That's a Wrap!

Ok, so I've had two pieces accepted for the Creole Gallery's "Vagina Show". Yay! Now all I have to do is drop them off and go on my merry way, right?

Wrong.
There's a lot of schtuff left to be done before, during and after show time.

When showing my work, I usually don't frame it. At best, I feel the frame should be the personal choice of the final owner. At worst, the frame can be a distraction, unless it's an integral part of the piece. At worstest worst, someone might purchase the piece for the frame and through the artwork out! (Don't laugh; I've done this myself!) So, instead of framing, I will paint the edges of the canvas a matching or complimentaery color. Simple, looks good, and doesn't distract. Because I do it this way, I also have to "wire" the canvas so it will hang on the gallery wall.

Lastly, I varnish the piece so it is protected from dirt, dust, and grime. You don't want to varnish until the paint is totally cured and, since all the pieces I submitted for "The Vagina Show" were created for the show, I've had to wait to varnish them.Also, you don't want to varnish until you are all done taking photos because the varnish can glare and cause issues with the photos.

Lastly, I need to write an artist bio and an artist statement. Yikes!  As you can tell from the "About Me" at the side of this blog, I don't usually offer to much information about myself. I don't know of many artists who are real comfortable with writing about themselves.  We all talk about ourselves and art like magpies but put it down on paper?  Ugh! Despite the fact that it's for our art and our art business, we are loath to do it.

But  it's time to buck up and do it!. I want to do everything I can to help the Creole Gallery "Vagina Show" be a rousing success. For ART! For THE CREOLE GALLERY!  For VAGINAS!

Well, Whaddya Know?

Just got notification that two of my submitted pieces have been accepted for inclusion in "The Vagina Show."  VERY cool!

Now all I have to do is sign the buggers, edge them, and let them totally dry so I can varnish and get them to the Creole Gallery on the 7th of September.

Honestly, I was beginning to think that my pieces didn't fit into the paradigm of the show.  Guess I was wrong!

Onward and, well, onward!

So, I still haven't heard anything from the jurors concerning my submissions to "The Vagina Show". I really don't know if any of the  artists have. Hopefully, there won't be any further delays. It's not that I'm overly concerned about getting accepted, it's just that it's an annoyance not knowing. Ben put it this way, "It's like asking a girl on a date and she says she'll get back to you."

That's a good way to put it.

So, rather than dwelling on something I have no control over, I am going to tidy up my studio, take care of some touch-ups and begin a fresh project! Lots of ideas, lots of ideas, and none of them really have anything to do with "The Vagina Show".

(BTW, if you're wondering what in the world is going on with this Vagina Show, it's an artistic response to this )

The Waiting Game

So, as I said before, "The Vagina Show" at the Creole Gallery is the very first juried art show I have ever entered.  You'll have to forgive my ignorance.

In a previous post, I described how I was in a mad rush to get my submissions in by midnight last Friday only to find out I really  had until midnight on Saturday;  a mix up of what is meant by "12:00 am on Saturday". But I got my pieces in and began anxiously waiting to hear if they had been accepted or not. Waiting and waiting and....waiting.

Now the show announcement states that artists of accepted pieces will be notified by August 24th.  To my  way of thinking, that means by August 24th you'll know if ya got a piece in da show. In essence, I would think you'd get an email sometime on August 23rd.

Nope.  Again my ignorance of this process is showing.

The jurors are meeting on the 24th, tonight, to go over the pieces and decide who will or will not be accepted.  Ahhh...mea culpa.

So, I'm waiting.  I'm gonna go to Meijer, get some stuff, come home and make margaritas, and....wait.

Hopefully, I'll know something by tomorrow.  *sigh*

Political Agenda

"Political Agenda" Acrylic on canvas 16 X 20

My third and final submission to the Creole Gallery show. A bit different than the other two pieces which are little more along the lines of figurative expressionism.

Wait, what time is it?!

Ok, so I decided to enter "The Vagina Show" exhibit at The Creole Gallery and submit the maximum number of pieces (3). None of these works pre-existed; they were all created for the show.

The entry rules stated that all entries must be submitted before Saturday, the 18th, at 12am.

I ran a little behind so, straight after work on the 17th, I hit the studio and painted for 6 straight hours! Finally, at a little past 11:00 pm, I finished as much as I could, took my photos and submitted the entries at 11:45 pm with a note that said, "Wow! Talk about getting in just under the wire!"

At about 12:46 am, Saturday morning, I received an email that said, "Actually, you have another day. The deadline is midnight, Saturday, the 18th."

Oops.

Oh, well, I got the pieces submitted and had all of Saturday to myself. Turned out to be a great day for sailing!

My first juried show. Should know something by the 24th. No idea what time. :)

Wish me luck!

The Vagina Dialogues

"The Vagina Dialogues" Arylic on canvas 17" X 33"

Second piece submitted for the Creole Gallery show.

This is what I call a "convertible". It is one piece comprised of three paintings. This set-up is how I intended it, but the panels can be arranged by the owner however they want. I needed to do this up get the three dialogues : woman to woman, woman to man, woman to herself.

Under the gun!

The deadline for the Creole Gallery is tonight at midnight! I have one piece done and two (for, if you count the piece that is 3 connected mini pieces) left to finish. They're about 2/3's of the way there.

Lovely Kell is making it so all I have to do is come home from work and paint. Such a wonderful woman!

Wish I didn't have to go to the regular job today. Much rather finish these up and submit ' em. Must focus, focus, focus tonight!

Mine. Not yours.

"Mine. Not yours." Acrylic on canvas 16" X 20"

First completed piece for submission to the Creole Gallery show.

Getting x-cited!

I have 6 more days to finish up the 3 pieces I plan on submitting to my first juried show! I'm getting excited.

Thus far, the work has been going well. I have been working on the pieces all at the same time. Block in one piece, set it aside as I do the background for another piece, set it aside, work on details for the 3rd piece, set it aside, etc. Almost assembly line, which works cause they all have the same basic theme.

2 pieces are done in an abstract expressionist/fauvist style while the 3rd one is  a little more photo realistic. Can't wait to finish them!

It's nice to be x-cited about art again!

Painting and re painting and re painting...

"Sail and Sun" - acrylic on canvas 16 x 20 2012

I have breen working on this piece for quite a while now. The goal is to depict the serenity, simplicity, and sweet isolation of sailing.

The water, sky, and sun were easy enough to do, however, I had to really hold onto the minimalist feel and not put in too much detail in the boat (the price of actually being a sailor!).

I re-did the sun numerous times trying to get the warmth and, yet, the separation. I think it works!

Projects and Procrastination.

I have quite a few things "on the drawing board", so to speak, yet find myself in a bit of a procrastination mode.

In addition to an impressionistic seascape I'm doing for myself (got a great place in the living room for it!) I also am working on 3 pieces to submit to a juried art show coming up.

And, yet, I've been avoiding the studio.

Laziness? Fear of not capturing my vision? Leery that I might be in over my head? No idea. But, the bottom line is, I've got to start slopping paint!

It's the journey, not the destination. Strive to make mistakes so you can learn. Never fall in love with your work. All platitudes, all true, I know 'em well.

I should have some time to myself tonight. Hoping to get something done!