Immersed in Color
This is a new ad Rees designed. I like the variety of pieces in it. Thanks, Rees.
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.
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!
The day before yesterday we drove over to Fort Worth to try out some paintings in a client's home. And, not only did I get a commission on a pretty large piece, we got to go to Joe T Garcia's for lunch. We'd not been there in a while, since the Ft Worth Main Street show has not juried me in the last few years. Nothing better than a relaxing outdoor lunch - -if you haven't been, get the family style dinner--enchiladas, tacos, cheese nachos, rice beans, guacamole, fresh corn tortillas. All for a very reasonable price. Add a cold beer (or two), perfect 70 degree weather, a favorite companion (Rees) and you've got nirvana!!! But, maybe not so good for the waistline. Tough!!! It was worth it!
My sister-in-law is a very gracious hostess--letting me bring my dog and my easel to mess up her tidy house. Both the art supplies and the dog do a good job keeping things messy! But, unlike my studio,with the myriad lights etc, I had to position the easel to take advantage of the natural light pouring in. That put me was directly in front of BOB, her punching bag guy. When I'm actually painting, I don't see him, but he is a great distraction every time I do look up.
One of my other distractions is the above mentioned dogs. Laird has a new dog, within the last few months--a 2 year old terrier type named Zip. I was worried he and Bug might not get along. I needn't have worried, as you can see in the photos. The only challenge came when they both decided to lie under my easel and between my feet, together. So, I'm guessing not as much painting as I had planned.
This is probably the most urban piece I've ever done. Still, there are mountains and snow in it. It is actually a commission piece for a friend of mine from high school, who happens to love Telluride. It was fun to do (as was catching up with someone I haven't seen in 30 years!)
Painters tape: great for taping pastel paper to my easel as it doesn't rip the corners when I pull the piece off the easel. Also good for keeping bangs out of eyes--really! Exacto knives with various blades--good for creating fences in panel pieces--just scrape down to the white gesso. Also a good tool if you inadvertently make mud and want to scrape back. The other item is my "smoosher"--the clay shaper tool used to do detail work in clay work--I use to smoosh the color into the paper or to blend colors--better than the pad of my finger!
This computer desk was actually purchased with this purpose in mind. But it was a whole lot cheaper than the pastel tables in the art catalogs. The keyboard drawer is a nice additional space.
