins series, and I was finally able to find the first few books, beginning with this one. Great stuff!
I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming - Long awaited follow-up to All Mortal Flesh. And I was not at all disappointed!
Touchstone by Laurie R. King - another excellent read from one of my favorite authors.
In the Woods by Tana French - I think this is my favorite find this year. Also really enjoyed her follow-up novel The Likeness, and hope she writes many more. (I believe these mysteries are actually shelved with regular fiction.)
My husband's boss recommended the Detective Kathleen Mallory series by Carol O'Connell. Great series! Addictive too. Begins with Mallory's Oracle, and my favorite so far is the fourth one, Stone Angel.
Fiction
The Forgery of Venus by Michael Gruber - excellent read! Really gets inside the artist's head too.
The Matchmaker of Perigord by Julia Stuart - just delightful. Kind of like how it feels to watch the film Amelie.
Spiritual Inspiration
Walking on Water: Reflections of Faith and Art by Madeleine L'Engle - excellent
Toward God: The Ancient Wisdom of Western Prayer by Michael Casey - I'm still reading this, trying to savor and absorb its wisdom. Mind blowing. Totally changing my perception of, and deepening my experience of, prayer.

Other Non-Fiction
Plenty by Alisa Smith and J.B. Mackinnon
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
both of these books continued the inspiration to eat more consciously, seasonally, and locally started by reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle last year.

Snow Day(s)

2008-12-22T10:31:00.000-08:00

Well, it is definitely Winter. Here in the Seattle area (and most of the Pacific Northwest) we've been slammed with unusually arctic conditions for the past week and a half, and they say there's more to come. We are blanketed in snow, and icy roads mean much of our regular routine has been disrupted. Even Churches were closed yesterday (Sunday).

Since we were unable to get to church yesterday morning, I decided to indulge in a little of what our priest calls Northwest Pantheism and took a walk with my cameras to try to capture the beauty of this winter wonderland. Unfortunately the batteries in my digital died fairly early on, so I only managed to get a few photos with it, and you can see them here on my Flickr account. (I also took my Diana+ with me loaded with some black and white film, but I'll have to wait until I can get it developed to see what I captured with it.)

Luckily I had some art supplies (paint and small canvases) here at home since I haven't been able to drive to my studio. I've painted a couple of small pieces, and I managed to pick up some larger canvases between snowfalls the other day so I can continue to paint here. The painting at the top of the post I painted after the first snowfall last Saturday. I was entranced by the colors and texture of the snow and dry grasses and tree trunks. I plan to do some larger versions along this them too.

The painting below I completed on the heels of River Walk, and you can see that they share a common inspiration.

Both of these paintings are available for sale on my small art blog, or from my Etsy shop.

Poem for Out of Darkness

2008-12-10T13:28:00.000-08:00

Caravaggio, The Calling of Saint Matthew, 1599-1600
Oil on canvas, 10' 7 1/2" X 11' 2"
Contarelli Chapel, Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome

My friend (and poet extraordinaire) Gregory Crosby wrote this wonderful poem in honor of the Out of Darkness (Into Light) exhibit, inspired by this powerful painting by the Baroque painter Caravaggio. (You can see some of the art included in this exhibit here.)

On Caravaggio’s Calling of Saint Matthew

The world is its own shadow.

In the house where everything
is counted, nothing gained,

the afternoon’s gold slips beneath
the pane, & dusk raises something

in hearts that will not otherwise rouse.
Someone is at the door. He lifts

his arm from this quotidian shade,
this everyday dark so rich it cannot

exist anywhere but in this world.
The sun seems to frame his head,

casting his profile into deeper shadow,
but it is his hand that gleams: languid,

simple, assured. His companion’s hand
shadows it, though this man’s gray

head as yet only catches the light
of day. Two sharps in sumptuary

turn toward the strangers; two men,
young & old, at the table’s end, see

nothing to stir them just yet from
silver… & a gold coin glints from

Levi’s black cap, glimmers thanks
to a brushstroke as subtle as Christ’s

halo, as the tax collector points
to himself in soft alarm, as if to say

Who, me? But his softer eyes betray him.
He knows, as if across the chapel’s dim

effulgence he sees himself, Matthew—
sees his martyrdom, & accepts it, like a

sum that cannot be wrong. This is how
it is. This is how the light arrives: without

fanfare, like any, every morning; a light
that reveals all darkness is only absence,

only shadow; the hand of light, paused,
midair, just below the terminus of the

shadow on the wall. The light, here;
the world, here; the world, elsewhere.

light fog

2008-12-09T14:39:00.000-08:00

Though still on the mend, I am finally starting to feel better. I was even able to paint a bit today for the first time since last Monday, which is when I completed the painting pictured above, inspired by a walk I'd taken along the river. I have more images of this inside my head, but I haven't been able to express them yet.

