Notes from Smelly Rhino Studio

so fleeting

2012-01-30T09:41:00.000-08:00


Miniature – ACEO Portrait of Mimi; acrylic on canvas paper

I walked through a vacant lot which was turning into a meadow.

Deer had grazed there.

I noticed a hummingbird just outside my vision to the right. As I turned my head to gaze at it further, I couldn’t confirm it had been a hummingbird afterall because nothing was there but a leaf that teetered in the wind waiting for its turn to to take flight.

My mind wandered a bit more as I took in the whole composition.

The grass and roots were taking back the land that was once a concrete parking lot. There was only at first astounding beauty in this observation. Then, my ego was quieted as I came to fully comprehend what I was witnessing; the timelessness of the land vs. the fleeting nature of human beings.

I think I am merely here as a borrower of space on Earth and perhaps someday, elsewhere, who knows? In any case, I think I should do my best to leave it as I found it. Or better.

When I left the meadow, I was glad the Earth this power. I wish we could all recognize the value of the grass under our feet.

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-11T09:27:00.000-08:00

found on the web

2012: Yes I can be grounded and in flight!

2012-01-06T14:29:00.000-08:00

"Beautiful Life" Acrylic on Canvas
Illustration Friday Theme: Grounded

I do say, it's a year that shouldn't be wasted, and that includes reading crappy articles and books! Sometimes you just can't help it, you get a few chapters into a new book because you are trying to force the darn thing down your own throat, thinking it will improve, but you struggle to read each word. Just give it up man! If it doesn't captivate you now, it probably wont later, either. This doesn't happen too much with blogs because I don't feel the same sense of commitment, namely because blogs are free. But, there is something about buying a book that makes you think you have to finish it, at any cost.

Now, for confessions. Not a lot of you know that after I wrote a book in a month, in November 2010, (with zero experience), I literally lost my desire to write for a very long time. In fact, I couldn't even check my email for a while because it would require having to reply. I neglected my ebay groups the most. (Sorry fellow ebay artists!) Completely burned out, I was. Well, I've been back for a while, but I'm finally ready to share again with Fervor and hopefully, the writing will be worth reading. At least it will be free! Oh blog, I have missed you.

Here's my tentative blog schedule for 2012, the way I want it to look. We'll see how it goes. If there is a post on a particular day, it will likely be for one of these reasons:

Mondays - Random Musings, my stories with whatever artwork I may be working on that week. (The two are rarely related)
Tuesdays - A good day to tell someone Else's story! A regular highlight of a cool artisan or do-gooder somewhere in the world.
Wednesdays - Wordless Wednesday, containing only a photograph and maybe a word or two.
Thursdays - DIY, Today's Rhino, and WTF? My tutorials, examples of art techniques and brief articles on Art in history and why it's important for you to give a damn.
Fridays - Illustration Friday. A good tradition that deserves to be continued.
Saturdays - You will rarely see a blog post on a Saturday because everyone needs a break.
Sundays - Occasionally I will write a Sunday post with my groovy book reviews called "Sitting on the Nightstand". (Please don't take the name, enough people already have. Be creative and think of your own.)

I think it's important to be grounded, particularly if you're a dreamer. The world exists as it is because of dreamers. You have to dream and have hope that you can achieve, and I am the dreamer of dreamers. But, a schedule and a tad bit of discipline is always what seems to help me get the creative spirit into actual, tangible art or writing, or music. So, here's to being grounded, to some foot to floor contact. One foot in front of the other, toward the dream!

This should be a fun year. Lots of exploring to do. I think I need new shoes...

Happy Weekending,
Rebecca

Bye bye 2011!

2011-12-31T20:58:00.000-08:00

2012 is upon us!

Every year, it's the same; we welcome the new year by having a toast at midnight, followed by some brief pondering of the future and our resolutions, most wont ever be realized.

Well, I've been thinking a lot lately about stale habits, and how, in order to make change, you have to dare to do things differently.

Tonight, we bucked the system. We lived on the edge. We dared to be different.....

We opened the champagne an hour early!

The toast?
"To seeing things differently."

Wayne Dyer dared to say, "You will see it WHEN you believe it."

OoOo, can't wait!

I believe!

Happy New Year,
Rebecca

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T14:16:00.001-08:00

(click image for video)

Almost Oprah's Favorite Things!

2011-12-05T09:17:00.001-08:00

Custom Hand Painted Ornaments by ME, Rebecca Salcedo

Oprah took a cue from Good Morning America, I think, when she chose to put precious hand painted pet ornaments on her list of favorite things this year. You wont be surprised to learn that she didn't choose me, or I might not have had time to write this post! And because this is my blog, I am posting my own handpainted ornaments, naturally. (snort)

But lets give some credit where credit is due! The very lucky lady Sherry Kendall, who paints from her studio in Woodbine, Maryland was chosen by Oprah for her sweet stylized pet adorned Christmas ornaments. At this moment, she is likely simultaneously praising the virtues of Oprah's generosity and cursing her for not putting out her list in March, because I am confident that is how much time she probably needs to paint enough orders to fill the demand created by the beloved TV Icon!

On behalf of all artists, particularly custom painters out there, I would like to thank Oprah for bringing to the public eye these wonderful gifts, but I do have one request for her and everyone else on TV, this season and beyond, who has noted these as awesome: "Please consider what the artist has to go through to get those done in just 4 weeks time before you air your segment, and do the right thing to support that business--make sure that you find a way to say to the audience the most important thing--that you can order this as a gift certificate to give, because that is probably all the very fortunate woman will be able to deliver to the majority of those coming to her site to buy!

Praise Oprah and her incredible power to instantly give people success!

Praise the artist who has dedicated his or her life to pursuing creativity and wants to deliver!

Praise the customer who is willing to order now and get delivery after Christmas!

Anyway, these sweet hand painted pet ornaments are not Oprah's exact choice, they are mine. Probably the closest I'll ever get to the "favorite things", but I'm not complaining. One victory for any custom painter is more exposure and understanding for all! Woot Woot!

Ben, for Janie in ATL

Congratulations Sherry, your ornaments are adorable and I wish you years of business filling all those orders!

If you can't get to Sherry's website because she is inundated with business, hop over to my shop, Smelly Rhino Studio, and order an ornament today. Or google hand painted pet ornaments and find some other shop that you love! A keepsake you'll treasure forever, not just this year's favorite thing. You'll get it soon, not before Christmas, but soon!

Happy Christmas and Merry Shopping,
Rebecca
SMELLY RHINO STUDIO

Happy Birthday Mark Twain

2011-11-30T06:19:00.001-08:00

image borrowed from the official web site of Mark Twain

I love Google!

It's simple, smart and does all the work for me. Plus, Google reminds me everyday of something noteworthy by its clever changing of the logo!

Today's reminder is worth writing about because it's Mark Twain's birthday, (or, in many places, one of those authors whose books are too racy for our children or people to be exposed to, because we don't want them to have any historically important literary references by which to be influenced, and we can sort of rewrite history to keep our children or people unaware of the profanity, racism, hatred, existence of slavery or the Holocaust, threatening political views, etc. that either preceded us or currently threaten our culture. Or, it's about Jesus.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mark Twain! I wonder what you would you think today about the relevancy of your books with regard to social awareness and progress. Are they important for children to read now? Would you ban your own books from schools?

Etaglive is a nifty website that shows continually updated book bans which have happened worldwide through history for various reasons, some to keep entire countries in the dark! Mark Twain is in good company with lots of authors whose books were required reading when I was a child, like George Orwell's 1984, which was banned for being pro-communist in Jackson County, FL, To Kill A Mockingbird, banned for conflicting with the values of the Community in Lindale, TX, and just like Sawyer's Huckleberry Finn, Gone With The Wind has also been banned for its use of that racial slur that only black people are allowed to say.

Etaglive even gives you a link to buy each book in the list!
Here's the link:Etaglive: Banned and Challenged Books

I hope a few of these books will make it on your reading list soon.

I lived in France as a Sophomore in College and I learned from studying the Nazi occupation of France that the French not only realized the importance of history in shaping our future, but perhaps take it to an extreme in some towns where you will still see, more than 60 years after the war, posted signs "Never Forget".

It will be from knowing the past that we have a better future, not ignoring it and pretending it didn't exist.

READ ON!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-26T05:11:00.000-07:00

found on the web

So three Japanese Raccoon Dogs walk into a bar

2011-10-25T06:53:00.000-07:00

One Tanuki, Two Tanuki, Three Tanuki..

Three Tanukis
8x10; acrylic on Masonite

I have painted a lot of silly things over the past four years. Really silly things.

People can ask me for something special and be confident they will get it. Occasionally, they know exactly what they want and I help them by interpreting their idea and getting on canvas. Most of the time, however, they know they want something but aren't sure exactly what that is. So, they come to me and tell me their story, and I ask lots of questions and get lots of pictures from them. Then, the creative process begins. They usually remain in the dark after that having no idea what they are getting until they open the package. That is part of the fun, the element of surprise. and it's not just for them, that is the really fun part for me!

This is one of those examples.

The client, Melissa, told me a great story about her honeymoon in Japan. While in Japan, they noticed that all the gift shops had this little figurine for sale, called a Tanuki. The Tanuki is actually thought of as a raccoon dog, even though they are their own species. Most people get a chuckle looking at the statue and noticing what disproportionately large, um, 'man parts' it has! Maybe that is what gets one asking, "What the heck is this little guy's story?"

Over the years, the Tanuki has become folklore, coming to symbolize good fortune, despite their reputation for being mischievous and shape shifting, being able to fool just about anyone for any reason, even sometimes sinister ones.

"The Tanuki has eight traits that are supposed to bring good fortune:
The eight traits are: a hat to be ready to protect against trouble or bad weather; big eyes to perceive the environment and help make good decisions; a sake bottle that represents virtue; a big tail that provides steadiness and strength until success is achieved; over-sized testicles that symbolize financial luck; a promissory note that represents trust or confidence; a big belly that symbolizes bold and calm decisiveness; and a friendly smile.^" -[wiki]

[Wiki...Statues of Tanuki can be found outside many Japanese temples and restaurants, especially noodle shops. These statues often wear big, straw hats and carry bottles of sake in one hand, and a promissory note or empty purse in the other hand. Tanuki statues always have large bellies. The statues also usually show humorously large testicles, typically hanging down to the floor or ground, although this feature is sometimes omitted in contemporary sculpture.^{read more about Tanuki here}]

So, I can now say for the record, if anyone was ever keeping score, that I have painted testicles. Proud and loud. I asked the client if she wanted that part included in the painting...her response was, "Yes!-but I know you will do it tastefully!" I hope I did your bidding Melissa, the pleasure was certainly all mine.

This is one of my favorite commissions yet! (I always say that, so keep them coming, please!)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-12T13:42:00.000-07:00

NANOWRIMO COUNTDOWN!

2011-10-06T10:27:00.000-07:00

To all aspiring and successful writers out there, the countdown to November's NaNoWriMo has begun. That's the National Novel Writing Month, where you are challenged to write 50,000 words in one 30 day period that is November of each year!

With just 25 days to prepare your outline or decide you will simply wing it without one, I challenge you join in on the fun! If you have ever thought you may have a novel in you, now is the time to get that sucker out of your head! (even if you never intend to share it with anyone).

I learned plenty last year, about just letting it go, letting it flow--with abandon, without regard to quality, simply writing and writing and discovering some plot twists along the way. The characters I created kind of developed themselves as I wrote the story, which made it easier for me than I had prepared for. A friend of mine stated that writing a novel was sort of like channeling. I couldn't agree more. I was channeling my imagination!

Really, the brilliance of NaNoWriMo is in not worrying about whether it will be ready for the publisher at the end of the month....even the greatest story tellers still do rewrites, and I'll do plenty. Heck, this particular story may never get rewritten. But, I guarantee that I'll improve because I wrote it!

Try the exercise, for one month and see how far you can take it. 1667 words per day, about 5 pages. You will find yourself learning a lot about your imagination, how ideas flow, how discipline like this can help you with other tasks. The benefits are great! The only downside was that at the end of the month last November, I didn't feel like writing for a while. ;) This year, I will go for it again and I am determined to show an improvement in my discipline, and maybe I'll actually share the novel this time (after some good rewrites, naturally).

You can head over to Nanowrimo.org for more information on writing your novel in November!

Have a great day,
Rebecca

Yes, There IS Fine Art in Acworth, GA!

2011-09-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

Our opening reception Saturday at Gallery 4463 was one of the best we've had all year. It was an exciting night because we had all 7 Artists-in-Residence exhibiting and leading studio tours throughout the evening. Thanks to everyone who came out and volunteered!

From left to right: Michelle Scott, Valerie Gaudemer-Maker, Brenda Smith,

Rebecca Salcedo, Dinah Rose, Betty McGlamery, Lynn Edwards

Valerie Gaudemer-Maker and some of her newest vibrant photo and watercolor pieces!

Michelle Scott next to one piece from her series utilizing images her famous Grand Father Rey Scott too as a war time photographer.

Dinah Rose, weaver and fiber artist, in front of one of her panels.

Me in front of one of my newest pieces, "Ghosts on the Beach",
continuing my series of Art Nouveau inspired paintings.

...and finally, the brand new "REALLY Affordable Art Case" upstairs in the Art Center!
This case, which is rapidly filling up with daily paintings by our studio artists, is a great way to begin your collecting with an original painting for just a little something!

Behind The Scenes

2011-09-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

Tonite at the Gallery 4463...

If you are in the Acworth, GA area, you are invited to drop by for a very special event tonite featuring the 7 Artists in Residence at the Gallery 4463 Art Center!

7 artists with a very diverse range of talents will be exhibiting in the Gallery and leading studio tours! I am fortunate to have a studio in the Art Center and it has been a wonderful year.

The Resident Artists are Lynn Edwards, Valerie Gaudemer-Maker, Betty McGlamery, Dinah Rose, Michelle Scott, Brenda Smith and myself.

The gallery is a vibrant place to visit, with works from more than 35 artists on display, and media ranging from jewelry, to weaving, to pottery, to glass to painting and more! We not only have a featured show each month, but our member artists display their work and we have a print rack as well!

If you are looking for unique gift ideas for the holiday season, this is a great place to visit, because regardless of your style, you will be sure to find something you will love! Giving becomes so much more special when it's a piece of fine art or a handmade item! Come see us and take home a treasure today!

Opening reception is 6-9pm and wine and appetizers will be served.

Do you have the Spark?

2011-09-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

"It takes 20 years to be an overnight success." - Eddie Cantor

If you meet somebody that became a true overnight success, you are meeting a very lucky person. For the rest of us, which includes the vast majority of the world’s population, this just isn’t going to happen. Not that you can’t be successful, because that surely is an attainable task. It just probably will happen with a lot of hard work, and probably several setbacks. But if you really want something, set it as a goal and go for it! Plan out what would be necessary for you to reach this objective, and start at it. If you build a solid foundation, setbacks won’t have a huge effect on you. Remember, 2 steps forward and 1 step back still is progress.

