created by risa

Hello...and Good-bye...

2011-07-17T11:32:00.000-05:00

I'll admit that I've sort of fallen off the blogging bandwagon. There are the usual excuses...spending more time painting (definitely a good thing), too busy with life, and so on. But I've also been taking some time to re-focus, think about how I want to spend my creative energy and also how to best present myself professionally.

So I've made some changes. I've been working on my website--cleaning up and polishing it's look to present (hopefully) a more professional image. Along those lines, I've decided to drop the "created by risa" logo/branding and now you can simply find my website at : http://www.risatritabaugh.com. I've struggled with this one since I've created my website. My reasoning in going with created by risa was that Tritabaugh is not an easy name to spell. But what I have observed time and time again is that professional artists nearly always use their name as their website address. After all, eventually you want to develop name recognition. And so, the change has been made.

Over time I will make other changes, so that things will be more cohesive. Soon I will be eliminating my created by risa Facebook page and have in its place created my Risa Tritabaugh - Artist Facebook page. I hope you will follow me there!

And one of my biggest changes will occur right here...I've decided to discontinue this created by risa blog and start blogging right at my website. It makes sense on different levels--1) It will save me some time and energy that I can better use painting; and 2) It will hopefully draw more attention to my website.

My focus will still be my art, my creative process and inspirations. I will focus a little less on personal life issues and will go back to writing about the more personal side of life at my very first blog--The Assorted Adventures of a Middle-Aged Urbanite. (You can follow me there to stay in the loop. I'll try to write more frequently. Keyword: Try)

I have very much enjoyed writing this blog and I hope you will continue to follow me over at my website. It is, as always, a work in progress.

Thank you for following along on my journey as an artist. It is in no way over...I'm just starting a new chapter.

Au revoir.

Today in the Studio

2011-06-09T12:33:00.000-05:00

Spending more time in the studio this week and it feels good. I have been surrounding myself with all sorts of inspiration...hoping that the inspiration will then show itself in the studio. I am trying something a little different--just allowing myself to experiment, try different stuff and not worry so much about the finished product.

I'll admit it--that last part is hard for me.

I want whatever I work on to look good. And it's not that I'm so set on creating something ugly...it's not that at all, but right now I'm just trying to focus on the process, learn some things and hopefully, find some new techniques that I will love.

It is definitely a work in progress.

Nourishing my creative soul

2011-05-30T12:04:00.003-05:00

Since I've been trying to nourish my creative soul and Friday was my only free day of this holiday weekend (working the rest of it at the museum), I decided to enjoy a day trip to Hudson, Wisconsin on Friday. Our first stop was The Phipps Center for the Arts. These first photos are of work by fiber art students at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. .

I also wanted to check out the Phipps galleries to see the work of former Tilsner artist, Jill Van Sickle. Beautiful, as always.

Following our visit to the Phipps, we visited several other shops in Hudson and then made our way across the river (and state lines) to Stillwater--where we also visited several galleries and shops. We wrapped up our trip with a drive to Marine on St. Croix--another town I love. Of course, we drove through the Jackson Meadow community just outside of town...which always inspires me.

As an artist, it's always important to nourish my creative soul. Honestly, I think we all need to do that on a daily basis. I do it many ways, often without much thought. But when I find myself in a slump, creatively or otherwise, I try to pay more attention to filling my "creative bank".

Often that can be as simple as visiting places where I find beauty--a favorite gallery/museum, a garden in full bloom, or spending time with family and friends.

I'm starting to feel my creative spark coming back. I'm starting to think about more projects and dream of new paintings. My task this coming week will be to clean and organize my studio...I think that alone will open up some creative energy!

I'll try to have new pictures of my working space soon (there's a challenge!)

Getting back to work...

2011-05-25T22:39:00.002-05:00

I'm not quite sure where the month of May has gone...it's been a rather odd month...cool, not exactly spring-like. I've been busy recovering from participating not only in the St. Paul Art Crawl, but another one day crawl in mid-May. Both crawls required a great deal of my time and energy and pulled me away from working on new stuff in the studio.

It's time to get back to work.

It has also been a discouraging month. The Art Crawls were good avenues for sharing my work and getting feedback from others, but didn't net much in the way of sales. And then there was the disappointment of the grant opportunity. Along with all that, I've been dealing with the difficult realities of being laid off for a year. Sometimes it feels as if life just won't right itself.

But what I know serves me best in difficult times is painting, creating.

And it's time to get back to work (in the studio).

I have been using this time to think about about what direction I want my work to go in. Ideas are swirling around in my head, but not making it onto canvas (yet). I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do, but fear and feelings of being stuck and discouraged are keeping me from getting started.

Sometimes it's hardest just to get started.

So my goal this coming month is to spend lots of time in the studio working and getting things started.

As always, I' ll let you know how things go along the way.

At the Egg and I...

2011-05-07T08:00:00.002-05:00

Today I switched out my art at the Egg and I restaurant located in Minneapolis (at 28th and Lyndale). The lighting wasn't the greatest for pics, but I snapped a few before I left.

The show will be up till the end of May. Stop by and enjoy a killer breakfast while also enjoying my art.

Email Update

2011-05-06T22:15:00.001-05:00

Well, the anxiously awaited email did NOT arrive on Thursday. It did not, in fact, arrive until the dinner hour today! Since I was out on a Date Night with my Honey, I did not receive the news till late this evening.

The news was not favorable. I did not make the cut. Only 51 (not 100) finalists were selected. About 32 of those will be awarded grants. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for a friend who's a finalist!

I'm still in the allowed "feeling lousy" phase. I've had a good, long cry and I'm starting to feel a little better.

I know, in my head, that's it's silly to let my self-worth as an artist be determined by a panel of folks who have never even seen my work. And I know this was super-competitive. But just like everyone else who applied my hopes were high and my ego just got bruised a bit.

And yes, I have already placed that consolation order to Dick Blick.

Waiting on an Email....

2011-05-05T22:09:00.000-05:00

Today's the day the BIG email comes letting me know whether or not I'm a finalist for the MRAC Next Step Grant. I applied for the grant back in March. (It's an individual artist grant totaling $5000).

It's hard, really hard, not to just sit by the computer watching for a new email to pop up. I'm sort of failing at that right now. I'm sitting here, watching a House marathon while also watching my in-box. Every time a new email comes in, my heart skips a beat, and then my heart drops as I realize it's not THAT email.

370 artists (of various mediums--visual artists, writers, performers, musicians...) applied for this grant. About 100 applicants will be selected as finalists. Finalists will then have a week to submit work samples (not needed for the initial application). And then approximately 32 of the 100 finalists will be awarded a Next Step grant. That announcement won't come till the end of June.

Obviously a lot of talented folks submitted a grant application, so I'm prepared for the very real possibility of not making the finalist cut. If I'm out of the running, I will give myself a day to feel lousy and then move on. Actually, I also plan to put in a large Dick Blick order, because grant or no grant I am still a working artist (a starving artist, but a working artist nonetheless).

Stay tuned for an update tomorrow.

Spring 2011 Art Crawl

2011-05-04T21:48:00.001-05:00

the view into the studio from the doorway

art just outside the studio

A few days have past since this past weekend's Art Crawl. For those of you who couldn't make it, I thought I would give a little mini-tour of my home studio space as set up for the Crawl. Welcome.

Furniture was rearranged (and put away) to make our home feel more like a gallery. This was the first time I've shown my work in our new space, so much work was done to prepare the space (including painting our outer door and entryway). Many visitors were wowed by our space--especially with the huge brick wall and all the light pouring in through the floor to ceiling windows (even on a cold gray day like we had this past weekend).

Most artists, myself no exception, prefer to work on their art in isolation. Sometimes it's a good thing to peek your head outside the studio and see what others think. The Art Crawl provides me with that opportunity to share my work with others. It's a great time to talk about my work, talk about my process and what I'm working on...and get a feed on what people think about my work. It's exhausting and energizing all at the same time.

I had new, as well as older pieces to share. There was a lot of interest and positive feedback about a number of pieces...and that definitely felt good.

With the Crawl over, I'm enjoying a few days in recovery mode--resting and relaxing--before I start getting ready for another show in a few weeks. This show will be at an outside studio and will be a one-day event, so a bit easier to do.

And sometime in between all that, I hope to clean & organize my studio and start working on some new pieces. So much for resting and relaxing.

A Day Away, A Haircut, and Crawl

2011-04-25T00:13:00.002-05:00

Life has certainly been a juggling act lately, with not nearly enough time for working in the studio. I try really hard to spend those days I'm not working or busy with outside appointments in the studio...but sometimes a day away refuels the creative fire more than anything else can.

Last week I had a day just like that. I left home in the morning and didn't make it home till bedtime. It was a day spent with artsy friends and even time all to myself. I had time to catch my breath, treat myself just a little and just enjoy being away from the pressures of life in general. It was the kind of escape we all need once in a while.

I started off the morning by meeting with my mentor, Brenna Busse, to take a trip to Circa Gallery in downtown Minneapolis to check out the Barbara Gilhooly show that is there till the end of this month. Barbara was a Lowertown artist (she moved this past summer) that still exhibits locally. I love her work and this show was inspiring--to both Brenna and myself. For one thing, I was just amazed by how productive she is as an artist. A large chunk of the exhibit included 100 6x6 paintings--all completed this winter, I believe. Even if they were small--that's a lot of work. They were painted on birch wood panels. Part of what I liked about them was how she built layers upon layers of color, carved into the wood and even used sandpaper to reveal multiple layers of paint.

Seeing a show like that makes you want to run right home, lock yourself in the studio and get busy. But then I remembered ... this was my day.

I said good-bye to Brenna and made a call to see if I could make an afternoon appointment for a hair cut. I've been dreaming of a new cut for a couple of weeks. I felt the need to get rid of some hair. Really. On so many levels, I just needed to get it cut off. It felt too long, too bushy, too everything. And I felt like a new hairdo would put me in a spring-sort of mood. I've just had enough of snow and winter (I had to wipe snow off my windshield that very morning, damnit) and even if it didn't look like spring outside, I needed to feel like it inside. And hooray, I got an appointment with a new person who finally gave me the short haircut that I've been wanting to get for the past year (there were several failed attempts). I left the salon feeling like a new woman. I got my sassy back.

From there I met up with one of my WARM buddies...we hung out, talked art until it was time to go to our very first Critical Response for two of our fellow Protegees. I think I will write about this more in-depth at a later date, but basically it is a process developed by dancer Liz Lerman for artists to give one another feedback about their work that supports the artist rather than tear them down. (I do not have fond memories of critiques in college many years ago). It was an interesting experience. It definitely felt good to connect with other artists and experience a "critique" that could be both supportive and informative.

It's been several days now, but the experiences of this one day are still swimming around in my head. I want to spend time in the studio and work on the projects in my head...and while I have done some painting, what I'm really focused on is getting things ready for the Art Crawl. Bigger projects will have to wait, cause the Crawl is next weekend!

