Fur In The Paint

Everyone here at Wild Faces Gallery (and Mojo the cat) are wishing you a fun filled Halloween.

Mojo requests tuna treats . . . or chicken, yeah . . . chicken. Oh, or maybe eggs. Yummy!

Treats only please, no tricks. Unless you want a black cat to cross your path at least a dozen times.

Trick or bicuits?
Here at WFG, not only do we get the usual kind of trick or treaters. We also get the four-legged variety. We are a pet friendly place. (That excludes Budda. He thinks all other critters are evil and must be destroyed. Well . . . maybe not “destroyed.” Maybe just glared at while every hair on his body is on end, and occasionally making threatening facial gestures at them.)

This is Lizzie, who came to the gallery to show off her new witch costume. How cute is she!

To blog or not to blog
As talked about in Part 1, my artistic confidence had been shaken by an artist friend’s harsh critique. I pondered whether or not to blog about it since I have no desire to hurt her feelings. (I mean there’s nothing like a public forum discussion to make someone uncomfortable.) But in the end, I did decided to go ahead, because every artist at one time or another has had (or will have) a similar experience. As with all things it is nice to know that we are not alone in whatever we may be feeling.

I had mentioned to her that day, that I would probably blog about it, (though she may have thought I was joking.) Blogging has proved to be a bit cathartic at times. But I’ve held off for nearly two weeks for several reasons.

“What is important, is the “moving on”and not getting bogged down by someone else’s drama.”

Why
I’ve had several people comment both on blog and off why it happened and if perhaps she is jealous. I would have to say I doubt it. She is an outstanding artist and is well known in our area. Her work is exceptional.

I had spent some time trying to figure out the reasons behind it all. Though I haven’t made any firm conclusions, here are some possibilities.

Success breeds confidence. I’ve had enough success’s to not be bothered by this for long. Her reasons for behaving the way she did, or even if she was aware of how harsh she was being, is irrelevant in regards to this post.

What is important is the “moving on” and not getting bogged down by someone else’s drama. Whenever someone tells me “You can’t do that, or your not good enough.” I just think “You, just watch me!”

Of Colton and Confidence
I have been writing a lot about confidence lately. So I thought I would share how recently my own confidence was shaken up a bit, in regards to my Colton painting. And it came from a completely unexpected source, an artist friend from my art group.

This is not a story about how horrible she was, for indeed I could have misread the whole situation. What this is a story about, is my emotional state and how I felt about the whole thing. So please no flaming of the artist mentioned here. Though I do believe she was excessively harsh, she is also a good person and the reasons she reacted the way she did, are known only to her. At this point I have let go of any negative feelings about it.

It all began with . . .
I hosted our art group many days back. We had just gotten together and hadn’t really begun talking art yet. When she said “Mona I’m sorry . . . but I think you just ruined your Colton painting!”

Mind you I didn’t ask for her opinion and the artwork wasn’t even out. She had read the blog and just felt the need to share. And share she did. For the next 15 minutes or so I listened to all the ways I screwed it up and how I don’t know what I’m doing.

“Keep in mind an artists critique may have no bearing on how well an image will sell. Buyers have a different set of criteria, just ask Terry Redlin or Thomas Kinkade.”

I think the giving and receiving of an honest critique is invaluable. It helps you to look at the work from a different perspective. (Keep in mind an artists critique may have no bearing on how well an image may sell. Buyers have a different set of criteria. Just ask Terry Redlin or Thomas Kinkade.)

Now I had also discussed the painting with another artist friend (who no longer participates in our art group.) She also happens to specialize in equines, and made some good and valid points on things that would have improved the painting. (AND she did it without bashing me about.)

Hey, I think I’ve just been mugged.
So back at art group, I intently listened to see if I could understand what she felt so strongly about. But after 10 minutes or so, I kinda shut down to whatever point she was trying to make. And after 15 minutes, all I wanted, was for it to be over.

