Introducing: The Classic Chair Collection

Eames chairs have been a favorite subject for me. 

Hi! How are you?

For the first time in a long time, I have a new product in my Etsy shoppe!  Meet the Classic Chair Collection.

For the past year or so, I've been on a big mid-century modern kick and I've created several works featuring iconic chairs from the period. At last weekend's art festival, a patron requested that I turn my mid-century "classics" into a card set and I happily obliged.

The Eames molded plywood chair

The Classic Chair Collection features high quality prints of 6 of my original mixed media artworks, with matching white envelopes. You'll find 3 different Eames chairs, the Starck "Ghost" chair, a vintage office chair, and clean-lined armchair designed by Larsen and Madsen. (Only 4 are pictured here, head over to Etsy to see the others.) The cards are professionally printed by me using archival pigment inks on matte paper. The inside of the card is left blank for your own personal message. Each card measures 4.25" x 5.5" (folded).

A classic desk chair and my vintage toy typewriter

A set of 6 cards runs ya just $18.00 plus shipping, but if you head on over to my Facebook Fan Page and like it, you can earn yourself a 20% discount! Woo!n Already a fan? Then just enjoy the discount!

Hope you have yourself a fab day. Ta-Ta for now. 

My Show Was a Bust. Now What?

I spent the past weekend at an art fair in Paducah, Kentucky.  My parents drove 6 hours down to assist me.  It was 3 hot days...I mean hot 90 degree days!

On the first day, I sold one original work, one print and one set of cards. It was a short day, only 5 hours, so I was OK about my lack of sales.  I still had the whole weekend ahead of me. Day 2 was heartbreaking. In the first 7 hours, I sold just one ten dollar print....Even though I know I shouldn't, it's hard to not take that personally, especially when the ceramicist next to me was selling. The jeweler too. I had a little more success on Day 3 of the fair, but in the end, after booth fees, gas and other expenses were accounted for, I lost money on the weekend.

I know my lackluster sales have little to do with my skill as an artist. I've done enough shows to know that there are always ups and downs.  The turnout at the festival was weak. Heat surely kept people at home. My booth was at a dead end, and I feel like I often got missed. People in general were not buying much. Many of the other artists I talked to said sales were few and far between for them as well.

Sold!

On the positive side, I did get plenty of positive feedback, sold an original that I completed just a few days before the show (guess I'm on the right track with my current work!), made some good contacts and have a possible commission.  Matt and I also made fast friends of the improv troupe that were our neighbors at the fair, and we hope to hang with them again sometime in the future. I got to spend the weekend with my parents, who were great sports during the long, hot hours of the show. I really couldn't have managed setting up without them on Friday! (Matt had to work.)

So yes, some good did come from this show, but still I can't say this bust doesn't get to me.  I wonder if I should be making something more functional. (The jewelers and ceramicists reported much higher sales and also took 5 of the 7 show awards.) Is it fiscally worth it for me to do shows? (Yes, I know this is just one show, but I do think this way.) Matt wants me to upholster chairs in the fashion that I create them in my art...Should I try?

I don't foresee myself ever becoming a jeweler or ceramicist and without some instruction, I don't have the skills for upholstery at this point. My passion is for "art", so that is where I will remain. I'm not going to give up, but I will think twice about doing this particular show again and guess I just have to keep on trying.

So creative types, how do you get yourself going again after a setback? How do you build up your confidence again? 

In the meantime, do patronize my Etsy shoppe. I will be posting new prints, cards and orignals shortly.

Ta-Ta for now.

Back on Track

Greetings friends!

I'm happy to report that I've regained my art "mojo" and I'm back to work.

This was the piece that sent me into a tailspin last week. I just couldn't get things right!  But, after a little time away I was able return to this piece and and make it work.  In the end, I'm happy with the way it turned out.

"here to stay." measures 9"x12" and will be for sale at the Lower Town Arts Festival in Paducah, Kentucky this weekend.  (There was a nice little feature about me on the festival website this weekend that you can read here.)  I'm feeling pretty ready for this show.....Just trying to pump out another small piece or two before it starts on Friday.

Back to work...Ta-Ta for now!

Finding the "Spark"

 
Hey there internet pals. How are you?

I spent my day working on this piece, and man, I'm glad that's over with! For the last few days, the work has not come easily. Every cut, paste and mark is a struggle. I'm constantly second guessing myself and I'm lacking the confidence that I normally possess in my creative process.

I'm not sure exactly how I got into this little artist funk, but I do know it will pass. I just need to give myself a little time, a little space...... Not be so hard on myself. And soon, I'll find that "spark" again.

So, friends, what do you do when you're in an artistic slump? Do you muscle through? Walk away? Seek inspiration? Where? Do share.

Ta-Ta for now.

* I was just about to post this entry, when I came across my artist/teacher buddy Tabatha Dougherty's blog entry for the day.  The work came easy to her today, and she's "sparking" in a big way! 

Summer Hues

Happy Sunday Funday friends!

Summer has arrived in Southern Illinois.  The summer clothes and flip flops are out. The AC has been going full blast for days and at 9am it's already 81 degrees!

All this sun and heat inspired the color palette of this little cutie.  "Fun" measures just 4"x4" and was created on a tiny cradled hardboard. 

Ta-Ta for now. 

right here.

Greetings and salutations friends.

After yesterday's disappointing news, I decided to get right back up on the "horse" and make some more art.

"right here." measures 6"x6" and was created with collaged paper, a Bic ballpoint pen and a little bit of white colored pencil. I'm not going to list this piece on Etsy quite yet as I'll be bringing it to the Lower Town Arts and Music Fair in Paducah in a few weeks. If you're interested in it, do contact me soon! 

Ta-Ta for now.

Roll with it

Hi.

I finished this piece up yesterday and it's title (Roll with it) has gained some new significance today. I just learned that I was not accepted into the MFA program at SIU. No grad school for me in the fall. I can't say that this rejection doesn't sting a bit, but I'm trying not to let it get me down.

I do have some thinking to do....... I was hoping that an MFA degree might eventually lead to a collegiate level teaching position. I have no desire to return to the K-12 art teaching world. So now what?

I do quite enjoy my current job, working in the art department at a trade show display/ graphic design company. However, I'm unsure if this will ever become a full time gig. I'm also pouring myself into summer art fairs, trying to see if this is a viable and profitable avenue for me to pursue. With booth and application fees, I'm worried that it's a wash.

I know that my next career move must be something creative. But that's all I know. Guess I'll just have to "Roll with it."