It has been awhile...

I have been so busy with work and a summer class that I haven't had time to blog.
New developments in my artwork....
As far as current works goes, nothing new, I am working on getting the prints ready for my first solo show in June.
I also have a "Salon Show" set up for 2008 at a gallery in Muncie. That is big news!
Bad News.....my camera...I have been having some quirky problems with my camera. Such as when I turn it off, the lenses doesn't retract like it normally does. And then I noticed that some of my pictures seemed out of focus, but nothing that was too bad. And then this past weekend I took many cool pictures to create art from and they were all WAY out of focus. I think my camera needs a fix! I am wondering if it can even be fixed, I will have to look into it. I am buying a new one in August. I have the camera from on Campus that I can use in the meantime. Sigh.....
I have found a company that I want to be associated with. It is a company that puts out a resource book every year for architectural resources. They feature artists, sculptures, stain glass artisians, and more that architects, and interior designers can draw upon to put custom art in their buidings, offices, landscaping, etc. I think my artwork could fit nicely in that setting. I am working on that.

I am taking a media illustration class this summer and really enjoying it. I knew if I was going to work on my digital illustration skills I would need to take a class to be dedicated to it. I have the skills necessary I just don't exercise them all that much. I am really enjoying that I MUST illustrate for class. Here are my first efforts:
One is a Photoshop version, the other is an Illustrator version:

Store Front

A person I know showed me a place online where he puts up a few t-shirt designs and sells them. He is not making substantial income but then again with only a few designs you wouldn't expect to. I went to check this site out. Cafepress.com if you are interested. And I set up a store front. I can set up all kinds of merchandise for sale. I am not sure about the t-shirts. Will that cheapen my artwork? I don't know yet. I must mull that over for awhile. But....I did put up note cards, posters, and get this.....POSTAGE Stamps! Isn't that cool? I don't know who other than myself would want to pay $20 for 20-39 cent stamps with my artwork but it is awfully cool! I only have one of my designs up so far as I have to go through and resize my artwork for each and every piece that I want to set up. It is time consuming but I think note cards are a good thing to set up and the posters as well. The best thing is it is free. The only drawback to the free side is that you can only put up 50 items. If you want more than 50 you must pay $4.99 a month. Still very reasonable and....if you are selling enough from the site, you could pay the $4.99 out of your profits. I haven't officially opened the site yet as I must get a tax id number first - sigh....thank goodness for this meeting with Kathy today. I could give them my social security number but I don't like the idea of doing that over the internet to a retail business. So, yea...I am excited about this! I am off to tend shop!

Solo Show

I have a solo show coming up in June - my first actually. It has been a little nerve wracking. The owner of the gallery told me that she had two seven foot walls to fill.
I went to see the space yesterday....YIKES! It is NOT 2-7 foot walls. She has 5 Seven foot rods with chains, and 2 five foot rods. She said that she figure 20-25 large size pieces would work. OH MY GOSH! This is great, but think about the financial side of this for a moment. Framing that many pieces is an incredible feat! I was in a panic and I called Kathy yesterday. I have 4 pieces already framed, I have 14 frames for my gallery pieces, I just need the prints, but the gallery prints aren't as special as the large prints - at least I don't think so. We are going to get 4 more large prints done, and then she reminded me of all the framed photographs that I have framed hanging around my house, I could put those up. I also have several paintings that I could put up as well. Wow....my paintings on display? I don't know how I feel about that. I have never really shown anyone my paintings before. I have one in progress right now that I think is pretty cool and a few floating around in my head. It is something I do just for the fun of it. Whew...crisis averted. A dear friend and mentor of mine is going to help fund the framing for the other four pieces.
It is still a little nerve wracking and exciting at the same time!

Overwhelmed

So much is going on right now. I am a creative. A very very creative mind. When it comes to left brain things, I am lopsided. Oh sure I can learn the math, the legalese, the business side of things, and I could hold my own in that area, but I don't like to. It frustrates me to think that I have to run around and get tax id numbers and keep the books. Those things annoy me. So I have found a solution, I believe that is for the best for everyone. A friend of mind Kathy is going to become a partner in business, she is good with all that legalese, and book keeping and organizing, and task oriented things. She is my left brain and I am her right brain. We worked in a very small office together at the church for 4 years, day in and day out, and we had a ball! I think this is the beginning of a very good thing!
After all - Picasso had Brach, Van Gogh had his brother, Jackson Pollock had his wife......
We are going to meet today, and organize. We also have plans to go to the local Women's Bureau who will help us set up the business, get organized, and mentor us along the way. Isn't that cool? Look for those resources!
I designed a new logo and it is pretty cool if I do say so my self!