Being Artist

Moving Forward with Charity Challenge!

2011-07-01T20:37:00.000-04:00

After much contemplation, I am moving forward on my charity challenge. I will participate every month, but I wanted to make it immediately open for others to get involved. Please, if you are interested, or know someone who might be, share this post! Also, charity and theme suggestions are most welcome! Head on over to Twelve for Twelve Project and join in!

The new Facebook page for this group can be found here!

Something Positive!

2011-07-01T17:23:00.000-04:00

Toy Frog, 6 X 6, Acrylic on Canvas

I've had a strange week. It's kind of brought me down.

But, I have a lot to be thankful for and I am living my dream. It's time to turn negative into positive.

I've decided that I'm going to auction a painting every month for charity. I'm not sure of the dynamic yet, but I will probably publish a list (12 months/12 charities at a time). If there's interest, I may open this to other artists to participate in, as well.

I've donated paintings for charity in the past and it's a good feeling. I already have a short list of charities I feel strongly about, but it's not enough. Does anyone have any suggestions? If so, please leave them in the comments.

Also, I'd like to take a moment and thank everyone who has stayed with me through my long hiatus. It makes me so happy to see people comment. I'm just getting back into my studio, and updating my blog is becoming a huge priority. I can't wait until I have the chance to read everyone else's posts over my morning coffee again. I'm looking forward to a lot of great things in the future.

F.A.T Friday Trolley Hop at Mellwood

2011-06-26T12:15:00.000-04:00

So, Friday was my first Trolley Hop night down at the studio--the first one I actually got to attend, anyway. In the course of the 9 or so hours I spent down there, I completed two new paintings.

For those who follow my Facebook page, the first one will be quite familiar. I had been working on it for several sessions, and I was finally able to get it to a point where I was happy. I decided to quit on it before it became overworked and stale. I'm not 100% in love with it, but it's an nice restart for me.

Flamingos, 12 X 12, Acrylic on Canvas. $175

I also completed a painting for the rookiepainter blog challenge (found here). Again, I'm pleased with the over all, but there was a slight perspective issue between the reference photo and my drafting and it bugs me. The response has been quite positive, though, so I'm going to relax and be happy about it, too.


Question, 9 X 12, Acrylic on Canvas. $150

All in all, this has been an amazing "first week back" at the studio. I really couldn't be happier to be back in the saddle. My tentative goal is to paint every day; but I eventually want to complete a small painting every day. As I become a little more comfortable, easing along with the unflexed muscles, I think I can attain that goal.

Sink or Swim

2011-06-22T12:26:00.000-04:00

I'd love to post an update with a recent finished piece, but unfortunately I made it into the studio today without camera or cell phone, so unless you want to see me hold something up into a grainy webcam, we'll skip it.

A friend of mine recently posted on Facebook that it's "sink or swim", I suppose meaning that this is your shot at whatever it is, don't blow it. I can't help but think about that, especially given that I'm now, for all intents and purposes, a "full time artist."

I'm familiar with the concept of sink or swim--generally, a parent tosses a young kid into a swimming pool, feeling that the kid will either learn to swim or drown. This is a horrifying concept in parenting. It may work for young sea creatures or those with the natural inclination to swim, but humans are fleshy, poorly designed, difficult to float, and lacking an oil-coat. We aren't really designed for swimming.

And sure, tossing your baby in a pool may result in the kid being able to keep head above water, but it's not "sink or swim", it's "sink or survive." You teach your child, through trauma, how to not drown, not how to succeed and swim.

Truly swimming takes years of practice, instruction, and discipline--just like learning any other skill. In order to truly thrive in the water, you must have someone guide you into it--because the slightest mistake could cost you your life. I'm not kidding. Anyone--any age, any size--can drown, sometimes in a frighteningly short amount of time. Without the systematic training to rise above fear (of water up the nose, or being restricted, or submerging your face) and to embrace technique (of floating, of treading water, of strokes) you will never be confident. You will never thrive.

So, after much reflection, I reject "sink or swim". Yes, you eventually have to get in the pool--but there's nothing wrong with getting into the pool with guidance, with support, with trust. There's nothing wrong with becoming confident before diving in the pool and really swimming. If you don't, you may wind up simply floundering in the shallow end for the rest of your life--and is that really better than sinking?

Set the World on Fire

2011-06-20T15:00:00.000-04:00

You know that thing where you turn around to do something, and when you turn back around, two years have passed, you're older, more worn out, and more overwhelmed than ever?

Yeah, me, too.

How about that thing where, all of a sudden, you find yourself free of burdens--even some you didn't necessarily want to free yourself from but you knew you had to in order to be productive and healthy? And then you have unlimited free time to try to make a go of your life's ambitions? Remember that feeling?

Me neither! Which is why I'm floundering a bit right now. I have a clean slate, and nothing but time. I earned my degree, I'm renting a studio space, and I'm ready to go out and set the world on fire with my great art that everyone loves.

And yet today, I spent the morning cruising job search sites and figuring out why my art isn't any good and no one will like this. Why am I wasting my time?

Well, finally I was able to break that spell, and here I am, in the studio, waiting for some photos to download so I can start making references.

And you know what? It feels really, really awesome to be back.

Cough cough...

2011-03-08T23:07:00.000-05:00

My, it is dusty in here! Between preparing to graduate and buying a house, I have had little time (or resource...or space) for art. But that's over now!

I am in the process of getting things rolling again, and in addition to beginning a revamp of my website (be aware: it's 100% flash) and cleaning up all my various reference and image files on my hard drive, I've managed to get one of last year's paintings up on Etsy.

There will be plenty to come, I promise!

Chocolate Temptation, Acrylic on Canvas, 8 X 10, $125

Struggling along...

2010-06-04T20:44:00.000-04:00

I've been working on a few little things here and there, but, as I've mentioned before, I've felt pretty uninspired lately.

But, today, I finally finished working on the next of my action figure paintings, Han Solo. Han was a trial. I'm not totally happy with him... so I'm sure I'll be visiting upon him again soon. But, I am happy enough for the size I was working in, and I learned a lot, and that's all that matters.

Action Figure Series II: Han Solo, 5 X 7, Acrylic on Canvas Panel

Steps!

2010-06-03T14:01:00.000-04:00

I've been taking a little time from making art in order to dedicate myself to establishing a fitness routine that will work. At the end of the day, it's all about taking little steps--getting my body moving. Once it's moving, I find new ways to work on it, either by adding weight or by increasing time spent... or both. I've been doing some walking in the park carrying 8 lbs of extra weight on my body, and riding my exercise bike for miles a day while doing upper body strength training. Every time I've tried to fix my fitness before, it has been a cosmetic appeal. While I could definitely stand to lose some weight, my primary goals have changed from being sexy and thin to being healthy and strong. I want to return to martial arts, and to do so, I must be strong and ready to work.