I'm not quite sure how it's all going to come together, but I just keep going. I've made my lists, keep finishing things on those lists, and know that somehow it will all get done (more or less) and I'll be ready for another Crawl.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Waiting on Spring

2011-04-14T23:29:00.000-05:00

This past winter I've become a bit of a blogging slacker. It's been a tough winter on several fronts. Weather wise, it's been one of the snowiest, coldest winters we've endured in several years. Besides all that, I've been juggling ongoing changes/transitions in my life...we're still settling into our new loft and I'm still adjusting to my new part-time gig at the nearby Science Museum .

The doldrums of winter have worn me down, but things are starting to look up. For a little bit this past week, it actually felt like spring had arrived. It was so hot and humid last Sunday that I was ready to get a new spring hairdo! But alas, snow has found it's way in the forecast one more time...enough already!

It's been hard to get motivated, but as I said, things are looking up! Last week I enjoyed one of those magical days when everything just seemed to go right! I needed one of those days to get me moving in a more positive direction!

On Thursday last week, I had an appointment with the owner of the Artist Mercantile for a studio visit to check out my work. The Artist Mercantile, located in downtown St. Paul, features an eclectic mix of gifts, as well as the work of local artists. To make a long story short, the Artist Mercantile is now featuring some of my smaller paintings, including the work pictured above. I was very excited today to deliver these paintings today! I can't wait to take a walk downtown to take a peek at my work in the window!

The same day I was getting ready for this studio visit I received a phone call from the Mpls' Egg and I about showing my work in their restaurant. Nearly a year ago, on a lunch date with my co-workers, I got my name on their list of artists to show work. I was actually there for our final team get-together before my layoff took affect. We were actually in very silly moods, had a great time and I wrote a thank you to our server on the back of one of my postcards. She invited me to get on the list of artists willing to show their work...and so I did. Recently I've wondered if I would hear from them and had come to the conclusion that they had lost my info. And then wham, I got the call!

Originally, I was invited to be their May artist, but when the April artist failed to show I agreed to come in early. So on Tuesday, I hung some work at the Egg and I (2828 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls). They are an awesome breakfast joint, so I suggest you go down there and enjoy the kamikaze pancakes (while also enjoying my art)!

And there's more! I've gone from a relatively quiet time on the art front to super busy in the blink of the eye. I have the St. Paul Spring Art Crawl in two weeks at my home studio. And then in May, I'm participating in a one-day crawl in south Mpls (see the sidebar for details). Of course, all these events are motivating me to get busy in the studio...which is really the best cure there is for the winter doldrums.

Spring, please!

2011-04-03T09:20:00.000-05:00

Spring is coming here oh so slowly...it's like she's dipping her toe in, testing the waters. C'mon already!

Here in St. Paul, spring has brought the rising waters of the nearby Mississippi...the back entry of our building has been sandbagged shut for over a week now. I have actually been thankful for the colder temps this past week--it kept the flooding to a manageable level. But I am done...I need sun, warmth, the sight of trees budding and flowers trying to make their way up through the earth.

Winter has had its grip on us long enough!

Day trip to Hudson!

2011-03-24T10:22:00.000-05:00

My friend, Julie, was here in Minnesota about two weeks ago for a visit...a visit that included lots of great conversation, good food, and artsy fun! We kicked things off by taking in the opening reception for the Textile Center's Figuratively Fiber show. Julie had a piece in the show--that beautiful, vibrant piece you see through the window. The show is up until April 16th, so if you're local you might want to check it out. (You can even see Julie's piece from the street as you drive by on University Avenue). Here's a detail pic of Julie's piece.

The piece is titled For Pele: Playing with Fire. She wrote about it here. I may be a bit biased, but this is my favorite piece in the show. Really, it's one of my favorite pieces of Julie's--I love all that vibrant color!

We also made a quick trip to the town of Hudson, Wisconsin. I love this town. Not too small, not too big...and it has a very vibrant art scene. Our first stop was at the Phipps Art Center. Currently (thru April 3rd) their galleries feature the work of six different artists. I fell in love with these mixed media pieces created by artist Daphnae Koop. They were created using repurposed wood and glass. Incredible.

And then there were these whimsical pieces by Susan Feigenbaum. Pictured below is both sides of this fun piece.

We wrapped up our trip to Seasons on St. Croix Gallery in downtown Hudson. This place is a goldmine--filled with light that shows off all the fantastic artwork. It's a nice mix of gallery and retail space. I like that they generally have a little show on one side (either featuring an artist or a themed-show; currently the show features artwork with a "food" theme). They also feature works in several mediums--painting, fiber, glass, ceramics. They even have glass and ceramic studios on site--sometimes you can see artists at work!

Small paintings

2011-03-17T07:03:00.000-05:00

Some days I just feel like painting small pieces. I worry sometimes that it's a waste of time, but I enjoy doing them. They may start out as studies for larger pieces, but more often than not, they are paintings all on their own. Working on them is a form of meditation. I can hold the piece in my hand, think about things like color and composition, and just forget the rest of the world.

I am thinking of opening our new space for April's Lowertown First Friday and featuring my collection of small paintings. This event is scheduled for Friday, April 1st: 6-9 pm.

Waiting...

2011-03-10T09:48:00.000-06:00

I'm moving about as slow as this turtle these days. It's quite gray outside and we are still talking snowpack and windchills here.

But I think the real reason for my malaise is a bad case of "post-grant-itis". Yes, I did get my very first artist grant submitted! It was a relatively easy grant proposal (in comparison to others that I've heard about!). Still it required my dedicated attention for several days. It was all completed via an online submission process (quite easy actually). When I finally hit the "submit" button late Tuesday night, the sense of relieve I anticipated was more like an "OMG! What now?"

The truth is, I can do nothing but wait. Wait for some news on whether or not I make it to the finalist round for the grant (It will be a 4-6 week wait. I submitted it with NO expectations, but keeping my fingers crossed anyways.)

And wait for spring. She's slow in coming this year. We've made it to the #7 snowiest winter of all time (for our area). Whoopee. I'm not looking for any records to be broken. I'm already anticipating flooding (again). We actually need spring to come rather slowly, but I think everyone is getting a little antsy.

And best of all, my shortest wait is for my dear friend, Julie to come for a visit this weekend! She has one of her pieces in the Textile Center's Figuratively Fiber show opening this Friday!

So for all of you waiting for spring as I am, I'll share pics from a visit I took a few weeks ago to the Como Conservatory. It was wonderfully warm and moist (I could feel my hair curl up and frizz). And luciously green. Plus there was a little surprise at the end.

Are you ready for the surprise? As I rounded the last corner, heading to the exit door, I looked up and saw this:

He didn't move a bit!

Temporality: Opening Reception

2011-03-06T10:45:00.000-06:00

B3 in front of T's encaustic piece

I had a great time Friday evening at the opening reception for the Temporality exhibit. The best part was celebrating the evening with my fellow protegees: here we are above trying to compose ourselves for a group shot!

The exhibit space (at the Grain Belt Bottling House which is now home to artist studios) is huge! There was art up on the second floor as well!

And after the reception, hubby and I were off to a screening of MCAD student senior film's projects. My hubby had the most screen time--appearing in three (or was it four?) films. More great fun seeing my hubby on the big screen.

Definitely a night we both got to enjoy "living the dream" for a bit.

Temporality

2011-03-04T09:14:00.000-06:00

Time is On Her Side / Debra Roisnestad

I'll be taking a bit of a break from grant writing this evening to attend the opening reception for the WARM member show. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the work of 65 talented Minnesota women artists. Here are the details:

Temporality Opening Reception

Friday, March 4th

5 - 8 p.m.

Grain Belt Bottling House

79 13th Ave NE

Mpls, MN

I will be at the reception on the early side of things, because then I'll be off to join my husband in a preview of one of the film projects he appeared in!

If you are unable to take in the show tonight, you can still catch throughout the month of March. The show will be up till March 31st. The exhibit can be viewed during building hours: Monday-Friday, 8-6 p.m.

My piece that will be in the show

Psst...

2011-03-01T12:24:00.000-06:00

Hey there...I want to paint, in the worse way. The sun is streaming in the studio, just calling me to paint. I also want to blog...I have lots of pics and things to share...

But it all must wait a bit. If I painted or blogged right now, it would really be more of a diversionary tactic from the project I really need to accomplish. In less than a week, I need to submit my first ever individual artist grant. I set this as a goal about a month ago and I'm not letting myself off the hook!

The application isn't too complicated...I just need to sit down and write! But geez, you've all been there--isn't it amazing how many other things you can find to do when you have a deadline looming in front of you!

But enough procrastinating! I'm sitting down to start writing this very minute! And until I'm done, you won't see anything more from me!

Au revoir!

Peacock Painting #2

2011-02-27T12:27:00.000-06:00

For Christmas, I painted a Peacock painting for my daughter. (I wrote about it here) I enjoyed painting it so much I decided to paint another, only larger. I finished it a few weeks ago. This one is 30x30 (the earlier one was 24x24).

I enjoyed working with the rich, royal colors...quite a contrast to the sea of white that makes up our winter landscape.

I also like the movement and energy of the feathers swirling around the peacock's head.

I'm not certain I'm done with the peacock theme just yet. I may need to paint another peacock painting somewhere down the road. I have visions of a painting with a woman and a peacock...haven't started it yet, but the idea of it keeps swimming around in my creative brain.

I do intend to sell this painting, but for now, this painting is adorning my studio, providing inspiration...and waiting for its new home.

Getting my Groove back!

2011-02-22T13:27:00.000-06:00

Just a quick update here (I know it's been a while!):

I sort of re-discovered my painting groove a few weeks ago, only to "lose" it again when I started working my new job. Last Friday I started my new gig as a Visitor Assistant at the Science Museum of Minnesota, specifically for the King Tut Exhibit. The most immediate adjustment has been dealing with the aches and pains of the job--I stand for my entire shift (6-7 hours), save my lunch break. Not easy on this 50-year-old body! I bought new cushion-y shoes and 2 days later bought new cushion-y inserts for the new cushion-y shoes. It's helping, but at the end of the shift, my back and feet are hurting. (Other than that, the job has been great!)

So I've been heading to bed early and chilling (stretching!) before work. Oh ya, we also had a snowstorm (15+ inches) this weekend. It's been gray, cold, windy...might I say, a little depressing in the weather department!

This morning I woke up to the sun streaming through the windows...a definite day brightener! It's amazing how much a sunny day will put me in the mood to paint...and so I did...and I'm happy to report--Risa got her groove back!

Studio 107: In progress

2011-02-08T07:31:00.002-06:00

Despite all the craziness at our place last week, I have been settling into my new studio space. Well maybe, it was all the craziness that made me lock myself into the studio and start working again. I decided I needed to mix in some painting time with all the time spent cleaning, organizing the space. Painting saved my sanity.

I went back to work on a series (working title: Abstractions in Gray?) that I had started this past fall. The color of these paintings is not as bold as the colors I usually work with, but there is still a depth and warmth to the color. I found the work very soothing.

The space is far from organized (it is also a work in progress), but the space is very functional. I brought in my big shelf from my Jax studio, as well as the same fuchsia curtains...my walls might be white, but I will still feel the space with color!

