re arranged my art studio :)

Well...for 1 year It has been on my mind.......so I finally did it !
I took out my old wall unit.that was in my living room...and dragged the 8 foot unit to my studio....

I had a long weekend to do this....and I must say I am proud of myself. :)
Now I have space to paint....and I admit is a more inspiring environment.



The easel ( for size reference ..is 24 inches wide. )

Above is a close-up of the eye of the painting :)



Have a good week !

getting comfortable :)

wow...its been over 1 month I wrote something.
Things have really changed and moved up for me.

I changed jobs,( it was insecure ...and I need some secure income )
My new jobs salary is the pits ( minimum salary ) but the work is so rewarding, and inspiring !
I now do and paint decors,yayyyyyyyy.
As an artist, sometimes you have the '' blank page syndrome '....well with this work..I can not have this ...I have to paint...
This is good for me as it has created a sort of discipline.........once you start.....your mind follows ! :)
Some weeks I work for over 60 hours..get payed for 30...and they set aside the 30 for a week we have no decors to do...( so I will always have a pay day )


Anyways.........I am sitting tight waiting for the art grant I filled for back in November. The grant winners list will be giving out before the 15th April....
Part of the grant money ( if I get it ) will be going to an African Photo safari...for references and inspiration for future paintings.
I found one web site that offers a 10 day safari for this....the cost of.......ekkkkkkk......7 G.( for 1 person )
Crossing my fingers, but I do not think I have a chance.....well...maybe..just maybe...... :)


After struggling for money all theses pasted years........some low ( but steady ) income is welcomed.
After being a struggling artist...I guess I am happy with any sales, and compliments of my art.
I didn't set my goals too high, so I am always pleased with the results.
I also found.....that sometimes I give away small paintings.......just to see the smile on peoples faces....or to help fund animal conservation activities , gives me some sort of achievement that my talent can help in some ways.
Setting goals too high, ( personally...searching for appraisals from peers ) I have found out it just cuts your inspiration, as you dwell on the compliments of your art , and not your personal satisfaction.
Some artists I know , dwell on this...to exist in the art world.................. '' .compliments ''
If they don't get "tons '' of compliments in 1 or 2 weeks time...they feel like they lost something or they are lousing inspiration.
It's time for them to be realist and to do what they want, the style they want..for them....and not for the compliments.
Some even give up.....for theses reasons...so, they were not truly self inspired ,and this was a pass time for the research of attention and notoriety.
They even have some sort of ''art '' depression.

The point about artists with depression is really another topic. It has to do with the fact that at birth we are confronted with a true paradox .......... either conform with society (the group), or be an individual.
You cannot do both.
You must choose.
Many artist chose to be individuals, but then they feel like outsiders.........drop-outs.....or just simply different. This can lead to psychological consequences such as depression.



Friends are not the best judge for our work....they will always say its good..no matter what.

My mind is filled with projects.....maybe 1/2 will take place, but 1/2 is good right now...:)

I paint for my pleasure...from my inspiration.....all work is personal.....compliments from unknown people are a bonus !
They have an independent eye. They are the ones that buy....out of love of your work....and not just to ''encourage you ''.

oh.......a good example of this is :
Friend buys a painting..( to encourage you ) at a low $ 200.00
You build up '' faux '' confidence...and next time charge...$ 400.00
...oops..... '' friend says '' ..its good...but the price is steep for this..... **poof **....there goes your confidence...and probably your friendship with them. ( how inconsiderate they are ????? eh?????? )
This happens all the time........to all of us.


so.....don't set your goals too high.....the hill is steep downhill.

back to work :)

Well I got called back to work Thursday.
I am happy... :)
I do not know if it is going to be full time or for 24 t0 32 hours. At this point I don't care. It will leave me time to finish some paintings....and some money coming in.
This will let me keep my internet..yay!

Doing a 40 hour job & 30 hours of painting is sort of complicated to fit in a 168 hour week. This leaves me with about 98 hours to do the rest. That's 14 hours a day.....to do what we girls have to do..cleaning...washing.... sleep, grocery, cooking...lol at least my kids are all grown up and live on their own.

photos coming soon...of my finished paintings......
I am waiting to post 4 or 5 of them. ( the 6 x 4 foot one will be one of them )

wow..what a horrible 2 weeks !

