Oh, Boy

This weekend I sat down to work on my design.

For those of you just tuning in, I had less than a week to come up with my design for the dog form I'm painting for the Forsyth Humane Society. I was able to sketch out a desing but didn't color it. I also wasn't finished with the design on the face and hind leg. Then, I found out at the Sponsor/Artist party that we need to paint the platform.

Although it's a little scary that we're getting our forms two weeks late, I definately could use the time to finish the design. This is what I had planned to do this weekend.

I sat down Saturday evening and evaluated what I had to do. Instead of going to an area where the design wasn't complete, I started where it was complete and started redesigning. I wasn't happy with that section at all but I was having a complete block on how to redo it. A small amount of fear began creeping up my throat.

"Maybe I should just move on to a section that needs to be colored."

This didn't bring immediate relief but at least I had some results. Unfortunately, I only finished coloring one leg and the day was done! There was no time on Sunday to pick up from here. I had updates to make to my SoulPerSuit web site by midnight Sunday. That fear in my throat began to turn to a choking lump.

Oh, boy.

Does every artist experience this? Do you question your work and wonder ever if you're up to the challenge? It's just fear, isn't it?

Willa

Willa is our dog. She is a Rottweiler/Australian Shepherd mix. In appearance and character, she’s more Rott. Her colors are beautiful and her presence intimidating. Like her breeding, she’s loyal, intelligent and has a determined work ethic. Play is not in her repertoire. She turns any attempts at play into work. Her favorite “chore” is fetch. She will play until she collapses. She also loves going running with My Geek. It stimulates her mind as much as her body. So much to see and protect.

Willa is not into squeaky toys. If you give her a stuffed animal, she thinks, “it must be destroyed”. That’s her job, isn’t it? But she is not destructive. She does not bother anything in the house and the worse damage she does in the back yard is dig holes and run a dirt path up along the fence at the road.

And Willa is a sweetheart. She’s skittish of all loud noises. You know when something has bothered her because she will be under your knees. She needs routine. At the slightest change she will hunker on her favorite blanket. Even if we rearrange the furniture she will tentatively enter the room to determine the places that are safe and the places that need defending.

Of course, we talk to her as if she could understand. Because of her seriousness we tease her constantly, making up stories of her elaborate adventures. She’s a hero. She’s a villain. She’s a rock star!

Artist Meets Sponsor

Who is OLA? Who is OLA?
I’ll tell thee who is OLA,
I’ll tell thee who is OLA
OLA is Orbit, Ola is Live
OLA is Orbit Live Art.

Before leaving for the Sponsor/Artist party at the Camel City Cafe, I had to remember to take three things: the camera, my business card and the OLA business card that Colleen had sent me. Check, check and check.

When we entered the lobby at the Stevens Center, we were directed to take the elevator to the 10th floor. As My Geek and I walked toward the elevator, along with several other people, someone from behind us calls, “Robyn”. A lady in front of me turns to greet the man who called.

That’s funny. The name on the OLA business card I received is Robyn. My Geek leans over and whispers in my ear, “That’s OLA.” (I thought it was because of the name but, he tells me later, it was because Robyn was wearing OLA green.)

Several of us fill the elevator and head up.

“So who here is an artist and who’s a sponsor?” someone asks. Everyone responds, “Sponsor.”

“I’m an artist,” I say with great hesitation. It’s a statement of pride but also of great weight.

The elevator doors open. I reach into my pocket and hold up the OLA business card. Their faces lit up! My Geek was right. “I’m your artist,” I said.

The evening was just wonderful. I can’t say enough about how well planned it was by FHS. Their goal was for all of us to meet each other and that’s what they did. The Winston-Salem Journal did a brief article on the event and Beth Ann McBride with 600 AM WSFS mentioned it Friday on her show.

OLA and I could not have been more well matched. Robyn and Geni have just recently started their own design firm although they have worked together for years. They have an impressive portfolio. I really enjoyed getting to know them.

I was very excited to see the sketches of all the other artist around the room. Although some of the sponsors had looked through the portfolio, I had no idea what the other submissions were or what kind of response there was. It was thrilling to hear that there is going to be 46 sponsored and decorated forms! With so many sponsors involved and the city behind it, this is going to really work for FHS.

The only disappointing news of the night was that the forms would not be ready until mid-February! At first I was panicked but I realize that there is a lot that I can do before the form gets here. I can finish coloring my design, which I didn’t have time to do, I can buy my supplies and I can design another t-shirt!

T-shirt Arrives!

I got the Drool On The Frog t-shirt in the mail today! Whew! And I got my sister’s shawl in the mail too – and it’s beautiful. How lucky am I?

Overall, I would say that CafePress does a great job. I can’t believe that I got an original design put on a t-shirt and mailed to me so quickly! This is just too cool.

My only complaint is that the colors are kind of dull. But the forums on CafePress’ web site spoke to this. Their printing process is called direct printing:

With Direct Printing, we print direct-to-fabric with no transfers. The result is a matte image that moves with the garment because the ink is actually embedded in the fabric for ultimate wearable comfort. After a few washes, you will notice the great durability of Direct Printing. That means greater image staying power.

The negative of this process is colors are not as vibrant. I think it’s an o.k. trade off. I like the direct printing finish so much more than transfers – it doesn’t look cheap; it looks professional. I can’t wait to design some more.

So go out there, you crazy kids, and design your own t-shirts. Or, better yet, buy mine!

What Are Sisters For?

When I first moved to NC I spent 4 great years building a new relationship with my sister. Our relationship wasn’t bad it just suffered from distance. She moved away and I really miss sharing these moments and events with her. We could have gone shopping together or raided each other’s closets!

The great thing about She is that she rarely lets distance be an issue and she is thoughtful and generous. She told me that she had just purchased a beautiful royal blue shawl that would work great for an event like this. She stuck it in the mail and “loaned” it to me!

“If you can use it, great. If not, that’s fine too.”

How awesome is She?

Order Test Paints

My energy has no place to go so it’s building up as anxiety about whether or not my iridescent paints will work or, more precisely, how they work. I decided to order three of the more promising candidates:

1. Liquitex iridescent tinting medium
   
2. Pebeo interference gold
   
3. Lascaux Perlacryl in carmine red
   

I ordered from DickBlick, which was an easy process. I received them 01.06.06. Cool.