A Bunch of Stuff

Have any of you been on Facebook? It is a totally time sucking pastime. That's where I have been. I've been sucked in. It's so much easier to use than blogger but it has a different audience. I am definitely going to have to find that blogging without guilt banner somewhere. It nags at me that I haven't posted and the nagging makes me not want to post. How the heck does that work?

Artfest is coming! It's just a couple weeks away and I'm getting pumped about it. I love being in the classroom, most any classroom, but this is the best. Five days away, three days of new teachers, and someone cooking every delicious meal. I hope we have the same people cooking as last year. I've been dreaming about it.

My classes are all painting classes this time. I feel like I never got to use the classes I took last year and for the money I need a return on investment. There are supplies up the ying yang to be found and purchased.

Now I need to begin working on some trades. The theme opf sea monsters this year has kind of put me off . They're supposed to be pretty sea monsters. Huh??

The photo I posted here is one of my recent encaustics. It has nothing to do with the post but I thought you might like a peek at it. I hope you can click on it and see it large. I'm not sure.

3:00 AM In The Morning

It's 3:00AM. Do you know where your mind is? Mine is acting like a fireworks booth in flames. I can't seem to shut it down so I'm waiting for it to burn itself out.

Some things I am wondering about:

What/Who controls the medium I work in? I have quite a few shows coming up and want to do something different, something that isn't encaustic. I wonder if I am expected to show encaustic paintings only. I feel like it is what people want to see. Do I need to take the upper hand and do the art for myself rather than the looker? That is the direction I am leaning but I do worry about how it will be recieved.

Is this economy going to pick up any time soon? In this household we are both self employed. The phone is deadly silent. That means no money is coming in. I am thinking I need to find a grocery store that wants to trade signs for food. How do people deal with these times? What are you all doing about the economy and your shringking wallets?

Facebook is a very easy place to lose time. I love getting to know cousins that I haven't seen in many years, or never, but most of what happens there is fluff and fun. I feel like it has replaced my blogging time. That's not good.

Snow...It just seems to keep on coming. It's a really odd weather year here in the northwest.

Again with the food. I think I need to plant a garden this year and do some canning. I wonder how I would go about keeping the beavers and deer away. It's an awful lot of work and would all have to be done by hand.

I had a wonderful visit with a favorite aunt yesterday. We strolled the streets of Portland and ended up eating in a very nice italian place. I've never had polenta so tall and fluffy. I'll be working on that recipe. I suspect egg whites and ricottta have been folded into the polenta before it is baked. It sure was tasty.

I am excited about my Artfest trip in April. I'm looking forward to the time to put all of my energy into art and friends and living in the moment. It'll also be grand having someone else do the cooking.


Hmmmm. These things don't seem worth laying awake for. What is up? No photos this morning but I swear I will be back with some very soon.

Encaustic Peace

I've missed you all lately but have not missed reading your blogs. What wondeful things are being posted.

This is a recent 2' X 2' encaustic painting of mine. I like the gritty, worn, earthiness of it. I also like the message. I hope we are now moving toward that Peace in our world.

I seem to be fascinated by grafitti lately and would love an in depth class in it. Because of my experience with lettering I can see that there is more to it than meets the eye. It fascinates me.

You can see this painting, and others, at the Edmonds Conference Center until mid march. The picure really doesn't do it justice.

101 Things

This encaustic painting is called "Watching Over What is Precious"



I got this list from the Cycling Artists Blog. Celeste at Stone Soup Art also did one.


This is a fun way to start the year and get thinking about the next one.


Now I'll have to do one that applies to the business of art.

So I have bolded the things I have done, and made comments when I felt like it

1. Started your own blog


2. Slept under the stars


3. Played in a band


4. Visited Hawaii


5. Watched a meteor shower


6. Given more than you can afford to charity


7. Been to Disneyland


8. Climbed a mountain (a small one!)


9. Held a praying mantis


10. Sang a solo (by myself. No one else should be subjected to it)


11. Bungee jumped


12. Visited Paris (I came close. I was in France)


13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (oddly, no – but I saw an electrical storm from the windows of the large theater in Ashland, OR. Something I will never forget. All electricity in town was out and the whole sky kept lighting up.))


14. Taught yourself an art from scratch


15. Adopted a child


16. Had food poisoning


17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty


18. Grown your own vegetables


19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France


20. Slept on an overnight train (I think we slept. I was young)


21. Had a pillow fight


22. Hitch hiked


23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill


24. Built a snow fort


25. Held a lamb


26. Gone skinny dipping


27. Run a Marathon


28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice


29. Seen a total eclipse


30. Watched a sunrise or sunset


31. Hit a home run


32. Been on a cruise


33. Seen Niagara Falls in person


34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors


35. Seen an Amish community


36. Taught yourself a new language (pig latin)


37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (money doesn’t satisfy a person.))