As she was talking, I just kept wondering what I had done to piss her off enough, that she felt she needed to take me down a peg or two. The voracity and tenacity with which she spoke left me completely gobsmacked. This did not resemble a creative critique. This felt much more like a mugging

Her comments took me so by surprise I was unsure how I felt about it for days. This is unlike me. Working the art festivals I’ve gotten used to the occasional person saying something “less than flattering,” I barely notice. Generally, there are hundreds of others telling me how brilliant I am, (which oddly enough, also begins to be meaningless after awhile.)

“This did not resemble a creative critique. This felt much more like a mugging.”

To be clear, I am okay with her not liking my painting. She is certainly entitled to her opinion. In the end, I think what bothered me the most was that this (donating a painting) was a good thing that I did. I mean it’s not like I just gave them any old horse painting laying around, I went there, photographed the horses and created a painting specifically for them for a fund raiser and gave it to them. All during an extremely difficult time in my life. (though I have not talked of it on the blog, she is well aware of how things are.)

So instead of being able to talk about the experience of creating the work and donating it, I was stuck listening to a diatribe about how I ruined the painting, and how it would have been better if I had stopped working on it, pretty much shortly after I started it.

And the last kick in the butt was, because everyone got to hear how messed up it was, by the time I actually pulled a picture of the painting out, the only other comment I got was “oh, (with a hint of surprise) thats not so bad.”

Tomorrows post will finish up my story and talk about moving on through adversity. Also, I am still working on the giclee posts (at the moment it is in 3 parts, but may yet get larger.) Plus I am trying to finish up my Apple ‘n Oats article which has a Sunday deadline.

After some hesitation (and some convincing by my hubby) I decided to attend the IERAL (Iowa Equine Rescue & Awareness League) fund raiser. My trepidation stems from my naturally anti-social personality. Plus, I had no idea what to expect. I’m not the hob-nobbing type. But no cause for concern, it was very rustic and very much my kind of crowd. I mean it was held in a barn!

They had live music in the loft (or perhaps it was a mow?) with wine and cider tasting, gourmet carmel/chocolate apples and miscellaneous noshes.

Outside, you could meet some of the horses available for adoption. They also had a fire going to complete the whole experience. All in all an enjoyable weekend.

This is me (of course) with Karla Siebert (on the right.) Karla is president of IERAL. She also runs a frame shop (among many, many other things) and she is the one who framed the original painting of Colton. The mat looks kinda dark here, but it is a lovely blue-green color, which looks great with the painting.

I didn’t stay all the way until the end, so I’ve no idea what became of the original painting. We had made some smaller prints of it and they seemed to be selling pretty well. The event had a pretty good crowd, so hopefully it was a success.

Just a quick note tonight, as it is getting late and I spent waaaay too much time working on an upcoming post.

My dear hubby has been working his fingers to the bone, rebuilding my website, Wild Faces Gallery. It has a few visual changes. But frankly, most of the changes are in the hidden works of code. Basically, it should be easier to search and update.

Anyway, I had to give props to Mike, (guru of all thing technical in my life.) Thank you babe, it looks great.

Also I’ll be gone tomorrow. I’m heading south for the IERAL fundraiser. See you Sunday.

So I was talking on the phone the other day with a new artist friend, Olga Krasovska, whom I met at the Owatonna Art Festival. Olga is a painter originally from Russia, who has been in the US for about 4 years now. (I think I got that right, as I said we are newly acquainted. Olga, if you’re out there, feel free to correct me on anything.) Her paintings are beautiful and if only she had a website, (it’s on her to do list) I would point you to her.

Anywho, she and I were exchanging information about art fairs. She’s looking to do more in Iowa and I’m looking to do more in Minnesota (her home state.) So the line of questioning was about what events we thought were good and that possibly the other should try. Since we’re both painters thats about as close to a guesstimate of how you’ll do at an unknown event, as you can get.

“. . .explain to me why photographers get to sell multiples of their images, when no (other 2-D artist) can?”

Then came several art events where my answer was all the same.