Have you tried Sparkpeople.com? It's a site for improving your health and ultimately, your outlook on life. A friend in one of my ebay artist groups recommended the site because it's totally free, and I had been paying for Weight Watchers online tools for my nutritional info and food tracking. I have been on Sparkpeople for a year, but I've only recently really focused on getting all I can from the site. The resources for nutrition and exercise and moral support seem infinite even after all this time. I give it two thumbs up in snappin Z formation!

I hope you will visit this terrific site and enhance your healthy lifestyle!
Have a great day!

Wordless Wednesday (Getting Fit is Work)

2011-08-31T08:36:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

Dedicated to the 3 (very UN-)professionals who have treated
my parents so poorly in their home buying process.

Butters got adopted!!

2011-06-23T16:51:00.000-07:00

Butters, (photo slightly edited for happy emphasis)

Today, I did my happy dance for hours!

I happened to be working with a new client whose dog reminds me of Butters, the dog I found in our neighborhood back in November. I hadn't checked the Mostly Mutts sight in a while, but over the past 7 months, I had checked so many times, holding my breath, praying his little mug shot would no longer be in the "waiting to be adopted" file. My heart was heavy. How I wish we could have kept him here with our two dogs. I knew someone was looking for him...someone who didn't know him yet...I always held hope that his turn would be very soon.

Well, today I saw that the little fella had found his forever home on June 18th, at least that's when the picture was taken!

My heart feels light again. I shed a few tears of joy and then hugged my own spoiled lounge lizards. Once again, I will do my best to help the next dog who crosses my path.

I don't think I know you, Kathy, but I want to thank you for loving him, whatever his name might be now.

Here's the original post from last year when I found Butters: The Case of the Runaway Jackabee

*sigh*

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-22T06:19:00.000-07:00

Random Image Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-15T12:59:00.001-07:00

Found at the randomblog.org

Dinner and a movie

2011-06-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

Dinner at Casa Grande in Atlanta

Eric took me to Uncle Julios's Casa Grande for my birthday dinner. If you like Tex-Mex, this is the best place in Atlanta. The best tamales in town, an actual chile relleno, instead of fried cheese covered in ground beef, which is the usual crap you see around here. The Frijole Charros are out of this world!

We saw Thor afterwards and I give it 3 thumbs...wait a second..two thumbs up! If you like superhero movies or comic book characters, this one is worth seeing!

Juanita's Platter. mmmmm. Leftovers are good for lunch tomorrow.

Oh, by the way, did I mention that the very best margarita in Atlanta is also at Casa Grande? Made from fresh ingredients and premium tequilas, you will be hooked!!

Uncle Julios Casa Grande, with locations in Atlanta, Virginia, Florida, Illinois, and Texas, is worth the trip.

Regardless of your Art, you may want to know..

2011-05-16T18:02:00.001-07:00

"Peony Love"

Mixed Media on Paper

How to Overcome Stage Fright

by Christine Kane

I was backstage packing up the stuff in my dressing room.

A woman knocked on the door and said, "Can I ask you something?" I invited her in. She asked me how long I had been performing. I told her. Then she said, "What I'd like to know is -- when did you get over stage fright?"

(At moments like this, I wish my husband were standing behind me so he could let out a boisterous "HA!")

I said, "I'm pretty sure I haven't yet."

I told her that for the first whole year of performing, I was terrified every night I got onto a stage - even if the "stage" was made of shipping pallets and duct tape.

The only thing that changed was my ability to "filter" the fear.

Here's the thing.

If you're waiting to get over stage fright before you'll perform, do a speaking engagement, teach a workshop, or read your poetry, then you'll be waiting a VERY long time. Here's why:

Stage fright shrinks because of taking action.

Once you take action, you'll learn how to overcome your own brand of stage fright.

Nonetheless, here are nine tips to help you if you're feeling anxiety ridden about a particular show or event:

1. Give your fear a time-limit.

If your event is at 8pm, then say to yourself, "Self, you have until 4pm to be as whiney and miserable as you want. At 4pm, we're letting that go. Up 'til then, have at it."

This permission is liberating. Because you're giving yourself the gift of non-resistance, the stage fright has space to diffuse. The time-limit will show you the side of you that can take over and be confident. Slowly, that confident side will grow.

2. Don't have lots of to-do's on performance day. Go slow.

This works for me, but I can't do it at every show because of my travel schedule. If I have a particularly big show, I always allow the day to be about the show and little else.

3. Have lots of to-do's on the day of a show. Go fast.

Some of my friends find that the less they think about a show, the better. So they go through their routines or see a movie. They show up at the venue at the last possible minute.

4. Create a ritual.

Your rituals will come to you with time. I change guitar strings and play songs for a while. I also say a prayer before I walk onto stage. Even if I'm doing a small show, I get very clear that I want my ego to step aside.

5. Get in the audience.

Some of my friends love to wander around the audience and talk with people before they perform or speak. It relaxes them to just hang out and see that there are no monsters in the audience.

6. Exercise.

You will perform better if you've exercised that day. It will put your emotions in a better place. Creative types need to exercise regularly.

7. Get to the venue early.

When I toured with a ballet company, we always arrived at the theatre at noon on the day of the performance. The dancers had to rehearse and take a class. The crew had to set the stage. And I got to be in "theatre mode." Yes, I got nervous. But I felt like I "knew" the place by the time I got on stage. I used the time to just be in the theatre and feel the energy.

8. Be a rock star.

Seriously. What would it feel like if you were a rock star? Find that feeling of deep confidence that's in there. It's not an ego thing. It's about knowing that you ROCK. Get on stage with that confidence. (Sometimes this doesn't work. Sometimes you simply don't rock. So use this one with caution!)

9. Perform from the fear.

It's tempting to try and fight your anxiety, or figure out ways to blast through it. The only problem with "figuring out" is that performing is about interacting with the audience. It's about being totally in the moment. You can't approach it from your head.

So, if you don't feel like you have a handle on your fear, begin "softly." Don't try to "win them over." Don't try to be funny. (Because in certain moments - it becomes about the "trying" and not about the "funny.") You will find that you slowly ease your way into a confident place. Then you can find the energy you need to carry the rest of your time on stage.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?

Please do! Just be sure to include this complete blurb with it:

Christine Kane is the Mentor to Women Who are Changing the World. She helps women uplevel their lives, their businesses and their success. Her weekly LiveCreative eZine goes out to over 20,000 subscribers. If you are ready to take your life and your world to the next level, you can sign up for a F.R.E.E. subscription at http://christinekane.com.

Rebecca, overcoming stage fright with Eric at an open mic night at Limeric Junction in Atlanta Neighborhood Virginia Highland.

Have a wonderful night,
Rebecca

The Donate Blues

2011-05-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

Exposure: The Ugly Myth

by Jack White on 5/6/2011 7:36:56 AM

Published with permission from the author.

Way back when I was making my gold leaf art (*Echruseos), I was swarmed with requests from charity groups to donate. Without exception, each group emphasized to me how much EXPOSURE I would receive with my gift. I was painfully inexperienced to the art business - gobbling down the promises they were feeding me. I was fully expecting to become famous from all the exposure those charities were giving me. Trust me, if exposure were the answer, then I’d have been world renowned in a few months. I was so naive I gave, gave, gave and gave some more. One year, I donated art to twenty local charities. I did this for two reasons. I love to give and the exposure I would receive. Back then, I believed if you could get enough exposure you would be walking in high cotton.

In this column, I will prove to you the folly of expecting exposure to make your career. I became fairly famous, not because of exposure, but the amount of art I sold. For three years in row I did art shows in a minimum of 60 bank lobbies scattered all over Texas. I had two fulltime men setting up the art, working the shows and pushing for publicity. I was on radio, television and in newspapers for every show. We sold a lot of Jack White art. I sold art to the leading citizens in those communities. My art hung in the offices of banks, mayors, coaches, sheriffs, Texas Rangers, the movers and shakers of these towns. Everywhere you looked there was a Jack White gold leaf on an important wall. There was almost a cult following for the gold leaf. I simply got lucky and worked my rear off.

I used a Greek lexicon to coin the name for my gold leaf on glass. Ek out of, crus is gold and eos, having been made. Thus, having been made out of gold. Thus *Echruseos. I suspect you can find some Echruseos art on eBay. I saw one listed as a Buy Now for $50,000. (smile) The process was simple. I did an original pen and ink, silk-screened several images of that drawing on glass, washed on an oil stain, covering the backside with gold leaf. I could produce 50-16”x20” in a day with the help of a couple young ladies to lay the gold leaf and place the art in a ready made frame. I have no idea how many thousand pieces of my gold leaf on glass were sold. I did gold leaf art décor for around 500 McDonalds across America and in the Caribbean.

Two things opened my eyes to the fallacy of exposure. I donated a large painting to raise funds for a little league charity. The art was a piece I retailed for $4,000 back in the mid 70’s. The league sold raffle tickets for $1 and then held a drawing for the winner. A few days after the drawing a couple walked into my studio carrying the art. I asked, “What can I do for you?” fully expecting they wanted me to personalize their painting. My ego was hyper puffed up.

My tongue almost fell out of my mouth when the woman said, “We bought a ticket and was lucky enough to win your painting. But to tell you the truth Mr. White, we can’t afford anything this expensive. We would like for you to buy the painting back. We understand the painting is valued at $4,000, but would be willing to sell it to you for $3,000.” Let me stress they purchased a dollar raffle ticket. I was so shocked, speaking became almost impossible. I remembered my grandfather used to say, “You cannot argue with an idiot.” I thanked them for the offer, explaining I already had a gallery full of paintings. What else could I do? I didn’t want to go to jail for murder.

I donated to a woman’s charity with the promise of EXPOSURE. After the auction, the winner came by the studio. I thanked them and asked how could I help. Again, expecting their request for me to personalize their art. This time the man spoke, “Jack, this frame doesn’t fit our décor. Would you mind allowing us to pick another frame? Also we live in Ohio and the art it too big for to fit in our car after we load our luggage. We want you to box and ship the art to us.” I almost grabbed him by the seat of his pants and tossed him out on the street, but somehow I restrained myself. The audacity was beyond belief. These two events happened in a matter of a few weeks apart. I then understood what exposure was doing…in truth, nothing.

I sought out my friend and master artists, A. D. Greer. (Google his name.) I told him how much exposure I had been receiving from all the charities and whined a little about the two recent winners. His questions stunned me, “How many people from these auctions have come to your gallery and purchased paintings? What has all that exposure produced?”

He made me think. I had vigorously given for at least four years, but I couldn’t remember anyone even mentioning seeing my art at such and such charity. By now I’d donated at least eighty paintings in the city of Austin, yet with all that EXPOSURE it had not resulted in one tiny additional sale. Not even a mention of seeing my work at any of these events. Two things came to mind, my work sucked or exposure was not working. Since I was selling all I could make, the fault slept at the feet of exposure.

Mikki and I still give to two charities, The Ronald McDonald House and a Breast Cancer event. Most charities think we can write off the retail value of our art, but not so. The IRS will only allow you to deduct the cost of materials, which all of us already do. We are allowed nothing for our labor.

New York Art Expo sells booths to any artist with the money to pay their fees. One artist I have attempted to help can’t even sell work on eBay with a starting bid of 99 cents. He borrowed money on his credit cards to rent a booth. I tried to talk him out of going, but the Expo salesperson promised him he would get tons of EXPOSURE. My word against EXPOSURE was too weak to win. He came home a dejected young man. He sold his grandmother a $100 painting and that was all. That was four years ago and he is still struggling to pay off those credit cards. I think it’s a crime to take money from artists who obviously will not sell any art. Where are the ethics? Where is the human compassion?

There is a vanity online art site, Art Exchange, which promises great exposure if you join their marketing program. President Clinton gave them a $700,000 grant to start their online company in Arkansas. When they were getting started they gave us free listings to have a named artist on their site. We didn’t put up my work, but we did add Mikki. If my memory is correct AE added my mate, Mikki Senkarik's images in 1998. The last time I looked, Senkarik was still on their site. This is 2011 and we have yet to have a request for so much as a poster.

For all those years we have been receiving great exposure, but no sales, no contacts, nothing, nada, zero offers to buy her art. The only contact we got was from an AE salesperson wanting to sell us space. We told him were already on their site. If you have a Website, expect Art Exchange to find you. Our friends Suzie and Tim Cox, president of the Cowboy Artists of American had a similar experience with Art Exchange. It took Suzie about a year to force them to remove her husband’s work. She didn’t want others to see Tim’s art and think if was okay to spend $3,000 to $5,000 to be listed. AE’s hook is if you don’t sell enough art to pay your fee the first month they will give you another free listing, so you can get more exposure.

As you probably can guess I get a lot of emails from artists with questions and, in many cases, they tell me what they are doing. They will say I did so and so show. I didn’t sell much, but I got a lot of great exposure. I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I know the truth about exposure and it’s not good.

I read an article in the Albuquerque Journal about an artist south of town that had one painting be juried into 105 shows. He had to box and ship the art to all those shows at his own expense. Yet with all that great exposure the painting was still for sale. Be aware the only one making money on juried shows is the promoter. Before you spend the money to be juried into a show take a good look. Find out how much art is being sold. If the art hangs for a month and judges pick the winner, run, don’t walk away. Put your art in front of art buyers not viewers.

When the economy fell in the tank in Texas in the mid 80’s, Saving and Loans went under, oil was $20 a barrel and unemployment up to 18% I purchased a small Air Stream trailer, hitting the road. I worked in-door and out-door shows in Florida and California. At the end of the show, I would ask artists how they did. Some did well, but many would say the sales were off, but I got a lot of good exposure. I guess they thought good exposure somehow softens the blow of no sales. Had I not learned the truth about exposure, I’m sure I’d have considered the same thing. I did well at those shows. I sold wet painting. I painted fast and mesmerized the audience. I never had an inventory when the show began, but was slapping paint the moment we opened. Painting animal and Indian portraits, I managed to Fedex money home every week for the kids to remain in the top schools in Texas.

Artists put their art in libraries and restaurants for exposure. Most of the people in libraries these days are the homeless keeping warm or cool, depending on the season. People go to restaurants to eat. Any sale will be a miracle. A restaurant can work if the owner will allow you to place placards on the table and you pay the waiters 20% commission on all art they sell. You may have to pitch in another 10% to the owner. Money talks. Get to know the waiters -- they will be your salespersons.

If you really want exposure here’s what you can do. Pick the largest city you can find, go to the spot were a lot of people are out walking during the noon hour. Strip naked, stick a few paintbrushes in your mouth and start running down the middle of the street. It will help to scream, more people will see you. Have a friend video your brief run. The cops will nab you after a block or so. Put your naked run on YouTube. Call it “Art Exposure”. The video will go viral and be seen by several million people. You will no doubt make the evening news. Even the print media might pick up your mad dash to fame. This will give you maximum exposure for the least amount of effort. Or you can face the reality that seeking exposure is a waste of time and energy. Find buyers and keep them on your mailing list. Make them a member of your team. These folks will be prospects, not spectators, for the rest of your life.