In art, I'm also taking steps! I just finished a huge round of reference photos, and I have some great new pieces about to roll out of the factory. I've decided, for better or worse, that I'm going to start hosting the bulk of my portfolio on deviantArt. While that venue has an anything-goes atmosphere, it also has a young, fresh, and dynamic atmosphere, really cool linking and community tools. In just a few hours, I've already made some connections to other artists and gotten some awesome feedback. I've been on dA off and on for a while, and I know it has some problems, but I'm excited to see what will happen over there.

In the meantime, I'm still awaiting the return of my pieces from the EBSQ Candy Show. I'm pretty anxious to get them back. One is sold on arrival, and I can't wait to get the others into my Etsy shop. I can't help but feel not having those pieces back has disturbed me a little and kept me from being in a creative mood, but now that I'm told they're in the mail, I'm starting to feel a little better.

Chocolate Temptation, 8 X 10, Acrylic on Canvas

Action Figure Series I: R2-D2

2010-05-14T11:11:00.000-04:00

Action Figure Series I: R2-D2, 5 X 7, Acrylic on Canvas Panel, $45

In trying to work out the best methods of painting worn-out action figures, I've started a sub-series of my regular toy paintings. This is my husband's R2-D2 figure from childhood.

The sticker is worn off from being wet too many times; R2's normal white appearance is yellowed from being in a smoking home for his earliest years. Paint is scratched off everywhere. It is difficult to convey that kind of detail on such a small object, but I enjoyed this attempt and look forward to others.

I'm not sure what attracts me to worn-out objects, but I suppose I see in them a soul that isn't present in new things. They've been around, they've served a purpose, and they have a history. I think I love them more when I know a little about their lives; like R2, here.

Ah!!! Studio Time At LAST!!

2010-05-13T20:49:00.000-04:00

So, it has been a while, but rest assured, I haven't forgotten about this blog or my art. A combination of final papers and illness and other agents of stress all plotted to keep me away from my goal of painting more prolifically, but I'm back and very happy to be back.

I've been picking at a few things over the past few days, nothing really to show, just experimentation. But today I did manage to finish a new still.

Apple, 8 X 10, Acrylic on Canvas $100

I'll be doing "Painting a Day" for pixel art starting Friday, but I hope to continue working on stills as much as possible. I'm glad I was able to take a nice break after so much stress, but it does feel good to be back in the saddle!

I look forward to getting back to reading and commenting upon all the cool art blogs again, and I also look forward to hearing from my followers! Here's to a great summer in art-and-internet-land!

Wake up to Nibblefest!

2010-04-21T11:07:00.000-04:00

That's what it feels like, anyway. I've been so busy with Too Many Games preparations and term papers for my history classes, I haven't had time to think (or eat, or sleep!). I plan do do a nicer write up on the show when I have a little time to collect my thoughts, but for now, let it suffice to say we got back late Monday night, and I really doubted I'd have time to paint anything new for Nibblefest the next day.

So, I looked through some of my older work, and realized, I already have a feline I can use with this month's theme!

Black Cat, Oil on Canvas, 8 X 10

This is from a period when I was experimenting with oil in a whimsical fashion. I was pleased with how it turned out, over all, even though I'm not going in that direction with my art anymore. The piece was originally done for an EBSQ Pet Swap that never happened. Instead of allowing it to languish in my storage area, I figured it would be a good time to let it out there!

As usual, the Nibblefest Art Contest runs on eBay from the 20th to the 27th. You can find this entry by clicking here, or search "NFAC" to pull up all the great entries. Every piece starts at 99¢, and it's a great way to discover great art and great bargains.

I'd like to take a second and note that I'm so happy to be blogging again, now that I'm not so busy, and that I look forward to catching up with each and every blog I follow. Since I've been out of it almost a whole month... that might take a while, though! There's still a lot of April left, though, so I'm going to try to be as active as possible.

I promise I haven't abandoned art!

2010-04-06T11:46:00.000-04:00

...although I can see where it might *seem* as though I have. Just to check in, here's what I have going on:

--finals
--final term papers (4 total)
--preparing for TooManyGames on the 18th
--normal stuff everyone has going on from time to time, like getting taxes prepared, spouses going out of town, family drama

That being said, I hope to be back at it as SOON as I am back from TMG. I am hoping to go for EBSQ Juried this time, so I need to make some time for that.

In the meantime, I've taken my ETSY shop into vacation mode. If you're really interested in something, though, you can contact me directly.

I'll post some pixel artwork in the next few days... but I'm not dead and I'm keeping up with everyone, even if I don't have time to drop comments. :)

Magnolias Commission

2010-03-23T13:06:00.000-04:00

I've been a little busy with other things these past few days, but I've also been working on a commissioned piece of a magnolia blossom. I was given basically free-reign on this one, so instead of a more "classic" full magnolia, I went for a young, fresh, wind-blown blossom. Just the thing for spring!

Springy Magnolias, 8 X 10, Acrylic on Canvas

Updates, here and there

2010-03-18T14:20:00.000-04:00

First off, my daily paintings have taken kind of a hiatus through this week, as I'm working on a commission. I hope to have it done by tomorrow. This weekend, I'm visiting my father, and on Monday, school starts again. I hope this will kind of "re-instate" my usual schedule, and I can get back to blogging, painting, reading other people's blogs, and all that... and when I come back, it's probably going to be mostly video game art from now until the TMG show!

In the meantime, it's a beautiful spring day. Yay!

Having a financially stressful week. The budget for this month was timed incorrectly (by me) so it's going to be an interesting week.

Blogger of the Week!

2010-03-16T14:26:00.000-04:00

That's right, I'm blogger of the week over at the EBSQ Blog. It's a pleasure to be featured among all the super talented artist/bloggers out there! Thanks to Amanda Makepeace for making it all possible!

Etsy Shop Sale!

2010-03-15T14:42:00.000-04:00

I'm doing a little spring cleaning in my studio. Since this year marks what I consider the "relaunch" of Podkayne Studios, I'm looking to move most of the stuff from my previous few years, which is different in style in practically every way. I'm also discounting a few other paintings here and there, just to make it interesting.

Also, I'm still pursuing a debt-free life, and right now, it would really help to have a little influx. So hopefully, I'll get a little movement coming my way soon! I have about 5-6 more paintings to list, maybe more, I'm not sure...

Here's the link, you know what to do!

MY SALE SECTION!

Coffee Break!

2010-03-14T00:41:00.000-05:00

Coffee Break, 5 X 7, Acrylic on Canvas Panel

More in store for the upcoming week: it's my spring break! Hopefully I can get a lot done, and not just spend it goofing off in front of the TV... although there's a certain appeal to that, I must admit!

Slack day for painting, but I was in a Treasury!

2010-03-12T22:21:00.000-05:00

The theme was "Contact", and featured many communication devices, including my linocut print, featured in the bottom right corner.

The Phone, 6 X 7, Hand-pulled Linocut Print on Mulberry Paper

My Nibblefest Entry for March

2010-03-11T22:56:00.000-05:00

Ok, it's not time yet, but mine is done, so here it is! I'll link it to eBay when the time is right!

