![]() Word is on the street that the hurricane won't be coming to these parts...but we will get lot's of rain and just general poopy weather. It's always so sunny here in South Florida that when it isn't...folks don't act right. We get all twitchy and crazy. It has rained off an on all day and the color outside has varied from light to dark gray with variations of blah. I did make it to the gym (patting myself on the back) I did purchase supplies to make practice bows for my cheerleaders. (mentally checking this off my list) And, well of course, I did take a nap. A two hour nap. (Yay!) When I woke up I went back to the task I started before I left for the gym- August inventory. Yeah, I did say I was going to do a better job this month, update my inventory as I made each piece...never happens. What does happen? Me- sitting with a stack of artwork, labeling the back with the # and date, placing each piece in a bag...looking through my messages and emails to confirm which pieces sold, what was paid, prepping work to be mailed out...stopping periodically throughout the whole process, feeling the stress coming on but trying to push it back. Luckily, rainy days are perfect for getting this kind of task accomplished. And I did. I feel organized again, made contact with the folks that wanted to buy. Yes, calm has been restored. For now.
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![]() Absolute.Shameless.Plug. Well, it's finally Friday...or...Saturday. Now it is Saturday, almost 1am. The first full week of school went great but I must admit, I had to take naps every day this week. I try not too, but I know I will be up til 11:30-1ish every night anyway so I might as well sleep a little. I am hoping that I will get more accustomed to the schedule very soon, this is going to be a busy year. Rainy weather here didn't keep me from heading down south to hang out with Jess and Angela, the two queen bees of this whole Art Hive endeavor. I can't believe it sometimes, but it is really happening. The magazine is set to come out in October, with three launch parties already set, Angela and Lady selling ads and making connections, Jess graphic designing her BEEhind off. (sorry, I had to!) And I feel fortunate to be a part of it, my first article already written and turned in to Jess. My articles are going to focus on looking for inspiration, staying motivated...kind of why I started this whole blog here. As for my art for the day, didn't have time to draw with my 5th graders, they were busy finishing up their drawings for the week, selecting their best two drawings and the one that wasn't as successful and writing their explanations for their choices. But I did work on my daily art (#237) here at Jessie's, taking my inspiration from the Art Hive mock-up she designed, well, the first one. This is the same image on the business cards and the website, I figure I see it enough...and I can include a bee so it can go with the images I have been working with this month. And now, time to sleep. I don't think my weekend will include any pool or oceanside drawing...nope, just going to try and stay dry! ...ummmmmm...so....there might be a hurricane a'headed this way?! OMG...this would be my first hurricane since we moved to Florida! I want my mom! Aughhhh!!!! ![]() Deep breaths. Okay, get it together... I sure hope that there is not a hurricane...but just in case, here is my list of items needed to be ready; (right) Yep, I think that is about it, that should help me get through. I just read the list to my husband and he seems to think we might need more food and less sparkly thangs. Better start preparing....fingers crossed that it doesn't come here, GO AWAY ISSAC!!! ...loving...my...job. New daily routine that I look forward to everyday, drawing with my 5th graders after lunch. We are all seriously almost running to get back to the art room and start drawing together, they are working in their art notebooks...I am working at my desk and projecting via the document camera....just the sound of pencil on paper, marker caps...papers rustling...pages in the drawing books turning...pencils sharpening...whispers, 'what do you think if this?'...'which one do you like better?'...pencils sharpening. I stop every 5-7 minutes to circulate, offering suggestions, asking questions. A busy little art studio.
