A Different Direction

This year was a bittersweet one. The good of it was that I feel I accomplished some solid paintings and am continuing to grow in skill as a watercolorist. I love watercolor and the way it works. I have some ideas for directions to go with my work and am excited about what the future holds. The bad was the art fair season...they were rough. I love doing the outdoor art festivals...it's a great way to meet my clients and fellow art lovers and artists. I make friends and usually end up with a new piece for my ever expanding art collection. But I do need to at least break even on expenses to keep the habit going and this year I fell so far from the basic line. Perhaps I'm in the wrong venue? Wrong region? Oversaturated market? It's kinda hard not to take it so personal. I've read many blog posts from other artists that, in not so many words, say that when you sell you feel like you're a good artist and creative soul. When you don't, you feel like a failure, debating if you a hack or wannabe masquerading as an artist. You question your skill, training, talent, approach, technique, medium, subject matter, booth design, framing choice, your attire,....the list goes on. You wonder if you should even go on. 'Maybe I should just be like everyone else and get a 9-5 job...it would be stable'. So many doubts and fears, all because you had a bad show. One good show and it all disappears, but after a year of bad shows you begin to wonder, am I any good???

Bad shows or not, I know I am good....I have a style all my own, a voice, and that is neat! But I realize I have SO MUCH TO LEARN. And that is one of the things I LOVE about art. You can never stop learning. You can never stop progressing and evolving as a creative spirit. Sometimes, though, you need to take a step back and focus on the little things, focus on painting and creating solely for you.

Which leads me into sharing with you all a different creative direction for me from the watercolor. I've always been a doodler and a drawer. Most of my school assignments from my youth featured little horses prancing, rearing, bucking, and eating grass along the borders. There was one time I remember actually getting scolded in the middle of a science class because I was drawing on my notes instead of giving my full attention to the teacher as he lectured....chemistry, it's not my thing. (but give me biology and geology anyday!) Before I start a painting I begin with a little doodle to figure out the composition of the piece. Then I work on the drawing. If the drawing doesn't look right, I won't paint it. You have to start with a solid drawing...it's the framework of what you're wanting to achieve. But to keep myself from not getting bored or to inspire new ideas, I often doodle, sketch and draw. Most of these will never see the light of day.

I also have a passion for gift giving...in part so I can wrap a package and make it beautiful! I love pretty paper and ribbons and bows. LOVE...or maybe I should say obsessed??? LOL. I was looking at some doodles and thought it would look neat as wrapping paper. I wanted to know if I could make my own and started researching different options. Well, I'm happy to announce that I now have several designs of wrapping paper sheets that I've created and that has led to my silk screening/screen printing some of these drawings onto fabric and creating textiles for the home. I've printed and sewn fabric and made tea towels, linen table runners & napkins, pillows, infinity scarves, and men's neckties. It has been fun! I haven't screen printed since high school....which is a loooooooooong time ago. I forgot how much fun it is. I decided this holiday season I would do some craft shows and sell these instead of the fine art. It's been a lot of work but it's been fun.

The most amazing thing out of this different artistic venture is the passion for my painting. When I sit down to paint it is for me. It's so much more rewarding. I don't feel any pressure to crank out paintings of subjects that might sell. I can enjoy the process. I love this! I can't wait to see what paintings emerge from this new found painting freedom. I will still be doing art festivals, but not as many. I'm just going to paint! :) Oh, and if you want to see some of the things I've created on my new artistic venture, check out corvidaedrawingsanddesigns.com

Working

The past month I've been constantly working! I have a lot of opportunities and projects and apologize for allowing the blog to go to the wayside. I've been working on a lot of mini pieces for a gallery I've recently had the opportunity to become a part of. I haven't yet built up the amount of images I want to showcase to them, but I'm getting close.

I had been commissioned to paint 25 images for a wedding a while ago. A couple is getting married at the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco and want original artwork at each of the guests dinner tables...a different image at each table. I just finished everything today! And just in the nick of time. The wedding is next week!!!! It's been fun yet challenging. The images are small, 4x4 or 4x6 and they rang from ocean to jungle to african animals. I even painted a T-Rex, which is featured in the Academy of Sciences.

Then, in addition to attempting to get some pieces done for art fair season (which started this past weekend), I've been asked to hang for a solo exhibition next month! It will be at Steven Isley Jewelry again. :) Steve and Cindy asked that I exhibit some of my animals for the Art Walk in August! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! :D I can't help but grin ear to ear thinking about the wonderful opportunity. So, I've started working on some new wildlife pieces. I'm thinking some big game animals....and a maybe another bear! I'll also exhibit a few older pieces because I'm not sure how many quality pieces I can finish on such a tight deadline. Here is a Bison in progress. I have a LONG way to go but already liking the result!