I recommend you seek places where people who are interested in buying art will see your work. Remove the word EXPOSURE from your vocabulary. Life will improve when you are no longer expecting exposure to bail you out. Do like the rest of us, sell your way to the top. The sooner you realize exposure will give you nothing but a bad cold, the faster you can begin to build a solid career.

Jack White has the title Official Texas State Artist and recently Governor Rick Perry appointed him an Admiral in the Texas Navy. Jack authored six Art Marketing books. The first, “Mystery of Making It”, describes how he taught Mikki to paint and has sold over six million dollars worth of her art. You can contact Jack at jack@jackwhiteartist.com.

Ride Like The Wind!

2011-05-05T15:11:00.000-07:00

Wind Riders
(framed 16x20)
Mixed Media

The show is hung and waiting with many beautiful pieces by many talented artists. This is my second piece for the show from my new Art Nouveau inspired series. Wind Riders is about my not-so-scientific study of butterfly flight patterns. They get carried away and so do I...a perfect match! This piece was created from a seven step process involving as many mediums!

Contact Gallery 4463 or call 404-808-9971 for more information on this painting.

The North Cobb Arts League Spring Show at Gallery 4463 begins with opening reception this Saturday, May 7th, from 6-9pm and continues all month.

Did you know that many Galleries today are offering layaway programs, so you can buy a piece of art you really want, arrange to make payments and avoid using a credit card? Gallery 4463 has this option with many of our artists. You may find your favorite Gallery near you also has this wonderful buying option! What a great idea!

Hope to see you Saturday!
-Rebecca

A New Show of Hands And Media!

2011-05-02T19:31:00.000-07:00

Nouveau Fleurs
Mixed Media; 12x12 (framed 19x19)

I worked for a year to develop this beautiful 7 layer mixed media process and I'm very proud of the results. I hope you will have an opportunity to see it in person at the Spring Member show of the North Cobb Arts League. (NCAL)

I'm proud to be a member of the Gallery 4463 in Historic Acworth, GA, and the two pieces in this show are my first to be available through the gallery.

Please contact the Gallery for purchase information on this painting.
Gallery 4463 or call 404-808-9971.

Thank you to all who have supported my art career. You have inspired me.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-27T17:32:00.000-07:00

Photo found on web crookedhouse.typepad.com

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-06T18:04:00.000-07:00

It's a Sign!

2011-04-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

Celebrate any time you can, that's what I say! Here is our new 8 foot Gallery and Art Center sign as it was going up! It teetered a little in the wind, and took a couple of extra hands. I was taking pictures holding the sparking wine waiting to pour...before you judge, let me say I did my share by painting the sign.

Front and Center Pete McGlamery, who cut the nice shape in the sign and prepared it to paint.

How many men does it take to hang an 8 foot sign? Hey, it was windy!

A toast to mission completed! Clemens Bak and I toast while a small crowd of apparently camera shy artists have decided to stand behind the camera!

If you are in Acworth, GA, stop by 4463 Cherokee St and visit our fine Gallery 4463 and maybe get a glimpse of the Resident Artists while you are there! Historic Acworth is full of fun restaurants, antique shopping, boutiques and a world class member supported art gallery!

Each first Saturday of every month is a new show in the Gallery and a fun evening! Next show is the North Cobb Arts League Spring Member show, May 7th, 6-9pm. Hope to see you there!

Visit the Gallery 4463 online or in person this week!

Gallery Hours

Fri 12:30 - 8:00 p.m
Sat 12:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Sun 12:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Or for Appointment call 404-808-9971

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-23T13:57:00.000-07:00

Rent I (Picnic on the Lake)

Click here to go to the Auction: Picnic on the Lake

#19 Scratch Board Rhino - Literary Illustration

2011-03-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

#19 Scratch board Rhino, Literary Illustration Style

About this image: Her name is Phila, and this photograph is commonly named, “The Trusting Rhino”. I have met the photographer, Selomie Maritz, by email and she has shared her story with me. Phila was shot 9 times by poachers who were trying to take her horns, and she survived. Selomie, the only photographer allowed to spend time with Phila, formed a special bond with her and spent 10 days in the bush with an armed body guard to protect her while her owners were away. She has been moved now to the Johannesburg Zoo, but Selomie is trying to raise money to get Phila into the wild again. For more information on the incredible work that Selomie is doing as part of the Eblockwatch Rhino Dream Team, please visit their website. As of March 14, already 71 rhinos have been murdered this year. Wont you help us stop these senseless crimes by sharing this information with everyone you know?!

Since I'm working on an Alice in Wonderland themed series for another project, I thought it fitting to discuss a very important genre in Art History, Literary Illustration! And, while we're at it, I can show off the really rewarding and not-so-messy technique of scratch board (as opposed to pulling some inky prints from a wood or linoleum block, which is also crazy fun, just messy).

Speaking of Alice, the story was illustrated by Sir John Tenniel, who was also the royal cartoonist, and the first illustrator to be knighted in 1893, helping to elevate the lowly profession of Illustrator to an "unprecedented level of respectability"! In fact, by today's standards, he would have made $165,000 (Thanks, Queeny. We are amused!)

Still wondering why Illustration is so important to Art history? Pffftt, you don't know me at all! Engraving is the technique universally used to create art for books, magazines, advertising, catalogs and newspapers throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Scratch board, which consists of a layer of clay covered by a layer of ink, became a popular medium because [it allowed for a fine line appearance that could be photographically reduced for reproduction without losing quality], being favored over it's older engraving media compatriates (wood, metal and linoleum.) Although Wikipedia suggests that scratch board is a new media, I find myself scanning history..thinking of scratch pots of ancient Greece and Rome, so I am pretty sure this "new" media requires more historical research. wink.

Regarding technique: I have officially been indoctrinated into the world of Scratch board Illustration. Why did I wait so long? This was so much fun that I honestly can't wait to begin the next piece. I learned that this medium can also be forgiving, allowing you to add ink back to your board if needed. For my first foray into Scratch Board, I bought a cheapie pack of scratch board paper, 10 sheets, for about $10.00. I didn't want to spend any money on the tools though, which were packaged at Dick Blick for about $25.00, so I used my sculpting tools, which, as it turns out, are mostly the same tools anyway, so there, bear! (You could also use pins and a utility knife; heck a mani-pedi kit and you're good to go!)

So, I drew a simple outline and then winged this drawing, completely by hand with my pen, but I did learn that there is more than one way to transfer a drawing to scratch board, one would be tracing over your drawing gently with a ball point pen to leave a slight indentation on your page. Another apparently widely used method is to apply Xylene (from Home Depot) to your board with a napkin and place a photo transparency of your image face down on the wet solution and rub it gently, then remove the transparency. The toner dries fairly quickly (I read) so you can get to work in short order! Read about one person's take on Scratch board from this helpful guy, Russ Mcmullin's page, whose site I found while Googling.

This one took several hours of careful scratching. I am pleased with my first try. Not all of my rhinos are notable works of art, some have been laughable. Art takes practice. Remember, I'm doing these to expose myself and you to some great art history and fun techniques, to enhance your world, baby, and I want you to have the confidence to try something new...and then share it with me!

See you soon,
Rebecca

#18 Pen & Ink Rhino; 31 Days of Rhinos

2011-03-19T18:21:00.000-07:00

#18 Pen and Ink Rhino
(sorry, another awful pic taken late with my phone)

Say hello to my little friend, the quill! (ok, the fake quill, the calligraphy tip!)

[Wikipedia more or less states evidence of the following potential truths:
Did you know that the pen was first used for writing in ancient India? Yup! They used bird feathers and bamboo to hold the ink. The Egyptians used bamboo reeds to write on papyrus scrolls and they could also have been used in the First Dynasty (3000BC). The quill pen even wrote the dead sea scrolls.] Cool!

So, why do we say "Pen and Ink" instead of just ink? (Back to the feather). If you are using a feather or pen with a nib that must be filled with ink order to draw, then voila, you are using pen and ink technique! We use the name loosely, though, as my quill is often a pre-filled pen of India ink with a lid. When I create a piece, I do try to write the exact media I am using just for posterity (just India Ink, or Pen & Ink, Ballpoint pen, Prismacolor marker & India ink, etc).

To draw with ink, you don't have to get fancy; great works have been achieved using a ballpoint pen. There is no need to get fancy with the tools, unless you are a freak for art supplies, as I am.

Good ol' ink pen, yet another technique that arose from childhood, waiting in my Dad's office, to be precise. He worked as an Architect for a while in Chicago, and when we went to visit him, the few things that were always available to keep us entertained were pencils, pens and paper. What do you do with that? Ahem. (hint: It wasn't algebra.)

Today was a quickie Pen and Ink sketch, using a combo cross-hatch technique, and also scribbles (Hey, what do you want for 20 min?). You can achieve terrific precision with ink in the perfect linear fashion of cross-hatch, making perfectly horizontal lines and then countering them with a comfortable cross-hatch of your wrist at about 45 degrees, I guess.

Alternatively, you can achieve a liberating level of Fabulous with scribbles and rapid fire lines, which is the way that I sketch when I want to get something down quickly and I don't need it to be museum quality. Journal quality. I encourage you to try both.

If you have never tried calligraphy tips, treat yourself! Try pretending you are John Hancock and get ye a plume and try that. It's tough to control the flow of the ink, though, so I recommend writing with it over drawing with it. Light a candle and put on a puffy shirt to enhance your experience.

Today's Rhino bears likeness to yesterday's, and that is because when I got down to the studio tonight, I realized I had no reference photo, so I just quickly rendered (not all that accurately either) my #18 Ink Rhino from yesterday's #17 Graphite (pencil) Rhino.

Have a great night, see you soon,
Rebecca

#17 Graphite Rhino; 31 Days of Rhinos

2011-03-18T15:32:00.001-07:00

#17 Graphite Rhino
(Another SavingRhino.org tribute)

You blinked and it stopped. A year ago.
Well...

Welcome back to my continuing jaunt into the history of art, my way, with 31 days of rhinos to celebrate Art's affect on civilization and humanity for cryin' out loud! The depths that art has reached in it's 30,000+ years (well, since the cave drawing days, anyway)

It's a good time to pick up where we left off because this month, EBSQart.com is taking entries into the Rhinoceros show! So, if you like Rhinos, head on over to enter one of your own. If you like rhinos but don't want to actually make rhino art, then head over to ebsqart.com April 1st-8th to vote on your favorite rhino in the show!

Onward.

Graphite, the salt of the Earth. Sort of.

Drawing is a basic function of Art and artists. It's a basic function of survival in fact. We draw directions, we draw a diagram, we draw plans, we draw figures! The pencil is probably the most prolific instrument in the history of time!

So, what better way to jump back into the 31 days of Rhinos than with the most beloved and fundamental tool known to man. hee hee. Good ol' #2! (and 3B and 4H and 8B and 2H, etc.) Well, there is certainly no dispute that Graphite is the oldest drawing tool. When cavemen drew on the walls, they picked the charcoal out of the fire (probably the same cave men who invented kabobs. I love kabobs.)

It has evolved over the years, but even as fascinated as we are by all kinds of lovely media, something still draws us (pun intended) back to the pencil drawing. Beautiful and simple and portable. We love a good masterpiece, yet when a show comes to the museum that involves, say, the sketches of Leonardo, you want to see it, don't you?? Every artist draws to enhance their talent. Pick up a pencil today and draw something. Then, treat yourself to an ice cream cone, because ice cream is good.

So, I hope you'll continue to look out for the rest of this series until I hit 31 in early April. The 31 days of Rhinos are an exploration into art and art history, celebrating some of the worlds most famous art genres and also art techniques and practices to enhance your skills! I am here to share. Some will be quickies, some will take all day. It's all good clean fun! See you tomorrow.

Enjoy,
Rebecca

Wordless Wednesday Worshipiness

2011-03-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

Isis, Goddess of love and stuff what's good. for Jen.

Where is your attention?

2011-03-10T11:21:00.000-08:00

I've been reading a lot lately about attention deficit. (Luckily, even though my attention isn't always on writing, my desire to read never seems to wain.) What is this deficit? Is it lack of focus, or disinterest in a given subject matter, or boredom? Or, could it be TOO MUCH to do ??? Not completely sure yet, but I suspect it may result from our crazy world that requires us to do and be everything all at once, and none of it with complete success. Heck, when you can't focus throughout your day, your sleep probably sucks, too.

So, I teach kids art. I also teach computer skills to adults (artists mostly).

Kids, especially teenagers are the most challenging because their energy is so darting, I often wonder how they get anything done in school apart from driving teachers insane. Although keeping a kid's attention is a tough task, talking to an artist about the need for discipline trumps it. Teaching an artist about discipline is like trying to teach someone with ADHD to sit still and concentrate. It is not always in their control to do that. So, I have had to assess my intent and find a way to use the artist's personality in his/her favor. And, I have been thinking about how to tackle just one moment in time..at a time.

But first, speaking of ADD, I learned a lot about adults with attention issues by teaching them computer skills. I could always spot them in my class, because they're the ones who continually ask me a question about the very thing I just finished speaking about. I blame myself, though, because I had them turn on the laptops at the beginning of class so that I could work through the day with a demo and then an exercise. The resulting behavior was that I was talking to myself while they played on their computers for 10-15 minute blocks of time (the demo time), followed by another 30 minutes of individual question and answer about the demo that they weren't watching (exercise time), followed finally by the exercise time (of which there is none left).

Let's face it, we just have too much to think about and do each day. I would like to live in France again for a few years, or forever, just so I can again be in the company of people who know to enjoy life, live deliberately, and savor a moment.

As long as I am here though, how about trying your own little exercise tomorrow. Each time you have a task, tell yourself, "This is my task, and it's all I am going to do right now, for X period of time." Then, move away from your computer or turn off your phone and just allow yourself to focus on that one and ONLY ONE thing. And, if someone calls you or approaches you to talk and you can't talk, make it clear why you can't talk right now, and that you will be available later (after that block of time is up).

Regarding speaking to people: If you can talk, make that deliberate too. Move away from anyone and anything distracting, and give that person ALL of your attention. They deserve it. You deserve it. When you focus, you will retain. Take a breath and listen for a change. You may find you have never done this before. I guarantee it will feel so much better remembering what someone just said to you, that you will begin to deliberately give people your whole attention.

Whatever your intention, I bet you will feel better and more satisfied if you do it with all of your attention!

Oooo, I can move mountains.

Wordy Wednesday

2011-03-09T16:53:00.000-08:00

A funny video I couldn't resist sharing. One of my favorite love songs.
Happy Wednesday!

Monday, Schmonday...just fix your Sunday!

