And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?

Another year over, and a new one just begun.* 
Soon it will be 2011.  The future is here. Or it will be! There will be lists, resolutions and promises.  For ourselves and others.  I haven't made a new year resolution for a long long time.  I've always felt my birthday was a more appropriate time to think about bettering myself.  But this year, being unemployed and without much of a plan, it seems like good time for lists and resolutions, plans and goals.  It's been a long time since I've sat down with myself to discuss such things.  I've been floating along, mostly letting things happen to me since my ridiculously late bloomer graduation from college.  I was 35 in 2005 when I graduated with my bachelors of Interior Architecture from the University of Oregon.  Just to clarify, this is my only degree.

I think it's a great time to make long term goals, that I haven't thought about for a long time.  The goal for a lot of interior designers and architects over the last 3 years has basically been to keep their jobs.  I made it pretty far. But now I need to step up and take control of my future.  I've been working toward being a full time artist my entire life, from what I can tell.  This seems like a good time to move forward with that plan.  If, and/or when, a "real" job presents it's self, there will be decisions to be made.  Until then I need to figure out how to pay my bills, save for retirement, travel and maybe even eat a little cheese along the way, all by creating art.  Oh, and selling it!

I'll be spending a few days with some family and friends over the next week but I'll be back in 2011, if not before!  Until we meet again I leave you with this haiku that is my anthem:

It's almost monday
Putting my hope into art
I get back freedom


*Happy Christmas (The War is Over)
Artist: John Lennon
Album: Shaved Fish or Imagine
Year: 1971
 
And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?
Another year over, and a new one just begun.
And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun,
The near and the dear ones, the old and the young.

A very Merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year.
Let’s hope it’s a good one,
Without any fear.

And so this is Christmas, for weak and for strong,
For rich and for poor ones, the road is so long.
And so happy Christmas, for black and for white,
For yellow and red ones, let’s stop all the fight.
A very Merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year.
Let’s hope it’s a good one,
Without any fear.

So this is Christmas, and what have you done?
Another year over, and a new one just begun.
And so happy Christmas, I hope you have fun,
The near and the dear ones, the old and the young.

A very Merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year.
Let’s hope it’s a good one,
Without any fear.

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.

Cigar Box Paintings: First Attempt!

Cigar Box Paintings: First Attempt!: "Set up - Getting Started I had paint left over from Tuesday night session so I used that. I'm not sure the kitchen table is the best ste..."

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!

We Put Birds on Things!

This quote is going to be over used in no time but for now, it's funnily stuck in my head! Someday it won't be funny.  If you don't what it's from you are either not living in Portland or don't have a Facebook account.  It's a 6 part short-based comedy series called Portlandia.  Created, written and starting Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein.  It debuts January 21st on IFC. "Each episode's character-based shorts draw viewers into "Portlandia," the creators' dreamy and absurd rendering of Portland, Oregon."

There are a couple of things about these trailers that have really hit home. 1. Portland is a place where young people go to retire.  2. The dream of the 90's is alive in Portland.   I like thinking I'm retired.  Though typically when people retire there is some form of retirement income slated.  I'm not sure my measly weakly unemployment checks count.  But the dream is totally alive, maybe not exactly how the writers intended. but since I was cheated out of actually living during the 90's this makes sense to me.  but enough about this.

In other news!  My Kristie portrait was accepted into a show!  It opens on January 7th 2011 6 -9 at the CODA gallery. Mark your callenders now!  You can also FB like them if you are so inclined and can rsvp to the opening!

Printmaking was successful this weekend too!  Although I am remiss for not taking photos of the art or the fun!  Also had a great painting session with two dear painting friends, gift exchange and holiday pizza!  I received the above lovely framed linocut and a very adorable cigar box painting set up! 

And speaking of unemployment, I just had the most unpleasant convo with a representative that was less then helpful explaining just how contract work affects unemployment benefits.

And now some holiday lunch with a lovely dog loving tile rep!

Where the Streets Have No Names

Chief Collaborator and kitty friend - Thai!

I know all the neighboorhood kitties by name.  They use my garden path aka the Kitty Cat Highway.  They go to and fro, sometimes acknowledging me, sometimes not.  I often threaten them with a toll.  But, as they have pointed out, kitties don't have pockets for change.

I've set up shop in my kitchen next to the large window that looks directly out at the Kitty Cat Highway, my driveway and front door.  I love my kitchen with it's robin egg blue cabinets and red accent pieces.  It's cozy and comforting.  But it's not a studio and it's small.  I need to relocate to the guest room, which is were I am keeping everything i'm not currently working on or using.  But it seems so far away from the action of the neighborhood.  I also really like having the sink near by as I'm a bit messy!

Disaster area? Guest Room? Printmaking Studio?

One of the things I loved about my loaned-out time to SERA was the business of the office, the street life, and the MAX line, and of course, the collaboration.  It made me feel like I was part of something bigger, part of the action of the city!   So I'm afraid moving to the back of the house will make me feel isolated and alone.  Even though it really isn't any different.  I'll still have my computer and the internet is enough interaction for me most of the time.  The house cats are mobile and the chickens are pretty lively in the back yard.  I'd probably get more actual work done back there and spend less time moving things from room to room!  Certainly something I need to work out soon!

In the mean time i'm designing a new linocut.  E is for Escher!  It's a commissioned piece too!  Though the details are a bit fuzzy.  That's ok, i'm having fun making it! and really if it's not fun what's the point?  Life is too short to spend it doing hours of things that you don't like!  Of course that's easy to say when you are newly unemployed!  hehe

I've Seen Better Days...

berkley illustration Etsy

I hate it when bad songs get lodged into my little pee brain!  Today wasn't really a bad day, and it's only noon, but it was frustrating.  But really it just reminded me how much I hate it when things don't go my way.  I don't think i'm a control freak, or even a type A personality, and i'm certainly not a perfectionist.  BUT when other people can't do their jobs properly and that has a negative impact on me I get really frustrated. Today had not one, but two of those. One rather minute and the other one almost, and i mean almost brought me to tears.  But i'll spare those details as none of it relates to art in any shape or form.

The sun is sort of out but it's cold, which makes me feel less guilty about staying in and photographing stuff for etsy.  It's a constant struggle to get good photos.  especially of 2 dimensional items! I have to wonder how some etsy people get such awesome shots!  while others like myself need much improvement! 

Black Bird Letter Press - Etsy

the black apple - etsy

These are some good examples!

And now i'm going to try to get some good shots of owls and C is for Cat!

Ps. to follow i'm sure!

Just because i promised a ps.  here it is!  A couple photos I took today. I think they came out pretty good!