Musings of an unhinged mind.
PRACTICING WHAT I PREACH
5/26/2010 1:33:34 PM | By Sandra Haynes | Comment on this
Hi Friends,
Many of the other blogs I read, and including mine, all maintain that diversifying your market is wise in the current economic climate. Sort of like a diversified stock portfolio.....if one stock tanks, hopefully there are others still keeping the boat afloat.
My recent venture into automotive memorabilia is now an avenue worth pursuing. The contacts I have in the auto world are responding with enthusiasm and supplying reference photos from across the United States.
I don't know how sales will be yet, but I also wonder why I didn't think of this sooner. The short answer is the concentration that has been put into learning how to paint landscapes and the research and work on the wildlife has kept my mind from even considering anything else.
What's the difference now? Haven't a clue, except for an insistent urge to render in scratchboard an innocent little gas pump a few short weeks ago.
Here is the latest.....a Cadillac that resides in North Carolina awaiting restoration......
"Retro Queen" 10x8" scratchboard etching
Along with teaching workshops, private students, commissions, and art shows, this auto memorabilia will round out a diverse program. Is this being too busy? Not as long as I love what I'm doing and still able to do it all well.
A continued thank you to the legions of wonderful people that stand behind me in so many ways....I am grateful.
Sandra
Many of the other blogs I read, and including mine, all maintain that diversifying your market is wise in the current economic climate. Sort of like a diversified stock portfolio.....if one stock tanks, hopefully there are others still keeping the boat afloat.
My recent venture into automotive memorabilia is now an avenue worth pursuing. The contacts I have in the auto world are responding with enthusiasm and supplying reference photos from across the United States.
I don't know how sales will be yet, but I also wonder why I didn't think of this sooner. The short answer is the concentration that has been put into learning how to paint landscapes and the research and work on the wildlife has kept my mind from even considering anything else.
What's the difference now? Haven't a clue, except for an insistent urge to render in scratchboard an innocent little gas pump a few short weeks ago.
Here is the latest.....a Cadillac that resides in North Carolina awaiting restoration......
"Retro Queen" 10x8" scratchboard etching
Along with teaching workshops, private students, commissions, and art shows, this auto memorabilia will round out a diverse program. Is this being too busy? Not as long as I love what I'm doing and still able to do it all well.
A continued thank you to the legions of wonderful people that stand behind me in so many ways....I am grateful.
Sandra
WHAT DO YOU CALL A MISTAKE?
5/15/2010 3:07:11 AM | By Sandra Haynes | Comment on this
"Learn all you can from the mistakes of others,
You won't have time to make them all yourself."
Alfred Sheinwold
You won't have time to make them all yourself."
Alfred Sheinwold
Hi Friends,
As we get further into the show season, and with each approaching show, the artists in my circle are busy comparing notes.....What do you think will sell? Is this show approaching its' expiration date? Will any customers show up? The usual questions in this economy.
A couple of weeks ago I tried a new show that didn't turn out all too well in sales....and resulted in a workshop date that has already filled up. A couple of months ago it was selling ACEO small size paintings on EBay.....that truly was a study in agony and something that has now fallen by the wayside. But I did come away from it with a keener understanding of what caught an audiences' attention.
The newest venture is doing (mostly) automotive memorabilia in scratchboard. Will it turn out to be a keeper or another Titanic? I don't know at this point.....but I do know that it will get all I have to give. If I'm paying attention and doing my job as an artist, whether it finds a following or not, something good will come of it. That's something I know for sure.
My landscapes in oils and wildlife in scratchboard will remain......the memorabilia will be another avenue in the spirit of diversifying my market without diluting the talent for my chosen media.
So I will continue to try different approaches to making my art and a living.......and make a bucket load of mistakes. I will freely share the good, bad and the ugly with you. I've been around long enough to know that mistakes aren't fatal. (Well, mostly.) They can open up hidden avenues and deliver benefits if you're paying attention. I read a lot of blogs by other artists, marketing experts and people a whole lot smarter than I am. They have made mistakes too.....read and learn from them.
Be fearless, make a few mistakes.....
Sandra
As we get further into the show season, and with each approaching show, the artists in my circle are busy comparing notes.....What do you think will sell? Is this show approaching its' expiration date? Will any customers show up? The usual questions in this economy.
A couple of weeks ago I tried a new show that didn't turn out all too well in sales....and resulted in a workshop date that has already filled up. A couple of months ago it was selling ACEO small size paintings on EBay.....that truly was a study in agony and something that has now fallen by the wayside. But I did come away from it with a keener understanding of what caught an audiences' attention.
The newest venture is doing (mostly) automotive memorabilia in scratchboard. Will it turn out to be a keeper or another Titanic? I don't know at this point.....but I do know that it will get all I have to give. If I'm paying attention and doing my job as an artist, whether it finds a following or not, something good will come of it. That's something I know for sure.
My landscapes in oils and wildlife in scratchboard will remain......the memorabilia will be another avenue in the spirit of diversifying my market without diluting the talent for my chosen media.
So I will continue to try different approaches to making my art and a living.......and make a bucket load of mistakes. I will freely share the good, bad and the ugly with you. I've been around long enough to know that mistakes aren't fatal. (Well, mostly.) They can open up hidden avenues and deliver benefits if you're paying attention. I read a lot of blogs by other artists, marketing experts and people a whole lot smarter than I am. They have made mistakes too.....read and learn from them.
Be fearless, make a few mistakes.....
Sandra
EATING THE CRAYONS
5/7/2010 9:06:37 AM | By Sandra Haynes | Comment on this
Hi Friends,
With the visit of my oldest daughter and one-year-old grandson, a day of shopping had to be fortified with a meal break. Instead of a fast food place, we opted for a sit-down restaurant....the first such visit for the person that is one.
