The holidays were so filled with dancing, carols, visits, decorations and church that I found no time to paint - only some sketches for the new year. I did mail images to Swan Gallery, and received some publishing advice from Woodmere about my book when renewing our membership. This advice led me to directly mail my book to a publisher for consideration. Also dropped off one small painting to the children's Home and School Assoc. for their auction in March. I miss sitting at my easel with the smell of paint and thinner in the air, and am looking forward to painting next week. Dropped off "The Treat" as my submission to Woodmere's annual Juried Exhibit.
Friday, January 13, 2006
No word yet from the publisher I wrote last week, or Swan Gallery - but I did receive my ninth consecutive rejection from Woodmere's annual Juried Exhibit. Corresponded with the filipina artist Razel about her shows in Germany, Tokyo, and the Philippines.
Finished a romantic painting for approaching Valentine's Day which I began in mid-November. Bought the current issue of Big magazine featuring the life of Lauren Hutton. She looks really great at 61 years old, but as a model her 'artistic' content was a little disappointing. Working with my sketchbook to finish the last 3 panels I have - time to buy wood and make more panels.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Picked up my painting at Woodmere with Lorna, seeing other excellent 'rejected' works. Began painting an unusual Valentine's Day painting more about what we 'love'.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Continued working on my Valentines Day painting - many angles and perspectives to get right. Began another larger painting for Spring. After 3 weeks I sent an inquiring email to the publisher who, I hope, is looking at my desktop book.
Friday, February 3, 2006
Made much progress on my Valentines Day painting. Purchased a new sheet of wood for more panels. Negotiated the sale of "All is Calm" to a friend of over 30 years. Spoke with a teacher from our neighborhood elementary school - funding was approved for a Spring play, and I have been asked to develop the background scene paintings.
Finished my Valentine's painting - "Independence" - and, yes, it is not very romantic, but it is what my muse seems to love - traveling around town on public transportation with her weekly transpass.
Received a very polite and encouraging 'rejection' of my book from a publisher. Met with the local teacher for over an hour discussing the scope of the scenes for the Spring school play. Included my new work in a Valentine email Newsletter.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Friday, February 17, 2006
Cut 8 panels from my new sheet, and prepared 2. Worked on sketches and drawings for the 3 scenes that will be part of our local school's spring play.
After receiving 2 very encouraging rejection letters for my book of paintings I felt "stuck". Very few publishers mention art/image books so I wrote an email to Phila.'s Art Alliance for advice on publishers - I have not been a member for over 5 years, but appealed to their mission of helping artists. No response yet, but I did give a good copy of my desktop edition to Swan Gallery when picking up an unsold painting. My muse was with me, before leaving for her native Philippines for 10 days.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Met with the teacher who is producing the play at our elementary school, and went over the 3 watercolors I had done for the 3 scenes. She has procured a large roll of paper and we have paints and brushes. After we build some wooden framework it will be time to begin painting with the students. Continued painting my ' work in progress' and developed sketches for my new panels.
Friday, March 3, 2006
My muse returned safely from a 10 day visit to her native country, and I began a large tropical painting inspired by her stories and telephone calls. I also worked more on a painting for Spring.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Made a lot of progress on my tropical painting, and some progress on my Spring painting. Received and responded to a nice email about my art from Lorna's cousin in Manila. Met with teachers at our local school and began finalizing plans for the 3 scenes for the school play in June.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Finished "Return to Simplicity" and emailed an 'Occasional Newsletter' for Saint Patrick's Day, which is receiving some very nice responses. Went to the school stage to visualize what I will be doing everyday next week for the scenes.
Began working on the scenes at school for the June play, with Ian's help. Sketched out one complete background measuring 8' x 40', and met with teachers about what remains to be done. Visited Woodmere Art Museum with Ian. Worked on my Spring painting. Continued receiving responses to last week's Newsletter.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Friday, March 31, 2006
Worked 2 days on my Spring painting. Bought wood and screws, and visited school 3 times about scenes for the play, meeting with the teacher. Rearranged my d'Art gallery. Planning to respond to an interesting email from the U of Art Alumni. Wrote a brief email to an artist I know.