Cow Creamer with Sewing Supplies, 5 X 7, Acrylic on Canvas Panel

Tablescape with Three Apples

2010-03-10T16:39:00.000-05:00

Tablescape with Three Apples, 11 X 14, Acrylic on Canvas

This piece is a little bit different than what I've been doing lately; for one, it's a bit larger, and also, it has green in it, which I've come to realize I haven't used much at all. I wanted to do something that felt fresh, and modern, with bright, springy colors. This piece will be donated for a charity auction in April, and as such is not for sale, so clicking the title will take you to the EBSQ portfolio entry.

I am EBSQ's Art of the Day

2010-03-09T10:13:00.000-05:00

EBSQ's Art of the Day

This is a first for me--I've never been featured before. For today, the largest image on EBSQ's front page will be my Tootsie Pop Rainbow!

If you're not subscribing to the AOTD, you're missing out on a treat--every day is a new chance to discover a great artist or artwork you may have overlooked!

Working... and updates!

2010-03-08T23:40:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been a couple of days since I posted, but I was kind of tired from my trip to Pennsylvania. I had a blast, and I hope to make it back that way soon. Well, I will be in PA again in April, but in a different part of the state... anyway, what I've been up to:

I've been asked to donate a piece to a charity auction, right here in Louisville. The auction is connected to a pre-Derby event at Churchill Downs' Millionaire's Row, benefitting Wellspring House, which provides aid and solutions to those with mental health issues. I don't have all the details yet, but I am excited about providing a donation, and I am also hopeful that this will be a nice opportunity to become a more active member of my community arts scene.

I've chosen to do another "Tablescape" for the auction, this time a little larger at 11" X 14", using some juicy green apples. I couldn't resist the springtime sunshine coming in through the kitchen window... and it made selecting a subject quite easy!

I'll be working on a couple of other small pieces through the week, but unfortunately between this charity piece and prepping for TooManyGames, on top of a couple of papers I must right for college... it could be pretty hairy around here for a while!

So in the meantime... wish me luck! I always land on my feet...but it doesn't hurt to have good vibes!

I don't have a picture for today's post, so here's my kitty, Mr. Whiskers, hamming it up in the sunshine.

Candy: A Curated EBSQ Exhibition

2010-03-06T22:50:00.005-05:00

Making my way to see Candy: A Curated EBSQ Exhibition, in Greensburg, PA, could not have been more worthwhile! I picked up my best friend on the way out of town, and we flew up I-71... only to hit this:

Oh yes, gridlock just before the I-71/I-75 interchange. I shouldn't have been so surprised, but we sat for almost an hour... watching the "arrival time" estimate crawl from 4:30 pm to 5 and change. The remaining trip time was uneventful... after a couple of rest stops, we made it to Greensburg just after 6. I meant to take a photo of the outside of The Chocolate Shoppe, where the event was being held... but I was frankly too excited about being there and lost my wits.

I saw Amie Gillingham, fearless leader of EBSQ, through the front window as I walked up, and I tried to see where all that great art wound up the minute I walked in the door. Long story short: it was a wonderful assortment and I absolutely loved looking at each and every piece.

I can't stress enough how amazing it was to see all these amazing works of art, together and in person! Photographing art for online display is a tricky business, and as great as everything looked in the online show, it looked 10 times better in person, where I could get a sense of scale, texture, and subtle details. This was especially true in the case of Shawn Marie Hardy, whose beautifully detailed work came alive in person. I was also amazed by the colored pencil prowess that was represented--the depth of color achieved, the delicate details... amazing!

Coming in, to the left, the fun candy-colored art of Vicky Knowles, Kim Niles, and Shawn Marie Hardy. I pretty much wanted to buy all of them the second I saw them.

Vicky and Kim are well represented! Gorgeous! (Can I keep using that word over and over?)

Shawn knocked these out of the park!

On the right, the fabulous colored pencil pieces of Alma Lee, and the beautiful truffles painted by Barbara Haviland. This corner was so gorgeous, I kept going back to it! Again, I pretty much wanted to buy everything I saw.

Another, up-close-and-personal view. Lucsious!

Kris Jean rocks it out like always... I love love love this Truffle. <3

Unfortunately, I never could get this fab grouping to photo well. Fishing for Candy by Joseph Kephart, Jenny Doss' two beautiful photos of gummi bear armies and swedish fish (not) swimming, and a superb showing from digital artist Ruth Jamieson: a chocolately fractal.

Sherry Key's mask had a little glare in the photo, but it looked fantastic in person, as did the two very delectable showings from Christine Schwartzskopf.

Here's another grouping that makes you salivate... Inshan Ali did the Rocher on top in colored pencil, and Heide Hibbard was responsible for the smooth, creamy acrylic painting below. I'd reiterate how much I'd like to buy everything... but of course, I'd have to keep saying that under every picture.

My main regret here was not getting a better photo of these two beauties by Delilah Smith. Those mints are to die for!

These four tiny but powerful images are by Leanne Wildermuth.

Candied Memories, a digital piece by Carolyn Schiffhouer, was a joy to view! Such lovely, feminine details! (I had a hard time getting the framed pieces photographed without reflections and glare.)

Janet Gade-Malone's too-cool photo of a gumball machine below, with Elizabeth Fiedel's delightful grapes and M&M's above.

Another Sherry Key piece... it was too cool and absolutely looked made for the space!

Phenomenal pastel work by Kari Tirrell. Phenomenal! (Insert comment about wanting to buy out the whole show...)

I'm afraid that my poor photography skills are not going to do any justice to photography goddess Lisa Miller's work. Just trust me when I say, that Life Saver was amazing. Oh, and there's my four paintings.

This was the absolute highlight of the trip. I probably could have talked Amie Gillingham's ear off all night long. A more enthusiastic or nicer person, you will not find. Amie has a lot of juggling to do, being a mom, an artist, and, oh yeah, the "fearless leader" of EBSQ, but she pulls it off! This EBSQ artist is totally grateful for all she does, and I commend her on all the work she did to put this showing together. It was an amazing opportunity and I'm just thrilled to have been a part of it.

Oh, and I'm not really that tall, I was wearing very flattering boots...lest you think I dwarf all I encounter.

A departing shot of the Chocolate Shoppe, and Amie! We stayed about an hour past closing... it was hard to break away, but we needed some rest and food, and Amie needed to bed down the small ones at home. I really think I could have stood around munching candy and talking art all night.

We checked into a motel on the way out of town... and had an interesting time. We checked in, two vulnerable and pretty young girls (well, I get to say that, it's my blog), and were given the worst room in the place. It was all the way in the back, dimly lit, in a deserted hallway... and it featured a surprising detail.

A hatch! Ok, I know it's a service hatch. I know that. It makes perfect sense... except that I've never seen one in a motel room before. It was a little unnerving; it was between the beds and the door... and while we ate our feast:

... we just could not stop staring at it. I mean, it's a perfect horror movie set up, and it was really starting to gnaw away at us. Granted, we were tired, but, why risk being some kind of weird statistic, right? So my friend calls to the front desk (oh, by the way, the phone did not work) and we got switched and upgraded. They assured us that all the rooms had similar hatches, but that they were usually in the bathroom, for pipe access. Well... not in our new room. It was amazingly free of mysterious demon portals. As were all the rooms we observed on the way out the next morning.

