Hi painterly types,

Today was one of those days. Quite perfect!

I did my core exercises on the balance ball and 20 minutes on the elliptical. Must do stuff.

Then, after a shower, headed for my studio and didn't come out until 5:30.

I cleared a table, laid newspaper, net, arranged a layer of fresh seaweed, more netting, more newspapers (have to be the NY Times) then lots of books to press it all flat. In about two weeks, new shapes and sizes to work with!

Back to the worktable, I finished a lighthouse seaweed picture that I have been working on for days after the tribe didn't work. This one may be fine, I'll have to see it tomorrow.

Went outside in the yard, picked some blue flowers and pressed them in the microwave.

Back to the workdesk, pondering a second picture that is put together, but not glued down. It has a brush stroke sandy acrylic background.

Ideas are coming so quickly, I have to sleep. Yoga at 9:30 tomorrow. Can't wait.

Note to self: Go With the Flux,

Lisabeth

Hi Arts,

Today I was lured from my work by a visit to Home Depot. I hadn't been there in a year, and it is one of my favorite stores!

We bought an 8' ladder to get into the attic, two white window boxes, shelves for the basement and tons of pansies. I can't wait! Gardening is the only thing that will take me away from my work, especially in the Spring when the yard needs help.

Still have 2 pictures in the works, and an idea for a third. I'll get to them after dinner.

Happy Spring, yellow, purple, pink, blue, WOW!

Lisabeth

Good evening Artistes,

Ever since I realized that I have enough good, well-framed work for all three galleries opening in May, I can't stop working on new pictures.

Actually, that is good, as if someone buys one, I didn't have a replacement! Now I will. I am combining seaweed with acrylic, so far, so good.

Sunday, my husband and I delivered the first 15 to a new gallery in Old Lyme, opening in two weeks. The owner wants me to take the front room. Beautiful.

This is a first for me, three galleries in the Summer season. Maybe seaweed has finally made it!

Off to make a few changes.

Peace within,

Lisabeth

Sometimes, like tonight, I remember what my life was like before my husband came home in 2004 and told me he a cancerous tumor in his mouth.

We used to go out to eat with friends, which is awkward for him now, because he doesn't eat. Knowing that, no one has asked us out in years. Movies, he's too tired. Visits, he just got his Dynovox machine that he types into and a voice comes out.

Sometimes, when I am really busy, like this week preparing 17 pieces to go out tomorrow, packing them in felt bags, 2 to a bag with bubble wrap covered cardboard between, I lose my center.

I just can feel it. This past week was a bear, including a fall when I was attempting to walk home from town. It is terrifying, lying in the middle of the road, unable to move, purse 4 feet away, no cars, as my street is quiet most of the time. I cried because I couldn't move and was afraid I hurt my fractured pelvis.

It was cold and damp, and I could feel moisture coming through the shoulder of my suede jacket. Finally, a woman came, then two men in a city truck. Everyone helped me into her car and she drove me home, only about six houses.

It turns out I am fine, just a bloody and scabbed knee. I was lucky this time.

Time to go back to yoga class. Very centering

Tonight, as I packed up my work, I looked at each piece, wondering who made such  beautiful creations.

Then I went to my studio and worked some more.

Do your best,(Buddha's last words)

Lisabeth

Hello wonderful artists,

Where does the time go? I was waiting for someone to play an April Fool's joke on me, and it's already the 4th!

I have been a maniac lately. I planned to show in two galleries this Summer, and a third one emailed me with an invitation to join. I can never say no, because Summer on the shoreline is peak selling season, and seaweed is very beachy.

So, I've been busy dividing my work into three sections of the living room, having most of it reframed, some double matted as well, sticking name , medium and price labels on the back, and my contact info. My husband has been helping me(he probably wishes he were back at IBM)by printing brochures - nothing gets past a former editor! However, his printer with all the bells and whistles for postcards, brochures, etc wasn't working today. Hopefully it was just tired or unplugged.

In the meantime, I have begun another picture, my summer lighthouse tribute. This will be Lighthouse 2, as lighthouse 1 sold to a woman in NYC, and few people here even saw it.

Sunday at 1:00 we will deliver 17 pieces to the Hidden Gallery in Old Lyme, Ct. So new, it is not even open yet. If the owner likes my seaweed, (she already has seen some and her response is great)she wants to give me a small room to myself, and call the press, Ink Magazine, etc. Do any of you get that free magazine?

