The power of the brain

Successful athletes "see" themselves winning.  They basically will themselves to success.  In your mind's eye see yourself achieving what you want, one step at a time.    This process of creating success in your life is something that is practiced in sports, theater, losing weight, etc.  (I've been trying it on the golf course, but too many things distract me from focusing on my goal...... hence my lousy scores lately.)

I know that artists can work this way too.  That's why I have "Believe" signs in my studio.  I'm basically an optimistic person, but occasionally a negative thought will creep in and influence my creativity and production.

I know the brain is powerful and that it can make things happen.  Case in point.... I often think of someone I haven't seen or heard from in a long time.  (I know this has happened to you too.)  When I was still teaching, I thought of a student I hadn't seen in a long time and two days later, there he was standing in my doorway.  

A while back I was discussing another former student with the artist across the hallway and a few days later there she was, at the Graffiti Gallery opening.  Yesterday, I connected on face book with a former student, Samantha McCauley.  She said she was just talking about me two days before and then there I was making a friend request.   (I hope she doesn't mind.....  the picture is the underpainting to a self-portrait she did in high school.)  

There are many students that I wonder about.  Guess I'll just have to start thinking about them and see what happens. 

I also need to work on applying this mental exercise to my art.  Ah, the power of the positive brain.  (Negative thinking...... get thee behind me.) 

Welcoming

My front studio is basically a jewelry store.  I'm always playing with it and trying to make it more appealing by redecorating it every so often.

A seventh grader stopped in the studio tonight after her dance class.  As she was looking around, she commented that she liked the way I decorated the studio.  She said it looked "welcoming."  (That surprised me, coming from a seventh grader.)  But it was exactly what I wanted my customers to feel.

My latest venture was to add a fountain.  They always sound so soothing and relaxing; just the atmosphere I want to shop in.  I grouped the fountain with a painting my then eight year old grandson had painted and some "water themed" jewelry.

Today when the teenager stopped in I was playing Celtic music.  Earlier I had relaxing spa music on.  That kind of music is a perfect compliment to the sound of trickling water.  But I've been known to play Lady GaGa, Adam Lambert and Kid Rock.  Do you think it will work with the "welcoming feeling?"
I'm not so sure!

Yahoo.... finally

Yahoo, I  made my first sale in my Etsy Shop.  It was a long time coming (although to some degree it's my fault as I don't always keep it up.)

Having the shop involves taking pictures (which I'm horrible at), assigning a name to the piece (which I always do with my metal clay pieces but usually do not with the beaded pieces),  and taking the time to sit  down and enter all the information into the computer.  Except for the picture taking it really isn't that big of a deal (unless one is lazy or just downright tired by the time evening rolls around; a hazard of getting older.)

I think part of the effectiveness of the Etsy site is to add new items to the store every day or every couple of days.  I've done this the past few days since I had a call from one of my aqua aerobic friends in Florida.  I promised her that I would post my anklets on my Etsy site by Monday as she is looking to do some Christmas shopping for friends.  (Boy is she on the ball, thinking about Christmas this time of year.  I need to adopt her style.)

I LOVE anklets.  (Just one of the many perks of summer.)  They are fun and sexy.  (Even at my old age!)

Hopefully there will be lots of people out there wanting anklets.   (Maybe I need to get some more sandals so I can photograph them with different colors and styles.  Sounds like a shopping trip to  me!)

"She Metal"

Another work from "Art all Night."  The sculpture, "She Metal"  is a motorized piece by Michael Swenar.  (Unfortunately the video I made just doesn't seem to want to work in the post.  The sound is there but the action is missing and that's the important part.) But here is a photo of the work whose skirt shimmies and boobs oscillate.  It's a fun piece and at least the photo is pretty clear.  (The video was a little fuzzy.)

Got my work cut out for me

I've always wanted to instill a love and understanding of art in my grandchildren.  My husband on the other hand wants to fill their little heads and hearts with a love of science and...... of course sports.

Saturday night during "Art all night" I got a chance to talk to the three year old on my cell phone. When I told him I was in Pittsburgh at an art show.  He asked me if I was with the Steelers.

I think my husband is winning!

No Censorship!

No Fees, no age limit and no censorship is the mantra of Lawrenceville's "Art all Night."

 Katie Levan

Amy Lewandowski

Art all Night was held in an empty (what looks like) a machine shop.  A very large and with the way the weather was last night........ a very cold building.  (Two jackets on and I still couldn't stop shivering.) 

But in spite of the cold, it was a really fun event.  The Western Pa Metal Clay guild set up an area (unfortunately in the children's hands on area) to do metal clay demos and promote the guild.  (A little personal promotion went on too.... of course.)  Carol Scheftic, Debbie Rusonis, Donna Penoyer and I spent several hours sharing our love of metal clay with the art loving public.

Carol and Debbie

The estimate is that the number of artists participating in the the event was somewhere between 1200 and 1500.  The number of people attending the 22 hour event were between 12,000 and 15,000. * (The The artists ranged from one year old to over seventy years old.   There was lots to see (and for me, not enough time to see it all.)  We went back Sunday before the show closed (and when it was warmer, which made viewing the art much more enjoyable.)

Giant made by elementary school children.

Besides a variety of bands playing throughout the night there were large paintings being created.

We left early because it was just way too cold but Suzanne Trenney said it all.

Wish everyone felt that way!

(Sorry, no picture of my work or Carol's.  They were displayed in a dark area and were hard to see.  The pictures didn't turn out.  This seems to be the story of my life.)

*Note..... correction on number of participants and artists.  Small town mentality in a big city environment.  Not use to big numbers!

  

Going Once. Going Twice.

Sold!  (but not to me.  I forgot to bring my checkbook!)

Tonight my cousin and I went to the Tionesta Art Council's art auction.  I have to admit that I was tired and really considered staying home, but I'm glad I didn't.

 It was such a fun night.  Lots (and I mean lots) of wonderful food and drinks.  (I was driving so I resisted the wine.)

We both left our checkbooks at home (which was probably a good thing as I would have gotten caught up in the bidding...... had a neat little paddle to raise.)  Unfortunately I only had $60 in my wallet and I could see that it would never be enough to bid on two of the pieces I was interested in.  (One piece was by one of the Transit Artists, Carol McDonald.  Guess I'll just have to trot down there and buy direct.)

Since I am teaching a class on May 19th at Tionesta, I was asked to donate a piece for the auction.  Let me say that it is nerve wracking, waiting to see if people will bid on your piece or not.  My piece was small and many people missed it when looking at the pieces to be auctioned off.  (I know I did.)  So when it came time to bid, not many people actually knew what it looked like.  But thankfully it did receive several bids and the final bid was exactly what I would have charged for the piece.  Phew!


My cousin and I already have a date to go next year (with our checkbooks and a donation that will be bigger in size!)