2011-03-07T09:57:00.000-08:00

I have never been one to say I hate Mondays. I'm not really sure why people have such loathsome despair for this day. I think what they really hate is Sunday! Sunday you wake up and realize that Saturday is gone. You only have one day to relax and half of it is nearly gone, too! Sunday afternoon, you are already considering tomorrow morning and the commute. By Sunday night, you have mentally prepared yourself for going back to work, only in the worst way.

If you hate your job, you probably will have the worst night's sleep of the week on Sunday, because you are ticked off that your weekend is over and you didn't get as much done as you wanted to and you still have to throw some clothes in the wash to wear tomorrow and you are dreading the load of crap you will encounter upon entering the office tomorrow.

I could be wrong, of course.

However, if any of this sounds plausible, how about trying some psychology mixed with a little time management and pure unadulterated joy on for size and follow this list:

Hire a maid who does laundry. If you can't afford a maid, just do enough laundry in other moments of the week so it wont swallow up your precious free time on the weekend.

ALWAYS eat ice cream on Sunday. I cannot remember seeing an angry frustrated spiteful attitude from a person eating ice cream.

Have sex on Sunday afternoon. (optional, mostly)

Take a sleeping pill early Sunday night, like around 9 and make sure it's strong enough to totally knock you out so you will have no choice but to get a good night's sleep. (or have sex right before 9 so you'll fall asleep!)

If you live with someone who doesn't care what day of the week it is, who is generally happy and optimistic, maybe you could consider for just a moment that you might have a crappy attitude and there is another way to look at life. (really, there is). The best part is that it's ok to change! You don't have to stay an asshole forever. Choose to make your own day, and you will in turn add to your partner's happiness.

I'm just sayin'.

(Honestly, I had a great Sunday and have no idea where this whole post came from except that I just read more than one post about how sucky Mondays are...)

PS. Here is how an optimist (me) views going back to work: I love changing the sheets on Sunday night and getting into the most cozy comfy bed that was ever made! I love smelling the freshly folded clothes that I will put on in the morning! I am feeling good and refreshed from the weekend and that amazing meal we (probably) prepared together or the fun lunch date we shared while we were out running errands. Tomorrow, I'll get to see and interact with co-workers, learn what they did over the weekend and see some progress with a project I'm working on. I have a brand new week ahead of me and it's exciting that I have so much time!

When I get up each day, I have a choice to make today awesome. I choose AWESOME! Why choose sucky? You know that saying, "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right?" Well, same thing goes for choosing how to approach your Monday!

Mondays are good days! That's how I see it anyway.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-16T08:09:00.000-08:00

Corinth, MS
(Photo from the Daily Corinthian)

To My Valentine

2011-02-14T20:00:00.000-08:00

I don't know what made me trust you exactly, and I'm not sure how you learned to be so completely supportive of me.

All I know is how grateful I am (and, it totally rocks!)

I never knew I could feel so powerful and full of hope and supported as I do today.
I feel like a superhero.
I feel like Wonder Woman.
(It helps that you told me that you think of me this way, too.)

Wow, I am lucky.

Thank you Valentine, for being mine and giving me all the hope in the whole world.
Enough to believe that I can absolutely do it if I want to. Not only that, but thank you for being so convincing about your belief in me that if there was, I have never felt any glimmer of doubt from you.

Because of you, I am living my dream and I will never ever give up. Thanks Valentine, for another wonderful year.

I think I am ready for my costume now.

What do they look like when we aren't there?

2011-02-08T08:42:00.000-08:00

On the easel this week..(lord knows why I have a compulsion to show you unfinished paintings)

Well, you know, if you find a friend to be absent from their normal course of play, they are up to no good. Such may be the case with me, but you'll never know for sure. I'm sure the truth behind my lack of blogging lies somewhere between "OMG, writing a novel in a month wore me the f*#k out" and "I looooove my new studio so much, that being there with no computer to distract me is possibly the best decision I have ever made (creatively)." Also, not to mention "the Internets was sucking me dry."

I missed you though. So, now that I got all that out of the way, and I'm actually producing again, I can say that with painting always comes blogging, cuz I gotta show you what I'm up to!

I've finally gotten started on my new large scale series inspired by Las Vegas. My observations of what the Real American Dream looks like. The gritty, the winners, the losers, the regular city that most people don't notice. Beautiful People and Shiny Objects...Can you tell I still haven't nailed the name of the show yet? Whatever. I have 15 pieces planned, hopefully more. I hope to show in the early Fall 2011.

I'm off to paint in my groovy studio so I can continue to frote WR Jones.

Finally, Happy New Year!

2011-01-15T07:03:00.001-08:00

Ok, ok, I know I didn't post for New Year's Eve and didn't give you a New Year Post either. Heck, you didn't even get my usual New Year's Resolution post! What is up with that?

Well, for starters, I was busy. No apologies.

I was out of town for the holiday, but then, I was busy moving in to my new kick-ass studio in Historic Acworth, Georgia. The building, with gorgeous dark cherry floors and 10 foot windows is not only a dream location for a painter, but the building is now an arts center, which our little outer suburban corner of Atlanta needs. Yeehaw, we got some culture! The first floor of the building is home to Acworth's Premier Artist Gallery, Gallery 4463, and now the upper floor is all art too with 7 artists making residence here as well as the North Cobb Arts League.

Not blogging for 3 weeks is pretty lousy for a blogger, but you'll get over it. I'm letting go of the guilt! With that, I did think of a word for the year. This year, I am choosing "release" (since "let go" is two words.) My plan is to release old habits, junk, things I don't need, negative and obsessive thoughts about things which keep me from being productive! Part of my release is using some words of wisdom from my 8th grade pottery teacher, Mr. Huetson, "If you were sorry, you wouldn't have done it in the first place." Think about it. If you are going to be sorry, don't frackin' do it! Then you wont have to spend weeks of energy finding a way to forgive yourself for that stupid decision that you knew you would be sorry for. HOWEVER, I also want you to stop apologizing for being a Creative who didn't choose a lucrative career in finance. You are who you are, so don't let others make you feel like you should pretend to be someone else. . (that deserved two periods.)

I will leave you today with the daily email message I received from Moodscope.com, a new site introduced me to me by my MF, that monitors your moods over a period of time and helps you understand what gets your goat and what makes you happy. (may seem obvious for him though, any stupid driver, etc), but still an interesting science project for a while.

From Jon (at Moodscope): "At the risk of appearing a little maudlin, there will almost certainly come a time in my life and yours when we'll wish we could have had just one more day. And yet if you're like me, there are days that drift by. Days when nothing much happens. Days you'd struggle to remember much about.

But what would happen if you began that day with the view that it was a gift? A bonus day when just about anything could happen? A day to remember. Of course there are occasions when we all need time out to recover and rest. But if you're not in this exhausted state and you've got at least some energy to spare, maybe it's time to seize the day and do something rewarding, something to be grateful for as the rest of the week unfolds. Sound good? You know what to do."

If you're interested, here's the link to Moodscope

Happy New Year and seize the freakin' moment!
Rebecca
Never EVER give up!

And to all a good night...

2010-12-25T21:18:00.000-08:00

It was a wonderful week and a nice holiday with friends and family. We settle down now to watch Christmas Vacation, a light and fluffy ending to our festivities and a reminder to be grateful for those wonderful people in your life.

Merry Christmas to all!

May peace be with you and yours this night.

Raiders of the lost art (of stuffing stockings)

2010-12-14T10:56:00.000-08:00

"Indiana Bones"
ACEO, Colored Pencil

How often do we say, "enough with the socks and tangerines, already!! Want something fun to put in a stocking? Go for tiny art! There is sure a lot of it to be found. Look on Ebay for "ACEO" (where the craze began), or Etsy.com or Artfire.com, to name a few.

Of course, it's so close to Christmas now that ordering anything would be out of the question, but I'd be willing to bet that there are lots of little treasures to be found at great local artisan boutiques, like those found in Seattle and Atlanta (two places I frequent).

This is a custom mini character portrait, but you can find all kinds of ready made, ready to stuff tiny art pieces with your favorite subject!

Here's to making Christmas fun, unique and hopefully handmade!

Wordless Wednesday ...Drink and Be Merry!

2010-12-13T07:53:00.000-08:00

"Abstract Wine Bottles II"
For Victor

What stop motion animation taught me!

2010-12-02T06:28:00.000-08:00

My friend over at the Gypsy Goods Blog said that it just isn't Christmas without Rudolph! I agree! That and the Grinch and Merry Christmas Charlie Brown and all the other movies from the 60's! Sometimes, It's good to be older, because these old movies beat the crappy 80's CG by leagues and taught us some important lessons about being a good person.

As for me, some of the best lessons learned in life came from stop motion animation! In my personal favorites, Santa Claus is coming to town, Mickey Rooney as Santa teaches the Winter Warlock the most important lesson of all: "Changing from bad to good is as simple as one step! Put one foot in front of the other!"

"Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you'll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you'll be walking out the door

You never will get where you're going
If you never get up on your feet
Come on, there's a good tail wind blowing
A fast walking man is hard to beat

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you'll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you'll be walking out the door

If you want to change your direction
If your time of life is at hand
Well don't be the rule be the exception
A good way to start is to stand

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you'll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you'll be walking out the door

If I want to change the reflection
I see in the mirror each morn
You mean that it's just my election
To vote for a chance to be reborn

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you'll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you'll be walking out the door"

And, youngsters...

Remember, from the greatest Mailman ever, Fred Astaire, "Behave yourselves, because Santa can still look into his magic snowball and see what you're up to!"

Christmas is only 23 days away!
Ho Ho HO

Omg, 50,000 words in a month!

2010-11-29T10:14:00.001-08:00

I feel a sense of relief getting to the 50,000 word goal of the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) but now, I really feel like writing!

What an incredible month this has been. I knew I could do it, I knew I could write a novel, I knew I had one in me, and now, I'm off to a good start. My story is far from complete, with lots of editing and rewriting to come. I hope that one day soon, I will have something you can hold in your hand or your electronic reader and enjoy. Moreover, I hope it doesn't suck.

Thanks everyone for being supportive and cheering me on along the way, and thanks to my good buddy Alexia for starting the book club that made me focus on making lofty goals achievable and really nailing down my daily writing routine, and mostly getting to me to commit to this project in such a busy month.

I'm a leaf on the wind! Now more than ever before, I feel unstoppable!

Action was the word I chose for the year because I needed to get moving, and a lot of wonderful progress has been made with my art career. I'll tell you though, this little accomplishment really feels like icing on the cake! I am pleased to have progress in my journey to share with others and maybe inspire, too.

Remember: Never EVER give up!

Thanks to a few awesome people who lead by example and sticktuitiveness and probably have no idea I’m referencing them here: Christy Dekoning, Curt of Keemo, Christine Kane, Carl at Cakuart.com, Alexia Petrakos.

But Scarecrow, I thank you most of all. :)

Hey Thanks!

2010-11-25T10:32:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for a loving family, great friends, sweet dogs, a great dog sitter, awesome clients, our troops and volunteers and social workers and adoptive and foster parents, and people who care for other people and animals....and this internet connection that is allowing me to say to you all:

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful and safe holiday,
Rebecca

Lure me with your smallness and baby breath

2010-11-21T17:33:00.000-08:00

Bowl of Puppy
Acrylic on wood

Day 21 of Nanowrimo and 6813 words to catch up. I had a lot of painting to do this week, so I have not written in 3.79 days. Tonight may be one of those late nights that becomes a surreal writing experience likely to leave me feeling the carpal tunnel aches tomorrow.

I was thinking about smallness and the adorable quality of small. Take this little Westie puppy, for example. Don't you just want to feel his tiny tongue kissing you or smell his sweet baby puppy breath? I do. I think if I had this dog, I would simply not be able to let him down, except to pee, of course.

November is a rather large month, and it makes me wonder why the National Novel Writing Month happens in such a big month. Writing 50,000 words is momentous, at least it is the first time you do it. And in a month that also brings the preparation for the largest retail shopping days of the year, where artists and crafters alike are unbelievably busy preparing stockpiles of goodies for art and craft fairs and online sales. Then there is the added goodliness that I am also a portrait painter and I have lots of orders to fill. So, thanks Nanowrimo, just pile it on, why don't you?!!

Could be for a reason, though. If they did it in a metaphorically small month, we might not be up to the challenge. Through all of this, I have found companionship in my procrastinative obstinacy, and learned that writers are like me, they put things off and get distracted by dishes and sunshine and small animals. What I really mean is that in a small month, we would likely find no time at all to write a novel, because there is just too much 'nothing' to be done. And when there is nothing expected, you tend to go with the flow.

In November, when so much is due and the TV still has new episodes to watch (geesus, this is really painful), and everyone goes out of town or has plans for 3-4 days at Thanksgiving, why there couldn't be a better time to squeeze in a novel. Busy is what makes procrastinators move. This is the grandest time for a procrastinator who thrives on a deadline; Me.

So, bring it on, I say. You cannot discourage me! Bring on the kind of night that if I smoked, would be littered with visits to the porch in the wee hours to stare at the moon and think of new plot twists while stretching my neck. Bring on the late night pasty mouth (blech) and the dry red eyes. They will go unnoticed. For I am a nom de plum on the wind and my cup can always be refilled.

I'm off to make a French press and find a bit of ice cream.

I'll brush my teeth later.

Nanowrimo or try try again!

2010-11-14T15:34:00.000-08:00

Ink Leaves on Watercolor I

November is National Novel Writing Month. Really, it's worldwide novel writing month, or every other country's national novel writing month as well, however you want to look at it!

The goal: Write 50,000 words in a month, about 175 pages, give or take a few. My Storyist demo software says I'm on page 92. (Omigod, 92 pages! I totally rock!) That's almost better than selling a painting! Ok, it IS better than selling a painting, because it's the first time I've ever done this!

Half way day is tomorrow. I'm at around 20,000 so far. I honestly wondered if I would even get this far. I know I have a novel in me, but I didn't think I could get so much out in so little time. Each time to go to write, it just flows, and flows. Plus, I still like my story after 14 days.

I honestly thought my first writing experience would be a screenplay, and if you're into that, the same people who bring this fun contest also bring "Scriptfrenzy" in the early Spring. I have had oodles of movie ideas in my head forever so I'll be working on this one next year.

I have found this experience to be very liberating. The Nanowrimo people even come right out say that some of what you will write will suck. You aren't going to create a masterpiece with this effort, and you aren't going to publish on your first round anyway, so let it out and get it down, that's all that matters here. Why? Because some of what you will write will be brilliant! You don't have to share it with anyone. I wont even let my MF (Man Friend) read it, because I don't want any tiny iota of potential negativity to dash all my hopes and have me leave my novel career before it begins, which could happen with an eyebrow twitch. (ok, but probably not, because I am stubborn and believe I can actually do this. he he. rookie.)