I will continue to post pics (both of the studio and paintings in progress) as work progresses. But for now, it's back to the paints!

Tearing it up!

2011-02-07T08:01:00.002-06:00

It was a little crazy at our place last week--as they were tearing up chunks of our floor boards!

Our building, a warehouse converted into artist lofts, has pine floors that haven't really stood up too well. Our new unit had more than the usual splintered boards, but our bigger concern was that a number of boards were "sinking" when you walked over them due to the sub-floor being in poor shape. The management company agreed to replace boards...about 50 in total.

Of course, this project would have been much easier to accomplish the month the unit sat empty before we moved in...but that would be too easy! So on Wednesday, we moved all our furniture to the side, packed up fragile items, threw drop cloths over just about everything and the work began. What a mess!

Things got a lot more stressful on Thursday, when we saw that nothing was being done to fix the sub-floor ... even in the places where you could clearly see how the floor would sink with any pressure on it. And then the boards came in...Now I wasn't expecting a match, but the new boards were very light in color compared to the old boards. And we were told the boards wouldn't be stained or varnished for quite some time!

Every time I looked at the work in progress, my heart sank. This is after all my home and space that I open up to the public for open studio events. And to top it all off, within 24 hours we saw boards splintering where the sub-floor was in the worst shape (and is the walkway to the bathroom).

We invited management in when the project was completed Friday afternoon and have, I think, negotiated some sort of resolution. Unfortunately, some boards are going to need to be ripped up (again!) and the sub-floor be repaired somehow. We'll probably need to do a bit of sanding (more dust!) and then try to stain the boards a bit to bring them closer in color to the weathered boards. Finally, we will need to varnish...which may mean we need to be out of our unit for a few days. Yikes!!!

But for now, we've removed the drop cloths and furniture is back in place...at least for a little while!

Back to Work

2011-02-06T12:41:00.004-06:00

Besides all the moving, there have been other big changes looming in my life. I am dipping my toes back in the working world. I have just started a temporary, part-time position at the Science Museum of Minnesota as a Visitor Assistant for their upcoming King Tut exhibition.

New beginnings always come with some anxiety and adjustments. As I said, it's a temporary, part-time, and I may add, low-pay position...so, it doesn't completely resolve my employment issues. And I haven't walked into such a new, unknown work situation in over 14 years. But...I think it will work out just fine. It's close enough to home that I can sometimes walk (or be dropped off by hubby or ride the bus five minutes). I will be working evenings, including the weekend...which will still give me plenty of time to paint! And I get to work in a museum (love that!), be surrounded by cool, interesting stuff and help solve simple problems (vs. helping people resolve huge life dramas in my social worker job). I think it will be much less stressful.

I worked my first training shift last night. It helped resolve some of my anxiety. I will be spending a lot of time on my feet, so I need to buy some new comfy shoes (that fit within the uniform guidelines). I'd post a picture of me in my uniform, but I'll save that for a day when you all need a good laugh!

Moving on!

2011-01-30T10:53:00.000-06:00

Last week was all about finishing up "The Move." We rented a truck and moved all the big furniture out of the Jax studio (along with several carloads filled with boxes of art supplies...). It's all in our new place now...not quite organized, but getting there.

It was a big deal saying good-bye to my first studio. The Jax studio has been my home away from home, my haven, my artist retreat for the past four years. (I wrote about my hubby and I moving into the space here.) It was such a huge leap to have that separate space dedicated to working on my art. I became much more serious (and productive) about painting and then sharing my work with the public through open studio events. It helped me think of myself as an artist. It's the place where I started to realize my dreams as an artist...it's the place where I went from keeping those dreams to myself to sharing them with the world. Huge, huge steps!

I'll admit it was a little hard to say good-bye to the space, but I'm feeling good about moving on. My studio practice is now so strong that I know I will be just as productive working in my home studio...maybe even more productive, because who doesn't want to paint in their jammies?!?

I am ready to be done with moving! Moving was frustrating in all sorts of ways--besides being physically demanding (we did most of it ourselves), studio time was very minimal this past month. That part drove me crazy! But it has been a good time to take stock of what I have accomplished in the past few years...and also take a look at many works of progress. Sometimes looking at unfinished pieces with a set of fresh eyes helps you realize what you need to do to finish them (and occasionally there is that "what was I thinking" reaction!)

So now the only moving I'm doing is moving forward! I'll be back soon with pics of the new studio space and more BIG news of changes in my life!

Surviving the deep freeze

2011-01-23T22:23:00.000-06:00

I've been trying to survive the deep freeze here in Minnesota. It's hard to find the desire to leave your warm, cozy home when you wake up to temps well below zero (-16 degrees Thursday morning). While I've enjoyed some days within the shelter of our home, settling in our new place, I've also been brave and ventured out.

Thursday I had my first meeting with my WARM mentor, Brenna. I got to show her my new working space and share with her more of my artwork and my life story behind the work.

The past few days have included more WARM-related activities...Friday I met with my small group that includes two other protegees that are working with Brenna. The three of us (still trying to come up with a name for our group) will be meeting on a regular basis, offering each other feedback and support.

And then today I attended the Protegee Tea for all the protegees participating in this two-year cycle. There are 19 of us. Some of us have met at different events leading up to this kickoff to the program, but this was our first formal event as a group. It was nice to meet and get to know a little better the artists that I will share this whole experience with.

This week the weather is supposed to warm up a bit. After this past week, temps in the 20's will feel like a heatwave! It's funny how we psyche ourselves into believing it's "not that bad". We even try to convince ourselves that with January coming to a close, winter is almost over. Ha! There's still a good few months of cold and snow...but it's at least the half-way point, right?

pictures taken following our December blizzard

Today at the Studio...finally!

2011-01-17T19:28:00.000-06:00

I snuck into the studio this morning and did a little painting. For a few hours, I escaped the chaos, ignored the boxes and did what I love to do...paint!! It was a welcome respite from the business of moving.

Later we did move over a few more carloads of stuff from the Jax studio. It feels good to have more of my supplies in my new studio. And while I'm waiting for some shelves to be moved over from the Jax, I am making do with the shelves I have here. There are boxes to unpack and piles of stuff to go through, but my music is hooked up...and I'm ready to do some painting.

Good-bye Studio 507!

2011-01-15T19:18:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we completed our move out of our home, Tilsner Studio 507. In many ways, I am so glad we're out--it's too hard living between two places. It was a very, very long two weeks of moving furniture, all our belongings, and then this week--painting our old place. I painted every wall of the place when we moved in and we had to prime all our walls back to white. The "high quality" primer we bought was actually crap and made the job that much harder.

I will miss Studio #507. It was the first home that hubby and I chose together. I will miss how me made it home, by painting all those walls and decorating it our way. I will miss watching the sun rise over the river...and how the river changes with the seasons.

But painting all the walls white, made the place cold & sterile...and no longer our home. We said our good-byes...and now we're ready to settle into Studio 107. There will be no view of the river, but one can't complain much when you have 20 foot ceilings and floor to ceiling windows. Over time we will make it our home.

We're not quite done with the moving...we still need to move our stuff out of our Jax studio by the end of the month! My body is worn out and I'm really missing studio time...but the end is in sight...at least I keep telling myself that!

WARM coffee

2011-01-08T19:49:00.001-06:00

a picture of my Jax studio

I broke away from the whole moving ordeal this morning to attend my first WARM "coffee" event. These monthly "coffees" are an opportunity to gather with other WARM members at a studio, gallery...to socialize & network, take in some art, share resources, to socialize & network... Yes, I know I repeated "to socialize & network", but as this was the first time I've been out of the house in a few weeks to enjoy such an activity it made quite an impression. It's amazing how sometimes you don't realize how closed in you're feeling until you get a whiff of fresh air (and let me tell you with temps just over zero degrees this morning, a whiff of fresh air was quite invigorating!)

This month's coffee was held at the Dow building, which houses several WARM artists. About 20 of us visited the studios of five different WARM artists. As we stopped in each studio, the artist we were visiting showed some of their work, talked about their process, answered questions... I have been to the Dow Building before when they have sponsored open studio events (which they do each November), but it was lovely to get a "behind the scenes" look and to hear each artist talk about their work. It was equally delightful to hear and participate in the conversation among all the artists there. I want this group to visit my studio; it was such a lovely, warm, friendly bunch!

Perhaps my favorite stop was at the studio of painter Bettye Olson. I remember my previous stops in Bettye's studio well--she always makes you feel welcome and shares a bit of her history. Today was no exception. Bettye has been an artist for over 65 years...and is still painting vibrant pieces. Bettye has been without question a pioneer for woman artists; both locally and nationally. She was doing it even before WARM existed. And she did it as an artist doing what she loved to do. She participated in a local gallery representing women artists as early in the 60's. She read to us snippets from some of the newspaper articles reviewing her earlier shows. One referred to a show of women artists as filled with "charm". It wasn't until the 80's that she wasn't referred to as "Bettye, Mrs. Howard E., Olson. (You can find out a little more about Bettye and her artwork here, here, and here.)

(I felt a very strong reaction to these stories. First, gratitude to Bettye and other women like her who passed before me and paved the way. And also still a ripple of indignation. Really, I said to my friend next to me "this is why women started painting vaginas and putting them in your face."...but that's a discussion for another day)

Following the "coffee", a small group of us met up at a real coffee shop and enjoyed more coffee and conversation--the perfect ending to this outing! I left feeling recharged and refocused on my artisitic endeavors. It even renewed my determination to enter a piece in the upcoming WARM member show. Yikes, the entry is due this coming Friday!

So, still much to finish on the moving front, but I am optimistic that I will manage to work in some studio time, in my new studio space, this coming week. I'll let you know how that goes and maybe have pictures!

Until then, stay warm everyone!

Moving into 2011

2011-01-04T12:50:00.000-06:00

We are six days into our move. Despite being a bit under the weather, we have accomplished quite a bit...I've painted a few walls and started setting up the kitchen. With just a bit of help from my kids, we've moved most of the big furniture...our bed, living room furniture, dining room table...still some dressers to move and lots and lots of little stuff...and then there will be cleaning!

I've been going up and down between the 5th floor and the 1st, moving a cart full at a time. To say I'm exhausted is an understatement.

I was doing fairly well until last night when I hit a wall...the fatigue, the sense of overwhelm hit me like a ton of bricks. At the end of the night, I soothed my aching body by soaking in a hot bath and had a good cry. I needed that release.

It wasn't just the move overwhelming me. It's all the uncertainty in my life. Whether you do it consciously or not, the new year seems like a natural time to reflect on the past year and then look forward. I always do this through some journaling and sometimes some visual work. Because of the move, I've been putting this off, but the brain works anyways...

In many ways, I am ready to put 2010 far behind me. It was marked by the BIG event of my layoff last May. Unfortunately I am still feeling the impact of that event, as I am still unemployed and have not gotten any positive response from any of the applications I have submitted. When I am tired and feeling discouraged, I start doubting myself. My self-worth took a serious hit last year.

