The Amazing Journey: Art and Life

Last Saturday on Waterfront Street

2010-08-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

Just a little announcement that this Saturday is the last of Tightknit's market Saturdays...for about a month or so until we move inside Uncle Sam's Atrium. Stop by if you get a chance, for this is sure to be packed full of vendors and sunshine.

TIghtknit Summer Sales

2010-06-14T04:13:00.000-07:00

This summer I'll be back in Troy for more summer sales. So far, the season hasn't been very cooperative as far as the weather has been concerned, so here's to hoping for some sunshine on the weekends. And, if you missed me over the last two weeks because of the weather, you still have plenty of time to catch some new work, buy gifts, or just simply spend a day out. The following is a list of various places and times I'll be out and on the streets:

June 19: Larkfest, River Street, Troy, NY 9-6pm

June 26: Art on Lark, Lark Street, Albany, NY 9-5pm

July 17: Market Saturdays, Front Street, Troy, NY 9-1pm (just before the farmer's market)

July 24: Market Saturdays, Front Street, Troy, NY 9-1pm

July 31: Market Saturdays, Front Street, Troy, NY 9-1pm

August 14: Market Saturdays, Front Street, Troy, NY 9-1pm

August 21: Market Saturdays, Front Street, Troy, NY 9-1pm

August 28: Market Saturdays, Front Street, Troy, NY 9-1pm

September 4: Rider's Mills Art Show, Riders Mills/Malden Bridge, NY 10-4

Artist Interview

2010-06-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

Have you met Sarah yet? Sarah is an artist who lives in Paso Robles, CA. She is a painter, knitter, teacher....okay, I could go on, but let's let our interview speak for itself.

1. How did you come to be an artist?

Growing up I showed a strong natural talent toward creative thinking and I was encouraged to pursue artistic challenges whenever presented. My high school art teacher recommended me for a job at a local frame shop and gallery which further enabled me to see art as a career. As I continued on to college studying fine art was my only interest. I spent a few years without being focused on the business of being an artist and allowed other distractions to keep me from taking it to a professional level. A couple of years ago my sister started working as the assistant to the director of the San Luis Obispo Art Center (now the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art), one day an instructor couldn’t make their scheduled class and my sister suggested me as a replacement. That opening allowed me to continue to instruct over the following summer as well as develop a relationship with the Art Center for additional showings and sales. Over the last couple of years I have found a motivation and an interest into creating a body of work that is becoming stronger with each piece.
Currently I spend the majority of my days working solely on my artwork or on the more tedious business aspects. Although a couple days a week I spend a few hours working at The Art Works; a frame shop and gallery in Paso Robles. I have worked there for several years at different levels of involvement developing a relationship more akin to family with the freedom to allow me to focus on my artwork when necessary.

2. Do you show your work in galleries?

I am a continued featured artist at The Art Works; in addition ALTAMIRA Gallery in New York features a selection of originals and prints from my Surfer Series of watercolor paintings. I am also an artist member of the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art participating in their Business Exhibit Program which allows me to create and hang a new show every four months at a new location.

3. How do you market yourself/work? What is your best means for this: galleries, markets or internet?

Aside from the galleries and Business Exhibits I already mentioned I primarily market online. I live in what is still a very rural area of California with limited local events that feature fine art. Having global access through the internet is the only way for me to see any substantial viewership. I maintain several social networking venues as well as two shops on Etsy, one for my artwork and one for handmade crafts. I have only been selling and marketing online since February 2009 so I feel it is still a learning process to see the best use of my time.

4. What has been the best internet site/resource for getting your work viewed/sold?

My Etsy shops maintain my highest source of traffic, specifically my art. I have heard Etsy referred to as “social commerce” which to me perfectly describes the keys to having success via Etsy. There are different ways to stay involved in the Etsy community; through teams, creating Treasury galleries as well as the forums. Many Etsy sellers continue marketing throughout Facebook and twitter which further develops the social aspects and networking.
Earlier this year I joined Flickr which has become a wonderful source for views which in turn has sent buyers to my Etsy shops.
While I do not use Twitter to sell directly it has allowed me wonderful feedback from followers when posting images of work in progress. It has also given me invaluable connections to other artists and exposure to art I would not have otherwise seen.

