End of Year

I had the choice of going into the studio or going to the movies.  I chose the movies to see Big Eyes.  I figured it was art related so I could count it as studio time.  I enjoyed it and found the story interesting and well told. Christoph Waltz did a great job playing such a tool.  I recommend seeing it because it probably won't be in theaters very long.  It was just me and two other women at the matinee.

If I had gone to the studio I would have continued working on this:

I kind of threw this together for the ill fated RISD show but I felt it could be much more.  I love the main pieces - the bird's nest with robin egg shell, the base and the wire form which I found rolling down the street on a windy day.  With some valuable input from a colleague and some new found objects I think I have what it needs.  Tune in later to see what it becomes.

Wishing all a Happy and Better New Year.

Post Holiday Blues

It seems to me that the week between Christmas and New Year's is very long.  I just want to put the old year behind and begin anew.

Working is retail makes this process hard to put aside.  People are still in shopping mode and are especially sloppy and rude.  It really brings out the cheap in everyone and patience wears thin.  I had a woman today who could not grasp the concept of Buy One, Get the Second One Half Price.  And don't get me started with the woman who didn't understand sales tax.  Math obviously was not her forte.

Anyhoo (I hate this expression) this was the conversation with Buy One woman:

BO:  How much?

Me: $59

BO: How about the coupon?

Me:  Does not take coupon.  It is our six day special.

BO:  Why?

Me:  It's a sale.

BO:  Wait, I'll get another one.

A few minutes pass and she comes back with another blouse.

BO:  How much is that?  (She points to the first blouse.)

Me:  $59.00

BO:  How much is that one?  (She points to the second blouse)

Me:  $29.50

BO:  Well I'll take that one.

Me:  That's not the way it works.

We went back and forth a few more times and I don't remember the outcome because I wanted to erase it from my memory banks forever.

But on a lighter note, here are a couple of new pieces I did for holiday shows..  These frames were from the Salvation Army.

New Work

I was working feverishly up to the RISD show and I had these to the mix.

 Tis one was made with some metal scraps found at the RISD second hand store.

 This one was made with pieces from my stash.  You can't tell from the picture but the body is a mirror.  I am happy to report that this one is sold.

This one is something I made a while ago.  I like it but maybe it needs some more added and then it would seem like new.

Post RISD

This is the time of year when every thing becomes compressed. If you work retail, the job demands much of your time and renders the holiday season practically non existent and sucks all the joy out of it if there is any to begin with.  I have vowed to work only my scheduled hours and get some of my life back before the end of the year.

When I last posted, I was working to do the RISD show which I can thankfully say has come and gone.  It was not a good day for me.  I only made three sales and barely covered my parking expenses.  The show was well attended and there were plenty of bags going but no one was interested in my work.  Will do this show again?  Not likely.  Should I do the spring show on Benefit Street?  Nope.  I see fewer bags at that show.

So what was the problem?  I think my art is too scattered.  Am I a painter, assemblage artist, photographer?  I like it all so I just do a little bit of everything because I like it and I can.

Here are a few pictures of my booth.  I'm thinking it looked a little sloppy compared to the professionals around me.