DIY

Do It Yourself.
That's what it means. But, is it really about ourselves, and doing it ourselves? I don't think it is.

I have been thinking a lot about a blog post that Holly of Decor8 wrote a little while ago.
She wrote about how even though we, as independent artists, are doing it independently from big galleries, or corporations, we still need to rely on each other for promotion and support. We need our community to be strong, so that we, as independent business owners can be strong. She calls this Interdependence. Helping each other out, not to benefit only ourselves, but to help build a strong craft/art/indie community.

She points out that stepping on people in the business world is common, and is used in order to get ahead, or on top. However, this can eventually lead you to the bottom in an indie scene. I feel really strongly about that. People aren't always going to get along, and yes, this is a business, but it doesn't need to replicate the very thing that we are essentially working against.

The indie/craft scene in Detroit is still pretty unfamiliar to me, and I have only really gotten to know a hand full of people who participate in it. I'm not 100% sure what the craft scene in Portland is like either...but I am really eager to get involved. I am pretty familiar with the art scene in Portland, however. I was quite involved with it, and had a lot of friends who were regulars at openings and other arsty goings on. I hope all of that is still there when I get home...

I remember the final critique that I attended at Portland State. It actually wasn't for my class, I sat in on it because it was the final critique for several of my friends. Anyway, the instructor, Katherine Ace, gave a wonderful closing talk. She talked about what a great little community of friends and artists we had all become. That we were not only individual artists, but a community of artists, who helped each other out and who supported and welcomed new ideas. She commented on how we all needed to take this great little community out into the art world, and keep it going. We needed to show people that this is what being an artist is about. It's not all about competition. I will always remember that talk. It's one of the most valuable things I learned in school.

Anyway, I've just been thinking a lot about this, and Holly's post...
Thought I would share :)

Hold The Phone!

Ok. wait wait.

2 posts in the same day within a matter of minutes??!!

What's the news?!

Hello! I was featured on decor8
For those of you who are unfamiliar with this blog....
Check it out. She has a number of really great artists that she features regularly and now I am one of them! yay! yay for me! I totally rock.

So check it out :)

Yesterday was Awesome!

Ok. So I had a bad day the day before. Nothing terrible happened. It was just one of those days whre I hadn't had enough sleep, and I had a millions things to do, and Chloe seemed to be getting into everything.

So anyway, yesterday was great. I was on the front page of Etsy again! Yay! My blue typewriter painting was on the front, and number one. K.Trinks was online too! So I messaged her to get over the the Etsy page STAT! So she is my witness. I thought I knew how to copy the page so that I could post it in my blog...but I guess I don't know how to do it after all.

Ok...it gets even better. I sold the painting :) Yay! Better yet...I sold it it the gal who runs the Decor8 Blog :) I am not sure, but I am hoping that she will get my painting, love it to pieces, and then post it on her blog. Her blog gets A LOT of traffic, so that means A LOT of people will see it. So I am crossing my fingers.

So all in all I had a great day. Yesterday and today.

I discovered this really great artist on Etsy who does these really awesome paintings of pups, mostly Bostons :) His name is Brian Rubenacker and he and his wife own two Bostons. They live in Michigan, and are actually really close to us, so we are going to get our little guys together and have a mini Boston meet up :) Which I am actually really thankful for because poor Chloe still needs quite a bit of socialization.

Other than that I have been getting a lot of painting done. I just gesso-ed six new panels for my Etsy, so all they need now is some pencil, paint, and love. I posted a picture of my hand made gesso because I think it's the best gesso ever. It makes the most beautiful drawing surfaces. I love it and will never go back to the pre-made stuff. I also got some paper torn and ready to go for some new ACEOs. If you don't own a bone (pictured) I highly advise you to get one. Not only are they great for tearing paper, but they have a million other uses too. I can't name them all here...but my book arts instructor use to always say that if she was stranded on a island this is the first thing she would want with her. And I would have to agree with her.

Good god, this is a long post. If you're still reading this good for you :)
Have a good evening!