Hello from 32,000 feet!

Wow. this is kind of fun. Never posted from 32,000 feet before...but there's a first time for lots of fun things! We're headed to Dallas and about half way through the flight on American Airlines and online with gogo so wahoo! too bad I don't have my webcam with me! I'm sitting by myself cuz John got upgraded, but there was only one seat, so I urged him to take it. My reward is that I'm on the bulkhead behind him, no one next to me. Smiling.

When we left this morning the overnight rain had left the streets wet and puddled, but the towncar ride was pleasant (little traffic at 7am on a Saturday morning). As we lifted off, the damp haze was still hanging over the city.

Part of me wanted to stay, part of me, ready to go home. Little sleep as my brain churned out the order of the tasks awaiting me. 3 commissions yet unfinished. 2 due by December 1. Parties to plan, budgets to stick too, little funds and lots of bills. Little comfort that it's not just me.

The sun was shining in so much I couldn't see the screen. Down comes the shade and, ahh, better now.

So, lets see. I did one small painting that I mentioned in the last post. Never got back to it as the sun came out and beckoned me out to wander the streets. It's always refreshing to me, to wander through downtown or midtown Manhattan, and just try to count the different languages you hear as conversations float past you. Or to wonder who's local, who's visiting and from where? Standing on a corner, waiting for the walk light, a couple walked up and asked me where to catch the bus to Long Island. When I explained I hadn't a clue, that I was visitor, the gentleman said, "oh, we saw you had eggs and thought you lived here". It was true, I did have eggs, having just left the grocery. Kind of funny...not knowing who lives there. Even the army of tailored black suits is not a sure indication. Lots of those walking the streets in downtown Manhattan. The apartment we stayed in was a block or two from the NYSE. Two blocks from the Hudson River and a 10 minute walk from Battery Park in one direction and the South Street Pier in the other. Fun.

We searched google for an Italian Restaurant and it found 243 in our "neighborhood". How fun is that? Sushi, Indian, Italian, Irish Pubs on every corner and limos, towncars and the suited drivers stood all in a line on Friday nights. Delmonico's a four minute walk.

Oh, and they were filming a movie right outside the apartment. That was amazing to watch. Cameras moving along on lines hung for blocks and held up by giant cranes. Lines and lines of equipment rental trucks and vans, and street after street blocked off to traffic...except that the thousands of people who walk everywhere, still did, and so did we. Some of us almost bumping into each other for looking up up up at the wire and camera gliding along it. Definitely fun.

Though I got off to a rather rough start, (lots of rain, over stressed and over tired), in the end, my shoulders are lower, and while I'm not looking forward to the 32 degrees my desktop tells me it is at home, or the snow that I hear (thanks, Jen) is still on the ground, I'm setting my mind on the paintings I need to finish and coming holidays (they'll be here before we blink). so, I'll order a glass of wine, recline my seat and smile!

hey from The City

New York, New York. What's this country bumpkin with a City Girl heart doing here? Well, lots.

I know it's been a while since I posted. My head down, my heart heavy, my vision blurry, kept me from posting. Mostly, I was exhausted. Letting all the stuff going on, get to me. It was time to run away.

Of course, just in time, husband got work in NYC. Wahoo! (for the work) Wahoo! (it's NYC) and Wahoo! (I get to go!) So...I came. Mostly. In my head was churning all of the things I would do, what I would post, how much fun that would be.

When we were sitting on a plane, John turns to me and says, "you got the power for your laptop, right?"

Reality slapped me in the head. Uh-oh. Even as I said, "um. no" my head was spinning with how to solve it.

Good grief. What an air head. Well, at the risk of stating the obvious, clearly, solve it I did, and thank you, Tracy and Angel Fire Resort and Amy!

Yesterday it poured rain all day. Not like it rains in Angel Fire, with a heavy burst of two inch diameter rain drops followed by double rainbows and bright cerulean blue skies....no, the walls of solid drizzle that get you wet through and through...especially if you forgot the umbrella, too.

Ok, so I did a small "Pan Pastel" on Artist Panel (it looks about 6 x 6 (inches) to me. Not sure how I'll get it home. hmmm. At least I made here with the pan pastel, the paper and panels and the tools. Geee, where was my head?