But I have been determined not to let this single event define me or my life. I have worked very hard to seize this change in my life as an opportunity more than a tragedy. I'm not saying that I am successful at this each day. I have had my fair share of moments like last night when I feel overwhelmed by my losses and the uncertainty of the future seems so daunting that I can't help but give in to a bout of despair.

But generally after a good night's sleep, I am ready to forge ahead. The new year brings with it many exciting possibilities. We are starting our year in a new home that already feels just that...home. And on the artist front...I am beginning the WARM mentor program and looking forward to not just dreaming about new artistic opportunities, but making them happen.

In the end, none of us really know what the future holds. There will always be bumps in the road and the unexpected flat tire that sidelines us for a while. But the key is to keep rolling along, making the best of difficult situations and being open to new, unexpected possibilities.

So with that, I am wishing for all of us a peaceful, productive and joyous 2011. Let's make the most of it.

Here's a sneak peek of our move in progress, starting with the kitchen, aka "Command Central"--

The living room--

And my studio, waiting to be unpacked--

Now back to moving...

Happy New Year's!

2010-12-31T07:08:00.000-06:00

The first load is ready to go and as you can see, kitty is making sure he's coming along! We're set to start our move!

That's what we'll be up to the next few weeks! I'll pop in occasionally with updates.

I hope all of you enjoy your New Year holiday! I hope it is a safe, but merry New Year's for all!

Peacocks!

2010-12-29T23:53:00.000-06:00

Several weeks ago I finished this peacock painting...I couldn't share it with you earlier because it was a Christmas gift to my daughter. Some time ago she asked me to do a peacock painting for her new apartment. This is not the sort of thing I've painted before, but let me tell you, it won't be the last.

I did some research on peacocks and found that the peacock is rich in symbolism across various cultures and religions. In India, the peacock is the national bird and revered for its beauty and grace. In Buddhism, the peacock represents purity and wisdom. In Christianity, the peacock is a symbol of immortality. Since peacocks are faithful to their partners, they are often seen as symbols of eternal love.

As I did my research, I thought about my painting's composition, color scheme ... Once I had made a few small sketches, I was ready to work on my canvas. I already had a 24x24 canvas with the background painted the color I wanted. I sketched the outline of my peacock on the painted canvas with a white chalk pencil and then applied molding paste to create texture.

I love working with molding paste...it adds such depth and energy to a painting. You can see that I added this texture to the neck of the peacock, as well as it's wing and then the feathers that will surround the peacock.

I also enjoyed working in the jewel-tone palette of blues, teal, gold and a bit purple. These are my colors! I'm surprised I didn't paint peacocks sooner!

The whole painting came together quite quickly and smoothly. Since this piece was created for my daughter, I have already started a new piece--similar in composition, but a bit larger-30x30. It will be for sale when completed.

All the research had me thinking about peacocks, their symbolism and I think there will be other peacock paintings in the near future.

Juggling...life

2010-12-27T18:15:00.000-06:00

Here's my little Christmas tree this year! My 14-year-old kitty kept eating the fake plastic needle of my big tree (and subsequently, throwing up) that after a week I decided I was done and put it away! I pulled out my tabletop tree with lights, decorated it with a few handmade bulbs and a little bird that my friend made...and that was it!

Did you all survive the holidays? Honestly, I'm a little relieved that the holidays are coming to a close. I'm ready to move on to my next BIG project: MOVING! We will have the keys to our new space in just a week. It's a little different move in the fact that we are moving withIN the building, just five floors down. Still, I am working at going through belongings, tossing things that do not need to go with us. And my mind is preoccupied with thoughts of how we will organize our new space.

All of which makes it hard to focus on painting. But to keep my anxiety from making my stomach completely topsy-turvy, I worked in the studio for a few hours this afternoon. I am still trying to finish some pieces and have my eye on a few opportunities to show my work...and of course, the deadlines for those are mid-January (just when we're wrapping up the move).

Life is a constant juggling act, filled with decisions on what you can and can't do...what you hold onto and what you let go...seldom easy it seems. But always an adventure.

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-24T09:58:00.000-06:00

It's finally time...time to turn off the worry about whether it's "enough", time to stop doing and just enjoy being...being with friends and family that you hold dear.

Happy Holidays all!

Peace.

"Love Makes a Home"

We're moving...

2010-12-20T21:33:00.000-06:00

a view of the living space...and those windows...taken from the lofted bedroom above

...not out of the Tilsner, but just 5 floors down (directly below) to a first floor unit. I've been keeping this news mostly to myself for the past several weeks...not wanting to jinx it while we weighed the pros and cons and then waited to get our transfer request approved.

So today we got the call and I am busting at the seams, anxious to share with you the news that we are on the move in just a few short weeks!

This really wasn't a move we were looking to make...I love the coziness of our current space with it's view of the river! I have told my hubby on numerous occasions that I was happy staying put. But about three weeks ago, he was walking past the empty first floor unit and convinced me to take a look.

those beautiful windows

My hubby knows me well and knew that when I walked in I would be taken with the expansive space, high ceilings, large brick wall and those incredible floor to ceiling windows. We walked through and started to think about the possibilities of this space.

and that incredible brick wall some 20 feet high

Mixed in with the positives, there were some negatives to moving and losing our current space. So we made two visits to look at the new space and have had many discussions weighing the pros and cons. While the space is larger, it also comes with higher rent...which will force us to give up our outside studio space at the Jax (ultimately by moving everything into one large space we will cut our expenses). I love my Jax space, but having a studio space at home will have its advantages too. And my studio space in the new apartment will be the room just to the left of the open space (see top photo)...it also has floor to ceiling windows--perfect for painting! The only down side to those windows is that they look out on a busy street. There will be more traffic noise and no view of the river. But we will have a lofted bedroom towards the back of the apartment. Outside of the windows and studio space, this was the biggest factor in deciding to take the space...it will give us much more privacy than we have in our current space.

In the end, we decided the positives outweighed the negatives...and decided to go for the change. Once we saw the space we simply could not stop thinking about how this space would work. We've already been dreaming of trips to Ikea and planning how to use the new space.

So we will wrap up 2010 in Studio 507, but kick off 2011 with a move to Studio 107.

Writing a work plan...

2010-12-16T09:23:00.001-06:00


I wrote my work plan at the computer with my kitty looking on.

My first assignment for the WARM Mentor program was to write a work plan. Basically, it is an outline of the work I plan to do in the two years of the program. It spells out my goals, what steps I plan to take to reach those goals... Things will change no doubt, but this work plan will provide the framework as I begin the program.

Each protegee had to meet with their new mentor and review their plan. The work plan needed to be turned in December 8th.

It was a challenging task. There is something about speaking our dreams out loud that is very powerful. It becomes even more powerful when you make a step by step guide for how you plan to achieve those dreams. It makes it more real.

I'll admit that I was initially a little vague on a few points. And there were some dreams that I wasn't quite ready to put down on paper. But then I met with Brenna and it all came tumbling out...the dream of showing my work at outside venues and even having a solo show. There are a lot of steps from here to there, including writing an artist statement and resume...but I feel I am headed in the right direction.

I have also started meeting with two of the other protegees. All three of us will be working with Brenna (as our mentor). It has been fun and energizing to meet with other artists who are at the same place I am. Over the next two years the three of us plan to meet as a small group...throwing out support to one another while also challenging each other!

I feel like my life will be filled with much change over the next few years...I'm not sure how some things will shake out, but I feel that by participating in the WARM program I am taking some very positive steps in my art career. I am open to all the possibilities. No doubt there are times when I wish I had a little crystal ball and could see into the future...but what fun would there be in that?

And my WARM mentor is...

2010-12-13T07:10:00.004-06:00

Several weeks ago I wrote here with excitement about learning who my WARM mentor would be these next two years. I wanted to share with you then who the artist is, but I also felt I should wait to share her name until I cleared it with her. Well, weeks have past and I have met with her and now I can share my great fortune! I will be working with mixed media figure artist Brenna Busse. I have admired her work for several years. I am sharing pics of one of her pieces that I bought as a birthday present for my dear friend Julie. You can check out more images of her work at her website or if you're in the area, the Grand Hand Gallery carries her work.

Brenna creates her pieces using a variety of materials...clay, fiber, and often, materials found in nature, such as sticks and stones. I had picked this piece out for Julie before I even knew Brenna would be my mentor. Brenna wrote this about her work (taken from her website):

"My intention is to communicate and inspire. Using materials as metaphor; I share my celebration of the beauty of nature, faith in possibility and the sacred quality of daily life…"

During Julie's visit, we were able to visit Brenna during her recent show at Ramsey.

me, Julie, and Brenna

I will start the mentor program, with Brenna as my guide, in January. I have met with her just twice--first, for the interview and then most recently, we met to review my work plan. Each time that we have met I leave energized and with a clearer vision of what it is I want to work on. Brenna asks good questions and perhaps even more importantly, she is a good listener. I am sure I will learn much and grow even more.

Next up: my work plan!

The blizzard of 2010!

2010-12-12T19:07:00.000-06:00

It's been a hellava weekend, weather-wise. 17 inches (more or less) of snow dumped on us in less than a 24-hour period, starting late Friday night. It was a true blizzard, with snow falling and a wicked wind swirling the snow all around. For most of Saturday, visibility was so poor that we couldn't even see the river. This is the biggest storm that Mpls/St. Paul has seen since 1991 (the Halloween Blizzard). City buses suspended service and even the plows were pulled off the road for a bit. I was happy to be safe at home. And even happier that my kids were safe in their homes as well.

The picture below was taken Saturday when visibility was actually improving. Do you see that one lone car parked on the upper level of the lot across the street from us?

And today...

That lot did get plowed and that car just left the lot!

I made my way to my Jax studio, just three blocks away. The streets were barely passable and the sidewalks...NOT passable! It will take days to dig out from this! And now it is very, very cold...single digits! Brr... But folks are pitching in and helping each other dig out...

We already have 2/3 the average amount of snowfall for a season. I don't think we're going to be "average" this winter. But we've been on the low end for a few winters now, so I guess we're "due". Sometimes there's just no place to put the snow...a problem I think we'll be dealing with quite a bit this winter.

At least today the sun was shining...and that always helps! My studio was warm and cozy and I had a lovely time painting. I so want to show pictures, but I was working on a painting for my daughter's holiday present. I think she'll like it!

Hope all of you are warm and safe this winter night!

Birthday Week Wrap-up!

2010-12-10T19:57:00.001-06:00


My grandpuppy, Henry

It's a Friday night and here in Minnesota we are preparing to get hit with a blizzard! Aw shucks, guess I'll be stuck in the studio this weekend!

Tonight I am a "theatre widow"... hubby is off starring in a holiday dinner production of Ole and Lena. I'm not complaining...just enjoying a quiet evening catching up on editing photos and then doing a little blog-hopping.

My kitty, Squeakers

The past week has been a wonderful week of celebrating the 50th! Julie was here till Tuesday evening and we packed in lots of visiting and different activities. And when you're best friend is also an artist, that means lots of artsy fun! We went to several small galleries, a bead store, the Mpls Institute of Arts (MIA), and the Swedish Institute! In between all that, we had great meals at places all over town!


