Another "Oh *#@%" Moment

I seem to be having these moments a lot lately where I think I have more time than I actually do in order to get work done for a deadline. For example, I thought I had more time before my studio visit with the curator of 111 Minna. Turns out, that is probably going to happen in the next week. I also thought I had plenty of time to submit images for my June show at Madison Gallery, but nope, that has to happen soon too.

Today, I thought I had two weeks before open studios, but it turns out, IT'S NEXT WEEKEND. Holy crap! There's so much to do! In addition to getting my work ready for this event, I'm also the show director and need to assign gallery wall space to the studio artists, assign set-up/ clean-up jobs to people to make sure that everyone pitches in, and coordinate with everyone else with the sixty-million other things that need to go on, ALL while also painting and trying to meet my deadlines. Needless to say, I am more than a bit overwhelmed. I'm sure everything will be done, and on time, but I will be pretty stressed trying to get the work done. I think I need a better way of keeping track of upcoming deadlines.

For those of you who need the information...
Spring Open Studios, April 9th, 10th, 16th, and 17th
noon until 5pm
Art Explosion Studios
2425 17th Street, San Francisco

I did manage to finish the underpainting of one of my pieces, and start the underpainting of the second piece. I am hoping to finish these two pieces by next week and have them ready for my studio visit. They don't look like much at this stage..

24"x30"

24"x24"

Live Painting at Flax

This Saturday, April 2nd, I will be doing a live painting at Flax Art & Design, from 2-5pm. For those of you who don't know what a live painting is, I will be set up at the front of the store, and well, painting...live. It's as simple as that. For three hours you can watch me work on one or two of my "Forgotten Memories" paintings and ask me about the paintings, or my technique. It's a way for me to promote my artwork and also promote open studios, which is coming up on April 8th-10th.

I'm pretty comfortable painting in front of people. I'm usually painting during open studios since it can get pretty boring in between answering questions and greeting people.  Plus, our open studios usually last for three days which is a lot of hours to be in my studio and not be painting. I think it's good for people to see my process, and it usually takes care of answering the dreaded question, "Are those photographs or actual paintings?" I am also paint pretty fast, so in three hours I can get a lot of work done, which people like to see. I just hope I don't get too distracted by all the shiny new art supplies around me at Flax!

So if you are in San Francisco, stop by Flax and say hi. It will be nice to see some friendly and familiar faces.

In other news... I finished the painting with the pot roast and oven. It is now awaiting wax. I sketched out two more paintings and started one of them. I am finishing these paintings quick enough that I am once again out of panels after I finish these two pieces. It seems like I am always order panels lately, which is not a bad thing, as long as the finished panels are selling! I am hoping that with open studios and the two shows coming up, plus the quarter page ad for 111 Minna Gallery, which has my painting on it (!!!), that is coming out on the next issue of 7x7 magazine, I will be selling a lot of work soon. Keep your fingers crossed, cause I will!

My latest painting, 24"x30"

Painting Update

I didn't get much done today. I wasn't feeling well, but I did get the dress mostly done. Yup, my opinion hasn't changed. I still don't know what she was thinking when she got dressed that morning...

I really need to fix her face. Sometimes it takes staring at the photo of the painting to see the flaws.

Auction Excitement

Last night was the most nerve-wracking, exciting evening that I have experienced in a long while. The Artspan Benefit Auction went off without a hitch and my painting sold for one of the highest prices all night! Watching people bid on my painting was exhilarating. The bids went high pretty fast and the next thing I knew, it was over and the people around me were congratulating me. What a night!

Here I am standing next to my painting before the auction.

The place was PACKED!

Here's my painting during the auction...

After an exciting night like that, it was hard to get into the studio today. But, I am a trooper, and I made it in for a few hours and worked on my latest two pieces.

I finished "Dancing Nurses" and will wax it later in the week. I am pretty happy with the final results and think it will look even better with the wax. 

