And if you’re without a lover, have a happy February 14th. Why shouldn’t you join in on the fun?
An artistic celebration of love:
And this. My man,Richard
And for lovers gone but not forgotten
And for love songs
This is not my Photograph
I found this on Google Earth, and it’s credited to Jan Prosek. I’ve been trying to seek out a website or a link to his work, to give him proper credit. It’s fantastic. I have artist envy.
I also wish I could find a way to paste the image in, rather just link it.
In other news, my wrist has gotten to the point where I can very gently do some artwork. I’m still too fragile to do large projects, so I’m working on Christmas cards. Yes, I know it’s February, but I want to have an inventory by October. I plan on doing a show then, and yes, they’re something that actually sells,.
Like this one.
While I’ve had this right-handless problem, I’ve been going over the past, drawings I did of NYC.
Going back to the glamorous days of working in the gift shop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lots of great perks, but I really, I mean really hated the job.
Speaking of both the Met and Christmas cards, this is the card I did of the Angel Tree.
For day jobs, I worked twice in Grand Central Terminal. One of them was in the Market, at a little shop called Adriana’s Caravan. It was the most interesting jobs I ever held. Totally loved it, part of a great team. The store had a good following, too.
Visiting gorgeous lofts. This one was in Tribeca.
And having a skyline view to sketch from my studio window.
Yes, sometimes I miss New York. Our first night when we moved into Manhattan, we said “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore”. It was an exciting time, but all the excitement wasn’t good. I was there for 9/11,for instance. Also trying to navigate the crowds on 5th Avenue on Black Friday put an anxious lump in my throat. Not to mention the subways……………..
So, I guess I’m back in Kansas, or Connecticut as it is. There’s no place like home,
Making Progress
It’s Imbolc for Pagans, and Groundhog day for the rest. It’s the day that early signs of spring are celebrated..the beginning of the end of the long winter.
My cast is off, and I’m on to physical therapy. I can nearly write, which means I can nearly draw. I’m typing normally again, in other words…badly.
This also means, the time to start approaching galleries is almost here again. I did a lot of research on galleries in the area, and in true Baldwin style, lost it. Big redo coming up.
Happy Imbolc, everyone!
Not for Sale
My wrist is getting better, and I am savoring (More like salivating over) the prospect doing artwork again. Yes, in a little more than a week, my cast will be off. A little physical therapy, and I’ll be good to go.
After that announcement, I want to know…are you tired of blogs (including mine), trying to sell you something? Well, I’m going to put a reverse on that, and show you what you can’t have at any price.
This is my cat, Pumpkin. Not for sale, because, damn, it’s Pumpkin!
I gave this to a friend.
This one, because I’ll be damned if I know where it is.
This was given to a different friend as a house warming gift. Boy, did my bf get pissed I did that. But, he never told me he liked it!
I bartered this one for energy healing sessions. BF was pissed about that, too. In all seriousness, if I had known it was so special to him, I would have bartered something else.
I finally learned my lesson. BF loves it. Not for sale
This one I bartered for an art show in a coffeehouse in Manhattan. Yes, exhibit space is so competitive, you have to give some kind of exchange for even a coffeehouse show.
SOLD!
This one I lost by default, because I left it at a gallery too long after the show was over. we didn’t have a car back then. i always meant to make arrangements to pick it up, but time went by faster than I realized.
One of my favorites. Given to a friend. I do have reproductions of it. No reproductions of my friend. She’s one of a kind.
Given to a charity.
Given to charity.
Given to charity
SOLD!
Sold!
Of course my favorite, and my logo. And damn! She was my cat Hannako!
There’s more, but that’s it for now. My finger is tired. When the cast comes off, I’ll be able to type normally, again. I’m thankful for that.
I, Me, Mine
Channeling a little George Harrison, there…….
It seems to me that I talk about myself and my art a lot here. I guess that’s normal, after all, it is my blog and it is supposed to be artsy. Also, these are the subjects I know best,
The portrait above is me, a few years back. I’m not really into doing self portraits. Why would I want to do that, when there are so many more interesting and beautiful subjects to be drawn?
Another topic I know a lot about is retail. I’ve worked in it for so many years, and it’s changed in stores since the internet became the competition.
It used to be enough to ask a customer if she needed help, and leave her alone if she just wanted to look. Now it’s all about “asking open ended questions”, to get the customer to talk about herself, giving the impression of sincere interest. In the meantime, you are listening with the motive of finding out about her, to find something to sell to her. You step in like a vulture when you’ve got it. Seems pretty dishonest to me.
On the other hand, a friend of mine asked about making conversations with strangers to make a friend. Again, the solution is to get that person to talk about herself. If you can listen with sincere interest, you’ll make a friend.
So, I’ve managed to not talk about myself a little.
And some subjects aren’t subjects at all. Just a note, the drawing in this post are pretty random.
So, I don’t do many portraits, self or otherwise. I find getting a likeness difficult, even if I do the tried and true.
Get Out the Tanning Butter!
The title happens to be from the song “Rock Lobster”, by the B-52s. Strangely enough, that happens to be Our Song. Yes, that’s the romantic tune to which my partner and I bonded, on our first date. Most importantly, it was the Labor Day weekend, the last of the lazy, hazy days of summer.
Ah, summer. We could use a little summer, right this very minute. Seriously. The high today is to be 27F. January is here, and I’m already sick of winter. So, let’s take a moment and remember those summer days.
I have done retrospectives of all seasons, it seems, except my favorite.
I never mind the heat much. I know some people prefer the cold, but I like it hot. Hot enough that a dip in a pool is a treat.
People associate flowers with spring. However, there are just as many flowers in the fall, as well as, SUMMER
I can go on and on about summer. So, why not?
Even cats love summer.
And dogs
Motorcyclists
I hope this has warmed you a little. Or at least, has given you some perspective on winter.
Alas
One of my friends calls this the “Psycho House”. I guess I can understand that. Maybe,you can see Norman Bates’ mother in the attic. That was not the intention of the drawing. The idea was the house’s windows were reflecting the dawn’s rosy colors. I always think of Psycho, now. Or an episode of the “Twilight Zone”, might be more appropriate.
So, happy endings sometimes get turned around. I was waiting for both my artist’s block and the holiday season to end, and they did. on January 2nd, I was celebrating the return of normal life. Then on January 3rd, I fell and broke my right wrist.
I can’t write my name, let alone draw. A plot twist to be sure. I’m hunt and peck typing this, and I can still click a mouse. I went through my media library looking for more episodes of the “Twilight Zone”.
Rod Serling, where are you when I need you?!
I’ll be back in a few weeks.