In the rain, (which day?)I wound the streets from the apartment provided by the company John is working for (Learning Tree) to find "ground zero". We've been here a few times since 9/11...but I'd never screwed up the guts to go look. This time, I decided, it was way past time. So, in the rain, I went. By the time I went out, the rain was more of a mist.

I was struck by the slow weep of the heavens as I climbed the stairs to the viewing bridge. I had my camera...but I took no photos. The striking emptiness of the gaping hole in the skyline is clearer even on the ground. There is much going on there, all kinds of construction. They had apparently just poured concrete, and it was all covered in giant tarps to protect it from the rain. It looked like giant grave cloth to me. I stood there for quite a while, letting it all soak in. My mind took me back to when I stood looking in the glassed in rooms at Auschwitz. How is it different, really? I wondered. Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I shuddered, and headed back down the stairs.

That was actually on Tuesday. Yesterday was much wetter. I went out in search of groceries, got lost, gave up and found my way back to the apartment soaking wet and wishing I'd not gone out.

Today is much brighter, and after a good night's sleep (finally!) I ventured out in the chilly morning air and found the 17th St. Pier and all the shops there. They were not open yet, so it was quiet, and the seagulls were dive-bombing in the Hudson River, the morning sun lighting up the skyscrapers like gleaming diamonds. I looked at the river and wondered how incredulous it must have been to watch an airplane land on it not so long ago. I looked at the Brooklyn bridge and watched all the cars and people going this way and that. I watched as a few old men came together and began their Tai Chi. Slowly, the seaport began to wake up. Buses pulled in and unloaded their riders in front of the ticket booth for ferries to Ellis Island, Staten Island and other destinations. Cafe and store owners cleaned windows and floors and unstacked tables and chairs, preparing to open. It made me think of home and the commonality of owning your own business and all that means.

I bought a cup of coffee and warmed up a bit while I watched the progress of the South Street Seaport opening up for business.

Once warmed, all open I wandered through the shops at the pier, then wandered across to Fulton and Front pedestrian shopping area where I found a great (really cute) sweater for $29 and two nice dress shirts for John ...two for $40. I found alot of other great stuff too, but I didn't buy it.

By then, I'd been wandering the streets for 4 hours and my feet were telling me to go home, which I did. So now we're caught up. I hear there's a good bit of snow at home. I'm really glad I cleared out the garage and pulled the truck in. Think I'll relax for a bit...if I can remember how to do that!

Shaken

This morning as I was making coffee, emptying the dishwasher and tidying the kitchen, husband says, "You haven't said a word...are you ok?" I answered "yes. didn't realize I was being quiet". After all, there was not a quiet place in me. My heavy heart, still questioning, and many thoughts racing through my head. I was thinking about Rebecca, about how she impacted so many in such a positive way. Trying to understand. She told me months ago, that she would die, that the fighting was over and the living was the focus. The power of that eluded me then. Now it has smacked me in the face and I am taking a hard look inside.

She was a little more than 8 months younger than my younger sister, my "middlest" sister..also named Rebeka.

I see clearly how Rebecca's life intersected with mine. I just wonder if I blessed her as she did me. I'm ashamed at my selfishness and reluctance to embrace, at my tendency to not let even those I love get too near, some unknown and irrational fear holding me back. I've known this about myself for a long time and right now it is glaringly clear. May this public confession somehow unlock some of the hidden places.

A new look at learning

If you know my husband at all, you know how passionate he is about education. While he has taught adults most of his professional life, when he was on the faculty at university he often lamented at the un-preparedness of students. Maybe that's why this video caught his eye. When he showed it to me, I thought, "wow, if I'd had school like that, maybe I would have gone on to college." Truth is, I was bored out of my mind. In teaching art I have often used some out-of-the-box methods, but I never got this innovative. Maybe I should.....hmmmm

Take a look, and let yourself imagine the possibilities. Click this link.

Stuff for Sale

I forgot to mention...I still have some "stuff" for sale. Musical instruments, photo equipment and display grids. Check it out here.

Must be Fall

The leaves have just begun to turn. I don't know how long they'll last or if they will all turn before they fall, thanks to the early snow we had. For sure the nights are cold enough to turn them all, but we'll see soon enough. I know it's fall even without color on the mountains...the gallery is still and quiet.

