Speed Dating Anyone?

I've never participated in a "speed dating" event. But on Wednesday, May 18, 6:00 pm at the Design Within Reach Portland Studio I'll be participating in the I Heart Art PDX's Mixer Match, Speed Networking, Round Two -Visual Artists and Galleries.  

The short answer is there will be 20 galleries, 40 artists and we will have 2 mins with each gallery to show and talk about our work!  Yikes!  and Yay!
Have you participated in a Speed Dating event?  or an interview process that is similar?  I'd love to hear about it! 

Tomorrow is Crafty Wonderland!!!  Hope to see you there!!

Brushes down!

After a few minor changes and additions, I placed Mona in her frame today.  She makes her way to her new home tomorrow night! 

Forgive me Leonardo.

My dearest Leonardo,
Please forgive me.  It's hard times out here in the 21st century.  An artist has to do what an artist has to do.  or does she?
Yours truly,
Serena

I was approached to paint my interpretation of a "slutty Mona Lisa" reproduction.  I thought about it for a few seconds and agreed.

Need less blurry photo!

However, once I started painting I felt a bit funny about it.  Embarrassed or slightly ashamed.  Or maybe just irreverent.  This is one of the most well known paintings in the world, done by Leonardo Da Vinci for kitties sake! Shouldn't I be more respectful?  As I kept painting I needed photo reference and in my research found a bazziliontrillion knock offs and reproductions from alien heads to Micheal Jackson in Mona Lisa drag.  Soooo, I decided to embrace it and paint that best damn Mona Lisa I possibly could in the time frame I had.

It's also really hard painting from crappy photos online.  It's also hard to extrapolate breast augmentation.  It's obviously not a direct reproduction, I've made some changes to the clothing that I thought appropriate to her well-endowed and time period.  I have a few small things to touch up, but it's 99% finished at this point. 

Have I stepped on Leonardo's, as well as the feminist toes here?  Probably.  Thoughts?
I'll also post a process blog at a later time.  

Intentions! My Jar is Working!

Yesterday as I was sitting at my desk contemplating life.  I looked over at my intention jar.  I was happily shocked and a little frightened to realize that it is indeed working! When making an intention jar it's imperative to be specific and make sure the things you place there are things you really want.  and understand the ramifications of your intentions/desires.

My jar was mostly about things I'd like to have in my life and things I like.  So of course kitties ended up on my jar. It wasn't my "intention" to get more kitties, just to appreciate them and their cuteness.  A happy little kitty face.

Happy Little Kitty Face!

Item One:  Kitties! Little did I know this was going to throw the universe into action and I would become the care taker of 2 more kitties.  Bringing my total back up to 4. Which is dangerously close to 5.  5 is the legal limit here in Portland and also the number that indicates you are indeed a crazy cat lady.  I will spare the details of this nutalicious story.

Cheese on the jar

Cheese in my tummy

Item Two:  Cheese! I love cheese. Can't seem to get enough of it.  Side note: While in Italy a couple years back I extended my trip literally the night before I was to come home. Which meant I carried an additional 8 lbs of Parmesan cheese around in my backpack for two weeks. If you know anything about backpacking, 8lbs is a lot of extra weight.  Well worth it.  I follow @TillamookCheese on twitter, I like them on facebook, I even applied as their social media voice.  Then a couple of weeks ago I entered a little contest they had and won!  Yes! I won cheese!

2010 Model SOMA Mixte

Item Three:  Bike.  Last year I ordered a bike frame I loved.  Sadly, it was out of stock. When I tried to reorder the price went up and money wise things were looking sketchy.  I decided not reorder.  I continued riding the bike that didn't fit and needed a new bottom bracket.  A year later I placed the mixte frame on my jar. Thinking that it represented a bike that fit me properly.  A couple weeks ago my cohabitant found the frame in a lovely graphite color for less then last years model!  I decided not to replace my table that was damaged in the break-in, but, instead order said frame. I'm excited to get back riding, insurance or not!  Much better for my health to ride a bike than sit at a table.

ART all year long!  A happy year indeed!

Item Four: Art. On my jar I placed the words "ART all year long" and photos of paintings.  This week I received a commission piece! Should have put some printmaking items on it!  Does this also explain why I didn't get the job a couple weeks back? Hmmm...

 

Italy has lots of art and cheese!

I type all this to say: Intentions. Set them. Understand them.  Enjoy them! Extra kitties and all!

The Idealist and the Snare

I woke up this morning wondering, I'm an idealist?  I looked it up.  "Idealism sometimes refers to a tradition in thought that represents things of a perfect form, as in the fields of ethics, morality, aesthetics, and value. In this way, it represents a human perfect being or circumstance." Thanks Wikipedia!  (Side Note:  I can't remember what it was like before the ablitliy to look up anything you'd ever want to know in seconds!)

Work friends took me to lunch, even when I was out of town!

Maybe I have become an Idealist along the way.  Yesterday in my interview the question was posed "What does your perfect work day look like?"  "In a perfect world" I said, "I'd be making art all day.  In the real world I'd work for a company that I like with people I like, feeling that said company was making some difference in the world."  Reasonable answer.  And true. 

I love beets!

Where is this post going?  Good question.  I think my point is, that maybe due to this idealism, I've been missing the obvious solution to my financial woes.  A part time job at a company I like!  Duhhhh, as I would have said in this 80's photo of me.  I think I was sooooo fixated about not working at a job I hated again, that I forgot the obvious.  There are companies I would like to work for.  For instance, when I was loaned to SERA Architects, I worked a bazillion hours but loved every second of it! I will spare the details of why I really liked it, and why they really liked me.  Just know it's true.

