One Rare Bird

I'm An Artist

Like a lot of creative-types, I've struggled to call myself an Artist. I paint, I write, I bake,  I take pictures - I couldn't imagine living in a world where art isn't a primary focus - but does that make me an artist? I'm coming to the conclusion that it does. And sometimes it takes something like winning a photo contest to help me realize it.

I'm honored to be the winner of last year's Salem Is photo contest and to be featured in an interview where I get to talk shop about life, photography and what it means to live in Salem, Oregon. It's also another opportunity for me to stand to my full height as an Artist and embrace my unique perspecitve.

 

"There is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost." -Martha Graham

Happy New Year!

Here's wishing you a very happy new year filled with love and light. xo

Charicatures

Crush of the Week: Girl Crush Portland (with Lisa Golightly and The Jealous Curator)

This past Saturday I attended Girl Crush Portland with the very lovely Lisa Golightly and my all-time favorite blogger, Danielle Krysa (aka: The Jealous Curator), where I met some wonderful new friends and found some much-needed validation after the previous days’ chaos.

The morning started out with yummy coffee, pastries, and getting-to-know-you conversations that quickly turned into a beautiful three hours full of sharing our stories, empathetic head-nodding, and an exercise from The Artist's Way to help us reach deeper into our passions. I keep thinking back on the morning and am amazed at how quickly I opened up to these women I had just met. I'm not usually so quick to give it all away up front like that, and my first reaction is to feel uncomfortable with such quick vulnerability, but these women weren't just anyone. I felt like I'd known them my whole life.

After taking a mid-day break and devouring a delicious lunch, we went down to Lisa's studio where we created collage pieces on beautiful Plywerk panels. We consumed more coffee and enjoyed sweet mini cupcakes while continuing our previous conversations between bouts of quiet concentration. The time went by way too quickly and I was sad to say goodbye, but I am grateful to have been part of such an encouraging and lovely experience. Here’s a little peek into our day…

The Morning...

The Afternoon...

If at First You Don't Succeed, Destroy All Evidence That You Have Tried

Earlier today I took my Statistics Final. The one rule from the class is, "if you don't pass the Final, you don't pass the class". Well, I didn't pass the class. I'm obviously disappointed, but what might not be more obvious is that I'm choosing to sooth my disappointment with a cheap bottle of Cabernet at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. I've also been trying to find quotes about failure that don't make me want to throw dishes across the living room. Most quotes about failure go something like "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger". But I'm calling BULL SHIT. It sucks to work really hard at something and not succeed. So here are some more realistic quotes for anyone who doesn't want an automatic pick-me-up after falling on their face. These are for the people (aka: me) who want to remain on the asphault for a while, cry a river of tears, and feel the disappointment. Maybe tomorrow I'll try optimism, but today a positive attitude can suck it.

"If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you have tried."
~ Rule of Failure

"Show me a good and gracious loser and I'll show you a failure."
~ Knute Rockne

"If at first you don’t succeed, find out if the loser gets anything."
~ Bill Lyon

"The happy people are failures because they are on such good terms with themselves they don't give a damn."
~ Agatha Christie

{images via Still Memory}

Face to Face

I recently applied to have my artwork included in a gallery exhibition called Face to Face, and even though my work wasn't accepted into the show (queue disappointment) it at least motivated me to create three multi-media paintings that I'd been meaning to create for awhile. And since I have all this white space sitting right in front of me on my computer screen, I thought I'd have my own little showing as a way to affirm the work I did and also risk letting it be seen...

"Dear John"

"Dear Daughter"

"Dear Mother"

Crushing on "Girl Crush"

It's no secret that I've harbored a passionate crush for Danielle Krysa (aka: The Jealous Curator) for sometime now, and when I found out earlier this year that Danielle was organizing small get-together's, called Girl Crush, for artists all over the country, I knew I had to be involved. The icing on the cake - not only literally since there will be cupcakes and pastries involved - is that Danielle is bringing Girl Crush to Portland on June 9th, and two of my biggest crushes will be there: Danielle herself and Lisa Golightly (aka: Kiki & Poly). This is a chance for local artists to "to walk away from our computers, and actually meet in person for a glorious, creative, pastry-filled day. To figure out a way to break through artist blocks. To get inspired, and recharged. To celebrate being women artists… and obviously, to have a reason to eat lots of pretty little cakes & tarts in the middle of the day!" And just look at what an amazing day Danielle has planned...

ART WORKSHOP + TEA PARTY
Portland, Saturday June 9th 2012
~ 14 people {including Danielle and Lisa} for an entire Saturday of creative fun!
~ 9am tea & coffee & pastries & chatting {kind of like a "pre-tea party" party!}
~ a talk by Danielle re: women/art/insecurities/inspirations
~ a talk about insecurities/inspirations from Lisa Golightly {a working artist who also feels blocked sometimes - after all, it happens to the best of us!}
~ everyone introduces themselves/share their issues {artist blocks, too many ideas but not executing any!, etc}
~ break into groups and do 2 to 3 exercises to help with these issues {just requires a fancy notebook & pencil, which will be provided}
~ tea party lunch {catered by a local restaurant/bistro ~ sandwiches & salads, followed by lots of fancy little treats!}
~ after lunch we'll make some art with lisa, based on our morning talk, and you can take it home and hang it on your wall - something nice to look at on those days when you are feeling blocked!
~ 6pm whoever wants to go out for dinner together can… but if everyone is pooped, we'll just call it a day. sound good? YES!

And if - God forbid - you're not familiar with Lisa Golightly, here's a sneak-peek at her amazing work...

If you happen to be available on June 9th you should definitely plan on coming, and if you're not available then I strongly suggest you drop your plans! Look at how awesome Girl Crush was in San Francisco with Lisa Congdon...

I hope to see you there!

"Mad About Art"

I just spent this past weekend working and attending Clay Ball - the second-largest event put on by my new employer: Salem Art Association. I started working for SAA in December and I love my job so much that it hardly feels like work! On Saturday I woke up early and spent the day with some wonderful co-workers and volunteers setting up for the event; I then went home and got gussied up in 1950's/late-60's Mad Men-style vintage, and proceeded to enjoy an evening full of fabulous art, good food & wine, stimulating conversation, and my favorite part: the photo booth sponsored by local photographer Erich McVey. The theme for the evening was Mad About Art in honor of one of my favorite shows, Mad Men, so I found a gorgeous blue wool suit in honor of Joanie Holloway and accessorised with my handsome fella...

We look pretty good if I do say so myself!

The Only Thing Keeping Me Alive Right Now: Coffee

Photography by Anita

“Way too much coffee.  But if it weren't for the coffee, I'd have no identifiable personality whatsoever.”  ~David Letterman

Retro Roadside Photo

“Sleep is a symptom of caffeine deprivation.”  ~Author Unknown

Alysia Alex

“Coffee smells like freshly ground heaven.”  ~Jessi Lane Adams

“I don't have a problem with caffeine.  I have a problem without caffeine!”  ~Author Unknown

Abby Marie

“Behind every successful woman is a substantial amount of coffee.”  ~Stephanie Piro

Sarah Thielke

“I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.”  ~T.S. Eliot

“I'll quit coffee.  It won't be easy drinking my Bailey's straight, but I'll get used to it.  It'll still be the best part of waking up.”  ~From the television show Will and Grace

Ooh Pretty Shiny

Better Late Than Never

Wow - it feels like forever since I last did a blog post! Life has been so crazy lately that I've completely let my writing/blogging schedule go to the dogs, and now I don't know where to start. All you've really missed though is me working, working, working, working, taking a long trip to see my family for a short amount of time over Christmas, and now me doing loads of unpacking and laundry. But in the midst of all that I asked artist Nan Lawson to create a custom image of my family to use for Christmas cards/gifts this year, and it turned out amazing! As you'll recall, I had artist Jackie Bos do an image of my family last year and now I'm completely sold on the idea of having our family turned into an art piece every year.

Click here for more more of Nan's custom work - the waiting list is long, but it's definitely worth the wait! Oh, and a very Merry, yet belated, Christmas to you all! xo