I found out tonight that the end of my day job is growing near. We'd had discussions before, but per my boss' encouragement - I began to think it was silly to get worked up over the possibility I might be unemployed. Just a few days ago he said everything would be fine. Tonight - on a Sunday - I got two emails and a Facebook message. Clearly everything is not fine. I'll spare you the details but this was nothing I could control. I did my job 120% and I'm proud of the work I did at this place. It's unfortunate that I have to leave a job I love and look for something else.
Several people have asked if I might try doing art full time... and the answer is yes. I'm going to try. I'm going to apply for jobs and see what happens, but I'm going to paint my fingers off. I'm going to be that girl you see in Wal-mart with paint on my clothes. I'm going to do everything possible to try to make this work for me.
With my current job I've had a taste of doing something I absolutely love and in the past I've had a taste of doing jobs I absolutely hate. I'm going to try my hardest to keep this high. I'm going to try to sustain this level of satisfaction with myself and we'll see how well I do.
I told a friend tonight that I was terrified of failing. I was scared that I'd start painting and I'd realize that I wasn't good at it and no one wanted my work, but maybe, just maybe, I'll be wrong. Maybe the store that already carries my work will sell out. Maybe I can get other stores to carry my work as well.
One friend wants to help me start my own store.
We'll see what happens but the good news is, I've decided to try. Let's all keep our fingers crossed that I don't royally screw this up!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Rants & Raves
I'm an artist. I'm not a Monet kind of artist, or di Vinci or even Degas. I'm just a twenty-something in 2011 who creates when the inspiration strikes and I just so happen to have an agreement with a local store so when that inspiration hits, I can sell my work.
So what do I do? I paint mostly. I like acrylics and water color pencils. I hate water colors with a passion... my lack of patience has alot to do with that! I also hate oil painting for the very same reason. I have a package of oil paints that I bought at the suggestion of my high school art teacher and they are still neatly in their cardboard and shrink wrap - 9 years later!
I also sketch and sculpt and spend more hours in Hobby Lobby than should be allowed. Unfortunately, the holy grail of arts and crafts stores (Hob Lob, of course) is about 45 minutes from my residence. Friends hate going with me because upon entering I get an excited buzz and just have to stand at the main door and gawk a minute before I can decide where to head first. It's an addiction.
As an artist there are 2 things you should know about me.
1. I can't just pick up a paint brush and go.
This drives my mother absolutely insane. A fellow artist, she is more of the craft variety and can make anything out of anything and usually works off the same concept for a while. Each of my paintings is different. Each one is unique and sometimes I can go three months without any inspiration, but when it hits, I can paint for two weeks straight and forget to eat. (I love to eat, so you know it's an issue when I have to be reminded to consume my food!)
2. I don't sign my artwork.
At least, I don't sign it on the front anyway. Part of the reason I named this blog Gingham & Grace is because I fully believe my talents, creativity and inspiration come from a higher source. Everytime I paint something I always stand in awe at the end and thank God for that specific piece. I couldn't paint without Him. No way. No how. I've had several people ask why I don't sign my stuff and that's a huge part of the reason - I don't want to take the credit publicly for something I don't feel I did on my own. I also don't like taking away from the art itself. I've seen gorgeous pieces that I would have bought had it not been for a crazy scribble in the lower corner that completely distracted from the work itself. If you find a painting of mine, I will have signed the back and included the title, date and maybe even a discription of what was going on while I was painting the piece. I also feel like signing a work of art limits the purchaser ( I also don't like putting hangers on my pieces and I was furious when a store did so!) I feel like if I paint a piece then it's something special to me and it could mean something completely different to the person who buys it. If they want to hang a painting of a dog upside down, then who am I to limit their artistic tastes?
I get really passionate about those two things... probably because I feel like I have to explain them so often. Artists can be moody sometimes. Sorry about that.
