Summer vacation ended for me when my kids returned home from summer jobs, summer camp, and 'back to school' shopping began. It sure was a great summer traveling, meeting friends, doing what ever, and its been since early July since i have even picked up a paint brush!

I did start learning a new art for me.. sumi e ink drawing, but its a long way to go before I feel like it will incorporate properly into my watercolor paintings. I thank my friend Janet for that. :)

One of my teachers once told me to never force a painting or force myself to work on art although I always worry if too much time goes by, I will forget how to paint. 

My next show is not until October, Colombus day weekend, so I have time to gather my art, make sure its framed, and organize my booth setup, but I am just not ready.. not yet.. soon. I will be teaching as well as attending classes starting end of September so I better get organized but why cant I find my motivation?? I think its still on vacation!

I spent last week creating art with an artist friend of mine. She and I went to Vermont together to be our own workshop teachers. She wanted to learn more about watercolor painting, I wanted to learn more about book making and sumi e inks. What a great time we had! I just posted images of my book and the drawings I did and although its a very basic book, not exactly bound up tight and neat and nice, its the first time I ever made a book so I am proud to share it with everyone (and anyone!)

front cover of my book -

I am going back to school!

Isn't life cool when you dont know what the future can bring? It's like I am starting chapter 2 at the age of 50 and it feels limitless (sort of). I have been painting with watercolors for 20 yrs but only teaching part time about 5 yrs (my full time job for the past 21 yrs was mom and home-maker) and although I have experienced wonderful successes with my art, I found a Masters of Education program, focused on Arts and Learning, and I am planning on starting this fall. I am not sure if I am doing it more for my own personal need and desire to learn and be better at what I already do, or if its for the improved teaching opportunities a Masters degree will bring, but its something I never planned on. All I have left to do is write an essay, 250-500 words of what my professional goals are... gosh, what a wonderful way to go back to school, with so many life experiences already under my belt!

I have been asking myself if I should go back to school to get a masters degree almost 30 years after getting a BA. I dont know what I should do. I have about 15 yrs of painting and show experience, I teach now (at a small private art college) and as I have inquired about other teaching jobs, I am finding a masters degree is a must these days. Doesnt 15 years of painting and showing and selling art matter more than a degree at this point? I think I can get into a special program for a Masters of art and education degree, but thats not the same as an MFA.. but the program sounds wonderful.. and in 22 months of part time classes that accomodate a working person's schedule, I would have a masters. What should I do? In a few days I will probably figure this out on my own but..

any feedback would be appreciated.

How I spent my mothers day - painting (new work from today is titled "Shade") and I have been toying with the idea of doing a show of all birch tree paintings so I just posted a group of my newer birch paintings and will spend time deciding if it would make for an interesting series.. any feedback would be appreciated.

Shade

Being the early riser that I am, I doubted the Cambridge Art Association had already updated their site with the artists that were accepted into their Northeast Prize show, the biggest show of the year which was once national but has become regional due to fire hazard issues with the shipping and storing of artwork. I always doubt the quality of my work when I dont get accepted into national or regional shows even though we all know jurying artwork is so subjective and you are at the mercy of the judges style and preferences as to how he wants the show to look. Well bingo! This judge decided my painting was show worthy!! I have been doing the regional and national show submissions for about 5 years now, it all started when I got my first issue of Art Calendar magazine and searched the show listings in the back to see if there was something that seemed like a good fit with my artwork.

Getting accepted to a regional or national show makes me smile, these are the 2 works I submitted, the first painting is the one that got in.

This weekend was another reality check for me - last night I was a featured artist that painted during a silent auction, then my painting was sold in the live auction.. and I have to say, the bidding was skimpy and depressing. Then today I had to pick up paintings from a gallery (a group show that has just ended) and although I did sell one small painting, the gallery owner informed me he didnt think he would be opened past June unless things turned around big time. On a personal level I have been coming to terms with the reality of the economy and I know I have to find other ways to create income until things in this country turn around. I have felt better about my art on a personal level, but that doesnt change the fact that people would rather buy gasoline than paintings! lets all hope things in this country get better soon.

p.s here is the 'wet paint' piece I did last night

I finally picked up my paints after about a 3 week break and for some reason I didnt want to paint my usual, landscapes. I tried to do an abstract self portrait which immediately became too realistic and then today thought about what I could do to make this feel more like 'me' so I added some flowers by collaging them on and tomorrow I will probably add another group of flowers on the bottom right. I think when this is done I will have gotten figure painting out of my system for a while and am already looking forward to my next landscape painting!

It's that time of year again, when local organizations send me and probably alot of you requests to donate art to fundraising events. I have had a poor first quarter of art sales and am trying to decide if I can 'afford' to give away several paintings.

One of my teachers once told me never donate something you are not proud of (which also includes how the piece is framed), so I am left trying to decide what I can give away that I am proud to give away. I dont want to donate something new that has not been shown, or something in a new frame because of the costs involved.. what to do... maybe I will figure it out tomorrow although drop off is Satuday so I actually have time to dwell some more.