So, with regard to writing the remaining 30,000 words, I have confidence I'll get through this, although tomorrow will only be week 3 and there is still so much to write and still a lot of time to get sidetracked and procrastinate. However, the Nanowrimo folks have thought of that too, with their daily blogging of motivation and the amusing "Procrastination Station" where, if you are short on words, you may find scene suggestions to add a thousand or two extra words to your story and maybe spark your story back into a flame. Daily I say my mantra: "Oh Lord, let my words flow, and help me from having to use the 'Shovel of death' scene to get an extra thousand words! (courtesy of the procrastination station).

For more information on Nanowrimo, visit http://www.nanowrimo.org/

For the rest of the month, each post will mention my current word count. The daily quota to get there is 1667 words. I chose not to write this weekend so I could work on a few other important things that actually help me get paid. The rest of month will be some early morning and some late nights, but I am driven to succeed on writing my very first novel. I have always wanted to do it, so let's see where this gig takes me!

I will remember that great quote, "Write Rebecca, write like the wind!" (or something like that)

The Case of the Runaway JackaBee

2010-11-08T13:46:00.000-08:00

Leopold "Butters" Scotch

This is the sweet young male Beagle Terrier Mix that has been roaming between owners in the Acworth area in the past few months. He is currently at my neighbor's house.

He's seems like a pretty smart, sweet little guy and he took a bath well. He likes to be on the leash and doesn't pull. He eats like eating is a luxury, a possible symptom of his chronic running away. Maybe he is trying to get back to his original owners, although I have searched every lost and found pet database in Georgia, and there doesn't seem to be an owner looking for him.

He is not neutered. His teeth are clean and his ears are pink, but a little dirty. The vet says he is healthy and is around a year old.

If you can, please post this on your blog today and someone, somewhere in the country may decide to adopt little Buddy.

Buddy after his bath and blow dry!

If you wish to give Buddy a better change of getting adopted, you can donate any denomination to help pay for his shots and to have him neutered. Dogs who come with no extra financial burden get adopted quicker! Thanks!

Hope and Deliverance

2010-10-26T07:10:00.000-07:00

"Princess Grace"

Can you imagine that someone would give up a warm bed to sleep in because the shelter wont allow a little dog? This is the dog. Now you can see why he would choose her over a bed. He is her protector, her best friend, her lifeblood. And she is his.

His name is Albert Grace, and this is Princess, his daily salvation.

I fight back tears each time I think of this duo, with whom I spent quite a bit of time during my trip to Las Vegas in August. They live in the old downtown area, where the old casinos still bring a bit of luck to some. I spent a measly amount of money buying him some bottled water for Princess, gave him some cash and cigarettes, and together, we hung out on the sidewalk, enjoying chili dogs and cokes from Binion's food counter, (which were delicious, by the way.)

Albert and I talked about being homeless at great length, and he shared a few of his darkest moments with me, including his wife dying of cancer many years ago, leading to his homelessness, how he enjoys an occasional shower and bathroom visit at the apartment of a friend, since he can't go in the casinos, and life on the street. "I am person without a home, I am not a criminal. People don't have to be afraid of me. I don't ever ask for money, I just sit here with Princess and we get by. Being homeless is hard, but I have some friends. ..I do have to be careful at night, though, because the bums will sometimes threaten to harm Princess."

The police try to move the vagrants along to keep the area tourist friendly. Like shooing pigeons going to where the bits of food are.

I am not sure whether Princess came before or after his wife's death, but she has been with him ever since. He told me that someone had taken her to the vet recently, and she, too, has been diagnosed with cancer. You may not ever see a more loving relationship than the one between this sweet man and his tiny canine friend.

The street vendors told me they look out for the duo, because they are not "bums" and generous tourists help out with dog food and water. It's true, Albert never asks for a handout. He is only 57, but his years on the street have taken a toll on his body.

My spendthrift trip to experience the lavish decadence of the city that never sleeps brought me instead to the streets where I met the real Vegas. Princess and Albert mark the beginning of probably a year long series about Vegas, called Beautiful People, which will culminate in a show in the Fall of next year.

Look for Albert if you go to Las Vegas, and buy him a chili dog.

The portrait of Princess Grace has been entered into the one word show "Hope" on Ebsqart.com. I invite you to visit the show, see and read my show entry and vote for your favorite!

*This image will be available as a print and on greeting cards, and I am working to make sure the proceeds will directly benefit Albert and Princess Grace, as long as they are still around.

You gotta put in the miles..

2010-10-18T12:01:00.001-07:00

Weary Feet

"Becky's barefoot trek took her to the old broken bridge, her secret fishing hole. She sat on the edge, concentrating with her tongue sticking out of her pursed lips, and readied her pole. A hawk surveying the stream below, her solitary goal was finding her next fish. At last, she imagined she had found an undiscovered lair of trout, and confidently cast her line in the deep pocket. Her pendulum feet swung like the stale marshmallows on her hook, keeping lazy time and giving her the pleasure of feeling the wind blow through her toes as she settled in for a long session with a bag of sunflower seeds."

I would rather be Michelangelo than DaVinci.

It seems that with any good intention, in order to see it through, you have to put in the effort, and this could take some time. Some time where it seems like not much gets done, where you don't see every day rewards, where you 'put in' but don't see financial gain. Even some time where you wonder if you are fishing in the right spot at all and if you will ever get to fry your fish, or if you will just keep replacing one soggy marshmallow with the next, thinking that a different color might change the fish's taste for it.

Many things, like parking spaces, just appear for me. I have good parking karma. It's a gift. I was listening to the Secret a few years ago and heard another person talking about his parking karma and it made me laugh. The suggestion has been made time after time, that if it is meant to be, it will happen without conflict or stress or difficulty. It will just happen. ..Maybe. Sometimes. (Hey you can dream, right?)

But, if we all just gave up on every good idea because it was going to take some work or time or money or effort, we'd live in an empty world.

We don't live in an age of King Patrons who marvel at our mere intellectual and creative genius, and long to merely be in our presence, so we don't have the luxury of being a DaVinci; more committed to the idea of perfection than tangible results. Never getting anything out where it might risk an imperfect existence, never to be finished, only abandoned. Maybe you want to be reserved in your limitless potential and spend years on just one masterpiece, who am I to argue? It's DaVinci after all! (In fairness to DaVinci, I think he understood his gift of attraction well and he evidently enjoyed being a mentor, scientist and intellectual more than a painter.) However, we DaVincis rarely get our feet wet, and that is my point.

Let's try a new approach. Let's instead think of ourselves as Michelangelos... great productivity machines of magic awesomeness! You see the block of marble and know it's a David waiting to come out!

I think you ought to hope for the big one. I think you should always hold on to that feeling! It's important to believe that greatness is possible. Why would I tell you to torture yourself with dreams that may never happen? Because the alternative is having an idea that never left the paper, or worse, what becomes someone else's Mona Lisa.

Don't know what to do? Well, you know that quote from Something About Mary: "I like meat on a stick! There should be more meats on sticks." I totally agree. Find what is missing and do that!

I knew a man who stated, "I'll never have much in life or be a rich man." This is true.

I believe that I will succeed at anything I put my mind to. Two results are possible. I will succeed or I will find the journey takes me in a different direction than I was expecting. At least I will have tried.

If you don't take the first small step toward something, then you will only live out your years wondering what things might have looked like. Here's something I read in the Artist's Way that made me want to put in the time and earn some band aids:

Q. "Do you know how old I will be by the time I learn to play guitar well?"
A. Yes, the same you'll be if you don't.
So, let's start!¹

Have the Grace to be a beginner, and take the first scary small step.²

Anything worth doing is worth doing badly! (except for sky diving, maybe.)

You have to start somewhere. Just begin and see where it takes you.

1,2 Quotes from The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-06T06:21:00.000-07:00

Side of building, Las Vegas, NV

"You make me wanna write!"

2010-10-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

I always feel like writing in the Fall. It's my favorite time of year. I think the slightest change in temperature makes me perky and excited, even nostalgic.

The Summer was unrelenting this year. High humidity and temps created a bad biscuit out of me. I fluffed up and got cooked, but then I just sat around all Summer and got stale. A bad biscuit is not worth eating, empty calories and a waste of time. Regardless of what food product I may have resembled, the result was a hardened floury puck which could never result (no matter how much honey I used) in any kind of creative production.

I'm an Earth sign, and I probably need some more water in my life to make my obstinate behavior a little more fluid. The stubborn me said, "Hey, this road block was my idea, so I will just stay here and break out a six pack until the road clears. I prefer not getting a damn thing done for 3 months!" Except it was my road block too, so no one else was going to clear it.

Honestly, it's not that I intended to accomplish nothing, who does that?

My argument could be that I was nourishing an idea, "You mean you can't see the novel that is inside my head? I'm just working on the plot a little more before I write it down!" When you are blocked, anything that involves much more than passive regurgitation is a struggle.

1st step: Acknowledgement. Summer is bad for my productivity. That's when I should be playing outside and dreaming and lying under the stars and forming creative ideas. I am from the Northwest and cooler weather makes me productive. So, if I am to stay in the South, I need to travel during the Summer or get a job doing something mundane, or just do house chores and go to the beach every day. As long as I don't spend another Summer depressed, beating myself up for not painting!

Why am I telling you all this? Because you probably have a season, too. It may even be a day of the week. You have a time of year of when you are better at that creative thing you do. When you are at your worst productive period, may I suggest that there is something else you could be doing that will fulfill you. Some seemingly mindless activity, even, that will give you a sense of satisfaction. Go pull weeds, or caulk, or paint baseboards, or vacuum the ceiling fan.

You know, these blocks may come when we need to refill our creative wells. So, the light tasks can help us to get some dreaming done!

If Fall is not your season, try some chores and spruce up your place. Then, go for a walk and let yourself dream. Swing on swings. Go to the movies. Go to a coffee house at midnight, see a live band, make good food and enjoy it. Discover a wine bar.

Plan ahead to do something 'else'.

The biscuit picture comes from a nice little blog I discovered today on how to make a great buttermilk biscuit! Visit Pinch My Salt for the recipe! (Don't forget the honey)

It's My Life! From Disability to Independence

2010-09-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

I work with 4 wonderful women.
Adult women living with disabilities. They have learned that their contribution to the community is very important, and that they can set and achieve attainable goals for themselves, including volunteering and creating their own income!

They also give back to their community by volunteering locally, spreading joy and good will every place they go. They have helped to make care packages for the troops in the Middle East, and have even knitted items and made food to benefit local folks in need.

I have the pleasure of teaching them art, and let me tell you, the lessons go both directions! I feel more love and more value as a person simply by working with them to help them achieve their creative goals!

Shown today are 2 of the women, Sandy Manfull and her sister Teresa.
Sandy, shown above, loves to make jewelry and is a talented abstract artist. Here, we are working on composition and technique, and she was delighted with the results and how much fun oil pastel can be (and messy)!

Teresa, her sister, shown below, is discovering that she has a remarkable talent with design and although this was first time using colored pencil on such a large scale, we were all amazed at how skillfully she completed her haunted house.

These two lovely ladies are going to be submitting their completed artwork in a show benefiting people living with disabilities, which will be held at Emory this Fall.

For more information about Teresa's or Sandy's jewelry or art or to donate your handmade items for the girls to sell to gain their own independence and help those in need, please email Natalie (Itsmylife-steps-to-independence@yahoogroups.com).

Click on the images below to purchase one of these prints!

Wordless Wednesday - Things we can do with Nature

2010-08-25T11:50:00.000-07:00

Japanese Gardens, Seattle, WA

Renton, WA. Aircraft Xing? hmmm. Careful, you might hit one!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-04T12:28:00.001-07:00

Sea otter couple. True Love.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-29T06:11:00.000-07:00

Found on wall in a church in Woodstock, Georgia.
For some reason, I didn't get this posted. So, here it is anyway.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

All photos were taken by me at the Atlanta Aquarium.

Handmade Heatwave from the North Georgia Etsy Team!

2010-06-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, Etsy.com will once again go "Brick and Mortar", so to speak, as the members of The North Georgia Etsy Street Team host their second team show!

Come out and meet the artisans Saturday, June 26^th from 10:00am – 4:00pm at the Brannon Heard House in Cumming. This show is a special summer show called Handmade Heatwave. It will feature arts and crafts by Etsy Team NorGA artist as well as other local Etsy.com artisans.

There is FREE admission to the show. Come meet your local Etsy.com artists, see their newest works of art and get some great unique items for yourself or for wonderful gifts.

This will be a great shopping event! Get a sneak peek of the participants & items by clicking the links below:

Artist Spirit ~ Glass fusion jewelry & plates

Caveman Pottery ~ Pottery

Chance Bramble ~ Jewelry

Classy Chic Boutique ~ Jewelry, Soy Candles, Coasters

Deep South Creations ~ Paper and Fabric Art

Duchess Designs ~ Jewelry

Glamit ~ Jewelry

Girl Sew Pretty ~ Art, Glass & Jewelry

Gnagey Gallery ~ Paintings & Cards

H20Colors ~ Art

Janiebee ~ Children’s Clothing

Jessica’s Jams ~ Jam, Jelly, Relish and Pickles

Jnelly Designs ~ Photography & Greeting Cards

Josies Beaded Jewelry ~ Jewelry

Lauren J Hill ~ Jewelry, art, hair flowers

Maria Luna ~ Jewelry

Prayerworks Studio ~ Prayer Beads

Priss Designs ~ Art

Fiber Felter ~ Fiber Art

Red Stilts ~ Paintings

Sharp Mountain Creations ~ Jewelry

Smelly Rhino ~ Paintings & Cards

So She Sews ~ Clothing & accessories

Spiderblue ~ Jewelry

Stress The Seams ~ Clothing & Metalwork

Sunshine Monster ~ Unique Crochet Creations

Trinity Soap ~ Bath & Body

Worthy Soy Candles ~ Soy Candles

Have a cup of lemonade and a snack while you browse all of the wonderful handmade goodies for sale… Enter your name to win a free handmade gift… Meet local crafters and talk to them about their creative processes… Stock up your gift giving stash and treat yourself to something special. We hope to see you there!

DIRECTIONS

Directions from Ga. 400 South (Atlanta, Roswell, Alpharetta)

Georgia 400 to Bald Ridge Marina Road Exit. Exit to your left across the Ga. 400 Bridge and head down the hill and around a curve toward town. Turn right at the town clock/electronicmarquee onto Pilgrim Mill Road. The Brannon-Heard House will be first house on your right. You may park across the street or Go 1 block to School Street on your left and park at the Cumming Playhouse. It is located at the intersection of Pilgrim Mill and School Streets.

Directions from Highway 9 South (Atlanta, Roswell, Alpharetta)

Travel North on Highway 9 into the town. Travel past Dairy Queen. Get in far right lane and continue through the upcoming intersection. The road name at this point becomes Pilgrim Mill Road. The Brannon-Heard House will be first house on your right. You may park across the street or Go 1 block to School Street on your left and park at the Cumming Playhouse. It is located at the intersection of Pilgrim Mill and School Streets.

