Building A Mystery

Mixed Media on Canvas

Paint, Thread, Wool & Silk

Today I'm heading up to The Craighurst Gallery to pick up a few pieces of my work.  Hartley had asked if I would mind leaving them there after Images was over just until the 27th at which time a new show will hang.  Since I'll be heading up to the Silverbridge Gallery this week though I need to scoop a few pieces to add to what they have of mine which isn't a whole hell of a lot.

The Village Gallery has a show starting up on October 22nd but unfortunately I'm not going to get a chance to get down there with some new stuff until the 27th which was really bad planning on my part.

Oh, and my friend Rita Vindedzis sent me the following clip she found of my work on Cityline TV just in case you hadn't seen it or may be interested in seeing it or just have nothing to do for the next  few moments and are looking to waste some time ....... you pick....

http://video.citytv.com/video/detail/53234790001.000000/mixed-media-artwork/

New Art Connections............

Love, love, love this tree.  It sits just down the road from my kids old elementary school and everytime I drive by I always wish I'd had my camera.  I've been playing around with ideas for how I'm going to put it into a piece so I think come tomorrow I'll have things cleaned up enough in the studio to begin.


Saturday I was checking out one of my fav sites which is Art Interiors, a gallery in Toronto that I simply love, when I came across an artist's work that really resonated with me.  Found her website and then her blog and dropped her an email.  If I come across an artist's work that I really like I always email them. Maybe I'll get an email back or maybe I won't but that's not the important part..... I personally feel that I want to express my appreciation and enjoyment of their work... just another quirkly little thing with me.  Her name is Rita Vindedzis and she did send me back a great email after reading some of my blog and we couldn't get over how much we have in common....both have teenagers, both in the arts, both are cat people, like Starbucks, live in Toronto (she does, my hometown) and strangely enough...have both had our work on Cityline.  Weird how things sometimes sync up like that.  Check out her blog..it's a good one.

Exciting New Representation

The Village Gallery has been on my "gallery radar" for quite some time now.  Whenever I'm searching out potential new representation I'm always looking for what would be a good fit for not only me but for the gallery as well.  The Village Gallery appealed to me in a big way as I like the caliber of artists they represent and I love how progressive Alison Goodwin the owner is when it comes to getting her artist's work seen.  Everything from Art Blooms to The Interior Design Show in Toronto to  their Pop Up Gallery......  to me that is a gallery that's working for the artist and I want to be a part of that.

I had submitted to them back in early November and once I had firmed up the Cityline gig I sent Alison an email letting her know I'd be on the show.  Ironically enough so were they.  They were going to be there representing one of their artists,  Alison Hodson.  That's where I met Megan Cornwall who is the Art Consultant for the gallery.  We got along famously and I looked forward to meeting with Alison at some point down the road.  Well that road ended on Saturday when I walked into the gallery with six of my pieces (yes, I had an appointment)  and met not only Alison but Jackie, Mallory and Bonnie who were all in the middle of a morning meeting.  Everything for me clicked right away as they were so kind and so generous in their praise of my work.  There is nothing better than having a gallery as excited about what you do as you are.  I hope they didn't think I was a freak though because I was talking a lot and perhaps even rambling at one point but I'm a pretty social girl and when I get pumped up about something there's no stopping me.


The craziest thing happened when Mallory who is interning with the gallery and who is also taking Art & Art History at the University of Toronto, asked where I lived.  Just so happens in some "the world is a small place" type of way that her parents live right down the street from me.  She happens to know pretty much all the people I know but then again I do live in a village of only 300 people so that might not be too hard.


Anyway, Alison kept four of my pieces for the gallery,  my work will be shown in their monthly newsletter in March and at their opening of Art Blooms on April 24th.


So all and all it was a very successful day.  

The Slow Pace of January

Sunday Morning

Mixed Media in Acrylic Paint & Thread

18"14" Matted & Framed

detail.........

Thought I'd check in so you know I'm still here although still nothing all that new to speak of.  I tentatively have a meeting booked with a gallery in the city for next Saturday so I'm hoping for the best.  They were also a part of the Cityline segment my work was featured in regarding mixed media art so that's how we met up.

January has been a relatively quiet month as I find most Janurays are..... lots of catching up with paperwork that got lost in the shuffle in December.  I'm also finding the pace just about perfect as I have a lot of new work already drawn up that I've been slowly making headway with.  I heard from my friend Carol Currie yesterday regarding the Thunder Beach Show which is taking place in July..I'll report more details as I receive them.