Now begins the difficult task of starting the fight against Resistance – again. Things have been topsy-turvy since the move as far as trying to get back into the swing of making art, and being sick just did not help any. I'm torn between trying to be easy on myself because I recognize that I'm still healing, and being very frustrated because I feel like I'm falling behind. Behind what? Not really sure. Behind expectations maybe? I'm also frustrated because it feels so hard to focus. The fog is starting to clear, but I'm easily distracted from whatever task I set myself, and my intentions crumble at the slightest breeze.

Advent begins

2008-12-01T13:01:00.000-08:00

Advent 2008 altarpiece

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the liturgical year and the season of spiritual preparation for Christmas. The photo above is my third Advent altarpiece (you can click on it to get a larger view). This year I let my ideas expand to encompass more than the altarpiece and the nave by decorating the narthex and the outside doors as well. You can find more photos of the Advent art, and some of the process that went into creating them here.

Vesper Light, acrylic/collage on canvas 8" x 8", ©2008 (sold)

In other news, two of my paintings (Vesper Light and Mapping the Depths) have been accepted as part of the "Light of the World" online exhibit from the ECVA (Episcopal Church & Visual Arts), on display now through early 2009.

Advent is a very important time of year for me, and I really wanted to have something profound to say about it for this post. Unfortunately, I've also managed to catch a cold and my brain is not functioning as well as I'd like at the moment, so for now I give you a video that my husband made of Father John discussing "What is Advent and why is it important?"

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T14:09:00.000-08:00

I was tagged recently by Grace Lee Korbel over at Korbel Fine Arts to list 6 random things about myself. I've been pondering this, trying to come up with something new and interesting, and not having much luck. But today I came across Cynthia Guajardo's Thanksgiving post and I thought I'd borrow a page from her book and change the rules up a bit, in honor of the holiday tomorrow, by listing things I am thankful for instead. So here goes:

I am so thankful for:

1. My wonderful, loving, and super supportive husband Wade. My life would indeed be a much poorer thing in so many ways without him.
2. Our new house.
3. Our amazing church community at Redeemer and the spiritual (and artistic) growth I've experienced there over the past 3 years.
4. My art and the opportunity to explore it fully.
5. My friends and family, online and off.
6. My cats.

And like Cynthia, instead of tagging more bloggers, I leave it up to you. If you feel moved to, go ahead and list what you're thankful for on your blog.

Happy Thanksgiving! May you have much to be thankful for!

The Fine Art Department

2008-11-25T15:55:00.000-08:00

A big thank you to Tracy Helgeson who has included me along with 24 other artists in The Fine Art Department! Here are her words describing the motivation behind this project:

"So in the spirit of team work, I have put up yet another blog. It's called The Fine Art Department and I'd like to post an image, a short description and link to artists who are selling their own work. The economy is tough and those of us who (try to) make a living selling our work have been greatly affected. Obviously, I hope that if one has limited funds, they will pay for food, insurance, mortgage, etc. first, however perhaps there are still a few folks who can squeeze out a couple of bucks to buy a piece of art to enjoy or to give as a gift. If artists aren't selling anything, they are also not buying anything either or paying their bills or the mortgage and the dominoes will keep falling. I realize that not every art buyer wants to buy my art (what?) so I'd like to offer some alternatives and hopefully somebody will make a few sales, even if it's not me."

So head on over to The Fine Art Department and take a look at some truly great art. I'm sure you'll find something you just have to have!

Out of Darkness (Into Light) announcement

2008-11-19T15:44:00.001-08:00

announcement for the next art exhibit I'm curating for my church,
click on images to see larger versions

Listening

2008-11-10T15:17:00.000-08:00

"A poet friend of mine told me that his poems know far more than he does, and if he listens to them, then they teach him."

-Madeleine L'Engle from A Ring of Light

Art (at the) Salon

2008-11-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

Several of my recent paintings are now on display at Salon Rouge in downtown Bothell. Carole, my hairdresser and owner of this beautiful Aveda salon, has become one of my patrons and asked me if I would like to exhibit my work there. Said she wanted to be surrounded by my art. :) Happy to oblige.