I also worked on this painting. I didn't work on the face, which is odd for me since it's usually the first thing I start and finish. I don't know why I'm painting differently for this. I also worked it backwards on the nurse one. Anyways, the pattern on the dress is a pain but I am liking the results. Painting the hair was fun too. Tomorrow I will try and get more of the face done and hopefully have her dress done too. 

Two New Paintings in the Works

I don't know why I thought I had a free moment to play with a bunch of color studies before open studios. I guess I figured I had enough time to get ready for my two shows, one in May and one in June.  I thought I could just paint some small pieces for open studios next month and then worry about the other shows afterwards. I was wrong. I guess I wasn't really thinking.

I need to show the curator for 111 Minna Gallery  all of my new work for the four person show at the beginning of April. I also need to send images of different new work for the Women on Figures show at Madison Gallery , which is in June, around mid-April too. I don't know why I thought I had more time. I came to this realization about two days ago and now I am painting as many new pieces in the next week or two that I can. It's crazy, but I know I can get at least 5 new paintings started and mostly finished in the next week. I am on Spring break so I have all day, every day, until April 3rd. It's time to kick it into superwoman mode!

30"x24", "Dancing Nurses"

I am currently working on two pieces. One, "Dancing Nurses" is mostly done, except for the two nurses on the right need their faces/ heads worked on. I usually work on the faces and heads first but for some reason worked backwards this time. I think I can finish this tomorrow in about an hour. I like the large amount of white on this piece. The wax will make the white areas recede even more so that the painting will be really subtle, which I like.

24"x24", "Homemaker of the Year"

The next painting has a pretty complicated pattern on the woman's dress. I liked the idea of challenging myself, but as I was painting it, I kept thinking "What the hell was I thinking???" I'll still finish the pattern and I think ultimately it will look fine, but it may take some time. I was only able to get the underpainting done and hope to get a large portion done tomorrow.

Donating to Benefit Auctions

As an artist, I am constantly asked to donate art to one fundraiser or another.  Despite this, there are very few causes that I will donate to. It's not that I don't think these causes are worthy, I'm sure they are. It's more of an issue of feeling like the "cause" doesn't support the artist who is donating work. Most places want artists to donate a painting without any compensation other than telling us "It's great exposure! Lot's of people will see your work!" but that doesn't really pay the bills. If you're lucky, the "exposure" will amount to a later sale. But more often than not, people will see your work, perhaps even like it and look at your site, but that's about it. Why would they buy a painting for full price when they can wait until the next benefit and buy it for super cheap? The thought of someone who makes a lot more money than me buying my work for super cheap, even if it's for a good cause, while I, who am pretty much poor, makes nothing seems hardly fair.

"Best Friends", 30"x30".
This is my painting that will be part of the live auction this Saturday.

As an artist, I don't have much money. Making art isn't something that is paying the bills just yet. Like most artists, I am struggling to make ends meet by creating art but I am passionate about painting, so I do it despite the sometimes hardship. While I am sure there are other people far off worse than I am, I don't have the luxury to donate my work just for the sake of donating, without any compensation, and as an artist, I am constantly asked to donate work. And by compensation, I don't mean getting paid to donate. That's hardly donating then, I know. The benefits and auctions that I do donate to will usually give the artist anywhere between 25% to 50% of the selling price. It usually covers the cost of materials, and if your work is really popular, you can make some money that may come close to the hours you put into the piece. It's not a lot to ask for AND the cause that you donated to still makes a good amount of money. The artists win. The cause wins. The buyer even wins. These kinds of benefits I like and will always donate to, especially if it's a cause I completely believe in.

Artspan is an organization that I was recently asked to donate a painting to. They are the organization that puts on the city-wide open studios in the Fall and they have many programs, such as Art for City Youth, which provides art education to over 700 under-served youth in San Francisco. As an educator who sees many schools have to cut out their arts programs due to budget cuts, I know the importance of having art education and the effects of not having one. I think their cause is worthy and when they ask you to donate, they support the artists donating by giving them a percentage of the sales. This is my first time donating and I am excited to say that out of 170 donated pieces, I was selected to be part of the live auction! I am nervous but quite honored to be one of the few artists who will be part of this. If you live in the Bay Area, be sure to buy a ticket and check out all of the wonderful paintings this Saturday, March 26th. I'll be the one in the corner chewing on my nails while throwing down shots to calm my nerves...okay, maybe not shots, but you get the idea.