Olga: Have you done Madison Wisconsin?
Me: Nope, I hear it’s an excellent show but it’s originals only and so I have never even applied.

Olga: Have you done College Hill, in Cedar Falls, Iowa?
Me: Nope, I hear it’s an excellent show but it’s originals only and so I have never even applied.

Olga: Have you done . . . Okay, you get the point.

Originals Only Art Fairs . . . Answer Me This
Both she and I have quality giclee prints of our work. And for both of us that often makes up the bulk of our sales. We are at a point and quality level where our originals command a higher price.

“. . .how can I compete with jewelers, potters and photographers . . . who have $20-$50 items . . . while my originals have a much higher sticker price?”

I mean sure, I have a handful of small originals that sell for $200-$300 but most of my work has a far higher sticker price. How can I compete against potters, jewelers and photographers when I am only allowed to sell originals. I mean those guys can have $20-$50 items, which make up a huge part of their over all sales.

Here I sit, with my thousand dollar paintings next to them, praying for at least one sale to make my expenses. But hoping for two, so I actually show a profit.

I know many art fairs claim “originals only” as some sort of quality control thing. What that leaves you for 2-D artists is corporate art (which I am not) or artists whose price range is low enough that perhaps it calls into question their skill level, (and that seems to me to contradict the whole quality intention,) or photographers.

Also, explain to me why photographers get to sell multiples of their images, when no one else can? Seriously, do they think all of them are in the dark room. Of course most photographers have gone digital now. But then my question is, why are giclee photos prints allowed when giclee art prints not?

“. . .why are giclee photo prints allowed when giclee art prints not?”

Facing Extinction
I know quite a few art fairs that are struggling to get enough 2-D artists, because 2-D artists are struggling to make it. People have only so much wall space, but there is always room for another pot or necklace. If you take away our ability to make sufficient sales by marketing reproductions, then we may not be able to compete. And there’s getting to be fewer of us all the time.

In my In This Economy post, I mentioned two artists who quit their long time art gig for “real” jobs, guess what type of artist they were? Yup, painters both.

So after all my talk about going in and working versus painting the other day, in the end I stayed home. Good for you! You’re thinking. Well . . .

The ginormous fuzzy offenders
So I am finishing up some chores around the house, still in my lounge wear and slippers. And I trip and fall. It was a stupid reason to fall (as if ever there is a good one.) I was blissfully bustling about the house and I trip over my ginormous slippers. (shown here playing PS2 Jak X Combat Racer)

These were a gift from my husband last year for Christmas, as my previous bunny slippers had worn completely out. (They looked like they had mange.) Now they were not your usual bunny slippers, oh no. These were like full size, whole-bodied, stuffed bunnies. Adorable when they were new. Kinda skanky towards the end.

So, to my husband’s way of thinking, a new pair of completely non-age appropriate slippers will aid me in letting go of my rabid rabbits. And they did. Unfortunately, these dog slippers are twice the size of the bunny twins. You know . . . like clown feet. Clown feet with large flappy ears that you step on with the other foot and . . . well, you get the idea.

“What I do have is a bruised knee and a bruised ego. I mean seriously I have a small rug burn on my face.”

So anyway I land on my knee, then wrist and finally the part of me that stopped my downward spiral, my face. Uh huh . . . thaaaats right.

As I lay on the floor, seeing stars and wondering if I knocked any teeth out (no, thank God) I begin testing my body to see if anything is broken, because I don’t bounce nearly as well as I used to. (Again no. Huge sigh of relief.)

What I do have is a bruised knee and a bruised ego. I mean seriously I have a small rug burn on my face. My front teeth are a little sore yet, and I probably had a very slight concussion as I was light headed, with a ringing in my ears and a killer headache. Today I feel much better and as I was going to the dr. for my yearly bloodwork anyway, I mentioned it. All is fine. Rest and don’t do any activities which will slosh my brain around for a few days. Sheesh!

