Why bother? Why not.

I am one of those artists who struggles to put her energies in the right places.  There are always so many new and wonderful projects to start, that I get choice-lock.  So many fun and enlightening things to read, so many friends to check in with, good food to try and make to keep this body going...
and suddenly it's time to go to bed.

And then I find myself only using my studio for a computer room.  Or a catch-all.  And that's just bloody depressing.  Especially when I'm looking at (and let's be honest, feeling green with envy because of) skilled artists who are making a good show of it online.

It's good to remember that I can't do it all.  (Thank you Alyson Stanfield!)

It's good to remember that there will always be artists whose careers I aspire to, and that maybe I'm one of those to someone else.  We all struggle sometimes.

It's good to remember that no matter how horrid humans are to each other, or how horrid you might feel, there are always humans putting in a stake for good.  And that my art is one of those stakes, because apparently it (often*) makes other people feel good too, not just me.

                       *sometimes it freaks them the heck out.  But that's good, because it's important to                                     widen one's experiences.

And now that I've done what needs doing today, I'm going to get off this computer and use the next four hours for actually making art.

The view from over my laptop screen:  Two easels, each with two paintings in progress.  Time to get cracking!

Open Studio -- save the date, art awaits

May 24th & 25th, 2014:  The 22nd annual Vermont Open Studio weekend event.  

I just snapped this studio selfie (all dressed up for work...this is not how I usually look in the studio!)

 and sent out a little save the date email about it, before scooting off to work.

Read it here!

http://eepurl.com/TMaFH

Success! Another Art Hop wrapped and delivered.

Justin Atherton (No Grace) and myself on the final day of Art Hop 2012
photo courtesy of Jme Wheeler (Ink and Sugar)

Many thanks to all the awesome work that goes on behind the scenes at The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery and Art Hop in general, we had a great weekend.  People came, they saw, they chatted, they left with art.  

Of course, it's hard not to have a good time when you're spending time with a bunch of artists whom you've come to know and love; luring the general public into your studio space, and sending them home with new art or ideas to enjoy.  

I'm still learning the fine art of engaging strangers when they're looking at my art, but there were a few good conversations nonetheless.  One bonus of the quiet lulls between crowds:  I got to watch Justin start one of his acrylic paintings for the upcoming "Art of Horror" show, and also popped in while Beth Robinson worked on her doll pendants.  When I wasn't visiting, I worked on a few drawing ideas or moved pictures around in my display.  

Christy Mitchell, "Creative Facilitator" of S.P.A.C.E. and 266 curated not one but three shows for Art Hop weekend:  "20 Mediums" in the Soda Plant hallways, "Represent" in the main gallery of S.P.A.C.E., and "Five and Dime" in the Backspace.  

Here's my acrylic "Water and Sky" in the Represent show:

 

And here's a few shots of the corner studio Justin and I are sharing for September, taken right before Art Hop began on Friday.  Not too likely that we'll get back there to actually make art before the month is up, but the gallery staff are on hand Thursday through Saturday 11-4. 

  

Now that I've spent almost the entire day on the couch with Bernie I'm just about ready to get back to work on my own Art of Horror submissions.  Those should be posting in the next few days or so.  

Ciao!

Inking it up with New Duds

Alright, I have been camera-inept of late, so these images are really just me holding stuff in front of the laptop camera and keeping my fingers crossed.

But things are progressing decently in the silkscreening class I'm taking and it's only the second class.   A shout out to Torrey of New Duds, I'm having a blast!

First up:  something from my latest sketchbook (a bit of an homage to James Jean I suppose):

 Followed by the screen I burned at the end of class last night  (bear bus!)

Hopefully this weekend will yield some decent studio time both here in the home studio and at BCA.

Fresh Art for Etsy

It's almost Art Hop time again!  I'm cranking up my matting and framing in the studio, trying to get ready, as once again I've got a space.  Meanwhile, here are a few close-ups of pieces that just went live 
on my Etsy shop.  More to come soon...