This evening we (the two galleries) are hosting a private reception for some traveling writers who are vising the area on a "famtour" (familiarization). Following the reception, I'll join them for dinner. I'm looking forward to all of that, but in the meantime it is really hard to sit here and have the gallery open with me, myself and I to chat with. I already cleaned up from last night's fourth Friday event, and the gallery looks beautiful, if I do say so myself. I need to paint, but I'm wearing these fancy clothes so I don't have to go home and change before the reception/dinner. I'm a messy painter, so I won't risk it.

The Artisan Expo I went to last Sunday was a blast, thought I spent my accumulated wad in a heartbeat. I bought all the supplies I need for the new class that is coming up beginning next week...and then I bought a moderate supply of a brand new product...Ultra Soft Pan Pastel. Check it out here....it's going to be a blast to play with! (and paint with). I'd probably be getting dirty right now, but they were sold out before i got there. They are shipping me what I ordered...and I can hardly wait!

Guess I'll go play on facebook for a bit. See ya!

Working like mad

It's quiet again at the gallery, at least most of the time, so I'm trying hard to get some things caught up, some things under way and some things thrown out. I know I didn't post last week, as I was sitting on the floor, fingers freezing, working on a new project (more on that later) as I was looking for customers at the MVAC Illusions show. The bank had the air conditioning on and it was raining and 58 degrees outside. BRRRRRRRRRRRR. Still the Illusions reception was nice, and congrats to my friend Jacqui Binford-Bell for taking yet another Best of Show!

Yesterday I painted. I had to do something to divert my attention from the portrait I've been working on. I can't continue the portrait until I get a new brush, which I will do tomorrow, but in the meantime if I work on it I'll overdo it. So, I pulled out a tiny artist panel that I bought when Artisan's had a great sale on them. it is only 6 x 6. Inches, that is. 6 x 6, cradled artist panel by Ampersand, my favorite purveyor of paintable surfaces. Not to diminish my love of Yupo paper, but they (Ampersand) do a nice array of different kinds of media. So, anyway, I played. I ended up with sort of a flower, sort of not. I'm calling it "A little a-MAZE-ment" Take a look and you'll see why, oh, and it's acrylic!

Tomorrow I'm going to the Artisan Expo in Santa Fe, where I'm sure to encounter more fun! I'll pick up the supplies for the next class that begins on Sept. 30th. I have 3 signed up and we're going play with oil pastel (no worries, Jennifer!) so I need to pick some up, along with "stuff to paint on". We'll see what I find at the expo. Basically, I'm excited to be getting out of town, if only to Santa Fe and only for a day. I've not been anywhere other than to Taos since May!

Then, it'll be back to work editing video for Katherinesarttv.tv I'm getting so close to a full launch, yet it feels so far away. Let's hope I can be productive, finish editing, get the site fully operational and live, finish the portrait , do the next commission and have a blast teaching a class...all before November 1! That's my aim...oh and the brick floor too.

Better Now...Yay

I've often told other artists at shows that "one customer, and 5 minutes, can change the outcome of this". And so it was today. I was literally packing up, loading things into the back of the truck, when another car pulled in. I glanced up, and smiled, seeing one of my clients walking around the back of her car, with daughter and mother-in-law in tow. 20 minutes later they were happily climbing back in their car, with a cadre of unframed, un-mounted, un-matted originals in hand. See my smile?

So now, the truck is loaded with what is destined for Angels Attic. There are a few things left that I really want to sell. You can find a list here. Pass it on...I'll be adding more soon!

big sale blahs & yays

It's 1:49pm. The day started with a drizzle of rain, then a bit more then moved off to warm sun and cool breeze. When I opened the door this morning there were half a dozen cars in the driveway. I sold the Ladder and the glass blocks straight away. A bunch of brand new, never worn socks that just would not slip around the poor feet and up J's immobile ankles.

Some people who said, "oh, Katherine McDermott, I've heard of you!"