All pieces on display, except for the one owned by Carole herself, are available for sale. To see them, and/or to make a hair appointment, give Carole a call at 425/485-5016. Or drop by at 10116 Main Street (part of Bothell's Main Street Mall, the main entrance is in the back of the building).

Obama, Obama, Obama!

2008-11-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

I am distracted to say the least. I'm sure it's at least partly due to it being Election Day, and it's a big one. Since I voted last week, I thought maybe I could pretend today was just like any other day and just wait until tonight to see if our political future is truly history in the making, or, God forbid, more of the same.

Anyway, I thought I'd re-post this video from the beginning of Obama's campaign. It really captures why Obama got my vote - he brings with him a true sense of hope for a brighter tomorrow.

If you haven't already, get out and vote!

StudioTenshi: Small Works

2008-10-30T17:13:00.001-07:00

As I said in my last post, I have a project I'm working on that was at least in part inspired by my small painting Purple Dusk. I say in part because it's actually an idea I've admired when other artists (most recently Tracy Helgeson, but I've seen many others as well) use it, and with the completion of Purple Dusk it finally got through to me that maybe I could do that too. (Really don't know what took me so long.)

So, here it is, a place to showcase my 8" x 8" and smaller artwork. It's in the beginning stages and still in need of some tweaking, but I wanted to share it. To celebrate this new venture, and for the holidays, I'm offering the pieces at a bit of a discount.

The first several pieces will be paintings on canvas, but in the near future I will also start offering small collages, monoprints, and paintings on paper. Limited edition photographic prints of the images I capture with my Diana+ lomographic camera are also in the works.

Head on over and take a look. And be sure to check back often so you don't miss anything. :)

Back in the studio

2008-10-28T16:34:00.001-07:00

This is the last piece I completed before moving took over my life two weeks ago. As I re-entered the studio yesterday, I found myself working on more small pieces. In the past year or so I've discovered when I'm feeling stressed or unfocused or I've been away from the studio for awhile, that working on small pieces provides a gentle way to get back into it. The large pieces can seem too daunting and intimidating, while a small piece is non-threatening (in size and in cost of materials) and can usually be completed relatively quickly. Then, once I've done one or two of them, I usually feel confident enough, and focused enough, to get back to larger pieces.

In the meantime, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. Now that the moving process is winding down (though the unpacking seems endless), it's like my mind is being flooded by all the thoughts and ideas that were being blocked by the flotsam of the moving process, and they're a whirlwind in my brain! This makes it difficult to keep focused because I keep thinking of other things I should be, or simply want to be, doing. I had actually intended to write this post yesterday, for instance, but it just didn't happen.

I do have an idea that was inspired, at least in part, by this painting and I hope to be able to implement it by the end of the week, so check back.

endless sea of boxes

2008-10-23T16:46:00.000-07:00

Ah, look at these innocent boxes. The first I packed a couple of weeks ago when we decided to move house. These turned into a sea of boxes which we moved this past Saturday and that I'm still working through as I unpack our lives into our new home. I finally finished the kitchen yesterday and today I've made good progress on the livingroom and my little home studio. My computer is now in it's armoire and I can sit down in a chair to use it - that's definitely progress.

And my brain is slowly emerging from moving mode and I can see some glimmer of it getting back to art again soon. My goal is to get back to my regular studio schedule next week. I might even be able to go in tomorrow for a couple of hours! Don't know if any paint will meet canvas, but it will be good to at least be with my supplies again.

Even immersed in the sea of boxes, I did manage to hear a lot about the plight of the economy, and so far I think this solution makes the most sense:

See more Natalie Portman videos at Funny or Die

Brushes with the Land opening reception

2008-10-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

Me next to the four paintings of mine in the show.

View of part of the gallery. It was a packed house!

Went to the opening reception for Brushes with the Land at Gallery by the Bay in Stanwood last night. Lots of great art (57 artists had work accepted) and a bustling atmosphere. It was a very impressive turnout, especially considering that Stanwood isn't exactly in the middle of things. I got to meet and converse with some wonderful Northwest artists, including Graham Fracha, Janice Kirstein, Pat Clayton, and William Turner (no, not that William Turner!). A good time was had by all.

The show will be up until November 16th, so if you're in the area, go see it. :)

Now back to art

2008-10-08T16:39:00.001-07:00

I finally made it back to the studio today. It's been hard going, but I felt some of the ol' magic returning this morning, so I have hope.