38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person


39. Gone rock climbing


40. Seen Michelangelo's David


41. Sung karaoke


42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt


43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (does sharing a meal with a stranger count? done that)


44. Visited Africa


45. Walked on a beach by moonlight


46. Been transported in an ambulance


47. Had your portrait painted (twice. once by myself!)


48. Gone deep sea fishing (I did go deep sea whale watching)


49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (THIS I WOULD LOVE!!!!I’m fascinated by churches anyways)


50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris


51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain


53. Played in the mud


54. Gone to a drive-in theater


55. Been in a movie


56. Visited the Great Wall of China


57. Started a business


58. Taken a martial arts class


59. Visited Russia


60. Served at a soup kitchen


61. Sold Girl Scout cookies


63. Got flowers for no reason


64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma


65. Gone sky diving (I did go parasailing. Way cool!)


66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp


67. Bounced a check (regrettably, many)


68. Flown in a helicopter


69. Saved a favorite childhood toy


70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial


71. Eaten Caviar (blech)


72. Pieced a quilt


73. Stood in Times Square


74. Toured the Everglades (this is on my to do list)


75. Been fired from a job


76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London


77. Broken a bone


78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person


80. Published a book (I’ve been published in a book)


81. Visited the Vatican (This I would LOVE also)


82. Bought a brand new car


83. Walked in Jerusalem


84. Had your picture in the newspaper


85. Read the entire Bible


86. Visited the White House


87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating


88. Had chickenpox


89. Saved someone’s life9


90. Sat on a jury!


91. Met someone famous


92. Joined a book club


93. Lost a loved one


94. Had a baby


95. Seen the Alamo in person


96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake


97. Been involved in a lawsuit


98. Owned a cell phone


99. Been stung by a bee


100. Read an entire book in one day


101. Been married 40 years

Feel free to copy and post on your blog.

Sun Shines

It's been so long since I've posted that I'm almost embarassed. I need to shake that off and talk a little art.

On December 7th, Tracy Helgeson, from one of my favortie blogs, gave away a painting for her birthday. Who do you think won it? It was me,me, me. And I found out on my birthday! I can't believe it. I love Tracy's work and she let me go to her page and pick any painting I would like. Do you believe this generosity? I chose this beautiful piece called Crazy Fields.

Isn't it wonderful? Tracy has recently done some beautiful flower paintings but since I resonate so much with her horizon lines I chose this one to hang in my home.

Speaking of home....this is a photo I took yesterday from my deck. (Sorry about where it placed itself) I feel absolutely no need at all to go out when I have this georgeous view. I am truly blessed. We have more snow than I can remember the last couple weeks. A big storm is coming in tonight too. I know it causes an inconvenience but until we lose power I will be a happy camper. The wood is beside the fireplace in case it gets cold. I have a woodburning stove that I love cooking on so we won't starve. (though, I could live off the fat on my body for months)

The snow is swirling. They say we are going to be hit with 70-90 mile an hours winds. I best post this before I can't

For all of you I wish the very best of the holidays. I hope you are able to tuck in with family, help your neighbors in emergencies, and love life to the fullest.

My next post will have my own art on it since I plan on going down into the studio and putting forth some effort.

Time For a Change

It's a new day in America!!!

When I grew up there were still white fountains in some areas.

We have come a long way. I am so thankful to have lived to see it happen. I can't imagine the things I will see in the rest of my life.

The Business of Art

I am popping in to say hello and let you know what has been on my plate.

I've gone back to Edmonds CC and am taking the EDGE Program. It is a professional developement course for artists. How cool is that? It's alot of fun and a tremendous amount of info to absorb. I worry that my mind is not up to the task but the little rational person that sits on my shoulder says "no problem". Thank Goodness!!

I've decided that if I am going to keep making art I might as well do it and mean it. I am excited about what we have learned so far.

Did you know that no one looks down on an artist without a degree? I heard alot of "phews" in the classroom when that tidbit was offered.

Did you know that the days of just hanging out, wearing black, and looking tortured are over for artists? Well, it seems that to make it in art now you have to have business savvy and a nice professional portfolio. That means that you shouldn't be tossing out those little articles done on you like they aren't important.

You should be photographing and cataloging all of your work so you can access it at a moments notice. Yikes!!

You need to know when and where your shows were. I need to do some unearthing of all of this info.

You need to keep your books up. Noooooo!!! I hate bookwork. It is my necessary treat to have a bookkeeper. I don't own a credit card but I hate dealing with money. There was a time when I was good at it but that time is long gone. I think it left when I sold my first painting.

Now the BIGGIE. You need a professional portfolio.

When I hear that I want to roll up like a pill bug and disappear under the desk. Slowly but surely I will meet this requirement.

If you can't get into the EDGE Program for some reason, I think there are templates on Windows for resumes, bio and stuff. It is well worth the research to find out what qualifies as a well written Artist Statement. Every word counts. I thought I had a pretty good one but it is changing.

In the meantime, for the last couple weeks, I have been sporting a splint on my left hand. The other day, while trying to turn my office into a serious work environment and not a playhouse, I somehow managed to get my right hand between a dropping tabletop and something else. I don't know what. ... Pretty sure that my hand was broken I quickly showered , put on clean underwear and went to the doctor. (Hey, I know the rules!) The doc stitched me up, x-rayed and bandaged me. Thankfully, there was no break. The bleeding was bad because I nicked an artery. The stitches come out next week.

Time on the computer is crazy tough when your fingers don't work and they are so fat they hit a few keys at a time. I can't tell you how badly I wanted to do a painting with my teeth or toes. If I do, I'll post it but don't hold your breath. I was afraid it would seem like I was making fun of someone.

For now, I sign off wishing you the most beautiful of Autumn. I can see the wind blowing the golden yellow leaves off the maple tree right outside my office. It is a sight to behold!