5. How important is money versus the making/selling of your art? Do you make art which has more sellable qualities than others works?

I will admit that having sales in certain subjects does motivate me to create similar pieces but at this time the creation of my art is a high priority for me. I will list new work in my Etsy shop or post an image on Flickr gauging what has the strongest reactions by number of views as well as repeat sales in prints. While some series have developed I still enjoy exploration which leads to work in several styles with various subjects. There are a few signature textures I repeat and I am ever drawn to create images associated with water such as my Umbrella Series, Surfer Series or my abstract paintings filled with bubbles.
My Surfer Series of watercolor paintings has been my most popular work by far, winning awards and selling rather easily compared to some of my other work.

6. What has been the biggest struggle with your art?

As I mentioned my corner of California doesn’t have many venues for shows so finding the right marketplace is a challenge. I appreciate having global access via the internet, but which sites will best represent my variety of artwork to the most interested audience is difficult to gauge. I plan to expand my exposure through additional galleries online this year in hopes of finding a broader base of fine art buyers. The business of marketing is not a task I enjoy; it can be extremely time consuming as well as a huge distraction from creating art. I struggle daily with scheduling all that needs to be done online while finding time to paint and still have a few moments not “working” in some way.

www.sarahjohnafana.etsy.com

Blue Skies Abound

2010-03-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

It was just only last week that spring-like weather was upon us, complete with cloudless blue skies. And when I say cloudless, I recall three straight days without a single white cirrus wisp! Staring into that blue ocean over my head, I began to get a dizzy and my eyes actually felt drunk, unable to fully focus from the blue retinal burn that left its mark. Let me stress how blue for a moment. The first time I flew on a commercial jet, I was headed for Hawaii, and mind you, I had no conception of flight time travel, what the sky would look like, or how I would even react. What I saw when we leveled out was two vast oceans: one of soft, cottony clouds that the plane seemed to be floating on, the other, a vast sea of brilliant cerulean blue. And the light that reflected off this sea of clouds was endless! Somewhere the two must intertwine, but not on that journey...and not the other days. The week did finally see some clouds on Friday, but that didn't matter because the sky was still blue. So, in honor of the blue skies, I'll be creating a few new pieces in what I'm deeming the 'skies series'.

Hours in a Day

2010-03-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it seems as if there just aren't enough hours in a day. I would love to say that I get "x amount" of painting in every day, but working as a full time artist also means putting part time hours in at other jobs to help keep income rolling so that I can keep painting. I bring this up because recently I was asked 'how much time do you spend every day painting?' My answer can best be summed up with....'as much as I can get in....even if that means only 1 hour, I say make it a good hour! Typically, I like to spend a few morning hours in the studio, then have lunch, go for a walk, go back to the studio and paint away into early evening, unless I have to go to my part time gig, then I get cut short a few hours on the end. When I feel tired or that the juices aren't flowing, I try to journal, sketch, and work on my jewelry.' My hands are almost always moving and that helps keep the ideas flowing. Not every piece is going to be a brilliant and stunning masterpiece, but I like to see the evolution that happens from one piece to the next; that is very intriguing! And sometimes I hit upon a stroke of genius!

Unusual Inspiration

2010-03-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

People often ask me where I draw inspiration from to make my art. While this may seem quite simple enough of an answer, it is not. Perhaps most of the time, I would say that 'nature is my biggest inspiration. Seed pods are my favorite things to see, collect and paint! I've had a fascination with wooden boxes for a long time and seed pods remind me of them, but more so on the level of Pandora's box and the mysteries of what's on the inside! Seasonal changes and colors are also a great inspiration, as I am fortunate to live in New England....the smell of mud, watching something grow, mature, change, decay....life cycles. I do love science on many levels: chemisty, botany, geology, so these do play somewhat of an inspiration. Most importantly I think the act of creating art inspires the next pieces and so on.' While this is the broadest sense to describe where I find inspiration, it is not always the case; often times I am in the most random of places when I feel, hear or see something. For example, just the other day, while playing hostess at my part time job, I saw residual watermarks on a serving tray that reminded me of a lingering oak leaf, sprouting in the breeze, clinging to it's twig-like branch for dear life, while acorns, pods and berries drifted in the wind around it. This reminded me of an ink-blot image, oozing the potential to be more than just watermarks; the potential to be an ink painting that perhaps gets a few touches of acrylic highlights.