This is our time, and I look forward to it every day. Love it. I will mention this a little more in my Teachin' Blog later for my art teacher friends...but I just wanted to share this feeling of...just...awesome. ![]() ...still catching up with the whole sleep thing...should be somewhat back to normal by mid week...I hope. Where to start? Ahh yes, Chicago. What a great, albeit short, trip it was. I never mind having to enterain myself, especially in a big city, so while John was at his conference I arrived in Chicago, dropped off my bags and took off. Wait...better back up. There was some artin' at the airport and on the plane en route to Chicago. CED #231. Turned out pretty cool...gal in profile with hair made of butterfly wings...kind of looks a little like some kind of helmet to me...my students said it looked like a wave of butterflies in her hair, too. Back to the arrival. Literally, dropped my bags and made a mad dash for the The Art Institute of Chicago with the primary concern of seeing the Roy Lichtenstein Retrospective. On my way out I noticed a gallery next to the hotel....this painting just made me stop in my tracks. Two female figures, almost peering out from the large canvas from an impossible textural surface. But I made myself move on, making a mental note. I would return. (and I did) Roy Lichtenstein...awesome. It was amazing to see his work up close. Whaam! is such a huge painting. And I guess I didn't realize that the permanent collection was as extensive as it was...I had fun taking super-silly pics of myself expressing my excitement for the art...gave me an idea for a teaching idea...will post later this week in my Teachin' Blog... (Above) ...partial view from the 94th floor of the John Hancock building, pictures taken David Hockney style then uploaded to http://www.dermandar.com, a site I found last year and LOVE! I need to go in a manually add some picture to make the panoramic flow towards the ends where the water is...but it's late...so this is it for now. So...museum, random walking, deep dish pizza, 'the bean'...we fit a good amount in my portion of the trip, just over twenty-four hours...but one of the most significant parts of the trip...that gallery next to the hotel? Well, that was Hilligoss Galleries. John and I went in and really lucked out, the gallery director/president took us around the space and talked at length about the artist who painted that piece that caught my eye in the first place, Nikolai Blokhin. He talked about the artist, the work, lighting, framing, selling art, even showed us some of his own work. That seriously made the trip for me. Sigh. What an amazing experience.
...when I get back from school later...and recover from my lack of sleep I will post pics from my weekend trip to Chicago...too much awesome! Aughhhhh....I am sleepy.....zzzzzz
Okay. So two things...first, I didn't have time to sit and blog about it...and two, I needed time to really reflect on the impact of last night's events. ...let me back track. Last night I rode down to Delray for a Art Hive meeting and then to check out the galleries there on Atlantic and in the Pineapple Grove/Artist Alley area. I didn't get back til late, then had to pack for Chicago...I admit, I was in a bit of a frantic. (Two things about me...I love to travel..but I HATE packing for a trip.) And of course, today I found out my first flight was delayed, which would cause me to miss the second flight...deep breaths...the bottom line is I fly out early in the morning. It will be a very quick trip to Chicago, but I don't want to miss out on the chance to support my husband (he is there for his professional conference)...and of course to take in some art at the local museums. So now I have some time to blog. I am just so overwhelmed by the experience last night. The creative energy of not only the my colleagues at Art Hive, but in the galleries we visited and the studios. Love it. It is tough to juggle, but I plan on making it to more of these. I need this in my life. It brought me back to a class I took in undergrad...we took a trip to NYC and were exploring the gallery scene, visiting artists' studios, really having some significant dialogue about making art. I felt so energized by that experience, and Delray last night brought me back. ...a few pictures from last night, some mine some from Jess... Probably the one thing from last night that really stuck with me was the visit to Vladimir Prodanovich's studio. We walked down an alley, into a studio space that was in a garage. The first thing that hit me- the smell of paint. The wonderful smell of acylic paint. Then the colors from the pieces he was working on. He was working on multiple pieces at one time...Vladimir talked about how this kept one piece or one mark from being too precious and allowed you to really create in that moment. It made sense. And as an artist, visiting another artist's studio and seeing how they work...I wondered how could I apply that to my work? Can I? Admittedly, I am a little conflicted because on one hand, I have this love for detail, intensive drawing...even on a level that I have yet to reach. Tiny, minuscule movements of the hand to create shading...I really respond to that...but then there is that part of me that really likes the freedom of blowing the paint across the paper, letting drips happen. There is talk of making art, giving art away, art storage, magazine planning, and how he lives this life. How can I apply this to my work?....How can I become better at what I do?....How can I make a go of this whole artist thing? These are the thoughts that I am a battling with right this second. ![]() Side note...here is my CED #230. I started this today at school, drawing on the document camera while the students worked on their small drawing. So quiet, everyone on task. Just the sound of pencil on paper, sorting through crayons and colored pencils...markers being capped and uncapped. Not Vladimir's studio, but I will take it, this is my classroom studio. My mind is racing. I am exhausted. Had an amazing evening with the Art Hive crew meeting artists and visiting galleries in Delray. Lot's of pics...things to write, but this will have to wait. I think that missing sleep is finally start to catch up with me...will pick back up with this topic tomorrow....oh, and here is #229 (below) drawn en route this evening...and completed on my art table. ...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...or
First day of school...amazing...Seriously...But...my coma/nap when I got home really messed my schedule, will have to wait to post to my teachin' blog...It's after 12am...got to go to bed...Gotta be up at 5:30 to get ready for school and make the drive out the Indiantown...then headed down south...lot's of exciting art happenings tomorrow after school involving Tipsy Art and Art Hive. Wow, I better get some sleep... ![]() |
AuthorArtist and Art Teacher
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