One man stopped in, who was investigating problems with the fact that the shoulder on highway 64 ends conspicuously about 6 feet before our road. It has been a nightmare since the shoulder was laid in some years ago. A friend of mine was hit by a vehicle trying pass while she was stopped, blinker on, to turn left. The other car tried to pass, ran out of shoulder and abruptly turned to get back on pavement and rammed into the side of her car. If she had not been there, he would have plowed into oncoming traffic, as some others have done, at least one that I know of , with tragic results. Maybe he'll get something done.

I think I'll be loading up the truck and visiting Angel's Attic real soon now. small sigh. I don't mean to be ungrateful. yes, I'd hoped for more. More people, more sales. But then, I should have seen it coming.

Arts About Town, yesterday, was good. And about half or less of the traffic we had last year. Maybe it's because Labor Day is a week later this year, somehow, a week later than the past few years. Last year we did the event on August 30th. And the year before that, similarly. hmmmm. I dunno. I kind of refuse to just blame it on the economy. Things have been going well at the gallery, for a change! Interesting experience to me. Lots of room to make up for the past still, but I'm kind of amazed, and thankful!

So, here I am. Sitting in a chair in the driveway, posting on the blog. go figure. Angel's Attic, here I come.

No time to rest, gotta get moving tomorrow for the Illusions show next weekend. We'll hang it on Friday. Reception on Saturday (September 12) from 5-7:30 or something like that. Hope that goes well.

Well, guess I'll start boxing stuff up. Doesn't look good for more customers. Next time, it will 7:30 to 11. that's it. Live and learn (at least I try to.)

Fall approaches, BIG Sale coming

Well, it's beyond overdue. I know, I'm not done with the brick laying and painting, not finished cleaning gutters or anything outside. But it's on to the garage before it's too late. We started organizing today..backed the car out, got out the broom and vaccuum and set to it. Cleaning the debris last winter left behind and then raiding shelves and closets and such to debate what we shall let go of this time. (whew) Already, half the garage is stacked and laid out with treasures (and stuff) from the past. The car will live outside for now. I think the left front tire looks low.

I'm debating...sell the hammered dulcimer, or not? Sell the camping stuff, definitely, the books, for sure. Husband decided to let go of the vintage engineers tools he inherited from his grandfather. Tools I've looked at off and on for 20 years....it's a big deal. Some of it made in 1924.

On the "walls" I used to use at shows, hang the evening gown, some suits (mine) and some skirts. The walls are for sale too.

I have a table for the Nikon package and table for the books and games. Yet to come are a table for the computer equipment, an area for the excercise machine, a dresser drawers and some unframed originals as well as framed originals that have never been seen at the gallery. Pots to plant in, and pots that are home to plants that I have no room for anymore. Pots with raspberry plants (assuming I get that done) and some with Jade Plants (gotta do that too). Oh, and my drum machine.

Everywhere I turn my head I find something else. Some tupperware. some forks and knives and spoons and good heavens, where did all this come from? It seems to me it multiplies when we close the door on the closet, leave a room quiet for a while.

Anyway, we might have it put together in time for the sale. Sunday, September 6, 9 am to 4pm. No earlybirds. I'll be busy on Saturday with Arts About Town.

Finished the Next One

I know it's not Sunday (my usual day to post) but I told you I'd post a photo of the commission I was working on, when it was done. I just finished it. All that's left is put a wire on the back for hanging. I also made a video of most of the process, though I ran out of battery at a critical moment, I can recreate that with voice over and a photo. I'll get to work on that next week.

Anyway, so here it is. 24 x 18 Watercolor on Canvas. The owner loves it. What about you?

Painting up a storm

It's been only a week or two, maybe not that long, but once I got back in my studio this past weekend, I painted like whirlwind. One is finished, one is almost finished.

I decided that this year I would paint something for the Music From Angel Fire Benefit Auction. I've never done that before, but just donated something from my inventory only to see it go to one of my customers for substantially less than retail. Although, in the past two years or so, my work has regularly sold for retail or higher at the auction. That is what prompted me to paint something specifically for it. Not something that's been hanging on my wall. So, that's it there in top left corner. 18 x 24 watercolor on canvas. Gallery wrap, painted edges....no frame required.

Then I got to work on another commissioned piece. It's not quite done. Just some tweaking here and there. I'll post it when it's finished cuz I just realized I haven't photographed it yet.

