Abstract Art Blog

A Year of Making Art, Day 366: The Final Day

April 20, 2008  Day 366

I have completed my project:  I made a drawing a day for an entire year!

What have I learned from this year?  First, that I shouldn't necessarily jump full speed into every project I think of.  Second, that I do have enough fortitude to carry out a long-term commitment like this.  Third, it is better to write a blog when you have something to say rather than filling space every day just to do it.

As a bonus, I now have 373 new drawings.  While many are so-so, I think there are a good number that I can be proud of.  Some day I might even add them to my website (another huge project).

Today's drawing is celebratory:

  Drawing #373  9" x 12"

I also painted today, finishing Canvas #41, though I may go back and change a color or two:

  Canvas #41  44" x 44"

I plan to keep writing this blog, but two or three times a week instead of every day.  Thanks to those of you who stayed with me through this year and gave me encouragement along the way!

(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 365: One More Day

April 19, 2008  Day 365

Last night my sister Laura and her husband, Jim, arrived in Ithaca permanently.  A moving van loaded everything from their house in Kansas City last week and will deliver it this Monday.  I still can't believe I'm lucky enough to get my sister to move to the town I live in.  With families spread all over the continent and further these days, those of us who can live near each other are very fortunate.

This morning I finished Canvas #42 by filling in all the lines I'd drawn yesterday.  I may still decide to change one or two of the colors, but I am basically pleased with it:

  Canvas #42  40" x 40"

After that, I made my drawing in browns and tans.  I finished with a black brush pen, and a few strokes of yellow.

  Drawing #372  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 364: Two More Days

April 18, 2008  Day 364

This morning I got up at 6:30 a.m. because Blixy was coming at 7:00 to drop off Mike and Rachel.  They have no school this week.

After breakfast, Rachel and I helped Mike put up the badminton net, and then we played for an hour.  I was wiped out then and suggested a table game next.  We did, and then moved on to ping-pong.  Then another table game, and Dance Dance Revolution.  After lunch we visited the Museum of the Earth, which did not have their air-conditioning on.  It is in the 80s today, and the museum was so stuffy that we didn't stay long.

After having an iced-chocolate drink, Mike and Rachel played computer games while I got my work done.  Today's drawing was an experiment, where I first made all the short pen strokes in reds and oranges, and then began to shape it.

  Drawing #371  9" x 12"

After that, Blixy arrived and we played some more badminton before dinner.

(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 363: Three More Days

April 17, 2008  Day 363

I have no idea why I woke up in a bad mod this morning, but a sense of foreboding and self-pity has tainted everything I've done.  Instead of having compassion and patience with Adrian's foibles, I reacted as if he were weaving a noose around my neck.

So what if there were spots of dried red cherries all over the kitchen floor when we got up this morning?  Cleaning it up only took ten minutes.

At least I weaseled my way out of going to the doctor's office with Adrian this morning, and it only cost me a bucket of guilt.  "You should have gone with me," he said when he got back.  "I forgot everything."

Adrian always gets the brunt of my bad moods.  Who else will put up with them?

I worked on two canvases this morning, continuing my "culmination" series in blues:

  Canvas #41  44" x 44"

  Canvas #42  40" x 40"

In my drawing, I began with browns, adding black and tan.  I started with calligaphy pens and added lines with a fine point black pen for texture. 

  Drawing #370  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 362: Four More Days

This morning I finished the top and bottom of Canvas #39 and spent the rest of the time on Canvas #40.  This is the first time I tried to paint a "culmination" series painting in blues instead of red, orange and yellow.  I mixed some shades of light blue, brilliant blue, and cobalt blue to fill in the lines I had drawn:

  Canvas #40  30" x 30"

Then I did a simple black-and-white sketch for the day's drawing:

  Drawing #369  9" x 12"

Now I've got to do the grocery shopping because Adrian is still wearing a boot cast and limping around.

(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 361: Five More Days to Go

April 15, 2008  Day 361

Since this is a leap year, I have five more days to go in order to finish my "year of making art."  It is great to know I will make it, because too many times in my life, I did not stick things through to the finish.  I always get restless and want to move on, perhaps as part of my bipolar disorder.

Today I finished painting Canvas #39 and did some work on Canvas #40:

  Canvas #39  30" x 30"

In my drawing, I made a frivolous, spring-like floral:

  Drawing #368  9" x 12"

It is definitely spring today.  The temperatures are only in the fifties, but daffodils and crocuses are out, all our neighbors are gardening like mad, and birdsong at dawn is a cacophony.

