Redunnit

August 4, 2019 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

I volunteered at the Sono Art Festival in Norwalk, CT, yesterday. I worked hard,but I had a lot of fun! The artists were superb, and I made great friends, even if it was just for a few hours. A very well run show and I hope to exhibit in it sometime in the future.

But as I looked, I realized my thoughts were right about selling a lot of small affordable art. So, I looked back on some of the work I wanted to redo (failure is such an ugly word isn’t it?

For instance, I did this note card as a preliminary sketch, and loved it. Can’t find it. I must have sent it out to someone. Silly me.

Then as a finished version, it left a lot to be desired. It looks like a cosmic baseball glove to me. (Actually failure is more of an ugly and dismal word.)

So, finally to make up for all that dismalness, I decided to make on it one of my redos in a smaller scale.

Yes, once again “Venus and Mars are Alright, Tonight”.

Out to Pasture

July 30, 2019 roxannebaldwin 2 Comments

I’ve finished the classic car (sounds so much better than old carr) drawing. You can see a detail above the title. Here it is in its entirety.

It makes me think of what I’d like to do before, I’m too much of a Classic Woman, and go out to pasture myself.

My dream is to travel around, and do art festivals. I’ve done street fairs, and they’re fun. There’s nothing as ego-boosting as talking to viewer about one’s own art,

However, as a young sixteen year old, I had kind of a bad experience doing my first art street fair. One of my paintings was propped up on the sidewalk, and a man kneeled down in front of it. I pressed my knees tightly together, as far as they would go. The director of the show said, “You’ve got someone interested! Go talk to him.” I couldn’t figure out how to tell her, that by the angle the man was holding his face, behind sun glasses, I could tell he was trying to look up my skirt.

When he got up, he walked past me and said “I liked everything I saw”. I wanted to take a shower with Lava soap (anyone remember Lava soap), as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

Back to the present…………I have a tent, I have panels.

God knows I have a lot of drawings. I have my retail persona.

I’m pretty much set to go.

Went to an art fair last Saturday and I learned a lot. If I want to make money at this, I’ll have to take the advice of the wise woman who ran the show in Mamaroneck. You have to have small pieces, enough to be impulse items and a statement piece. I have a lot, I mean a whole hell of a lot of statement pieces. Time mto change my focus.

I’m going to start by redoing some of the failures I’ve had, like the one above. Good ideas, that in execution missed the mark.

And hopefully, but next summer, this 1955 Classic will be on the road again!

Drive!

July 20, 2019 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

I was sitting with an elderly friend at the bus stop. He looked around mentioned, “People used to drive around in boxes, like the model T. Then the cars had curves, and now, people are driving in boxes again”.

As I watched the SUVs going by……I had to agree with him.

But back to drawing and driving (I don’t recommend doing both at the same time), I started reminiscing about all the cars that were hanging out past their prime in my parents yard. Cars that are considered classics now.

I have to both laugh and cry when I see a car from the 1970’s considered classic. Damn ! I remember those cars! They’re part of my childhood.

I started this drawing for some reason I don’t remember, and then I abandoned it for some reason I also don’t remember. Looking back on it, I realize I had a start on something that could be quite appealing.

I was looking for something to draw, and found it.

There’s a wonderful old Ford, in the back parking lot of this condominium complex. It presents an emotionally enjoyable drawing challenge.

Here’s the first step, without much background or context.

I promise I haven’t spoiled the surprise of the finished work. And you know I keep my promises.

Drawing a Conclusion

July 16, 2019 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

My big mistake in “Broken Promise”, as it shall now be named, is that I forgot what I’m about. I draw. I get into a state of mindfulness, where’s there’s just me, the subject, and pencil and paper. Read my intro, is says that I love to draw, but enjoy color too, or some such wording. I need to get back into drawing, hardcore.

It doesn’t mean that there can’t be fun in the drawing. I go back over my stuck times, and I realize pushing the pencil, so to speak, will eventually get me out of the deepest funk.

The more complicated the drawing, the better.

Now that’s hardcore!

I Don’t Like It

July 16, 2019 roxannebaldwin 2 Comments

Phooey! Dammit, damn, damn and damn, again!

I really don’t like the way this turned out.

It was supposed to be carefree…..but to me, it looks sloppy and lazy. The piece of fecal matter I mentioned before. I really had wanted it to come out like this:

This:

Or even this!

Here I’ve done two tries on this drawing…both utter failures. I may make a do-over in the future, but not now.

I’m too frustrated.

And now I’m feeling insecure about choosing the next subject…will I have the drive, to do what I want?

Drive, get it?

Well, at least I kept my promise.

I Make Good on My Promises

July 15, 2019 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

I finished the rose garden, but I plan on giving it a better name. My thought is it’s either a piece of genius, or a piece of fecal matter. My good friend assures me that it is neither, but she really likes it.

So, here you go! A drawing of a rose garden that my friend really likes. As for me? I’m a terrible judge of my just finished work, so I’ll have to get back to you on it.

Am I getting loose or am I getting sloppy? The last garden I drew in NYC, looked like this:

I’ll be damned if I know. I just know that if I try to draw something tightly again, it doesn’t seem to work.

Oh well, what next?

Blackout !

July 14, 2019 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

“I’ve seen the lights go out on Broadway,

I’ve seen the Empire State laid low.” – Billy Joel

Right now, Rose Garden is going slowly. It’s through no fault of my own, but pet owners will understand. Pumpkin has taken up a new sleeping spot, right behind my easel. It’s a choice between letting Pumpkin sleep peacefully, or get artwork done. You can probably guess my priority.

So, I’ve been paying attention to the news. Along with Hurricane Barry, it seems that Manhattan has had another blackout. I’ve lived through a couple of those. Sure, there are big crises, there are also a lot of little crises. That’s part of living in a big city.

This is an ode to New Yorkers. They gang together during times of crisis, but most are not very friendly. I think it’s a matter of personal space. If I can’t have it in literal 3D dimensions, at least I can keep my emotions clear.

I can give examples of being pulled out of bad situations by strange New Yorkers, only to be met by gruffness afterwards.

So again begs the question ….did I do the right thing leaving NYC? I’ve come to the final conclusion, it just doesn’t matter. I am in Connecticut now, and unless I suddenly am flooded with wealth, I can go back to New York City. So, end of dilemma, I must make the most happy, successful life here.

So, here’s to old new beginnings:

Roxanne Baldwin's Artsy Blog