Website

I am in the process of setting up my own website. Of course I had help from Julia. She found a site where you can create a free site. It has templates you can choose from just like when you set up a blog. Its not hard to do. Its just that you have so many decisions to make like what to write in your artist statement, what pictures to use, colour schemes etc etc. Its fun though. Its just another little step forward for me I suppose.

My solo exhibition is getting close now. I delivered all the artwork to the gallery on Tuesday. There is an invitation only preview on Friday 11th and the official opening is on Sunday 13th September at 11.30am at Greenhill Gallery. The invitations were going out today. As the gallery does all this I haven't actually seen them. They always use the same format using an image from one of the artworks in the exhibition. I really haven't had to do anything except make the work and write the artist statement.

So Much To Do

My daughter took photos of my work yesterday so I can put better quality images onto my Red Bubble site. http://www.redbubble.com/people/utam Julia is a professional photographer so her camera is so much better than my point and shoot. The better the quality the images the more variety of reproductions can be sold on Red Bubble. Anyway now I have to crop all the photos and enhance the brightness/contrast etc. on photoshop and then put all the new images onto Red Bubble. Still haven't finished a painting that's been sitting on my easel for some time now, have to work on my exhibition invitations, start altering the board books I bought the other day, buy a new canvas for the painting that's swimming around in my head and above all I must do the washing today. Luckily I cooked up a large pot of chicken vegetable soup yesterday so dinner is taken care of. Means I can work right through. Only stopping to eat and watch Sunday Arts on tv this afternoon.
You can see Julia's work on http://www.redbubble.com/people/jewelstorm

Date With Myself

Yesterday I took myself out. Went to the Lion's Club Garage Sale. Haven't been in awhile so I thought I would have a look if I could find any treasures. Walked out empty handed. Then went op shopping and bought myself a very nice scarf. The weather is getting colder and there's nothing like a scarf to compliment your outfit and keep you warm.

It was soon lunchtime so I swung passed the supermarket and bought a crusty wholemeal roll with poppy seeds on top, some roast turkey and a tin of tomato soup. Haven't had tinned tomato soup in years. Took my supplies home and added some milk into the tomato soup as I was heating it. Makes it extra creamy. I watched Golden Compass while I had my leisurely lunch.

After my very big lunch I went out again in search of children's board books. I'm sanding them back and then will use them to do some of my artwork in. Maybe some collages, paintings and photos. I had to buy new ones because all the second hand ones were too well loved with worn edges and creases in their pages. I do really love artist's books and its been on my "to do" list for a long time. I'm finally getting around to it.

In the middle of my design for the invitations for my exhibition, still need to finish off a painting I started over a week ago, want to start on the board books and I have an idea for a new painting swimming around in my head. Looks like a huge creative time coming up.

Pulled back a little from my art work this week. I felt I needed some time off to refill my well and feel all the better for it.

Busy Doing Nothing

Busy weekend not doing anything. Its funny how that happens. The whole weekend just goes and it feels like you were busy but nothing really got accomplished.

Julia and I joined a digital photography meetup group. We meet once a month and discuss the basics which is probably too basic for Julia seeing she majored in photography at uni. At the moment we are exploring how to use our camera on manual and choosing the settings to achieve the type of image we want rather than just pointing and shooting and hoping for the best. I really enjoyed our first meeting last Wednesday night. Its good to get out and do some different things. My camera isn't a real good one. Nowhere near professional standard but its not bad for a point and shoot. Its good enough for my needs now. In the future I might want to upgrade but I'll cross that bridge when and if I come to it.

Started working on the invitation for my exhibition opening in August. Its just a bit of playing around at the moment because I'm not really sure what I want or how I want it to look. Its hard trying to represent yourself in a small invitation. The exhibition is called Listen With Your Eyes so maybe I'll use an image of eyes ???? Who knows at this stage. I'm just playing around, enjoying the process and we'll see what happens. If all else fails I can always use an image of one of my works. Still have plenty of time so I'm not in a panic.

Apart from that I have made it a rule to work on my art every day. If the other things in my life don't allow for big blocks of time spent in my art corner I just do a little everyday. Just a little done daily adds up to quite a lot.

Busy Day

I'm feeling a lot better thank goodness. I hate being sick. It feels like a waste of time even though its a good opportunity to rest.

I'm off to my sister's today. She's going to help me to design my exhibition invitations on publisher. I've not used publisher before and I'm eager to learn. I always find it easier if someone shows me how and then I go and try it on my own. Computer stuff doesn't come naturally to me. Didn't grow up with them and so it takes awhile to sink in. Quite happy with my progress though. I have my own blog running, I'm in a group blog The Artist's Way Journey and I've recently put my work onto RedBubble which is an online art gallery and community. http://www.redbubble.com/people/utam I haven't made any of my work for sale as I'm just not up to that stage yet.

Better stop rambling and be on my way.
p.s. Will post pics of Callington trip soon.