By the Light of Mars

2010-01-12T17:57:00.000-08:00

I don't quite know how to describe it, but when the new year rolls around, I feel somehow different, as if the world around me is changing and I'm not quite ready to settle into it. I don't have a brainstorm of life altering ideas....and with my art, I like to keep that ball rolling from the year's end. Thankfully I've had a few custom requests to keep me busy on that end! So today, while I was preparing my papers and materials for one such request, I decided that I would create a piece that symbolized my current mood...one of floating, drifting, and moving in a direction to unknown changes and distant horizons. It's no surprise that I used this murky, yet fiery orange: one of my favorite colors to wear. However, while I was making this piece, I began to wander in the dreamy floating of these pods, that they began to take a journey to uncharted visions. Somewhere while getting lost, I realized that I felt like I should be on Mars, alone, searching for whatever it is that evokes that new year feeling.

Shopping Local

2009-12-01T07:24:00.000-08:00

Last week I participated in Tightknit's Black Friday shopping extravaganza. Held in the historic Frear's Building in downtown Troy, New York, the event was host to over 50 local artists and crafters selling unique, one of a kind, handmade items.

For more on the event visit http://www.capitalnews9.com

search 'buying local this holiday season'

Defining Garden

2009-10-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

Below is a running list of the names I've given to gardens over the years. Feel free to add more in the comments...
The Invasive Garden
The Ugly Garden
Green Screen
The Rose Garden
Moon Garden
The Well Garden
Herb Garden
The Wild Garden
The Rock Garden
The Main Garden
The Pool Garden
The Lilly Bed
The Arbor
The Trellis
The Fern Garden
The Orchard
The Containers
The Butterfly Garden
The Tchotchke Garden
The Dream Garden
The Blue and Purple Garden

Art Tray Chic

2009-09-14T15:44:00.000-07:00

In my editions of encaustics vs bird paintings, this is the latest piece. A combination of encaustic, collage and painting, this piece was done on a 9"x13" tray. While it may be functional, the intent is more for a wall hanging. The reason for being on a tray is that it is part of the 'eat for art' benefit sponsored by the Columbia County Council on the Arts. This tray, along with 40 others, will be auctioned off the first weekend in October. For the complete details, please go to http://www.artscolumbia.org/

In love with Encaustic!

2009-08-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

To the new work!

Beauty

2009-07-06T08:40:00.000-07:00

A symbol of sweetness, purity and beauty....here's the latest piece after a batch of rainy weather. I know it's long past magnolia season, but I couldn't help but take the time to really look and examine the beauty of these flower petals as they unfurl, shape shift and capture both light and shadow during their brief moments in the sun.

Reflections

2009-06-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

Here's how I spent the month of May...working on Reflections, a mirrored mosaic dog that will adorn the streets of Hudson, NY this summer.

In the process, I learned that mirror cannot be recycled.

Somehow I feel I should have known that, but I'm glad I do now!

And I'm glad to have created this gorgeous piece,

while upcycling a material that was destined to be part of a landfill somewhere.

Is this my best creature yet?

You be the judge...

A New Treasury

2009-03-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

For anyone interested, please check out my new treasury on etsy! It features members of the FDL team, VAST, and other incredibly talented etsian artists!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=46834

Tangerine Gardens

2009-03-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

Here today, gone tomorrow! That's how quickly the turnover was on 'Tangerine Gardens'...I'm proud to announce it has a new home in sunny Florida!

Fleeting Fortunes!!!

2009-03-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to William Murray, who is the proud owner of 'Fleeting Fortunes'. This is truly one of the best pieces I have done in my career and I"m glad it has a home in which it will be treasured!

Some new work...

2009-03-04T10:55:00.001-08:00

Winter is still here...that darned groundhog! So while I've been hibernating, I've been painting, drawing, journaling....

enjoy the new work!