(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 360: Culmination Series

April 14, 2008  Day 360

Today I worked on Canvas #39, drawing and filling in circles, and then additional lines that I will fill in tomorrow. I am working on a series of Culmination paintings, attempting to capture that sense of bubbling up and exploding that was in the original:

  Canvas #39  30" x 30"

  Original CULMINATION  48" x 48"

I also worked on several more backgrounds today, for three canvases that will follow the culmination tradition, but in blues rather than red, orange and yellow.  I'm not sure if it will work as well, but if not, it will be something different.  I'll find out as I paint.

In my drawing today, I began with brown lines, gradually building up a strong center that flies out to the edges.

  Drawing #367  9" x 12"

Then I had to get my teeth cleaned, which I hate.  Does everyone feel that way?

(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 359: A Final Attempt on Canvas #37

April 13, 2008  Day 359

When I looked at Canvas #37 again this morning (see previous post), I decided there was too much contrast around the edges of the large circles in the perimeter of the painting.  I began to fill in these areas with the orange I had mixed yesterday.  Then I covered over the circles completely with the orange to tone them down.  After that, I began working with the lighter orange, again toning everything down in the next group of circles.  After that, I refilled all the small leaf-like spaces, beginning with a pale yellow and working my way to red around the edges.  This pretty much took all morning, but I was finally satisfied:

  Canvas #37, 40" x 40"

I ran out of 14" x 11" paper, and opened up a 9" x 12" pad in which I found an old drawing with no date on it.  I loved its sense of playfulness, and tried to get that same effect in my new one.  The old one was made with mixed media, including ball-point pen and pencil, which gave it a lot more interesting set of textures.  Here's the old one:

  Found Drawing  9" x 12"

Here's my new one:

  Drawing #366  9" x 12"

After that, Blixy and the kids came over and we went for a great walk in the woods.  It was brisk, but mostly sunny after a bit of rain and snow flurries this morning.

(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 358: Fixing Canvas #37

April 12, 2008  Day 358

This morning I tried to "fix" canvas #37.  I mixed a yellow, an orange-yellow and an orange-red wash (diluted with water and gloss medium), and wove bands of color around the circular shapes, filling in all of the pale background.  When I got done, I liked the painting much better, but there is still something bothersome about it.

  Canvas #37  40" x 40"

In my drawing today I focused on blues and purples, with fine black lines for detail and a slash of yellow for highlighting:

  Drawing #365  11" x 14"

Adrian and I went out to check on Laura and Jim's house again.  They will be moving here permanently next week, and I am looking forward to that.  The house looks great, and there were no open doors or windows this time (see previous posts).  Almost all the renovation work is complete.

Adrian was wearing his boot cast for his Achilles' tendon, and I thought we might take a walk in the park, but he said it was irritating him, so we went straight home.

(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 357: Taking a Break with Sharapova

April 11, 2008  Day 357

Today I spent all morning finishing Canvas #38:

  Canvas #38  44" x 44"

Later I made a drawing in reds, which seemed a bit too contained:

  Drawing #364  14" x 11"

I took a break in the middle of the day to watch Sharapova win the quarterfinals of the Bausch & Lomb tennis championships.  I yearn to get out on the courts myself, and hope that sister Laura will be up for that when she finally moves here next week.

(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 356: I Throw Away a Bad Drawing

April 10, 2008  Day 356

Today I filled in the lines I'd drawn on Canvas #37, but after all that work, I didn't like the results:

  Canvas #37  40" x 40"

Then I went to my ophthalmologist's office to get "computer glasses."  Lately I've noticed I have to bend my head back in order to see through the middle part of my glasses, which has the prescription for seeing at that distance.  New glasses which have the computer prescription all the way to the top should help ease this strain.

The first drawing I worked on today was so bad that I'm throwing it away.  After that, I did a quick whimsical piece--the opposite of the tedious one I'd been working on:

  Drawing #363 14" x 11"

(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 355: A Real Spring Walk

April 9, 2008  Day 355

Today I continued work on Canvas #38, adding some colors with my palette knife and brush, and then drawing lines in red, blue, brown and white.  Unfortunately, I did not photograph this step in the process.

My neighbor and I took our first real spring walk--there was absolutely no snow or ice anywhere!

