Gettin' Down to Business...

     

"Reckoning" 

 So, I have been very busy! Gettin' down to business! I have titled and completed  a couple more paintings since last week! I finished the 18" x 24" piece titled "Reckoning", one 3" x 9" canvas titled "Twilight Tree" and another 12"x 24" canvas titled "Day Dreaming". Whew! I am feeling really good about what I am doing and felt very productive (and excited!).  I also prepped a few more smaller canvases- they are ready to be turned into something special!

Small Canvases, Waiting to be finished Masterpieces...

        I attempted (and by "attempted", I mean struggled, lol!), with a few tasks to get ready for this summer of trying/selling at art and Ren fairs.  I need a Tax ID in any state I wish to sell goods. I already have my MN one, since I had my Studio in St. Paul.  I started to go online and check out WI tax IDs, and since I will be a vendor (more than an artist in a set place/studio), my title is somewhat changed. I need to read through a bit more and figure out what I need to do. I also started to look at Credit Card swipers. So I can start accepting credit cards. (Giving me more probability of sales, to those who would like to purchase my wares;)  Each of these tasks lead to more & more questions about bank accounts, costs, what taxes are applicable where, am I a vendor, sole proprietor....So, needless to say, I didn't finish either task, but made some headway on answering my questions. One step forward, 2 steps back- lol! I started to organize a three ring binder to hold all of my info. I also need to pick up an account book- In studio, I used to simply deal in paper sales receipts- old school. But think I will need to be a bit more tech advanced as I go into my next venture. I still have certain personal touches when it comes to selling original paintings- I am attached to them and sales are sometimes bittersweet. It's personal, and I want the buyer to know that each piece is very special to me. Putting price tags on things you create is sometimes very difficult.
        Well- that's a short update- I promise to be more verbose next week- and maybe less distracted. maybe I can pick a topic and share some good info...Thanks for checking in, I'll leave you with some pictures of the newly created art....
          -Michelle

"Day Dreaming"

"Twilight Tree"

Mini canvases

"Water Lilly"

Sticking to it!

        So, here I am, a couple days late... but here nonetheless! YAY! It has been a relatively productive week. I have been working on a acrylic on canvas painting, finished a small acrylic on refinished board, finished 2 mini paintings and did a bit of research on showing art in other states/doing craft fairs.

Finally Finished this piece in December and Just titled...
"Into the Rapids"

        First, my paintings. I am loving the way my current piece is going. I have worked on it here and there through out last week and this weekend. It's quite cathartic. When I stop to look at it, I find myself pulled into the other small pieces I am working on. The mental break from one painting opens myself up to feeding into another. It is a small release, but a very productive side effect!  While working on my larger painting (not BIG, but larger than the others... I will have to get the dimensions) I have finished the 3 smaller pieces. My larger piece is an abstract, filled with raw emotion and feeling for me. The last bits I added have really caught the spark of what I'm doing. Or at least trying to convey. I have a working title of "Reckoning" and that is exactly what it is...My  calculating, my estimation, my opinion, my judgement...MY decision to get back into what I love. A commitment via calculated thought to be mindful, present and accountable for creating. Honestly, I FEEL better when I am making something. It makes me a better person... A whole person. A mentally healthy person...okay, that may be debatable, But I think it all contributes to my physical well being. I do think it is a need for me....   I am overwhelmingly enjoying having a space to work, listen to music and paint. It has been too long! Now I just need to organize my days a bit better to accomodate the business and marketing side of things.
        I am not business minded, in the sense of numbers and accounting. I do, however, love to market. I just need the time and the means. I have a great friend that has given me some awesome advice on doing these craft fairs.  So, I've been finding things to do before I get going this summer. I am on set up mode. I need to organize my time in order to send in applications, get my tax ID for any state other than MN I plan on showing in (have my MN one:), get inventory together, create displays,get my books in order, order new business cards, possibly order postcards, make tent weights, and I need a tent. That's all.... It is a bit overwhelming, so that's where I need help. I have to spread it out in a logical order and start keeping books. Good thing I am starting in January! Ah well...It'll happen. I just have to keep up with it. (gotta stick with these resolutions!:)
        Well....gotta go work on....something! Paint? Taxes? Scheduling? hmmm...

-Michelle
   

The Power of Intention...

         Well, it's the first full week back after Christmas break... And here I am! Woo Hoo! Blogging away! After my New Year's Resolution of making time for my art and working at getting myself back into the art world... I figured, a great way to get the creative juices flowing would be to Blog each Monday! Yay! I am, now, home from work, have finished running my errands/tasks, and now I am ready to sink my teeth into working off my creative energy.

        Sooooooo, let me tell you about how I got to this point....
Since Christmas, I've been organizing my space and getting ready to do some new art work. I have a crazy, overwhelming need to organize and tidy my studio space before I can work. Since moving my studio into my home, I haven't carved out a space where I can work freely. I have worked on the dining table, in the kitchen, and wherever I could make a mess for a few days. Then I had to clean it up and stash my supplies somewhere. This past Summer/Fall,  I  have been slowly making our walk-out into my space. My husband, Mark, made shelves in the closet for my supplies awhile ago....and everything BUT art stuff filled them! LOL! After a purge of stuff, buying a new work table and setting up this Christmas Break...I should be good to go this week! I even meal prepped this Sunday in order to make more time for myself during the week. (I also started getting my "books" organized for recording/documenting new work, financial records, project planning and goal setting.)

       Now, What to create?? I am debating on what medium to begin with. I think I am going to start with an acrylic on canvas. No pre-sketching. Just painting.  Thinking this will help my unconscious to let go of any preconceived ideas of what I THINK I should be creating. I have mental lists of things I want to make, but need to do some sketches before attempting the pieces I'd like to do on recycled wood, on jewels, jewel boxes and mini canvases. So, today, I will continue my journey! Off to go paint!
Hurray for new years resolutions and for making time for creativity!WOO HOO!

Happy Monday!
-Michelle