This is a new ad Rees designed. I like the variety of pieces in it. Thanks, Rees.
(And if you've wondered why I'm so infrequently posting, just know that summer is here. The schedule busy. The studio a mess. Framing. Packing. Painting. Getting commissions ready to ship. And on top of all this, we're fitting in a vacation!) I promise more soon.

Fly Away! to Your New Home, little creations!

I paint a lot. I like to. People ask if it is difficult to give up (read sell) favorite pieces. My answer is a resounding "NO". First of all, I don't really have favorites. I may like a certain piece because I have attacked and solved a problem--a solution that I know I will be able to use in the future. Or, maybe I had an accidental inspiration--something unintended--occur in a piece. Or maybe I really am fond of a particular reference photo that I have used. What I do have is pieces that are not my favorites--poor step children, as it were. After reading some other artists blogs, I realize that it is okay to delete these pieces. So I do. Occasionally.

But, back to the subject of giving away/selling the creations. I do take a reference snapshot of almost every piece I do ( I am sure I forget a few over the course of a year!). So, I can remember them, with fondness. But, I don't have enough wall space to hang all my work. Actually, my house is chalk full of art--all kinds, but hardly any of mine. And, if I am not selling my pieces they are just sitting in their storage boxes waiting for a home. So, I enjoy meeting the future owners of the pieces, knowing that they want the piece hanging in their home. Sometimes 'cuz they love it and will find a spot for it, and sometimes 'cuz it is just the right piece for a spot. No matter. It will be appreciated. And, that makes me feel good.

Booth Angst

I can't believe it has been so long since I posted. Truth be told, I probably did have the time. Just not the words to express anything of import--or interest! But, what has been raging through my crazy artist brain is this: I don't like how my booth looks! Don't get me wrong. I still like my work. Just not the way it looks on the walls of my display set-up. When I first started I had many seasoned artists tell me that I was hanging too much work. That I was making the decision-making too difficult for potential customers. But, I was selling well--still sending poor Rees back and forth to the extra inventory so people could look through everything. So, I didn't change anything. Nothing at all. But I started liking my display less and less.

What had changed was my work. About 3 years ago I found a combination of fixative and acrylic varnish that worked with the oil pastels so I wouldn't have to use glass on all my pieces. Hoorah!!!!! However, I haven't stopped working on paper--truth is--I love working on paper. And so my booth has become a bit of a mixture of the 2--panels and works behind glass with white mats. It wasn't until this last weekend at the Laumeier Art Fair in ST Louis, where I was positioned with my tent and booth under the big top--making things very dark, that I figured out part of the problem. Without the white mats and light frames, the whole booth looked darker. I rearranged and put pieces with mats and glass near the front and it improved the overall look. Not perfect--but an improvement. And, since my summer schedule is a very busy one, I probably won't be able to do much more than tweak the overall look. But, I think it is an important project to consider for the fall. How do I display enough to give my customers a choice but not make it look like a flea market display? Do I reduce the number of sizes? Do I stick to either/or? (works on paper vs. works on panel) Do I display only a few pieces of each size? Do I replace my walls with a lighter color? I'm not sure. But, I promise I will do some thinkin' on it. Whether any changes get translated into a new booth design sooner or later remains to be seen. Comments, ideas always accepted. And, I can take the criticism--if that is what you have!

Road Food--Part 3

I like tacos. NO. I love tacos. A lot. So, Thursday last we headed out to try a taco stand Rees had heard about--Tacos El Guero. Very delicious. Not very spacious. 6 stools at a bar about 2 feet from the cooking station. We tried Al Pastor, Bistek, and one I am ashamed I do not know the translation. All very delicious. If you are on Bryan Street in Dallas or nearby, try it out!