hummingbird . ruby throated male

It has been a BIG month for me as far as starting my business. I have begun the website (with some help, finally, after many false starts and loss of funds), registered my business name, license  and started “the books.” Though I am not on my blog very often, it seems the learning process of creating the blog has helped me to know how to impliment some of the website. Took 2 years — who is counting? All I can say is, what a journey! This is another step, a page turning, into being able to share my work and sell my prints. For now, I am keeping the originals and having professional scans & prints made by Craig & Thomas of  Media Specialties (soon to be “ROOTS”) in Meridian, Idaho. When I look back, it is obvious that all is going as it should be, not necessarily as I thought it would be.

my real work

It has been a long time since I have been on this blog (thank you, Karen). Been busy building an Etsy shop (artdogartwork.etsy.com), and a shop on Facebook (artdogartwork.myshopify.com). So much work! The Etsy shop is mostly animals and the Shopify site is for other large and non-animal paintings (who knows, I may add animals in the future). All the while working a regular job, almost full time. My goal is to cut down on “regular work” and get more into my “real work” — drawing, painting, making cards, and delivering my work to people who need it! This is my DREAM and it is what I DO. Every once in awhile, I buy a lottery ticket as well. ha. Have not won YET.

Happy Autumn!

p l e n t y

This work is titled, “Plenty.” Collage on handmade paper, acrylic, prismacolor pencil and cutouts. Ample acid free mat, and maple frame. I just entered it into a juried show. Loved making this piece, as it is all about love cycles and what is important. The little girl on the right is holding a hen — and everything is connected.

award

Thank you so much, Karen (http://idoartkarenrobinson.com) for nominating me for this award! I am also going to nominate 15 bloggers, who have inspired me, because what they are doing (writing/painting/photographing/creating) makes the world a BETTER place:

SHARING THE COMPLIMENT

To help share this compliment throughout the blogosphere, the rules for the award are:

• Thank the person who nominated you and add a link to their blog
• Display the award on your post
• List award rules so your nominee’s will know what to do
• State 7 things about yourself
• Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award
• Contact your nominees to let them know you have nominated them and provide a link to your post
• Proudly display the award logo (or buttons) on your blog, whether in your side bar, ABOUT page or a special page for award’s

7  THINGS ABOUT ME

1.  Am almost 70 years old and have always been an artist.

2.  Am starting a new career with my artwork — blogging is the place where I write about that journey. Started blogging 7 months ago.

3.  Enjoy blogging, Facebook, and am trudging through learning how to do eCommerce.

4.  Have a passion for dogs, film and nature.

5.  Am fortunate to live in Boise, Idaho near one of my daughters & family — so much fun.

6.  Have a passion for other cultures.

7.   Deep concern for preserving our planet for the next generation

BLOGOSPHERE NOMINEES

These are my 15 nominees:

1.  Karen Robinson (http://idoartkarenrobinson.com)

2.  Heidi Vormer (https://remrov.wordpress.com)

3.  Tim Livingston (http://theforesterartist.com)

4.  jocmckin (https://somebadplankton.wordpress.com)

5.  Kenton Lewis (https://jitterygt.wordpress.com)

6.  Kendall F. Person (http://thepublicblogger.com)

7.  Norbet Haupt (http://norberthaupt.com)

8.  Tom (http://catsatthebar.org)

9.  Mike (https://m5son.wordpress.com)

10. Traveler (http://leblogdupigeonvoyageur.com)

11. Micky & Nikolay (http://lordsofthedrinks.com)

12. David Nikias (http://davidnikias.com)

13. Simon (https://simontocclo.wordpress.com)

14. Jasmine Tutton (https://milkshakesinspring.wordpress.com)

15. Amy Saab (http://2me4art.com)

Well, I thought that would be difficult (to find 15 inspiring blogs), but it was not! There was one (spanishwoods), who does not want awards, but my, her posts are just lovely. Will honor that, of course — just wanted to say how much I enjoy the beauty of her site.