Julie with her daughter at the MIA

I wanted to take a nap in this chair at the MIA, but it had a clever sign that read "Keep your paws off". It was part of an exhibit on the art of chairs.

At the Art Institute we went to the featured exhibition titled Art of the Native Americans: the Thaw Collection. While general admission to the MIA is free, there was an exhibition fee to view this collection--well worth it (plus I got discounted tickets!). This show is up till January 9th--go check it out if you're local. This Sunday, December 12th there is a special family event focused on Native American art. I love that there is so much to do in this town that is art-related!

Outside the Swedish Institute

Wednesday night I wrapped up birthday celebrations with a dinner with former co-workers...including two others celebrating birthdays this week. It was fun seeing old friends.

But now I'm settling back into my studio routine...and hard at work on a few new paintings. I can't show you pics because they will be holiday gifts!

I can share that I sold the above painting, Sunrise, to the boyfriend of a former co-worker, Erin. Erin was with her boyfriend when they saw my work at Trotter's late this summer. He contacted me to buy one of the paintings that she had admired! What a great guy! (I can tell this story because he already gave her the painting!) I love sending my paintings off to homes where I know they will be enjoyed!

Happy 50th!

2010-12-05T00:01:00.034-06:00

Today is my 50th birthday! I'm still trying to figure out where all the years went! Some are best left behind! But over the years, many wonderful memories have been created alongside family and friends. And that's just how I plan to spend my day...alongside the folks who hold a special place in my heart.
And since it's my birthday, I thought I'd share some pics from my "younger years" !

The top photo is one of the few (perhaps only) photo I have of myself as a baby being held by my mom. Let me say first--I do have baby photos, mostly portraits taken at a photo studio. Plus many of our family photos from that time are still only in slide format (something I need to change). But actual photos of me with my mom...this is the one I can actually hold in my hands. I scanned it here--the original is a little beat up, plus it's quite small. But I treasure it nonetheless.

Here I am at 18 months, I think. My hair is straight, pulled back in a ponytail. I have bangs! I would love to have bangs now! And by the way, I have my older sister, Diane, to thank for my name...which I love! Originally I was intended to be named Rose or Rosemary after my mom's aunt ... I guess Rose would have been fine, but I much prefer Risa! It took me until college to learn that my name means laughter, which suits me just fine.

Who is that shy looking young girl you ask? Well, it's me! I think this was taken when I was close to 5 years old (maybe 4?). I believe my mom took me to school on picture day before I had started school (my older siblings were in school). I don't remember this, but I think I look a little scared. And look, still straight hair with bangs! (My hair didn't curl till puberty...hormones, I guess!)

Here I am in the backyard of my childhood home with my younger sister, Nan, and the two dogs we owned at the time. I'm the one in the back with my brother's dog. The weimaraner in front was named Doc and was our family dog for years...I still would love to own a dog like him someday. And that backyard...was huge. I grew up (till the age of 12) in the small Minnesota town of Ellsworth...it was a great place to be a kid.

I love looking through old photos (I am a sentimental fool) and have just stared scanning them into our computer. Perhaps I'll share more another day! But for now, I'm off to eat cake!

Winter Wonderland...Fa La La La La!

2010-12-04T09:40:00.001-06:00

My day started yesterday with a trip to the airport to pick up my best friend, Julie! She's here so we can celebrate our 5oth birthdays! We headed straight from the airport to a Starbucks to get some coffee and start catching up!

From there, we headed back to my place to enjoy an afternoon of conversation while setting up my studio for Lowertown First Fridays.

Julie was a great help turning my studio into a winter wonderland! She came up with the idea to hang the wreath on the dress form and prop one of my little paintings there. Doesn't it look cute?

Notice the small ornaments, including mini-disco balls, hanging above the paintings?! Seriously, cute!

And here I am below, with my dear friend ready for my open studio night! I am holding the incredible mixed media figure that Julie made for me! (I will share detailed photos soon) I am the proud and lucky owner of a Julie Branch original...I love this piece and it has jumped right on my short list of best presents ever...Check out more of Julie's work here! (And Julie is holding a wonderful book she got both of us...Hot Flash: A Celebration by Pamela Hastings. The book profiles/interviews a number on women artists...about aging/their art....I think it will provide much inspiration in the coming few years (it is available here). Perfect book for an artist turning 50! Oh, and Julie also gave me that incredible Pashmina shawl that I'm wearing...with all my colors...fuschia, turquoise, and purple!

Don't we look grand?

Unfortunately, the half-foot of snow dumped on us yesterday absolutely killed our open studio event...no one from outside of the building made it! I completely understand, but it is still very disappointing...so much energy and hopeful expectations get poured into these events...and when things you have no control over (like weather) get in the way...it's hard not to feel just a little defeated! (But a Huge thank you to all the Tilsner folks who stopped by!)

But I shared my night with good friends...and now I've shared my photos with all of you! I wish you could have all been here in person!!!

Lowertown First Fridays--It's an Holiday Art Extravaganza!

2010-12-02T11:05:00.000-06:00

It's a busy time of the year...people are trying to make the best use of their time...so when you can combine a fun, relaxing evening of music and art with the opportunity to do a little holiday shopping (for that unique, one of a kind gift that will be remembered!)...well, why not! Lowertown First Fridays is just the ticket--and it's almost here!

(For those of you who are new to LFF, Lowertown First Fridays (or LFF) is an association of artists in Lowertown St. Paul who open their studios (or have a gallery arrangement) on the first Fridays of the month. Buildings will be open from 6 to 9:00 pm. For even more information about building participation, go here or here. Anyways, December's LFF is this Friday, December 3rd, 6-9 pm!)

Many buildings and many artists are participating in LFF, making it a fun night to head down to Lowertown St. Paul. Heads up on the construction down here: the streets have been paved, making it much easier to get around! There is even some street parking--free after 4:30 pm. (Lots of off-street parking too for a nominal fee--there's a big lot across the street from the Tilsner at Kellogg & Broadway. Also a big Transpark lot behind the Northern Warehouse.)

I will be open at my Tilsner studio--Studio 507...but I thought I'd tell you a bit about some of the other artists open at the Tilsner...

the work of artist Stephanie Guidera

First, head to the second floor where you will find two fine artists open. In Studio 201, you will find the work of painter, Stephanie Guidera (work pictured above). Stephanie is frequently hard at work during LFF on her latest painting...stop by and you might just catch an artist in action!

work by Jeff Hansen

Down the hall in Studio 209, Jeff Hansen will be showcasing his remarkable nature photography (work pictured above). He does amazing work and will definitely have work for sale!

painting by Amelia Gluba

Head up to the 5th Floor and you will find a number of open studios! Mason Weedman in Studio 505 will be showing how he builds and repairs fine instruments like cellos...and will have a cellist playing. Amelia Gluba in Studio 504 will be showing a number of paintings (such as above) and her mixed media sculptures...fun stuff! In Studio 501, Theresa Crushshon will be sharing her African American paintings. PJ, a jewelry artist, will be showing in the hallway and I will, of course, have my studio--#507 open. There will be lots of treats as well!

Once you've checked out the Tilsner, I recommend you check out some of the other buildings as well. Many fine artists will be open over at the Jax, 253 E. 4th Street. This is where I have my working studio...it's just a short walk from the Tilsner. I encourage you to check out the work of painters Barbara Evan and T. Young (aka Tracy Olson), to name a few! Wrapping up the evening with a visit to the Northern Warehouse is always a good bet. The AZ gallery will be hosting an opening and the Black Dog will have lots of music. Don't forget to head upstairs to the open studios of resident artists such as Rhea Pappas and Kara Hendershot and many more!

Pushing 50!!!

2010-11-29T19:58:00.000-06:00

Lordy, Lordy, look who's having a birthday? A BIG birthday! The BIG 5-0!

Moi!

And I really can't wait.

My 50th birthday is this coming Sunday (December 5th). It's a birthday that I've been thinking about since, well, since I turned 49. Decade birthdays seem bigger somehow...and turning 50 feels HUGE.

I think the first six months of thinking about it felt a little overwhelming and I'll admit, a little discouraging. I was stuck a bit in thinking about what I hadn't accomplished, what I might never get to do...

But then my thinking started turning around. Turning 50 was better than the alternative (not making 50), so I decided I might as well enjoy it! And in a weird sort of way, getting laid off six months ago (yes, it's been six months) provided me with just the right kick in the pants that I needed. I'm not recommending being laid off to anyone. It sucks. But if it's going to happen, you might as well figure out a way to make it the time productive for you.

And so I started thinking not about what I hadn't done, but what I wanted to do. I firmly believe it is never too late to pursue your dreams. Whatever time we have on this earth is meant to be enjoyed, doing what we love to do.

So I started looking at 50 as the age of opportunity. Turning 50 can be liberating in many ways. My kids are grown (more or less). I have more freedom to do what I want. And I really don't need anyone's permission any more. Ha!

So I'm cruising into this birthday week filled to the brim with excitement. I have lots of fun planned. I'm kicking the weekend off with an open studio event--Lowertown First Friday. Stop by and celebrate with me!

And then, my very best friend, Julie (who also just turned 50) is coming to town and we plan on celebrating 50 together!

To top it all off-- my hubby is paying the program fees for the WARM program for my birthday present. (Being married to someone who "gets" you is like a present everyday.)

I am a lucky girl!

Naptime

2010-11-27T15:15:00.001-06:00

Hello. How was your Thanksgiving?

Mine was spent with my hubby, grown children and my mom! I prepared the Thanksgiving feast...even though we aren't a large group, it was a feast...center of it all was a 20-lb turkey! I've been preparing this holiday meal for years and although it's a lot of work, I enjoy it. I can now say I have mastered turkey, gravy, and the family dressing (or do you say stuffing?) I think every family's recipe is a bit different and that's what makes it unique to each family. I always looked forward to my mom's version...and now, my daughter looks forward to mine. Perhaps someday she will perfect the recipe (although my son is more of the cook!) I have to admit, I'm still working on perfecting the Thanksgiving pie. I'm so much better at cake!

Friday started with an early morning wake-up call...not for Black Friday shopping, but to get my kids to work at a ridiculous hour for their retail jobs. I detest shopping on Black Friday! I'm not fond of the crowds or general craziness. And I think it bothers me more each year as stores buy into the frenzy and open earlier and earlier...thus, forcing so many folks, like my kids, to work crazy hours just so people can buy something at 4 a.m. that will still be there at 9 a.m. Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox! I just want a little more relaxed family time over the holiday!!!

I also woke up on Friday with a bit of a sore throat...still nursing that along. I feel so... tired. But it felt good to find my way back to the studio today and spend some time working on a few paintings. It's quite cold outside (in the teens), but my studio is filled with sunshine that heats up the place!

So, not much shopping being done here this weekend. I'm just laying low, trying to get healthy. Hopefully there will be time for a few naps and a bit more painting. In fact, I think it's time for a nap right now!