And that wraps up my report. I took way more photos, of course... and I ate way too much delicious chocolate; but that's going to have to be all for now! Thanks go to EBSQ & Amie Gillingham, and The Chocolate Shoppe & Melissa O'Brien for making it all possible, and making it so memorable besides.

To see the entries, be sure you check out this page. And go be a fan of the Chocolate Shoppe on Facebook!

Oh, and my husband wants me to include this interview that Amie conducted with me... I felt like a dork, but hopefully it's not as bad as I think it is?

Video... here!

More fun with vintage electronics...

2010-03-04T23:29:00.000-05:00

An Atari Joystick, 6 X 6, Acrylic on Canvas

A Nintendo Controller & Crossing Over....?

2010-03-03T23:06:00.003-05:00

I decided it would be fun to do some game art without all the pixels, so I could keep doing some of the more traditional stills that I'm really loving right now! So, I give you a true crossover between my two "worlds".... A Nintendo Controller!

A Nintendo Controller, 6 X 6, Acrylic on Canvas

Too Many Games

2010-03-03T12:47:00.000-05:00

Well, it's that time of year again. Game convention time! I'll be returning to my third TooManyGames convention on April 18, 2010. This time, somewhat unlike last year, I still have some stock to take with me, but I'm still working up a very fat list of showpieces and other things that I hope will take the show by storm!

My goal for most of the month of March is to complete a painting a day, in addition to the fine art I've been doing. I'd like to keep momentum going on both.

Mega Man, 16 X 20, Acrylic on Canvas

The art for this show, unlike what I usually showcase on the blog, is all done in pixel style, and is all inspired by classic video games, usually from the Atari 2600 or the NES. I'll be posting it here, along with what I've been doing in the world of still life.

Ginger Jar with Split Orange

2010-03-02T23:48:00.000-05:00

Ginger Jar with Split Orange, 8 X 10, Acrylic on Canvas

Swingline

2010-03-02T14:57:00.000-05:00

Swingline, 5 X 5, Acrylic on Canvas

Today's painting comes after spending several hours on a different painting. I started this one when I decided I had to take a break, partially to remind myself that I like to paint. I have class in a couple of hours, so I'll probably take a little rest for now, but after class, I'll be back at it, hopefully with a fresh perspective on my somewhat troublesome piece!

A Little Pear

2010-03-01T23:49:00.000-05:00

Pear, 5 X 5, Acrylic on Canvas

Thinking about Spring...

2010-03-01T13:07:00.000-05:00

Instead of doing art this weekend, I went to my parents' home in Western Kentucky. I wasn't able to get any work done (which is why I did that whirlwind still life on Friday morning) but I was able to get to the flea market with them, where I picked up three awesome little ginger jars that I think will make lovely additions to some still life pieces I have planned, using more oranges!

As I sit here on my bed, goofing around until time for class, listening to the sound of people fighting with each other outside the community center, I can't help but be reminded that spring is almost here. And with spring, usually, comes gardening. A recent discussion on EBSQ's private forums asked of us, are you starting your garden?

My answer: no. We live next to a three-story gymnasium, which blots out the sun, and our back yard is full of bricks. Not to mention, the foot traffic from the community center over to the church means our back yard is used as a trash can. Don't need that cup? Throw it over the fence! There's also a contingent of unruly kids in the neighborhood who, on occasion, stole things out of the garden (and one of our bicycles!).

And yet, every almost-spring, I start seeds, or at least, think about it; I pour through seed catalogs and I buy seeds and plants. I miss plants so much. In the spring, every day spent living here is like a prison sentence to me. This is why I go on about budgeting and debt management. This is why I try so hard to do well with my art! I want to move somewhere where spring will actually come.

Someday!

Remnants of Childhood II: Hearts

2010-02-26T09:17:00.000-05:00

Sleepless night last night... I spent most of it tossing, and finally got up at 4 am. I got some housekeeping done, like getting my Flickr account doing something, finally (after 2 years!)... and also I painted a little--an easy little painting that came together fairly quickly. I can't decide if I should enter it in the "Art from the Heart" show on EBSQ. I like it, and it does have a heart theme... but somehow, I don't think it's what was in mind. I'll chew on it... it only takes a few seconds (and a $10 donation) to enter it, but I want to be sure.

Remnants of Childhood II: Hearts, 8X10, Acrylic on Canvas

Amanda Makepeace Give Away

2010-02-25T16:09:00.001-05:00

If you have the time, trot on over to Daydreams and Wanderings to enter Amanda's latest contest. She's shooting for 100 followers, and is offering some pretty nice incentives!

Cupcakes!!

2010-02-25T14:02:00.000-05:00

Well, after a rather long day, spent working on a paper, going to class, and then activating my husband's work iPhone for him, I didn't get much time to paint. Finally though, the husband and I settled in to watch Magnum, PI... he with the training manual he's writing, and I with my paints and the cupcakes.

I'm not totally happy with the end result. I decided to go with a less-defined background, because my reference dealt with a lot of shadows, and I didn't want to overwork them and wind up losing thier drama. Have I mentioned I love dramatic lighting? So, I like how it turned out overall, but I will definitely be taking another crack at these cupcakes, probably over the weekend.

We're heading up to the country tonight to feed my mother-in-law's cats while she's in Florida, so I may not have as much studio time as I'd like, but I do expect to complete my next toy-themed piece either tonight or tomorrow. We'll have to see.

Cupcakes, 8X10, Acrylic on Canvas

I'm in the Candy Show!

2010-02-23T22:31:00.000-05:00

Just a quick update (I should be writing an essay about the Hei'an aristocrats compared to the Choson yangban...) but I've just been informed that all 4 of my Candy Show entries have been accepted for display at the Chocolate Shoppe in Greensburg, PA. This is the first EBSQ brick-and-mortar show, and I am so thrilled to be a part of it! The show is on March 5th, and I will probably go to it personally...it's not a bad drive as long as the weather cooperates.

Trio of Chocolates, 8 X 10, Acrylic on Canvas

Another Award & Paintin' Cupcakes!

2010-02-23T12:56:00.001-05:00

Today I received another blog award, this time from Amanda Makepeace. Amanda runs a couple of blogs, In the Studio with Amanda and Daydreams and Wanderings, in addition to supplying articles to the EBSQ blog. I'm not totally savvy to why this award is called "Honest Scrap" but since that's how I feel about the effort it takes to keep this studio going... I find it quite appropriate.

In compliance with how these things work, I am now going to admit 10 little-known items about my life to you, the blog-reading public. (To accept the award, you post the image somewhere in your blog, reveal 10 things about yourself, and then nominate 7 other blogs you love!)

10. I am habitually early when meeting someone. I consider "right on time" to be a little late.

9. I love clocks, and can't wait until I have the space to include more of them in my house. I have a beautiful cuckoo clock I can't hang here, as I don't want to put a wall anchor in a rental house.

8. I am a senior at the University of Louisville, majoring in History with a minor in Archaeology. Everyone asked me why I didn't go for art--and I say "education for education's sake". And show me an artist who's done learning when they leave school...or ever, for that matter.