I'm at the gallery now, awaiting the first customers. Thought I'd take a minute to post. Oh, and by the way, if you haven't signed up for Arts About Town yet...get those applications in! We want to cover the town in artists! The Resort has gotten on board too, offering participating artists a $10 discount to attend the Bikes, Blues and Brews concert event that will follow Arts About Town. It's a win/win!

This year we have indoor spaces, outdoor (protected under a portal) spaces and outdoor tent spaces. Put a note on the application about where you'd like to be:
El Centro Plaza under the Portal
Frontier Square under the Portal
The Cove Art Center under the Portal
The Inn Center: Inside
The Inn Center: Outside with a tent.

We'll do our best to accomodate you. Sign up NOW!

August, must be madness

It's my birthday. 08-08. I've written this post over and over and over. Long gone are the days when birthdays were exciting. Get up, make the coffee , make the breakfast, feed the dog, go to the gallery, water and care for the plants, sweep the floor, mop the floor, open the new space, hang the prints, move out the print bins, open the windows (or I'll suffocate), dust, vacuum the other rooms..wait it's almost 9:45, turn on the lights, turn on the music, and, turn on the open signs, it's 10am.

breathe.

oh, boot the laptop (this takes forever---it's Vista) download the email (this takes forever, too.) check the website (s).
Check the phone for messages. Figure out what's left on the desk that needs attention.

breathe.

feel guilty. didn't get the robie cleaned (the irobot that vacuum's the house for me). guess that won't get done today. oh well. I did manage to get a load of laundry in. didn't walk the dog. didn't......ad infinitum.

breathe.

I notice that lots of my Facebook friends are leaving birthday greetings on my page. It makes me smile. I write back, still smiling.

Customers come in. We talk. Some buy, some don't, but they all say "happy birthday"(because, of course, I told them it was my birthday). Some comment that they didn't know there was a gallery in Angel Fire..(never mind that there are two). They live here.

breathe.

The country is a mess. That's what I hear.

breathe.

My mom calls. I smile. My mom-in-law calls. I smile.

Then she tells me someone walked into her house and stole her wallet. Yes, she (mom-in-law) opened the door, and welcomed 'her' in...mistaking her for someone else. (shame on you, whoever you are. ) I'm shaking my head, feeling the slime. shake it off. or try to. shaking my head. unbelievable...or status quo. refuse to ponder that right now.

Breathe.

Missed by sister's call. Sad..but we'll connect later.

And, I celebrated the fact that I'm 'only' 48. I know, it's bizarre. I didn't know how old I was. I got stuck somewhere. husband had to tell me. Made me laugh, really deep, really long, really funny. Nice to be 48.

Painting till My Head Spins

Wow. I can't believe it's been a month since I last posted. That will tell you I've been moving at the speed of light. Between then and now, we pulled off another ArtsFest...and according to artists and patrons alike, it was "the best ever"...at least as far as the quality of the art and beauty of the displays. The arts council is already putting our heads together for next year...and big changes lie ahead where the Premier Reception is concerned. The cost of promotion, food and security forced a higher ticket price, which left us throwing food away and losing money on the event. Now we'll have to find other sources to fund our youth arts education programs. At least our mystery auction did well, with a number of items going for retail and even higher.

As soon as we rolled out the displays we rolled in the Children's Theatre Workshops...literally the next day. And in the midst of that, I took action on what I'd been planning for weeks....a complete renovation of the gallery. That involved moving two rooms completely around which relocated my "office" and made room for my studio and classroom space! Painting ceilings and walls, moving furniture and paintings, and oh...I can hardly wait for our 4th Friday so everyone can see the new space. Even painted the hallways outside the gallery with the ok of the building owner. It looks fantastic!

So, why all the commotion? Here it comes....I'm opening additional space across the hall. Get ready for the all new ArtSpace TOO! Cards, gifts, prints, and CHOCOLATE! I'm going to carry the Endangered Species Chocolate...mostly dark. YUM! Now if I can manage to not eat all my product that will be wonderful! I'm intending to open it on Friday...this coming Friday...for the 4th Friday Reception that will be ON after all! We'll go from 5-7 so Theatre lovers can head to the 2nd showing of Dinner With Friends, the Pulitzer Prize Winnning Play by Donald Margulies. Curtain is at 8pm at Frontier Square between Avalon's and the CVB.