Directions from Ga. 400 North (Dawsonvile, Dahlonega)

Georgia 400 to Bald Ridge Marina Road Exit. Exit to your right onto Bald Ridge Marina Road and head down the hill and around a curve toward town. Turn right at the town clock/electronic marquee onto Pilgrim Mill Road. The Brannon-Heard House will be first house on your right. You may park across the street or Go 1 block to School Street on your left and park at the Cumming Playhouse. It is located at the intersection of Pilgrim Mill and School Streets.

Directions from Highway 9 North (Dahlonega Highway)

Take Highway 9 and head South toward Cumming. School Street is just before the town square on the left and right across from the entrance to City Hall. Turn onto School Street and go about one block. Turn right on Pilgrim Mill Rd. The Brannon-Heard House will be just before the light on the left. You may park across the street or park at the Cumming Playhouse. It is located at the intersection of Pilgrim Mill and School Streets.

Directions from Canton and points West of Cumming

Georgia 20 headed east toward Cumming. Continue on 20 to Highway 9. (Dairy Queen will be on your left as you turn left onto Highway 9). Get in far right lane and continue through the upcoming intersection. The road name at the intersection becomes Pilgrim Mill Road. You will see town clock and electronic marques on your left as you pass through the intersection.The Brannon-Heard House will be first house on your right. You may park across the street or Go 1 block to School Street on your left and park at the Cumming Playhouse. It is located at the intersection of Pilgrim Mill and School Streets.

(This post was nearly completely borrowed from the Team Norga Blog, making my job easier today!)

Have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

Baby Dove on a leaf

(at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens; taken from my iphone)

View from the car, middle America; Indiana

Peachy Deals! Get a mint julep and shop!

2010-06-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

It's that time again!!! Time to get your Southern on! Come over to Etsy.com, grab some peach tea and meet the crafty personalities of the Georgia Etsy Street Team for our 2nd Annual Summer Sale!

Visit these Georgia Etsy Street artists offering fantastic sales between

Sunday, June 20st to Sunday, June 27th!

Search etsy for key word peachydeals

Participating Shops:

Addy B's Cakes
http://addybscakes.etsy.com/
Gourmet, homemade pound cakes in a wide variety of flavors
All cakes 20% off, use coupon code PEACHY. Discount will be refunded via paypal.

Amelia’s Soap Co.
http://amelias.etsy.com/
Handmade Soap Products
15% discount throughout shop; Refund through PayPal

ArtisticPaws23
http://artisticpaws23.etsy.com/
Fuzzy Butts t-shirts and folk art paintings of dogs
Free Shipping.

Artistspirit
http://artistspirit.etsy.com/
Glass Fusion Jewelry & Plates
All items 20% off

black tulip shop
http://blacktulipshop.etsy.com/
handmade accessories
Peachy Deals sale section

CraftersCrossing
http://crafterscrossing.etsy.com/
Handmade Swarovski and wire jewelry
20% off any purchase over $10.00. Discount will be refunded thru Paypal.

Darcey Lane Designs
http://darceylanedesigns.etsy.com/
Custom made Birthday Outfits. Sassy ruffle panty (bloomers)
Custom Children clothes traditional with modern twist.
All purchases 20% off, use coupon code PEACHY. Discount will be refunded via paypal

Daughters Vintage
http://daughtersvintage.etsy.com/
Repurposed vintage jewelry and accessories with sweet, Southern flair.
10% off everything, use coupon code PEACHY. Discount will be refunded via paypal.

deannatroupe
http://deannatroupe.etsy.com/
Free Shipping. Peachy Deals Sale Section.

Deuce Goods
http://panAsh.etsy.com
Handmade Beanies, Cozies, Bottle Cap Art & Badge Reels
PEACHY DEALS Sale Section 15% Off

duchessdesigns
http://duchessdesigns.etsy.com/
Handmade jewelry
Peachy Deals section that is 15% off, price is already marked down.

Freckles Galore
http://frecklesgalore.etsy.com/
Crayon Rolls, Ouchie Bags, Popsicle Wraps, Nerf Ammo Belts, Locker Magnets, Babydoll Diapers and Pee Pee Domes
20% off everything. Use coupon code PEACHY. Refund given via PayPal.

Handiworks by Janice
http://handiworksbyjanice.etsy.com/
Exquisite one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry
Free shipping and a $5 gift certificate towards a future purchase included.
Enter Peachy Deals in message to seller upon checkout.

Hartley Soap
http://hartleysoap.etsy.com/
Handmade Cold Process Soap
PEACHY DEALS: Buy one Bar and get a free travel size bar!

JenstheBestofcom
http://jensthebestofcom.etsy.com/
Artwork inspired by Music. Fine Art prints, wall plaques
free shipping

K. Berlin Metalsmith
http://kberlin.etsy.com/
Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry – Sterling Silver and gems
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Sophie

2010-06-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

"Sophie"
Aceo, Faber-Castell colored pencil on Bristol Smooth

This piece is for Elsie. Her sweet Irish Setter Sophie loves attention and loves to tell you when anything is happening. I took this photo in her kitchen, and you may have noticed that I like the perspective of dogs with noses up front! Silly. It makes me smile! Last week, I drew a graphite illustration from the same picture, but I took some liberties with it.

Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils are nice to work with. Dick Blick has some great pricing on them, too. I bought mine at Sam Flax and paid a bit more, unfortunately, although my set is not yet complete! I think I'll finish it off at Blick.

Order a Custom Pet Portrait at Smelly Rhino Studio!

Yea, yea, yea. I heard it all before!

2010-06-09T21:11:00.000-07:00

In studio all week. Painting in Progress...

For quite some time, 2 years, actually, I have been kept away from any sense of normalcy when it comes to a workday in my studio. My desire to learn more about this internet/blogging/social networking/online selling world of ours has made, well, an addict outta me. It was innocent at first. I thought, "well, I'll just learn this stuff real quick like so I can do my own marketing!" Did I mention that was 2 years ago?

Monday, I decided to alter this freakish course of action because the perceived outcome wasn't lookin' good for my art career. I have no inventory!

So, I intervened on my own behalf, and legislated a self-imposed computer ban in my studio. I had to add (to myself) that I also have to BE in my studio (or it wont work). he he

Today was day two and I have made a lot of progress. I even wrote in my journal 3 mornings in a row! I know, unbelievable.

I told Eric I needed a little push toward that manifest destiny thing. I work on it constantly by saying aloud all the weaknesses I'm dealing with so that he can regurgitate them back to me at strategic moments. It's my own way of holding myself accountable.

I asked him for help and he gave it to me!

He said, "Ok, well, first of all, no computer during the day. You can get online at night while you're hanging on the couch with me! Pretend your boss is there and you can't surf!

The other thing: Stop making lists and plans. Just paint. You need to just paint without worrying about all that other stuff for a while.

You are doing what they do in the corporate world...lists and schedules and planning, it's like Dilbert, for crying out loud! Nothing gets done this way at the office either! That's why they wrote a cartoon about it. Just allow yourself to let loose and be creative. Let yourself see some progress that makes you feel good. This is your goal, after all. You are having anxiety about it, but once you start to see progress, this will pass."

I was listening this time.

Well, the reward the past 2 days has been real progress on a painting and a nice feeling of satisfaction after focusing for a change on what I really want to do.
He is really smart.

Drawing Day 2010

2010-06-06T20:59:00.001-07:00

"Waiting for a scoobie snack"
Graphite on Bristol smooth paper

Today was Drawing Day!
Here was my little drawing.
I hope they got to 1 million worldwide!
What a fun goal, and to see the drawings everywhere, on facebook, flickr, youtube, imagekind, deviantart, you name it, they were everywhere!

Join in the fun next year! Until then, check out the results of the day here!
drawingday.org

Prayer; admission of a semi-secular girl

2010-06-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

"Saying Grace"
"Thank you for my Mommy, and my Baby Monkeys, and my Daddy!"
ACEO: Faber-Castell Colored Pencil on Bristol Smooth

I AM NOT INTO RELIGION.

I constantly say I am not a religious person. I often mention my distaste for organized religion and the hypocrisy that makes company beside it.

That being said, if I break down my day, hour by hour, and record my thoughts and utterances, (aloud and under my breath), the truth is that I pray all the time!

Wow. I pray all the time. And I mean, all the time!

"Thank you, Lord!"
"Oh, please, God, help that person!"
"Please, Lord, help me get through this!"
"Lord, Thank you for this day!"
"Thank you, Lord, for showing my humility!"
"I am so grateful for such an understanding partner!"
"Lord, Thank you for bringing what I need exactly when I need it!"
"Oh, Thank GOD!"

I am quite proud of my good parking Karma..my ability to get parking spaces just about anywhere when I need it. I also have an incredible ability to win concert tickets. It's almost crazy! We only paid for one of the last 6 concerts we've attended. Positive thinking, praying, it's in the wording. The power may come from within myself, from the Universe, wherever...but it does come. I can't explain it, but I believe in good luck. I believe in goodness.

I am not one to discuss religion at all, and really hate when people try to shove it down my throat, but I think you ought to know what I take from all this....

What comes around, goes around. So, catch yourself next time you are about to yell at someone, or say unkind words to them or do something wrong. Instead, find one good thing to focus on and try a smile. It may get you a lot farther. If not right this minute, in the future. Take a breath and say "Thank you!"

I am so lucky!

Familiar, Funny, and Demonstrative

2010-05-28T20:42:00.000-07:00

Buddy Giraffe
Faber-Castell Colored pencil on Bristol Smooth

Tonight, I read my friend Alexia's regular newsletter, full of daily wisdom, funny and familiar. She that she was writing her morning pages, and made note of the vital 2500 word a day challenge that is out there. She also mentioned having hurt her knee while attempting to train with the couch to 5k program.

She reminded me of a story. Well, 2 stories, really. My knee was defiled by a fucktard snowboarder in Tahoe 4 years ago. But more recently, my hip is suddenly WHACK! It's so tight even bending over can be a problem. (probably also the fault of the snowboarder). All this physiological self-discovery came to pass when I started my own couch to 10k program a few weeks ago so a bunch of us could do the Peachtree Road Race (the largest 10k in the country, I've been told). My hip is so tight the chiropractor said, "NO running!" Find a swimming pool instead. and YOGA; do some of those sunrise poses." So, now I have to nurse this aging hip, instead of just running on a whim, with no prior training or exercise, like I did when I was 25. I don't understand why Maker's Mark and TV can't prepare me for that kind of thing.

Back to the snowboarder, briefly. Whoever the hell invented snowboarding should have his own damned mountain to board on, and bring the rest of the boarders with him, because they don't belong with skiers. I don't say this to be mean, I say this to keep skiers safe and to keep the slopes uncluttered from the discourteous, etiquette thrashing, malevolent effing teenagers who just stop for no other apparent reason right in the middle of a downhill slope than to 'take a break' as skiers are actually attempting to use the slope for SKIING! But maybe worse still are the wobbly snowboarders who grab people and drag them down when exiting the ski lift because they can't control their own balance, and have to completely destroy the cartilage of totally innocent skiers because they are too fracking clumsy and self-absorbed to just fall on their own off to the side somewhere!

Soooo, the other story...yea, this is gonna chew off a few people, but here goes, (and this is the really demonstrative part): The fracking morning pages. That book, specifically. I stopped reading the stupid book on chapter 4 or 5 when it said, "don't read this book for a week!"...I never went back. Then, like 4 months later, I decided to start again. whatever! Stopped again after the second night falling asleep thinking, 'yea, see, now I'm bored.'

Hello? What book says, "Stop reading me for a week, now that I am sure I have your attention!"
I seriously think the writer or editor should change that part. New Editions are good, mkay?
Anyway, had a yard sale with a girlfriend a couple months later, and her book was in the yard. (I chuckled under my breath).

I liked a lot of ideas in that book, though. I have always journaled, and I liked the suggestion that you always do your morning pages, just get up and get it out right away. I rarely do first thing in the morning, but I do write, and I think that was more the point for me than getting out my expletives before my second cup of coffee. I thanked Alexia and said, "Now I am going to go put this in my blog. Thanks for making me write tonight. he he."

Have a great safe holiday weekend!
Rebecca
Ps. I really do still write the pages, just not every morning.

Alexia is a terrific person, has a great site and is a very intuitive and helpful observer, and coach. Read more about Alexia Petrakos.

Don't be Ridiculous!

2010-05-25T10:39:00.000-07:00

"Fat and Happy"
Faber-Castell Colored Pencil on Bristol Smooth

I have often felt that I would never be taken seriously if I created only cartoon-ish-y art. In fact, that has been true, as I have been rejected at times as a serious artist. I have even canceled listings because when I looked back, I felt it just wasn't good enough. But, there is plenty of "serious" art that doesn't make me feel good, so what good is it after all?

Eh, who cares anymore?!!! I think the goal here is to do what makes you happy, and what you seem to be good at performing. I'm still not sure what I am best at performing, but I'm turning a new leaf and I am no longer going to pout that I haven't really painted a still life since college, (and I'm not upset about it.)

Also, I've been afraid to say I would begin my painting a day challenge just because I know I'd be bound to miss some days. Screw that charade as well!

So, to start small, I will create an aceo a day! Maybe I'll work up to the oswoa size for the Daily Painter's site! I will post some and throw in some more Rhinos and history lessons! yay!

My blog has moved to my website! I wont be posting here forever, so I hope you will find your way to it an follow for a little fun now and then!

Smelly Rhino's Blog

For all of you who are illustrators and whimsical artists, power on!

Have an inspired day!

A reluctant trip to the casino

2010-05-08T09:34:00.000-07:00

The Rice/Kusel Family

Circa 1998

Yesterday I woke up to the email you never want to read.

My cousin, in an obviously grieving state, sent out a broadcast to the family that her Dad had passed during the night. It was early in the morning, but I think even if she had been able to muster the will, 10 phone calls would have been beyond the abilities of a daughter who just lost her Daddy. Cy Kusel was her Daddy and my Uncle. He is pictured furthest to the right, nudged between his daughter and his wife.

Next week, I will drive to Indianapolis, pick up my Mother from the airport and spend the time needed to add a little love to the situation, and share some fond memories of my dear Uncle.

Cy loved to tell stories about how much his favorite niece (me) liked to talk. He said my Mother would constantly complain to her sister and brother-in-law (my uncle Cy) that she was getting impatient waiting for me talk. She wont say anything, Mom would say. I made plenty of noise, I'm willing to bet. But behaviorists will tell you that often the youngest child will be the last to talk as a result of the older children speaking on her behalf. I had 3 older brothers, who, I'm guessing, were able to look at me and tell Mom exactly what I wanted and needed, thereby making my work at communication quite literally, unimportant. This may explain many things, now that I think a little more about it... like, for example, my desire to be completely taken care of, not ever lifting a finger. (or is that a consequence of being female?)