The pictured painting I completed a month or two ago following another rough patch in the studio. After going to the studio day after day, starting canvas after canvas, struggling to make art for over a month following the art show in New York, I completed this and 4 other paintings in quick succession. And I really feel they are some of my best work yet. It was a real lesson in keeping at it even when it doesn't seem to be working.

I finally got around to putting them on my website today.

...and a new home

2008-10-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

Still feeling a bit off kilter - so much stuff demanding attention from my brain. Not the least of which is that we just signed the lease agreement for a house, so now we're moving! I fell in love with this house when we first moved to Bothell 3 years ago. It had been on the market for quite a while, but in a price range that was just way beyond our means. Then, a little over a week ago, we drove by it and saw the For Rent sign in the yard! Barely daring to hope, we wrote down the phone number and gave the owner a call.

A week later we got a chance to meet with the owner and tour the house. We got along great with him, loved the house, and we all agreed that this would be a great match. We'll be moving in by the end of the month! It all happened so fast.

So, now we pack. No matter how great and welcome a move this is, moving is still so stressful, and I'm having trouble getting into art-making mode. I'm hoping that since my studio doesn't have to be packed up in order to make this move that I'll be able to get back to creating soon.

new look

2008-10-02T12:29:00.001-07:00

Well, this is my new look. Thanks to my hairdresser and the magic of chemistry, after 40 years of being blonde I am now a redhead. And I picked up my new specs this morning. If you want to see the before, visit this post from January.

So many thoughts, and so much I've been wanting to write about, but I just can't seem to organize my thoughts well enough. Same problem in the studio lately too. So, for today anyway, I've decided to stop fighting it and just go read a fun book (primary characters are werewolves) for the rest of the day and hope that the break will help my brain reset itself.

Illustration Friday: Island

2008-09-17T17:16:00.000-07:00

This is one of the four paintings that got accepted into "Brushes with the Land", Gallery by the Bay's 3rd annual juried show featuring Northwest landscapes, which will be on view October 10–November 16th.

My work doesn't depict specific landscapes/seascapes, but I find my watery home here in the Northwest has definitely become a part of me, and what I express in my paintings.

Studio Notes, September 2008

2008-09-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends, Family and Patrons!

I have had 4 paintings accepted to Brushes with the Land, the third annual juried show featuring Northwest Landscapes at Gallery by the Bay in Stanwood, Washington! The show will run from October 10th through November 16th, 2008, with an opening reception on Friday, October 10th, 6pm to 9pm. I plan to have some prints and postcards for sale in the gift shop there as well. If you're in the area, please stop by!

On October 3rd I will be attending the Diocese of Olympia's Bishops' Benefit Bash, a gala dinner, auction, fund raising event to benefit the We Will Stand with You Campaign (in support of the rebuilding of St. Paul's church and school in New Orleans) and the One for One Malaria Nets Challenge. I've donated Twilight Silence to be auctioned off to help raise money toward the Bishops' goal of raising $200,000 for these worthy causes. Now I just have to figure out what to wear!

For those of you who haven't been following my blog, let me just report that New York was wonderful! I had an amazing time, made several sales, made some new friends, and fell in love with the City! As promised, I took many photos - over 400 of them! You can see about 80 or so of them by visiting my Flickr page. In addition to the photos that I posted back in July, I've also just posted several of the black and white photos I took with my Diana+ camera. I'm quite enamoured with this little film camera and with the images it produces, and I'm considering offering prints of them for sale. If any of them interest you, let me know. That kind of input will help my decision making process.

Looking forward, I'm starting to think about having another open studio sometime in the next few months. I'll let you know as those plans solidify. I also have recently sent out a new call to artists for the CR Gallery. The theme is Out of Darkness (Into Light), and it will be on view this December and January. Creating this gallery and organizing the exhibits has been a very satisfying pursuit over the past couple of years, and it's always exciting to see the artwork submitted and to meet the artists.

All the best!
Angela

Art and Healing

2008-09-11T07:37:00.000-07:00

My friend Matthew Flesch recently opened his acupuncture practice in Kirkland, Washington. He has made a great effort to make his treatment room very calm and soothing, and as part of this effort he asked if he could hang some of my paintings there on consignment. He said my work made anyplace feel more like a sanctuary. Well, if you're gonna put it that way :) I agreed, and I have to say, they look very nice there.

He's having an open house this Sunday (Sept. 14th) afternoon from 1–5pm, and all are invited. I'll definitely be there.

http://www.elementsofnatureacupuncture.com/

Veil III, 36" x 18"

Bridge, 24" x 24"

Green Silence, 36" x 36"

Yes, I'm still here.

