Fur In The Paint

The best you can hope for in this life is that your delusions are benign and your compulsions have utility. - Scott Adams

When I first read this from artist Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert cartoon. it kinda sent a bunch of my synapses firing. I found this concept totally intriguing and plan to get a little introspective about it here.

Consider yourself warned.

Discipline vs. Compulsion
When I used to run five miles every day (Hard to believe I know. One year I missed only day. I ran in rain and snow and what have you) I considered myself disciplined and athletic. But if someone felt the need to flip a light switch on and off, or wash their hands repeatedly, it is considered OCD.

There’s a fine line between crazy and entrepreneurial.

If you bark at the moon to make it go away, you are considered crazy.

But if you start a business for which there is less than a 5% chance of success, you are considered an entrepreneur.

- Scott Adams

Genius vs. Insanity
There’s a fine line between genius and insanity. And it’s only a matter of degrees (or perhaps perceptions) that define one from the other. An artist who creates into the wee hours jacked up on coffee, booze or in my case diet Coke, until they collapse in exhaustion may be viewed as passionate and brilliant. But take that same person and have them creating something like a bomb shelter or something viewed as having no real benefit is seen as crazy.

To split this distinction even finer. An artist who paints traditional art of landscapes or florals (or say critter paintings) is seen as normal. I mean these are normal things to paint and normal to have hanging on your wall. But when an artist paints dark images or uses something macabre in their work their sanity is pulled more into question.

I know several artists whose work is dark or weird. One of them is one of the funniest, happy people I know. They use art as a way to get the craziness and chaos out of them. Whereas, I use art to connect with critters in a new way. But also, it’s a way to distract myself from the craziness and chaos around me.

So what do you think?
Where’s the line between crazy and genius drawn? How about between passionate or compulsive?

You’re all invited to the reception for the gallery exhibit on the 16th of March at the Red Rock Art Center in Fairmont MN.

It’s at noon (which seems a little odd) But there will be goodies and I’m sure Barb and I will be coerced into speaking a little about our work and such. (sigh) Barb is quite outgoing. I, on the other hand . . .well I’m pretty good at faking it.

The street address is:
222 East Blue Earth Ave.

And for those who can’t make it, for all the obvious reasons, I promise to take some good photos and post them promptly. Unless I’m hiding under a blanket pretending I’m in my “happy place” from the trauma of having to be social. One or the other will definitely happen..

Okay so some of you may remember my post regarding copyright issue and the Orphan Works Act. If not here’s a refresher.

The bill (in a nutshell) was created so those who found stuff (like art, music, writing or your family photos) online, could use them for their own purposes (whatever that may be) as long as they put reasonable effort in finding the original owner to get permission for use. The Act will take away the automatic copyright currently granted and force artists (writers, musicians and maybe even your personal online photo album) to register everything for a fee. (Um Hum . . . thats right) And most importantly if the searcher doesn’t find you in the registry or you don’t reply in time, they can use the image (again, for whatever purpose) and you have absolutely no recourse. (scary huh?)

So I was looking through some squidoo lenses today and I came upon this lens from a fellow equestrian artist on copyright and Orphan Works. But here’s the best part . . . She has a link where you can sign up to Say NO!

And then cast your minds back to my post called
Horns of a dilemma: I would really love to get that George Stubbs original painting for sale on ebay . . . but it just feels so wrong. (a rant)

And looky here . . . d-artist also talks about a free-to-join group called the Equine Arts Protection League which was created to help artists protect themselves from copyright theft in places like Ebay.

Yes I’m signing up.

Spanish Gold - Andalusian Stallion
17 x 20 1/2

Spanish Gold is now available in print from Wild Faces Gallery. If you have any questions or want more information, please visit the website.

In Part 1 of Art Fair Tents I discussed the two main types of tents. In Part 2 we’ll talk a bit about weight and stakes.

Art Fair Canopys are really just big hang gliders. The slightest wind and they will take off untethered.We actually use tractor weights which are big flat slabs of metal that weigh about 90# each. One per corner. If things seem really bad we may put one in the center of the tent and cross tie it. Barring the fact that you may not have a few tractor weights laying around the PVC things works well if done carefully. Also an artist friend of mine created Happi Feet weights for tents. Exact same premise as our tractor weights, the weight is on the ground on each leg.

The main thing to know about EZ-Ups is to NOT hang weight on them. I don’t care if you bought some super cool mesh walls that claim they work with EZ-Ups. Don’t do it. The tent can hold weight on a windless day, but if you get a stiff breeze the weight that normally hangs straight down begins to sway and pull. If you have enough weight or it’s windy enough this pulling will cause the corner brackets to break and occasionally the metal will tear where it’s bolted through. Once this happens it will collapse like the heap of pixie sticks that it is.