7. I am fascinated by the Titanic. I just saw one of those traveling exhibits a few weeks ago, with the artifacts brought up by the Russians. I was frustrated that the curators did not include weights and materials on the information cards.

6. I miss rotary telephones.

5. I own Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man arcade machines. One is in great condition, the other needs a loving restoration when I've got some money to spare.

4. I got married when I was 18 and my husband was 27. We eloped, married in our first apartment 15 minutes before midnight.

3. Celebrity crushes: Craig T. Nelson (20 years ago), Bruce Boxleitner (10 years ago) and Harry Connick, Jr. (Anytime).

2. My favorite animated film, of all time, is Disney's Sleeping Beauty. I think it has more elegance than any other animated film of its time or after. Which, I suppose, is why it pains me to see Aurora drawn crudely onto all that "Princess" stuff.

1. I love going to the movies--pretty much just for the popcorn.

Now that that's done, here are the blogs I'm passing this award to:

Kari Tirrell, Carol Schiff, Sylviane Le Cann, Ann Rogers, Alma Lee, Liz Holm and Gwen Bell. These are all artists (and bloggers!) who inspire me. Please check them out if you haven't!

Also, today, I'm working on a still life of cupcakes. Not just any cupcakes, either. CakeFlour cupcakes! CakeFlour is an all-natural baking company, that just happens to be within a block of my house! They are dedicated to offering organic and natural baked goods, like fresh whole-grain breads and delicious cakes and treats. They even offer vegan and allergy-sensitive alternatives. If you're ever in Louisville, be sure you look them up!

I have class tonight and a short paper to write for tomorrow, so I'm not sure how much I'll be able to get done, but I'll post it here as soon as it's ready!

Remnants of Childhood

2010-02-22T21:25:00.000-05:00

Remnants of Childhood, 8X10, Acrylic on Canvas

THIS one, this one was a doozy! I've been working on it non-stop for two days. One of the hardest things about it, aside from the technical difficulty of painting finely-detailed toys, was that I have at least a dozen more ideas for toy-themed paintings! Not enough time in the day!

Nibblefest & Sunshine Award!

2010-02-21T14:10:00.000-05:00

The rules for this award are:

1. Put the logo on your blog or within your post
2. Pass the award on to 12 bloggers
3. Link the nominees within your post
4. Let the nominees know they have received this award
5. Link to the person from whom you received this award

Ok, then! I was nominated very kindly by Kari Tirrell and Sylviane Le Cann for this roving honor of the blog world. Although I'm not new to blogging, I'm fairly new to networking my blog with others, and so I'm not sure if I have 12 others to share this with (who haven't already received it)!

So... for right now, I'll just have to sit on this one. Thanks to everyone who has started following me on here. Perhaps one day I'll be well-connected!

Also, my Nibblefest piece was listed yesterday evening. The original post now contains a link to the auction, and you can also view the auction here. And as a reminder, here's the piece in question:

Garlic, A Still Life

2010-02-19T17:30:00.000-05:00

I might become a daily painter yet! I couldn't resist taking some reference shots this morning with the sun shining in through the kitchen window, and then I couldn't resist going ahead and painting. So, for today, here's "Garlic". Clever title, I know.

Garlic, 8 X 10, Acrylic on Canvas

Also, from now on, clicking the title of the piece will take you to it's Etsy listing if it's available, and to its entry in my EBSQ portfolio if not.

My FOURTH Candy Show Entry!

2010-02-19T15:11:00.000-05:00

Tootsie Pop Pin Drop, 8 X 10, Acrylic on Canvas

Snowy Road - For the Studio Atelier Challenge

2010-02-18T18:11:00.001-05:00

Snowy Road, 8X10 Acrylic on Canvas

My Nibblefest Entry--February is Starry Night!

2010-02-18T16:43:00.001-05:00

I've finished another painting today! I'm on a hot-streak!

This one is for the eBay NFAC (that's Nibblefest Art Contest)... and will be listed for sale on eBay on Feb 20, around 7 p.m. Eastern. I'm hoping it will sell... I've never gotten any bids in this contest, but I'm feeling lucky this time. I'll post a link here when the time is right, but until then, just remember that from the 20th to the 27th, you can search "NFAC" on eBay to find all kinds of great art, all of which start at 99¢ with no reserve!

Summer Night, 9 X12 Acrylic on Canvas

Rose Show!

2010-02-18T14:58:00.000-05:00

Tapestry Roses, 8X10 Acrylic on Canvas

Reflections

2010-02-17T16:57:00.000-05:00

Last semester was hard. I took a full plate of classes, and I really had to juggle to get them all done. In the middle of that, my Grandmom died, and my world had to pause for a week while I went home. The rest of the world kept going, though, and I had to dive in even more when I got back. To say that this left little time for art is an understatement. It left little time for me, period.

I went through a kind of crisis, where I decided I'd had enough with going to the University and that it was time for me to just chuck it and do something else. I wanted to quit, I wanted to be in the studio... but I didn't. I just told myself I'd take an easier load next semester. This semester.

Because I can't do anything ridiculous like, I don't know, take a half-time load of regular classes, I decided to take two graduate-level courses instead. I don't regret it for a second--but it has been slightly more difficult to get the studio time I've craved than I expected. Reading and papers dominates my thoughts.

Well, today is Wednesday. That's my Friday. I have no classes on Thursday or Friday. In short, I have FOUR days to myself, barring any papers to be written, and that kind of thing. And as I *ahem* planned to do back in January, I'm now staking my claim in these days, and no one is going to stop me! This afternoon is all about painting and working on my studio projects. I've let household chores bully me out of this time before, but today, it's different. If the dishes aren't washed, I guess they'll just have to wait!

With any luck at all, there will be a post later tonight of something I've gotten done. I know I'd love for that to be the case! TGI... W?

Snow Day!!

2010-02-15T09:19:00.000-05:00

Well, after spending the night helping my beloved husband do some work over at his job-- I got to bed at 4 am, I slept for about... hmmm, 20 minutes? and then I got a text message letting me know that class was canceled. I pretty much decided to roll over and sleep until noon, but I just couldn't get into that mood.

Probably a nap, later, I'd think.

But the plan for today is to finish another piece for the EBSQ Candy Show, and to work on a painting for another blog challenge, this time over at Studio Atelier. I also have plans for a rose piece, but I don't know how far that will go. My plate is already full, and *hanging my head in shame* I've eaten almost all the grapes I bought to use in a still life. However, I'm very excited about many of the things I have planned, and hopefully this snowy weather will give me the time to work on them!

Rookiepainter Challenge - Oranges

2010-02-12T17:56:00.003-05:00

Tablescape with Oranges, 8 X 10 Acrylic on Canvas

Taking a Sick Day...Sort Of

2010-02-12T10:18:00.003-05:00

Ok, so I don't have a job--a regular job, anyway--so I can't take a "sick day". But this is most definitely my sick day for the winter. I've so far done a decent job of avoiding the various plagues and maladies that people sneeze all over each other when it's cold out--but after waking up super early after no sleep, I seem to have exposed my constitution's weakness. Of course, it would probably help if we kept the temperatures in the house above the arctic range, but I'm not complaining--I sure as heck don't want to pay the gas bill to heat this uninsulated and high-ceilinged 19th-Century house.

