Mothers Day in Santa Cruz

Sunday was Mother's Day and the plan was to drive to Santa Cruz to see my son Alex and we would all have lunch together.  Since it was Sunday I wanted to go to the flea market and hunt for treasure but mother nature had other plans.  As we know it rained, and this dampened my spirits but happily it did not dampened our day.  We persevered and went to Santa Cruz anyway.  Instead of the flea I thought I could get my treasure fix at the Goodwill, so Ben dropped off  me and Abs on his way to picking up Alex at school.  Alex had a stomach bug and a gammy knee so he was a bit under the weather but off we all went in search of food and frivolity.  WE attempted the Crow's Nest but there was a 3 hour wait so we said no way and went to Aldo's.  Luckily it was just warm enough and dry enough to eat outside.  After the meal we found a street antique sale that made my heart skip a beat, no flea, but an antique sale always works!  Got a few fun things, a vintage hat, parasol, some trinkets and Abby got a cameo necklace for 1.00 and a turquoise bracelet for $2.00, she is her mothers daughter.  A full fun day after all and I was happy to have my adorable family together.  Family, antiques and the beach all in one day = perfection!!

"Carmel Valley Girl "and the tao of painting

This is my painting I started today in stage 1 and 2, the left is the rough draft and the right is further along,
It's interesting to see them side by side as I like different aspects of them both.  I LOVE starting a painting, it's the best part, as it becomes more detailed it looses some of the pleasure somehow.  I don't know how to continue to enjoy the later stages, they usually create some tension as I start to get frustrated that I didn't get a color I wanted, a shadow correct etc.  This is the part of painting I don't enjoy and yet it's just part of the puzzle.  It's funny I even paint at all as I'm a bit of a perfectionist in this way and it challenges me to no end.  But I love to see something take shape in front of my eyes, to take an image and expand it, to capture a moment and express it, this is a never ending condition.  I suppose it's this aspect I like most.  This is a painting of my friend Megan at her 40th birthday party.  My previous post was of the "tutu's" and what fun they were, this is a picture from the birthday photo shoot a couple weeks ago.  Megan's present was a painting of her choice and she decided on this picture as it represented her turning forty and feeling fabulous.  I added the mountain scenery as she is a true Carmel Valley girl.  (This is a surprise, she doesn't read my blog so sshhhhhh....)  I think she'll be pleased and I can hardly wait to give it to her when it's finished.  But when is it finished?  Lord knows I could fuss over every detail, the tutu itself is mind boggling, layer upon layer of fabric, and then there's the skin, the hand, yatta yatta.  Ideally I aim to paint loose and yet recognizable.  I think I've achieved this and yet I know there is more I can do to improve it.  I don't want to take it too far and mess it up though and this also happens when a painting gets overworked.  It's such a fine line and I honestly never really know when to stop, usually when I feel bored by it and or happy with it depending on the piece. 
This has been a quiet week after all the hoo haw of the open studios, so sorry I haven't been posting as much.  When there's action I am there, camera ready for my inspiration and I happily share on my blog.  If it's an 'ordinary' week and not much on board this hip chick doens't always know what to put on the blog.  So for today I thought I'd share the latest painting and some of my inner struggles with this art form.  I love/hate it but mostly love it.  I only hate it when I expect too much of myself and I can't produce what I want to.  So hard on myself!!  But this is typical of an artist and today I went to my favorite book to center myself, "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron.  She nails it everytime.  She talks about our critic, the creative process and the ability to let yourself make 'mistakes' because really there are no mistakes, just learning experiences.  I am my worst enemy and art is so personal that it's difficult to let it just be.  But I keep trying and I am glad for this.  Sometimes it's good to be stubborn!

WOW, what a weekend!

Open Studios was a HUGE success this year!  What a blast seeing so many people I love and new faces all in hip chick's shop.  Saturday was gorgeous and the day started with a bang as my best friend from high school Robin and her daughter Erica came for the very first time.  They loved the hip happening vibe of the arsenal and they bought lots of treasures from hip chick with promises to come back once a month.  Miraculous news coming from Robin let me tell you, LOL!  My daughter Abby and her friend Kendyl helped me on the cash register which allowed me the joy of popping in on my other artist friends to share in their displays and merriment.  Gordon, Kae and Jannie all stopped by which was sweet and supportive, thanks guys!   Beautiful Sandi and Lisa came in with their splatter.  Lisa bought a gorgeous green vintage dress that glowed on her!   The crowds were a plenty and the store was packed which was so exciting to see as ordinarily it is pretty quiet.  We had good sales and people all enjoyed the food, the atmosphere and good vibes of the studio.  Bob my studio mate was happy to chat with everyone and he had a banquet table full of food to offer anyone who cared for a nibble. 
Sunday was more of the same.  Abby and Marina helped me on the register, it was sunny and the crowds all came again which made it another huge success.  My hubbie made it home to come and share the festivities and then my sister and her family all arrived to make it a real party.  Andrew, Dave C and Monica, Usha and James popped in, Kat,  John and Roger came later so all through the day we had visitors coming to support hip chicks.  Kat bought a ton of treasures and she has always been a great friend and loyal customer!  What joy it was to share this dream with all these people I love, it is indescribable.  My friends Sally, Laura and Mitch were all having a blast in Laura's studio and they all sold pieces to make it a profitable weekend.  I wish we did this event more often as it's so pleasant for people to see the arsenal and for the artist to sell their art. 
As for me I will be out scouting for more goodies to replenish the inventory, taking a deep breath and counting my blessings for all the success of this last weekend.  It was a hugely successful open studios and I thank all of you for your support, it keeps me motivated and inspired.  I'm grateful I am able to do what I love and share it with people I care about.  There's nothing better than that. 

