Huskies on Parade: Stage 3

So, today was good and bad. I woke up early for once and took a shower before J. woke up - that's good. Because of that I had time to go into the studio before work and worked a bit more on my Lady's Slipper block. Also good. I made it to work on time. (really good!).

Here's the bad part:

For lunch I went to my doctor and she told me: good cholesterol=low, bad cholesterol=high, triglycerides=way high, cholesterol=high; liver enzymes=high (all this while taking a cholesterol lowering drug). The proverbial nail? WEIGHT! Argh! I guess I gained 10 pounds in the last three months. No wonder I feel so tired.

From here on out these will be my personal rules: Soda only one time a week. One portion is plenty. Don't eat until I'm full, eat until I'm satisfied. Don't confuse being thirsty with being hungry. Don't eat because there is nothing else to do. 3 meals a day and no grazing. Eat out less often. More vegetables.

This should make a difference, I hope.

Tonight I tried taking a yoga class and was disgusted at how little I am actaully able to move. However, I could tell where I can improve and that is the first step. Tuesday nights at 6:30p.m. $9/session. Want to come?

Huskies on Parade - Stage Two

Huskies on Parade - Stage Two, originally uploaded by pejnolan.

Before I started at the studio today, I stopped by a stained glass art shop and found copper foil tape. Sudden inspiration... The black leading lines will BE leading! That takes care of trying to make the eges of the leading look so precise. YAY!

Lady's Slipper 1st proof

Lady's Slipper 1st proof, originally uploaded by pejnolan.

This is just to see where I'm at. I've plenty to work on, but overall I really like this. Today I blissfully worked away at the studio for four hours. The only reason I came back is because I knew I had been gone a long time. I could have stayed all night working. This was one project and the Huskies on Parade was the other. It is fun to see people looking up from the street and watch the progress of the Huskie as I work. I keep thinking that this is good advertising, not only for the Huskies on Parade, but for my work in general. Maybe someone will think - Who is \this person? Word of mouth is great - especially in a small town.

Huskies on Parade has begun!

Huskies on Parade has begun, originally uploaded by pejnolan.

Tonight I transferred my design to the large Huskie using a ruler, compass, angle, and artist's tape. Man I hope this turns out.

As with everything I worry and worry until my worrier is spent. I've come to realize that if I plan, work slowly & deliberately and take care with every step then I can't really go wrong because it is the best I can do and no one can ask for any more than my personal best. I can't chase after perfection - that is impossible. I can only try to achieve excellence.

So, my plan is to carefully transfer to both the large and small Huskie first. Then I plan to pull the tape off and paint the interior shapes, leaving a small gap where the painted leading will be. Again I'll be working on both Huskies at the same time to keep consistency in color. After the main colors have been placed, I'll create shadows and highlights to give it depth. Next the multicolored glaze will be placed over the entire dog. Then the leading will be painted and finally I'll put a coat of sealer on after it dries well just to protect it during transportation. The Huskies on Parade will take care of the final autobody clearcoat.

I doubt that anyone is all that interested in learning EXACTLY how I'm planning to do this. This post is more for me, I guess, so I will have a guide to go by. But, hey, if you notice anything amiss in this process - please, please let me know about it.

Rockford Midwestern Show

I entered the Rockford Midwestern Art Show awhile back and was not accepted. My brother had one of his pieces accepted and I was very happy for him, but I have to admit I was disappointed that I didn't get in. Now, after the reception, the juror's statement came out in a booklet. Here are some of Robert McCauley, Professor Emeritus, Rockford College quotes:

"This year’s crop (using the regional vernacular) of entries was only Midwestern in a kind of modest approach to size and a less-than-ambitious conceptual risk-taking. (“How long are you willing to stay at point number one?” –J. Beuys) The only really bad pieces were not bad because they tried too hard; they were bad because they were bad art, or more to the point, not good enough to be called 'art.'"

and

"My condolences (but not apologies) to those not accepted for this exhibition."

and

"Painting came in strong, varied, and schizophrenic if not anxious, with a smaller but impressive showing by photography. As is always the case with regional competitions, sculpture was an embarrassment. Is it too physically demanding to make sculpture, too complex to think in the third dimension, or just too much work to photograph and transport? Gravity wins by default."

