My Weblog

28 Days and counting!

I've known that I have to do something about my chronic disorganization and out of the clear blue or the cyber-blue, I found out about a program offered by Alyson Stansfield (www.artbizcoach.com) called the Artist's Breakthrough Program. I have been working with my little art marketing group following Alyson's "salon" workshop/guides and have a copy of her book "I'd Rather Be in the Studio." In cruising  her website, I ran across her program in which she serves as a guide for a dozen artists who are stumped (or at least stalled) in some important aspect of their artistic endeavor. She writes that the ABP is designed to -- 

1. "Give you a thump on the head when you need it.
2. Help you focus on overcoming a major obstacle in your art career.
3. Provide support and inspiration that helps you avoid a career crisis.
4. Get a focused picture of where you want to be and how you'll get there.
5. Develop good habits for your art career.
6. Maintain motivation and enthusiasm."

Okay -- I certainly need/want all of that. However, when I looked at it objectively, what I really need is to get my sh*t together! Or as an old friend used to say after she had kids -- "get my poop in a group." Working at two computer desks in my office and at 4 distinct work stations in the studio, I have stuff spread out everywhere. My sweet husband refers to it as living in Colleen's "art factory." While I like that title, there still is junk everywhere.

One way of motivating ourselves and staying focused is to actually state our goal for the ABP and then be accountable to both Alyson as the group moderator and to the other members of the group. (We "meet" every Monday night for 90 minutes via a group phone call.) So here are my first week's goals.

I. Breakdown what I need to do in measurable and do-able "baby steps."

        1. Label boxes for each specific work area:  Office - writing, computer, bookshelf, peripherals; Studio - construction, wet area, sewing, embellishment.                                                                  

        2. Clear each of those 8 surfaces into their own  box.

        3. Empty at least one box every day. This means sorting, discarding, and putting things where they should be permanently housed.

II. Continue to create. Do not let organizing serve as an excuse for not arting.

      1.  Re-visit techniques learned in Lynne Perella class at Art Fest. Determine if they can be incorporated into my creatures' bodies.

      2. Create the wood components for at least three bodies and backs.

      3. Create at least one prototype for fabric book idea.

Home from ArtFest

How is it possible for 4 days to go by in only 4 hours. Of all the years I've been at Art Fest, this year seemed to be the one that was most affected by some sort of time compression process. Even the fact that I drove there (870 miles each way) didn't seem to extend the experience. Art Fest always seems to serve as my creative happy new year. I hang on to the thought of it the way I held on to the promise of camp when school let out. I could be my mother's minion for the first few weeks of summer -- pulling weeds, repeatedly vacuuming spotless floors, trimming countless dress patterns -- with comforting knowledge that in a few weeks, then a few days, I would have the utter freedom of camp. I approach Art Fest with the same secret glee in my heart. After all, this is just the grown-up version of camp with extended arts and crafts section and no physical competition demands! (Much as I loved it, I really sucked at volleyball.)

I had a remarkable line-up of teachers. Every year I tend to have a favorite class or teacher. But this year I had three instructors who were more open, warm, and encouraging that any other year. I'd planned on telling about my experiences each day as they were fresh out of the oven and then never actually took my laptop up to my dorm room. Too much to see, do, share, to poke my head into the machine.

I want to share each day on the blog but I came home with a miserable cold and slow thinking so first let me tell about starting on Thursday with Lynne Perella. If you don't know her work, check her out (http://www.lkperrella.com/). Her newest book is called "Art-Making: Collections and Obsessions" and features the work of 35 different artists, many of whom are AF teachers and/or students. Years ago, she designed a fabulous line of stamps for her company called Acey-Deucy and I have always admired her art. What a treat to discover that she is also a remarkably patient and generous woman. She is somebody who encourages her students and finds something truly worth admiring in each person's efforts. She believes in great slathers of paint and layers upon layers upon layers. Then, after piling on the color and the texture, one "harvests the images." What a great expression, eh? We painted, collaged, and painted more. I was surprised how disappointed I was with my final outcome but the process and seeing other students' work thoroughly inspired me. I really had to work at figuring out just why I was so upset with myself after class and in referring back to my journal I read:

"Her class got me so excited about the possibilities related to colors and countless layers of colors. And yet, the strangest thing happened as a result of the class!! In th morning, I was all pumped up about layering colors and adding texture and when I returned to class after lunch, I was completely stymied regarding what to do next. I felt like a complete hack-poser-fraud-fool." 

Yikes, huh!? What I decided was that I was all gung-ho about laying down color and texture but when I started to make it "mine" I freaked. I've decided this will bear more examination. Key points that I will certainly remember from the class (and even took notes on) include: "gesso is your friend," if you have black construction paper and story to tell you can create art, red rosin paper makes a super (and cheap) painting surface, and, my favorite idea is that this sort of work gives an artist "freedom from the tyranny of being literal."

Take a look at some of the work that was produced in the class. (Lynne is holding the artworks.) The third from the right was a particularly compelling piece. It was created by Nikki Blackwood, a New Orleans' native now living in Portland, Oregon. The words are "August 29 2005 7:30 AM Levees Fail Fail." Viewing it gave me chills.

Three hours on a sunny Saturday

I have been determined to somehow create a banner that was not one of the pre-packaged themes. This has meant I've been inside on one of the first days of spring trying to figure out how to use an online image editor -- this may suggest that I am clearly confused on my priorities. Do I have art made for the ArtFest gallery? Of course not. Are my trades that I love to make finished? Ha! The closest I've come to gathering all the materials requested on the supplies lists is creating a stack on one of the living room chairs. But as God-is-my-witness Scarlett, I got me a goldarn banner! Wahooo!

Trying my wings outside the blog-less nest

Since a great deal of my art work incorporates wings and this site is titled "BlueWaterWings," I had better see if I can fly in the blogosphere. In two weeks, I will leave for my beloved annual Art Fest in Port Townsend, Washington (www.teeshamoore.com) and I want to be able to document that here. I also want to have a site set up to refer to when people ask the inevitable: "so what are you working on these days." Since I know I'm just talking to myself, I'll be able to play with the learning processes involved in blogging as if they were a pre-Art Fest class. Let's see if that actually works!