The same can be said of hanging weights from the tent to hold it earthbound. If you are going to hang weights (many people fill pvc pipe with concrete to make their own weights) you should strap it to the pole leg with velcro or something to keep the pulling thing from happening.

And Lastly a few random thoughts
Get 4-6 dog stakes (the cork screw king) straight stakes aren’t usually all that effective. The only time we use straight stakes is if it’s really windy and we already have all 6 dog stakes in.

Use Cambuckles instead of rope Rope stretches when wet. And this is probably one of those things that goes without saying (and yet I feel the need too because I’ve seen them used) never use bungee straps.

Use real weights. DON”T use water jugs, buckets filled with sand (or water), barbells or your artwork.

At the Red Rock Art Center.

Well since I had never been to this place I had no idea what to expect. It turns out it’s a rennovated church and it’s wonderful. It’s a beautiful space with lots of light (and stained glass windows.) The people involved were very friendly and helpful. Special thanks to Norm and Phil who worked all afternoon to hang the work just the way Barb and I wanted.

I’m feeling very good about the whole thing.

And now for a couple of photos. They aren’t great and give you no real feel for the place since there are so many windows there is space only or one or two paintings together and frankly to show you everything would take loads of photos since between the two of us we have well over 30 paintings.

The above photo is my friend Barb (who you’ve heard me mention many a time) and behind her is Phil hanging one of Barb’s paintings.

Hopefully I’ll do a better job taking pics at the reception. So here’s just a teaser.

Isn’t he just the cutest little guy. Makes me want to squeeze his fuzzy little nose, followed by a kiss of course.

At any rate you know the drill. Either run out and get yourself a copy or get a subscription from the Apples ‘n Oats website.

Below is an excerpt from the article about my Spanish Gold painting.

An Excerpt
“Of course I was not alone in my adoration as Big Al was almost constantly surrounded by fans. I, however was by far the most tenacious, probably because I was there for a completely different reason than all the others. I was on a mission to get some seriously beautiful horse photos.

When I got my photos developed, it was very much like Christmas. I’d be carefully opening up the many packages and rifling through all that glossy equestrian goodness, all the while breathing in the deeply that hint of developing chemical wafting from the photos. Ahhh! All in all, I took around 800 pictures that weekend with well over 400 being of Big Al. Choosing on which of the photos to base the first painting, took quite awhile (like aound a year.) “

Let the Preparations Begin.
Well as it’s Sunday you might think I’d be working on my Buffalo painting but alas no. I am packing my artwork so I can deliver it tomorrow to the Redrock Art Center in Fairmont MN with my friend Barb for our joint show.

The reception is set for the 16th and I plan to take some pictures for the blog. I may even take a few of the hanging if I can remember the camera.

Have a great weekend ya’ll

I finally got around to gathering together my art fair posts as well as some new information into one handy location. I plan to add a segment on display units and zapplication yet, but that may not happen for awhile. At any rate hopefully it will be a handy resource for all you art fair goers out there.

An Art Fair Primer What You Need To Know.

As a long time gallery cat, Budda has generously agreed to answers your art and/or cat related questions around the first of every month. He also now has his own lens on Squidoo containing all the cat related questions from this column.

Dear Budda,
I’m new to doing art fairs and I hear your human does quite a few of them. What is the best way to keep my tent grounded.

Signed,
Fear of Flying

Dear Fear of Flying
I can’t tell you how often I get asked this question. The best way is using corkscrew style dog stakes. (yes they are actually good for something besides restraining unruly dogs.) But obviously this only works on grass. For pavement I strongly suggest using HappiFeet. I know some cases where in high winds the HappiFeet tents remained in place while their neighbors’ went . . . as you say, flying.

The good news is my human is currently working on a post about this subject and she’ll provide more in depth information soon.

Best of luck,
Budda

Dear Budda,
I hear you get to be indoors. I envy you, although, since I am black and white, I am not green with envy. Where I live, Bill is black and white in that I bit him and I no longer get to be in the house unless construction people let me in or Louise is really nice to let me in. I really like Bill and I want to purr inside the house and enjoy him, just like I know Mike and Mona enjoy you. Although, I did hear that sometimes when Mona is on the telephone, you make more noise than just purring. But, then, she’s on the telephone, so what does she expect!

So, my question for you is, if you just happened to know a kitty-cat (I’m not asking for myself…I’m asking for a friend) who bit her or his owner because the owner got after the kitty-cat that was naughtily on the kitchen counter, and the kitty-cat wants to get back in the owner’s good graces, what do you think that kitty-cat should do?