Anyway, back to the story. So Uncle Cy would say to my Mother, "Don't worry, Carolyn, one day you will miss the silence. That one day came when I was 4, and all at once, I was speaking in eloquent and demanding full sentences. Uncle Cy was happy to recount the end of the story ..."Then, we couldn't shut her up!"

I'm afraid not much has changed.

On the way home from my unfortunate family visit, I'll stop by another cousin's, who is is near Louisville, and maybe play a slot or two at the Riverboat Casino there. Hey, you have to find the best in any bad situation.

Now, time for a little silence.

Joe The Thug

2010-03-27T08:06:00.000-07:00

"Joe The Thug"
ACEO 2.5x3.5"
Acrylic on canvas

My friend Christy wanted her cat, Joe to be fat cat! So, in the spirit of Al Capone, with the gangster car, the city background, and the patent leather shoes, I painted Joe, immortalized as the lazy thug that he is.

Christy Dekoning is a watercolor artist living in Ontario, whose portraits will become an heirloom in anyone's family. Visit Christy's blog: Travels in Watercolors

Visit Smelly Rhino Studio or order a Custom portrait!

#16 The New Yorker; 31 days of rhinos

2010-03-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

#16 Ode To The New Yorker; 31 days of Rhinos
Prismacolor on Bristol Smooth paper

#16 in the series, yet another ripoff of one of the iconic images of the 20th century; The New Yorker's highly hatted Mascot!

The New Yorker first hit news stands in 1925, and part of the legacy of this brilliantly written and presented magazine are its cartoons, which have been an integral part since the very beginning. So much so that most identify the magazine with the cartoon logo! They recently compiled a book of all All 68,647 cartoons ever published in The New Yorker! That's a lot of cartoons!

Cartoons, in fact, have become such an important part of our culture, that their influence on us is barely fathomable. Consider that many of our greatest cartoonists perhaps were inspired by The New Yorker growing up, and that alone makes it formidable. Great cartoonists, illustrators and satirists abound here!

Regrettably, and it pains me to say this, but Wikipedia is down today, so I can't give you a fun wee history on The New Yorker and its indelible mark on art history. Perhaps I can add some more tomorrow. For now, below are some of the greats.

Roz Chast is one of many to influence us, and it's great to have a female cartoonist in the mix, because it seems that not many women take the path of cartoonist. Roz first contributed to The New Yorker in 1978 and became a staff cartoonist in 1979, and has contributed over 1000 cartoons to the magazine. [from CBSnews.com: " Editor David Remnick wrote that her cartoons convey a comic sense of "domestic anxiety." ]

Robert Mankoff, is currently the cartoon editor of The New Yorker. He captures that cross section of American business and politics with his humor, as well as every day life in the US. Robert is also the creator of The Cartoon Bank, which is the largest cartoon licensing business in the world. So, if you are a cartoonist, maybe you should start there!

Charles Addams, adored by many as the creator of the Addams Family, spent most of his career drawing for The New Yorker! It all started as the Gothic, dark, bizarre, macabre but humorous cartoon in the New Yorker, which resulted in the beloved TV series and 2 movies! Aren't tidbits fun?

James Thurber, humorist, cartoonist, writer. A distinguished figure of American Literature, He wrote "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", and others, which put him in the history books as more than just a cartoonist!

Saul Steinberg, among the most prolific artists of the 20th century, appeared in The New Yorker for nearly 60 years! Now that's a career! Visit his site and be awed by the archives!

Their cartoons were political, controversial and funny. Satire at its best! Maybe not that well known to the average person, but if you grew up with this magazine, you were influenced by them! And, well, maybe you do really know a few!

The New Yorker has had a profound effect of US Popular Culture since its inception, and I think it is fitting to mention in my 31 days of rhinos series.

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#15 Cave Painting; 31 days of rhinos

2010-03-18T20:32:00.000-07:00

So easy, a Caveman really did paint this!

#15 Cave Painting (also mixed media)

Media: Textured stone, acrylic

[Fake excerpt "This amazing piece was discovered in a remote cave somewhere in Arizona. People mistakenly believed that the great Merck's rhinoceros or Rhinoceros merckii must have existed in North America at some point. A better explanation is that the ancient people built really good boats and traveled; and this cave painting was a story of their voyage to Africa or Asia or Eastern Europe. How the heck did they get there? Maybe alien visitors aren't so far fetched after all!

It was originally believed that the markings on the bottom of the picture were fire, but it was later determined that this is grass, because rhinos are herbivores, and at the top of the picture, there is a sun and a moon to depict the sun and moon cycles. The two rhinos are not mirrored, (although abstract art could have existed then.) Instead, these are a mated pair of rhinos, the male on the left. They come together and touch horns as a gesture of affection. Possibly the early people of the land believed that 'Rhino Love' was an example from the gods to be honored as part of the cycle of the seasons; Love is, essentially, part of the cycle of life.

It is also believed that this painting has much more than symbolism, like that of others found nearby. It's symmetry reflects a desire for ordered decoration, and almost resembles ancient Greek pottery examples. Could it be that these people were the lost potters of the Macedonia and this drawing is not a prehistoric example after all, but a cool illustration borrowed from the cave drawings, to be used on the water jug of a soujourner? hmmm!"]

Seriously,
[Wiki " Cave paintings are paintings on cave walls and ceilings, and the term is used especially for those dating to prehistoric times. The earliest known European cave paintings date to Aurignacian, some 32,000 years ago. The purpose of the paleolithic cave paintings is not known. The evidence suggests that they were not merely decorations of living areas, since the caves in which they have been found do not have signs of ongoing habitation. Also, they are often in areas of caves that are not easily accessed. Some theories hold that they may have been a way of communicating with others, while other theories ascribe them a religious or ceremonial purpose.

So, were cave paintings merely decoration? Was it history being recorded? Or perhaps a vigil by shamans to create a larger hunt for the people? We will never know for certain, but Please Read more because it's really interesting!

See you tomorrow.

#14 Origami Rhino; 31 days of rhinos

2010-03-17T20:25:00.000-07:00

Ancient tradition unfolding here, under protest, on Wordless Wednesday!

Above: #14 Origami Rhino; 31 days of rhinos

Media: Paper

Below: Not my rhino!

This beautiful rhino shown here was "borrowed" from Joseph Wu Origami, and wow, he is good! Unfortunately, he doesn't show you how to fold the damned thing! I printed out his diagram and then stared hopeless at it after creasing every line on the paper.

The only workable tutorial I could find (for free) on YouTube was working great except the occasional floating off the screen while he was folding. Just as I was nearing completion, the artist began folding the back legs, and his hands were entirely out of the camera at that point. Alas, I couldn't figure it out...I have an origami book somewhere up in my library, but it doesn't have a rhino in it. You can see how the hind legs are not finished.....balls!

[Wiki "The Japanese word "origami" itself is a compound of two smaller Japanese words: "ori", meaning fold, and "gami", meaning paper...Japanese origami began sometime after Buddhist monks from China carried paper to Japan during the 6th century." Read more! (it's fascinating!)

My brother introduced me to this incredible short story nearly 20 years ago, and you must read it as soon as you can, because it will make you really feel; love, sorrow, joy and hope:

The Story of 1000 Cranes (you must read this!)
"The Thousand Origami Cranes has become a symbol of world peace^{[citation needed]} through the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who tried to stave off her death from leukemia as a result of radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II by making one thousand origami cranes, having folded only 644 before her death, and that her friends completed and buried them all with her.

Her story is told in the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.

Several temples, including some in Tokyo and Hiroshima, have eternal flames for World Peace. At these temples, school groups or individuals often donate Senbazuru to add to the prayer for peace. The cranes are left exposed to the elements, slowly dissolving and becoming tattered as the wish is released. In this way they are related to the prayer flags of India and Tibet." -Wiki excerpt.

Wordless Wednesday didn't exactly leave me speechless...Maybe I should have stopped at hello!
See you tomorrow...
(I will try harder next week not to say anything on Wednesday..I really missed the point, eh?)

#13 Colored Pencil; 31 days of Rhinos

2010-03-16T20:58:00.001-07:00

#13 Colored Pencil; 31 days of Rhinos
Colored Pencil on Bristol Smooth

Pencils are fun, portable and require no water. So, a pretty neat way to do art on the go. It's like crayons for grownups. only harder.

This sketch was done fairly quickly, without as much layering detail as I would normally use. I use colored pencil fairly routinely for miniature portraits, but I often take as long to finish one as I would any painting. This quicker sketch illustrates that you can use a lot of colors to create your tones; blues, tans, yellows, browns, grays. A lot more fun than just Graphite, right?! The only drawback is that you do have to acknowledge that the colors exist in the picture! Do you think that is a funny thing to say? Well, when you see a gray rhino, do you naturally think to apply blue and yellow?

We talked about charcoal being just about the oldest media, probably anyway. Raw charcoal is quite soft and comes in sticks that get our hands very dirty and also in pencil form. Graphite is like the gold standard of coal, the premium stuff and much harder. ...Then there are colored pencils, made from pigments mixed with a binder of resin, wax or gum, then made into the pencil form we get at the art store. I wasn't really able to find much history on the medium and what I did find indicated that as an art form it's only been around about 20 years..Well, of course I had colored pencils 20 years ago, but I am fairly confident that this art form wasn't widely accepted in Galleries. Perhaps it's time is still to come, but it will continue to be a favorite for me as an illustrator, and if you like to draw plants, it's the tops!

Good colored pencils get pricey. If you want to play, you could buy a cheap starter kit for under $20. If you decide you like it you can move forward with the mega sets. The difference is that the cheap kit will have less pigment in it, making it harder even harder to get a nice image, and possibly turning you off colored pencils. But, still, try a little before you invest.

Paper is really important! Did I mention that paper is soooo important. On this piece, I thought I was being clever to use Bristol Smooth, but it became apparent very quickly to me that you can render more lifelike images on regular drawing paper, printmaking paper or pastel paper; something with a little texture and which is porous. I like to use a lot of layers to work the magic. This is where it comes to life. I wasn't able to really accomplish that goal with this exercise.

Colored pencil as an art form is not really well accepted as "high end" to put it gently, but it is gaining in popularity. It's a great media for illustration and cartoon rendering, but I'll be honest with you; it is kinda challenging if you are going for realism. It takes a little practice, but you can get there! Remember, don't be afraid to share. I am (again) finding it liberating to post something that I would otherwise think to be sub par. Let it go, and enjoy the process!

I hope this at least gets you a little interested in this medium!
It's so good to not be sick anymore.
See you tomorrow.

#12 Negative Space; 31 days of Rhinos

2010-03-14T19:31:00.000-07:00

"Look, I'm trying to be positive, but you're in my negative space!"
#12 Negative Space; 31 days of rhinos

Pencil and Ink

If you haven't ever heard of drawing negative space, it's probable that you haven't taken an art class.

This should be one of the fundamental exercises for a beginner. In fact, I remember first drawing negative space in an 8th grade art class. My teacher made us draw from our desk, the view around his head, as I recall. Then, the space around other objects, like chairs, and some more organic shapes. It was eye opening to find that I could render an image by drawing the space around it! The important thing he was always telling us was, "Stop fretting over not being able to draw a chair!! Drawing is about shapes, the shapes that make up the subject, and the shapes that make up the background. The Subject is your positive space, and the rest is your negative space. So, just draw the shapes around your subject, and you will have the chair you are trying to draw! Eventually, you will begin to understand how a given subject is formed and it will become easier and easier!"

[wiki excerpt "Negative space, in art, is the space around and between the subject(s) of an image. Negative space may be most evident when the space around a subject, and not the subject itself, forms an interesting or artistically relevant shape, and such space is occasionally used to artistic effect as the "real" subject of an image. The use of negative space is a key element of artistic composition. The Japanese word "ma" is sometimes used for this concept, for example in garden design.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

In a two-tone, black-and-white image, a subject is normally depicted in black and the space around it is left blank (white), thereby forming a silhouette of the subject. However, reversing the tones so that the space around the subject is printed black and the subject itself is left blank causes the negative space to be apparent as it forms shapes around the subject, called figure-ground reversal.

Elements of an image that distract from the intended subject, or in the case of photography, objects in the same focal plane, are not considered negative space. Negative space can be used to depict a subject in a chosen medium by showing everything around the subject but not the subject itself. Usage of negative space will produce a silhouette of the subject.

The use of equal negative space, as a balance to positive space, in a composition is considered by many as good design. This basic and often overlooked principle of design gives the eye a "place to rest," increasing the appeal of a composition through subtle means. The term is also used by musicians to indicate silence within a piece."]

When I went surfing to see what was online, I found lots of great articles, blogs, tutorials, and the lot on drawing negative space. Here's just one: Using Negative Space Drawing

The inspiration for the sketch came from a photo by the remarkable photographer, Nick Brandt!
I found his site through a neat blog called Nothing Relevant (which by the way, has lots of relevant on it!)

Although my cold is gone, I'm still fighting a very bizarre fatigue that has been making me nearly unable to function. I taught a little workshop on Saturday and did a fun run with a friend on Sunday. These are the only activities I have been able to accomplish, literally. I hope to be back on track tomorrow.

See you then!

#11 Sumi-e (Japanese Ink and Wash); 31 days of rhinos!

2010-03-12T19:29:00.001-08:00

You don't like this knock-off? So Sumi-e!!!

#11 Sumi-e (ink and wash); 31 days of rhinos
India ink on watercolor paper

Another mediocre example of a complete knockoff from a sumi-e painting found on Wikipedia. I added the "indigenous ghost rhino of the Valley", naturally.

[wiki excerpt "Ink and wash painting is an East Asian type of brush painting also known as wash painting or by its Japanese name sumi-e (墨絵). Ink and wash painting is also known by its Chinese name shui-mo hua (水墨畫, Japanese suibokuga (水墨画^?), Korean sumukhwa, Vietnamese tranh thuỷ mặc'). Only black ink — the same as used in East Asian calligraphy — is used, in various concentrations."]

Ink has the oldest history perhaps next to charcoal. as we talked about the other day, pigment mixed with water and slapped on a substrate..doesn't get any simpler than that! Well Wiki says it dates back to the Tang dynasty in China about 600 BC! Wow, that's old. But, charcoal still has it beat by about 30,000 years. Ink is very practical, and it even worked to mark criminals and village idiots' foreheads. Still used today on college campuses! Pretty practical, indeed.

Lots of fun, and quite similar to watercolor. It is best if you lay it down in washes of extremely light to dark, as you would watercolor or colored pencil, if you will. 1) Lay the ink, let dry, add another layer. 2) lay ink and pull the color with a bit of water to manipulate, blot if desired, and let dry. Continue to add layers until completion.

If you haven't yet experimented with watercolor yet this month, now is your chance..or play with a little ink. Simple calligraphy brushes can be dirt cheap, often in multi-packs. Practice dragging the brush around the paper with a drop of ink in there, making a rich heavy line. Then, add some water to your brush and pull some color away. Let some lines dry completely before going near them again. Although you will still get some movement, the original ink has already permeated the paper. Experiment to see the different looks you can create! If you add an India ink pen for accents on a wash, it will dry waterproof and stay put if you wash over it again, which is cool (although, it wouldn't really be true Sumi-e at that point; more like Sumi-e-Gandi?).

