Summerland Studio

Happy Birthday to a Great 8 Year Old... Me!

Today is my birthday and, although I've been on this earth for 47 years today, I decided a while ago to celebrate my 8-ness a little every day.  There are people, a lot of them, out there who have decided to remain 29 or even 39 forever.  I remember those years and... meh.  Not the best years ever.  They were good, but not... years that had that something special, that magical spark. 

So I started thinking: at what age are we most fearless and least concerned with social norms?  At what time in our lives is everything an adventure?  When are all things possible?  Certainly not adulthood.  Definitely not the tween or teen years!  At eight, I was riding bikes with friends down to the bayou to catch tadpoles and elude imaginary villains (oops.  Ah, we were actually forbidden to do this.  Surprise, Mom!  heh, heh)  My best friend and I played Jungle - a female version of game of Tarzan is probably closest.  Not Jane, because, let's face it, Jane was a big Lame-o in the adventure department!  I was also going to be a star skater for the Ice Capades and write books.

The reason I began to analyze all this was I realized I wasn't really having any adventures.  My life was productive and responsible and very concerned with others opinions and needs.  Now, an 8 year old can be concerned with others and their needs, and also productive and responsible.  But, as an adult, I was overdoing it in those areas.  My spark had dimmed considerably.  There was little adventure and passion.  I realized I was miserable.  

An eight year old is brave and adventurous, with none of the snotty angst of a teenager.  (Not talking about you, Morgan.  You were an awesome teenager!)  They are silly and playful, but still aware of others and their feelings and needs, unlike a 3 year old.  Eight year olds rock!  So I decided to rejoin their ranks and have at life. 

I've found I accomplish a lot more satisfying things as an eight year old, too.  I decided I wanted to complete a painting in a week.  A little voice inside my head was doubtful and started to list all the reasons why, but the eight year old was so enthusiastic about the challenge, the little voice was drowned out.  And you know what?  Today is a week and it's almost done!  Here's a shot of the almost completed work.  Happy Birthday to me!

Is it time to sit down on a swing and have a chat with your inner 8 year old?

Affordable Art on Etsy

I just added the first 6 of a series of 18 mixed media pieces to my etsy shop.  I was inspired by Randel Plowman of acollageaday.blogspot.com to do some smaller original art pieces.  For the price of a print, you can get a piece of original artwork.  I also threw in free US shipping and the international shipping is discounted if you buy more than one.     

They're intended to hang or sit either singly or in groups.  At 4"x4", a cluster of them would be striking.  The series is called Barcelona - a city my daughter loves and has promised to take me to one of these days.  The colors are hot, spicy, and vibrant. 

I suppose the true inspiration was my daughter wanting to decorate her dorm room and I've also had several friends get their own apartments in the last few months.  I remember starting out and, once the essentials were bought, there was little budget for artwork on the walls.  And it really never feels quite like home without the personal touches.  

Are you wondering what's with the number 3?  For months now, it's been pressuring me to get into my artwork.  So now that numerical monkey is off my back.   Who knows where these things come from?  And I have a feeling we'll be seeing numbers or letters in future small artwork series.  I'm seeing some soft, misty looking pieces for the wintertime.  Those may end up with some text from books in them. 

The next series may end up being slightly bigger,   5x5 or 6x6.  Better for a big wall.  Yesterday was quite cloudy and not good at all for photographing a grouping on the wall.  Hopefully, today will be better light-wise.  I'll post some more pics in the next day or two.

Moving the Nose

Just a quick observation today.  I've been working on portraits lately.  Here's the routine:

Step 1) sketch the face, apply underpainting, apply more paint, apply more paint, stare at it with head cocked, apply more paint, look from reference photo to painting and back, scratch head, apply more paint.

Step 2) finally do some rough measurements, realize EYE is in the wrong position, white out dark areas, resketch eye, paint, apply more paint to blend, stare at it with head cocked, apply more paint, look from reference photo to painting and back, scratch head, apply more paint.

Step 3) finally do some rough measurements, realize NOSE is in the wrong position, white out dark areas, resketch eye, paint, apply more paint to blend, stare at it with head cocked, apply more paint, look from reference photo to painting and back, scratch head, apply more paint.

Step 4) this time, take the time to do accurate all-over measurements to see that the JAW is off which is throwing everything else off and adjust it, then resist the urge to jump back in with the paintbrush in order to reassess everything first, make any adjustments necessary, then continue to paint with joy and passion.

I find that with each painting, I am moving to step 4 a little sooner.  This next painting I'm about to start will have the accurate all-over measuring happen right after I finish the sketch, before any paint is applied.  SHE CAN BE TAUGHT!

