Wednesday, March 25, 2009

After the show

Nothing is more satisfying to me, as an artist, than meeting the people I create my artwork for. When the adorable couple from Canada spotted the one piece that was meant for them =[Film Noir] and instantly fell in love with it - I knew it was meant to be.
Recently, I've been thinking about a new direction and experimented with a piece I created right before the show - and a gentleman saw it and had to have it. Thanks for supporting the direction, I'm thinking it's the way to go!
I was thrilled to bits to be part of the Scottsdale Art Festival - for many reasons - meeting my fans [!] and seeing my collectors again, and giving new homes to my art - it all adds up to a wonderful experience.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Buying art / Being an artist in this economy

So, it's true, I want you to buy my art. I am not going to apologize about it.

Every artist is a small business.

Every artist is a consumer.

Buying art sends money into the economy.

Take me, for example.

I am a wife, a parent, a home owner, a pet mom. I am a consumer. I buy groceries at the local market, I put gas in my car, I get my hair cut, I buy clothes, I go out to eat [less often], I pay my taxes, I buy a lot of art supplies! I BUY stuff. I spend money.

I need cash in my pocket to BUY stuff.

To support my local economy - if I don't get my hair cut, Erin @ Rochelle Salon loses a customer and has a harder time supporting her child. If we don't get a Gyro and Greek Salad every now and then at Z's Greek, the nice people who make delicious food there may have to close. If I don't take my doggies to the vet, the vet may have to cut back. If we don't donate to St. Mary's Food Bank, they have a harder time feeding people in need. And so on, and so on.

I buy local whenever I can so I help people in my neighborhood.

This is my job. This is how I earn a living, so help support my family, to buy clothes and books and supplies for my kid - to hopefully send her to college. I'm not lazy, I work 100 hours or more per week. To keep food on our table.

It's funny, but sometimes people have a strange attitude about artists wanting to actually market and sell their work - here's a gentle reminder this is our occupation, not an avocation. It's not a hobby - it's a job.

It's hard for everyone... I've discounted prices on some work, I've cut back on art shows and travel, but it's still my living.

Yes, I want you to buy my art!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Yes, I am the smart-ass artist

I make art for YOU. I am in love with each piece as I create it, but then I am happy to let it go.
Here are some of the questions I get asked every time I show my work. Yes, I am a smart-ass.

FAQ:


1. "Are YOU the artist?" - When people meet me in person, they seemed to be surprised at my appearance - were you expecting someone taller? younger? male? thinner? African-American...blonde?

2. "How long have you been an artist?" - I've never not been an artist.

3. "How long have you been doing this kind of work?" - I've done mosaic work forever. Check out photos of my bathroom on my web site. I created mosaic portraits in many versions using several techniques - years ago. I created a mosaic landscape in high school. I've always painted in this style...so it's a natural progression. The first portrait in this style probably happened in 2004.

4. "How did you come up with this idea?" - I'm brilliant! Sounds like a smart-ass answer, but what else would it be? I'm clever, I'm talented, I'm an artist, I'm creative...!

5. "Why is it so expensive?" - Compared to what? How do you put a price on my talent... or the time it takes to create a fabulous piece of art from nothing? A canvas is blank - and after a while it is filled with color & texture - my vision transformed to a sustainable image you can own forever. A "Kelly" bag from Hermes can cost $30,000.00! A pair of Manolo Blahnik designer shoes can be over $1000.00 [and you won't wear them next season!],

6. "Where do find your materials?" - the mailbox. And, stuff that might have been heading into the recycle bin. Yes, it's all mine. I save everything.

7. "Oh, so it's JUST paper?" - JUST paper? Yeah, and Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" - it's just paint...so are the masterpieces created by Picasso, Klimt, Jackson Pollock - Michaelangelo's "David" - it's just a piece of rock... Rodin's "Thinker" is just metal, Warhol's soup can... just ink...the famous windows at Notre Dame Catherdral or Chagall's masterpieces at the U.N. ... are just glass [which is just sand]...the army of terracotta soldiers in China...just dirt. Does it really matter what the masterpiece is constructed of? Some of the world's most amazing places were created by just water [the Grand Canyon, Victoria Falls] or wind.

8. "What kind of glue do you use?" - this is probably the most common question. My question is - why do you need to know? I created the concept, the technique, the style... what difference does it make? All you need to know is my adhesives work and are acid-free... the pieces stay on and the color doesn't fade.

9. "Do you hold workshops?" - I've gone around and around on this. I'm not a patient teacher. What is most important is knowing how to create a composition, have an eye for color, be willing to spend hundreds of hours sorting and cutting pieces... I can't teach you how to paint or how to see an image in tiny bits. So, at the moment, I'm not having any workshops.

10. "Do you have any other talents?" - I've been playing piano since I was 4. I am a good painter [acrylic, watercolor], I can draw, I can design needlepoint, handbags, shoes & clothes, I can throw pottery, fuse glass, make paper, set tile, I can cook, I can ride a bike. I focus on my artwork so I continue to create every day in a style and technique I love.