So that's my life to date....nothing too exciting to write home about but I'm still plodding along and am going with the flow so to  speak.  I've renewed my yoga practice as it kind of slipped into oblivion back in December.  I've always touted the benefits of yoga and feel it's become even more imperative as I've gotten older.  If you don't already practice yoga give it a shot as it not only stretches out the body but it stretches out the mind as well.

Namaste......that's yoga talk don't you know.........

The Business of Art

Fleeting Moments

Work in Paint, Thread, Wool & Silk

sold

Major storm hit Ontario this morning with unbelievable wind gusts, snow then rain then snow again. Yuck!  Days like this make me so very happy that I work at home.  Made some tea (not the chai latte as that is a ritual that begins precisely at 3:00pm) started a small fire, answered emails...took care of business.  Speaking of business, I think it's only dawned on me in the last year of so that art is a business.  I think my head was somewhere up in the clouds previous to that realization.....  Now don't get me wrong because I am head over heels passionate about what I do and could never for a split second imagine what my day to day existence would be like without creating art BUT, and don't you know there always is one, art is a business like any other.  If money were unlimited then I could just go about my merry way in the studio creating work and not caring if it sells  but unfortunately money is not unlimited and I need to sell work to continue to work.  It is that simple. 

Within the last year I made a decision that the career path I had  chosen was going to be a successful one.  No ifs and or buts.  It was time to pull that head out of the clouds and work to make it happen and to realize only I can do that.   It is my responsibility.......

I was always talking about submitting to a variety of galleries and now I am. Is there rejection?  Of course there is but if you believe in what you do you shrug it off and keep on going.  It's the only way.  Since I took this approach it's amazing how far I've come and how many galleries are interested.  The biggest drawback of my work is the way it photographs.  Capturing two dimensionality in a jpeg is all but impossible so the work needs to be seen in person to appreciate the texture of it. 

I also began realizing that all the work I was creating just wasn't getting seen so I started marketing which I knew absolutely nothing about.  The Cityline segment came about because I sent an email, a few jpegs and my website explaining to them what I did and why I thought their viewers may be interested.  I love the age of technology for that reason alone....ease of communication. Now perhaps I would never have heard back from them but that's not the point, the point is that I took action and put myself out there and you just never know what the possibilities from that effort will be. There is a wonderful self confidence that washes over you when that realization occurs. 

So what am I doing now?  Well there has been a great response from the Cityline segment, I'm in talks with a few different galleries regarding representation and two leading magazines have approached me regarding an artist profile. Won't talk about who until it's a done deal.   I guess what I'm trying to say is that for me, all of this has taken place because I started understanding that there are two parts to what I do....the artistic part that fuels my creativity, makes me feel alive and connected  and the business part that is simply that..........business.

Much Thanks

Thank you so much for all your calls and emails regarding the Cityline episode that aired today.

Many of you were looking for a way in which to watch..........

Cityline just put up the clip on their website.......Go to Cityline ...Scroll down to Other Clips and click onto Mixed  Media Art.....you'll have to sit through a 30 sec ad for a tv show but it will come on right after that...........

A Day at Cityline

                                                 A Row of Reds
                                       Work in Paint, Thread, Wool & Silk
                                                     16"x 20"

                                               A Song In Silence

                                 Work in Paint, Thread, Wool & Silk

                                                       16"x20"

                                                               Passionate Ground

Work in Paint, Thread, Wool & Silk

16"x20"

Last Thursday morning started out early for us as I insisted we be in the car by 6 a.m. although Toronto is only about an hour and a bit from where we live and I didn't need to be at the studio until 9 a.m. I couldn't take the chance that we'd hit a traffic jam or run into a fender bender. John is such a good sport as he knows what a freak I can be but he also knows how to just go with the flow so to speak.

Grabbed a chai latte at Starbucks and then headed over to CityTv and although I was trying to look as if I'd just strolled on over I was terribly nervous. It all ended up being for nothing though as everyone at Cityline was absolutely wonderful. We stood in the lobby for a bit waiting for Fiona Clark who was the producer of the show and there, standing beside me was Mary Dobson who was just so lovely and easygoing she immediately put me at ease. I also ran into Meghan from the Village Gallery who was there with work from Alison Hodson one of the many talented artists they represent.

