It's ok to change life goals.

A change in life plans...

I'm not as sure of where I am going in life as I used to be. I used to have a very sketchy plan of how to live life as an artist. With the very secret plan that i would become known enough not to have to move my own works of art, push for sales, or worry about paying rent. Part of that dream included being known a little bit.  people would want to talk to me at parties. I'd have to choose between what parties i went to. folks would stop by the house to chat. I'd get a gallery in NYC if it killed me.  Every little scrap of paper i scribbled on would be precious. Except... I don't really like going to a lot of parties. I like to be in bed by 11. I really like Philadelphia.... And the art world has changed so much does NYC matter all that much?

I've become even more lazy. I don't have to fight for time in my studio anymore. Whether with a loved one or with splitting studio time with work. Or maybe what I have been doing in my studio isn't very exciting. I don't need gobs of people praising my work. But what am i working towards? Another show at Rodger's? and don't get me wrong I am very grateful for those opportunities. But I do a show that i think is very thrilling and it's a tiny blip on the radar. Do i need to change people's lives and have them talk about my work?  

I was paper-making the other day and i fell in love with doing a processes. that rhythm you need to gain to make it work and the all most mindlessness combined with problem solving aspects of it. Maybe I need to do more print making.

I better figure it out quick. What ever it is. I have a show in June.

Sell Out

The radio told me that there are no 'sell out's' anymore. If you were a musician up into the 2000s and sold a song to a commercial you were a 'sell out'. Despite the difficulty to make a living as an (any) artist. It's even harder to make a living as a Visual Artist. maybe. I guess. I'm not sure. I suppose it mostly has to do with talent and luck in both fields. So I'm going to try and sell out some. Art on mugs, and puzzles etc.

Betsy Cat in Cone Mug Extra Large Mugs by JeanineLeclaire
Look for more mugs at Zazzle

 I know lots of cool folks who can't afford art but would love to own some. It's hard to put hard cash down on something that will hang on the wall because you like it. The artist needs to have a high enough price because they split the price of the work with the gallery. And they might have spent months on something that sells for only a few hundred dollars. Sure we do it out of an indescribable need, but if you appreciate it, there is no reason for you not to pay real money for it. I say that, still being (I think) a reasonably priced artist. I have artist friends who's work I love and I sigh when I see what small prices they can expect for works they've spent long hours or even just a few moments on but with much imagination and talent.  And there are the years that go into all the work and experience leading up to where they are now.  Some will think I'm a sell out just for selling the original work on Amazon. But I also work at a gallery. And when you sit there and realize in a week that 10-20 people walking in the door is normal you must wonder.  Do people not care? They are probably caught up in their own lives. I know when I haven't had much I hated window shopping. Maybe that's it. I was told just 10 years ago. 2003 we would get that many in one day. Is it the economy? The personal electronic devices? I don't know if I'll ever figure out the answer.

Another thought. The work I am adding to products have been sold. Most in private collections. I retain the rights as the artist to the work. The originals will probably not be shown in public again. 

Loving an artist

So you think it would be romantic to love or date an artist? There is one very important thing you must consider. Now I am not sure if this is inherent in ALL artists, or if it has something to do with four years of art school brainwashing. The issue is that we see a naked body and the first instinct is to grab paint/pencil or any other type of mark making device. If you are currently dating an artist you must have noticed little pauses in love making when there is a brief look of confusion on your lover. Zhe is not thinking of another, zhe doesn't even realize those little pauses. Its that instinct rearing it's head to make art. But this is not the worse thing. Oh no. One night while getting ready for bed you decide it is hot and you do not wish to wear anything to bed. Or maybe you always sleep nakked but your artist has been busy lately. When you wake up you find your happy little artist has been busy. drawing your nakked ass. But that would be ok, except there is also this other urge they have. To share it to the world. The drawings might not be that good. Maybe they  want to show off their lover. Maybe they just have that artist need to share. But there it is. Your ass. on the Web.

Gessoing and painting and thinking about Amazon

I've been thinking a lot about selling art on Amazon. It's been up for a little less then a month now. We have sold one small painting and two larger ones. The two larger ones were sold to a previous collector and he talked the gallery way down. still not a decision i agree with but I don't own the gallery so it's not my call. I guess after all the hard work I put into it I was hoping for a little more action. I don't know, folks wake up one day and decide they do want to buy art. But really, I guess, we are just giving those who do more options. I do think folks are looking to have more hand made things in their life. Otherwise Etsy wouldn't be so popular. Right? I have another project for the gallery that I want to launch before winter, but I'm not sure that will be possible. But that's a secret until I get it all worked out. 

Meanwhile: Nick is buying a house. Yay! The person who out bid him couldn't get a loan. yay! well, bad for that guy, but eh he'll find his dream home. The day after the signing for the house we are going to Seattle to see one of Nicks buddies get Wedded. In October He goes to Africa and I go to Michigan to see my Sister. Also, I've started spinning yarn with a spindle. I kindof love it.

I've been working on two paintings lately.  I have the commission coming up and a few ideas. I'm going to paint some cats, because I have four of them and they  are apart of my life and that's what i do. 

here's one of the paintings i'm working on.

It should be a little lighter, but oh well. 

i'm also Gessoing two birch panels. One is for the large commission. I am quite excited about that.

Painting will never change the world

I woke up the other morning and realized painting will never change the world. I can put my whole hart and soul into it, die on top of it, or make sacrifices to it, and it will never ever change the world.

What did I ever expect as an artist? Probably the romanticized starving artist. I can now say I have truly been there and done that. briefly. That time between husband and boyfriend when i was doing phone sex and working at a grocery store.

Anyways, the best part is I can now masturbate in my painting. In other words, paint cats and flowers and it doesn't matter. The debate about what is good art has long been settled. Anyone can make art and it doesn't matter if it's good or not.

Here, I'll add an image otherwise no one will read this.

Done over worked it. Better just keep going

Trying not to over work It. Already did