Western Art Week: Friends

One thing I love about doing art shows is the opportunity to see friends and to make friends. It's great speaking with people I don't know and getting to hear stories from them if we have the time to chat. But to see a familiar face in the crowd is like wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket!

There was one instance when I had been sitting for several minutes, drawing or writing something, and I looked up to make sure I wasn't ignoring anyone and I saw my friend and fellow MTWS member extraordinaire Margo Voermans walking toward me. I leaped off my chair and had a wonderful time catching up with her. She is going to be teaching a watercolor workshop in Missoula April 17 & 18 on abstract techniques. It sounds like it will be a fun spring workshop.

I also saw other people I've met before in Whitefish/Kalispell and also saw another MTWS board member. My friend Alger was in town for work to attend a conference. He owns a company on the east side of Glacier called Blackfeet Outfitters and gives guided fishing and hunting trips and jeep tours. He was such a nice friend and bought Amanda and I dinner from Chili's. Alger, you rock!

Amanda and Alger

However, the crown jewel of this post (and reason why I wrote it) is Amanda. She spent part of her vacation hanging out with me at Western Art Week. She helped me set up and take down the booth, watched my booth while I went to the bathroom or ate lunch/dinner, and shopped with me on the few chances I had. Gosh! She even made me lunch every day. She is a tremendous friend and I couldn't have done Western Art Week without her. Several summers ago she lived in Browning, MT while working at East Glacier. We took alternative way to Browning on the way home through a small town called Heart Butte. Driving from Heart Butte to Browning provided some incredible views...rolling hills with the sharp peaks of Glacier majestically rising behind. I sure enjoyed that little detour.

Western Art Week: Wild Bunch Art Show

I just returned from The Wild Bunch Art Show in Great Falls, MT. The show was part of Western Art Week, an event encompassing 10-13 shows where artists set up booths in convention centers or hotel rooms to exhibit their work, art auctions for 19th & 20th century original western art as well as contemporary artwork, and quick draws & demos of current western artists.

The Wild Bunch Art Show was held at the Hampton Inn Convention Center in Great Falls. There were 13 artists at the exhibit. It was 3 1/2 days of greeting guests and art enthusiasts and selling work to collectors new and old. I invested in parts to turn my outdoor art tent into an indoor one. I didn't have all the parts I needed to maximize my space but it worked, and looked good I dare say!

The great thing about this show was the quality of artwork and the variety. There was something for everyone! My neighbor, Jeff Renner, painted detailed images of wildlife in acrylic. Check out his site here!

My good friends Larry and LeAnn Ochsner actually recommended me to the show organizer and promoter! It was great to see them and their stunning jewelry. Click here to check it out!

Close by me was Pam Harr and Harvey Rattey, two bronze sculptures. They were the sweetest little couple! Pam even gave us all a pewter pronghorn (one of my fav animals) as a momento! Thanks Pam! You can check out their work here

Show organizer and promoter Nadine Pickthorn was so nice! She did amazing paintings on rocks and incorporated the rock into the image she was painting. It was really remarkable. I wish I would've gotten a picture them, but she sold them all (I took photos the last day). She also did paintings on traditional canvas and such. Check out her work here.

Connie Tveten (standing up in the last photo) Did incredible carvings of birds. They were pretty remarkable. There was so much wonderful art! Bridget Stiverson created incredible works of art with glass. Leith DeWeese was another watercolorist, Todd Mandeville did some pretty incredibly detailed western paintings, Andy Knudson painted on feathers and tree bark in addition to creating images in a more traditional manner (canvas, paper, etc). Jeff Hoff (the other Jeff!) Painted beautiful images of western wildlife and birds. And from my neck of the woods was Ron & Lynn of Lowery Bronze in Kalispell!

It was a wonderful time getting to see some old friends and to make new ones! I had such a wonderful experience and can't wait for next year! Thanks to everyone who helped make this such a wonderful event to be a part of!

Summerfair 2014 and the rest of the Art Fair Season

Oh summerfair! How fair you were this year! For the first time in 5 years this show wasn't over 90 degrees! It made for the most pleasant experience. Plus, my booth wasn't in the main quad in the sun.... I was in the tree section. Ohmy! Love love loved that area!!! So going to be there again next year.

Those in charge also changed the layout of the booths this year. I thought there was a much better flow of traffic! As usual there were some great artists.

I met some fabulous jewelers who were both from Missoula!

One made these fabulous little flower earrings and necklaces that very much mirrored my mini poppy paintings. April Hale of April Hale Jewelry is fabulous!

