Etsy

It’s time for some srping cleaning.  Here are some items you can find on my etsy store that have priced down.

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Dear Moon

Channeling Transformation

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Tough times have led resilient individuals to become innovative and solution driven and alway willing to take a risk! Those are some of many hallmarks of entreneurship.My thoughts this afternoon are inspired by Gayle Lemmon in her TED talk: that women’s resourcefulness post-conflict makes for tremendous entrepreneurs. This year is a struggle for me to find a job in my field of interests.   I have a lot of passion intensely focused on becoming an artistic entrepreneur in conjunction to be a part of community, but it’s uncertain of where it should channel energy.  These crystals I’m currently painting are a gesture to finding sources of transformation and inspiration in daily life.

It has been a powerful year for learning about innovation.  When struggles emerge for myself I feel a great opening in my heart muscles, leaving a sense of rawness and inflammation.  The body responds to our injuries going to work to restore and re-cooperate the places of hurt from within.

My statements about raw skin is present because of the fresh tattoo on my chest that is a cover-up to fix a badly executed tattoo I receieved while apprenticing at the Living Arts Studio.  I am really disappointed by the way I was treated in this place, and later text messaged by Michelle Vernon about my unprofessional nature.  In actuality it is unprofessional to slander a person who worked for you for free, helped your business make hundreds of dollars and degrade you in a text message.

I know it’s not unusual to turn to anger toward others when something feels embarassing or unknown for me.  I’m trying.  But anger exists for a reason.  It clues up into some things that off internally and externally (I’m pissed internet world).  I worked there for free since last May as a trade for learning the skillful practice to be a tattoo artist.  However, over time, it wasn’t really clear what I was learning about tattoos. It has taken months to pull back and look at the mind-game of this place.  I see the parts that are my responsibility.  That I couldn’t take a job very seriously if I wasn’t being paid and there was no explicit program of learning.   The nature of tattoo apprenticeships is being the least significant, but I couldn’t suck it up for them because I wasn’t sure I believed in them and their standards or that they even believed in me.  Well, I believe in me.  Strong women who have opinions about fairness and induce change look scary or strange to others, and it was never less true in this circumstance. Sometimes the best game-changer is staying true to yourself and taking the time to find out what that means.

My job insecurity has left me feeling vulnerable. But here is a chance to transform vulnerability into a source of channeling strength.  Vulnerability opens up windows to reevaluate, learn, and accept change.  Opening up these windows shakes out some settled dust.  Change is sometimes uncomfortable, but this discomfort is a means of looking inward to inspect some neglected spaces, reorganize them and make room for new.

The Ted talks by these mighty women inspire me to also push past my perceived limitations, imagine transformation in our current economic climate.  I have been having difficulties finding a job since November.  As a result, I’m delving into my own artist business to bring it further.

I will persevere. All I can do is air out the forgotten places and try to nurture change that is gentle and loving.  There’s so much inspiration out there, I just have to find where to look.

Faceted

Some new works and progress that have quite a bit of clean up needed.  I like working with these pinks and purples…such a girl, why thank you.  You will be able to view this painting and others in the Basement of Thornes tomorrow February 3, 2012.  Join us next week for Friday Nights out.  If you can’t, I highly encourage you to stumble into a participating space at some point to find out about some of the local gems (artist) we have in the valley area.

KICKSTART

SHOUT OUT! To individuals with some bright lights and schemes who have the lack of funds.  Kickstarter is a way for people and groups to help fund and follow creative projects.  I’m going to be starting to compile the materials to work on something I’ve been dreaming to do for a while.  I’m thinking BIG (and messy).  First I have to work a video to present the project.  Stay tuned for more details.  Hope those of you in Westernmass can go grab some of that sunshine today!  BEAUUUTIFUL.

Also, if you find yourself walking around Northampton the next few days, stop into Firefly Salon located on 122 Main st, or even the No Space Gallery on the bottom floor of Thornes Market, to check out new works.  I will be putting work up tomorrow night in Thornes after I go pick up my new dog Harley.

Turning Straw to Gold

When I have some of the life stuff come up that makes me feel like I lose a little hope, I paint.  Coming to this studio on the Arts and Industry Building, sitting down and concentrating on shapes and color is the best way to start making peace with these feelings.   I don’t think I am proposing a solution for everyone, but I wonder, what’s your peace making project?

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These two little Blue Birds are painted on Antique Glass so you can see their shadow cast on the wall behind them.  The Glass is 21″ x 21″ x 2.  Click on the image to view it in my etsy shop.

Ascend

To see this item on my etsy site,

or look at other pieces currently for sale, click here

Commissioned work Sketch

So right now I’m trying to carve out a path as a professional artist.  Currently, I’m working on some small commissioned projects.  This particular image shown is a 20″ x 30″ painting sketch of what will be a 30″ x 40″ painting for a hang glider.  I have not yet got the chance to take to the sky with a pair of stretched out wings, so i’ve been chewing over aerial perspectives of a mountain range at sunset from a hang glider in flight.  I’m sharing the sketch done tonight.  I’ve been long on the trail of taking to images of the water, that I almost forgot how fun it is to play with altitude.  One of the things that I’m having particular fun playing with is pushing color.  A little pink a lot of purple some browns, blues, and reds, and I got myself something I had a lot of fun doing.

click here to purchase this 20″ x 30″ sketch 

I am still trying to pursue a career as to become a tattoo artist as well, but have had difficulties finding an apprenticeship at this time.  However, working on these commissions isn’t too far off from the nature of tattoo drawings in that you sit with the customer and listen to what they want and their experiences.  These commissions have rewarded me with some really awesome personal conversations, perspectives, and revelations.  This time has had some solid opportunities to still feel connected to the world and practice some skills that will help me along my path to becoming a strong tattoo artist and just a better human being who speaks up when shit is whack.

Roxie & Francis

I’m just posting this for Sarah’s birthday.  It’s a portrait of her Roxie and Francis under a capricornian constellation.   Below is my lil cockatiel looking up.  A lil fun to celebrate a special person who I’m sure glad was born.

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Get caught in the Current

 

 

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You’ve heard it before about going with the flow.  I am reminded of this when I am trying to figure out how to run the one man band of being an artist making work that I love and making a living off my work.  I am fortunate  to feel I don’t I’m not alone in this aspect of adventuring life.  The problem is the anxiety of wondering if I will survive doing this thing I feel like I can’t not do.   I love the thrill of getting caught up beneath the waves and feeling it pull over me and threaten to crash my little body into the sand.  If it does, i’ve never felt like it was too overwhelming other than running the risk of carrying around a sandbox beneath the lycra of my suite.  But those moments of feeling the weight and gravity of these masses of water pour over you.  Pull you, suck you back, drag you down gently and spit you back out is calming.  It’s when I realize the weight of the world surrounds me and I should relax to it, sink into it.  However, I never will forget to keep swimming.  

 

 

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