Abstract Art Blog

A Year of Making Art, Day 242: Cancels & Returns

December 17, 2007  Day 242

In this morning's drawing, I used black, brown and gray calligraphy pens in addition to a fine point black pen:

   Drawing #247  9" x 12"

A couple weeks ago, when I was in between cataract operations, a rep from Stamps.com called to sign me up for a free trial offer.  I put them off a couple of times, but on the last phone call the persuasive sales rep got me to sign on for a free trial.  Well, this was dumb of me because I didn't even know what the service would cost after that.  My art business is not large enough to make it worthwhile to use such a service, which I eventually found out costs $15 a month.  Most of my shipping is done through DHL or FedEx, not the post office.

The problem occurred when I tried to cancel my service today.  When I tried to do it online, I was told I'd have to call.  When I called, I was put on hold and not given any idea how long it would take.  When I finally got a rep on the line, and went over all the details, I was told I would have to speak to another department and had to hold on again.  Then, after going through the third degree, I was finally given a cancellation confirmation.

Stamps.com was very friendly when they wanted me to sign up, but not very customer-oriented when I wanted to cancel.  That memory will keep me from considering them in the future.

When I have a client who needs to return a painting or print for any reason, I try to make them feel comfortable and to be as helpful as possible.  In all but one case, the client has purchased something else.  I'm sure if I had made the return difficult for them, they would not have bought from me again. 

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 241: The Beauty of a Winter Storm

December 16, 2007  Day 241

There were big storm warnings for the East Coast today.  We started with freezing rain, and then it turned to snow, heavy at times, but no huge accumulations.  Late in the afternoon it cleared a bit, and Laura tried cross-country skiing with me around our litttle neighborhood.  The sun peeked through the clouds for a few minutes before sunset, adding to the beauty of the day.

In my drawing, I reverted to over-all design elements, using calligraphy pens as well as a fine-point black pen:

   Drawing #246  9" x 12"

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 240: Feast or Famine

Yesterday afternoon I went cross-country skiing in our neighborhood with Mike and Rachel.  After falling down twice, Rachel took off her skis and spent the rest of the time running and sliding down hills on her snow pants.  Playing outside in the snow is wonderful tonic for my mental health.

We won't be spending Christmas alone after all (see previous post).  Blixy said she and her family can come.  Plus, our son Owen called today and said he will come up from Virginia to stay with us.  So instead of feeling lonely and sorry for myself, I'll probably be complaining about not having any time to work.

This morning's drawing was a struggle:

  Drawing #245  12" x 9"

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 239: Holiday Stress

December 14, 2007  Day 239

In this morning's drawing, my attempt at looseness slipped into sloppy--an assortment of lines that didn't want to work together no matter how I tried to coerce them:

   Drawing #244  12" x 9"

It is ten days before Christmas, and I'm planning to be depressed at that time.  Laura and Jim will leave on the 22nd, and we have nothing planned until January 2, when we are flying to California for a week.  I will try to work during that time, but I know there will be a letdown after Laura leaves.

Adrian and I don't really make much of Christmas or New Years, so they become dead times where you try to act as if it's a normal day, but you know it's not.  I think our son Eric has the right idea--he goes to Florida every year during this time.

For anyone who is bipolar or prone to depression, the holidays are typically extra stressful, whether you spend them alone or with family.  It's good to be aware of the potential danger, and to take better care of ourselves during those times.

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 238: Swirling around a Central Focus

December 13, 2007  Day 238

This morning I drew a world of blues and greens, swirling around a central focus:

   Drawing #243  12" x 9"

It has been snowing all day, and an accumulation of 10 to 12 inches is expected.  Laura and I went out this morning so she could measure some things in her new house, and it was a beautiful, if slow, ride across town going up and down the hills.

I guess it's a good thing Laura and Jim are here for a couple of weeks, allowing time for my eyes to adjust after surgery.  I am keeping so busy with them that I don't have time to fret about not getting back to making canvases and painting.