Open Studios

Saturday and Sunday are open studios at the arsenal in Benicia.  I have posted this ad nauseam on facebook but my dear friend Robin doesn't do facebook (as some others might not too) so here is a shout out to all those who are unaware of this event.  It's from 10-5 both days, it's FREE, it's FUN, there is an art show, open studios from all of the artists, food and drink and entertainment, what else could you ask for??? PLUS, Daisy, Abby and this crazy hip chick will be there with bells on to greet you and give you a big hug.  The location is 946 Tyler St.  My hip chick phone is 707-747-5543.  I'm busy getting ready, buying straw, hanging pictures, tagging things, painting if possible and trying to get the place in ship shape order for ya.  Can't wait and really hope you can stop by.......

The Tao of the Tutu

 It was tutu madness this weekend!  I had no idea a tutu would bring such joy to so many people.  Just to recap last weekend Abby and I bought a red tutu, had a photo shoot and loved the pictures.  Being a girl who seeks out fun and adventure, I thought I'd better pack all the tutu's I could to go to Carmel Valley for my friend Megan's 40th birthday party.  Everywhere I went and everyone I saw wanted in on the tutu fun.  Megan confessed she always wore a tutu when she was young, and she never wanted to take it off.  Naturally she jumped at the chance to 'rock the tutu' and have a spontaneous photo shoot.  After Megan was done and all aglow from the tutu good vibes, Becca asked if she could join the fun.  You know I was more than happy to accommodate and we shot more good pictures.  I was pleased the tutus were able to transform these women into little girls and playful creatures.  Becca even went topless but I won't share these pictures on my blog as this is the internet after all.  Suffice it to say she looked gorgeous!  The tutu wasn't finished for the night until the other birthday girl Angie put one on and twirled about.  I had 3 women completely letting loose with their playful sides and the evening was a smash hit. 

The next day was all about tutus once again.  My friend Annie McKeckney and Patricia Taylor wanted in on the fun and we danced about Patricia's yard doing the cancan.  Afterwords Annie and I went to the beach but we left our tutus in the car, I mean they deserve a break once in a while, until we pulled them out for yet another photo opportunity.  There was this old rusty, adorable old truck at "campsncottages" just perfect for this crazy hip chick to throw on her tutu and snap away.....have tutu will travel is my motto now!  After I left Annie's house to go pick up my daughter Abby at her friend Maddy's house we commenced to have yet ANOTHER tutu photo shoot with all the MacInturf's.  It was a lot of fun and I even got Sarah to put one on, after much insistence.  Just before we left to drive home we all talked about the magic of the tutu and all it's possibilities.  My brain is on overdrive with creative endeavors (yipee) and this is only the tip of the iceberg!

Here is is Monday and my red tutu has been put on once again for a shot right outside the house.  Ben and I took Miss Daisy for a sunny drive to Mt. Diablo as she's finally up and running!! woo hoo!  Right next to Daisy is a hill filled with red wildflowers and since I happen to bring my tutu everywhere I go I was able to quickly grab a shot of this wonderful color.  Later we hung the tutu out of Daisy's window for a splash of color on Mt. Diablo.  Now I know I am in the thralls of tutu madness, and how long this last remains to be seen.  But don't be surprised if the next time you see me I have you dressed in a tutu, I am dying to get as many people as possible on board my tutu-train.  The tutu embraces our inner child, playful spirit and joyous zest for life.  Tutu's are visually beautiful, romantic, uplifting and artful.  Perhaps tutu's can connect the world, it sure has me fired up!! So hop up on the tutu train and ride, ride, ride.....................

