So much time has passed!

I just realized that my last posting was in October, 2007 and now it is January, 2008! Time really does fly, whether you are having fun or not. Well, there was my Birthday...72! Jeez. and, of course, Thanksgiving...and Andrew and Melissa came and took me to the place I love up by the Inn of the 7th Ray in Topanga. And, we drew a little, but mostly I just sat and felt it around me...it is my Glade. I was thinking at the time that it may just very well be the last time I could go there, because Andrew had to help me to make it. My knee is just bad, but, it is much better now that I am working on it after the cortisone shot...so, maybe I could make it on my own. I will see. I have not done much with Art, but, my class in Mosaic Art at UCLA has started and, I think, will be a success. My Otis class with Don will start on Feb. 5. "Painting Historic Motifs for Furniture and Interior Design". Don has contributed a lot of work and I am not moving very fast, but I know I will haul it together in time. I am a little scared to teach the first one, as usual, but I will get over it. Also, I have pitched, been accepted, and in the catalog for Santa Monica College teaching Faux. Also, Otis has asked me to teach this Summer. I am mashing crumbs together to make a cake. I am still procrastinating about the furniture gig...but, I hope to get over myself soon. All in all, I have been productive in a minor way and looking hopefully to the future to start a surge of creativity. Here is to all the Artists and the dance with the Muse. Keep on Dancin'.....I close with this.

procrastination is the name of the game

No entry since I took that class...damn thing asked me to decide...what a Bitch! Not the teacher, a bitch of a thing for me to have to do. Decide. Almost a swear word. Anyway, I have been flopping around ever since. It is almost a given that I will not be seeking a museum/art career at this time. you notice the almost. Hope flutters always in the breast...a Museum quality Artist and the lover of a fantastic and virile man who adores me and the latest winner of the Mega Millions with more money than I can ever spend and, oh yes, a magic comet passing overhead that gives me the body and looks of a fabulous 25 year old. The ability to dance well would also be nice...as would a 1950 Chevy coupe, perfectly restored. You can keep your diamonds, my needs are much more esoteric. Back to reality and the Tuesday that I am in. I am actually deciding about Children's Furniture design, Dog and Cat furniture design, teaching and just getting a joe job at someplace like Home Depot. Come to think of it I think I like the beginning of this entry better...especially the lover...or the money...lets have it be the money...I think with enough money I can attract a lover, buy myself a museum show and certainly restore a 1950 chevy coupe. The 25 year old body will take a little more creativity...but definitely the money...I can take the dancing lessons later on...with the lover perhaps? Obviously I have not done shit with my Artwork lately..dabbled a bit with my collages..but not so you would notice. I need to settle down and do something real about the furniture ideas. I have pitched my classes around and written lesson plans for most of them so I am just waiting to hear about that right now...also made follow up calls to SMC and Otis and UCLA. I will know in the next few weeks what the spring of 2008 will bring teaching wise. I will log on soon, perhaps with a decision made about the furniture or to report my winnings.

Artsy Fartsy

So, now I have finally taken the Promote yourself as an Artist class and I learned a lot. The most interesting part was at the beginning when she informed us (surprise, surprise) that first we had to define ourselves as Artists and decide what kind of career we were shooting for...ie, Museum Artist, Gallery, craft show, Laguna, etc. That has sort of been my quandry anyway. I have been thinking it over ever since I left the class. I keep getting back to the craftier approach...furniture, dog beds, etc...maybe a canvas here and there with new ideas...but, the idea of creating a body of work with an eye to being in a museum or gallery is truly off-putting to me. I guess I just cannot stand to get in that line and wait to speak to the window person. Stupid, I guess...but when I am pressed to produce work to address a particular audience and it has to be a certain size and say a cohesive thing and all hang together, it makes me feel like not an Artist..makes me feel like I am typing with my paintbrush again...which I got used to as a Faux Finisher...but I hate the idea as a real Artist. Maybe I misunderstood...but I am pretty good at understanding what is said in classes. Also, she seemed to think that my 23 years as a decorative painter were something to hide and not refer to because galleries etc. would tend to look down on it...IF she is right, I cannot stand it. I do not want to be ashamed of the process that I have taken to get where I am today as an Artist...It seems to me that it should be all about the work, and only the work...and I feel myself rebelling from the things that the class taught me. I am sure of her sincerity and also her general knowledge of how the gallery system works. As always, in every occupation I have had, I feel stubborn about not performing for an agenda..I understand the necessity of the performance and how it is used to excel in your field...I just do not want to do it...ever. This may be a stellar trait of mine or a disaster. Still, I do not want to do it...stubborn. I came home and viewed all the work I have been doing with new eyes and based on the class it all may as well go into the trash...not a good feeling. I have to think more on all of this and get some more feedback from other sources but, right now, I feel like just chucking the whole thing and getting a job at Home Depot. Boo"_______"Hoo, as Andrew is fond of saying. I will just go somewhere and sit poutily and think this all over and lunch on worms. Tomorrow is another day.