AND, update on the brick laying project...which was on hold waiting for me to apply a moisture, vapor and air barrier to the walls in hopes of preventing any further moisture issues with the adobe. I got that started today..first coat of 3 or 4. It's a by-product of the Space industry. Last summer I put it on the Garage doors and the door between the house and the garage...and raised the temp in both the garage and the hallway (which was always freezing in the winter) This past winter there was no blast of cold air emanating from that door! So, since it worked so well, I decided to try it on the adobe in what was the hot tub room. We'll see how it goes. Two coats of the "barrier", then these tiny little beads that you stir into your paint before you apply it. It makes an imperceptible texture...but it does a great job of keeping the indoor temperature stable and dry.

Oh, and I finished four of the commissions I had. The customer was delighted and I was elated. Here they are:


All are 20 x 16 Watercolor on Canvas.

I'll get back in the studio soon. I still have four more commissions to paint. Unfortunately my time at home is limited this time of year..and there is the garage to clean out, the weeds to pull the laundry to do and the room to finish. I'd love to have all that done before snow flies. At least the laundry!

Gorgeous Sunday

It is 76 degrees with a crystal cerulean blue New Mexico Sky. Great day to be outdoors! I must confess my arms are sore though...I weed wacked all the weeds creeping onto the driveway, into the edge of the garden, along side the rasberry patch and around the back "lawn". We have 7.5 acres of "natural" grasses, wild iris, blue flax, indian paintbrush and scores of flowers whose name I don't know. In the front, I've carved out an area in the "L" of the house and it is teeming with columbine, iris, roses and some giant, about to burst peonies. Except last night somebody (deer? elk?) ate the flowers off of some of the columbine. If they try again tonight they'll get a nose full of, um, wolf urine. It worked last year. We'll see.

This morning we wandered up to Red River to personally congratulate my friend and gallery artist, Jacqui Binford-Bell. She won "Most Colorful" and (drum roll) Best of Show at the Red River Wine and Art Festival. The Best of Show is a big deal, because it was judged by one of New Mexico's best known and legendary artists, Ed Sandoval. Well done, Jacqui! Way to go!

And now, I'm loathe to go inside...it's way too nice out here to be in there...laying brick. I should also be painting. It's supposed to thunderstorm again tomorrow...there will be time for painting and brick laying. It's the first day of summer...and the weather today makes me believe it. Think I'll pour a glass of wine and let the birds and the wind serenade me.

To Donate, or Not

I know it's not Sunday (that's usually when I post) but it is quiet here at the gallery now, and I had a great conversation with Jennifer Cavan which compells me to write. She wrote a great post on "how long does it take?" (to create a piece). And as she says, there is so much "not art" that goes into the business of being a professional artist that the casual viewer doesn't see. So, whether you spend an hour, a day, a week or a year, that process is not the whole piece. I'm starting there, because our "great conversation" was about donating work (or not) to the many organizations who ask. She might post about too, but I thought I'd get the conversation going here.

Over the years, I would hazard a guess that I've donated, somewhere in the range of $25,000 in my art. So, why do I severely limit what I donate and to what organization now? Let's see what those donations did for me, for the organization, for the art community, for the galleries.

If I donate a piece with a retail value of $500, what is that for me? lost revenue of $500. It is basically "advertising expense" and based on tracking, very poor at that. Worthwhile advertising nets revenue. Not so a donated piece.

How about the organization that gets it? Once in a while at the Music From Angel Fire Art Auction, a piece will go for at or near it's value. But way more often, most work gets "sold" for about 20 cents on the dollar. So, they have to sell ALOT of art to generate reasonable revenue...and if you've ever been to one, you know that they do.

Now, examine the impact of that. If, at the auction my $500 piece was lucky, and sold for $200, the lucky winner got a "bargain", and I'll hear about it for the next few years. Will they come buy a piece from me? Not likely. Will the person that was bidding against them? Not likely. Why? because they'll go to another auction and try again. I have actually had people tell me that they love my work, but will wait for the MFAF auction. Those same people say, "I love this gallery, I hope you are successful!" and walk out the door without spending a dime. So, I wonder, how does that work?