The critic

Here's my latest painting, "Exuberance".  I'm happy with it for many reasons.
1. it has meaning to me 2. it's vibrant and different 3. it's working
But just as this was a success my other painting was not.  I started a cupcake painting

from this photo taken on my birthday at Claude's flea market with Sharon.  I loved the colors of the cupcakes on the old rusty paint cans and it started out looking like a good painting. Then it was frustrating me and like all crazy artists I let it really upset me to the point where I painted it all out.  Now that's ok actually, there's a lot of freedom in starting fresh.  But my biggest obstacle in art isn't making it, it's getting past my critic, ME.  Julia Cameron talks about the critic in her book (my bible) The Artist Way.  All artists (and most people) have a critic that tells us we aren't good enough.  I loved reading this because if I let my critic play she will rip my whole business to shreds.  Today I got so
upset I was close to tears.  Here I had done well with a painting and yet I was
punishing myself for what I didn't do.  I was mad that my cupcake painting didn't go as well, and I

then started questioning everything I was doing to the point where I thought I was a total failure.  It doens't even make sense and yet it felt so real.  It was my critic sreaming at me and it was nasty.  Why I'm sharing this is to acknowledge the gift of perservering.  I won't let my critic win, I will keep at it and I will move forward. 
Last year at this time I had just moved into my studio and I was overwhelmed at the talent around me.  The artists in the arsenal are all amazing, most of them are full time artists with shows in galleries, selling their work.  I felt
like I was in kindergarten and not even worthy of
being in the same playground.  But I didn't let it scare me off.  Now here it is almost a year later and I have a store and studio, I am trying to paint as much as possible to show for open studios.  It's been a big step and I'm already further than I would have believed possible last april.  So all this tells me is all I need to do is show up, do what I can and eventually it's going to keep leading me where I need to go.  If I think of a year from now I can't imagine where I'll be.  I want to be selling my art, making the store beautiful and making enough money to pay for it all and to be paid a 'salary' too.  It's a tall order I know but as a customer today told me "first you have to conceive it then you can achieve it."  I won't let my critic tell me my art isn't good enough to sell (it does), my shop is silly (it does this too) and I am just a wannabe (yep it even says this).  I will prove it wrong and keep perservering.  I mean what the heck else am I gonna do, quit?   No way.  I have quit so many jobs because they didn't challenge me (this always does), the boss sucks (I can't say she's always great but hey, I'm stuck with her) and the pay isn't worth it (I'm paid in many ways not always with $).  So I know I have found the right venue.  Tomorrow is a new day and a fresh start on a clean canvas.  I can hardly wait..............

Exuberance

This picture captures a wonderful moment.  I am going to paint it and call it "Exuberance".  Here's the funny part....why?  Because I like it.  Plain and simple.  Will it sell? Don't know.  Will it be liked?  Don't know.  Will anyone get it?  Don't know.  I don't know what people want when it comes to art, there is such a huge range of tastes.  Some people like modern, some like impressionism, some like realism, some like nature, some like geometric.  Who knows what it's all about when it comes down to it.  I keep it simple.  I paint what I like.  Just like I have a shop that I like.  Maybe someone else will like it too.  That's my business plan.  Not very glamorous, or very impressive but it works for me.  Will it work for the long haul remains to be seen.  But I don't want to over complicate things and get so bogged down with worrying about what's popular, or what sells that I loose track of the point.  What is the point you ask?  To create.  To create and put out my mark, my own expression of beauty, interest and joy.

This photo captures a joyous moment shared by my daughter and me last weekend.  We took off to our family cabin at Bass Lake just a mother daughter trip.  I am so grateful my 14 year old likes to go on these trips with me.  I have never been on a mother daughter trip with my own mother so it's sacred to me that Abby and I are so close.  On our way to the cabin we stopped at the thrift shops along the way (naturally) and this red tutu called our name.  I purchased the tutu and a sweet ole pitchfork for the studio and boy was I glad I did.  That night just as dawn was arriving we grabbed the camera and headed out for a photo shoot.  Tutu in hand we went to the beach and took amazing pictures.  The light was perfect and the tutu was a great prop.  The shot "exuberance" was our last picture of the joyous photo shoot and it captures the carefree essence that we felt perfectly.  I'm hopeful it will be a great painting.  This is how I get my art, from life, from single moments that can be frozen in time.  I love photography for the quick fix "mini painting' quality it offers.  Just 'click' and it's frozen, while painting the image is much more laborious.  That labor is a labor of love.  It's so exciting to put paint on a brush and watch it take shape on canvas.  It comes alive right before your very eyes.  I am not able to paint from my mind, I require an image and a scene to paint from.  I admire those who can freely paint from their imagination, it's a skill I don't possess at this juncture.  But perhaps it will develop in time, for now I'm content to snap images, take them to my studio and then transpose them onto canvas.  It's just so fun when it all comes together as I'm hoping it will on the red tutu.  If it does I shall post the finished piece.  If it's just something I love and it doesn't sell or interest anyone else I will put on my wall at home and smile.  It will always remind me of that magic day when we played merrily on the beach.  That is what art is for me.