I've been telling myself over the past week, "this is my journey". It's become a mantra that I've been repeating over and over again as I've been acclimating to reality after returning from my residency at Peters Valley. Having had a month to paint, I'm getting frustrated by all the small stuff.
Lee called the month away my "fantasy painting month". In a way it was, but I was able to paint clearly without interruptions . . . wait until you see the work in person.
Since returning home, most of my week has been devoted to much-needed business concerns. Additionally I am anxiously seeking a new studio space. The month away made me realize I can't continue to paint and grow my career in an 80 sq.' studio. This emerging artist needs to emerge from her space.
I am considering a space in Newton and have no news as of yet. It would be a great opportunity to expand my studio space, teach more students and have access to a space where I can build larger canvases, photograph my work, and have a small gallery open to the public. Stay tuned to see what happens.
Showing posts with label Studio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Studio. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Monday, October 29, 2007
Open Studio
As usual, everything is running last minute.
I am somehow always finishing things right up to the deadline.
Why, oh why!
Saturday I've invited over three hundred people into my teeny tiny home and studio.
I decided several months ago to host an open house / studio sale to try to move some inventory and get clients more aquainted with me and my work.
This seemed like a likely step for an emerging artist.
Two of my friends are catering it for me.
I was considering hiring a cleaning service, but decided to do it myself.
Invitations were mailed later than I would have liked.
Only 14 people have RSVP'd (half of them are artist friends - great for support, but not likely to buy).
I'm banking on the assumption that people don't like to RSVP and I called the event an open house.
I am somehow going to manage the following before Saturday:
- clean my house
- finish two new tiles
- finish a wedding cake portrait
- start a new saints painting
- make price labels for all of my work
- set up displays
- print more note cards
- take slides of my student's artwork
- follow up with customers
- mail out calendar orders
Friday, May 11, 2007
Ceiling Height?
I've always been very aware of my space and thought that space is inextricably linked with my moods and productivity. There are others who have always disagreed with me; saying you should be able to create in any space. There is truth to that, but a recent study by researchers at the Universities of British Columbia and Minnesota have linked creativity with the clearance height over your head. Rui Zhu and Joan Meyers-Levy compared the results of problem solving tests completed by various people in eight- and ten-foot ceiling rooms.
"When a person is in a high-ceiling environment, they are going to process information in a more abstract, creative fashion," said Zhu. "Those in a room with relatively lower ceilings will process in a much more concrete, detail-oriented fashion." From Robert Glenn's Twice Weekly Letter
It is thought that people in a room with high ceilings get a sense of freedom which opens the mind. In smaller spaces people will think smaller and more focused. This is very much indicative of the work I've been doing in my small studio. Time and time again artists are suggesting I work larger, but honestly the space limits me and my work being small does tend to get very detailed though I'm consciously working against that inclination.
Recently as my production of work increases and the number of students I teach grows I've been toying with the idea of renting a larger space in the near future. Though I'm not yet ready to do that now, I know it will not only help with space but also with my freedom as an artist. It's no wonder why many artists have had studios with cathedral ceilings and lots of light. My husbands reaction was that the larger space I have, simply the more stuff I will collect. Maybe there's some truth to that, but I do buy into the idea that loftier space aids freedom and openness. I think my work could use some of that.
"When a person is in a high-ceiling environment, they are going to process information in a more abstract, creative fashion," said Zhu. "Those in a room with relatively lower ceilings will process in a much more concrete, detail-oriented fashion." From Robert Glenn's Twice Weekly Letter
It is thought that people in a room with high ceilings get a sense of freedom which opens the mind. In smaller spaces people will think smaller and more focused. This is very much indicative of the work I've been doing in my small studio. Time and time again artists are suggesting I work larger, but honestly the space limits me and my work being small does tend to get very detailed though I'm consciously working against that inclination.
Recently as my production of work increases and the number of students I teach grows I've been toying with the idea of renting a larger space in the near future. Though I'm not yet ready to do that now, I know it will not only help with space but also with my freedom as an artist. It's no wonder why many artists have had studios with cathedral ceilings and lots of light. My husbands reaction was that the larger space I have, simply the more stuff I will collect. Maybe there's some truth to that, but I do buy into the idea that loftier space aids freedom and openness. I think my work could use some of that.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Painting to Paul Simon
I'm finding it harder and harder to discipline myself to studio time. As an emerging artist, I spend probably more than 50% of my work marketing myself. When you know you need to get press releases out, write blogs, finish a web site, apply to shows and contact potential clients, my time quickly disappears. It's also hard to get involved in a painting when the phone rings and the computer is next door. The challenges of trying to make it.
Yesterday I had some time to get in my studio and paint. I've had some stained panels waiting to be painted for a month. I have three, 8" x 12" MDF (medium density fibreboard) panels that were stained with a cadmium red (almost a primary red). I had cut them to a more vertical format with the intent of doing a trio of Neapolitan gelato paintings. So I began the first of the three yesterday. I put on Paul Simon's greatest hits, loud, and felt myself go into another world. Listening to Simon's catchy rhythmic style loosens up my technique and allows my painting to flow. It's amazing that music can have such an effect on how I paint.
I painted for a little over an hour and here is the result. It's not done yet, there's still more detail to add; highlights, shadows. I'm trying to keep the painting loose, light, expressive. It's gelato!
Yesterday I had some time to get in my studio and paint. I've had some stained panels waiting to be painted for a month. I have three, 8" x 12" MDF (medium density fibreboard) panels that were stained with a cadmium red (almost a primary red). I had cut them to a more vertical format with the intent of doing a trio of Neapolitan gelato paintings. So I began the first of the three yesterday. I put on Paul Simon's greatest hits, loud, and felt myself go into another world. Listening to Simon's catchy rhythmic style loosens up my technique and allows my painting to flow. It's amazing that music can have such an effect on how I paint.
I painted for a little over an hour and here is the result. It's not done yet, there's still more detail to add; highlights, shadows. I'm trying to keep the painting loose, light, expressive. It's gelato!
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