Here's more information on the event:
Bid on more than 170 original artworks by established and emerging artists in live and silent auctions at San Francisco's premier visual art event! Nibble snacks from Thomas John Events catering and sip luscious cocktails from an open bar, featuring Pernod Absinthe Green Beast Punch, while bidding on fabulous, affordable local art!

VIP and General tickets available online:
http://artspanauction2011.eventbrite.com/

VIP Ticket (Admits One) - $75 in advance ($50 for members)
VIP Reception (6:00 - 6:45pm) features:
* Exclusive preview of artwork starting at 6pm
* Champagne cocktail reception
*Gourmet hors d’oeuvres by Hibiscus Oakland Executive Chef Sara Kirnon, EOS Restaurant, Swan Oyster Depot, and Taboun Restaurant
* Preferred seating for live auction
* 5% discount on art purchases (up to $50 per purchase)

General Ticket (Admits One) - $25 in advance - $35 at the door
* Open bar and light hors d'oeuvres

* First Silent Auction Section will close at 7:30pm
* Live Auction will begin at 8:15pm
* Creative Cocktail Attire Encouraged

Proceeds from the auction benefit all of ArtSpan’s programs, including Art for City Youth, providing arts education to 700 under-served youth, and San Francisco Open Studios, the city’s largest free visual arts event held each year featuring over 800 artists.

First and Second place awards will be bestowed in the following categories: Representational, Abstract, Figurative, Fine Craft, Sculpture, and Photography. Jurors will also present Juror's Choice awards.

Awards Jury:
Justin Hoover, Curator, SOMArts Cultural Center; Ellen Mahoney, Mahoney Suter Art Advisorys;
Lizanne Suter, Mahoney Suter Art Advisors

Auctioneer: Risley Sams

Thank you to ArtSpan's Donating Artists:

