Apr 8, 2009

Flying High . . .

I AM flying high lately. The last several days have been great. I have sent sold work to Spain, Australia, Canada, and all over the U.S. I sent traded work to the Netherlands and am about to send some to England. (It is just so dang cool to know a little piece of me is on the other side of the world!) I just found out yesterday that one of my pieces was published in the spring Art Trader magazine and I was asked for permission to be featured on three other blogs. I got cool and beautiful pieces in the mail from other artists too! You cannot, CANNOT beat that. Collecting art is just about as fun as making art.

It's not finished yet, just like Hope that you've seen in progress (she's still not finished), but here is my flying girl/woman. She needs a name, purpose, cape and a background, but she's started. I'll credit images when she's finished, but the vintage face and body are from Lisa Kettell's Etsy shop.



Here's how the image inspiration started with images from one of Lisa Kettell's image cd's . . .


(this body was printed in two different sizes, trimmed, attached, hand tinted, then placed with recolored boots from a magazine in my piece)


(this face was printed, hand-colored, trimmed and adorned with hair from a magazine in my piece)

I am in a weird spot with making art again. I take a step back, a couple of days off, and wonder what the heck I've been doing when I get back to working and then I get stuck. I've lost my vintage-ness somewhere along the way and have gotten even more "finished" instead of finding the expressive or gestural grungy quality I find in the work that I'm most attracted to as a viewer. Being trained as a graphic artist, I think I have a REAL problem with executing whimsical or gestural. Just can't train my hands and impulses to carry it out, can't resist the impulse to be neat, tidy, clean, graphic, etc. That creates the conundrum - can't finish something cuz the whole piece takes a big sharp detour from whatever inspiration it started with and I don't know how to "end" the piece.

So, though my Etsy is in dire need of more new art (all that's left is mostly older simpler pieces), I find myself studying, researching and practicing again. And, I'm learning that that doesn't always lead to significant changes in my finished work. So, I'm not sure how long the dry spell will be this time. Where is that dang muse of mine?

8 comments:

aliceinparis said...

"have gotten even more "finished" instead of finding the expressive or gestural grungy quality I find in the work that I'm most attracted to as a viewer" I think it is that "finished" quality that makes your work stand out from the rest!That and your quirky way with colour, form and idea:))

NancyB said...

Fly girl..that was the first title that came to mind! I do so love her! Your muse is there darlin..treat her to coffee or tea and maybe a trip to a antique mall might do the trick or even your nearest art store! I can't find the grungy in my attempts either..it too shall come...does help when I visit jackandcatcurio..thats for sure...I love the whole romance (not the kind with candlelight candy and flowers kind) of vintage circus and palm readers etc! xoxo

NancyB said...

me again! ha ha I meant to send you a big congrats on your publication and all the wonderful sells! You go girl!

Leslie said...

Is that Janet Leigh and Robert Wagner? I'm a big movie fan!

Congratulations on being worldwide! And I know exactly what you mean when you say that collecting art is just about as fun as making art. I think so, too!

May the muse be with you!

A - Zinnia Productions said...

your muse is definately working overtime! Great art! You have such a wonderful eye for color...dang! Go with it girl...your work is awesome! ooxxx Zinnia

Shelly said...

Woohoo! Sounds like things are going SO great! Loved reading this post and hearing about your process. Hugs and extra hours in the day to you. :)

Tace said...

Congratulations on being in Art Trader Magazine. I will have to go look for that one! That is sooooooooooooooooooooo cool. Like super awesome amazing wonderful scream it from the roof tops coooooool!!

Tace said...

Holy Moly am I the last to know about this uber cool online web published art magazine the Art Trader??? I was looking it up and there it was! That is soooo coool and you got an awesome feature in it. I love your Zetti String-Bean Sisters. You must be so thrilled and proud to have your work shown like that!!!! I have to go back and drool some more. I love stuff like this!