Off to sleep or I'll be useless tomorrow.

Peace in your heart,

Lisabeth

Hello Creators,

Today was a strange one. Maybe it was the damp, misty weather. Didn't see a streak of sun all day.

Left at 930 AM for my color class with my girlfriend driving our Hundai Sante Fe.

I was on the phone, while she missed the street turnoff twice, pulled into a DQ and just missed hitting a police car. Of course it was "license, registration, do you know I had to slam on my brakes when you turned right in front of me."

My friend was shook. I told her to breathe in through her nose and out through her mouth a few times because it seemed she wasn't breathing at all.

The cop gave her a citation and we were off to class. After a very long 2 1/2 hour class we washed our brushes, dumped our water, said good-buys and left.

It was raining tons, and my friend couldn't open the car with the remote. I took it from her to try my luck and realized they were her keys, not mine.

I was carrying three pieces of  my artwork  that I had brought in for critique and they were getting wetter by the minute. Finally, I got the back door up and carefully laid them down, hoping the water would dry before we brought them to the framer later . Everything turned out okay and I'm looking forward to staying home tomorrow and making pictures, good ones that  I can show in my gallery exhibit here in Essex.

Meanwhile, the day took its toll on me, too, as I am exhausted.

I have to lighten up a patch of blue I put on an acrylic. Does anyone know how to do that, other than paiting over it with a new color?

Sleep comes,

Lisabeth

GOOD EVENING ART HEADS,

Today, I started out in my studio (after core exercises on balance ball and 30 minutes on elliptical machine). For some reason, I took one of my largest pieces out of the felt bag I keep them in, and noticed the frame was badly nicked and scratched. Too much to expect anyone to buy it.

After much examining, my husband and I lugged five felt bags with two pictures each, to the framer. I give up on self-framing.

How many of you cut your own mats and frame your own artwork?

The only frames we can find around here are sold at art &craft shops and they are either soft wood, or scratched silver.

Let me know how you deal with the frame problem. You can write to me at "The Poor House," which is where I will be living after next week!

Do your best, (Buddha's last words)

Lisabeth

Hello all you bundles of talent,

Today was a tough one. At my dentist appointment, I  confronted her, requesting she replace two of her recently implanted teeth I was unhappy with, one cap, one veneer. She took it well and immediately started working on the cap. Now I have an ugly temp(they always are) for two weeks. At $1200  a tooth, I deserve to have perfect!

Next, to the Library where my therapist and I meet in a conference room. Tough session. She doesn't let me get away with anything. At the end she told me she was glad to have me in her life!

Last stop, the framers, who surprised me by having my two pictures ready!

Home, email from RI Gallery with 17 selections from my CD(was supposed to pick 10). I have more, but Old Lyme Gallery wants enough for a wall of seaweed, and Essex is up to me what I do with my space.

It all says the same thing. Get to work! Make pictures. Let yourself have some fun!

OK, and it's the weekend, too, my fav time to work.

Live in the light,

Lisabeth

Hello Artheads,

Today I had to put down my seaweed and paper and become an accountant.

We owe '06 & '07 income tax. I thought 86 was almost finished, but not anywhere I could find it.

I am not the best record keeper, so it was a lot of searching around for the bills, receipts, check stubs. How am I supposed to know how much I made in "06, and if it weren't for the goverment, I wouldn't care.

I called my accountant, we go back many years, so even though he had clients hanging from the ceiling (he's in NYC)he took my call. He said to separate my itemized expenses into catagories, art supplies, paper, glue, etc. and he would decide which go together. Otherwise, $12,000 in expenses with very little income would raise a red flag, and we don't want that at all. I thought that separating itemized expenses would be a good job for my former IBMer husband, while I search the files for income.

While all this was going on, I received an email and a phone call from a woman opening a Gallery in Old Lyme CT, who had heard about my work from a fellow artist and was ready to see it. I steered her here, as I can't bring myself to spent $1500 on a website designer. If she likes my work, that will make three galleries this summer!I should hear from her soon.

Anyway, I hate income taxes, adding numbers, numbers themselves. With luck we'll finish tomorrow, then it's back to what I love to do - making pictures!

Peace now,

Lisabeth