I didn't get around to my drawing until late, working with browns, tans and a little black:

  Drawing #362  14" x 11

(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 354: Tired of Wave Drawings

April 8, 2008 Day 354

I had enough wave drawings (see previous posts).  Today I made a red-green-blue-yellow design with calligraphy pens.  It was very soothing to work on:

  Drawing #361  14" x 11"

After that I worked on canvas #36 and #37.  Here are the two steps, with more work to follow:

  Canvas #36  44" x 44"

  Canvas #37 40" x 40"

Tonight is our bipolar support group meeting, and I'm glad I don't have to facilitate this time.  I always feel I am either two rigid or not rigid enough in enforcing timing rules.

(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 353: Working Overall

April 7, 2008  Day 253

I just couldn't give up on wave drawings (see previous post), so I tried another one today.  Putting in the details took a while, and then I felt it didn't have enough focus, and added some stronger lines.  Here it is when I quit working on it:

  Drawing #360  14" x 11"

I did some more work on canvas #38 today, working overall with a brush, water, and colors straight from the tube:

  Canvas #38  44" x 44"

And that was it for the day.

(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 352: The Second Time Is Harder

April 6, 2008  Day 352

I liked my wave drawing from yesterday (see previous post), and tried to do another one today.  Often, the second time I do something doesn't quite turn out as well as the first time, when it happens spontaneously.  I had to work a lot harder on this one to get it to the point where I consider it finished.

  Drawing #359   14" x 11"

Then I continued work on the backgrounds for three paintings.  Here's a sample:

  Canvas #37  40" x 40"

After that I began to hang art around the studio now that my new wall is finished.  I am not a very good curator--I have to try every combination before I can figure out which paintings work or don't work together.  In addition, since I had to limit the size in most places, I couldn't simply pick any painting I wanted to.  Most of my canvases are too large to fit in the spaces available. 

I ended my day with food shopping, a chore Adrian usually does for me.  Now that he's incapacitated, I'm beginning to appreciate just how much he did before.

(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 351: Folk Art Americana at Mary Shelley's House

April 5, 2008  Day 351

Last night Adrian and I went to an open house at folk artist Mary Shelley's house/gallery in downtown Ithaca.  It was amazing to see so many of her works together, each one strengthening the effect of the others.  Mary does relief carvings in wood and then paints them with acrylics.  Her subjects are often diners, farming, and other regional subjects from upstate New York.  Mary has an impressive resume, with works at the Smithsonian, the Fennimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, New York, and the National Museum of Women and the Arts in Washington, DC.  If you haven't seen her work yet, take a look at her website:  Mary Shelley Folk Art.

Going out to see Mary's art rejuvenated me, and I got past yesterday's depression.  Today I feel great, especially since I finally got to paint again after a long pause for renovations to my studio.

I worked on the backgrounds of three paintings, but in the third one, I tried a more structured and thoughtful background than I usually make:

  Canvas #38  44" x 44"

Before that, I made my drawing for the day with blue/green and purple waves going across the horizontal plane:

  Drawing #358  14" x 11"

(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 350: BOR-ING

April 4, 2008  Day 350

Sixteen more days to go in this "Year of Making Art."

Today I am depressed and lethargic.  It took me all day to get around to my drawing:

   Drawing #357  14" x 11"

In the morning I prepared two giclee prints on canvas for shipping:

  123456

  Placating Your Friends

It's unclear what else I accomplished.  I helped Adrian with the dressing for his infected leg, and putting on his boot cast.  I cleaned up odds and ends.  I did some laundry.

BOR-ING!

(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 349: Shipping Two Prints

April 3, 2008  Day 349

Today was Owen's last day with us, so I made a special brunch and hung around to see him off.  Before that, I had to get two prints off to Pak-Mail for packing and shipping to clients:

  Adam Three

  Talk To me Now 

By the time Owen left, I was exhausted.  Too many houseguests and doctor's visits lately.  Adrian requires a lot more assistance now, and he is also unable to do all the things he used to do for me to help with the business, like running errands.  It looks like the food shopping will be my job now, too, since he's wearing a boot cast and is supposed to take it easy.  I'm sure that he will want to use any extra energy he has to take Roxy out.

I did my drawing late today:

  Drawing #356  11" x 14"

(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 348: Winter Is Back

April 2, 2008  Day 348

This morning, winter was back with a blustery wind.  Son Owen and I took Adrian to the orthopedist at 9:15 to have a boot cast put on his left foot.  It can be removed for bathing and sleeping, but will protect his Achilles' tendon while he is walking around.  He already tried it out while taking Roxy for a walk with Owen.