Mom's Oatmeal Cake

2010-11-21T12:41:00.002-06:00

It doesn't look too much like winter around here yet (this pic is from last year) ... in fact, we're dealing with freezing rain this weekend. I'd much rather have snow! Even though I'm not much of a fan of winter, I still enjoy the beauty of early winter snowfalls...especially when holiday lights brighten the city landscape.

But it is the perfect day for staying in and off the roads. A little baking makes things nice and toasty inside. Yesterday I baked my Mom's Oatmeal Cake. It should be called "Brown Sugar Oatmeal Cake", because the brown sugar adds such a rich taste to the cake.

Watching my mother bake this cake is a vivid childhood memory...my mother was a stay-at-home mom and a frequent baker...and this cake was one of her best recipes. I remember anxiously waiting for the cake to come out of the oven, being topped with this wonderful brown sugar-butter-coconut mixture, and then going back in the oven, under the broiler for a few minutes, to create the perfect sweet and chewy topping. We would let it cool just a bit before we would dish it into our bowls with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting on top. Oh, yum. I didn't have the ice cream yesterday, but the cake still lived up to its memory.

So here is the recipe--

1. Boil 1 1/2 cups of water in a pan. Add 1 cup of oatmeal. Reduce heat. Add 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter. After butter melts, turn off heat. Let it sit as you mix other ingredients.

2. Mix 1 cup brown sugar and 1 cup sugar. Add 2 eggs.

3. Mix in 1 tsp each of baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and vanilla. Add 1/4 tsp of salt.

4. Mix in the slightly cooled oatmeal mixture.

5. Mix in 1 1/3 cups flour.

6. Pour into greased 9x13 pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes.

7. When cake is almost done, prepare cake topping on stove top. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter. Add 1 cup brown sugar and then 1/2 cup of Carnation Evaporated Milk. Finally add 1 cup of coconut.

8. When the cake comes out of the oven, turn up the heat on the topping until it starts to bubble. Cook it until it starts to thicken up...just a bit. Meanwhile, poke a few holes into the cake (I used a small knitting needle). Pour the topping over the cake and put the cake back into the oven, close under the broiler. Watch the cake carefully...allow it to bubble for a bit. This will help the topping caramelize and become slightly chewy.

9. Let it cool a bit...or until you can't stand it any longer...then enjoy! Preferably with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Still a great cake when it cools too!

There you have, a lovely cake for winter! Enjoy.

The long wait is over!

2010-11-20T16:13:00.000-06:00

a small abstract I recently finished--see note below

Late Thursday evening, after several days of being on "e-mail watch", I received the long (in my eyes) awaited e-mail with the list of Mentor-Protegee pairings for the WARM Mentor Program. I opened the e-mail with anxious enthusiasm. I quickly scanned the list to find my name and the name of the mentor that I will work with for the next two years.

I am over the moon excited to be working with an artist whose work I have admired for several years (I've decided that I will clear it with her before I give you her name and website information, so you can check out her wonderful work). I will say that she is an amazing woman with much creative energy. She has a deep understanding of the creative process and how making art can be part of a healing process. I am looking forward to working with her. I can't wait to get started (the program doesn't officially start until January).

I feel as if I am at the beginning of a journey. I am not quite sure where this journey will lead me. The unknown is not really scaring me, but exciting me. I feel that this is a beginning filled with possibilities. Much will change, no doubt, but I am open to those changes.

For now, I am writing my preliminary "work plan" for the program. Already it is interesting work, as I identify my goals and what helps me achieve those goals and on the flip side, what gets in my way.

I am also looking forward to meeting the other protegees and all the mentors. This will be a community of women artists that I will be very involved with in the next few years. I have a strong sense that friendships will be formed that will remain intact long past the two years of the program. At least, that is my hope.

So here we go, on this amazing adventure!

About the artwork above--This is a small abstract that I recently finished. I was trying some new techniques and created this piece on a 9x12 cradled artist board.

My first step was to apply a layer of crackle paste on the board. This was the first time I had worked with the crackle paste and even though I thought I had applied a thick layer, it really wasn't quite thick enough to get the affect that I was aiming for. It's hard to see the affects of the crackle paste in this photo, because the cracks are on the fine side.

After I applied the crackle paste, I had to allow it to dry 24 hours before I could start the painting process. The crackle paste creates an interesting surface to work on, as you can achieve different affects depending on how wet or dry you keep the surface.

If you want to try crackle paste, I would recommend checking out Golden's website, which includes a video about the product. I think I will work with crackle paste again...perhaps on a larger surface next time.

Now I am working on a piece using Golden's Glass Bead Gel. I'll let you know how that works out!

Antsy...

2010-11-16T18:17:00.000-06:00

I'm feeling a little antsy...

restless, anxious, waiting...

waiting to hear who will be the mentor that I will be working with the next two years thru the WARM program (I should find out some time this week),

anxious to turn 50 in less than 19 days,

restless for the upcoming holidays.

So today I visited some of my favorite places...

a local art store, Wet Paint.

It's always a welcome diversion to spend a little time

dreaming in my favorite sort of store.

a coffee shop, where I used a coupon for a free coffee. Yay!

and a bookstore,

my other favorite kind of store to do a little dreaming in.

It all helped to make the day go by a little quicker.

Now I'm off to hang with my daughter and her new puppy, Henry.

(I call him my grandpuppy).

Our first snow!

2010-11-13T09:11:00.005-06:00

I don't do much painting of traditional scenes in traditional sort of ways, but there are exceptions. At this time of year, as the holidays approach and we enjoy our first snow, I usually try to capture the look and feel on canvas. Above is a small painting I finished last year.

Yesterday I started some new winter paintings.


work in progress, 12x24


detail of a work in progress, 16x20

And magically, today we are enjoying our first snowfall of the season. It was 70 degrees this past Tuesday, but we knew it couldn't last!

It's also a perfect day for baking! I'm going to make my Spicy Christmas shortbread. It makes the whole house smell like the holidays! I posted the recipe here. Yum!

My first sale!

2010-11-10T20:35:00.000-06:00

I've had an Etsy shop for about two years, but it's been greatly neglected this past year. During recent months, I've been making the conversion in my "shop" from selling jewelry I've made to selling my original artwork. For the most part, I am listing smaller paintings. I'm not quite sure this will work, but I thought I'd give it a go for a little while longer.

So the time has come for my first sale! Recent changes to Etsy make it much easier to host a sale. Yay! Through this Veteran's Day weekend, all my original artwork is 15% off. Now's the time to start your holiday shopping from home!

Well, that's it for my sales pitch...I'm not really much of a "salesman". I don't want to pressure anyone to buy, especially friends & family or my readers! But if there is a piece you like, this would be a good time to pick it up (just saying!).

For my local fans: If you are interested in a painting (or two) and delivery/pick-up can be arranged, the shipping/handling fees can certainly be waived! Also for local folks: I will he holding another open studio event before the holidays on Friday, December 3rd 6-9 pm. And as always, my studio is open by appointment.

Peace.

Play Day!

2010-11-09T20:04:00.002-06:00

Here in Minnesota, we've been enjoying an incredibly warm & sunny fall. Anytime you can go into November without snow on the ground and hit temps in the 60's...well, that's something to enjoy...cause it will end soon enough!

So today I started out in the studio, with the plan to take a walk over the noon hour. It has been so bright in the studio...and a little too warm with the building's heat on! I cracked open a window as soon as I got to the studio.

I decided to make today a Play Day. Sometimes it's good to take a break from working on paintings and do something creative to get the creative juices flowing. Today I cut up some canvas paper, with the plan to make painted envelopes and bookmarks. After I cut up the canvas paper, I started painting background colors. When that got done, I pulled out my plastic doilies
that I love playing with and used them to create background designs.

Lunch time came and I headed home for something to eat and then a walk with my hubby. It was an incredibly beautiful day outside...just gorgeous! It was so nice to enjoy the day spending some time with my hubby. After walking downtown, we headed towards home. I was planning to head straight to the studio for more play (painting)! Less than a block from the studio, I hit some uneven sidewalk and took quite a tumble! You know, it was one of those embarrassing falls...I went down hard, in public, and just couldn't move for a bit. Really, I wanted to be invisible and disappear. Eventually I made it to my feet...I bummed up my left knee pretty good and twisted my right ankle (a mild sprain). Drats. I can be such a clutz.

I hobbled to the studio and decided I could continue painting...but sitting, with my feet propped up. Tonight I'm definitely taking it easy.

Not quite the Play Day I envisioned, but it was still lots of fun. I think I'll do it all again tomorrow--minus the fall.

Party over!

2010-11-06T17:24:00.003-05:00

Last night was our special celebration for the first anniversary of Lowertown First Fridays--an open studio event in Lowertown St. Paul. In our building, we had a fun time with decorating our treat table. We had a special larger-than-life glass of the bubbly next to the cake.

Crowds were sparse, but life goes on. I was blessed to have several friends stop by to visit my studio...some for the first time. Friends visiting always feels good.

It was a long day ... filled with before the event errands (picking up six of those cakes), setting up my artwork (which includes moving around a bunch of furniture), and then... show on. By the end of evening, I was exhausted, but too wired to sleep well. So, after an evening of little sleep, I am wiped out. But I still had to return my "gallery" to a home. That will be it for me today though.

Good thing there's an "extra" hour of sleep tonight--remember to set your clocks back!

It's an Art Party--Lowertown First Friday!!!

2010-11-04T19:08:00.006-05:00

I've been spending much time in the studio this week painting. It's been going well, but slow. Sometimes I wish I was a little faster at this, but painting is a process that can't really be rushed. I have two 18x36 paintings that I'm working on...going back and forth between the two. I will try to post pics soon.

Also busy preparing for tomorrow's Open Studio event--Lowertown First Friday! I wrote about it here. It's always feels like a lot of work preparing to open...and I don't always love the prep work, but once my doors are open I can relax and enjoy the event.

If you live in the Twin Cities metro area, this is a great night to check out Lowertown St. Paul. Especially this First Friday--we are celebrating our first year anniversary of our monthly open studio event. After visiting the open studios from 6-9, you can stop by Echo Arts (275 E 4th Street) to attend an after-party. The Black Dog has events planned as well.

Come down and enjoy the fun!

Catching my breath!

2010-11-01T18:26:00.001-05:00

I am taking this evening to catch my breath and pamper myself just a bit. Today I had my third and final interview for the WARM mentor program. Each interview was outstanding in so many ways. Although at the onset, the interview process loomed before me as intimidating, now with the interviews behind me, I look at the interviews as invigorating, informative, and interesting on so many levels.

I learned much about myself as an artist. The process allowed me to see the progress that I've made in the past few years. I left each interview feeling more accomplished than I generally see myself as. I still have much work to do (always will), but I can look ahead with confidence.

And I have renewed energy for my painting...not that it was really waning...but I'm feeling a burst of energy about working on new pieces. Such a good feeling to carry into the studio!

I have two weeks to wait before I learn who I will be matched with. Interviews are still underway for two more weeks. I'm glad I'm done and will be painting away to pass the time! Hopefully the time will fly by!

