Check out the Greater Ithaca Art Trail for maps and information on 54 artists showing their work in 49 studios which will be open this weekend and next (October 18 and 19) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. I worked like crazy last week vacuuming, moving furniture, and organizing my art in order to get ready for it.
The Art Trail open studios are a once-a-year event in the fall when the leaves are turning and the weather is still beautiful here (depending on the weekend--this one is great). I like them because I get to talk to people about my work face-to-face, which I don't get a chance to do when I sell from my website or galleries.
Preparing my studio for the art trail also gives me a chance to stop and reflect on what I have accomplished during the year. I have so many new paintings to show for my efforts, and that feels good. But stopping my work flow in order to have a passably neat studio for two weekends also gives me a chance to think about what direction I want to go in next year.
With the economy in its crazy free-fall, maybe I should just hunker down and conserve what I have, but I am an optimist, so I will continue to take on new projects and to think of my life as expanding rather than contracting.
The last painting I completed before getting ready for the trail was the second of two canvases for a commission I received recently:
Matrix 2, 56" x 42"
Now I will put out some chocolate candy and get ready for the crowd!