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 237: Shopping Is More Work Than Work

December 12, 2007  Day 237

This morning I drew in browns and black, producing a light and airy piece: 

   Drawing #242  9" x 12"

After that I spent the day taking my sister Laura to look at furniture and cars in order to prepare for her move to Ithaca this winter.  That, I found, was more exhausting than spending the day working, but we did have a nice "sister's lunch" out.

I am still not seeing naturally out of my new eyes (post cataract surgery), but hope that my brain will eventually adjust.

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 236: Yellow, Red, Green and Blue

Merry Christmas!

December 11, 2007  Day 236

This morning Laura took my car out to go grocery shopping, and when I looked out the window, I saw her stopped on our sloping driveway, where she had tried to back out.  Most of Ithaca is cleared of snow, but our driveway and private road in this development are still treacherous.  Adrian and I put on our coats and boots to go help her, but when I looked out again, she was gone.

In this morning's drawing I used yellow, red, green and blue in one drawing, attempting to make it work without becoming too saturated with color.  I think I was fairly successful. 

   Drawing #241  9" x 12"

Today is a day of errands, doctors' appointments, and my bipolar support group meeting.

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 235: Training the Brain

December 10, 2007  Day 235

As it turned out (see previous post), Adrian was not out with Roxy in the woods after dark, but at the gym.  I need to learn to give him the benefit of the doubt.

We took Laura to see the house that Jim and I had picked out when she was in Kansas City, and she loved it.  That was good.  I don't think I could ever let anyone else pick out a house for me, but she trusted us and the thorough description we gave her.

In this morning's drawing, I made a decorative floral with shades of orange and red through purple:

   Drawing #240  9" x 12"

I figured out that the real problem with my eyes is my brain.  It is taking longer to adjust to the new implanted lenses.  I still think that not enough information is given to people before they go through cataract surgery, though.  Maybe the doctors don't want to scare us, but I would like to have had more detailed information about what to expect afterwards. 

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 234: Too Much Champagne and Chocolate Cake

December 9, 2007  Day 234

After celebrating Hanukah and my sister Laura's birthday last night with roast chicken, potato latkes, champagne and chocolate cake, I've been lethargic all day.  We were out and about town, but when the freezing rain and sleet started, we headed back home.  Adrian did not come with us, preferring to go out with Roxy for a walk, and when we got back, he was still not home.  Now it is 4:30, getting dark, and still no sign of him.

In this morning's drawing, I did a simple black and white sketch:

    Drawing #239  9" x 12"

I was anxious to spend the day with Jim and Laura.

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 233: Gallery Night in Ithaca

December 8, 2007  Day 233

After I went back to Rite-aid and exchanged the second set of reading glasses I'd bought for yet another two pair, I felt better (see previous post).  This time I bought a pair of men's glasses, which had larger lenses and work better for me.  I also found one of those chains you can wear around your neck to hold your reading glasses so that they are always available.  So now I am wearing one pair around my neck and have a different pair (lesser magnification) by the computer for viewing the monitor.

Neither of these glasses solves the problem when I am drawing, however, so I draw without glasses.  This morning I felt in the mood for a gentle, calligraphic kind of lyrical design in greens:

  Drawing #238  9" x 12"

Last night was gallery night in Ithaca, and we walked around the commons, stopping in to see art, drink wine, snack, and talk to friends.  We almost didn't go out, but I'm glad we did.  It was my first night driving after cataract surgery, and I felt quite confident, although Adrian told me I was going too fast and it made him nervous.

The State of the Art Gallery had a wonderfully varied juried show with over fifty artists' work.  I was happy to have one large painting in the show.  The Print Shop had some very interesting work, including a handmade book artist, who talked about the process she used to make them.  Then, as we do every year, we stopped at the Art Bar Gallery, where you can purchase packages of Swiss chocolate bars that each contain a small reproduction of art.  I picked up a gift package of the bars for my sister Laura, who is arriving today from Kansas City with her husband Jim.

It is Laura's birthday, and we will also be celebrating Hanukah.  The house is ready, the gifts are wrapped, and in a couple of hours I'll pop a roasting chicken in the oven.

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead.)