September, and the year is going, going , going...

It is already Sept 10 and I have been productive, but the time is flying away. I have spent days working on lesson plans for classes, mostly new ones and I submitted them to Otis...Haven't heard back, nor have I heard from SMC which I submitted last month...we'll see. It was a lot of work, but it helped me get my mind around what I think I can really do for students and also for myself in terms of teaching. All I can do is the footwork and then see what comes from it...did the footwork. I have also been working off and on on the books...gluing pages and cutting out windows, etc. I made a nice one for Melly's Birthday and I think she liked it...hope so. I am also working on one for Janet and one about my cousin Gloria for her daughter and granddaughter. I still mean to write some stuff about the past...especially Gloria...I think that the family would like that. I have written a little about the Crows..think about it a lot. Started my Art Furniture class at Otis and I am excited about this class...have a feeling we'll have a good time...the people seem very nice. So, I seem to be productive in a nice steady way and this is a good thing. I have to remember what Ghandi said about the fact that there is more to life than increasing its speed...also Andrew just sent me a quote that competition is for Horse races...since I am many things, but not a horse, I will take that as a mantra for my life at present. More later...I intend to make a piece or two for each class that I am pitching, so that should keep me busy for a while...also, I want to walk more daily and get back to riding my bike...have to be careful not to bite off so much that I cannot bear to chew. More later..no race, no speed...but more.

Where did August go?

Well, August is almost all gone and I have no idea what happened. I did go to Las Vegas and made a wallpaper border for Janet and helped her find colors for her kitchen and bathrooms. I would really have to sit and think, however where the rest of the time went. I have not finished the garage. I am, however working on some altered books and collage, so all is not lost. I know things are changing, but I really do not feel in control and I am sort of doing that seaweed thing again...you know, the thing where I am a piece of seaweed in the surf of life...just being washed up and down by the waves on the beach...not what I want to be doing at this time. I am running out of time to screw around. Running out of time to be flopsy. Well, hell, I guess we'll have to see what September will bring. September? God! how the time does fly when you're pretending to have fun.

omygod, it's August!

Where does the time go? I have been working on the Garage, etc. so I have not posted for a while. I have, however, in addition to the garage, made a decision (finally) about what I am going to do. I have decided to take my teaching much more seriously and to make it the main focus for the aquisition of money to live on. To that end, I have submitted my application to SMC to teach Color mixing and Faux as well as other classes in the future..also called UCLA and I am booked for January there for Mosaic and I will meet in a couple of weeks with the director of Rustic Cyn. Park about teaching there. Also, Don and his guy Richard are coming over tomorrow to give me advice and a bid to fix up the Garage into a working studio space....where I can work and teach privately. It is a good thing to make a decision...so sad that it takes me an eon to finalize my thoughts...but, it does, so there you are. Also, I am taking a class with Joyce about promoting yourself as a fine Artist and I will take my collages and see what's up with that. I really feel full of energy and most hopeful about the future now. For the time being, I will stay in my little house and be creative there...then, when I have both feet into the new "life" I will think about how I want to handle the equity money...I don't need it this minute...and, when I finally access it, I want to handle it properly.
I am also working on my living will and a trust which will leave any property or assets to be equally divided between my children...Melanie and Andrew...Hopefully, I will live so long that I will use everything up. Time will tell. Right now, anyway, I would like to not touch it yet. A whole new phase in my life..one that seems to be generating a lot of energy and a certain level of excitement in me. The house is getting uncluttered little by little. Jeni came with a truck and hauled off a bunch of stuff for a set she was designing. What a blessing! Joyce and I are seriously working on the clutter issue for a workshop/book thing AND I am researching and beginning to take seriously a book about Crows. I love crows and I want to share that with people. So...from a final decision about house and work a whole floodgate of creative energy is flowing forth. This blog is, apparently, still about creativity and how to access it in spite of the fact that I take major trips down side roads in the process. Life is good and I am a happy camper. Onward.

July is over

Well, July is almost over and I have accomplished a few things. I got the living room and kitchen cleaned up..Jeni was doing a movie and she came over and took a lot of crap out of the yard and I gave my extension ladder to my neighbor so the yard is showing promise. I started on the garage because it will fall down without help. Hoping to finish it up by next month (Aug) I finished teaching my class and worked a little on art but didn't complete much. I will promise myself that I will work more on my Art ideas in August...that, and finish up the Garage stuff. I did get the form to make a trust and I have filled it out. I am chipping away with the things on my list that really need to be done...I am a good girl. We'll see what August will bring. I feel hopeful that things are indeed changing.