Monday, February 25, 2013

Hazards


Learning curves come in various sizes and shapes. They take form according to the amount of fear attached. A few short months ago I had no clue how to ship a painting anywhere. That curve was straight up to disappearing. Now I know how to build a box to suit the size of the pieces being sent and usually there is little or no damage as a result. However, there does seem to be a correlation between the label “Fragile” and the number of times a piece is damaged. This not only applies to paintings but to any fragile object I might wish to send to anyone. This particular watercolour, being watercolour, required a frame that includes glass to protect the paper upon which the colour resides. It was the first time the shippers had put the dreaded label “Fragile” on the box and the way I received it indicates, unfortunately, that the painting arrived for the show in Vancouver already damaged. Sigh. Just recently another artist suggested Plexiglas for shipments. This could be a very good alternative, as I seem to be breaking things lately. I suspect the cost will restrict the choice to shipping only and that is just fine. This learning curve is much shorter and not nearly so steep. Life is good.

Monday, February 18, 2013

New Mural


It is strange how things come in groups. At present I am working on two different sets of murals. I have just completed the preliminary watercolour sketches for both. One has been approved; the other awaits perusal. As usual the sketches have proved to be invaluable as things change drastically when we get together to talk about specifics. This time the fellow in charge of maintenance called the shot and the murals are now a different format and size. They are also on a different support. That reminds me, I need to do a little research in that arena…. One of the less pleasant side effects of mural work is that the hours of preparation that goes into preliminary sketches is gratis. The artist gets paid once the contract is signed and the concept approved. In an open competition should another artist win the contract I do not get paid at all. That is why I like doing the initial work in watercolour. Watercolour is such fun and it is so fast. I do take care in the drawing and transfer the image once the bugs have been removed but then the fun begins. I will adjust the images so the composition goes with the new dimensions and I think I may decide on a single direction of light…. Can’t have the sun coming up in all directions at once can we?

Monday, February 11, 2013

Hug a Tree

Some trees are nicer to hug than others. Deciduous trees tend to be more welcoming than evergreens or maybe it is just my preference to avoid the impossibly sticky sap all over my hands and clothing… Smooth bark trees have an added feature: they sing. We live impossible lives when we allow our circumstances to dictate our schedule. Do we really have a choice? I do. And I am thankful.  I am exercising that choice today, at this moment. Circumstances are demanding that I pay attention to preparation for some serious presentations to take place in a couple of days, in a week. There is too much to do in the short time I have. I choose to take a breather and share a little insight with my friends. I choose to have a coffee and spend some time with my husband. Later today I will take the time to hug a tree. I have come to learn that if I do not take care of me there is not enough to go around. By neglecting myself I deprive my family and my customers of the best I can be. So amid the scurry of this day and that of the days to come I will stop, breathe and hug a tree, not just any tree. I look forward to hearing the song as my ear nestles up closely to the soft, cool skin of a birch or a young poplar. The music is more varied, more spectacular, in the months of leaf. Even so it is a song worth enjoying. I suppose even that is a choice.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Lessons

One of the most difficult exercises in this business of art is pricing. A little while ago a couple of curators for my present show visited me in my studio and suggested that my price was considerably too low. I reconsidered and put the price up. While repairing some broken glass I received more than a few compliments on the show and I was truly baffled as to why it was the source of so much excitement. I asked a few questions and shared the experience with my mastermind on our weekly conference call. “Don’t you like your drawings?” was the question that began the awareness. Of course I like my drawings. “Then what is going on?” I have some very perceptive people on my mastermind…. What was going on indeed? It is amazing what one learns as one expresses feelings out loud especially when one shares them with trusted others. Drawing is easy for me. Easy means valueless for me as well. Yes, ahh, mmmm…. “So what are you going to do to change that?” Awareness is the first step to changing anything. For me awareness always brings with it an element of surprise. This time it was closer to shock…. I was dismissing a skill that has taken me fifty years to develop. Wow! Second step: receive the accolades and celebrate; thanks for the flowers Judy!  Third step: get back to drawing on a regular basis. That is a promise.