I made today's drawing with three black pens:  a fine-point tip, a calligraphy pen, and a calligraphy brush pen.  Then I added some pale lavender highlights:

  Drawing #355  11" x 14"

Then I went to a "baby party" at the neighbors, and this afternoon I have to take Adrian to another doctor.  Maybe I can paint tomorrow!

(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 347: Going Wild with Purple

April 1, 2008  Day 347

Rachel reminded us at breakfast that today is April Fool's Day.  The temperature is fooling us into thinking it is spring, but we know that the warmth won't last.

After I took the kids to school, Adrian was due at the hospital for an ultrasound test to make sure he didn't have a clot in his leg.  He did not, so tomorrow morning he will probably have a cast put on his left ankle and calf to protect his torn Achilles' tendon.  He took Roxy out today, but stayed nearby.

In today's drawing, I felt like going wild with purple, and did:

  Drawing #354  11" x 14"

(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 346: Sleepless at Three A.M.

March 31, 2008  Day 346

Last night I woke up at 3:30 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep.  At 4:45 I decided to get up since I had set the alarm for 6:15 anyway in order to get Mike and Rachel off to school this morning.

I made my drawing before anyone else got up:

  Drawing #353  11" x 14"

After that, the kids got up and had breakfast and I took them to school.  Then Owen and I took Adrian to the doctor's office.  It turns out that he has a torn Achilles' tendon in his left leg and will probably have a cast put on in a couple of days.

I just had time to have a bite of lunch and put a chicken in the oven before it was time to get the kids from school again.  Now they are playing computer games for ten more minutes before getting ready for bed.

(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 345: Old Times

March 30, 2008  Day 345

The Pinter play (Old Times) we saw last night was entertaining and the acting was very good.  But because of the intended ambiguity, there was no way  to end up with an  "interpretation."  It was about a power play between a husband and wife, and possibly a third person who may or may not have been a figment of their imagination. 

This morning Blixy called and asked if she could drop off Mike and Rachel while she went to the office to fix a problem.  It is a Sunday, and she is going to a conference in Colorado for a week on Monday.  The kids will stay with us for two nights and the rest of the time at their other grandparents' house.

I made everyone lunch, then we went to check on Laura and Jim's house while they are away.  After that we played ping-pong until dinnertime.

I barely managed to get my drawing done:

  Drawing #352  11" x 14"

(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 344: Ear Piercing Has Changed

My stepson Owen arrived at 10:15 a.m. from Virginia.  We had a bite together and then I had to leave for granddaughter Rachel's birthday party at  The Science Center . 

The party was great, and then I went to the mall with Blixy and Rachel to have Rachel's ears pierced as her birthday present from her Mom.  I remember when mine were pierced a million years ago.  A doctor who was practicing, and therefore did them free, pulled a needle and thread through my ear, and the sound of the thread being pulled thorugh made me nauseous.  I also bled for a month.

Rahcel's piercing took a couple of seconds and all she felt was a mild sting.  She is thrilled with the results.

I did my drawing late today:

   Drawing #351  11" x 14"

Tonight we are going to a Pinter Play (Old Times) at The Kitchen Theatre downtown.

(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 343: Drawing for Fun

March 28, 2008  Day 343

This morning's drawing is a whimsical piece that I had fun making:

  Drawing #350  11" x 14"

After the contractor finished caulking the edges of the studio, we moved all the furniture back where it belongs.  After that, we put some new flat files together and I filled them with drawings and paintings on paper.  then I moved all the finished paintings and blank canvases back in, and then reorganized all my stuff--paints and other supplies.  It is now 6 p.m. and it is all finally finished.  Hurrah!

Stepson Owen was due today, but has not started out yet from Virginia, so he'll probably get here at dawn or wait a day.

I am ready to crash.

(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 342: Black and Blue

March 27, 2008  Day 342

My drawing this morning was made with blue and black calligraphy pens, with some details done in brush pens and a fine point pen:

  Drawing #349  11" x 14"

Then the contractor helped me move all the furniture in my studio to the side that had been painted yesterday (see previous post), and he painted the last section.  When it is completely dry tomorrow, I can move things back and be ready to paint at last.