Grey Matter

2009-02-12T06:20:00.000-08:00

I love the color of grey....soft grey, dove grey, cool grey, warm grey, french grey, blue grey, grey day. A grey day it is today, complete with a misty rain. While it can stay in that murky zone of colors, there is a reason we use it as a value finder: it helps us clearly see other colors. For example, have you ever noticed the lush, rich greens of spring on one of those damp, cool, rainy spring days? Or how about red and green amidst grey! So today, I plead, let's give thanks to grey and be the winter blahs!

Honesty

2009-01-26T08:29:00.000-08:00

Honesty...a piece that took time.

Finding Time

2009-01-26T08:03:00.000-08:00

Following some blogs, I've realized that as artists, we share some common ground....
the need for TIME to make our work, the feeling that we don't have enough TIME to create all the work that we want, that TIME is going to escape us or get the better of us, and that in these economic TIMEs, we have chosen a path as artists, a path that is steady in it's journey for us, but nonetheless one that holds no guarantees. So let's ponder this 'TIME'. As I sit here pondering where I want to start my day...a watercolor, some sketches, journaling, full throttle into some oil paintings, maybe finish a few of those encaustics....I am already worried about the time that has escaped me today, the extra two hours I spent in bed because of a headache, the time I need to spend getting groceries today, the time I am losing towards my artwork and the time that I will be able to spend on my artwork....AHHH! It's overwhelming!
Let's pull in those reins and remember this: disregard those hands on the clock, for the time being. If we make even one piece of art a day, for even five minutes, it is a step closer. And then maybe the next day, we spend thirty minutes, and then two hours, and then a whole day....it's a habit like any other: so easy to start, so hard to break. Time is really on our side if we truly think about it. When I paint, I am not even thinking of time...it just happens. Sometimes it slows down and sometimes it speeds by, but giving myself to my art, I simply don't notice the time. I certainly don't compare the work I made with the time I spent on it....that could get us all in trouble. And back to these economic times...I willingly left a secure, full time job back in August, to pursue my artwork because in order to do so, I needed more TIME! And it was a bold and scary move, not knowing how my bills would be paid, but I was giving myself the gift of time to pursue my reality: being an artist. Yes, of course it is with fear, doubt and skepticism that I wonder, 'will I be able to make it?, will my work sell?'....so far, I gauge my time on a month to month basis, and so far, so good....yeah, I do supplement with a few ultra part time gigs; but I look at the state our of nation, people losing jobs and so much more, and yet I think, 'what an AMAZING TIME to be an artist, to stay at home and paint!'

Happy Valentines!

2009-01-14T10:30:00.000-08:00

Inspired by the small work and all the cutting, clipping, and gluing, I decided to create a small simple valentine! I"m not much of a fan of the Hallmark holiday, but I do have soft spot for the shape of hearts, probably because it reminds me of my drifting fortunes.

The Primaries....

2009-01-09T06:32:00.000-08:00

Primary colors do amazing things to re-invigorate you...for me, it's seeing vibrancy in something so primitively basic: the basic building blocks of color. It's like remembering those first crayola crayons you were given, whether it was a simple 8 pack or the mondo 48 colors box with the sharpener on the back, the red, yellow and blue were always the ones that were 'down there', hiding almost, because they had been sharpened and used so much.

So, here are some new pieces....more of the 4x4 bird studies, where I get back to the basics...

red, yellow and blue set against white and some simple black line.

And now that the studio is done, I can begin in oil again....yipee!

Some Birds

2008-12-31T08:48:00.000-08:00

Here's a few of the new birds...

And Things....

2008-12-29T08:59:00.000-08:00

While the weather has been stormy, I have been stuck in the house, creating new work...oh darn! While I await the completion of the 'paint and play' room, painting has been in the form of small watercolors and collages for the time being. It's amazing what paper can teach you and how it even informs about paint....I've been loving going through my old suitcase of remnant papers! It's like a great Christmas day every time I open it up and find something I previously missed the last time I went through. So that said, please enjoy the mini collages...and stay tuned for the mini birds coming shortly.

ONE DAY SALE!!!