The other is Mary of the Silver Hammer. Fabulous metal earrings. LOVE her work too! I got a pair of these (short ones)

Because my parents live in Billings, I had the help of my mom through the show. She is sooooo awesome to sit next to me and keep me company through the show and to not mind helping me pack up! It was great getting to spend some time with her and to have someone be with me during the show. It gets a little lonely at times!

The rest of the art fair season breezed by. I took pictures at other shows and had the intent of blogging about each and every show, but sadly it just never happened. Doing 6 shows in a row while working two part time jobs during the week really wears you out! Bigfork was amazing, as usual. Teton Village was fun but a bust monetarily. I'm really glad I have a break though. I can focus on some smaller pieces, a river rock series, finish a commission, and start working on some oils (yup, I've been itching to do some for awhile...it is time!)

I promise I won't neglect the blog for so long. It has been a long time since my last post! Geesh, how time flies by. I have some fun news about an event in a couple of weeks so stand by for that!

I hope you all had a wonderful summer. Thanks for helping to make mine lovely too with your support!

Whitefish Arts Festival on the 4th of July!

Last weekend, July 4-6th I had the opportunity to participate in the Whitefish Arts Festival for the first time and it was awesome! There were some incredible artists and I got to see some of my vendor friends! Johnathan with his copper coils Steve and Karen Boyd with Art of the Wild Side. Jesse and Jen Purdom of Pacific Metal Arts

and I made some new friends!!!!

This show was very similar to Huckleberry Days, which I have done the past three years and is always held in August. The only difference is that Huckleberry Days has more crafts than this show. It is great just being 6 blocks away from my house (so I can walk to the festival!). I was pretty close to the music stage and got to listen to some wonderful musicians. My favorite was Jameson and the Sordid Seeds. They are a local band and play around town a lot, but I haven't had the chance to check them out. They were SO fun to listen to that I had to check them out later Friday night (after the fireworks) at the Great Northern Bar.

It was a lot of fun doing a show on the 4th of July weekend. Here area some pictures from the show and of the 4th. I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July too!!!

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival

Gosh, It has been awhile since I've had the time to do a post!

I just got home from my LONG drive across the nation (north to south at least) and what an adventure it turned out to be! I went to the Woodlands (Houston area), Texas for an art festival. The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival. It was SO COOL! My fabulous friend Melissa came with me for most of the trip!

But, before I begin my review, I must first tell you about my drive down. As luck would have it I had another crazy car experience. (remember the exciting adventure from my art festival to Logan, Utah?) Well, I was alerted to a leak in my oil coolant line just before my departure. I was told that if I just filled up those fluids that were leaking almost everytime I gased up, I'd be A-ok. So I went to the Laramie, WY walmart to buy some fluid, after spending the night in the fabulous college town, and as luck would have it they were completely sold out of ONLY the type oil I needed! Melissa & I then spent a good while looking for an auto parts store but had no luck locating it due to a LOT of construction so I pulled into the Laramie Chevy dealership. I bought some oil and they were going to make sure I was putting it in the right spot and when I popped my hood, they immediately knew I needed help. They could smell that my engine had already overheated (from driving around in town for 20 min) and saw some signs that showed my engine needed a little TLC. The service department was able to get me right in and were able to replace my water pump (which had gone bad) and my oil coolant line in a couple of hours! Thank heavens everything worked out the way that it did....I can only imagine the frustration & despair I would've had if my engine overheated and given out in the middle of nowhere on a two laned highway. Yikes! So a HUGE shout out to my angels at Laramie GM Auto Center. You saved the day and the road trip!

It was so neat watching the landscape change through the trip! Here are some photos!

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival was AWESOME. There were SO many amazing and talented artists. I was fortunate to meet some and make friends! I was next to a great Printmaker, Mel Fleck from Taylorsville, KY. He does these fantastic works with egyptian hieroglyphs. Across from me was Mixed Media Artist Laura Junge from Chicago, IL. Just down from me was oil painter Charlene Marsh from Nashville, IN. The weather mostly cooperated all weekend (a little rain on Sunday). Everyone that helped with the festival was SO nice. Plus, I was able to meet a lot of wonderful people...including Kim Shirley! Yup, I got to meet another Kim Shirley on this planet. How cool is that? Here we are!!!

I really really hope that I get to go back next year. Here are some pictures from my area. There were over 200 booths of amazing artists...I wish I would've taken some pictures of the rest of the event grounds. Oh well! The park area will have to do.

I'm so glad I was able to go to this art festival and to travel through 7 states (ID, UT, WY, CO, OK, TX, NM). It was a great and epic road trip! Next time, I'm going to allow a little more time so I can stop and REALLY visit some nifty sites such as Billy the Kid's Grave, The 4 Corners, Mesa Verde, and other awesome stops along the way!

