Work/Life in Progress

In support of Independent Bookstores!

2008-02-20T22:00:00.003-05:00

I was reading the blog of an author friend of mine and noticed a link called "Book Sense." I clicked on it and found a great website which promotes independent booksellers across the nation. You can buy books online or find local independent booksellers in your area or links to their webpages. As a business owner myself, I like the idea of helping promote other small businesses, buying locally, and trying not to depend on the big corporate chains for everything. It can be difficult to avoid sometimes, but I personally know what it takes to own a business so I think it's crucial to support small, independent businesses in your community. I'm jumping on Ric's bandwagon (check out his blog here) but it is something that gets me fired up. In these rather difficult economic times, it's often the small businesses and the self-employed who feel the pinch first. So help out your local shop owners, your mom and pop restaurants, and they'll appreciate it. I guarantee you'll get nicer, more personal service. That being said, Sugarloaf Food Company gets my #1 vote for the best muffins, bacon-egg-n-cheese sandwiches, and salads. And a lot of her ingredients come from Waterfront Market (awesome market!), another independently owned business. Great, now I'm hungry and I have to wait till morning for my muffin!

Don't forget, I'm moving my blog over here, to SallyArt.com

Just a few more touches...

2008-02-17T06:50:00.002-05:00

Well, I am about an hour or two away from wrapping this piece up. I'm feeling good about it, enjoyed the process and picked up my speed a bit. With each piece I get more confident and a lot less critical and picky. I'm still struggling with the skin tone (I can't get the face how I'd really like) but I think it might be that my palette needs a little tweaking. I'll get it one day. Just have to keep working on it. I pulled out a new blank canvas tonight and am trying to figure out what it will become.

Don't forget to check out my new website at www.SallyArt.com

Refocus

2008-02-12T15:14:00.001-05:00

I was looking back through photos, looking for some inspiration or ideas (for what I don't know--just looking, though) and came across this one. It reminded me that I used to walk the dog more, used to take more pictures, and that I need to remember to keep doing that. The dog needs it, I need it, and my photograpy skills (I'm using the word "skills" very loosely) could definitely use the practice. So this post's purpose is to nudge me back on track. The dog will be happy.

"Fanm" revisited

2008-02-02T22:43:00.000-05:00

After a two and a half month hiatus, I’m back to work on this piece. Today went great. I finally worked out a background (which I’ve been thinking about all week) which I’m very happy with. I painted through “Car Talk,” “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me,” and “Wire Tap” on NPR. Lately that’s been my ritual: put the laptop in the studio, click on NPR-online and paint. I’ve found that it’s much better for me to listen to talk radio instead of hitting “shuffle songs” on the iPod. My emotional state is too easily influenced by music and I will bounce from total elation and giddyness with soca music, to rage and violent urges when listening to Godsmack, to melancholy and despair after a few Yo Yo Ma solos. Too mentally exhausting to deal with when painting in itself is a mental workout.Anyway, I hope to tackle this again tomorrow. My objectives for tomorrow are to figure out how to fix this woman’s enormous head, fix the proportions of her torso and polish up those plantains.

Oh, and by the way, "Fanm" means woman in Creole.

Don't forget to check out my new location for this blog at www.sallyart.com/blog. The site is under construction so please excuse any kinks in the site.

"Life Aboard"

2008-01-29T20:09:00.000-05:00

A week from tomorrow, Wednesday February 6th, Key West Diver Eric Wartenweiler Smith will be sharing his 3rd presentation "Life Aboard" the Discoverer Ketty Lund. The Discoverer provides personnel, logistical, and vessel support to scientific expeditions all over the world. As a crew member of the Discoverer team these presentations are a blast to be a part of. The last two lectures brought in a great audience at the Tropic Cinema and I'm looking forward to this next event. Check out the video to get acquainted with the Discoverer and her adventures.

Painting Update

2008-01-26T17:48:00.000-05:00

One year later, I'm back at it, working on this painting again. Surprisingly, it was not as painful as I thought it would be. I've always been so tentative with this painting. I started it before I was getting lessons from Cindy Kulp and was always afraid to "mess up." Now I realize you can't really mess up. A little bit of confidence and less fear is an amazing catalyst for pushing ahead. You can see previous stages of this picture here, here, and here.

2 years ago today

2008-01-25T23:38:00.000-05:00

This was what I was painting 2 years ago today. I was in complete abstract mode. At the time I was also taking an abstract painting class. It's funny looking back to see where I was at. That was one of my more productive painting years and also one of the most anxiety ridden. 2006 found many canvases razor-knifed, trashed and even one thrown off the deck and tossed into the tree canopy. All sculptures were beheaded (I just found the bag of heads 2 days ago in a ziploc bag...they actually look kind of cool now decorating my studio...like little archaeological finds) and at one point all art supplies were put away for a long while. I think that's what abstract art does to me. It ain't easy.