2008-09-03T18:09:00.000-07:00

Looking at the last post (the one where I actually wrote something, not the call to artists), I realize that I seem to have taken over a month off from blogging. I never really set out to do that - it just kinda happened. Part of the reason for it is the existential angst that always seems to set in following a show. The higher the high, the lower the low, and New York was quite a high. Painting was very frustrating for the first month or so, but I'm on track in the studio again, and I'm excited to share my new work here as soon as I get some photos loaded. Angst is on the retreat now too. :)

a few random notes and thoughts from the past couple of months:

• After 40 years as a blond, I have finally given in to my hairdresser's urgings and become a redhead. I like it, but it is very surreal looking in the mirror. Pictures soon.

• Seth over at The Altered Page is at it again with another wonderful edition of The Pulse, and once again he has been kind enough to include me in it. Fascinating stuff. So much fun to get glimpses of other artists' lives.

There's more, but I can't think of it right now. Instead, I will leave you a quote I found while reading Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L'Engle that really resonated with me:

Unamuno might be describing the artist as well as the Christian as he writes, "Those who believe they believe in God, but without passion in the heart, without anguish of the mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, and even at times without despair, believe only in the idea of God, and not in God himself."

Call to Artists: Out of Darkness (Into Light)

2008-08-23T15:37:00.000-07:00

Call to Artists - Out of Darkness (Into Light)

Our gallery is seeking artwork expressing the theme “Out of Darkness (Into Light)”, a juried art exhibit that will be on view December 7th, 2008–February 6th, 2009, with an artists’ reception planned for the evening of December 11th. All genres and media considered. Artwork needs to be 2-dimensional–it can extend into the third dimension, but it must be able to be hung on a wall.

Where: CR Gallery, Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Kenmore, WA

When: December 7th, 2008–February 6th, 2009

Opening Reception: Thursday, December 11th, 6:30– 8:30pm

How: Submit up to 3 jpegs via e-mail to arts@redeemer-kenmore.org. Please include your name, contact information, and a few words about your work. Also include title, medium, framed dimensions, and retail price of each image submitted. Submission deadline is November 4th, 2008. The work will then be juried and acceptance notifications and delivery instructions will be sent out via e-mail by Saturday, November 8th.

Entry fee: $15 (USD) for up to 3 images, payable via PayPal. This needs to be paid before work can be submitted to the jury. Simply click on the Pay Now button below.

Please take note of the following:
•Artwork must be ready to hang, preferably from a wire. Photographs and artwork on paper must be framed with a wire attached for hanging. Canvases do not need to be framed, but the sides should be painted, either a solid color or as a continuation of the image, in order to give a neat, professional appearance, and must have a wire attached to the stretchers for hanging purposes.

•For work that is shipped, all shipping costs will be the responsibility of the artist.

•Artwork can be for sale. The gallery will direct buyers directly to the artist and takes no commission.

•The gallery will take care of advertising and publicity, and artists with accepted work will receive postcard announcements to distribute themselves.

•In addition to being displayed in the nave gallery, accepted artists will also be featured on the church’s website.

•For ease of transport, and so we get to meet you, we are especially seeking artists in the Puget Sound area, but this call is open to all artists over 18.

•If you have any questions, please email Angela at arts@redeemer-kenmore.org.

New York City - general impressions

2008-07-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

Manhattan skyline, including both the Empire State Building(L) and the Chrysler Building(R), taken from the Circle Line Tour boat on the East River.

Where to begin? That's why it's taken me so long to get around to posting about my trip to New York - there's just so much I could talk about, it's difficult to figure out where to start. So I think I'll start with some general impressions, and see where that takes me.

Let me just start by saying that I LOVED New York! I expected to think it was cool, and to enjoy parts of my visit, but actually loving New York kinda took me by surprise. I don't much care for crowds or noise or bustle, all of which New York has in abundance. I'm not really all that keen on big cities (I intensely disliked living in Los Angeles for instance). And I've always been just a wee bit afraid of New York. Though I've heard that it's much safer now than it used to be, a part of me just didn't believe I could feel safe there. But it turned out that I felt very safe there, day and night. Probably because there are so many people out and about at all times.

And that in turn contributes to this amazing sense of energy that just permeates the city. It was a little like sticking my finger in a light socket almost as soon as got off the plane at JFK Airport. The variety of people, just in the airport, was just amazing. People from so many places, so many backgrounds - just a preview for the true melting pot that is New York City.