Why didn't I think of this as an viable option sooner?  Idealism? The current economic crisis? The lack of jobs in my field? Blinded by art?  But, aren't I still an artist even with a day job?  And as an up and coming artist, in my humble opinion, wouldn't it be nice to pay the bills and eat!  Starving artist really isn't a misnomer.

So, to whose the benefit did I write this?  The aforementioned potential employer who may or may not be reading this? The kitties? My Mom? Nah, I think for myself.  Though I'm sure the kitties will be happy that I'm looking for ways to put food in their bowls!  

Some times work friends are the best friends!

Happy weekend everyone! Now get outside if there's sun!  If not, make something!  Even if it's just a happy mess!  :)

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

Week 7 day 4. I'm starting to think I can't actually calculate time passed properly.

Soooo, remember when I said I was putting myself on a diet? A time diet?  Well, that hasn't exactly happened.  What has happened is, I'm spending 75% * of my day on marketing and research. Leaving me only 25% * for the creating and making of new art! Which is my actual goal. Well, my actual goal is to make enough money with my art to not have to work a "normal" 8 - 5 office job. and of course to not be on the unemployment dole.  In the mean time, between marketing, making art and filing unemployment claims, I am looking for a "real" job.

I sent out more resume's this week, multiple times.  Only to discover that I have a couple of really silly typos!  Even after having multiple people proof this thing!  Retail was missing it's a.  And Senior, as in older than 55, was spelled Senoir. Sounds like the Spanish word for men.  Which it is possible that I have done work in both the Retil fields and housing for Spanish men. EXCEPT it's actually spelled señor.  Those errors have since been corrected.  

It also turns out that the unemployment office pretty much told me I'd be stupid for taking any temporary contract jobs, as I would not qualify for their self employment programs and would loose all chances for future claims if needed. They then advised me that I could go to college, after which I advised them I already had 50K in student loan debt and that I didn't think it was actually a good idea to go back for more debt. "Oh! You've already been to college?" Why yes, yes I have.  And so have all the other laid off architects and interior designers! Grrrr.  

Back to making art!  I think while I'm trying to get my Etsy store off the ground making art 50% of the time and marketing the other 50% seems reasonable.  Although I'm not sure where my painting fits in here. But that's an entirely different battle.  Although, I don't think Etsy is the correct venue for portraits and nudes, but I could be wrong.  For now those paintings remain here!

The Plan! Monday Wed. and Fridays are mostly marketing days and the rest of the days will be for creating! Marketing includes photographing and posting new items.  I think this is a doable plan. Structure is good, it holds things up.  I learned that in college.  Said with a sarcastic tone directed at the University of Oregon's Architecture program.  But hey, I am the one that picked that program, so I can't blame them for everything.  I'll blame my mom for the rest! haha

Tomorrow is christmas eve, and although I have plenty of art and Japanese souvenirs to give, I still have to decide who's getting what and wrap them.

Curious Doodles Calander - Portland Oregon

Happy holidays everyone!  No matter what you believe or where you live I wish you a wondrous and happiness filled 2011!




* I like to make up/estimate percentages. They may or may not be quite accurate, apparently, much like my calculation of passing days.

Tactile

I've been thinking about the holiday party circa 1998 where the managers decorated paper plates that represented each of the employees.  I wish I had it.  My plate, as best as I can remember, was as follows:  barbed wire drawn around the outside, inside soft white fluffy cotton and inside was very nice red plush fabric. I do love a good piece of fabric!

Otherwise, I'm somewhat of a cold fish, as I self described to my friend the other day and represented by the barbed wire.  We were having a conversation about how different people express their love for others and how they feel loved.  But that's a completely different kind of conversation.  but so I don't leave you hanging the typical styles are:  words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch.  Here's a quick quiz if you are not sure. It's meant for married couples but I think it applies to all relationships!

Now getting to the point of this!  In this world of the over stimulating internet, we sometimes forget how real things feel in our hands.  A gritty newspaper, and hand written letter on lovely paper, or a piece of clothing left behind by a lover or friend.   The internet is a cold fish.  It's flat. We can't touch the things on the screen, or smell them or understand their dimensionality.  Our eyes are full but our hands empty.  Except for the plastic of the keyboard.  Art that we can touch, smell, move from room to room is more important now then ever before.  Are we in danger of digitizing all of our friends and family too? Replacing actual conversations with wall posts?

I was recently reminded of the joy I find in creating art with others. Saturday was spent conducting a printmaking workshop teaching and creating with lovely people I enjoy.  Sunday morning I spent painting with two good friends, and while none of us walked out with a masterpiece, we all walked out with new information, with an added understanding and compassion for each other.  And most importantly with the happiness that only creating art with good friends can provide. 

Many of my friends value quality time as the ideal act of love/friendship.  The good news here, for the unemployed, is time is what we have to give!  For my other friends they get art!  Art that I made with love and happiness in my heart.

What's all this happiness talk I've been having?  It's slightly disturbing to me as well, but a great burden has been removed from my soul.  Like a square peg no longer being jammed in to a round hole.  I no longer go to a place that made me feel like a piece of cheap fabric left out in the sun too long. Faded and tired with nothing left to offer.

So, during this time of holiday cheer I give you the gift art! Art for the hands, for the eyes, and the soul! 
I'll make it for you, I'll make it with you, or best yet I'll teach you how to make it yourself!