Adrian did not walk Roxy today, since his infected leg is still not better.  But he has such strong feelings for the dog that he doesn't feel right missing even one day's walk.

The smell of paint is too great for me to stay in here, so I'm taking off.  (Interesting that the smell of acrylic paint that I use doesn't bother me.)

(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 341: Primary Colors

March 26, 2008  Day 341

Blixy called at 8 a.m. to see if I could take Rachel to the orthodontist today, which I did.  She is now at a neighbors playing with a 12-year-old (Rachel is 9 and loves to play with older girls).

I used mainly primary colors today, with accents in a fine-point black pen.  I used a template for most of the circles, and a ruler for the straight lines.

  Drawing #348  11" x 14"

Adrian went out late this afternoon with Roxy.  This is his first day taking her out since he fell and hurt his leg.  I just hope he doesn't overdo it.

There is a strong paint smell in here because half my studio floor was painted this morning.  Tomorrow we'll move all the furniture to the other side so that this half can be painted.

(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 340: Everyone Leaves Town

March 25, 2008  Day 340

I just realized I am in my last month of "A Year of Making Art," and I won't be sorry to see it end.  Having to make a new drawing every day and write about it is too much pressure.  On the other hand, I now have a pile of new drawings, thanks to starting this project.  And I believe I will make it to the end.

This morning Dan and his family actually got up at 8:30 a.m. in order to drive to New York City before the rush hour traffic starts.  They will spend a few days there and then fly home to California.

Laura and Jim also left town today.  They stopped by to have lunch with us and to drop off some of their belongings in our basement.  They are driving back to Kansas City, where they will pack and get ready to move here permanently in mid-April.  The renovations on their Ithaca house should be finished by then.

I finally got around to my drawing in mid-afternoon, and did a quick black-and-white sketch:

  Drawing #347  11" x 14"

Then I had to move everything out of half my studio so that the contractor can paint the floor tomorrow morning.  In three or four days, when the whole thing is finished, I should be able to paint 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 339: I Didn't Sign Up To Be Nurse & Caretaker

March 24, 2008  Day 339

Today is the last full day my stepson and family will be here.  They are still tending to sleep until noon, unable to get themselves off California time.  The teenagers, especially, stay up late and then have to be dragged out of bed in the mornings.

I did today's drawing in browns and tans with calligraphy pens:

  Drawing #346  14" x 11"

Then Adrian showed me a lump on his right leg, just below his artificial knee.  We were worried that it might be a clot, so we made an appointment witht he doctor for one p.m.  Dan got up in time to take him, and when they came back, they reported that the real problem seemed not to be the lump, but the fact that a wound on Adrian's other leg was infected.

Our local pharmacy was closed, so I went out and filled three prescriptions and bought other supplies for bandaging Adrian's leg.  Later the bandage came off twice, so I finally made it tighter and taped it better.  Today I'll have to get more supplies.  And next week, we have an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon.

Somehow, preventing a fall never seemed to be Adrian's priority.  He walked without using a walking stick as he was instructed by his doctors, and he took chances leaping over the brook along our property.  The last time he leapt, he felt something tear in his left calf.  Now he is limping and unable to walk the dog at all.  But saying, "I told you so," is useless and cruel.

Sometimes I feel like being cruel, however,as I did this morning when he spilled coffee all over our new glass table and then asked me to clean it up because he had done the same thing the night before with orange juice and was tired of cleaning up.  The coffee had gotten into every crack and splashed profusely, and as I was cleaning it up, I found the remainder of the dried orange juice to clean as well.

When Adrian takes chances and disables himself, I suffer along with him.  I get to be his nurse and caretaker, not jobs I signed up for.  But that is the plight of the healthy spouse, and you get no sympathy because you are the healthy one and should shut up and count your blessings.

Writing the above made me feel better, though.

(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 338: A Spring Hike in Ithaca

March 23, 2008  Day 338

We did get a great hike in yesterday afternoon with the Californians and their Newfield cousins, though we had ice and mud to contend with on the trail.  That is typical for Ithaca this time of year.  Adrian didn't go with us because he had an accident when he was walking Roxy in the morning.  There is a brook between our property and Roxy's family, and he fell when trying to leap across it.  He said he felt something "pop" in his calf, and has been limping since.

I had put two roasting chickens in the oven before we went out.  We added baked red potatoes, a green salad, fresh bread, and raw vegetables to make a supper everyone enjoyed.  Then we played ping-pong with the kids until Blixy took them home.