Thank goodness this is America. Not only is he entitled to have an opinion, he is free to express that educated opinion however he wishes. However, on a personal level it is very depressing for me to hear that my artwork was not accepted into the show because it wasn't good enough to be called art.

Despite my personal feelings about some of his outright hostile statements regarding the Midwest, regional art and the show as a whole; I feel sorry for this guy. I read how he grew up in Washington state, how he continues to show in the Pacific Northwest, how his work shows the pristine landscapes and animals of the west coast, and how is is stuck in Illinois at a small college. He must be a very unhappy, dissatisfied person. Unfulfilled dreams temper a person's soul.

So, to Mr. Robery McCauley, Professor Emeritus, Rockford College I say: I'm sorry we as a Midwestern people let you down with our humble, unintellectual, Puritan, self-conscious, conservative, mainstream, and safe Midwestern, regional ways.

Studio time

I want to get to the studio and continue working on my Lady's Slipper print! Today the Huskies from Huskies on Parade were supposed to arrived, but my sponsor had family in town and couldn't pick it up until tomorrow. So, I guess I'll have a paying reason to go tomorrow night.

I'm having kind of a conundrum concerning having a studio. It means all my art stuff is somewhere else and I can't just sketch ideas at home. I have a more blocked allotted of time and that is terrific to actually work on my projects when I'm fully awake. I do get more done - when I can get to it. I've rationalized that I'm staying at home the last few nights to work on my banners for this blog and my Etsy but really it's just an excuse. If I want to succeed, I have to put my work into this. What is next? I have to call the local Women's group. They said they might want me for a show. I'm frightened. I'll just have to use that fear energy to work up the courage to call.

Self Portrait in sketch book

Self Portrait in sketch book, originally uploaded by pejnolan.

This is a self portrait I did today in my sketchbook after reading about Van Gough's drawings. I tried not to have the linework symetrical on either side of the face. It looks a bit like muscles. The patterning I find interesting, but next time I'd like to see some variance in the line weight to show light better.

Lady's Slipper woodblock (in progress)

Lady's Slipper woodblock (in progress), originally uploaded by pejnolan.

I got so much more done today in the studio than I thought I would. That makes it a productive day. YAY! The next door neightbor was playing his drums - it was awesome. If you know the movie "That Thing You Do"? Remember the drum solo the lead character drums in the studio? It was like that. I sat there thinking to myself how cool is this: I doing my artwork in an art studio listening to another artist play his music. Then I thought that if it was the 50's I would be wearing all black with a berret snapping my fingers. I'm such nerd.

Jellyfish swimming over DeKalb

Jellyfish swimming over DeKalb, originally uploaded by pejnolan.

The sculpture isn't finished yet, but it's getting closer!

Cracked Walnut

Cracked Walnut, originally uploaded by pejnolan.

I just found this mini-painting used as an exercise when I took a University class back in 2002. I did four, but the instructor took two of them to use as examples. This one wasn't as good as the others, but I still like the rich browns. Looking back at this makes me realize I can paint if I put my mind to it.

Uploaded by pejnolan on 7 Jul 08, 8.36PM CDT.

Copper jellyfish parts

Copper jellyfish parts, originally uploaded by pejnolan.

Finally, I got into the studio at 7:30 tonight. I was all ready to work on my Yellow Lady's Slipper print, but my heart just wasn't into it so I worked on the copper jellyfish instead. That is one of the nice things about working with very different media: I can always just switch gears and keep things interesting. This camera phone photo, as usual, is just horrible. This weekend was the "Art at Ellwood" show. My brother, dakokichidekalb , was there. View some of his booth at his Flickr .

Vector Lady's Slipper

Vector Lady's Slipper, originally uploaded by pejnolan.

This is another study for my future lino print of the Lady's Slipper that E. and I found at The Ridges in Bailey's Harbor while on vacation. This study was done as a vector file on the computer. So far, this is my third study. One was drawn "freehand," one used the photo as template and this one was created as a vector. It is pretty cool how each technique has made me look at the flower in a different way. The freestyle drawing made my lines flow and curl in alternating thin and thick linework. The template method focused on the volume and form of the flower while the vector showed me the underlying structure - especially in the twists and turns of the long flower petals. I have to stop myself from buying a block so I'll take the time to study it before cutting aimlessly away.
© 2008 Erin Nolan