Anyways, I have neglected posting for some time now and I hope to get some momentum and pick it back up again. And as this blog is primarily dedicated to works in progress I need to get my butt in gear and started progressing on some works. My goal is to create 4-5 pieces as part of a series. This will be difficult because I am so easily pulled in different directions. I am trying to think, but not overthink, this out and try and have a "plan" (w/ flexiblity built into it...you know, some room to wiggle and twitch) that I follow. [Wow, that was a terrible sentence, grammatically. I might want to try and work on a series of 4-5 properly written paragraphs, too.] Anyway, that is the plan. Which means that tomorrow I must open up a tube of paint and pick up a brush and apply the paint to a canvas.

I admit, I am fearful.

Wish me luck.

I wonder if there is a patron saint of the arts that I might call on for some backup. Something to Google.

Until tomorrow.
Ciao.

P.S. Finished the painting of the Discoverer. I will post it tomorrow.

Dicoverer Painting update

2008-01-13T12:34:00.001-05:00

I'm really enjoying this piece. It's nice working small. Things seem to go much faster.

A year ago this week...

2008-01-07T17:47:00.000-05:00

I looked at my photos yesterday to see where I was painting-wise last year at this time. This painting is still not done. But I think I will tackle it soon.

Happy New Year

2008-01-07T17:19:00.000-05:00

Back after a 2 week hiatus. Man, are the holidays rough. They can really do a number on you. Why on earth they cram all those holidays into the end of the year is beyond me. Anyway, I survived...barely...and came out on the other side relatively unharmed.
A short, whirlwind trip to remote Little Harbour, Abaco right at the end of 2007 gave me some much needed quiet, peace and perspective (and rum drinks). It's amazing what no cell phones, no internet, and no contact with anyone outside of that peaceful little lagoon can do for you.

But now I am back, and it's a new year. I'm not a big fan of resolutions as I never stick to them. So I kept them fairly simple. Finish that damn masters degree, paint more, keep working on my Spanish and keep filling up my passport with stamps. Okay. The degree is number one...gotta knock that out. Paint more...started working on that last Saturday. More on that next. Spanish...determined to speak it by the end of this year (spanish 2 starts up again tomorrow). Travel...let's hope work doesn't prevent that from happening.

My latest painting is of a beautiful, charming boat that I was honored to be invited as a crew member on, The Ketty Lund Discoverer. She has travelled to incredible places all over the globe, and her captain and owner, Eric Wartenweiler Smith, has put together an incredible program which incorporates science, the ocean, sailing and the different types of people that study the ocean. It's been some time since I've been aboard the Discoverer but I've been fortunate to maintain contact with Eric and to be involved with his lecture series in Key West. These lectures are extremely captivating and even dangerous, I think. After every one, I'm ready to quit everything, pack my backpack, grab my moleskin journal and passport, and head to Key West International Airport to begin MY exploration of distant lands. And I'm not the only one affected by these presentations. You can hear people claiming to each other as they're leaving the theatre their fantasies and dreams of diving in Egypt, driving around Havana, sailing the high seas...it's infectious, this lifestyle that Eric Wartenweiler Smith leads.

So, this is my first painting of the year. The Ketty Lund Discoverer. I hope that with this first painting I am setting myself up for a year filled with exploration, discovery and enough wind to propel me wherever I need to be.

Next Discoverer lecture, February 6th @ 7 pm at the Tropic Cinema, Key West, FL.

2007-12-23T23:06:00.001-05:00

I am very depressed and deeply disgusted with painting. It is really a continual torture.
-Claude Monet

Here, have an ear.

2007-12-19T21:38:00.000-05:00

So much for Red Nude. It was crap anyways. In a complete funk. Cut your ear off, slash some canvases type of funk. I couldn't draw a straight line with a ruler. At this point I should go back to drawing fish.

Addiction?

2007-12-11T23:19:00.000-05:00

I am convinced that there is something in Gatorade that makes you want to drink more of it. I never really liked Gatorade but all of a sudden I am drinking massive quantities of it. It really feels like an addiction. And it goes down so quickly. It's a conspiracy by Pepsi or Coke or whoever the hell bottles it. I'm not convinced it's good for you either. Those bright colors and that odd taste. Hmmm. I wonder what a Google search would uncover...

Sacred Life Day 23

2007-12-10T21:55:00.000-05:00

Not the clearest photo, but it's still my Sacred Life image for the day.

Reality Bites

2007-12-08T11:16:00.000-05:00

I bought a copy of “Reality Bites” this week. It’s on my top 10 list of favorite movies. It’s the movie that I think captured college/post college/genXers the best for me.

My favorite quote from the movie:

“There's no point to any of this. It's all just a... a random lottery of meaningless tragedy and a series of near escapes. So I take pleasure in the details. You know... a quarter-pounder with cheese...those are good... the sky about ten minutes before it starts to rain, the moment where your laughter becomes a cackle... and I sit back and I smoke my Camel Straights and I ride my own melt.” --Troy (Ethan Hawke)

Caterpillar ID

2007-12-08T10:49:00.000-05:00

I just found out what type of caterpillar this is. This will become a Monarch butterfly. It turns out the milkweed plant is the only plant a monarch caterpillar can eat. Which is cool b/c I planted many of these in my yard. Here’s more info.