Something else that surprised me about New York is how lush it is. I don't usually equate lush with large cities, but this one… The buildings seem to grow almost organically out of the lush natural landscape, and there's a lot more of that to be seen than I expected as well. I'm sure this sounds odd - New York and organic don't really automatically suggest each other. I'll try to explain. There are trees and patches of green, there's a lot of stone especially in the older buildings, it's surrounded by water, and walking feels like the natural thing to do there. (I'll have to try again later to put this idea into words I think.)

Speaking of walking around, I've got to mention the subway. It is truly awesome! Want to go downtown - walk a block and get on the subway and you'll be there in a flash. Any time, day or night. Want to go uptown? Repeat process in opposite direction. I want one here! And there's so much history in those tunnels, and beautiful tile mosaics let you know where you are, and in some places beautiful ironwork divides the spaces, and, and… After I got home I checked out a book from the library called Subway Style by the New York Transit Museum that talks about 100 years of history of the design elements in the subway, and it's fascinating. I wish cities cared so much about their design elements now.

I'll go ahead and stop here, but I'll leave you with some of the photos I took. I took over 400 photos while I was there, and I've loaded 70 or so that give an overall account of the trip to Flickr. Next time, I'll talk about more specifics.

Back home from NYC

2008-07-15T16:14:00.001-07:00

This is a photo my husband took of me as we sat in the sidewalk cafe of Nice Matin (the restaurant in our hotel, The Lucerne) drinking wine and eating dessert after the opening reception at Square Inch last Thursday night. The expression on my face pretty much covers it. I absolutely loved New York City! I can't wait to go again.

The opening went well - had a good time, made a few sales (and possibilities of a few more in the near future), and a couple of new friends. Saw lots and lots of the city, though not nearly everything I wanted to see. It was exhilarating, and at times exhausting. I've been back home since Saturday night, and I'm still recovering. And processing all that I saw and experienced in that grand city. There's just so much. As I process, I'll start posting about it - with many, many photos.

One more week to NYC!

2008-07-02T16:06:00.000-07:00

Just one more week! I'll be wandering around New York City a week from today! I've spent many hours over the past few days with my nose stuck in my Frommer's guide, and my mind is just bursting with plans and information, and I'm giddy with excitement. From the sounds of it, I might never want to leave. There is just so much cool stuff there. It is so hard to try to prioritize so that I actually experience the city and its offerings, and don't just exhaust myself.

So far, my husband and I have loosely planned the following itinerary: Tuesday, fly to NYC on Virgin Airlines, check in and find some dinner. Explore areas like the Village, SOHO and Chelsea, and maybe a little Brooklyn and Chinatown too on Wednesday, when we're likely to have the most energy. Thursday will be the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Cloisters, Central Park, and St. John the Divine Cathedral - and the opening of course! Friday, breakfast with some relatives who are coming to town for the opening, then some other area of town, or maybe something we missed in the neighborhoods we've already visited, maybe MOMA - haven't really decided yet. And a romantic dinner with my sweetie. Saturday, a quick breakfast then head back to Seattle.

If you're a local, or just have a lot of experience with NYC, what are your must-sees in that city? What are your favorite places to eat?

At the gallery, I've had my first sale from the exhibit! It will be great to open with a red dot. Hopefully it will be the first of many. And Liz has designed a catalog with images of all 21 paintings, available here on LuLu.com as a printed book or as a download. She has also updated the gallery's website to include a page of available works for the show.

Studio Notes, June 2008

2008-06-23T15:15:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends, Family and Patrons!

I just shipped off the artwork for my solo exhibit at Square Inch Gallery in New York City, and I'll be following in just two weeks! I've entitled the exhibit "Mapping the Depths" and it will be comprised of 21 new pieces, all painted since January of this year. I really hope you'll be able to join me at the opening reception on July 10th, 6–9pm. If you won't be able to be there, and/or you'd like a preview, please visit my website to see a slideshow of the work.

Here is the statement I wrote to accompany the exhibit:

I've always been drawn to water, its colors and textures, its shapes and sounds; from the roar of the ocean to the bright tranquility of a sun-sparkled creek, from the rush of rainstorm to the seeming endlessness of a quiet sea. Its light and dark, its tranquil beauty and its mysterious depths. Its ability to take me to the stillness within, to ancient memory and half-remembered visions, from which my paintings emerge.

