I have a new exhibit that started today.  I received an email from the art center director saying that I had sold 2 to the same person on the first day!  I am so surprised.  I did not know what to expect.  But, this year, I have sold something everytime I've had an exhibit.  Its been a great year to say the least.  One I've wanted to happen for so long but sometimes never thought it would.  So - I'm grateful.  And I've worked my butt off this year also.  Really trying to get out there.  Reading all the marketing stuff and trying to do it and work full time also.  Yeah sometimes  I think it would be nice to not have to go back to school - just do the art.  But right now its not a reality.  Ive got to have that steady income so I don't have to worry.  And I would miss the kids.  I really do love being around the kids also.

So - I thank the "Great Creator" and anyone who has passed on that is helping me behind the scenes. 

Came back from a wonderful vacation in Cape Breton Highlands in Nova Scotia.  Got the mail and found a check for two more of my pastels that sold at Iowa Artisans.  This now makes for 12 pastels that have sold in less than a year.  This has never happened to me - ever.  But I've worked harder than ever this year too.  Then I went on the Iowa Artisans Gallery website and was pleasantly surprised to see that they have added me to their artists list that they represent in the gallery.  I've been there now since November and on a trial basis.  And I've looked at their artist listing just wishing that my name could be there - and now it is.  I feel like I've graduated and its so validating.  I've got more work to do and I'm so glad to be off from school now for the next month or so.  I've worked so hard on the marketing stuff and framing and matting that I haven't actually produced much lately so I've got to get back to work.  Its always a struggle at first - like sweeping away the cobwebs - but it eventually comes back and then I'm in the "zone"  which will be great.

I submitted a piece into a museum fundraiser/gala event and found out today that it was accepted.  I'm excited because my work will be displayed in a wonderful museum, I'll receive a stipend for my donation and my husband and I get to go to the gala event.  This is not something we normally do - we golf and eat out.  We don't go to museum galas and dress up. 

So besides being a beautiful day today I had this really great news.  I just get thrilled with everything these days.   I have gone for sooo many years 'undercover" with most people being surprised to hear that I even 'did art" and now to have things going well is just wonderful and I am grateful all the time about any progress I have. 

 I think it may be fun to dress up and go to the gala!

After a long and very busy winter spring is finally here and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  And I can look forward to at least a couple of relaxing months ahead.  This has been my busiest year for my art and some of my long held goals have come to be and it has really kept me busy.  I work full time in a middle school teaching art and trying to do some counseling with kids when I can.  I have two jobs at  school in their effort to save money. 

 On the weekends I try to get back to my drawing/pastels which most of the time I can.  And it is therapeutic to go into my studio turn on some music and just make marks with abandon.  I love it!

 But now I seem to have added another layer to my life in getting ready for shows, taking my art to the gallery that I'm so happy to be in, putting frames together,et.  And now since I've met my goals of the gallery in my area accepting my work (they sold three in one day)and having an upcoming exhibit this summer- actually two of them and now also have been asked to teach a class at an art museum next fall - I'm just wondering - where am I going to get all the energy to keep this going - especially if I get even busier!  Because I plan on submitting now for out of the area galleries and shows. 

 Can't quit my job.  Need the money and the health insurance so I have to stay.  But need to do a much better job of balancing it all.  So - lately I tell myself to slow down for awhile and quit trying to "drum up" more business than I can handle. 

So glad its spring like I said because I just need to sit for long periods and look at a blade of grass and breathe. 

I've been working on a new vision for my life as an artist.  I've been making art for oh so long a time now.  Since my early days in the 70's.  Many times just making it because I had to and sticking it under the bed.  I let my dreams just pass me by and let life take another direction.  some of it positive and some of it negative.  But also much was not truly "me".  Always, always the nagging of that creative part of me.  I hesitated to say I was an artist.  I didn't feel like one at all.  And many I met through my work did not even know that I did it.  That I made art.  I was afraid to enter shows for fear of rejection - so I didn't.  Then would go to shows and think "why don't I do this?"  I'm not ready yet.  I'll enter when .....and on and on.  I did visualizations and saw myself having my own exhibit in the future.  I journaled about it.  Then Iguess I decided that I would never be perfect enough in my own eyes and just needed to take a risk and enter some shows.  This has been such a slow process for me but an ongoing one.

But life seems to be moving in a new direction for me.  Things that I had envisioned years ago are coming to fruition.  Its a wonderful thing.  I have three shows scheduled for this year.  One in a college setting.  I take pieces there this weekend.  After hanging my show there I go to another gallery that I have visited for over 25 years.  I was just accepted into this gallery and they have sold three of my pieces this week.  This gallery has been a dream of mine for this long of a time also.  I have always loved the place and the artists they exhibit.  I have two more shows scheduled for this summer and fall.  And  there is a good chance that I will be teaching a class in an art museum come fall. 

I'm just thrilled and grateful that the "dream" didn't die.