some major changes

The White Dress #5 (sold)

I've thrown my hands in the air. Working as a full-time artist is no longer feasible. I've given everything to my art, and there's nothing left. The painting will continue, but at a much slower rate. At moments like this, it makes me seriously question my talent, and even my sanity.

I'm once again filling out job applications and sending out resume's. I won't let the electricity get shut off, or the kitties go hungry. There's no way to raise the funds to attend those festivals I'm just dying to participate in this year. Nope. It's time to put this art thing aside for a bit, and focus my energy on a steady paycheck. When I get back on top of my finances, I'll try once again. In the meantime, I won't be accepting any more commissions (sorry for those on the wait list). Any extra time will go to my own work.


It's such a shame that the living artists in our society are not supported better and valued. We don't get unemployment benefits and most can't afford healthcare. When you factor in the hours spent creating and promoting, most artists earn much less than minimum wage. Art is the first thing cut out of school budgets, yet artists produce the most cherished objects in a society's
history.

A new mini (4x4") painting, available for purchase:

Two Years in the Making

So much has happened since my last blog. It’s been a nail-biting month, where I dealt with some very difficult decisions.My leap back into the workforce was short lived. I was hired as a bar manager for a new restaurant, and given the task to stock a full bar, create a cocktail menu, staff and train within 12 days. We were only open 9 days when the whole restaurant went belly up. It was the most hectic, ridiculous few weeks of my life.

This experience taught me one important lesson: I belong in the studio! Within those few weeks, I lost out on a gallery show in San Francisco because I didn’t have time to drop off the work, and was inundated with 14 commissions. I’m still trying to catch up. There’s nothing like a cosmic kick-in-the-butt to put you in the right direction.

That said, I want to thank everyone for the heartfelt words of encouragement. I’m so humbled and amazed to reach anyone through my bumbling adventures and the outpouring of support made all the struggling worth something. Thank you, thank you.

So I’m back to clawing my way along. Rent may be late, the creditors are calling, but I do what I can and hope for the best. It’s out of my hands; it’s in my hands, through my hands. Something like that.

I want to introduce my new painting, Tangle. It’s something I started in 2007, and stuck in the closet for a few years. My first attempt fell short of what I was trying to accomplish; a vibrant blend of human form and abstract painting. Instead, it was heavy and awkward, and often confused for a statement on anorexia. You can see the original version here.

The new version has a more narrative approach, and I enjoyed bringing the painting back to life.

Tangle 30x40"

The mini series has grown and expanded. Here are a few new little lovelies:

Ringneck Dove -buy

Red Onions -buy

Raspberries -sold

Whiskers -sold

Jellyfish -buy

A very serious blog

The White Dress #3

SOLD

For the last 3 years, I’ve been working full-time as an artist. It’s been an amazing journey. This has been a dream of mine since I can remember, maybe not a conscious one, but when I’m creating, it’s the only time I feel truly whole. It’s always been that way; like I’m doing what I was meant to do in this life-there’s no question.
Getting here is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Anyone who’s been in my shoes can tell you how risky this life is. There’s no salary, no benefits, no security, no unemployment to collect. I put relationships, savings, credit, my heart, sanity and ego on the line. I can honestly say I’ve given it my all.
I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to give it a go, and proud I took that chance. That’s why it’s so painful to be sitting here, filling out random job applications. We have so little time in this life, and to spend that time doing something other than what we love feels like a waste.

The last six months have been some of the best in my career, despite a failing economy. Unfortunately, everything else is falling apart. My partner has lost his job several times in the past few months, credit cards are killing me, the savings are gone and the bills are piled up. For the first time in my fiscally-responsible life, I’m faced with debt collectors, loss of utilities and the possibility of eviction. I can't take the risk of a slow month, that’s the truth of it.

Of course, I’ll never stop creating. No true artist does. Give me nothing but some straws and a pile of Easter Peeps and I’ll make something out of it. There will be plenty more paintings and shows in the future, it just may take a little longer. This is just a small detour in my journey. Right now, it’s about survival.

For those of you who have followed my progress and routed for me along the way, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Art is about communicating, and I’ve met some wonderful people through that connection. I hope my journey inspires others, even if I feel like a failure at the moment. At the very least I can serve as example.

I complete this very serious blog with an update on shows, and three lovely mini paintings. The San Diego Art Walk is in less than three weeks, and unless a miracle occurs, I won’t be able to go. Art Couture in Vegas was canceled, due to the economy. The Marin festival IS a go, thanks to all my friends and family.

I just attended a wonderful gallery opening at the 57th street gallery in Oakland, and I’m happy to have ongoing representation there. In May, there's a month-long show at Eclectix Gallery in El Cerrito, CA.

The mini paintings will be going up in price very soon, as $55 is a steal for the amount of work that goes into them. Grab yours now before the prices are raised! These new ones focus on more of my favorite foods, a portrait, a goldfish, kitty feet, and my continued obsession with white dresses.

Goldfish #6-SOLD

Figs-SOLD

Promise

Oyster -SOLD

Kitty Feet-SOLD