These pieces emerge from both external, visual inspirations and the internal, mystical stimuli deep within. The surfaces are rich with the colors of the lush watery beauty found in the Pacific Northwest where I make my home. The wet grays and blues of the water and rain surround me and inspire me and permeate my being.

I express not specific physical landscapes/seascapes in my paintings, but rather a mystical geography, reminiscent of the seas and stars and the stillness of those depths. And like time spent at the water's edge, my work invites a response in kind - a deep observation and introspection.

I invite you to take your time at the water's edge, look closely, breathe slowly, and let yourself be drawn into your depths.

If you'd like to purchase a piece, please contact Liz Afif at the gallery by calling (914) 434-1250, or e-mailing her at liz@squareinchgallery.com. If you're going to be in New York between July 11th and August 7th, you can also contact Liz for an appointment to see the gallery.

Below is the postcard announcement for the show. If you asked for one via snail mail, Liz is sending them out, and you should be receiving one soon. If you haven't asked yet, but you'd still like to receive one, just let me know and I'll send you one as soon as I have them.

Back of postcard: exhibit and gallery information

This is also my first visit to New York City, so you can be sure I'll have many pictures to share with you when I get back!

All the best,
Angela

Gallery 309 closes

2008-06-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

my morning tea surrounded by some of my art marketing books

Sadly, Gallery 309 has unexpectedly had to close it's doors. The owner of the building decided to use it for another purpose. Arts4biz is still functioning, and Jose and Guty are searching for a new gallery location, but in the meantime all the artists' solo exhibits are canceled. I'm very disappointed in this turn of events. It means I don't have any shows scheduled after July, and I had been looking forward to having a show in downtown Seattle.

So, I'm looking into options. I don't really relish the marketing end of things, I'd much rather just make art, but it is necessary if I intend to actually show my art, so…

My work will still have a place at Square Inch, and I'm planning to enter a couple of competitions, and I've got a lead on possibly showing in a local winery's tasting room. And I'm considering joining another artists' cooperative gallery. Though it's probably less than it used to be, there is still something of a stigma attached to paying to exhibit your art (and my checking account doesn't like it much either). But I really don't want to wait around to be "discovered" by a gallery and let my art gather dust and go unseen either. And if I can find a local cooperative that is professionally run, it could be a great place to create opportunities and get my work out there. I just hate sitting the gallery though.

Anyway, tired of thinking about it. With last week being devoted to documenting and preparing work for New York, and then having Gallery 309 close, all these thoughts have been circling through my head too much. Going too long without putting paint to canvas just leaves me depressed. Went in to the studio this morning to wire the paintings and start getting them ready for shipping, but just couldn't face it. I started a new canvas instead! Made me feel soooooo much better. :)

Preparing for Mapping the Depths

2008-06-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

This past week was spent entirely on getting the pieces for my upcoming show "Mapping the Depths" documented, titled, and priced; and getting my statement written and getting the paperwork together for Square Inch Gallery, and… well, not painting, that's for sure. This is not my favorite part of the process. But I have noticed a plus side. It's the only area of my art career in which I can have a checklist of things that need to be done, and I know how to accomplish them and can feel that special sense of accomplishment one can only get from checking things off of a to do list. Sure, I can plan on having a certain number of canvases done in a set amount of time, or plan to paint using certain colors or particular sizes, but usually art making just follows its own path.

I always forget how long this all takes. I spent about 8 hours over the course of three days photographing the work. I'm getting better at it (practice, practice), but with each batch I'd get them home and realize what I could do to make them better - better lighting, better focus - so I'd try it again the next day. And I don't want to think about how many hours I've spent on the computer in the "digital darkroom" cleaning the images up and getting them into the proper formats for their various purposes - websites, promotional materials, prints, etc.. I'm pretty much done with that and now I'm working on getting the images to where they belong. I've started loading the paintings for the exhibit on my website and you can see them as a slide show here. There will be 21 paintings in total, so as of this moment I still have a few to upload. They're all new images too, all created this year.

I am getting very excited about the show, and the trip. It's hard to believe that in just 3 weeks I'm going to be in New York City!

Photos - finally!

2008-06-06T13:05:00.000-07:00

I was finally able to get photo prints from my Diana+ camera. I had taken the film in to be developed at my local camera store, but when I went to pick up the photos, I was only handed negatives and informed that because of the odd format they did not have the ability to print the photos and recommended that I take them to Panda Photographic Lab in downtown Seattle. This was back in April, and I finally had a chance to follow their advice yesterday when I took a little field trip with my friend Jessica.