Sacred Life Day 22

2007-12-06T23:56:00.000-05:00

On my out of the driveway, completely rushed for time and mentally discombobulated, I saw this caterpillar on a milkweed plant. I figured that I was late anyways, what's a few more minutes to snap a few shots especially since I had the camera with me. Beautiful creature. Love those zebra stripes. Not sure what kind of butterfly this will turn into. Anyone out there know?

Waste no paint

2007-12-03T19:11:00.000-05:00

I hate to throw away unused paint so it usually ends up on another canvas, on some abstract painting.

Red Nude Update

2007-12-03T16:46:00.001-05:00

Worked on the flowers and tidied up the figure a bit. I think I might need an additional spark of color somewhere in here. Things are feeling too warm, too safe. Not sure what's next with this or what to push further.

And then some more...

2007-12-02T15:22:00.000-05:00

I worked on this painting some more today. Not quite sure what I'm doing with these flower thingys. We'll see. I prefer the more salmon color of the background then the cadmium color it was yesterday (might not be able to tell the difference online).

I don't have a photo of it, by the Sacred Life moment today was drinking coconut water and eating coconut from our own tree this afternoon and a nice morning at dog training full of fun conversations, a nice breeze and a dog that came when called (pigs just flew and hell froze over)!

Oh, and go see "Lars and the Real Girl." What a sweet, heartwarming (and at times heart-wrenching) movie.

New Painting

2007-12-01T13:57:00.001-05:00

I couldn't believe I got the oomph to paint today after such a long break. I certainly didn't go into it whole heartedly and didn't come out of it energized either. Maybe that's b/c it's the beginning push for some momentum. I'm having a very, very difficult time getting motivated to do much of anything. I wonder what other people do to snap out of laziness and haziness. I'm looking for a quick, intense kick in the keyster, non-pharmaceutical preferably, one that will catapult me into creativity and action. Any advice out there? Anyone? Blog readers? Is anyone reading this blog? : ) Hello? Bueller?

Comments welcome!

Sacred Life Day 21

2007-11-29T22:12:00.000-05:00

Upon returning home from Thanksgiving vacation I found my yard overrun with iguanas. I guess they had figured out we were gone and decided to have a party. They were everywhere. Normally, this would not qualify as a Sacred Life moment b/c I DESPISE these things. Not because I'm afraid of them, or dislike reptiles, but they are taking over my area and are wreaking havoc on people's yards. They eat everything. They crap everywhere, and not little doodies, but monstrous, staining piles of doo (that the dogs love to eat...why, but why, do they do that?). And they are menacing. You can walk up to them and they will flex their muscles and almost dare you to come closer. You don't know if they're going to scratch your eyes out with those long claws or slap you with their tail. Of course they never do, but they look like they might. Anyways, these reptilian equivalents to the cockroach were nibbling on my plants, lounging on the deck by the pool sunning themselves. After a minute or two of staring at them (and realizing I was seriously outnumbered) I remembered I had just bought a new lens for my camera! So I started shooting and playing with my lens. They may be a pain in the ass but they make a wonderful subject. The photo above is the one that was working on his tan by the pool. When I got closer he jumped in the pool and swam around for a second before jumping out. His/her colors were amazing, especially with the color of the water. So I got something cool out of it. After I put the camera away I turned into a mad woman running around the yard waving a stick and throwing rocks. A few minutes of that and my yard was reclaimed and peace was restored, albeit minus a bunch of vegetation. It's okay though. I'll get it back...in digested form, in brown piles of poo.

It's been awhile...

2007-11-28T22:14:00.000-05:00

...since I've posted anything. Once I stop doing something, it's very hard for me to get momentum again. Even for something as simple as blogging. But I'm back on the horse, ready to post. Since I've stopped painting for awhile, it may be some time before I post any painting progress. I'm working on getting that momentum back but the forecast might be bleak. I'm just not feeling it.

The day before Thanksgiving we flew to Tampa and this was my Sacred Life (Day 20, I think) moment. The view from our tiny plane was incredible. All those blues and aquas get me everytime. Plus I love flying in those little planes. I always imagine I'm flying somewhere in Africa, going on my next adventure, my next peace mission. Yes, I am an escapist. It makes life bearable sometimes. And it's cheaper to travel in your head sometimes, and safer, considering that I always dream I'm going to Africa or Afghanistan.

That's it for now.

Saturday morning progress

2007-11-17T11:18:00.001-05:00

I put in a good 2 hours this morning and I'm already burnt out and beginning to get pissy. So I'm taking the hint and stopping. I'd love to be able to put in a good 4-6 hours but I fear I'd end up biting someone's head off. Maybe I will take myself to the movies, head to a bookstore, study some Spanish at the coffee shop. Refill my mental energy stores which were drained by painting.

Sacred Life - Day 20

2007-11-15T10:13:00.000-05:00

A torturous, stress filled day. I had to force myself to stop the worrying, grab the camera, and try and divert my attention from problems to something good. I messed around with my camera and the sunset view from my deck. For a few minutes I was able to turn off my head and therefore, this is the Sacred Moment of the day.