2008-12-20T08:54:00.000-08:00

I'm conducting a final, one day holiday sale from here at home today!
For anyone interested, here's the details:
TODAY ONLY!
10% off my entire etsy store and free shipping.
Please go to www.aliherrmann.etsy.com for all the details and please read the shop announcement for any further questions about the sale.
Happy Holidays!

2008-12-18T11:11:00.000-08:00

I believe though that to be an artist really requires that you have renaissance capabilities...yes, much like Leonardo daVinci...you must be a scientist, intuitive, inquiring, hypothesizing, experimenting....seeking solutions and new answers, a cook, someone with a flair for flavors (this is my simile for color composition), capable of multitasking and ambidextrous...left and right brained, someone willing to make a mess to make something great, and not worried or afraid of the aftermath in the cleanup, someone who savors!, and you must be a child, not that i want to revert back to being five again...heck, I barfed in the one room kindergarten classroom on the first day of school...., but someone who has the ability to see something for the first time, over and over again...to bring that to each piece of art, BUT KNOWINGLY!
These are the qualities that I think help shape an artist.

Oil, Acrylic, or Watercolor?

2008-12-15T11:45:00.000-08:00

The argument:
Oil, acrylic or watercolor? Where art is concerned, I truly believe in the 'whatever medium it takes to convey the work best' theory. What I mean by this is that if painting is typically your chosen medium, but you have a great idea which could be better/best expressed through sculpture, then justifiably so, you should see the work out in sculpture. However, when it comes to painting, I still hear the masses ooh and ahh over the luxurious richness that is found in oil paintings. That's not to say that greatness cannot be achieved in acrylic or watercolors...myself, I use all three; some pieces work better in watercolors and some pieces only work in acrylic...it's the nature of the materials that best suits the subject matter for me. So why, at this day in age, is oil painting still on a pedestal? Yes that richness is in the paint, but if the subject matter isn't there, then all you have is paint....for me, not enough to talk about (and I say this from experience mind you).

Falling Down the Rabbit Hole

2008-12-11T16:29:00.000-08:00

It was one of those surreal days....people coming and going, both announced and unannounced. Up the staircase, down the staircase. That black cavernous hole in the middle of the room, which I later termed, 'the Rabbit Hole', not quite seeing it's appropriateness til much later in the day.
And then there was me and my position in this matter, my relationship to the black hole. But for now, all I could think of was how to avoid falling down that hole. One wrong move and I'd be a goner....it quite made me think of Alice. Was I somehow channelling her energy? Why was it I was being forced to taste the tainted coffee? The words 'taste this' seeming more like 'drink me', a command more than statement. So simple enough, take a sip I did. But just as quickly as I drank the kool-aid, the gag reflexes kicked out that perfumey, hazelnutty liquid that could be best be described as one word....'soapy'. But blowing bubbles out my mouth, I was now trapped, succumbed to chemical enhancement I was forced to drink.....and then on to the next strategic move....LUNCH! If this is not possibly the best part of the day, with all the possible options weighing in to fill your hunger.....but even that too was spoiled with, 'eat this', 'eat me'....a limp sandwich as damp as the misty rain itself, leaving its dewy resin on the passerbys on the street. Unfulfillment. And did I fail to mention that I finally, officially, felt like Alice? Oh yeah, the other scenarios play out for the most part....tweedle dee shows up and says he's coming back later with tweedle dumb!, the mad hatter's tea party magically arrives and ironically my tea disappears, the cheshire cat comes and goes without actually leaving the building, and there was a game of chess with the queen of hearts, but I don't remember any of the moves......and that is when it came to me...I"m not Alice after all, but the Rabbit himself! checking the clock with the wrong time, saying that I need to leave soon, I have an appointment, I must leave soon....and ahh! down the rabbit hole I go.

In the Church

2008-12-09T07:53:00.000-08:00

One day only, this Saturday, December 13th! from 12-5pm I will be selling artwork and jewelry in the Trinity Church on 235 Lark Street, Albany, NY. This event is part of the giveHandmande holiday extravaganza hosted by grand street arts and the WinterwonderLark event. If you are in the neighborhood, stop by, say hi, and support the local artists and artisans. Meanwhile, you can preview my work at http://www.aliherrmann.com/ and purchase work at http://www.aliherrmann.etsy.com/

best wishes to all!