The service and knowledge at Panda is exceptional! Dana, who helped me, not only knew just from looking at the negatives what kind of camera I'd used, he was also thoughtful enough to realize that I'd traveled a bit to get there so offered to rush my order through for me. I had photos in less than two hours! And they look fantastic. The three photos above are a few of my favorites from the B&W roll that I used when I visited Cave B Winery.

Often, when I have to go to a photo lab, I end up feeling like a lowly novice amongst grand wizards of a sacred alchemy, unworthy because I don't know as much as they do. I didn't get that feeling at all here. They were very encouraging and even suggested books and suppliers to help me get the most out of my new toy.

In other news, the group exhibit at Gallery 309 is down, and the solo shows start this month beginning with Anne Simernitski. Mine is scheduled for November - I'll make sure to keep you posted. More photos from the artists' reception can be seen here.

And I'm entering into the last stretch of getting ready for my solo show at Square Inch Gallery in New York. I can't believe I'll be in NYC in almost exactly one month! I've got the paintings pretty much done, just need to photograph them and wire them and get them packaged up. I'm hoping to have the postcard announcements soon (Liz said she'd have them this week sometime). I also bought a new dress for the opening reception. :)

Have a great weekend!

Gallery 309 Opening Reception

2008-05-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

Entrance to Gallery 309 (painted by Yael Zahavy-Mittelman). Straight across from the entry? One of my paintings!

You can see the rest of the pictures that my husband took here on his Flickr photostream.

The reception at Gallery 309 last Thursday night was excellent! Lots of great art. The gallery directors had originally planned on displaying 2 or 3 pieces by each artist, but instead they opted for a salon look and covered every bit of wall they could. There was so much great energy, so many people truly interested in the art and the artists. And lots of Europeans. Surely, that's a good sign at an art opening, right? :) And at one point, one of the gallery directors whisked me away from group to another so he could introduce me to one of the clients. Very cool.

Though I didn't meet all the other artists, I did get to talk to a few of them, including Yael Zahavy-Mittelman. I'd met her a couple of years ago when she came to my reception at ArtsWest, but what I didn't realize then is that we actually live in the same town! Interesting how these things come together, no?

And many wonderful friends showed up too, including artists Bridgette and Jessica. Lots of wonderful art talk - inspirations, working methods, challenges, etc. There have been times when art receptions just leave me exhausted, but this one was so energizing. Ended up staying until 10:30 when it was supposed to end, but from the looks of it, the party could have gone all night.

The most awesome part of the evening happened just before we left. Jessica and I had been trying to meet one of the artists whose work we particularly admired, Deborah McCarroll (who also designed the announcement), but she didn't seem to be in attendance. Then she walked in just as we were starting to head out. This meeting was electrifying for me. At first it was just the usual artist meets artist, I like your work, etc. etc. But at the end, she spoke words to my very soul. I wish I'd had a tape recorder so I could remember each of her exact words. I don't know how to adequately convey just how powerful an experience this was, but she looked me in the eyes and with great gravity told me that she can feel the "power" in my work, she can feel that I work "from the inside-out", she could "feel" my brush strokes, that my work is "beautiful and don't ever stop making it." You could have knocked me over with a feather.

Updates

2008-05-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

It's been a strange week. I woke up Monday, felt kinda tired and decided I'd stay home and work on my website instead of going to the studio. Turned out it was a good thing I stayed home because it soon became apparent that I had the flu! This on the heels of having a cold last week! It's like everything I've managed to avoid all cold & flu season decided to catch up with me at once. Usually when I get sick, it ends up being pretty minor and only puts me out of commission for a day at most. But these two both knocked me flat, so I've missed a lot of studio time the past couple of weeks. I'm feeling better today, and was able to get back to the studio for a couple of hours this morning (and complete the painting above), but that pretty much wiped me out.

Before I succumbed, I did manage to update my website a bit, as well as my ImageKind print gallery. It's been so long since I've touched either that there's still a lot of work to do, but hopefully I'll be more regular about it. Speaking of ImageKind, I got my first commission payment from them! Like I said, I've been pretty much ignoring my gallery there, so it came as a big surprise. It also encouraged me to try a bit harder. If I can make a little money by doing nothing with it, I could probably make a lot more if I actually tried.

By the way, if you ever see me post a painting with "as yet untitled", please feel free to offer suggestions. Sometimes hearing how other people perceive a piece helps me get a sense for how it should be titled.