Waiting At The Station (detail) ©Sweet Enemy Art 2010

 Waiting At The Station

Walnut ink and gouache, two great mediums that go great together!  

This little guy is rather melancholy, waiting faithfully on his bench...

Gothic Reader (detail) ©Sweet Enemy Art 2010

 Gothic Reader

Walnut ink and gouache again, with a liberal dose of colored pencil and snaky hair.  

This Is My Cheese (detail)  ©Sweet Enemy Art 2010 

 This Is My Cheese

From a series of pieces I did when experimenting with some new-to-me acrylic mediums... the whole thing started off with this lovely yellow cheese-like surface, so the subject just had to reference that.

Grandma Sweater (detail) ©Sweet Enemy Art 2010 

 Grandma Sweater

Walnut ink strikes again!  And so does Grandma, with yet another bizarre sweater at Christmas. 

This piece shall now proudly take its place with the other Mode De Monstre.  

Bright Bird (detail) ©Sweet Enemy Art 2010 

Bright Bird

From a lovely day of printmaking down at the Burlington City Arts Print Studio, here is a monotype done in a technique which I always love but don't often have a chance to use.  And because I can rarely leave well enough alone, there is colored pencil and possibly some watercolor along with the dry-media and ink that the print was originally made with.

Studio Visit! Open Studio 2010

It's been a long slow start-up to Spring, but here we are:  Memorial Day is right around the corner.
That means it's time for an Open Studio tour!

Our Jericho-Underhill group once again has its hub at the Emile Gruppe Gallery in Jericho Center.  This is a good spot to pick up your maps (both the local and the state-wide) and to view samples of work by our group as you plan your tour.  Also on display at the gallery are photography by Bruce Gilbert-Smith, and watercolors by Kathleen Bergeron. The yellow maps for our local group are very handy, if you need good driving directions.

In previous years, I exhibited my "studio" off-site.  This time, I invite you to visit the studio itself.
Come and see what I keep on hand to inspire me, what materials I use, and more.  Try your hand drawing with walnut ink, or charcoal, or who knows...
Here's a typical painting day for me:  everything at hand!  Everything!!!!

The last few months have been an interesting "germination" period.  Most recently, the week I spent at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson yielded new work:  more "Monster Fashion" drawings (bigger and bigger!) and a self-portrait diptych that is in the very early stages.  These are just two of the many things I've started recently, but yes, there are a few finished pieces as well.  I am looking forward to sharing them with you.

To get you started, here's the map for the local tour!

 

Studio Center--the first few days

Well, here are a few images from the studio as I was getting unpacked.  This space was HUGE; almost as big as our living room, so now my "previously big" studio at home feels really really small.  (Current task is to empty it of all unnecessary stuff so I have room for, well you'll see soon...)

After a day and a half of sanding and priming the four panels I brought, I did this quick water-like painting on one of the smaller pieces.  Feeling a bit looser now, nice to work on something this size.  Acrylic on clear-primed birch panel, 24"x24."  

And finally, for tonight at least, a part of the Studio Center that I rarely set foot in during the day, the bedroom.  A rather monastic setting, which was just right.  Check out the built-in drawers!  I think this used to be the dining room when this house was originally built.  And love the funky colors, though I certainly didn't want to linger in bed too long when there was amazing breakfast to be had.  

And the studio was calling.  

Farewell Boo

The studio just isn't the same without you, to say nothing of how empty the house feels.  I miss hearing your tiny heavy paws come padding up to me and the tap-tap as you asked to get on my lap. 

You only twice ever got in the paint, you were content to stay countless hours with me, as long as you had a good place to curl up and my water-glass to drink out of.  Every painting I have ever done you were there from beginning to end, or at least it felt like it.  Even when you were underfoot, I loved that you just wanted to be "with."
You used to mew for us when we got too far ahead of you on walks, now it's us looking for you.

Love you, babe-cat.
Thank you for everything.  Thirteen years went by far too quickly.

The paints are out!

It's been months since my acrylics have gotten their time in the sun.  Well, I'm fully fueled with caffeine and am poking through the corners of the studio, finding random surfaces to prepare.