I think our mood swings happen because even if we are social butterflies and talk all the time, our art is still very private. I get a little bit sad everytime I sell a piece. It's a part of me and it's personal. I can't be told what to create and win and how to sign my pieces and how to hang them because it's little things being chipped away that make it hard for me to stomach. It frustrates me!
So, what doesn't frustrate me? Shopping! I love going in stores- especially antique stores and indoor flea markets to find goodies and inspiration! Currently my taste is very vintage and a little bit country. I unfortunately have to rent my apartment but if I owned my own home I have a billion and three ideas for how to decorate it.
That's my goal for this blog - I want to write down what I see and hear and feel in order to preserve some of the things I absolutely love and maybe even record a few things I don't and maybe I'll even teach you a thing or two along the way.
Regardless of why you came to my blog, welcome! I hope you have as much fun with Gingham & Grace as I hope to!
So what do I do? I paint mostly. I like acrylics and water color pencils. I hate water colors with a passion... my lack of patience has alot to do with that! I also hate oil painting for the very same reason. I have a package of oil paints that I bought at the suggestion of my high school art teacher and they are still neatly in their cardboard and shrink wrap - 9 years later!
I also sketch and sculpt and spend more hours in Hobby Lobby than should be allowed. Unfortunately, the holy grail of arts and crafts stores (Hob Lob, of course) is about 45 minutes from my residence. Friends hate going with me because upon entering I get an excited buzz and just have to stand at the main door and gawk a minute before I can decide where to head first. It's an addiction.
As an artist there are 2 things you should know about me.
1. I can't just pick up a paint brush and go.
This drives my mother absolutely insane. A fellow artist, she is more of the craft variety and can make anything out of anything and usually works off the same concept for a while. Each of my paintings is different. Each one is unique and sometimes I can go three months without any inspiration, but when it hits, I can paint for two weeks straight and forget to eat. (I love to eat, so you know it's an issue when I have to be reminded to consume my food!)
2. I don't sign my artwork.
At least, I don't sign it on the front anyway. Part of the reason I named this blog Gingham & Grace is because I fully believe my talents, creativity and inspiration come from a higher source. Everytime I paint something I always stand in awe at the end and thank God for that specific piece. I couldn't paint without Him. No way. No how. I've had several people ask why I don't sign my stuff and that's a huge part of the reason - I don't want to take the credit publicly for something I don't feel I did on my own. I also don't like taking away from the art itself. I've seen gorgeous pieces that I would have bought had it not been for a crazy scribble in the lower corner that completely distracted from the work itself. If you find a painting of mine, I will have signed the back and included the title, date and maybe even a discription of what was going on while I was painting the piece. I also feel like signing a work of art limits the purchaser ( I also don't like putting hangers on my pieces and I was furious when a store did so!) I feel like if I paint a piece then it's something special to me and it could mean something completely different to the person who buys it. If they want to hang a painting of a dog upside down, then who am I to limit their artistic tastes?
I get really passionate about those two things... probably because I feel like I have to explain them so often. Artists can be moody sometimes. Sorry about that.
I think our mood swings happen because even if we are social butterflies and talk all the time, our art is still very private. I get a little bit sad everytime I sell a piece. It's a part of me and it's personal. I can't be told what to create and win and how to sign my pieces and how to hang them because it's little things being chipped away that make it hard for me to stomach. It frustrates me!
So, what doesn't frustrate me? Shopping! I love going in stores- especially antique stores and indoor flea markets to find goodies and inspiration! Currently my taste is very vintage and a little bit country. I unfortunately have to rent my apartment but if I owned my own home I have a billion and three ideas for how to decorate it.
That's my goal for this blog - I want to write down what I see and hear and feel in order to preserve some of the things I absolutely love and maybe even record a few things I don't and maybe I'll even teach you a thing or two along the way.
Regardless of why you came to my blog, welcome! I hope you have as much fun with Gingham & Grace as I hope to!
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