So now when people look at my face, (though the burn mark is very small, I just know they are looking at it) I feel that I have to explain that I fell. And because I am just that sort of gal, I tell the truth as to why. I really do feel foolish. I mean why couldn’t it have been something sexy like skydiving or skiing in Aspen. Heck even being thrown from my horse would make me feel less stupid. Alas, such is the way of things.

So have my dogs been sent off to be euthanized? Not yet. I’m thinking perhaps an ear cropping might be in order. Though additional measures may have to be taken.

Or more appropriately: Some of the other horses of IERAL.

I thought I’d show you a few of the other horses at IERAL (Iowa Equine Rescue and Awareness League) that I had the option to paint for the fund raiser which is to be held this Saturday, October 25th. You can visit IERAL website for more details. or to see who is available for adoption, or make a donation at any time.

Thoroughbreds have such great faces and contours. Also I was liking the idea of a grouping. They were a little bony, though it was not so obvious to see in this photo. I really liked these guys. They were a very close second choice. If Colton hadn’t won me over with his sweetness, it probably would have been them on the print.

This is Bo. He is Colton’s father. You can see the family resemblance. Bo is another really pretty horse.

I have a soft spot for arabs. They were the first breed I fell in love with. Of course the Black Stallion helped that along quite a bit. For most of my childhood Arabians were my dream horse. How I went from petite and lovely, to Roman nosed and rotund, I’ve no idea.

How cute is he. This was Colton’s pasture mate when I was out taking picture. He was kinda stand offish but he and Colton got on well enough.

IERAL had several other horses up for adoption as well. But these (and of course Colton) were the horses I photographed the most.

Tomorrows post: When Good Dogs, Go Bad (It’s not what you think.)

I haven’t posted in a few days, mostly because nothing too interesting has gone on. I’ve made “a little” progress on my giraffe, but my usual influx of customers and allotment of gallery jobs is keeping me busy. Since today is Sunday I was hoping to finish the painting today.

On the other hand, I had my art group over yesterday and so I am a day behind on framing and getting my orders out. I think I may just work this afternoon like any other day, (except with fewer hours and a whole lot more PS2 playing.)

It was great getting together with my art group again. We are all women with rather complicated lives, so this was only our second meeting this year. I brought my camera to take a photo and forgot to actually take the picture. (Picture me whacking head on wall. Heavy sigh) Perhaps next time.

Of course I did remember to photograph the horses in fog this morning. (typical mona behavior) Top photo is Chicory and the one below is my neighbors. Now isn’t this a photo just begging to be painted or what? You know, I think I just might.

The seasons, they are a changin’
This is my favorite time of year. I like bundling up in warm clothes and walking in the crisp air, enjoying the changing colors. I particularly love the wonderful aroma of burning leaves, (though not so much the raking of them.)

The past few mornings have been very foggy. I’ve had to scrape off a thick layer of frost (if I didn’t know better, I would have said it was ice) from my windshield. I’m pretty sure this is nature’s not so subtle hint, that winter is just around the corner.

So to celebrate the glory that is Fall, we are cooking our first turkey of the year. To be accompanied by homegrown potatos, corn, beans and tomato cucumber salad. I know the turkey is just about done when all the barn cats are sitting outside on the window sills of the house, looking in.

I decided I needed a quickie, (in terms of artwork that is.) So I pulled out the photos from my recent Blank Park Zoo trip and selected a fun angle. I’ve done four giraffe paintings and am feelin’ the need to have another in the gallery, as the others have long since gone to their new homes. The upper left photo is about 1 hour of playing around. This again is another one done on the handmade paper, so it is 10 1/2″ x 13.”

Here, I have about 2 hours in. I changed the mouth. I had planned on having it open and chewing on acacia, but then opted for a more dignified look. Thus without the branches coming in on the right, my giraffe is now a little off center (kinda like the artist I suppose.)

I may well just change my mind again in the morning and have her blissfully chewing away by the time I finish her up, which hopefully will be tomorrow.