Okay, now to the bigger task of notifying these 15 bloggers of my nomination! Thanks again, Karen and will visit you soon! Christina

 

learning

A lot has happened since I last wrote. Finished a drawing that I had worked on for eight years (THAT is a very long time), entered it into a show through the Treasure Valley Artists Alliance (Boise, Idaho), found a wonderful shop in Meridian that does scans, framing and printing — found out it was accepted, named the drawing (“Transcendence”) and will soon go to the reception on Friday evening (in two days). Seeing the work framed was just a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. Love the framing and pretty darn proud of the drawing. It has been twenty years since I have been in the art world. That is an even longer time. In some ways it is like getting back on a bicycle and in another it is like coming home. There have been quite a few people in my life recently who have been beyond supportive toward this re-entry. Makes me incredibly grateful (will be even more grateful when I am over the virus I have had for the last 5 -6 days!) My next goal is to learn more about marketing and building a body of work. One foot in front of the other. The caption below is pretty inspiring to me at the moment, so am including in the post.  

shell falls away

 

23″ x 23″    prismacolor pencil, 400 lb. BFK Rives printmaking paper

“And The Shell Falls Away”

d o n e

22″ x 22″   prismacolor  pencil, 400 lb. BFK Rives printmaking paper   “untitled”

Finally. Took me eight years to finish this piece. Everytime I worked on it, it took on a different meaning — so I decided not to title it. It is being scanned now and printed (for the future), as well as being framed. “And the shell falls away” (image below) is also at the framer. It has been 20 years since I have been involved in the art world, so there is some re-emerging going on here. It is like coming out of a cave and seeing the world of art again. Thank you to all who comment and take a gander — great to have this blog, follow other amazing artists, as well as updating family & friends.

23″ x 23″  prismacolor pencil, 400 lb. BFK Rives printmaking paper

“And The Shell Falls Away”

almost done

prismacolor pencil on BFK printmaking paper          “Untitled”         22″ x 24″

Been working on this drawing on and off for eight years. Each feather takes awhile to draw and may I tell you — it is like a meditation. In a prior post (scroll down a ways) I mention that everytime I work on it, it has a different meaning for me — therefore, I have decided NOT to title it as it needs to be free of caption (so the viewer can gander the meaning meant for them). Will frame it soon. And then, it will home.

letter to an abandoned drawing

 

My dear drawing, I am so sorry that I relegated you to a dark spot between the washing machine and the closet in the laundry room. Years ago, a friend rejected the showing of this drawing in their gallery. Deeply, it was as though my reaction was to ascertain that “I” was not good enough. As an artist, and honestly (as being an artist is a large part of me), as a person as well. Eight years later, yesterday to be exact, I brought you out and put you on my kitchen wall. You are large, 24″ x 30,” ink on 300 lb Arches watercolor paper — and looking at you now — what a happy, simple, gentle, flowing statement you make. On my wall, you do not take over, impose yourself with blasts of color, or demand any special care. I love you for that. Yesterday, I wiped off the dust and spent much time observing what you mean to me. Though you do not ask for anything and have been so patient with me all these years, I have decided to give you a new life, a new subtle frame — one that you are deserving of. Thank you for your understated being and elegance. My promise to you is to believe in you completely from now on. Humbly yours, Christina

Indigo

For FIVE months now, I have been working on my website — if not the phyisical items, at the very least in my mind. I have gone through more versions than I want to admit. Finally, today, it occured to me that it did not look like “me.” So, after much thinking and walking through my visual thoughts and images that I love, the foremost idea came before me: I love blue and white. Asian, English, Danish, etc. Now, I can always change it, but for now the background on my website is a scanned piece of fabric I purchased when I was in Japan for a year teaching English (1989 – 1990). This particular fabric I actually saw being made in a factory — centuries old tranditional pattern for the laborers who work in the rice fields. There is complicated dying process to attain this color.

I do not like just ANY blue and white, but a certain blue that is somewhere between cobalt and a grey blue. And yes, I will take just about any white ! My friends and family buy me gifts of old blue and white stuff and I never tire of it. Might be the Danish in me. Anyway, it does seem that the website is taking a long time and now it will be even longer because I have to change everything. Here is the fabric: