Making a Living?

The best thing you can ever do for an artist, is to purchase their work. Praise is wonderful, but it does not make it possible to pay the bills. If there is an artist, whose work you love and if you can afford even the least expensive of their works, buy it. Take it home and marvel at it every day. Let it add beauty and wonder to your life. You will be helping that artist keep the roof over their heads, put food in their stomachs, clothes on their backs and given them the ability to make more art for you to dream about.

Strength

I am no hero, no stronger than anyone else. I just live as we all should, as if I have a million more tomorrows, whether we do or not.

Ha!

I am not known for keeping my thoughts to myself. But it is actually amazing how much I don’t say out loud, every day!

Developing Artists

Evolution takes longer then revolution.

There is a difference in someone just flitting around from one style/medium/subject vs evolving / changing work over time. I think that one should always test and challenge yourself with new ways of creating and new ideas. But keep in mind….not every change we make as artists is worthy of marketing right away. Be patient and take your time.

RETURNING

Harder than expected

Crossing the bridge
Windows cracked open
Involuntary, deep inhale
Cells expand
Take in salt air
Absorb element, long deficient

Familiar smell
Familiar sight
Home

Tears  falling

Nine years, it has been
Nine years away
Nine years with no reason to return

Reunion
Forty years passed
Returning for this

A return to childhood
For childhood

Driving by rote
Whitestone to Grand Central
To Northern State

The choice
Exit for 135 and the path of adulthood
Or that of childhood
Woodbury
Childhood it is

Not just about mom and the last goodbye
This trip
About me

Tears make it hard to drive

When we were a family
I am small in the back seat next to Amy
Dad’s voice
“Do we take the Pretty Way?”
The Pretty Way it is

Then Cold Spring Harbor
Recalling younger adult self
Mom’s place
Bea’s place
Bubbie’s place
Drive through
Sobs catching
Too hard

Confronting
And reentry

An important trip, this
Moments to re-meet the past
Rebalance myself
Realign

Beach time on a perfect day
The smell
The sight
The sound, so familiar

Evening in Huntington
Old friends re-met
Current self offered with confidence
Greeted
Welcomed
Personal and group celebration of survival

I am all that has come before
And all that will yet be
I am, the child
The teenager
The young adult
The woman grown

Pieces of Mom, Dad and Amy
Friends
Long Island
Huntington
Sound and ocean
Salt water, sand, shells, rock and seaweed
All components combined

Harder than expected
Better than imagined
Home there
Then back home here

Re-aligned and whole
Deep breath
Healed
 

 

9/11 – 15 years later

So much to be thoughtful about today. 15 years ago, I had a young child in elementary school and a husband working in NYCity 3 days a week. We all have stories from that day….that week. Stories that will remain in our heads and hearts forever.

 

8 years ago, on Sept 11th in the early morning, I received a phone call that my father had died. Just less than 1 1/2 years after my mom. On that September 11th I became an adult orphan.

 

We all mourn and reflect on this day each year, for so many reasons. If any day in our collective history should be a National “Holiday”, I think this one should. We need a National Day of Reflection. One that allows us to not only think about the significance of the attacks themselves, but of all of the effects that day has had since on all of our lives and our nation. We are now what we are, because of that day.

Politics and the Art Market

The virulent anger that this Presidential campaigning has bred is so divisive and brings up questions that are broader reaching then politics should normally touch.

 

I am extremely left wing politically and have many very right wing fans of my work. Should they not love my work because they disagree with my politics? Should I not sell to them because I disagree with theirs? Of course not. The politics should not affect the art, unless the art is about politics.

Seeking Gallery Representation?

Here are a few pointers I can offer for those who want to have their work considered for gallery representation…..any gallery. Save yourself some frustration and do your due diligence.

– Make sure you either visit the gallery or the gallery website. Try to make an honest assessment about whether your work may fit in there. For example, if you are a portrait painter, and they don’t carry any figurative work, it might not be a good fit.

– Contact the gallery to ask if they are open to considering new artists and if they have a submission policy. Nearly every gallery will.

The Genius of Art

What I think is so riveting about the best of artists – that they see something to immortalize that even the casual observer might overlook. And yet, once seen in the artwork, we all become better observers.

Squealing with Joy

BATH 2

There is some kind of misconception that an artist needs to be humble and self effacing when they receive a compliment about their work. Truth is, I love my work. Looking at it, I can see the flaws, but I also can stare at it in wonder knowing that I created it. That feeling does not get old. And it thrills me to no end when someone else tells me that they like it too. and I want to dance with joy when they purchase it. I am no longer willing to look like I am all blase about it. So I want to change my response to that compliment. I want to squeal with happiness and I want that person to know how much it means to me to hear it. So, here is me dancing with joy and saying Thank You to all who take the time to comment on my work. It just fills me with joy.