The Summer of Projects

This is the first summer I've not taught art classes in several years. My husband and I decided that with me going to graduate school this Fall, it would be good to take some time off to "get things in order." Basically..that means 10 bazillion, gillion projects! Some are husband-requested, some are blatant neglects that have been piling up, and some are just self-inflicted. However you look at it..I've got lots to do!

Artistically Speaking

First..Fall Class Schedule will be out VERY SOON! I already know the schedule..I'm just cleaning up my mailing list before I send it out.

I'm still uploading art to my Etsy shop - CobaltBlueDreams. I can't believe how much smaller work I've done. It all fits so nice and compact in the bins! I also want to get some more notecards and small prints done. I'm in the "research" phase right now but some smaller Affordable Art will be out soon.

I'm also going to be a writer for Empty Easel, an on-line magazine/blog for artists. My first article Teaching Art to Kids for Fun and Profit: Part 1, Is this for You? will be published next week.

Will I create any new art? Summer is usually my slowest time for painting..the kids are home and when I pick up a paintbrush..they descend upon me like flies to honey! BUT....I'm working on a new collage series and I have some totally awesome photos of jellyfish from an aquarium in North Carolina that are begging to be painted..I mean begging! To the left is The Pursuit, an 14" x 11" mixed-media collage that I finished at the beginning of summer.

Moving that Body

I'm still working on Social Workout's Feats of Summer Challenge. So far I've worked out 11 days since Summer Solstice (June 21st) and completed the cartwheel feat (my mom has some amusing videos of this..hopefully she'll never really figure out how to use You Tube!) You can check out my workout blogging here.

On the Homefront

We decided this spring to add a pool to our backyard. This was something we've wanted for years and finally feel like our children are old enough that we don't need to panic if we hear the back door open. The building of the pool itself has been wonderfully problem free thanks to the great crews of Riverbend Sandler Pools. It's all the stuff around the pool I've been responsible for..affordable furniture, bags & bags of mulch (50 so far!), plantings and the upcoming 'laying of the sod!"

I've also got lot of little things I've "been meaning to get to" all over my house, like hanging curtains in the bedroom, bathroom, etc. I've had the supplies for a lot of these projects, just not the time to do them.

Lots going on so I'd better get off the computer and get busy!

The Pursuit, mixed-media collage, 14" x 11", available on CobaltBlueDreams

Why You Won't Find Me On-Line Until April 12th

You'll have to read all the way to the bottom to find out why....

New Spring Class Schedule is Online
Enrollment is now open for Spring Session Child Art Classes. This is always a favorite as we study Animal & People Portraits for 10 weeks culminating in an acrylic self-portrait (plus lots of other fun projects!). Registration is for current students only until March 5th. If your child is not currently enrolled, I will put their name on a list and pull from that list first on March 5th.

Deadline is March 11. I've always been loose about deadlines in the past but I only have 1 week in between sessions this time and I need to order supplies before Winter Session ends. Deposit of 20% is required of ALL students to hold a spot.

Changes
Some may notice changes in my class scheduling and my art schedules this year. I am currently shifting a lot of my emphasis as I prepare to go back to school this coming fall to work on my Master's degree. I am shifting my art sales to be on-line and studio based instead of through shows.

As for my classes, at this time, I do plan to continue teaching while attending school in the fall. I am cutting back and altering my schedule (no more during the day classes) to prepare for and accommodate my own studies. Afterschool classes will continue as normal during Spring and I'll have to wait to closer to Fall to see what changes I will need to make. I do plan on teaching and I'm working out several scenarios to accommodate the greatest number and age span of kids.

Painting
Stress and indecision can wreak havoc on anyone's life and artistic inspiration is no exception. I take it as a good sign I'm on the right path that I am starting to get the itch to paint again. Duplicity is my first finished piece of 2009. This small collage is a reflection of the direction my art has taken over the past several months. I've toyed with combining painted images and collage elements for several years. Look for more to come! This painting is a 5" x 7" x 3/8" acrylic/collage on canvas board and priced at $35. (Note: 2/24..changed painting slightly, this is the updated version.)

Now...Why You Won't Find Me On-Line Until April 12th
It started in Sunday School about a week ago when the teacher was talking about the things that separate you from God...tv, internet, etc. My husband leaned over and whispered, "So you are going to give up the internet for Lent this year?" I quickly whispered back, "NO WAY!" I am a notorious e-mail checking, web browsing junkie. My "I need to check my e-mail real quick." always turns into 15 minutes to an hour. Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Woot, Amazon..I'm on them every day...usually several times a day.

So I started thinking about his comment and decided not only was the internet keeping me from God, but also my family and other things I need or even just want to do. At first I decided I'd do it all cold-turkey..no e-mail..no internet..nothing. But, I'd have a few committees that meet by e-mail that would be pretty upset with me, not to mention all the parents like me who enroll and everything else via e-mail.

So, I'll check my e-mail (although I am going to try to limit how often during the day) but I'm uninstalling my browsers and will not be a part of the web for 46 days starting this Wednesday (yes..I know Lent in only 40 days..but you don't get to count Sundays).

I'll give a Renewal update then and, hopefully, I'll have lots to report with all the extra time I'm going to have!