I type this from under a stack of quilts, swilling orange juice. This is not how this day was planned! I have to clean myself up enough to run to the bank, but after that, it's back to bed with me, where I plan to read art books, work on school work, and maybe even do a little prep for some paintings.

Specifically for today, I plan to work on my painting for the rookiepainter painting challenge. The first challenge uses a great reference picture of oranges... I cannot wait to take a crack at it. I've done a few linocuts of fruit in the past couple years, but I haven't painted any in quite a while. This could be exciting.

Budgeting... Still!

2010-02-12T09:23:00.000-05:00

I have a secret weapon in getting through these slump times without killing myself financially. That secret is Aldi.

You've heard about them... that they only carry house brands, or that they make you rent a cart for a quarter. Or that they don't bag your groceries--heck, they even make you pay for bags!

But here's the thing. The food is good. I'll come out and say it: the food is GREAT. For the past few weeks, really since the first of the year, I've been doing about 90% of my shopping there. It's fantastic. The prices are low. On dairy, it's unbelievably low. I actually like the Aldi butter and sour cream better than some name brands.

Snack foods, which usually eat a hole in my wallet, don't do so at Aldi, and they actually offer a big line of healthy alternatives. Who knew? I haven't yet found a product I didn't like, or wouldn't buy again. I will probably avoid buying meat there, for the most part, but only because I know they don't have a butcher, which pretty much means all that meat is pre-packaged frozen/thawed stuff. We don't eat a lot of meat, anyway.

Even so, I did buy some pork there I was very happy with. And the frozen chicken was top-notch. And here's the kicker. For less than the cost of frozen green beans I usually buy, I can get extra-fine frozen beans at Aldi, which are more tender and easier to use in my favorite green bean recipe. I'll also come right out and say, their Special K knock off is just as good as the real thing, and like a quarter of the price. Seriously.

Now, it does get crowded. And I do feel like I'm playing beat the clock when it comes time to get my groceries on the belt. But considering most Aldi bags are paper, and they don't waste money or resource with a lot of fancy displays and extra products... even going as far as to encourage the re-use of their cardboard packing boxes... they're not only a budget-smart grocery, they're a pretty responsible grocery, too.

Has it helped my budget? For sure. Of course, it'll help a lot more when we get tired of the rice snacks there, because I'm buying them more twice a week sometimes. But hey, it beats the heck out of paying Wal-Mart more for less!

The Year of Turning it Around!

2010-02-12T02:33:00.005-05:00

This is my year to get the studio back in shape. I'm going to be painting more, participating more, and getting things in shape. Inside and out.

To start things out, I've painted a trio of new paintings for the EBSQ Candy Show.

Tootsie Pop Rainbow, 8X10

Trio of Chocolates, 8X10

Chocolate Temptation, 8X10

If all else, fails, I'm planning to participate in a few painting blogs that offer monthly challenges:

rookiepainter & The Monthly Painting Challenge, as well as Different Strokes from Different Folks, once it is back up and running again.

As always, look for my updates here, as well as on Facebook. You can become a fan by going here.

The struggle to keep this studio going is pretty much at an all-time high. I'm taking some time off from school--well, going half-time--in order to get everything rolling. If everything goes well, I should be able to having things cranked back up by summer. Hopefully by then art will be a habit again, instead of a chore to be done after all the other work has been done.

I can't tell you how exciting it is to work consistently, which is what I did this evening. In two days, I have managed not only to start, but to finish three pieces which I am proud of. After such a dry spell, I must admit, this feels great.

Really great!

Not-Right-Nativities... makin' the rounds on yer interwebs!

2009-11-30T21:48:00.003-05:00

A few Christmastimes ago, dear Ronnie and I were checking out the toys at the local Target and walked away $15 poorer, but one Playmobil Nativity Set richer. Being who we are, we set it up and laughed 1) at the detail and 2) at the manger-scene action playset. We naturally set about looking for ways to incorporate our many toys into the scene. The first thing that made it in was a plastic dinosaur that was a prize from Ski-Ball at King's Island earlier in the year.

It was a fateful inclusion. I took a photo of it, and it was in my Etsy store on a whim. Over that Christmas, I managed to sell a few hundred dollars-worth of that nativity (and others). We added new ones the next Christmas, but it wasn't that big--but it was still fun, so this year, I decided to bring them all out again.

Long story short, I've been blogged. A lot. And there may be more, stay tuned. But in the meantime, head over to Etsy and show plastic Jesus some love.

Check Her Out!

2009-10-30T17:27:00.003-04:00

Friend and fellow artist Amanda Makepeace is having a giveaway--wonderful stuff, too! Check out the prize below...

...then head on over to her website for your chance to win! She's offering extra entries for reposts and twitter followers, so don't miss out! Click here.

I'm a big fan of Amanda's, I already own two of her bookmarks and a beautiful ACEO. Here's my favorite:

And in case you're wondering what my current favorite is from her Etsy store? Take a look at it here.

Ok, it's Halloween...ish

2009-10-30T13:43:00.003-04:00

Last night, the husband and I went to see Paranormal Activity. I was surprised to learn today that there's a lot of hype surrounding this movie--I hadn't seen a trailer, ad or review of it--and that it's getting to be quite a phenomenon. Contention on many sides. I have friends that think it is stupid, I have friends who think it is frightening. We decided, after viewing... that yes, it is scary.

Unfamiliar with the hype, I can't speculate on whether it lives up or not. But I can tell you that going in, I had no idea what to expect. I didn't even know what it was about! I got nervous when I saw the "found footage" perspective, but I soon forgot all about it and just watched. It was amazing!

The build up of dread, followed by quiet payoff (or not so quiet) really had me going in the theater, and the night scenes had my number. Secretly, I think that's what we *all* fear is happening when we bring down our defenses to sleep. Maybe we don't believe it, and it's (probably) not happening, but the things that go "bump" in the night have always been a subject of tension, even for the steadiest among us.

I found the glory of the movie to be what isn't shown, rather than what is--as there is nothing more terrifying than what we cannot see. There has to be a certain amount of patience with this way of storytelling, especially if you number among those that require a spoon-fed plot... For example, there were two ladies behind us who needed at least half an hour to figure out if the couple in the movie was married or not. This is information given several times in the first few minutes of the story.

In short, I guess it's ok if you think it's stupid--skeptics sitting with crossed arms are really not going to get it. Others, the ones that like to be scared and entertained? You'll love it.

Ok, I'm off my soapbox. I just really, really loved (well, appreciated) this movie, and had to throw my two cents out there.

4 minutes until I leave for school... time for an update!

2009-09-28T09:25:00.003-04:00

Well, I have about 4...no, 3, minutes until I leave for class this morning, so I thought I'd pop in with an update--because so much has happened since last night, of course!