So tonight I am planning an evening to unwind. I made an awesome dinner...a pasta dish with chicken and thai peanut sauce. I may bake some oatmeal cookies...with dried cherries and chocolate chips (I've been sooo domestic lately...baked pumpkin pies this weekend). And before bed, I plan to soak in the tub with some fragrant bath salts. Aah...

And tomorrow...it's back to the studio!

Dancing with the paint

2010-10-29T19:13:00.000-05:00

Another week nearly done. Not as much painting time as I would like, but I think that will be remedied next week. I did start work on a few new canvases (along with continuing work on others).

Earlier in the week I had my second WARM interview. Phenomenal experience. The interview process alone has influenced my studio work. Talking about my work with the potential mentors has helped me think about the direction I want to go with with my work. It has also influenced how I'm doing some of my work...encouraging me to experiment and play a bit more.

And so I did just that...this week I pulled out some watercolor paper and paints. My goal was to do some quick studies...to loosen up, explore colors, subject matter...When I first started painting (back in high school!), I did a lot of work with watercolors...not so much anymore, but I still like how it feels working with the paint so wet.

After doing a few watercolor studies, I pulled out an 18x36 canvas that I had prepared earlier with gray gesso (love that stuff!) Doing the previous work in watercolor had an impact on how I started things...I was using the paint on the canvas as if I was doing a watercolor...keeping the paint very fluid as I applied it to the canvas. (detail pic above, larger view below)

For a little bit, I was in my painting zen state...loving how the paint was flowing on the canvas...I felt like I was channeling my inner Georgia O'Keefe. But in a flash, the moment was gone...reality shifted, and the paint just wasn't flowing as easily.

Painting is like that...sometimes it goes smoothly...and sometimes, it's hard work...it's a back and forth process really...the good mixed with the bad...a constant questioning of what to do, how things should look...and then sometimes it just happens...the brush leads the way.

I'm a long way from a finished painting with this one, but I'll keep dancing with the paint...and let the brush take the lead.

Today at the Studio

2010-10-24T18:34:00.000-05:00

I spent a good chunk of today at the studio. When I opened the door I was pleasantly reminded by the sight of a clear table that I had cleaned my work space. I should have taken a picture, because it didn't stay clean for long!

I worked on a number of projects, going back and forth from smaller projects to this larger (20x24) painting. She is far from finished, but I like how she's coming along. This picture doesn't really show how vibrant the colors are. And I bet you're wondering about the "hair wings" ... you'll just have to wait to see how that turns out. She's going to be quirky and fun.

Leap of Faith

2010-10-22T16:48:00.003-05:00

Allow me to apologize for being a bit scarce around here lately...I've been in sort of a deep cleaning mode, at home and at the studio. I finally cleaned up this little sitting area in a little corner of our bedroom. The chairs have been there for ages, but tend to be the dumping ground for clothes and what not. The whole idea has been to have this space near the windows where hubby and I can sit to talk, read, or just watch the river.

I suppose it is a good time for fall cleaning, but I think this little bout of cleaning is just as much about me working through this transition in my life. I'm not done yet, but I'm making headway. I was finally ready to go through some papers and other items I brought home when I left my job five months ago (in some ways, I feel my job left me). It has felt too emotionally charged to do it any sooner. I had to leave things set a bit, so I could separate myself from these things. But it was time. As I sorted through these things, I packed some things away, found new places for other things, and tossed a whole lot out. With every bag I tossed away, my spirit felt a little free-er to move on.

So much of life is filled with uncertainty...the unknown. It can scare you, if you let it. Believe me, I have those days. But the only way I have made it through the past five months is by embracing the unknown as possibility and adventure. I won't lie...I feel uncertain and even scared at times. But there is also a part of me that has seen this layoff as a gift, a rare opportunity to explore other options for my life.

It's not easy to stay in that place. I sometimes have to keep myself from falling into a perpetual state of panic or despair. But because I am trying to look at this time as a gift, I have been a bit bolder and ready to take a leap of faith...in myself.

The cool thing is that my hubby is doing the same. In the past five months, he has reignited his passion for acting. He's been running all over town, going on auditions, taking parts in student films, answering calls for film extras... And it is beginning to pay off...he has a lead role in a community theater production and is getting more and more calls for some paying gigs (it's nice to be compensated sometimes!).

Last night as we were recounting some of our recent exploits to my son, he quipped, You are one artsy couple." Ya, we are...and quite happy pursuing our dreams.

My leap of faith is all about taking myself more seriously as an artist and being bold enough to declare myself just that, an artist. I am working hard to commit more time to my art, to challenge myself as an artist and grow.

And so, I feel ready to take advantage of this gift and use it as an opportunity to participate in a program that I think will make me a stronger artist. A little over a month ago, I wrote about the WARM mentor program. Over the past month, I have attended a couple mentor introduction sessions. I am just starting the process of interviewing with possible mentors.

Interview...the very word is anxiety-producing. Yesterday, before my first interview, I was about as nervous as I could get. That negative critical voice inside my head was working overtime, with fears of not being good enough. It was no easy task to quiet that little monster.

Thankfully, five minutes into the "interview" I had calmed down considerably and was, for the most part, able to enjoy this incredible opportunity to review my work with a more experienced artist. It was a wonderful experience. Sometimes it is good to see your work through someone else's eyes. I left feeling my work is stronger than I give myself credit for...and I felt more clarity about what direction I want to go with my work.

I still have two more "interview" experiences...spread out over the next few weeks. Mentors and protegees will be matched when the interview period is completed--November 15th.

In the meantime, I will continue plugging away...and trying to make the best use of this opportunity.

Lowertown First Fridays: It's our Anniversary!

2010-10-18T19:27:00.000-05:00

Lowertown First Fridays is almost a year old...and we're planning special festivities to celebrate!

Well over a year ago a group of Lowertown artists (including myself) started meeting to plan a monthly open studio event in Lowertown St. Paul. We launched the event last November and slowly the event is growing. We thought it would be a good idea to celebrate our very first anniversary!

As always, there will open studios at several different artist buildings in Lowertown. At my building, the Tilsner, we are hosting a "Best of the Tilsner" show. There will also be an after party at Echo Arts starting at 9:30 pm. Of course, there will be cake!

So, if you missed the Art Crawl (because it was so dang nice) or you want to come back for a second look, be sure to save the date:

Friday, November 5th

6 - 9 pm !

Pictured above is a Lowertown First Friday's map that features the locations of open studios (and indicates available parking). For more information and artist profiles, check out our website: http://www.LowertownFirstFridays.com

Also, become our Facebook Fan at:

http://www.facebook.com/lowertownfirstfriday

About mothers, growing older, and doing what really matters...

2010-10-16T19:19:00.016-05:00

This past week was all about laying low, enjoying perhaps the last bit of warm fall weather, while recovering from the Art Crawl. I had my mom here for a visit. It was a good visit, but hard in some ways. My mom turned 80 this summer. In many ways, I think she is doing very well. (I start wondering how my body will be holding up in 30 years!) But there is no denying that she is aging and her body is slowing down. I can't help but worry or fear the time when her health will fail even more and ... it's hard to think about.

I wanted to get my mom out to enjoy the nice weather and so we decided to take a trip to the Conservatory. I thought the place would be empty on a weekday, but I was wrong. The place was crawling with toddlers and preschoolers, mothers, and grandparents. Another realization: while I am not yet a grandparent, I noticed that a good number of those grandparents were not much older than me. Yikes! (My kids are not ready to be parents and I'm in no hurry, but perhaps something that will happen in my 50's? ... all in due time!)

I imagine I'm also thinking about these things more, because in a few short months I will be turning 50. I realize I am becoming a member of an older generation. Whatever that means.

It's all a matter of perspective. I am not yet ready to think of myself as part of an "older" generation. I guess I'm defining what that means for me.

I am still embracing the freedom of having grown children, who still look to me for support, but not on a daily basis. I am trying to pursue some of my own dreams...which means sometimes putting myself first. Boy, is that hard to write. It doesn't mean ignoring family and friends or other things that I care about...it just means not always sacrificing my own goals to make sure others are happy. These days, I am making some very conscious decisions about what I want to do with the second half of my life. BIG stuff.

My mother spent her life raising six children. She has 15 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren (so far)! She was the mother that was always home when I came home from school and often had something good coming out of the oven about the time I walked in the door. (I got my love of baking from her). Her life pretty much revolved around her family.

I'm not sure she would complain about that. I hope she knows how much we appreciate all the sacrifices she made. I feel a need to make sure she knows that. We were not a family that said to one another "I love you", but it was understood. It still seems stupid to me that it's so hard to say that to my mom or my siblings. Some things are hard to change. I'm working on it.

As I was raising my kids, I told them everyday that I loved them. Now those very important words flow from our lips to each other with ease. It should be that way.

Consider this a warning that these days I'm juggling some big issues...I'm thinking a lot about the second half of my life. I'm determined to do things I love.

Family will always be very important. Friends too. Relationships are a core part of my life. But I'm also thinking about how I will fill my life with meaning and activities that will keep me young...in spirit, at least.

And for me, that means doing what I love. What I love most, is making art...painting...filling my life with color. I'm exploring how I'm going to do that.

Life is, after all, a work in progress.

Art Crawl...done!

2010-10-12T15:44:00.000-05:00

I'm taking a few days to "recover" from Art Crawl weekend! It was a very busy three days. (I've decided three days is a long time to host an open studio in your home...but I can and will do it twice a year!)

Traffic was down just a bit...probably due to the incredibly gorgeous weather outside. Highs were in the 80's--20 degrees above normal. Last year at the Fall Art Crawl we saw snowflakes (the opposite extreme)! I don't fault anyone for not wanting to spend time indoors when the weather was simply breathtaking!

But we still had great traffic thru the studio and it was wonderful visiting with so many new folks. It was great to hear such positive feedback about my work! I did a lousy job of taking photos, but here are a few to give you an idea of how things looked inside my studio/home/gallery--


a sideways view of the entryway hallway/gallery

the opposite wall of the entryway


Funky Eggplants--these three-6x8-sold!

Embracing Beauty-20x20- plus Little Birds

My jewelry and treat table just inside the entryway

Inner gallery space


Of course, offering Mabel's Molasses Cookies

I'm now spending a few days at home...cooking soup, enjoying a visit with my mom, and soaking up this gorgeous fall weather that we are being blessed with. Hopefully, my soul will be recharged in a few days and I will be back in the studio!

Mabel's Molasses Cookies

2010-10-06T15:39:00.000-05:00

I am baking my favorite Molasses Cookies for Art Crawl. I found the recipe years ago in an older edition Better Homes & Garden cookbook. I saved a worn copy of this cookbook from being tossed when my mother moved years ago. I've since have started a small collection of old cookbooks. I love the ones from the 50-60's, because their illustrations are rather comical now--and they remind me of my childhood.

Now there is a painting to go along with the recipe! I had completed the whole painting, but was trying to come up with a plan for the background. I felt the woman looked very domestic and then creative inspiration hit! I decided to incorporate the cookie recipe in the background. I decided to name the piece Mabel was a Domestic Goddess (she seemed like a Mabel to me).

