June 27, 2008

Photo by Sharon Lee taken on Walnut Street, Pittsburgh, PA

I am a member of several art groups, one being the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh. To qualify you must live within 150 miles of Pittsburgh and pass a group screening. Because I live at the perimeter of that 150 miles (128), I don't often have opportunity to participate in group activities, the exception their annual juried group show usually hung at either the Carnegie or Andy Warhol Museums.

Associated Artists have a live screening, that is you bring your 2 pieces of art to a very large building (an armory or a train depot I haven't figured it out yet-now used as a church, community center, catering hall) along with the 450+ members that also want to be in the annual show. It is amazing to walk through hundreds of pieces of which only a small amount will make the final cut into the show. The show is juried by one person. This fact, to me the artist, is important to remember if one or both pieces don't make the cut into the show. Generally if a juror is an artist I have a high success rate of getting into a show. Curators generally don't chose my pieces and educators can go either way. This year's juror is an educator.

Tomorrow I will drive the 2-1/2 hour ride to Pittsburgh, drop off my pieces, stop at Whole Foods, Borders and eat Ethiopian food for lunch then return home late afternoon.

Last day for this Ebay auction! If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

June 26, 2008

Today I can not think of a single creative thought or idea I had that would be blog worthy to share. I am waiting for some money to come in to buy 3 more sets of stretchers (from Upper Canada Stretchers) so I don't have a painting to work on. Instead I went to the woods, cleaned a bit, went food shopping, mailed some yoga props that I sold through Ebay, trimmed the out of control hedges in front of my house, planted beets and did 1-1/2 hours of yoga. Although it was not a bad day, with the exception of figuring out how to make a vegan-gluten free version of onion dip (for my daughter who was craving chips and dip), none of it was particularly creative or inspiring.

I don't usually have 100% creative free days when when they do come along it's like anything you let it absorb you while it's there and rejoice when you once again have the opportunity to create.

Tomorrow is the last day for this Ebay auction! If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

June 25, 2008

Today I had to pick up a piece "The Big Gulp" that was being framed in State College by one of the local frame shops. I had forgotten to consider its size when my daughter and I left for town in her Volkswagen Beetle. Beetles are not known for their versatility in transporting things and a 42" x 42" framed canvas was not going in easily. After some failed attempts at getting the painting in I decided we should take of the top and slide it in through the top. With an open roof the painting slid in but we could not close the top. We began to drive the 14 miles home. One traffic light later, the brown paper wrapper is tearing off and is making an extremely loud rustling noise. It is now necessary for me to drive holding down the paper so it doesn't rip off and fly out of the car. We drive about 1 mile more when I tell my daughter that she needs to pull over ASAP because I feel the $315 frame is bowing in the wind and sense it may break. Pulling over in a Korean restaurant-Dominos Pizza parking lot my daughter and I have some words (she was not happy at using her car as a UHaul in addition felt it could start raining at any moment) I move around the few miscellaneous things that were in the back seat (old Dell hard-drive, yoga mat and shiny black high heeled shoes), lean the painting forward onto the two front seats and viola the top was able to close. If you bend your head forward a bit and don't mind the looming canvas at your back the problem is solved-painting saved. Such the life of an artist (smile)

Only a few days left for this auction! If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

June 24, 2008

My Pants

If you met me in person you would have already wondered about my pants. Actually it is a collection of pants that I own that are covered with paint particularly the right leg. My art training is in Graphic Design. Although I have taken many art classes over the years at various Universities and schools I have never taken a painting class. Had I taken even the most basic class in painting I would have learned the "acceptable" way to clean a brush after I have used it to mix a new color. In fact most likely a brush should not be used at all to mix colors with but rather a palette knife or something of that nature. However not taking any painting classes my paint experience has been restricted to hands on learning with little guidance or useful professional tips of the trade.

So my pants become the brush rag. There is actually a rhythm to the mix, wipe, wash, wipe a second time, grab a drop or so of paint from the palette, paint, technique that I have developed. The paint wipe is an down-up-down. As I said in the beginning I have a collection of these pants. Any pair of pants that passes through my hands that are comfortable and sturdy become "work" pants which I wear when working on the house, gardening, cooking, sanding yoga blocks and/or painting.

If I have to run into town for a quick errand I often wear my painted work pants. At the grocery store small children stare. It's a great conversation starter for adults. Some people ask if my pants were purchased this way which always makes me laugh. It's fun carrying my palette around with me for one reason it matches the paint on my hands and arms.

Only a few days left for this auction! If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

June 23, 2008

For the past so many years I have been working on "name" recognition. It seems as though even in the fine arts world where boundaries are laughed at and broken, name recognition still determines the sale-ability of your work. I like to create art purely through inspiration but water and electricity have to be paid, food has to be bought and cars need to be maintain which all cost $$$$. If my priority in creating art is strictly one of inspiration how do I create the work I do (which is not your typical decorative art) and earn my keep?

The solution I came up with is to go back to school and learn some skills that are not typically taught to those of us who pursue learning our craft but not the business of earning a living at it. I made up a list of classes that I felt could hone my skills and make it possible to self promote my work. Since I live within 20 minutes of Penn State it seems the likely place for study. I met with an advisor for a session to determine how to take these classes with possible financial assistance. I came armed with my art resume and a list of what I want to learn more about. That list included creative, business and non-fiction writing, classes that someone pursuing a career as a curator would take, running and promoting business, public speaking, graphic computer skills and printmaking. It is strange to be considering going back to school but exciting at the same time.

If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

June 22, 2008

Photograph courtesy of Rick Brandt

As I guess with most artists, I draw my inspiration from other writers, visual artists, filmmakers and musicians. Since 1977 I have been lucky enough to be prevy to a musician who is constantly evolving, always pushing the envelope musically, spiritiually and artistically.

Today Todd Rundgren is celebrating his 60th birthday. Todd is a guitar player's guitarist. Most people know at least one of his songs without even knowing it. The Stadium song "Bang the Drum" (which I recently heard was a song about masturbation) is one of his most recognizable tunes. He has produced several Rock classic albums: Meatloaf's, Bat Out of Hell and Grand Funk Railroad's, We're an American Band, wrote music for cinema and television, was responsiple for creating the second ever viewed video played on MTV on it's inargural day, is a master musician, technician, stage performer and song writer.

To the man who gives me inspiration when I run out of steam Happy Birthday and may we all be fortunate enough to hear, see and feel more of the magic that you create. Happy Birthday Todd!

Sorry for the sales pitch but like everything life is expensive and there are always bills to be paid. If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

June 22, 2008

Photo by Sharon Lee

My daughter has decided she needs to visit her grandparents who live at the beach. For the next few days I will be away. Keep checking back.

Sometimes I just feel so afraid
But I know that no one else has it made
So if I just believe in myself
I wont need no help from nobody else and I can make it alone
And everything will be cool, I got to keep on keepin on
Theres nothing else I can do

Todd Rundgren


Sorry for the sales pitch but like everything life is expensive and there are always bills to be paid. If you like my work and want to support my endeavors please consider purchasing a painting. I have just put up the painting, "A Silver Titter Stole My Baby" on Ebay. It is a painting I'm proud for artistically as well as socially. It is acrylic paint on organic cotton and hemp canvas. Please feel free to pass the link to friends and family members and if you are so inclined feel free to purchase this painting for yourself.

Peace Alway
Happy Birthday Todd Rundgren...thanks for all the great music

Sharon