Sometimes, you get to a point where you just need to be done with a piece. Enough is enough. You’ve moved through the setting up, building, imagery, component building, the struggles and now it’s just down to the tidying up. Move faster hands! Set up at a quicker pace glue! Dry already paint! Images that are your siblings are crowding and pushing to get out of in my brain and into a dimension.  It is some kind of discipline that keeps me from skipping into forming new pieces. The fortunate part is that the process walks with glee and joy upon seeing the finalized piece step away from the worktable.

Until next time,

Nanci

I have just returned from a visit to Jackson, Mississippi. (What a great thing to do – actually use the state word that was fun to spell when you were a kid; is still fun to spell.) Anyways, I digress, while it was not exactly on my bucket or any other list, I found myself in Jackson. So…I visited the museum. A lovely building and which housed a really nice collection of art.  The major, in fact the underlying component, was all the artists represented were connected to Mississippi. Refreshing, in a way, perhaps self- promoting,insular on it’s part, but for a relatively small museum, a nice touch.

That’s it. I’m just saying ….

Til’ next time,

Nanci

_{There are certain aspects of life that are in your control. Ok, ultimately, I suppose you have control of all the parts, nuances, segments and stuff in your life. This is called accountability or being an adult. It is accepting responsibility. But, sometimes things happen. Admittedly, this is a small thing, a miniscule occurrence on the back of a whale. I was working on a new piece, humming along, in the groove, caught in the moment of creation so to speak, when all of sudden my dremel stopped dead.  Ahhhh, shit.  A tool collapse at a most inopportune moment.  A tsetse fly in the ointment – a stop, plug it in and charge it and switch up gear time – and ultimately, admittedly, although I would desperately prefer not to admit it……my fault. I should have charged it days ago.}

_{Thanks for listening,}

_Nanci

Ok, so I have a complaint. You’re right of course, I have more than one. But, for now we are only dealing with one. This is about some juried shows. Please note that I said some. The other day, I realized that I had applied to a show and had not recorded it in my records. Now recording information regarding the shows you have entered is a necessary side part of the business end of art. Not so much fun, but like any business, you have to keep it together in various ways. One of those ways is knowing what goes where and where that is. I digress; in any event, I began to fill out the information and realized that I had no idea of the date when I would be informed if I was in or out of this show.  I went back through all the information I had and discovered that there was no date given. That was not good.  I then emailed and asked them for a jury notification date. The reply I got went something to the tune of: it’s the holidays; people are in and out, yadda yadda, yadda, read our blog. This answer is BULLSHIT. It is unprofessional and unacceptable. I was on time with my entry and my entrance fee.  You should have it together on your end. Business is business: please note it is not called funess.

Thanks for listening,

Nanci

I am sorry that I haven’t written before this. Life gets in the way. Between making art, working the business of art and living in all the other curves and valleys that comprise the art of living; it gets tough to be transcribing one’s thoughts in a blog along the way.

Thanks for understanding.

More later,

Nanci

Ok, today’s comment is about bullshit. It is far better to tell the truth in some format : didn’t get a chance to view – not for our market- than to totally lie.That is bullshit. Diplomacy is not composed of lies; it is comprised of tact. It is a wonderful trait to develop.

That’s it. See you next time,

Nanci

February 13,2012

Today is going to be a good day. I know this because of certain things. First, I got up on time and didn’t have to rush to get to where I had to be; everything flowed just right. Next, the sensor water thing in a public bathroom turned on the first time I stuck my hands under the faucet. That was wonderful!!! No hands flaying around, karate chops trying to set the sensor on and allow the water to appear.  Dancing from one sink to another, getting aggravated just trying to wash your hands. Then the follow up; the sensor on the paper towel dispenser caught my aura in it’s zone and gave up it’s brown wrapping paper pseudo drying cloth. Oh what a day!

Have a good one,

Nanci

So, let’s talk about creating a piece and having someone you respect and admire critique it. Now, if you didn’t value their opinion, you wouldn’t have asked them to look at your piece. Let’s face it; it isn’t something you have to subject yourself to, no matter how much you appreciate their opinion. The thing that you have to remember is you asked for it, they didn’t.

The thing about crits is; they really are great. They are a wonderful learning, teaching component to making art. When one work’s, especially solo in their studio, it is a very (for the most part) isolating experience. You can walk away for a bit of time and renew your eyes, but it is not the same as pair of fresh eyes, especially ones that are knowledgeable. It is always good to have a discussion about a specific piece. To banter back and forth about options and choices sparks thought. Thought is followed by absorption and results in fresh eyes and ideas. These are brought into the mix when the next piece is created. The critique is a wonderful tool which helps to push the evolution process utilized in making art.

Keep looking and discussing,

Nanci

A Way To See

This is what I would like to do: make people aware of their surroundings. What is the percentage of people who actually understand and appreciate the areas around them? Interiors and or exteriors? Architecture? Outdoor spaces? Streetscapes? The correlation of the elements within interior spaces they visit; from the interior of a closet to the interior of their workout space? Have them actually see what is around them.  Not just the objects themselves, as objects, but their relationship to each other and the elements that they are in. It would be wonderful for people to see that their surroundings are far more than they assume. What a discovery it could be!  To understand and see the negative to the positive, the curvilinear to the straightedge and back again to the hue and tone. Light to dark, sharp to soft, the various degrees of color saturation.  How and why the placement of an object as simple as a vase filled with flowers changes the room. Why the addition of a shape and the value it possesses alters the dialogue of a painting. How color and line contain mass.  Ahhhh, it would be exciting if they wanted to learn and understand how the crack in the sidewalk is more than just a crack.

More later,

Nanci

It is a new year. Happy belated New Year! I confess to being extremely remiss in writing my blog.  I think a part of it is because I feel as if I am writing to myself. It would help. If you are reading this to let me know you are doing so.  I feel as if I am writing in some air capsule, with my voice reverberating in my ears, head at times. That may very well be the case… but, I hope not.  So, the question for you is… Will you please write?

That would be lovely.

Thank you.

Nanci