I feel exhausted today--too much partying, I guess.  We are supposed to go to the Nature Center this afternoon for a program about making maple sugar, and then meet Laura and Jim at their new house.

I made a quick drawing with calligraphy pens, adding some lines at the end with a fine point black pen:

  Drawing #345  11" x 14"

(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 337: Split Personality

March 22, 2008  Day 337

I made my drawing early today.  It has a split personality, which I used to think I had when I was younger.  I did, in the sense that I was bipolar (undiagnosed at that time), and suffered severe mood swings.

  Drawing #344  11" x 14"

Blixy is bringing Mike and Rachel over today to see their California cousins who are staying with us.  I already did the food shopping for dinner.  With luck, we'll get a walk in this afternoon and play a lot of ping-pong.  It is cold, but sunny for a change.

(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 336: Civilized Teenagers

March 21, 2008  Day 336

I picked up my stepson and family at the airport last night.  The flight was actually early--not typical for US Air.  They came in from California and the two teenagers were thrilled to see it snowing here.  We didn't get much accumulation, but they went out this morning and made snowballs.  Then they came in and said it was too cold to go for a walk with their parents and Adrian and Roxy.

I started my drawing today in black, adding a bit of dark gray and some yellow highlights:

  Drawing #343  11" x 14"

The teenagers are going to make dinner tonight, so that will be a nice break.  Earlier, I played ping-pong with them.  These fourteen-year-olds are quite civilized.  (Not like I was at that age.)

(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 335: The Californians are Coming

March 20, 2008  Day 335

In this morning's drawing, I began with greens and yellows, later adding accents in brown:

   Drawing #342  14" x 11"

My stepson Dan and his family are arriving from California this evening, so we were busy getting ready for them a good part of the day.  Laura dropped by to do her laundry, and we played some ping-pong.  The contractor is still working on my studio wall.

Winds are high today, so I hope Dan's final flight into Ithaca is not held up.

(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 334: Painting vs. Drawing

March 19, 2008  Day 334

I struggled with today's drawing, but I've gone about as far as I can with it:

  Drawing #341  14" x 11"

I think it is easier to "fix" a painting on canvas than a drawing on paper.  Eventually, the paper you draw on can't take any more, and you can't really cover up your mistakes completely the way you can with paint.  You can't scrape it or wash it off, either.  So what you have to do is turn the drawing into something else, but while utilizing what you already have.  That's a greater challenge, I think, although it could be that I'm simply more used to painting than drawing.

I got another call from an artist looking for advice on marketing her art.  There seems to be much more concensus on how to succeed in the other arts than in visual art.  Not that it's any easier to accomplish a successful career in music, dance, or literature, but the paths seem to be clearer.  If you get an MFA in fine art and become an academic, then I think things might be more straightforward.  You present yourself in terms of what the academic curator wants to see, and try to build a reputation through exhibitions and gallery representation.

That, at least, is what I imagine an academic artist does.  I am not one of them.  For the rest of us, it is not clear how to proceed.  Or perhaps there are so many options, and so little time, that it becomes confusing.

So what is my advice to young artists?  Follow your strengths.  Try several paths.  Go with what seems to be working.  Take opportunities that come along.  Learn from what you see others doing.  Be persistent.

Every city must have at least one artists' organization.  Join it and talk to people.  Join online artists' organizations and talk to people.  I've gotten a lot of good advice over the years from artists I've met through the internet.  By sharing, we don't diminish ourselves.

(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 333: The Idea of a Pastoral

March 18, 2008  Day 333

In this morning's drawing, I started with the idea of a pastoral in greens and pale blue, but soon had something much more colorful.  At one point it seemed it would not come together and I might have to scrap it, but some strong lines with a chocolate brown saved the day:

  Drawing #340   14" x 11"

After that I worked on cleaning up my website, but the new Dreamweaver I have for the Imac works differently from my old program, and I was frustrated.  An experienced Imac user gave me some advice, however, and I'll try again tomorrow.

New doors are installed in my new wall, and soon that part of the construction will be finished.  Then the rest of the floors have to be finished, and when that's done, I should be able to paint 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 332: Quicken is Quicker

March 17, 2008  Day 332

I am still without the use of my studio to paint in--the construction work has taken a lot longer than originally planned.  Isn't that always the case?