But as cool as it is to go new places, there really is no place like home!

A Rambling Sort of Post

Whew! It has been awhile since I've been able to do a post. This might be a long one....

So first is my SUPER EXCITING NEWS!

I'm going to do an art fair in TEXAS! Yup, I was accepted to one in The Woodlands and decided to go for it. I'm going to drive 4000 miles (round trip) but I figure if I'm unable to recoup my expenses, it'll make one heck of a road trip! I've never been to Texas and am very excited to go visit.

The show is the Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival. It will be April 12th & 13th, 2014. I'm very excited but nervous too. The drive will be close to 30 hours one way (I google mapped, it's 2001 miles from Whitefish). So! If ANY of you fabulous followers, art lovers, horse lovers, and friends are in the area, please stop by and say hi! So, Those of you from that area in Texas, what is the weather like? Windy? Cold? Warm? Hot already? Do you recommend any cool places to visit? Eat at? AGH! I'm so excited

I've been working on a commission and I finished it. But I'm not happy with the result. I go back to it every few days and just sit in front of it and stare. It doesn't have that it-thing and I'm not happy with it. So, I've started over and in a different direction to too. I just hope my patient client isn't getting annoyed with me! As always, I'm not just working on one piece. (I often have several pieces in different stages going at the same time). I was able to finish one over the long weekend...partly because my epic plans of snowshoeing/hiking/running were foiled by an unexpected eye infection. Apparently my eyes don't like old contacts >:( So, I hid in my dark den of an apartment with all the shades/curtains drawn and kept the lights on low and finished this piece. I'm thinking I'm going to go back and punch it up a bit with a few more darks but am SO happy with how it turned out. This is one of those pieces that I based 98% off the photograph. It was just so awesome I couldn't think of much to change. *photo taken by nature photographer, rulon gardner*

Caught My Attention, 30x22

The last little bit is I participated in the Holiday Food & Gift Festival in Billings, MT a couple of weeks ago. I was able to see some friends and make some new ones! The best part is I was able to spend some time with my fabulous parents and my Grandma. I haven't seen them for several months so it was a great way to spend the weekend with them. Lots of fun...Although, my car decided it needed a new battery. 2013 was not my year with traveling to art festivals. Lets hope I won't have any issues with driving to the Texas show next year!!!!

Art on the Wall

I've met so many wonderful people this summer during the art fair season. Cathy, from Washington state, was visiting the home of her youth, Whitefish & Kalispell. She was in town for a high school reunion and stopped by my booth. She bought three notecards of mine and, as soon as she got home, framed them. Cathy has a Montana themed guest room with all sorts of artwork like wooden carvings, photographs, Charlie Russell & Frederick Remington prints, and now, three of my images! I was so touched by how much these images moved Cathy and that she shared the completed framing project with me! Sooooooooo cool.

So this is a big thank you to Cathy, and to all of you who appreciate my interpretation of this beautiful area! Thank you for helping me pursue my dreams and passions!

River City Roots Festival

I finished up the summer outdoor art fair season in downtown Missoula at the River City Roots Festival, a two day bluegrass/folk/rock music festival with a small outdoor juried art show, food booths, kids events, and a 4 mile fun run. This was the 5th year I've done this event. Bands play throughout the day Saturday and the main headliner plays Saturday night. More bands play during the day on Sunday.

The weather was actually great! It wasn't as hot as it has been in years past (although 4 years ago was the exception...it was FREEZING). I was worried about smoke (from a raging forest fire burning in Lolo) but it never really came. Saturday evening, just before it was time to close, I noticed there was ash on my tent and table, but the smoke wasn't thick and it didn't smell like a campfire.

I had some great neighbors, got to see a lot of friends and familiar faces, and was able to listen to some great bands. My favorite was Lil' Smokies. I could've listened to them all day.

Unfortunatly I closed up early on Sunday. The show went from 11am - 7pm. I started packing up around 5:30 because I noticed some meanacing clouds coming closer and getting darker. I had just put all of my pictures in the parking garage (where my jeep was) when the downpour started. Two friends just happened to show up and helped me break down. A good Samaritan also helped out! We were all drenched by the time we had my tent and display units/hardware packed down and put in the garage. I did need a shower that day LOL!

Here are some pictures from the festival, when the skies were nice and blue

Adults & Kiddos could have fun at the Clay Studio live art booth. It was fun watching people of all ages play with clay on a wheel!

Lots of people heading down to the main stage area where they could listen to the bands play...the band playing at this time was Dead Winter Carpenters. They were pretty good too.