Spent time at school with the scenes, which are ready to be painted. Finished my Spring painting, but will not 'unveil' it until after Easter. Began looking through Art books, and preparing more panels and sketches to develop as the school year draws to a close and Summer vacations have everyone home. Received a response from the U of A to my interest in the POST program (Philadelphia Open Studio Tours), but meeting the deadline for this year will be tight.
Friday, April 6, 2006
Friday, April 14, 2006
Prepared 3 more panels to make 5 panels ready for the busy summer months. Began developing a few sketches. Added some images to my Studio Photos.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Worked on the scenes for the school play with Ian and new students every day. Every evening I worked on getting our new PC up and running. Whew ! But the painting for the scenes is complete, with only installation remaining.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Created framework for some of the completed scenes and cleaned up. Maybe a few things to do before the play in June. 'Unveiled' my latest painting, "Spring Break", through a Newsletter. Received a nice response from Razel. Looked through art books at a local library, and developed a few sketches. Downloaded all my old files to our new PC, and am ready to continue working on a book of my paintings.
Friday, May 5, 2006
Made a lot of progress on a new painting concerning my muse's upcoming graduation from college later this year. Spent another 2 hours in a nearby library which has a large collection of art books. Worked further on a book of my paintings, struggling with concepts, format, and publishers.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Continued to work on my 'painting in progress', completely repainting the figure to a better perspective. Continued to work on a new format for my book, completeing the 'foundation'. Made some new brushes. Wrote a brief email to the Asian Arts Initiative.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Continued painting my 'work in progress' - almost finished. Received an invitation to the school play in June. Worked almost 10 hours on my book, compiling themes and describing those themes. Spent another evening looking through the art books at a nearby library, returning to a book "Making Artist's Tools" by Vance Studley. His thorough, detailed instructions and descriptions gave me confidence to craft and use brushes made from human hair. They work beautifully.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Worked meticulously on my painting in progress. Worked on what I hope is the best version of my book.
Friday, June 2, 2006
Spent one day installing (with help from school staff) the scenes for the school play, to be performned next week. It was good to experience the smell of tempra paint as we unrolled the large 8 x 30' background that had been stored in a classroom for safe keeping. Seeing all the colorful trees, birds and plants again was breathtaking. Continued working on my painting and should almost complete it today. There is one area I believe needs to be sketched out for color combination experiments before finishing the painting. Worked on my book, finishing the basic structure. Weekly visits to the Library have been postponed due to schedule changes at home - I miss the Library. Received a letter from Woodmere about possible suspension of their Members Exhibit beginning next year.
Friday, June 9, 2006
Finished "Almost There" and unveiled it through a Newsletter. Watched a performance of the school play, and received a compliment from the Producer for my contribution to the scenes and success of the show. Worked faithfully on my book, and made a few sketches towards summer paintings.
Friday, June 16, 2006
As I printed out the first edition of my latest edition desktop book I contacted a local self-publisher who was very enthusiastic. A few telephone calls and emails later I was formatting my images and pages to their specifications - but nothing definite yet. Received a pleasant response to my Newsletter from Razel. Bought a book on the Philadelphia artist/photographer Man Ray.
Friday, June 22, 2006
Although I was aware of self-publishing, it took some effort and family discussions to adjust to the surprise of the company's immediate accomodation. Without going into great detail, my family and I eventually felt there is not a clear enough market for a book of my work to cover the costs of publication. Summer vacations began.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Studied my new book and began to appreciate deeply the work of Man Ray, then discovered I missed an exhibit including the work of his niece, Naomi Savage, at Woodmere by 2 days - argh! Dropped off my painting for Woodmere's Members Exhibit, speaking briefly with different staff. Finished printing out and binding a second desktop book of over 100 of our paintings. I am beginning to feel that, at this time, there is more of a demand for a hand made book of my work than a mass-published version. Began developing ideas for paIntings that would show summer picnics.
