Inspiration chart

At the opening, I was asked: ""Where do your ideas come from?" I'm not sure I articulated the answer well at the time and have been giving it some more thought. To me, "where" indicates a spacial question, so I'm providing a spacial answer, and, as usual when I struggle to explain in words, I'm bailing out to pictures ;) 

I decided to play a game and went on a scavenger hunt in my house and through the files on my computer to try to address the question: "Where do my ideas come from?" in pictures for some of the most recent work:

Hate to disappoint, but I'm pretty boring - I draw most of my inspiration from places I spend time everyday - most of all my house and yard, and the local conservation area and downtown Hudson where I like  to walk.   

Gallery 105 Exhibition round-up (:)!)

 Gallery 105 Exhibition round-up (:)!) 

Thank you to everyone who turned out for the opening! The show will be up until August 25th, but just in case you can't make it to North Adams, I'm posting some of the photos :) 

I want to share better "official" photos after the opening, but I couldn't contain myself - the show is up! Come visit at Gallery 105 in North Adams, MA :)

It's official - we have trees (plural!!)

Welcome to the Forest of And, And, And

re must be an owl 

But who could be mad at
 a creature this adorable?
Still...I cried.

My "Helper" (yes - I cried)

framing, framing, framing

Both tabs and reinforced
 holes for hanging

=

Good News - the forest has a tree
Bad News - the forest has a tree

Phase 8 - not all time is the same (find focus)

Ha! 

6 am

8 am

For me - keeping things orderly helps with maintaining focus (which is a bummer because I can be a slob when I'm working). So, in keeping with phase 8 and trying to find focus, I've been getting up at 5 ish  am to organize, communicate, and clean for the day (then have breakfast and go for a walk) before getting down to work, usually by 8. (Unfortunately, this indicates that I reached the level of mess seen at the left in less than 24 hours - true). When I get going, I can end up using a lot of different supplies, and it's like I develop a form of selective blindness where, if I'm not using something right that second, it doesn't exist for me anymore. (This is the reason I work on the floor - so that I can just drop one thing and pick up the next). The mess extends radially very quickly (that little gap in the middle next to the red thread is where I was sitting - haha).



On the one hand -(fingers crossed!) I think I'll have enough pieces to make up the installation I'm set to install Tuesday (even if I can't make  everything I have in mind, it can be the first iteration in an on-going project :)). On the other hand, I am not a morning person (at all), and I'm starting to get tired to the point that I'm even more absent minded than usual. I know that there are things that just aren't occurring to me (as oppoed to being forgetful: less -  "O, I forgot I left my keys on the table instead of the hook," more - "O, keys, you say? Do I need keys?")  Sort of like with the supplies, I get so focused on making stuff that I end up being blind to all the other things I need to do. Having made this mistake before, I've been brainstorming things that I've forgotten to be aware of this time around:

the beginnings of a tree

1) Making sure everything is framed/ has hangers so that it's ready to go up on the wall and having all the necessary tools/ hardware to install it. (I'm good on the tools/hardware part, and have been going through the hangers/framing for each piece, but since things always take longer than I think, and I'm prone to overlooking this aspect, I've set aside a whole day to gather things together and double check each piece).

with my neon toes for scale ;)

2) As much as I hate (haaaaate) to admit it, moving things is hard for me, and I probably really need help
packing up (Ok, I admit it, I'm not good at lifting anything heavier than a cat,  but have I actually done anything to address this situation? - ummmmm, tick, tock, tick, tock (oy!)).

In other art news, I went to the opening of "Clothing Optional" at the National Association of Women Artists Gallery in New York on Wednesday. One of my mixed media pieces, "Neo-Gothic (Iris)" was included in the show! I had a great time and also got to catch up with some lovely friends. Did I remember to take a picture - no (oops)

Neo-Gothic (Iris), mixed media, 9 x 12, 2013

Once again, I lost in the battle of
wills withmy feline assistant:
 ok, fine, sit it the tree

The biggest fans of the recent early morning schedule - the feline assistants: when it comes to kitty-breakfast-time - the earlier the better ;)