Good thing is that I am a better from my fractures ! yayyyyyyy

But what a stressful week ( 2 weeks to be more exact)
I had to go to the Work commission to witness.
23 rd Jan & 28th.
My ex-boss and his GF...were harassing me on the phone, gave wrong information out to my insurances for my workers compensation ( work accident of jan 23 rd last year )
The commissioner that heard my case...seemed to believe me at 90%.
Of course it was my word against them, but I had written proof.

When they witnessed....I could not believe all the lies !
I even cried right in the middle of their testimony.

I don't think it was worth all the emotions and trouble I lived through.
I thought by doing this...he would learn a lesson, well it's me that learned a lesson....don't sue......unless your wiling to hear lies and discrimination.

I called my Aprt. Building owner........I said look.....lets settel this out of court.
( because of my fall in the stairs )
I can not and do not want to relive another court experience.........it just brings me down too much...... :(
And to be honest...I will accept anything....I need any kind of money.


Bali and Inka are staying with me..for now.
I had found someone to adopt them, but they wanted to declaw my babies ! ekkkkkkk


My new boss called me yesterday..and said not till the middle of Feb. will he have work for me.......
Gezzzzzzz thanks ! Just what I needed...another good news..lol

Sooooooo........I will be painting.....might as well, it's an investment.
I will try to sell some locally in order to eat..and pay some bills.
If not...bye-bye internet....and cable TV.

I am waiting confirmation to be accepted at ( if I still have internet )

http://www.natureartists.com/

This will give me more visibility.
Of course some of the profits on my sales will go to support wildlife and habitat conservation as I have done in the past.

Lets hope the next weeks will be better...and less emotionally charged.


.......off to start a new painting.......

Time to heal

I can not to any type of job for at least 2 weeks..so Time to ( try ) to relax.
I think I will start a new painting.
At least this gets my mind off things..and I will louse track of time.
I have no idea as of yet...but I will '' doodle'' something on paper this cold ( -30 & -38, with the chill factor ) morning. eeeeekkkkk

I asked for some legal advice in a forum yesterday morning....lots gave me good points and made me feel normal for suing the owner of the apartment building.
I was feeling like I was taking advantage of my situation in order to get money.
I realize now..its for my future...and that if my Injuries get worst in time...I will be covered.

Time to sketch something to do something productive.

fractures

well....*sigh*
I was right for my tailbone ( coccyx )...but its has 2 fractures. ( no wonder it hurts so much )
But I was surprised to have a hairline fracture on one of my vertebrae.I think they told me T- 5 or T- 7...not important I guess...it is still is painful.
The waiting time in the ER.wasn't so long..8 hours apr.( including the x-rays )
I got there at 8:45 and was out at 4:15.
I got a series of 10 x-rays, mostly for my vertebrae.......they wanted to be sure it had not moved around or had more serious damage.
The only thing is that it might bother me a bit later on in life.

Now I contacted the owner of the apartment housing....to see if he can compensate with my painkillers.and meds, and the pain.
I am not asking much..just the minimum...as the Dr, told me 2 weeks of doing the minimum ( for my back ),,,,not to exert pressure on the small fracture.
I have to go back in 15 days for another series of x-rays.

At lest the Percocet I got prescribed helped me have a reasonable pain-free night.

broken tailbone ( coccyx )

Last summer the owner of the apartment building had the stairs painted.
Being constructed in the 1940's the stairs are pretty used down and the wood is rounded off.Th painter didn't put sand in the paint making it anti-skid.

Well we told the landlord..ect...and with the snow over almost brand new glossy Grey paint, well....our postman fell down last week....and 2 other people that I know of.
The landlord was advised on this....DANGEROUS !

Saturday , I was going out to get things I needed for my supper. Mind you I know the stairs are dangerous..so I hold on to the ramps....but I slipped......5- 6 stairs...
I hit my back and then hit the last step on my tailbone.
My arm took a beating also..as I was still holding on.
The wind was knocked out of me..and may I tell you I was in pain !

I am sure at 99.99 % that my coccyx is broken....I still can not sit or walk without pain...and now where my back hit the stairs...its like 2 or 3 hot needle sensation.
I had a hard time sleeping last night...* sigh*

If it wasn't to wait for 10 or more hours at the ER...I would go.
Maybe I will...
But they can not do anything for the tailbone..they cant cast it....right ? lol