Misty

2008-12-05T05:55:00.000-08:00

It's getting to be that time of year again...time to haul out the sweaters and cocoa mix. Even as the seasons change, I can still be inspired by that cold, blankness of the landscape...the trees baren and the birds a mere dark silhouette....for it is approaching winter time. The one thing that stands out as significant this time of year is the light....it's both bright and dull, illuminating and concealing....it is itself and it's opposite all at once, in one season. For me, I like to call this misty. As the season changes even more, watch how the lighting affects my new work....much as it did in this one, where yes, I did revisit the birds.

To the Birds!

2008-12-02T08:49:00.000-08:00

While the 'paint and play' (the studio room) is in the process of being developed, I have been working on smaller watercolor pieces that are a collection of studies that I have taken from the natural world. Using bittersweet, nigellia, and poppy pods, I've been doing a lot of drawing in ink and decided to better accent them with a splash of watercolor. These have been amazingly fun and informative, however, I miss the birds, as many of you do too. No worries! I have begun a series of birds in acrylic on paper....so stay tuned!

thanks for coming in today!

2008-11-29T18:15:00.000-08:00

An extended thanks to everyone in Troy who showed up at the first ever Tightknit Indie event!
I truly enjoyed working with everyone involved.
The event was a huge success. Thanks to everyone who took the time to browse, shop, comment, chat and plain out send positivity to the artists around the community!

2008-11-22T15:01:00.000-08:00

Another reminder that I will be at the Frear's Building, corner of Fulton and 3rd in Troy, NY on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon for the tightknit.org handmade sale. To view work ahead of time, please see http://www.aliherrmann.com/ or http://www.aliherrmann.etsy.com/

And for directions to the event go to http://www.tightknit.org/

This event is in conjunction with the Troy Night Out.

It looks to be a blast...see you there!

2008-11-19T19:28:00.000-08:00

And one more noteworthy thing to mention: if you are unable to be in the capital region this season, I wlll also be at the IS183 Arts School Holiday Sale on Dec 6 from 11-5pm.
www.is183.org

2008-11-19T19:22:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to announce that I will be participating in two events this holiday season: 1. the tightknit holiday sale in Troy, NY on Nov. 28th and 29th and 2. the giveHandmade sale during the Winterwonderlark on Dec. 13. Hope the weather holds until then!!!
For more info go to www.tightknit.org or www.givehandmade.org
and to preview my artwork go to www.aliherrmann.com

Finally! A Website....

2008-10-31T08:52:00.000-07:00

It's officially underway....and when I say underway, I mean yes, building, growing, changing....as I learn the ins and outs of developing a website. For anyone interested, go to http://www.aliherrmann.com/

the upcoming shows....

2008-10-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

I'm officially getting work out there:

for those of you on the move, please check out works at the following locations:

1. http://www.aliherrmann.etsy.com/

2. The Welle's gallery in Lenox, MA (this is the Lenox library's gallery, attached to the building). the show will be up the whole month of October, 10-5 daily, except mondays.

3. The Hudson Artswalk 2008 which is taking place Oct. 10-13th in the old cannonball factory which is located at the corner of 4th and columbia

4. the hudson best in show dog auction is also taking place this up coming weekend, where you can bid on the cheshire dog, as seen here....and yes, his creepy grin and googily eyes glow in the dark!

www.aliherrmann.etsy.com

2008-10-05T10:33:00.000-07:00

wow! I wish someone had told me about this years ago...

but now I have found out for myself, now I know.

I have work listed on etsy.com

my username is aliherrmann, of course, to make it easy for everyone to find me.

I"m posting frequently....art and jewelry, so please check out my site.

Ironically, the piece that has gotten the most views is one of my first postings, as seen here:

a small red piece on a wooden panel, titled, Hemoglobin.

take a look when you get a chance.

how plans change

2007-09-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

So I left with a sample of how this painting started.....and now here it is, done. I had brought this with me to my residency in Vermont, though, as if taking my own advice from this painting, plans do change whether you want them to or not. As it so happened this collage/word image painting series came to a halt when I realized that I was losing the fun of painting. And I think I realized this during that fun purple and white squiggle in the lower left hand corner star section. The painting was a struggle to finish, and so, I worked on other things......

