Count Down to Art Unraveled

With the move and the changes, I have a lighter schedule this year at Art Unraveled with 2 evening classes. This is the first time I’m teaching both of these workshops though, so I’m pretty jazzed.

I seem to get lot of questions from folks wondering about the publishing process. They want to know how to submit ideas, who to submit to, how to write the letter, should they send a letter or an email? Also what to say, how to get their idea to stand out from the crowd, etc. And that’s just the very beginning. I’m teaching a workshop called The Pitch, The Project, The Paycheck to teach how to approach the publishing process — mostly magazine articles — from A to Z. I’m cramming more than 20 years of working in the newspaper and magazine industry into an evening workshop. I know it’s going to be valuable for some folks who really want to get their work out into the world, but just don’t know how to begin or what the process is.

I’m also teaching 1 Mold 3 Mediums is an introduction to mold making. I developed this class because I have so many unique found object treasures in my studio that are hard to part with. When I learned how to make molds and recreate these objects in various mediums, I became a much happier artist. Over the years, I’ve made texture molds  and molds using just interesting parts of my found objects, etc. In addition to learning to make the mold, how to get a good impression and undercuts and other tips, we’ll also be doing all kinds of lovely surface treatments to our cast pieces. The addition of color and carving, mark making and other embellishing is what helps these casts to come alive!

So if you happen to be in Phoenix on Wednesday, August 1 from 6-9 p.m. and want to learn about mold making and casting with resin, resin clay and paper clay, come on down. There are spots available.

I’m also going to be having a table at the Saturday Artist’s Fair with my art work. I have a lot of really great earrings for sale right now, along with necklaces and other pieces. I’m planning to work on a few more house encaustics to sell, but we’ll see how quickly I can get my new studio up and running.

I always adore Art Unraveled every year. I plan to pop in at least every day to see my friends and breathe all that creative air that comes from such a happy community. If you happen to read my blog and see me there, please be sure to grab me and say hi. I’d love to hear from you.

 

 

 

Just keep going…

I returned home from teaching last week at the CREATE Art Retreat sponsored and organized by Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine in Costa Mesa, California. I taught two classes and did some filming on techniques using ICE Resin for short 3 to 5-minute how-to videos for the magazine’s website.

The filming was fun and also amusing. I know the editors will edit out the blunders, but I actually think they are hilarious because it just goes to show that no matter how perfect I try to make things, something always happens, like my phone ringing while I’m in the middle of mixing resin and my son asking me if I would come to school to pick him up rather than having to ride the bus home. Or having the mic fall to the floor with a major “thwack” because there was no place for me to clip it onto my shirt. 

The boo-boos I really loved were when I realized I needed to grab something that was just out of reach of the camera, so you will see my hands reaching into goodness knows where and somehow returning with a pair of scissors. The thing is that no matter what happened, I just kept talking my way through it. It’s kind of like when a singer is on stage in front of a huge audience and she trips. The thing to do is just keep going and never let anyone see you sweat.

As I continue to juggle my schedule of finding studio time to make art, keeping up with my publishing schedule and deadlines, teaching at art retreats and also doing my job with Susan Lenart Kazmer ICE Resin and raising a family, I’ve had lots of people ask me, “How do you do it?”

I always smile at the question because the answer is actually very simple. I just do it. I just keep going no matter what. Sure, I get overwhelmed sometimes (like now) when I look at my calendar and there are literally back-to-back deadlines as well as the Bead and Button Show coming up next week in Milwaukee.

The thing is that I’m not alone. All the women I work alongside juggle a busy schedule of art, teaching, family, company responsibilities. The friends I made this past week at CREATE — Pam Carriker and Kari McKnight Holbrook – juggle a crazy schedule too. As a matter of fact, it was a large topic of discussion for us as we talked about trying to find balance. (By the way, Pam’s wonderful new book, Art at the Speed of Life is all about this.)

Each of us get the same question: How do you do it? And we all answer along the same lines. We just keep going. We do it because we love it, because we are so grateful and humble for the art experiences we are having, because we are learning things about ourselves in the process that brings a fullness – no a juiciness – to our lives that would pale by comparison had we not walked down the road we’re on.

It takes stamina and focus to be a working artist. It takes some talent, a good support system of loved ones to help us navigate the path to our dreams and it takes a passion and dedication to the craft. When a student asked me in earnest how she, too, could start this journey, these are the things I told her.

Her eyes lit up as though I let her in on a secret society. I smiled because I used to think there was one too. I decided to write this blog post to let others know there is no secret. Just this: Follow your passion, hone your skills and keep moving forward.