A Challenge to Build a Creative Life

Walk on my Friend -detail

Walk on my Friend
mixed media painting on wood 5x5 inches

Being creative is easy for me, It is almost a need. I have to work on creative projects on a daily basis. Not to say that everything is a success and everything I make is "ART" but each has a purpose. An outlet.

The challenge for me is turning this need to create into a livelihood. What a great dream! I've been working on this dream for a few years....working hard but not always working smart. So my goal now is to find a way to work smart!

No pressure, huh!

To start with, I'm trying to expand my time in the studio working on art and not just fun craft projects. My outlet for craft is helping Emma with her teen craft club.

Spending time in the studio is a pain for me in the winter because my home studio is in the cold, dark, basement. No amount of lighting hides that fact. I just surround myself with my supplies, my iPod, and a space heater!

Another goal is to yet again, try to blog more. I'll take advantage of my iPod touch.

My latest article on newsstands now!

Look for this cover.....
and turn to page 112 to find my article. YEAH!!!!!

Swap- bot swap

I stopped joining swap-bot swaps last year after a few disappointing swaps. I decided to jump in again and I'm glad I did. I'm not yet finished with my partners puppy but I already received my goodies in the mail!

Two needle felted duckies. Sue did a really great job on Scooter and Fern, even Fern's head poof! I had to give them a place of honor, right under my favorite painting and next to my favorite teddy.

Please visit this fabulous artist blog. Her art dolls are awesome! She said my duckies are her first time needle felting...wow!

Green Lake Fine Art Fair

As you can see we weren't really busy.
It did pick up later but I still had a disappointing weekend.
Getting stung on the finger (my whole hand ended up swollen) didn't help! ugh!
What a beautiful day.

Emma really enjoyed spending the day by the water.

Duckies!

A couple mini mixed media houses I've been playing with.

This was my last scheduled sale of the year. Now I'm going to concentrate on
other venues and projects.

Drawing Lab -sketch your pet

Young Guinea Hens- Confucius and Pearl

I meant to post more about this book but I actually lost my copy along with my sketchbook! Ugh!

But I found the book and some of my sketches....now remember that I am not very skilled at drawing. Beacuse of this I often avoid doing more that quick sketches. My sketches are just for me to remember an idea. This more though inspired me to draw more and ya know what? I am and the kids see me drawing and then they start drawing. Cool huh

This lab was to sketch your pet. Quick loose sketches, no erasers.
My drawings are pretty bad but the point is to keep drawing regardless and I'm bound to get better :-)

Parakeet- Echo

Dogs- Lucky and Penny

Guinea Pigs-Patch and Bandit

Carla Sonheim Drawing Lab

Drawing Lab For Mixed Media Artists by Carla Sonheim*

This is such a fun book! I messed around over the weekend on some of the projects, but have decided to start at the beginning and go thru each one.

I like to sketch out ideas, to get them out of my head...but the sketches are for me alone because they are horrible. I have never been good with line. I had to take drawing classes in college to get a BFA. In my Life Drawing Class it took till the end of the semester before any of my drawings even looked like the model!

I admit to avoid drawing....but this book makes me want to practice. Partly because she dosen't write the book telling you how to draw, but the exercises make it relaxed and fun. The more you draw they better you get. Painless process

So lab one is drawing cats in bed, hmmm. I decided to try with my left hand. Very odd feeling, and the 2 cups of coffee probably didn't help!
I had fun though. Emma joined me on the bed and soon both dogs were there too!

pretty horrible but in a way I like them????

I had to try some birds
*****

look at the poor starved kitty!
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color adjust kitty
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* I am not getting paid a cent for linking to Amazon etc... I'm just doing for your convenience :-)

ART, STORMS, ROADTRIP, OH MY!

Yesterday the kids and I spent the whole day in the van! all! We went to Eau Claire and Minneapolis and back to restock stores. I kept putting it off, so now I had to do it in one day with the kids. Emma and Ethan were OK and beside I bribed them with food *grins*
We stopped at one of their favorite restaurants, Dino's. MMMMM Greek food! There are worse ways to spend a rainy day.

Alright, I never got around to recapping this past weekend's art fair. Well, the Dragon Art Fair was a bust. The day began promising....no rain. A good start, warm and that is OK. There just wasn't too many shoppers. As the morning passed it got nice and sunny, but with that the heat. Still I don't have a problem as long as the heat doesn't keep people away. at one point it seemed to get busy but without buyers. Hmmm.

I do realize that there are a lot of people that go to art fairs to get out and look. I'm totally fine with that, but since I am trying to make a living it is nice to have the "just looking" mixed with the "I'm here to buy". The business end of art can be difficult. Sometimes I wonder if I should just chuck it for a guaranteed pay check. Not to put tons into a show, only to loose money. I guess that is the inherit risk is being self employed in any area. So I keep plugging away and realize that every show is an opportunity to learn something new.
I keep on keeping on....

As usual, I met some very nice people that I otherwise would have never met if I didn't take the risk and put myself out there. I talked to other artists and most of us are in the same boat....except maybe the people with the copper yard art. I always see customers carrying them around! In fact, I saw a pieces I'd like in my garden!
To be honest, I didn't have my first sale until 1pm and by 2pm it was thundering and raining. By about 2:15 the tornado warning siren went off (right next to us, very very loud) I'm very paranoid about tornadoes so you don't need to tell me twice! I started packing art into a tote along with my money.
Art fair staff and firefighters from next door told everyone there was a funnel cloud sighted in a nearby town and we need to evacuate to the basement of the public library. Emma and I took shelter until the all clear was given. Afterwards, everyone just packed up and left. I know some people had things damaged since they didn't have walls up on their tent. Since it didn't get too blustery all the tents stayed up.

Whew! to recap; low sales, nice people, tornado nearby, but no wind damage.

Growth of a collage

and we're off...









meat tray stamp ~I love dots and circles



stamping with milk lid and foam circle



doesn't this look cool?







stencil and mask







almost done but not quite...





All Done!



details