Wow, what a feeling. I got to paint!!! The piece is almost finished, just needing a few things to tie all the elements together... you might know what I'm talking about, when some things stick out and look like they don't belong. India ink and some well swiped wiping will do the trick, just waiting for paint to dry. I took this week off because the past month or so has been nothing but a rush, but highly productive. So, this pause and rest that I've taken is just what the doctor ordered. It feels good to be alive.
There had been no blogging because:
1. The computer died and it took about 2-3 weeks to get what was needed onto this one to get into working order. New computer is wonderful!
2. By the time that happened, there was so much computer work stored up that it took even longer to get here...
3. Art with Heart's 501c3 paperwork had been finished in the meantime, which meant time away from other work, but they've just assigned someone to our case... YAAAY! Cause to celebrate!
4. We had an art show and a stage set to design! Whoo hoo, it feels good to be a working artist. The January Art show at the Depot
and 2009 Sweetheart Ball
The January Art show at the depot was fantastic. We ran with little time to put it together, but the outcome was great- you'd never know it. How that happened is the spam filters got my emails to the teachers, the hand delivered invitations were the only things to make it to the teachers. Too funny! Now we know ;)
We had a great turn out and everyone had a good time. Another great part was to be able to get to know the Singing River Art Association members better and the chance to be my normal harried and goofy self running around here and there getting it done. Tina and I had the best time running around. Stephen did the reception's food, he went all out and we all had leftovers. Lord knows how I love to not cook.
Tina got to see the behind the scenes of an art show...
Conception, date setting, invitations, communication, publicity, hanging, reception work.
The art that came in was wonderful. All entries were well thought out (and if they weren't don't let anyone know, you fooled me.) The teachers were proud and really surprised me at how well they knew their students and how they intimately they cared for each.
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The Sweetheart Ball was so much fun to do. We got to come in and paint the paintings for the walls, the theme was Starlight in Paris~ it pushed Tina and me into art mode where you don't think, you do and it puts your critic way back into your mind and the real artist emerges. The idea sounds good... GO! I love it. Its like extreme art :)
Tina's pictures were something else, she just whipped these things out at the drop of a hat! The first and the second group of pictures are hers- she just went with it.
The Eiffel tower was fun to do and the bizarre thing is that the lights fit exactly (nothing left over) into the holes punched into the cardboard. I love it when God does things like that :)
We had other help, too, those fellows who worked with us that you see there were on work release and volunteered for Art with Heart. They were really creative, helpful and total gentlemen. Without them, it wouldn't have come together. Their senses of humor kept us laughing the whole time!
To all who volunteered and/or gave us something to laugh about,
Blessings and hugs to you!
A couple things went wrong: the postcards didn't get to their destinations and my camera was broken, so we couldn't get pictures.
But... it went pretty good. The food was fantastic, the crowd was quaint- yet warm- and the camaraderie was great.
The art itself was a reflection of how much Carol (Mom) had grown as an artist. So much is uncovered by having to push and strive towards something different~ especially in a time-frame! (Given that the push has to come from within).
She's proof positive that it doesn't matter if you're 16 or 60. The experience of having to put on an art show- having to create art and trying new things to fill the voids both on the wall and in the artist's "boredom gap"-- is what pushes the artist into growth. The growth is obvious in her work because its taken on so much more of a sophisticated tone where the elements of design turned into the main object of her pieces! Way to go!
The boredom gap--- that space that many artists have when they are tired of looking at their own work. They'd like to do something, but are either afraid of the risk or don't know what it is and what direction to go into. Something about the stress of putting on a show and having to "produce" filters out the 1. time wasters 2. overthinking tendencies and 3. negative thoughts (basically because you don't have the time to waste berating yourself). It puts in its place: 1. boldness, 2. ingenuity 3. the stubbornness to make things work that wasn't working--- ie, the ability to see an old thing in a new light.
I believe any stressful issue or situation in our lives has the ability to expand us outside our comfort zones to an elevated sense of both consciousness and presence. If we choose to view it as a challenge :)
What happens outside happens inside, too. Inner growth! She talked about having a sense of serenity after the show.... joy at the show because she had so much fun-- and then serenity afterwards. Funny how having those contrasts somehow heighten our experiences :) .
(Rock on, Mom, I'm on the lookout to find another gallery for you to conquer- ha ha)
I'm working on some images shot in RAW and they take a while to upload into photoshop, so this leaves some time to work on art calendars and blogs today. YAY :) Love that multitasking.
On the 17th, Jackie, Donna, Roland and the counselors put on the summer program's open house and put the children's art FRONT and center! Art with Heart had matted the pieces and added critiques (nice use of line and shapes, etc) to the backs of the ribbons.
Stephen took pictures of the set up and it looked great... they'll get uploaded in a little while. The kids did great~ unfortunately, I missed the singing part, but at least I got to help set up.
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