Because I'm doing a demonstration of "Acrylic Underpainting Techniques" February 27th at Artists' Mediums.  So I'd better get cracking, eh?

In other news, just picked up my work from the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery (looking forward to their Valentine-themed show this Friday) and we came home with prints by two other artists as well.  Images of those later, once we get them situated.  

from the archives

After voting early yesterday, I came home to attack the mess in my studio. Glad to report that it feels wonderful in here now, though there are a few big piles of STUFF outside my door, and if I don't act soon they'll just creep back in.

Re-arranging the boxes in the far back of the closet I found a box of mementos that I hadn't looked through in years. Though my mom was very conscientous about dating my creations* this gem escaped notation. I'm super-pleased with how I managed to show these ladies really dancing. Rick loves the 'all-around' teeth belonging to the lady on the right. Perhaps I'll do a painting based on this.



*and often writing descriptions. Which is a good thing, as I would never have assumed that a picture of a guy in front of a teepee with a sleigh off to the side was my letter to the Easter Rabbit. Wow, those childhood narratives!

decisions decisions

Ahhh... a beautiful fall weekend. After an idyllic day spent wandering around with friends, Rick and I returned home to have a quiet fall afternoon soaking in the remaining hours of sunlight. We've successfully ignored the piles of dishes, and I shall continue to ignore them on my day off tomorrow. Here's why:

It's late and I've just re-connected with an acquaintance from school, via Facebook. It was rather eye-opening in that it made me realize I've missed being in touch with the more contemporary art world, and that I need to seriously look over my goals as an artist.

Looking around my studio, (and how spoiled I am to have a room of my own!) I see how little of it is actually dedicated to making art for myself at the moment. Rather, it is full of random piles of detritus (that I threw in here when cleaning the house for our Horror Movie Night) not to mention several boxes of unpacked art from the last art show, and unpacked art materials from the last two events at the store!

I love the store, I always want to be involved in it, but I also need to go beyond my comfort zone and think about doing an artists' residency. I need to deflate my ego quite a bit and realize that everyone at the store can get along without me just fine for a week or two. (See why I've had a hard time actually even taking a vacation!)
More of my energy needs to be directed at my own growth, because I've got quite a bit of catching up to do when I look at my peers from school. At a show this summer, it was pointed out to me that even though I have a studio at home, I probably devote more time to housekeeping than studio work, and this is true. I haven't found a good balance yet, though I know some artists have achieved this.
The hungering I experienced upon reading about my former classmate's art experiences has me thinking that maybe it's something more than just a need to "keep up with the Joneses." I don't feel like I need to move to NYC, or to pander to the more ridiculous aspects of the art world. I DO think I need to break out of my usual routines and look both inward and outward, otherwise my senses will become dulled.

the studio

Here's a few shots of the studio, there are ones which dictate the size better, but this will do.
The view as you enter: just after I cleaned up and just before I decided to take down that red rug thing.

My new favorite spot, in disturbing collaged format. Now that I've made this area welcoming, the easel is getting quite a bit of use. It's usually set up by the door now within easy access of the paints. And the level of crap getting stuck in my paint has, as a result of working vertically, decreased greatly. Oh how I love this place.

foggy spring brain

We've gone from 3 feet of snow to bare patches of soggy ground in what seems an amazingly short time. Resisting the urge to just lie down and nap, we're trying to keep the house fairly clean and at the same time re-arrange and re-decorate.

Let it be said that right now I'm experiencing a bit of envy for Rick's studio, small though it is, because he has it well-planned out. Myself, I've just started using the other half of this wonderfully large room that is my studio, and actually started putting things up on all the walls. In other words, acting like I live here...
I have way too many things that I like doing, is the problem. But I think this room can handle all that. The table I'm typing on right now will most likely double as the sewing table once I get going on some fabric projects for the house.

But the best part of this room is that the size (and wonderful light!) will allow get-togethers with other artist friends. One of the main reasons we wanted to get a house in the first place.

List of things to do must not overwhelm me...