Open Studios

I will be IN THE STUDIO this Saturday, April 7, 2012 from noon to 5 pm.  It’s Open Studios at Western Ave Studios in Lowell, MA again.  If you haven’t been yet, it’s worth the trip.  There are 5 floors of unique and talented artists!

You can find me in Studio 210.  Enter through the A Mill Building and take a right off the elevator – follow the hall to the end and take a left.  My studio is the second one on the right. Hope to see you there!

Directions can be found by visiting westernavenuestudios.com or try this link http://www.westernavenuestudios.com/directions.php

 

Open Studios

Treat your creative spirit to a visit to Western Ave Studios in Lowell, MA.

http://westernavenuestudios.com/

It’s OPEN STUDIOS from noon to 5 pm this SATURDAY, FEB 4.  I will be OPEN at Studio 210 and hoping to see some smiling faces.  If you’ve never been, it’s worth the trip!

Western Ave is a wonderful old mill building in Lowell, MA.  It has 5 floors with over 140 studios – with endless amounts of creativity on display.  It can be quite a maze, so if you come and get lost trying to find me, call me at 603-508-0470.

Hope to see you there!

What I’ve learned

Here are a few things I’ve learned so far …

If you want to be creative; make art, write your memoir, whatever.  You have to show up. Lucky for me, I can come to my studio.  But, even if you don’t have a specific place to go, you have to show up somewhere to actually do the work.  Just like exercise, once you get moving, things start to flow.

You can’t force art.  I’m pretty sure it comes from a place we don’t have much control over.

Working on a few projects at a time gives a nice pace for the art to develop into something.

You can’t use your logic brain to ‘create,’ but you should use your logic brain to research your subject.

TRUST that you have all you need to do whatever it is you want to do.  I admit, sometimes I have my doubts, but I’m always proven wrong.

A little music goes a long way.

It’s okay to shut your door, both literally and figuratively.

Follow what you like, it’s sure to lead to creating something you’ll like.

Have a wonderful day!  Think Spring – it’s not too early!

Painting corner

My Painting Corner

It might be cold outside, but it’s warm and cozy in Studio 210.  I’m working on a painting of a woman on a beach.  C’mon, what else would I be painting?

Yesterday, I shared my studio with my daughter who worked on an 8 page paper for school.  She likes the television-free zone here at my studio.  I like it too!

blue palette

Back to painting!

Sunday Reflections

Despite not getting to my studio this weekend, I have enjoyed time with my family.  We spent yesterday cleaning up holiday debris, followed by dinner out with some good friends.  This morning, we slept late, lingering in our pajamas until almost noon.

Sometimes, Sundays have that melancholy feel.  It marks the last day to fully relax before another work week begins.  I always want them to last longer.  It’s especially true today because it marks the end of the holiday season and my son heads back to school later.

I received this pretty orchid from a co-worker this week and it’s providing a touch of brightness to an otherwise gray-feeling day.

Orchid in my window

Happy New Year!

Hard to believe, but it’s 2012!

I’m writing this blog post from my new computer – The MacBook Air!

It’s been too long since my last post.  It was a busy December with Open Studios two weekends in a row.  Much to my delight, I sold 3 of my trinket boxes.

This one is my new design theme … using magazine clippings to express ideas.

Trinket box using words and paint

Time Flies

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot. “
–Michael Althsuler

I can’t believe it’s been since October since my last post.  Where did November go?  I’ve been working on a couple of new painted boxes and ironically, I’ve been trying to do one on TIME.  Using magazine clippings and a decoupage (Mod Podge) method, I’ve been using words to decorate these new boxes. 

Unfortunately, I don’t have a camera today, so I can’t show you, but one of the boxes I’m working on is painted in several shades of blue and has the words “The path to a true life is to express yourself.” 

The other box has a “Time” theme.  Pictures of watches are all I have so far.  I’d like to say something like, “time marches on … and it doesn’t care if you’re wearing designer shoes.”  Maybe these fashion magazines are starting to get to me.

Playing on my i-pod is my new favorite song by Paul Simon.  I think the title is ‘Afterlife’ and it’s about how after he dies, he hopes to get into heaven, but he hears them say, “You gotta fill out a form first … and then you wait in the line.” 

It’s a catchy song – and it makes me think of a question regarding TIME.  What are we waiting for?