Actually, there's nothing new to report, but I wanted to preach for a minute about the virtues of getting up early. Now, usually, for a 10 am class, I can't resist the urge to get up an 9:15 and leave by 9:30... but today, I told the husband to get me up at 5:30 (his normal rising time). I knew I'd probably go back to sleep, but with that 5:30 jostle, I was able to be up an hour later, and as a result, I ate breakfast, had a leisurely cup of coffee, did a load of laundry, put a load of laundry on the line, and worked on my German homework before class. I even had time to decide what I wanted to wear, rather than simply casting around for whatever was clean! Imagine! I'm even wearing a necklace.

Anyway, the plan for today revolves around getting a history paper (a minor one) done and reading more of the Venerable Bede--but I'm hoping to have time for something art related in between that and running to the store and mailing off paintings. It's a good thing to be busy, though! I'm hoping that I can find something to participate in soon--there are lots of tempting blogs floating around that host weekly, biweekly and monthly challenges.

Well, I'm a minute behind, so I guess I'd better go!

Big Bang Theory!

2009-09-27T20:28:00.005-04:00

Here's what I've worked on all week. That's right, it's the Big Bang Theory guys! I call it "Four Geeks" and it is an original pixel composition done with acrylics on canvas. It measures 24 X 36. I plan to sell prints but I don't know what to do with the original, yet. Ideally, I'd love to get it to Chuck Lorre or the cast... but I don't know how likely that is!

Back at it..

2009-09-27T13:48:00.003-04:00

So it's Fall already. I'm in the full force of my University classes; I must admit I'm having trouble being as dedicated to them this semester, but I am in that last year or so, and it's hard not to be a little burnt out. I feel pulled to the studio these days, and I find I wish I had the capability to devote myself to it full time. The husband and I kicked around some solutions, one of which is to dial down to half-time next semester, and spend most of my time in there, getting things rolling again, so that when I'm ready to graduate, I'll have a better chance of success. I don't know... still considering options, but there is certainly a lot of appeal to that.

I'm also hoping to begin participating in a few of the painting challenges around, as well as becoming more active with EBSQ. I'm definitely hoping to get our finances back on track. Nothing like painting to keep me from buying things/eating too much!

This is going to have to be a short update, I have way too much to do today. :)

Update!

2009-08-17T14:39:00.002-04:00

Yes, I've been gone for months, no I didn't hit it big. Still plugging away the way I always have--half-heartedly at times, but plugging away. There are a lot of times I consider how easy it would be to just pack everything in and forget about it, but mostly, I've just been busy.

The husband got a nice windfall and we were able to upgrade our stereo from a little all-in-one to a nice system with a turntable. I've had a lot of fun buying albums at flea markets for a dollar--a budget friendly way to enjoy music, in my opinion. Of course, we did go a little crazy and I picked up some new LPs... but part of that was necessary to help the husband see the light of vinyl. (It was very hard for him to argue with his beloved Siamese Dream on the turntable.)

My classes at the university start next Monday, and I'm not sure where the time went. I had such high hopes for this summer--but like so many summers, I've spent the time traveling out of obligation rather than pleasure. We had a great 4th of July, lots of fireworks (a tip--fireworks are much cheaper in Missouri than in Indiana if you have the means to get to Missouri!) I spent a week with my parents--as well as weekends here and there.

I'm thinking of packing it in. Really. I'm seriously thinking of packing it all in. But it seems unthinkable. This is my life. If I quit, what is left?

But in the meantime, while I figure it out, I'll keep posting my struggles, my tips, and my favorite cheap recipes. Time to get back on the horse!

Hard Work, Mild Success

2009-06-29T15:11:00.004-04:00

It can be very difficult to battle it out in the trenches, working every day, growing in your work, striving for excellence... to arrive at mild success. Mild at best. Lukewarm.

But it's all a part of the deal. You work and work and work, and someday it'll pay off. I'd personally rather let a painting go for peanuts a few times a week, in the hopes eventually demand will be higher, than have 80 paintings no one wants to touch for "good" prices.

Today's been a tough day to get motivated. I have a new piece planned, I just need to sit down an paint it. Maybe if I find some successes with my more recent additions, I'll be motivated to keep at it--and maybe I just need to decompress for a while, and start fresh in a little while. Painting is almost always better when it's for joy rather than desperation.

I have a couple of art auctions going now, both are nudes (although one is smaller and more abstract.... it's up in the corner there. I know you saw it!)

You can find the larger nude here: A Natural Distaste for Constriction

And the other: Moonlight

Giving eBay Another Try...

2009-06-13T02:01:00.004-04:00

Posted my doll to eBay. I haven't used eBay in a while, but thought I'd try it out for this. I have no idea if this first effort might move, but I figured it was worth a shot. Etsy is wonderful, but it can be hard to make sales quickly. You've got to market, market, market, and I'm not really in a good position yet to do this.

So, here's to giving eBay a second shot... for this, anyway.

Art Dolls!!

2009-06-12T23:29:00.006-04:00

So I've been a busy bee, budget-bustin' and getting things done. So far, things are going well, and though I know I have a lot of debt to chip at, I've been inspired to work more, and I've made an art doll. My first, to be exact.

I started her about three months ago, after burning the absolute crap out of an earlier sculpt. She's made on a strong armature of wire and backed poly clay, and is made to hang in a flying pose. Obviously, she's going to be a fairy. Or at least I think that's obvious!

So I got excited and wigged her before I should. I've always wanted to try it, and the Tibetan lamb's wool is so soft and fun to handle. This picture shows her post-wigging and pre-makeup.

I'm not hip to the whole "genesis" paint thing yet... waiting to see if I should
invest in them yet. So I kind of painted/blushed her with acrylic, although it's not really natural at all.

I pulled her hair back in a messy ponytail... kinda. I painted her eyes in and then glossed them with Sculpey glaze. Painted each finger and toenail... you get the idea. Although her face didn't turn out just as I wanted, I think she's still presentable, although her mouth protrudes more than I wanted. Still learning, yes?

Her final incarnation--she is a flying fairy, nested somewhere off the river bed. I got a little carried away with her little life, but I think she turned out nice. I clothed her in leather, copper, and feather wings.

The base was made by me from brass wire, a wooden plaque, and poly clay... with some natural stones for emphasis. Very happy with how it turned out.

I named her Maelassa... which makes the second "character" I've named that. Maybe I get carried away? But I am happy with this, and I'm looking to complete a new sculpt sometime tomorrow or Sunday.

Pantry Moths

2009-06-04T17:26:00.002-04:00

The quest to take command of our finances through the grocery budget has gotten rockier. Moths have invaded the pantry, and required me to throw out and replace $50 of staples, as well as buy $50 worth of air-tight containers.

But here's where we just keep plugging away. I will say I was so down about it, I made the husband take $16 and drive me to Sonic, since I couldn't eat anything out of our kitchen knowing there were moths everywhere.

I think this is a financial "random encounter". We came out a little beaten down, but still on the path.