I think I like you, but I’m thinking that maybe a long distance relationship would be good for us.You know, to make a spark and keep it alive! (I live with another boy kitty. His name is Sammy and our relationship is purely platonic.)

Yours truly,
Miss Kitty

Well Hello Miss Kitty, (Grrrouw)
Hmm . . . it’s very hard to get in your humans good graces when something of this nature has occurred. I’m sure you were very frightened or something really dreadful must have happened for you to bite one of them. But since cat bites are quite serious I must thoroughly allow that your being able to returned to the life you once lived may not be possible. Mostly I think this depends on the human.

Your best bet is to make yourself as loving as possible. Since the last time you touched your human was less than ideal I would suggest simply sitting a few feet away from him and look at him as loving as possible. When he makes eye contact. Close your eyes and purr audibly. After a few seconds open your eyes and if he is still engaged with you feel free to move cautiously (because some humans spook easily) and accompany the loud purring with a leg rub. This kind of affection make take months to work but if his heart is open it should. If he does not, you will just have to live with the consequences of your actions.

Also it might not hurt to try this technique on your other human. She may just come in to your defense.

As to your affections, I am flattered. Unfortunately a cat in my situation must be ever so careful as I am constantly in the public view. Perhaps correspondences for a few years are in order.

As always, those of you who are googling for enlightenment . . . this ain’t it.

Affectionately yours, but with reserve,
Budda.

Oh Wise Budda,
Is there a safe paint in which to paint my cats?

Signed,
Wanting Some Colorful Kitties

Dear . . . Left Wanting,
I have kinda already answered this question in a previous Ask The Budda. At that time I said something along the lines of “Please for the love of all that’s Holy, don’t!” But the amount of queries I get on this topic is so shocking that I felt the need to look into it a little further

Apparently there is a whole bunch of folks out there who paint their cats. (sigh) There’s even a couple of books. If you would like to see a few photos from the book and read some rantings both for and against cat painting, check out this site.

As to a cat safe paint, often it is suggested that anything child safe is cat safe. I’m not convinced this is true as cats have bad reactions to many common foods that are harmless to people. I suggest you do some real research on your part before moving forward.

Happy just the way I am,
Budda

Note: Some of these “questions” were based on search terms that brought people to my blog. And some were posed by readers of this blog. Most of the names have been changed to protect the innocent. If anyone has any questions they’d like to submit for Budda’s review, you are all welcome to do so. Just leave a comment here or contact me directly

It may seem odd that since I’m surrounded by mountains of snow to start talking about art fair tents but the season is fast approaching (as evidenced by the myriad of applications going out.) So here’s a brief post discussing the two main types of tent used for fair and festivals and the benefits and drawbacks of each.

But first I want to say that you should get only a white tent. It allows in the most light and shows your work to it’s best advantage. Colored tent cast a glow onto the work and at dusk turn your booth into a cave. Many an artists says “Yeah, but my purple (red, blue, black) tent stands out. People can spot in a sea of white tents. If you want to be noticed. Hang flags, create color full banners don’t go with a colored tent.

Most art fair canopies come in two main types.
1. EZ-Up type (pointy top) Other brands are KD Canopy, First Up and Caravan.
2. Craft Hut type (Dome or Hoop top.) Trimline and Lightdome

I am going to use the brand name of the big dogs of each type to identify the style of tent I’m talking about. (It seemed easier than #1 or #2)

EZ Up is the most common of it’s type because of availability and cost.
These tents tend to be:
* very light weight
* not all that sturdy
* and in a heavy downpour they not water proof. (You can buy a water proof spray coat and take care of that yourself.)

On the other hand they are
* lightweight this is both a plus and a drawback.
* quick to set up, though still much easier with two people despite what the box says
* cheap if they do get trashed they are easy and cheap to replace. it is available at Sam’s Club for around $200.

The Craft Hut
* Very sturdy and water proof
* More difficult and time consuming to assemble
* Cost between $800-1500 depending on brand, model and features. If they get damaged your replacement parts cost will be high as would be buying a whole new tent.

I have said previously EZ-Up tents work just fine if you know how to use them. But since their main market is for newbies they often end in disaster. Many artists think that these type of tents are the mark of a non professional. But I also know allot of artists (myself included) who have been doing event forever. Many have had the more expensive then reverted back to the cheap and easy because replacement costs were much easier to deal with. I also know several artists who use the Craft Hut type for multi day show and EZ Ups for one day shows.

So I guess my point is they both serve the same function just differently and if you have the knowledge how to use them to their advantage either tent will work exceptionally well.

Upcoming Posts:
Additional art fairs post covering weighting and staking your tents as well as items that you should pack when doing events.
Also a new Ask The Budda