The other day, as I was contemplating my as yet unlaunched painting career, I realized that I'm doing the same thing with my business planning.  I am a jump in and go for it person, which is great in a lot of ways.  But I tend to skip over the structure that needs to be in place.  I need to sketch (working on my skill level, thinking about what I want my website to look like, etc.) and then take the time to do my accurate measuring and get the best structure in place that I can before I start applying paint.  I need to slow down and do the boring part of business planning before I jump in and go for it. 

Will I sketch out the perfect business plan?  Will I never need to adjust and reposition a nose?  Definitely not.  But I will save myself a lot of time and energy by getting a good, as accurate as possible for me at this point plan on paper.  I can review it as I go periodically in order to stay on track and adjust when needed. 

Is my creative side calling me a boring party pooper and wanting to get to the fun stuff?  Oh heck yeah!  But I just ask her how many times she'd like to move that nose and she backs right down!

Anyway, here's some of the things I've been working on, finished and almost finished:

  In case you were wondering, everyone's nose was moved multiple times.

Gone A'Visiting

I just visited everyone's blog on my blogroll at one sitting.  I like to do this occasionally to catch up.  It's so nice to see where everyone is and what they've been up to.  Often, I'll just check in on a few folks that fit my mood at the time, but it's nice to slow down and poke your head in at every door.

I like the way mine is set up since I finish with a visit to Nina's mountain cottage.  Thanks to all for letting me stop in.

Less Clutter, More Zen

Do you rescue things, too?  And, by rescue, I mean drag home things in need of repair or things with no real use to you, but they have a cool patina, shape, etc.

Now, if you actually refinish that table or recover the chair or re-purpose the wall cabinet with only one door, and this is truly a passion of yours, then I'm not talking to you.  But if you bring this stuff home with the intention of rehabilitating it, but never do, then what I'm about to tell you will shock your socks off.

Stuff requires action (maintenance, dusting, storing, refinishing).

Action requires time.

You have a limited amount of time in your day.

What passion are you ignoring because you don't have enough time?  (if a lightbulb didn't go on here, close facebook and reread this)

Now I've been decluttering since about a year after my divorce 5 years ago.  I would take a load to Goodwill and feel very accomplished because there was a trunkful of stuff that was no longer in my house.  But meanwhile, I'm still dragging crap home.  Aaannnnd, trying to make all the furniture needing repair and reupholstering look good though I had no time to take on these projects.  Oh, I've bought the fabric and the staples.  They're in a box in my studio.  They've been there for 3 years.

About two weeks ago, my husband and I were talking and he told me he wanted to get rid of everything in the living room, redo the wood floors, and the start looking for the perfect couch.  My first thought was how sad.  He's lost his mind.  It took him multiple attempts for me to finally understand what he was trying to achieve.  But here's the gist of it:

Him: "Ideally, what would you like to have a big chunk of time to do?"

Me: "That's easy.  Painting."

Him: "So look around you.  All this stuff, this clutter of mismatched furniture, is draining you visually and using up your time and energy in its upkeep.  Time and energy you could be using to paint."

Me: *dumbfounded look of realization spreading across my face* (in reality, this didn't occur until the fourth time he explained it)

Him: "Now imagine this room with a beautiful, perfect floor.  And the most beautiful, comfortable couch in it and nothing else."

Me: "Nothing?!" (I was back to he's lost his mind again)

Him: "Not yet.  Each piece that we put in here will be beautiful.  It will go with the overall design.  We will love it.  Can you see how restful and elegant it will be?  (He uses elegant with this definition: gracefully concise and simple; admirably succinct)  And your energy and time can go towards your painting and working towards making that your career.

Damn!  It's so irritating when he's right.  And he's right a lot.  Life will be weird for a couple of weeks for sure.  And I'm keeping the antique chest of drawers with the slightly patinaed mirror, Buster!  The new couch will just have to go with it.  Meanwhile, I'm employing this strategy in my studio.  I've got to haul a trunkload to Goodwill, but otherwise that is the most organized and decluttered my studio has ever been.  Sure, it could be de-stashed even more.  But, people!  I've got a lot of furniture to move out of the living room!  Anybody need a treadmill?

Release the Kraken!

I decided a few weeks ago that I really want a job where I get to say, "Release the Kraken!"  You're rolling your eyes on the outside right now, but on the inside your thinking how cool that would be.  Come on, admit it.  You're at work, the pressure's on, stress is building, deadlines are... deadlining.  Suddenly you stand and shout in a commanding voice, "Release the Kraken!"  Talk about a stress reliever! 

I'll let you know if I find a job posting for that.  In the meantime... remember life is good and laughing makes it better!