But I still have my drawing table set up, and worked this morning in browns and yellows to produce this:

  Drawing #339  14" x 11"

In the afternoon Laura came over.  After we took a walk, she showed me how to use Quicken to enter transactions and reconcile my bank statement.  It is definitely easier than doing it the old way.

(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 331: Visiting Local Galleries

March 16, 2008  Day 331

Yesterday afternoon we went to some local art galleries.  We enjoyed the annual juried photo show at the State of the Art Gallery.  Laura's husband, Jim Kirsner, is a photographer, so he was interested in the variety of techniques displayed.

Next we went to Belle Melange, a relatively new gallery in Ithaca.  There we were impressed with works by Mary Shelley and Kim Schrag.  Kim is an abstract artist who paints in intense colors, so naturally I was attracted to her work.  Fernando Llosa, another favorite, was also exhibiting at Belle Melange.

Today is a Sunday, so we slept in and I got a late start.  That's fine, because I've been too tense lately and need to slow down.  In my drawing this morning I started with black, but soon moved freely into more color:

Drawing #338  14" x 11"

Tomorrow I am shipping the original painting of "I Fancy":

  I Fancy 40" x 40"

(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 330: Mark Dion at Bertram's Garden

March 15, 2008  Day 330

For this morning's drawing I made a black-and-white minimalist sketch:

  Drawing #337  14" x 11"

Recently I received a notice about installation artist Mark Dion's project for Bartram's Garden--America's oldest botanical research garden.  I was offered "promotional materials that would be useful to you and/or your staff of writers interested in this project."  Wow, it must be great to have a staff on board to help you promote your art.

Unfortunately, I have no staff whatsoever and have to make the art, photograph it, write about it, update my website, and do all the marketing/promotional/bookkeeping work myself.  That's the case for most artists today.  The lucky few have a staff.

However, I don't mind putting in a little plug for Mark: you can check out his project at MarkDionsBartramsTravels.com.

(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 329: No Peace of Mind

March 14, 2008  Day 329

The dinner party (see previous post) went swimmingly, and I was fairly relaxed instead of worrying if everyone was having a good time or getting nervous if there was a lull in the conversation.  The food was great, but that's a given when I make a dinner party.

I didn't sleep well that night, though, because I was worried about shipping another large painting.  The owner of our local Pak-Mail promised to come at 9 a.m. with a trailer to pick up the box (63" x 63" x 5") from me and the print (55" x 55") from my printmaker.  But our little private road is next to impossible to find, and access at my printmaker's offers no place for a trailer to turn around in.  After a few glitches, everything eventually turned out fine, but I can't seem to get through these things without losing a night's sleep first.

With this chaotic beginning to the day, and having to pick up Mike and Rachel after school, I didn't have the peace of mind I needed for today's drawing.  I kept returning to work on it some more, and finally gave up:

Drawing #336  14" x 11"

(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 328: Packing and Shipping Pains

March 13, 2008  Day 328

Instead of a nap yesterday afternoon (see previous post), I went on a great hike with my neighbor.  The trail we go on is hilly, and it was covered with a mixture of snow, crusted ice, and mud.  In a few weeks it will be total mud and swampy water.

This morning I tried to get a 51" x 51" box inside my Honda Element, and it wouldn't fit.  I remembered getting this size in before, so I don't know what went wrong.  We finally took a seat out and eventually had success.  The worst thing about my art business is the packing and shipping, especially with the larger paintings.

I finally got around to my drawing for the day, and as it took shape, I thought of dunes:

Drawing #335  14" x 11"

Tonight we are having company for dinner, and that always makes me anxious.  But Laura is coming over to help, and that will ease my nerves.

(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 327: Keyed Up After Meeting

March 12, 2008  Day 327

We had a good bipolar support group meeting last night, except that I was the facilitator and worried that I didn't rein people in soon enough when they tended to take more than their allotted time.  We had a new person come, and I worry about making them feel welcome and wanting to come back.

I am always keyed up after meetings, so I stayed up drinking wine and eating nuts and chocolate--enough to give me indigestion that lasted through breakfast.  I woke up at 5 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep.  Now I am ready for a nap.

In today's drawing I let loose with reds, oranges and yellows, gradually finding a loose shape within this free form:

  Drawing #334  14" x 11"

Then I packed the five paintings I have to ship to a Boston gallery:

  123456  48" x 48"

  MADCAP LIGHT  24" x 24

  GHOST BLOCK  18" x 24"

  WINTER BLOCKS  18" x 24"