BIG PLANS

2007-09-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

Here's the piece I'm currently heading off to Vermont with.....I've decided to take it and finish it there, against any advice I was previously given. It needs to be finished, and since it is the new series I hope to be working on, I need to see it through. Tim likes this new series, as do I, though it is different from the previous abstract series. I like to think of it as a nice departure, and dont' worry, the abstracts will resurface! I'm thinking big red painting soon!

Ure(k)a!

2007-09-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

For those of you who haven't seen it, this was the horse I created for the Horses Saratoga Style, 2007. It is covered in over 4000 caps and currently stands lopsided on Washington Ave. in downtown Saratoga, NY. I've weened myself off the glue residue and am heading off to Johnson, VT tomorrow. I'm sure the saga will continue without my knowledge, but as it stands now, a 'restorer' will be handling the dog pee area on the front passenger side leg which has caused a small rusty patina path that dribbles down to the hoof. Pee to the tenth power!

Tips for Crashing a Fake Wedding

2007-08-30T19:24:00.000-07:00

1. Always remember to dress appropriately, don't fake it!: women, that means a cocktail dress, formal gown, or fancy pants. Guys, that should mean tie and jacket.....

2. If possible, bring a date. Going it alone can be scary, but being a third wheel can lead to some embarrassment. Having a date means you wont' get stuck at a table of unfamiliar faces, and you always have someone to talk to.

3. If you didn't bring a gift, don't eat the food, not even the free cake. A cocktail is acceptable if you pay for it (or tip at an open bar) and will also allow you enough time to decide whether or not you should stay. A quick, discreet exit is best, because, let's face it, you weren't invited!

Artomat!!!

2007-08-24T21:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's official! I am going to be an Artomat artist. My work will be in old cigarette vending machines all across the country. My slot will feature artist books and journals; pieces that have been created for collection and notation. I have to start production soon, but will keep y'all posted as to when (and maybe where) they hit machines. The first series is going to be a collection of 'little black books', which I am hoping to start in my 'down time' while I am at the Vermont Studio Center. That's right! For those of you who do not know, I am going to VSC for the whole month of September. Some call it a vacation, yet I prefer to call it a residency....it's a better title to put on a resume! Works for thought....the wordly (collage) paintings, a continuation of the blood series, maybe some new abstracts....the Zingale encouraged floral studies....who knows.

The Songs in Our Heads

2007-08-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

Why is it we never hear people say, 'Wow, I've got this really great song stuck in my head!' Instead we always hear people complaining about the song they have stuck in their head, usually referring to something annoying or a song they don't particularly like. If you're like me, you've wondered about this for a little too long. Let's take for example the annoying song...those get stuck in our head because they have something lyrically catchy and are often overused in media, on TV, on the radio, in commercials....Ahhh!!! Yes, it's painful, I agree. But let's also consider another context: our vehicles, that's right, those powerful, gas guzzling machines that we love so much that bring us to where we need to go. And if you have a new vehicle, you've almost instantly become equipped with satellite radio, in addition to the typical air waves which we seem to have all but forgotten about with today's technology. So here' the scenario....I am at work and my coworker says, 'Oh, I heard this stupid song on the way to work, and now it's stuck in my head.' All I'm left to wonder is, 'why didn't they change the station? Why did they feel succumbed to listen, especially when there is so much good music out there.? Do they subconsciously like it or are they preconditioned to be like a fly to crap? I propose to start a new expression, as I said above, 'Wow!, I got this really great song stuck in my head!'

My First Green Painting

2007-08-23T16:59:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest piece from my new series of paintings. It is a piece that was created from a collage and has more subconscious thoughts in it than I'd like to discuss, but I will say this: 2006 certainly felt like a giant waste of time.

This is quite possibly the first green painting that I have ever created. I love the color green and all the various shades of it, however, have never, until now, found a way to make it work in a painting. This piece has opened some new channels and there is a series already starting to form, using numbers, monochromatic colors, collage, and most importantly, WORDS!

(And the peculiar plant in the center is a fern!)