Meghan and I hit it off immediately and we spent time talking about art and the business of it. We chatted for a bit and then they called us into the studio to set up.  The work got hung (thanks to a very patience man) and 5 minutes before the show was to tape the producer told us there were three extra seats right in front so John and I and Meghan got to be in the audience afterall. I won't go into the details of the entire show except to say I was really pleased about my small bit.  It was overwhelming but so very exciting. Oh, and I did get a chance to meet Tracy Moore the host of Cityline and she was so down to earth, friendly and welcoming.  I really can't say enough about how everyone there made us feel at home and comfortable. Thanks Cityline for a great experience!

Here's where you can get a breakdown of the show which airs this Thursday December 3rd at 9 a.m.

Afterward John and I headed over to The King Eddie to meet my sister in law Carla for lunch.  The King Eddie just happens to be my favourite place to eat when I'm in Toronto. The lobby was beautifully decorated for Christmas............I could have sat there all day just feeling happy.....

Exciting, Amazing Day

Too busy today to write a long post about my experience yesterday at Cityline but it say it was surreal and far too exciting would be an understatement. I will post all the details on Monday. I've got work at two shows this weekend...check out my sidebar on this blog to find out where.

Have a wonderful weekend.

A Big Week

Passionate Ground

Work In Paint, Thread, Wool & Silk

20"x16"

Tonight I heard from the producer of the Cityline segment in which my work will be featured with four other artists. She was just checking in to see if everything was on que for Thursday. I have to be there at 9 a.m. with the work and even though I won't actually be "on air" I'm still crazy nervous. They have asked me to bring 3 pieces but only 2 may make it to air. It was a tough decision but it will definitely be one of the three I've just completed minus the glass. Apparently Eric McClelland of Fleur-de-lis Interior Design will be introducing my work which is super exciting since he owns one of the most prestious interior design firms in Toronto.....ok now I'm feeling dizzy. John has a couple of appointments in the city on Thursday afternoon so he is going to drive me down... thankfully. Can't risk a fender bender with me behind the wheel.

I also found out today that I'm involved in a "smalls" show at Hartley Woodside's Gallery on Saturday which will run until Christmas. We had discussed the show back when the Images Tour was in full swing but I hadn't heard anything further until today when I received the flyer in which my art was front and center........uh ohh. Since I'm already involved in the Art Show in the Village all weekend I'll drive up to Hartley's on Friday with a couple pieces. He has a very loyal clientele and they buy art.

So yes, I'm excited with so much going on right now and just a touch overwhelmed. One of my friends, upon hearing this yesterday said "Enjoy this as you've worked hard and deserve it...just take the ride and see where it will take you...life is always stranger than fiction" I'm holding that close to my heart this week.

Studio Time

This blog has taken a back seat to my studio time lately and that's not such a bad thing. Last week I took three new pieces to my framer and hope to have them back within a few days. I've asked them to not put the glass on but to just matt and frame. I'm still not totally sure which three pieces I'll be taking to Toronto for the Cityline segment but I do think at least two may be in the new group I've just completed. I spoke with the producer of the show and we decided that sans glass would probably work best just so there would be no glare. I will photo them when they come back from the framer and post them here....

On the home front, my youngest has the flu............. Everyone in this house has had it so far except for me. I've been doing everything humanly possible to stay healthy as my nephew is getting married this weekend and I am so looking forward to being there.

Take care..............

Crazy, Exciting News

Benched

Work in Paint & Thread

If you remember back a few posts I had mentioned that this was going to be my year to "get out there", to finally begin taking chances and spend some serious time marketing my work. I've been at this for some ten years now and although my work has evolved to where it is today....it was time for me to step out of the box, so to speak.

On Thursday I got an email from the producer of Cityline asking if I was interested in having three of my pieces appear on the show. They were doing a segment on art and artists and I was one of three or four they had invited to the show. I had initially emailed them with a blurb about my work and process and voila...........

Now I won't actually be on television but my work will and that is the important part. So I've been ultra pumped since then and so honoured to have my work on a show I myself have watched for the past fifteen years. I was home on maternity leave when I first started tuning in every morning at 10 a.m.

So on Thursday November 26th I'll head to Toronto for the taping but the show won't be aired until December 3rd. If your in Canada and have cable you'll more than likely be able to see it. I know it airs here at 9 a.m. You would have to check your local listings.

A big thank you to all who read this blog each and every week. Your support is and always will be appreciated on this end. The first few months the only people who read it were my friends and family but it has now blossomed to people from England to Turkey and my numbers continue to grow each and every week.

Thank You