My creative wheels were still turning. I was thinking that this would make a great commissioned piece (and a great gift that will remain a keepsake for years to come!). If you have a treasured family recipe, I could use that recipe in the background.

I am not trying to do portraits, but would certainly be open to some input on colors... Each piece would be unique. I think it would even be awesome if a broach/necklace with special meaning to the recipient could be incorporated in the piece (otherwise, I have a stash of vintage pieces).

What do you think? This piece is 10x20 (offered at $125). I was also thinking of offering it in a 12x24 size (offered at $150). I will have this piece on display during the Art Crawl and will be accepting commissions. Following Art Crawl, I may throw it out there on Etsy!

Let me know if you're interested! Oh, and here is the recipe:

MABEL'S MOLASSES COOKIES

Mix together thoroughly...
3/4 cup soft shortening (shortening!...that indicates the age of the recipe!)
    1 cup brown sugar
    1 egg
    1/4 cup molasses

Sift together and stir in...
   (I just mix in my dry ingredients, no sifting!)
     2 tsp baking soda
     1/4 tsp salt
     1 tsp ginger
   1 tsp cinnamon
     1/2 tsp cloves
     2 1/4 cups flour

Chill dough. Roll into balls the size of a large walnut. Dip tops in sugar. Place, sugared-side-up, on greased cookie sheet. Press with fork (or meat hammer). You may sprinkle each cookie with a few drops of water to produce a crackled surface. Bake at 350-375 for 10-12 min.

The final stretch

2010-10-05T21:41:00.001-05:00

This week is all about the Art Crawl. It's crunch time...the Crawl starts on Friday. I am focusing on final details...at the studio, I'm varnishing paintings. At home, I'm cleaning and reorganizing our place to turn it into a mini-gallery for the weekend.

The Art Crawl is always a big deal...well, to me and all the other artists that will be opening their studios, it's a big deal. Getting ready for it you sort of hyper-focus on preparing for those three days. It's a little overwhelming.

To be honest, this Crawl feels even bigger than some of the past Crawls. Partly because for the past four months my primary focus (occupation, if you will) has been painting. The Art Crawl is my first big opportunity to get feedback from a larger group of people. It's also an opportunity to hopefully sell some of my work...and that sort of financial validation means a little more than other times too.

People often ask if it's hard to part with my paintings...and the answer is usually "No!" First off, I don't offer my paintings for sale until I'm ready to part with them. Whenever I have sold a painting it has been such a wonderful exchange and I've always felt that my painting has gone to a good home. There's something exciting about knowing that your artwork is a treasured possession in someone's home! And lastly, I have to sell some paintings to make room for all the new ones I'm going to paint!

Regardless, I'm ready for the Art Crawl to begin! I am anxious to start hanging my work and to put everything in place! It's always so much fun when the event gets started--there's so much energy. And I always enjoy meeting and talking with new people (and returning visitors as well!) about art, what pieces of mine they like...even if I don't sell anything, that feedback and energy keeps me going for a long time following the Crawl!

So a few more days of final preparations and the show is on! The weather forecast for the weekend is fantastic--low 70's for temps and the only chance of rain on Sunday--great Crawl weather.

I'll let you know how it all turns out!

Weekend fun!

2010-10-03T19:26:00.000-05:00

Mixed in with Art Crawl preparations, I've been able to enjoy the past few days of beautiful fall weather, complete with some artsy activities.

Friday afternoon hubby and I took off to enjoy a bit of the Fresh Art Tour--basically a studio crawl in the Maiden Rock-Stockholm-Pepin area of Wisconsin. It's just a little over an hour drive from the Cities and so worth the trip. Especially lovely along the river bluffs with the leaves changing color in the fall.

Our first stop was in Maiden Rock. We visited Swan Song and Secret Heart Gallery--two lovely galleries/homes located next to one another on Hwy 35 as you drive into town. Both are worth the visit. They are primarily open on the weekends in the summer. I will be back next year for sure!

We made a quick run through Stockholm, where we enjoyed several stops at local galleries/shops. Stockholm is my favorite town. It always makes me happy when I visit. It has that lovely small town vibe mixed with artsy flair. Perfect combo, if you ask me. You can see some of my Stockholm pics on this earlier post.

Following our delicious pie at the Stockholm Pie Company (crust second only to my mom's), we headed out of town to check out some other artist studios. We stopped at the sculpture studio of Myklebust + Sears. The drive alone with quite the treat, but we also had a lovely visit there and learned that they are working on some large public pieces that will be featured at the light rail station a few blocks away. I realized that I have also seen their work other places in the Twin Cities.

We continued to meander and finished our tour at the Hilsgen Family Farm, where they featured lovely hand-woven rugs and tasty gourmet goat cheese. I loved visiting their goats.

Saturday, after I dropped hubby off for an acting gig, I spent an hour strolling through the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Certainly, not enough time to take in much of the collection, but enough time to get my day off to a great start. I need to head back there soon for a much longer visit.

I spent a good chunk of the afternoon at a Mentor Introduction session for the Warm Mentor program--I will write more about that later. Following all that, I picked up hubby and we headed to Trotter's to take down my art that has been hanging there for two months. It was a nice to have my work out in the public. And excellent timing to get it all back in time for the Art Crawl.

Today we enjoyed a beautiful, beautiful day at Target Field. The sun shone on us brightly for nearly the entire game! Unfortunately we lost, but are headed to the playoffs. We are not likely to go to any of the postseason games, so this was our last game of the season. I LOVE baseball & the Twins...and can't believe the regular season is over. Of course, we still have lots of baseball to enjoy--since we plan to keep winning all the way through till the World Series!

I hope that you all enjoyed your weekend!

Now I'll be buckling down and finishing preparations for the Crawl. Tomorrow I'll be locked up in the studio, finishing a little painting and varnishing.

St. Paul Art Crawl--just a week away!

2010-10-01T09:53:00.001-05:00

Leaves are turning color, the evenings are getting cooler, and the art crawl is just a week away! I will have my Tilsner home studio open for the Fall Art Crawl and hope you will stop by to visit! Here are the details:

Friday, October 8th

6-10 pm
Saturday, October 9th

12-8 pm
Sunday, October 10th

12-5 pm

Tilsner Building

Studio 507

300 Broadway Street

St. Paul, MN 55101

Hundreds of Artists will open their studios to the public during the Fall Art Crawl. 50 Artists will be showing their work in the Tilsner building alone. This includes painters, potters, photographers and much more! Many buildings will also offer musical or theatrical entertainment. There is so much happening in Lowertown this weekend...you can check it out here! There are over six additional locations within walking distance of the Tilsner that will feature open studios and art--that alone will offer an evening worth of entertainment! It is a great opportunity to view local art--and meet the artists!

Convenient parking is located across the street from the Tilsner at the Kellogg & Broadway lot (free during the Crawl). You can even catch a shuttle bus there to take you to different locations. Yes, the roads are a bit of a mess (due to light rail construction), but we have been assured that things will be somewhat put back together for the Crawl. But it is always a good bet to park at a convenient spot (like Kellogg and Broadway) and walk between buildings.

This is the best opportunity to see all of my work. Since I have been painting full-time the past 4 months, I have lots of new work to share! Come see what I've been up to! And as always, I'll be offering my guests some tasty treats (including home-baked goodies)!

I hope to see you sometime during the Crawl!

(For more information, check out the Art Crawl website here!)

Wordless Wednesday--Market Flowers

2010-09-29T08:00:00.002-05:00

Just a few more weeks really of enjoying flowers like these at the Farmer's Market. Hoping these pics will help me enjoy them year round.

Working in the Middle

2010-09-28T15:58:00.000-05:00

Just a quick update...spent yesterday working more in that difficult "middle phase" on this one. It's bigger than I usually work...and made even more complicated, because it is actually two 24x30 canvases...makes it hard to step back and get a good look at the whole piece. Finally I hung it on the wall, so I could really step back and look at it better. Still not the best picture, because the only place I could hang it in the studio was the entry hallway--no natural light there. I've used some metallic colors (copper & bronze)...which I really like, but also makes it hard to photograph. (You'll just have to come to the Art Crawl to get a really good look yourself!)

I don't think it's quite done...but getting there. I'm letting it hang on the wall for a few days...so I can keep looking at it and consider any changes. I want this piece to reflect change and energy and all the power of the emotions that go along with that. (sometimes I hate writing about my work...it's hard to find the right words).

So with that painting waiting in the wings, I worked on finishing up some other smaller paintings today--hoping to get them done in time for the Art Crawl.

Phases

2010-09-27T07:50:00.001-05:00

I had a productive day at the studio on Saturday. Five-plus hours of painting--that's a lot of painting, standing on concrete, leaning over a table to paint. (I frequently paint with my canvas on a table, rather than an easel.)

Some days go easier than others. Thankfully, Saturday seemed to go rather smoothly. I finished a few smaller pieces and then moved on to this bigger work. It is actually two canvases--each 24x30 that will complete one piece.

I often think about the different stages in the creation of my paintings...and how the work and my feelings about the piece can change many times during the course of the painting.

The beginning stage includes the visualization of the piece. I often visualize a piece long before it comes to fruition. And many times those visions first come to me as I'm falling asleep at night. The beginning stage is very exciting...and filled with hope and optimism.

Once I decide to start working on a new piece, the beginning phase moves into the physical creation of the piece--with the prep of the canvas. For me, that means applying gesso to the canvas and multiple layers of base colors. It might also include, as it did in this piece, applying gel mediums such as light molding paste to create texture. During that work I am still visualizing how I see the piece evolving. As I apply the gesso and/or medium, I feel as if I'm "mapping" out the painting. It's like I'm trying to transfer my vision to the canvas as I apply the gesso with my brush.

At some point, you enter what I think of as the middle phase of the painting. For me, this is often the longest and most difficult phase of the painting. It's often when the work takes on it's own life ... and sometimes that doesn't always match up to your "vision". It's the phase where as an artist you have to struggle with letting the process unfold itself, while also still managing the technical end of creating the piece.

It's also the phase where I often no longer "love" the piece and wonder if what I'm doing is going to really look any good. Sometimes it feels like labor, not joy. Sometimes I will even put the piece aside...walk away for a bit to gain some perspective and a fresh set of eyes.

But sometimes, like Saturday, I keep working right through the doubts and trust the process. In fact, the more I trust the process, the smoother the whole thing seems to go. And that always feels good...like a natural sort of high.

Which leads you, ultimately, to the final phase and the finished piece. Usually when I reach that point, my ambivalence about the piece has been replaced with, well, love. Ask an artist what their favorite piece is and they will often point out the last piece they finished.

Not always. I'm learning sometimes to finish pieces that I'm not quite sure of, learn from them and take what I learn to the next piece.

This piece is not yet finished. Getting there, but not quite. I hope to have it done before the Art Crawl in less than two weeks.

Which means I'll be pushing through that middle phase this week.

2 weeks!

2010-09-25T09:47:00.000-05:00

view outside my studio window

Only two weeks until the Fall Art Crawl...which means I am working hard at the studio trying to finish some paintings. After working full-time on my painting for the past four months, I have lots of new work to share...but there is always more work to finish--including these--