Stupid-Simple Recipe #1 - Cornbread Eggs

2009-06-02T11:44:00.001-04:00

On the subject of recipes and grocery budgets, a great way not to wind up over your budget is to plan breakfast. Breakfast foods like cereal are very expensive and not very filling. Starting your day with whole grains and proteins is always a good choice. And one of my favorite ways to do this is Cornbread Eggs.

Make up some cornbread to go with dinner one night. It's fast and has few ingredients, and in my experience, is very hard to mess up. If it's just two of you, you'll have a lot of leftovers, and this is a great way to use some of them up.

Melt a little butter in a pan, and add a couple of beaten eggs mixed with a little milk or water (have more eggs, or fewer--they're your eggs). When the eggs first start to set, begin scrambling them while crumbling in a wedge of cornbread into chunks and crumbs. Let it be uneven--it's cornbread for the love of Pete!

Stop scrambling for half a minute, let the cornbread warm up. As the eggs set again, scramble them up like you would for normal eggs, salt and pepper them to your preference. The result is a cornbread-like texture in the eggs, with a little something extra to fill you up in the morning. A piece of wheat toast with a little butter and jam completes it for me--and it was made at a total cost of a leftover and a couple of eggs. What more could you possible want from breakfast?

Thanks go to my mother for this recipe, it's been a favorite for years. I believe she saw it on the Galloping Gourmet many years ago, but obviously, it's had staying power with us.

Goal #1 - The Grocery Budget

2009-06-02T11:00:00.000-04:00

Before I can really begin to worry about the studio's finances, I need to address our personal finances. In many ways, we do really well. We live simply, and in all honesty, have more than enough. Our problems come from a lack of commitment to the budget, and an inability to say "no" when faced with fun things.

Step one for us is getting our finances under tight control, so that we can see what every penny is doing. There is no worse feeling than having no real idea why money isn't going as far as it should, or looking at a credit card statement and saying, "Where did this come from?"

We in general follow the Dave Ramsey plan, doing the Total Money Makeover. He's simplistic, but that's a good thing. He's accessible and practical, and doesn't ask you to do anything he hasn't had to do himself, which is why I respect his views, even if I don't agree 100% with everything he says.

Our emergency fund of $1000 dollars is in place, currently drawing interest in a savings account, and has been since last September. But, like a lot of people, we managed to derail around Christmastime and the finances have been like a horror movie ever since. It's not that bad, but it's not that good, either. Yesterday was the first of June, so you know what that means...

Budget. Big-time.

This is a harsh budget, in our terms; but partly I just wanted to see if I could make it work. If it doesn't it's no big deal, we'll make a more relaxed budget next month, allowing for the places we just couldn't squeeze money from.

Before, our budget buster has been food. Not just groceries, but eating out, buying concessions at the movie theatre, ice cream, and "I don't feel like cooking tonight" syndrome.

My husband is a trained chef and I've been cooking family dinners since I was sixteen. Between the two of us, someone should be cooking dinner. Initially, that person will be me, because I have a light schedule this summer and I am not currently working outside the home.

This also makes me the grocery-master. It more appropriately makes me the menu-master--which is fun, but also a real responsibility that seems neglected a lot of the time. Part of the burn-out we experience in dining-in comes from repetition, poorly stocked pantries, and aimless shopping. This can really kill a grocery bill, too.

I made a list. I took five $20 bills (with an extra $5 just in case) to my favorite discount grocery store, Meijer, and came away with a month's groceries. I kept a running tally of how much I was spending, and I had to really work to get everything we needed. When I returned home, I made out a weeks worth of complete menus... things I already know how to make, favorites, and some new additions. All of them on the cheap side, and all of them at least attempt to be balanced. I took into account how leftovers from one meal could be recycled into new breakfasts or lunches--this helps avoid the dreaded "leftover" night, where no one wants to eat anything. It also prevents having to watch leftovers die slowly in the fridge until you throw them (and their nutritional/monetary value!) into the garbage.

I'm also one of those crazy people that saves heavy-duty freezer bags, washes them and re-uses them. I do the same thing for aluminum foil that has not been cooked in. I've been doing this since June of last year, and so far, I have only purchased one additional roll of foil, and NO boxes of plastic bags. When you are hoping to spend only $100 on food, it is comforting to know that $5 you would be spending on storage supplies can instead be spent on a pork roast for 2 nights, or enough popcorn for 2 months! I was able to pack up most of my meat (approx. 1/2 my budget) in waxed paper with foil, without putting a big dent in my supplies.

I know what you're thinking... this is called Being Artist. But this is part of my daily struggle--in order to be an artist, I can't waste anything--I can't run to the store when we need bread, because that $1.79 needs to be spent where it will do the most good. I see those little amounts... $3 here, $5 here, $.75 here...as penalties for my own laziness and poor planning. If I am inattentive and burn dinner? We still need to eat it. The cost of a do-over is the cost of the first dinner plus the cost of the second, which in turn will short your month by one planned meal. Lack of planning leads to a $5 dinner becoming a $35 pizza.

When I lose $30 in the studio, I'm defeated for days. When I lose $30 in the kitchen? It doesn't seem like a big deal. And it should.

Budgeting Tools and Financial Information is available here:
Dave Ramsey

A great resource for free recipes and meal-planning:
All-Recipes

And if you're interested, my grocery bill came to $100.23. Here's hoping I don't wind up adding to it through the month!

Hard Times

2009-06-02T10:37:00.000-04:00

It's not exactly an easy thing to say, ok, times are hard, money's tight, let me buy supplies, pay fees and then try to sell art for a living. It's not an easy thing to look at the studio you've built up over the last half-decade and realize you're barely treading water, if not outright drowning.

You have other things to worry about. Maybe a day job is slowly sucking the life out of your creativity. Maybe you've depended on a spouse's income and now that's not such a sure thing. Maybe the "starving artist" lifestyle no longer meets your desires--having a family, buying a home, traveling.

You might find yourself questioning whether you should have ever started this endeavor, and whether or not it might be time to close the coffin lid, and bury your dreams forever. It is not an easy thing.

Faced with these hard times, you can walk away and no one will think badly of you. Or, you can fight the good fight till the last--maybe you'll come out okay. Maybe you'll fail after all. Is the risk of failing worth it? What should an artist do in these times--especially if only marginally successful to begin with?

If you're reading this, if you're looking for the answer, let me tell you now: I don't know. I don't have that answer, although I am facing the question. I have seen several peers fold up in the last six months. I have seen others continue or increase sales. Is it random, is it marketing? Is it skill?

This blog, Being Artist, is my struggle. My daily scrape with oblivion, with meeting goals, with realizing desires and dreams. It was conceived by me when I faced a grim reality--my marginal side income has begun to become a liability. A money pit. Although I do have the luxury of a spouse's income, it has never been lavish, and I am also a full-time returning college student. Trying to turn the studio around, make it profitable again, maintain a home, go to school... these are real trials that may ultimately prove too much.

Being Artist is less about my art, although I am sure that will be here, too. It is more a diary of my daily existence as an artist, and the steps I am taking to try to hang on to my dreams. I hope that it will be of some interest and benefit to anyone who is feeling discouraged in this bad economy and considering abandoning their creative pursuits.

Welcome.