Taking That Leap of Faith

Last fall I began an art journal to explore my path after taking my Beautiful Girl off to college and finding myself feeling rather lost and directionless.  I journalled my feelings and I journalled my dreams that felt significant upon awakening.  Mostly what I came up with was taking a leap of faith, but with no idea of what direction or how or when.  It was ultimately frustrating, as getting part of a larger message usually is, so I eventually stopped working in the journal, though I would look through it from time to time.  I decided that since months before I had had a feeling of some big change coming soon, I probably just needed to wait and see. It was the equivalent of the gypsy with the crystal ball telling you a tall, handsome stranger will change your life... at some point. Ugh!

About a month and a half ago, I was sitting in a meeting for my job which should be wonderful but has just been soul destroying for too long, and someone was rambling on in such a ridiculous and self-serving manner.  On the outside, I was responding in the appropriate manner, but on the inside, my eyes were popping and I was thinking THIS IS INSANE!  THIS IS SO INAPPROPRIATE AND UNPROFESSIONAL AND WHAT AM I DOING HERE?  I need to make a decision because this is a really toxic atmosphere.  And so I made the decision.  The next day I gave a 4-week notice so as not to leave them high and dry.  Miraculously, my daily chest pains ceased.  Sleeping through the night didn't kick in until a few days after my last day, but I'm enjoying 8 straight hours of sleep a night now.  I haven't taken an antacid since I gave my notice either.  And surprisingly (or maybe not) a couple of other people have left as well since then.

So I took my leap of faith and jumped without a net.  The outpouring of support and love I've received has been staggering.  Apparently, when you take a true leap of faith, others have faith in you.  When I say a true leap of faith, I mean I knew to my very bones for months and months that this is what I had to do.  The universe was telling me in many unequivocal ways that this leap was meant to be, had to be, must take place.  Of course there were a couple of people, as there has to be unfortunately, who, in the guise of being caring and concerned, had to deliver their message of doom and gloom: what? nothing lined up? in this economy? oh I'm worried about you.  I have been reading the Artist's Way by Julia Cameron and recognized their behavior immediately.  These were folks that wanted to do what I did.  Who talked about leaving and being unhappy, but always had a new reason they couldn't.  They were projecting their fear onto me.  And so, I was able to smile, thank them for their concern, and move away from them towards positive, supporting people and their energies. 

For a little over a week now, I've been resting, recovering and building.  In addition to a fence around our backyard, I've been building a new life.  I've gone through journal entries and charts I've created over the last two years - written even before I had an inkling of this leap - and sorted through what my heart and soul had been needing.  I gave myself two weeks to rest at the suggestion of my wonderful husband in order to get to a healthy level.  The second week is almost done and I'll be looking for a job that has less stress and much less toxicity for money flowing in.  Other than that, I'm not picky really.  So I have faith that that income will come about and am not worried about it.  Most of my energy (other than that used for the fence) has been put towards making my artwork into my art work.  I figured that if I could put the energy and organization that I put into my job into my art, I could really have something.  And I knew that if I didn't try, I would regret it for the rest of my life. 

I'll write about my progress in upcoming posts.  But for now, a little work on the fence and a new painting is calling. 

And I'd like to leave you with a thought:  You might be afraid to think big, take a chance, grab your dream by the hand and shout "let's go!"  Because of this economy, everyone is playing it safe and not thinking big.  What better time to think big and go for it when no one else is?  You have very little competition right now.

Basketball and Creativity... no really

Okay, I didn't write this, but it was so good I had to pass it on:

7 Creativity Lessons I Learned from Basketball
by Christine Kane

Okay. I know.

I'm not supposed to do sports. After all, we creative types are more about reveling in the smell of crayons, the angle of moonlight on the river, and the beauty of the ocean at sunrise.

Not the obnoxious sound of the buzzer, or screaming at the coach to use a time-out, or shouting in glee as a three-pointer swishes through the hoop.

And yet, I'm in love with the Carolina Tarheels. And it's not because I know basketball or what a screen is. It's because I love the process, the stories, the passion - and yes, the similarities between basketball and being creative.

Here are seven unexpected Creativity lessons I've Learned from Basketball...

1 - Systems and Habits. Not Feelings and Reactions.

In his book Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made , David Halberstam devotes two chapters to Dean Smith's Carolina basketball program. He describes the team's daily practices with pure awe.

First because of how quiet they are. And he writes, "The next thing was how brilliantly and carefully organized it was, with a schedule posted each day that outlined how each minute of practice would be used."

In other words, no one is waiting to decide whether or not they "feel like it." The system was in place before the practice began. There was a schedule.

The creative-types I coach are always amazed at their productivity levels when we create a schedule for their weekly practices. They no longer spend their time reacting to their days with emotion and drama.

2 - Get a Coach.

Here's where athletes get it right. They get coaches. From the start, they have coaches and mentors. Lots of them. No athlete in his right mind doesn't have a coach.