As we arranged ourselves at the table, a small array of coloring crayons and a place mat meant for coloring were brought to the table. I'm always on the lookout for any grandchild that may show a glimmer of artistic inclination, so I offered small child the crayons. He's a good-natured, sunny type, but was watching the demonstration of applying crayons to paper with great seriousness.
Demonstration done, I arranged the crayons in front of him, red, blue and yellow in a neat row and waited for my little artist-in-the-making to make his choice. He carefully made his choice....the blue one......and ate it.
Then proceeded to make some marks with the remaining red and yellow crayons, on his napkins. Being the eternal optimist, I'm hoping this means that he is a free thinker that already has the idea of coloring outside the lines. Maybe that's easier when you've never learned to color inside them in the first place.
A new piece has arrived on my easel.....seemingly created by a mind that wasn't paying attention to what I thought my art was supposed to be. Landscapes in oil and wildlife in scratchboard etchings has been my main focus, but taking a left turn somewhere has produced this.......
"Nevermore" 10x8" scratchboard etching
I found this intriguing enough that more of this rusty, dusty kind of art will be done.....much of it in an automotive vein. Haven't the faintest clue why I think this is a good idea.....this wasn't an idea so much as it was a happening. I think I will follow along and see where it goes.
I wish for you a day with a few surprises......go ahead, eat the blue crayons and color outside the lines.
All my best,
Sandra
With the visit of my oldest daughter and one-year-old grandson, a day of shopping had to be fortified with a meal break. Instead of a fast food place, we opted for a sit-down restaurant....the first such visit for the person that is one.
As we arranged ourselves at the table, a small array of coloring crayons and a place mat meant for coloring were brought to the table. I'm always on the lookout for any grandchild that may show a glimmer of artistic inclination, so I offered small child the crayons. He's a good-natured, sunny type, but was watching the demonstration of applying crayons to paper with great seriousness.
Demonstration done, I arranged the crayons in front of him, red, blue and yellow in a neat row and waited for my little artist-in-the-making to make his choice. He carefully made his choice....the blue one......and ate it.
Then proceeded to make some marks with the remaining red and yellow crayons, on his napkins. Being the eternal optimist, I'm hoping this means that he is a free thinker that already has the idea of coloring outside the lines. Maybe that's easier when you've never learned to color inside them in the first place.
A new piece has arrived on my easel.....seemingly created by a mind that wasn't paying attention to what I thought my art was supposed to be. Landscapes in oil and wildlife in scratchboard etchings has been my main focus, but taking a left turn somewhere has produced this.......
"Nevermore" 10x8" scratchboard etching
I found this intriguing enough that more of this rusty, dusty kind of art will be done.....much of it in an automotive vein. Haven't the faintest clue why I think this is a good idea.....this wasn't an idea so much as it was a happening. I think I will follow along and see where it goes.
I wish for you a day with a few surprises......go ahead, eat the blue crayons and color outside the lines.
All my best,
Sandra
FINDING JOY IN THE JOURNEY
5/1/2010 2:14:17 AM | By Sandra Haynes | Comment on this
"Don't put the key to happiness in someone else's pocket.....
keep it in your own."
author unknown
keep it in your own."
author unknown
Hi Friends,
Sometimes the art path we choose to travel is a long one.
There is a learned skill to finding the joy in your journey......you're going to live those days and years anyway, why not with happiness now? It is a choice you can make. Nothing or no one can "make" you happy, you have to make that decision for yourself, and it is a conscious choice.
There are times when my smile is a bit strained, and I get up in the morning telling myself that on this day I will be happy. Sometimes it bears repeating several times, but it does work. No, I don't walk around with a ditzy grin on my face all day, but I do find the joy in small things.
I would like to share with you what was supposed to be a scratchboard etching for my workshops. It was to be one of three subjects that I will teach this year. After getting about half of it done, it finally dawned on me that this was a bit involved for students in a 2 day workshop. At first my reaction was to almost growl from frustration.....I'm in a bit of a time crunch here, and didn't need something in the works to get cross-threaded.
"Faded Memories" 8x10" scratchboard etching
Reassessing things from a different perspective.....the smiley face concept......it's a nice addition to my inventory and I will still find the time to get that other workshop piece done. This was just a small detour along the way and not like I spent the time drinking a bottle of wine by myself.
Color Outside the Lines,
Sandra
Sometimes the art path we choose to travel is a long one.
There is a learned skill to finding the joy in your journey......you're going to live those days and years anyway, why not with happiness now? It is a choice you can make. Nothing or no one can "make" you happy, you have to make that decision for yourself, and it is a conscious choice.
There are times when my smile is a bit strained, and I get up in the morning telling myself that on this day I will be happy. Sometimes it bears repeating several times, but it does work. No, I don't walk around with a ditzy grin on my face all day, but I do find the joy in small things.
I would like to share with you what was supposed to be a scratchboard etching for my workshops. It was to be one of three subjects that I will teach this year. After getting about half of it done, it finally dawned on me that this was a bit involved for students in a 2 day workshop. At first my reaction was to almost growl from frustration.....I'm in a bit of a time crunch here, and didn't need something in the works to get cross-threaded.
"Faded Memories" 8x10" scratchboard etching
Reassessing things from a different perspective.....the smiley face concept......it's a nice addition to my inventory and I will still find the time to get that other workshop piece done. This was just a small detour along the way and not like I spent the time drinking a bottle of wine by myself.
Color Outside the Lines,
Sandra