Diane Abt, Zue Acker, Jhina Alvarado, Don Anderson, Jack M. Androvich, Bob Armstrong, Kathryn Arnold, David Avery, Jenny Balisle, Oana Barac-Matei, Suzy Barnard, Richard Bolingbroke, Susan Bostrom-Wong, Johnny Botts, Brandi Brooks, Rena Buchgraber, Brent Bushnell, Lise Carlson, Sofia Carmi, Stacey Carter, Rebecca K. Chang, Lee Cline, Helen Scheuer Cohen, Linda Colnett, Elaine Coombs, Ilana Crispi, Maeve Croghan, Herb Dang, Flora Davis, Nadine Defranoux, Monica Denevan, Robin Denevan, Raymond Difley, Paule Dubois Dupuis, Aximillion Helga Duson, Renee Eaton, Anna Efanova, Bernadette Emrick, miles owen epstein, Jennifer Ewing, Fong Fai, Ana I. Fernandez, Linda J. Fitch, John Fitzsimmons, Kat Flyn, Rebecca Fox, Elizabeth Fracchia, Taiko Fujimura, Annie Galvin, Katie Gilmartin, Kurt Glowienke, John R. Goldie, Mirto Golino, Kristin Grahn Kyono, Sevilla Granger, Florence Gray, Jane Grimm, Jana Grover, Louis J. Gwerder III, dk haas, Marc Ellen Hamel, Mikhail Haramati, Lyall Harris, Jeanne Hauser, Audrey Heller, Monika Henschke, Soña Holman, Anne Howson, Phillip Hua, Hilla Huebert, Cristina Ibarra, Joseph Illick, Uma Rani Iyli, Ivy Jacobsen, Martine Jardel, Randall Jay, Carol Jessen, Philippe Jestin, Doyle G. Johnson, Phylis Johnson-Silk, Soad A. Kader, Marie Kelzer, Christine Kendrick, Mike Kimball, Barbara Kleinhans, andrew knipe, Lisa Knoop, Katherine Hisako Kodama, Rachel Kolenda, Dimitri Kourouniotis, Elana Kundell, Katja Leibenath, Leslie Lowinger, Robert Lowrey, Tatiana Lyskova, Maggie Malloy, Kay Marshall, Alan Mazzetti, Marti McKee, Jody McMillan, Saundra McPherson, John F. Melvin, Erika Meriaux, Andrzej Michael Karwacki, Marcia Middleton,Misho, Gloria Morales, Leslie Morgan, Carrie Nardello, Sonja Navin, Julie Nelson, Zannah Noe, Hadley Northrop, Priscilla Otani, Joel Peirano, Xavier Phelp, Chessa Piker-Ward, Heather Polley, Silvia Poloto, Patricia Preble, Nanci Price Scoular, Kristina Quinones, Shilo Randall Ratner, Lucky Rapp, Gurpran Rau, Judy Reed, Robert Reed, Eric Rewitzer, Fernando Reyes, William Rhodes, Brian Rich, Samuelle Richardson, Carol Rienecker, Heather N. Robinson, Wendy Robushi, Karl Roeseler, Thierry Rosset, Lynn Rubenzer, Tachina Rudman-Young, Lisa Ryers, Ali Saif, William Salit, Sherry L. Schaffer, Jill Schneider, Greta & Manu Schnetzler, Thea Schrack, Brian Schuck, Valerie Scott, Steven M. Scotten, Mercedes Segesvary, Janet Seifert, Mel Solomon, Toru Sugita, Michael-Che Swisher, Elizabeth Tana, Deloris Thomas, Cynthia Tom, Veerakeat TongPaiBoon, Trish Tunney, Susan Tuttle, Charity Vargas, Victoria Veedell, Pep Ventosa, Aaron Vonk, Melissa Wagner, Stephen C. Wagner, Kay Weber, Audrey Welch, Cecilia Welden, Jennifer Wildermuth, Hilary Williams, Laura Williams, Jane R. Willson, Mirang Wonne, Gavin Worth, Roxanne Worthington, Rene Yañez, Rio Yañez, Melissa Yarbrough, Soo-Hwa Yuan

Counting Down the Days

I am finding that now that I have a job again, I am constantly counting down the days until my next day off, or even better, when this job will end. It's not that I don't like my job. It's actually a pretty good job but I find that I am much more tired daily and that I have less time to paint, which is not a good thing when you have shows to prepare for. Currently I have open studios in early April, a four-person show at 111 Minna Gallery at the beginning of May, and a "Women on Figures" show (with 4 other women) at Madison Gallery in June. All of these shows need paintings and I would like to provide them with new pieces. The thought of painting all of these pieces is overwhelming when I think about how I need to do that all while making sure I have good lesson plans, preparing tests, and making sure my grading is up to date. In other words, making sure I am doing well at my day job (and teaching pre-calculus is no easy job!). Either one of these jobs is exhausting on it's own, let alone together. Then add in spending time with my husband, alone time, and time to do housework and other various daily life chores...it's a busy way to live.

Today I should be going straight to my studio to paint after teaching most of the day,  but like most days, I am exhausted. A nap sounds like the most luxuorious thing in the world right now and I want it with all my being. In fact, I am having a hard time keeping my eyes open while typing this, as my students are in the background taking a test on complex numbers. It's hard to do two full-time jobs (and yes, art is a full-time job for me) and do them well. I'd like to think that I am doing both well too, and I strive for it regularly. Sleep just seems like something you have to give up in order to be able to do it all.

So what do I do then? I sit and count the days until the weekend (4 days...). I count the days until vacation (which is in 3 days...Spring break!!). I count the days until this job ends (43 work days until May 27th). I sit and I think about what it will be like again when I only have one full-time job to worry about, only one job's deadlines to worry about. It's not that far away, but some days, like today, it seems like an eternity.