Yes, it'd be nice if the coaching model were built into the creative life. But this is where we can BE the change we're looking for. For now, we'll have to learn to invest in ourselves enough to hire coaches, ask for mentors and create a support system that doesn't turn us into strung-out loners.

3 - Success Brings Critics .

You can search the web and find all kinds of nasty articles, blogs, and television snippets whose sole purpose is to trash teams, players, coaches, and fans.

Creative types sometimes try to play a game of "not making people upset." They contort themselves into limiting boxes in hopes that no one will notice them shine.

It's pointless. Snarky people are everywhere. They pick apart successful people because they don't know how to do it themselves. Keep your focus on your work in the world, and let the snarky people ruin their own lives with their negative vibes.

4 - Have fun with ALL of it.

Michael Jordan tells a story of Coach Dean Smith in the final seconds of the championship game against Georgetown. Carolina was down by one point. During his time out, Smith outlined the play, and then paused and looked up at his players and asked, "Isn't this fun?"

I remember this when I'm frustrated at my writing, when I'm overwhelmed with ideas, when I begin to think I should've gone to law school. Creativity is all about loving the unknown , being able to look at it, and then ask yourself, "Isn't this fun?" Because you KNOW it is!

5 - Three-Pointers Can't Make Up for Steady Performance.

There are times when one team makes a run and suddenly leads by 9 points. The other team, in total panic, will try to make a quick come-back by rushing down the court and randomly shooting three-pointers.

That's because three-pointers are a seemingly quick way to get back on track. If they're doing it from desperation, it rarely works. That's because they've stopped playing to win - and now they're playing not to lose.

Creative types are often holding out for the "big thing." The Record Deal. The Gallery Opening. Being on Oprah. Something - anything - to rescue them. They're running around trying to get the three-pointers. But it rarely works.

Nothing works like consistent, solid, steady forward movement. That way, when the three-pointers happen, they're just icing on the cake.

6 - Passion is passion. (Swear words and all.)

I always crack up when the camera hits a coach after a bad call just as he's belting out a stream of profanity so articulate that even the blind can read his lips.

It's a part of the passion. Don't be afraid of yours!

7 - Keep Shooting.

In the last weeks of the 2009 tournament, Tarheel player Danny Green missed some baskets.

Well, no, that's not true. He missed every basket he shot. Three pointers, two pointers, lay-ups.

The media went nuts. Everyone was wondering what was wrong. All kinds of drama and speculation.

Coach Roy Williams' advice to Danny?

"Keep shooting."

And he did.

Within a few games, he was back on track.

Sometimes we're off our game. The words don't come. The passion is gone. We're tired. Life bums us out.

In those times, you can decide it's all over, you're washed up, nothing is worth doing anymore. Or you can take Roy's advice and keep shooting.

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 11,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at http://www.christinekane.com/

Pencil Drawing Redo

I finally found some time to alter and finish my last pencil drawing.  Not thrilled with it, but it looks less masculine now.  I also added more darks to get to the finished stage.  Ready to do another one, but not tonight!  In a perfect world, I would love to do one of these a day.  As soon as I find that world, I'll post the address so you can join me.

Straying Off Course

My fourth pencil drawing isn't done yet.  I started it after work and then drew some more in bed before losing consciousness.  One of those I-really-want-to finish-it-but-I'm-so-tired things.  So this morning, I opened my sketchbook not really knowing what to expect.  I liked it last night, but I could also hardly keep my eyes open, so not the greatest judge at that point. 

Hmm.  It basically looks like the photo, but she's much more... sturdy.  I can clearly see where I veered off course, but I kind of like it.  Not a huge fan of insipid poses on models.  This one was doing that odd lip pout and had kind of a vacant I'm-trying-to-look-mysterious-and-seductive-while-thinking-about-absolutely-nothing expression.  I didn't capture the pout... and I'm okay with that!  Instead she looks like she's about to tell you something; something you might not really want to hear.  She kind of reminds me of a Picasso nude I saw in the L'Orangerie a couple of years ago.  She also was of a sturdier body type.  Not fat, but bones and muscle.  Powerful.  I was captivated by that painting and stood there quite a while.  I certainly can't compare myself to Picasso, but i definitely admired the fact that he painted the nude in that manner.  Her nudity was almost unnoticeable compared to the sense of self she radiated.

At any rate, I'm obviously not done.  I need to add the full gradation of shades - it's all light to medium at this point.  And she has no modeling at all in her neck and shoulders. 

Some of you may be saying but if it doesn't look exactly like the photo, isn't it wrong?  That was my first, shortly lived thought.  The words of my drawing teacher from last summer, Joshua Fallik at the Art Students League of Denver (fantastic drawing teacher - I highly reccommend him, and I heard he's amazing in his painting class, too): The model is just for reference.  She will always go away.  The drawing is what lasts.