Click here for more on Japanese art

To read all about the art of Ink and Wash, start on Wiki here and then explore! (it seems like I am endorsed by wiki, but I just like the ease of access)

See you tomorrow!

#10 Pastel Pencil; 31 days of rhinos

2010-03-11T17:15:00.000-08:00

My horn is my temple, not yours, so go cut off
your own face, jackass!

#190 Pastel Pencil; 31 days of rhinos
Pastel on black paper

This picture was copied from a very important site that you should visit! SavingRhinos.org. One reason I am featuring Rhinos is to raise awareness that they are endangered and mean people in places like Yemen and China don't seem to care that there are only a literal handful left, because they want to butcher them for their horns so they can have some super dust to snort or eat and make themselves feel like a man or some ridiculous medicine ritual. Stupid people are everywhere! I wish they would evolve brains! Saving Rhinos is on Facebook, too!

Pastels rock! Pastel pencils give some versatile fun on the go. You don't have to get your fingers dirty, so they travel well to figure drawing groups. Not that you will often find me in life drawing, because I live out in the burbs and will always find a good (lazy) reason not to drive into the city at night! But, once in a while, I show up and surprise my friends!

To further attest to my total laziness, I even know where all the sketch groups are (especially with my laptop handy) and I still don't go!

If you live in Atlanta and want a really fun life drawing experience, try Mellow Mushroom's Drink and Draw in Decatur, the first Monday of every month! Two models, a husband and wife, dress in the own private stock of super hero costume-ry (or fetish-ry, not quite sure, but I like to make up words). We get to draw them while eating some of the best pizza in the city! See you next month!

For those living dangerously, you may still be able to find Dr. Sketchys at the Clermont Lounge!

So, a relatively minor mention of pastels. It's basically pigment with a binder, like historically gypsum or chalk. We often think of pastel as chalk, because it has chalk in it. Just don't use it on the sidewalk..that would be really expensive.

Pastel may have been first mentioned by Leonardo DaVinci in 1495, although the French didn't actually invent the word until the mid-1600s. I suppose the Italians had a name for it that didn't stick.

I'll delve more into pastels on another day, because I want to emphasize sketching everyday, and life drawing or figure drawing as often as you can. My friends are really good at sketching and I'm usually pretty embarrassed in their company, because I take way too much time to do things. When I try to hurry, well, this piece above is an example of overworked and unfinished...
One thing that is nice about this blog. Letting go. Letting myself just get it out and not be perfect. Writing takes as half as long as the Rhino Art most days. But I want you to know that you will feel a sense of accomplishment to allow yourself to be imperfect! Too much perfection goes unfinished, if you catch my drift.

A friend a mine, Jessica Cook (who is showing in Austin at the market there in May) quoted someone today..."Perfection inhibits progress!"

So, go sketch something tomorrow. (Maybe I'll get back to these drawings someday to perfect them!)

Find Life Drawing in your City:
I Googled to find this site to find a local meet up! Don't know if it's good, but you can try! Find a Meet up

Other life drawing opportunities in Atlanta:
Atlanta Artist's Center has several weekly opportunities for live drawing and painting. Click here for Sketch groups

Marietta area find figure drawing at the Cobb Museum

I really hope that my Artist friends, after reading this (as if) will not leave me alone the next time I say "I might make it".

See you tomorrow!

#9 Collage; 31 days of Rhinos

2010-03-10T14:44:00.000-08:00

..And now for something completely different!#9 Collage; 31 days of rhinos

Media: acrylic, ink and paper on canvas board

I'm coming back from the dead. I am taking Sudafed though, so I will dismiss later anything that didn't make sense this week as drug induced fuzz.

Today's Rhino will appeal to the more contemporary audience, I hope. Collage art is no new thing, though. It's been commonly referred to in Modern art since the early 20th century, but it's been used since before Christ!

If you are some kind of art purist and can't appreciate anything other than Oils (for example), you may be mocking collage art right now. Well, hopefully you will read some history and visit some museums to find that as an art form, it's been used by some of the greatest painters in history!

-[wiki excerpt- "The term collage derives from the French "coller" meaning "glue".^[1] This term was coined by both Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso in the beginning of the 20th century when collage became a distinctive part of modern art."]

You may remember from our quick lesson in cubism that Pablo and George were very aggressive and liked starting movements and genres and techniques...nuff said. I wonder if both their egos fit in the same room? You don't see me complaining. I'm so glad they met!

There is just so much information to give you on this subject, like that the ancient Chinese and Japanese used it, and that a lot of collage exists in the form of large scale installation art, and that Kurt Schwitters, a well-known collage-er (hehe) utilized various woods in his collages! Neat!!! The techniques and uses are as wide as the ocean and can be humorous, serious, political, non-sensical, abstract, breathtaking and more...whatever you can imagine (or randomly place!)

So hold your heads proud collage artists! You are not cottage crafters, you are in good company! If you are a collage artist, you will find yourself in good company with a boatload of artists of great fame, especially these (and, again more that are too numerous to mention)

David Hockney
Pablo Picasso
Kurt Schwitters
Marcel Duchamp
Henri Matisse
Nick Bantock (the writer---remember, The Griffin and Sabine Trilogy?)
Click to learn more on Collage art.

...and now for something completely different
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Terry Gilliam, whose animation genius depended on cutouts for creating the treasured and immortal Monty Python! --Not exactly "fine art" to hang, but you wont forget it!

So, ready to go try one? If nothing else, it lets you have a little fun!
See you later.

#8 Fashion Illustration; 31 days of rhinos

2010-03-09T20:45:00.000-08:00

I'm too sexy for my dress, too sexy

#8 Fashion Illustration; 31 days of Rhinos
Media: Ink and pencil

I do apologize for being sick. I vowed to do 31 days of rhinos and I was flat on my back yesterday and missed a day. I will make it up tomorrow. I'm finally feeling a lot better. Let's hope it stays that way. On with the next one! It's late and I've finished a very special rhino.

This rhino is a tribute to fashion illustration, something many artists don't think about when they consider an art genre. But I'll tell you why it's important!

Did you know that everyday artists for centuries have been illustrating fashion for a living? You already know such greats as Albrecht Durer illustrated plants. Well, fashion is no different. Fashion Illustration has been a popular genre for advertising the couture of the day for 500 years! Sounds crazy right? Well, clothiers are the second oldest profession, I'll bet!

And, one of the all time great illustrators in history, and very dear to me, Alphonse Mucha, an art nouveau era painter from Moravia (now Czech Republic) made his fame regularly illustrating Sara Bernhardt for her shows, as well as many advertising campaigns. In fact, he wanted to be a serious painter, but his fame came in his illustrations, and it wasn't long before he accepted his fate and ran with it (although he still painted historic old world paintings for the homeland!)

Imagine life before the invention of photography, or even the popular use of it! It wasn't really until the 1930s that fashion photography became vogue. literally! It was Vogue Magazine that popularized photography for the fashion world.

Back to illustration. Since it's first uses in medieval times to current popular culture, fashion illustration has stood strong as an art form. In fact, now more than ever, it is indeed created as art and for the sale as art, not just some one's livelihood as an underpaid advertising artist.

Notable fashion Illustrators, which are way too numerous to mention might not be known to you, except a few eccentrics who dabbled...Andy Warhol, for one! Another, Kenneth Paul Block is known to be the biggest of the 20th century, and worth reading about!

" In the introduction to Drawing Fashion: The Art of Kenneth Paul Block, published in 2008, Isaac Mizrahi described Block’s influence: “More than any single designer, he gave New York fashion its sophistication. Because he drew Babe Paley and Jackie Kennedy a certain way, they became what he had envisioned.” - excerpt Wiki

As Fashion Illustrators go, Kenneth Paul Block was God!

Many of you wont know this, but right out of college, my Mom and I got our starts as fashion designers. We had our own business, Auzias, where we designed and sold better women's apparel to high end boutiques. Although I moved and went to Interior Design before becoming a full time artist, Mom is still an apparel designer. One day soon, we are going to work together again and create a fun new line that you will have to have!

Mom and Me in 1995 featured in the Seattle Trade Show Magazine

Thanks for asking about the rhinos and wishing me better! You are a great group of friends and readers.

See you tomorrow,
Rebecca

#7 Pointillism; 31 days of Rhinos

2010-03-07T15:11:00.000-08:00

A thousand points of light?!!! hehe It wasn't Bush's idea!

#7 Pointillism; 31 days of Rhinos
India Ink on Paper

A thousand points of light! Ok, a lot more than a thousand. I sat through the entire Academy Awards tonite putting tiny dots all over the page, beginning with the lightest tone and graduating to a hint of black.

Welcome to Pointillism!

When I think of Pointillism, I think of George Seurat, the founder of Neo-Impressionism who really changed the future of modern art. He first used Pointillism at the disdain of critics, who mocked him when they coined the term. Thank goodness no one ever listens to critics! So give him a hand. Everyone knows Seurat from his most famous painting, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. George was cool and liked Science (like me)! He believed that if you forced the viewer to combine the dots of color instead of mixing the pigments with your brush, the painting would have a certain luminosity...and that light could control emotion in the viewer by the way you used light and color in a painting. He named it Chromoluminarism. Well, he sure knew what he was talking about! Hooray for Science!

About this art history, If you have already started to notice that some periods seem to overlap, I think that is a testament to the flow of creativity, and how influential these great artists were on each other. Their art was a reflection of what was happening around them. All these great artists in one place sitting in coffee houses and discuss the world, no wonder they influenced each other! Art imitates artists...he he. (ok, we copy each other)

What's neat about pointillism is that it is easy to explain in our highly technological times by comparing it to a computer screen or tv, with pixels. Pointillism is created with dots of color instead of interconnecting strokes. The dots of color exist independently from one another, and depend on your eyes to put the colors together. The more dots there, the clearer the picture becomes. In a pointillist panting, it's best appreciated to walk up closely to the painting to view the intricate system of pixels, then, step backward and view at greater distances until you see the full picture clearly; that is where your eyes connect the dots!! It's very cool.

If you have the opportunity to go the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, I believe you will still see another great Modern artist and pointillist, Chuck Close, whose photo realism on enormous, no, gigantic canvases is best appreciated from the next room over!!!!

Paint and ink are best for pointillism, but I challenge you again, to imagine what other media works for you! I know of other artists who come near the genre by utilizing cut paper to achieve photo realistic collages, but that may have to be another rhino!

Artists who were best known for pointillism:

Do yourself a favor and read a little more about Neo-impressionism in your spare time, as I think it is the most important push toward a provocative change in art in the last century! It's kinda like the internet. It changed art! Stay home, free eaters!

[Wikipedia excerpt, Pointillism is a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of pure color are applied in patterns to form an image. Georges Seurat developed the technique in 1886, branching from Impressionism. The term Pointillism was first coined by art critics in the late 1880s to ridicule the works of these artists and is now used without its earlier mocking connotation.[1]

Still sick here, and I've been couch bound all day, drinking liquids with alternating Law and Order episodes and steamed honey lemon water.

I know my brother, Tim, will enjoy this Rhino, so it is for him.

(Picture credits: Baby Rhino pic comes from the Weblogs of the Baltimore Sun.)

#6 Rorschach Inkblot Rhino; 31 days of rhinos

2010-03-06T19:46:00.000-08:00

#6 Rorschash Inkblot Rhino; 31 days of rhinos
watercolor and india ink on paper

Here's the thing. I am sick. My body decided to come down with a cold this afternoon, just after I sat through Shutter Island, which is worth seeing if only for Leo Dicaprio. I've been getting a late start on these this week, and have posted most by 8:30, but last night and tonite have been a challenge, and I'm fading fast. I also have a time limit for these. Less than one hour. This ink blot took about 5 min. Once dry, I inked in a decidedly crazy manner as my head is quite fuzzy, and finished in less than 10 minutes. It shows. But, this exercise is not about perfection. It's about posting a rhino a day. and maybe a few good ones, eh?

The cool thing is that the ink blot was a ridiculously perfect skull..."OMG, how awesome", I said...but, then, I whizzed all over it!!! To be fair, this wouldn't qualify in my own book as inkblot art, because of the whizzing. I would prefer unadorned inkblots, myself. I didn't have enough time to do another inkblot, so it is as it is. Eh, who cares, I did it my way. Then, I decided that, to imagine the skull as you are observing the skin is maybe a neat and creepy thing. So, there you have it!

Rorschach was a German psychiatrist. He used ink blots to make crazy people believe they were nuts. Personally I think it's nuts. I always see creepy stuff in them. I guess it's the level of imagination you admit to the doctor. "It's a skull!" or "It's the maggot infested gnawed skull of a sun-blistered cow after I shot it and watched it decay for a week!" It's all in the delivery.

Artists, like Andy Warhol made inkblot art classic! And thanks for that, Mr. Rorschach, whether or not it was your fault! (It was.) I love the use of ink blots in art. There are just so many creative things you can do! Left alone or adorned, it is a swell abstract beginning (and a way to literally tell your doctor what you are thinking!) I will do another later..and merely suggest around the piece, but not tonite, as I give up for the sake of rest.

My doctor has a sign in his office: You have a cold? How long will it take to get better? With antibiotics, 7 days. Without, about a week.

Abstract art is a beautiful because it doesn't matter how you interpret your work as you lay it on the page, you own it. Beautiful! So, own something. Don't be afraid to make some lousy art! Don't be afraid, because some of it really will be crap. Magnificence will come because you allowed the rest to get out in practice!

That is what we are here for; practice. Life is an exercise in repetition.

See you tomorrow, hopefully with a clearer and less philosophical head.

Notes from Smelly Rhino Studio

so fleeting

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Bye bye 2011!

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A New Show of Hands And Media!

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Fri 12:30 - 8:00 p.m Sat 12:30 - 8:00 p.m.Sun 12:30 - 5:30 p.m. Or for Appointment call 404-808-9971

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Finally, Happy New Year!

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Omg, 50,000 words in a month!

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Lure me with your smallness and baby breath

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Handmade Heatwave from the North Georgia Etsy Team!

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Peachy Deals! Get a mint julep and shop!

Sophie

Yea, yea, yea. I heard it all before!

Drawing Day 2010

Prayer; admission of a semi-secular girl

Familiar, Funny, and Demonstrative

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A reluctant trip to the casino

Joe The Thug

#16 The New Yorker; 31 days of rhinos

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#13 Colored Pencil; 31 days of Rhinos

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#10 Pastel Pencil; 31 days of rhinos

Fri 12:30 - 8:00 p.m
Sat 12:30 - 8:00 p.m.
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Or for Appointment call 404-808-9971

My horn is my temple, not yours, so go cut off
your own face, jackass!