A few years ago I donated a $300 piece to a local group and they sold it in a "Live" auction, for $35. While one person jumps up and down about how they "stole"it, several hundred others watched it. What is the impact of that?

That said, yes, I will donate to the MFAF auction. Maybe a handful of others. But I sincerely hope those of us who buy at similar auctions will consider supporting the artists, as well as the organizations. And I would encourage the non-profits that auction art, consider more than their own bottom line, look for ways to support the artists that make their fundraisers possible.

I have lots of ideas on that......

Grey and Rainy Sunday

Good day for a day off! Dark skies, howling wind and scattered rain, now soft, now hard, now scattered. I hope it doesn't damage the beautiful peach colored iris that just opened this morning in my front garden! They are lovely.

So it is a good day to stay in. Which is good because we had big day yesterday! My morning was filled with people and painting as I did demo after demo of painting watercolor on yupo paper. In all, I think I did 14 paintings...some as small as 4 x 6 inches, some much larger. By the end I was wiped, but I ran home to shower and rest a bit before the big wedding we had been anticipating for what seemed like months. I'm sure it wasn't, but we were really looking forward to it. And we were not disappointed! Congrats and all the best, Tom and Bonnie. The setting was beautiful, the ceremony sweet and fun, and the party afterward will likely not be topped! It was way beyond fun!

We actually slept in this morning, sleeping off the exhaustion. This morning we spent mostly brainstorming. We want to start a business incubation center and were tossing around ideas and dreams in advance of a meeting tomorrow to pitch it to some locals who might have guidance and know-how. What kind of thing would you do with a business incubator..or do you need one, and why? I'd value your input.

When we decided to move on with the day, I headed down to what was the hot tub room and did more brick laying. The floor was so badly out of level, that it is tricky to fix it and I'll have to remove the trim from the doors because it is now too long! To slide a brick underneath it would mean that brick would be a full 1/4 inch below all the others....and I'm barely a third of the way across the room. wow. It'll be good when it's done though. At least I know how to do it right now!

So, it's almost 4pm and the angel food cake John is making has the whole house smelling incredibly yummy. It's my favorite cake and strawberries were on sale....guess what I'll be having for desert tonight! oops..the dryer is chiming it's "I'm done" song. Guess I'd better get to it.

Time to get productive...

It's been about two weeks, I think, since the last post. Sorry, guess I've just been busy.

The brick is still being slowly laid in the great drying out of the room that held the hot tub. Sand is mostly dry now, and the adobes are dry, but the mud in between is still damp, so I'm holding repainting the walls for more dry time. I'll finish the brick after the walls are painted, anyway.

In the meantime, alot has been happening around here. Let's see, since I last wrote, I was elected President of the Angel Fire Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, held the annual planning meeting (which was very productive!) and have been diligently working on the stack of commissions sitting in my studio. In the middle working on the 4 16 x 20's I got the drawing done for an 18 x 24 and got a rush order for an ink and watercolor illustration for a local builder.

That, has been quite a challenge. The unfinished house Ray Renfroe of BlueRay homes is building is going to be stunning...but capturing the detail through the array of trees, scaffolding and workers has been a task! I spent 3 hours on the drawing yesterday, another hour last night and I have sent it off to a friend to print it on paper big enough that I can transfer it to watercolor paper in a half sheet (15 1/2 x 22). Once transferred, I'll ink all the lines, then wash in some watercolor. I have to have it done by tomorrow...so hopefully she can get it printed this morning! Whew!

So, off I go, to add a few more layers to the three canvases I have in process. Feast or famine...I'll take the feast!

Tired...where's that hot tub?

Well, I guess I'm not ready for it,though my neck, shoulders, back and knees, say otherwise! I did get the brick off of the water soaked sand today. In a way, it was a relief.

When I was building the house (15 years ago), it went like this:
Months before, we had selected a hot tub from a home show. "We won't deliver it till you say so" they promised. yeah, right. The day they called we were putting the 8 x 8 beams (to hold the ceiling and the trusses to hold the roof) in place...one every four feet. I was in charge of connecting the straps from the crane around each beam and my staff were on the walls ready to guide them into place, when the call came in. They wanted to deliver the hot tub. The walls of the room were built, but no door frame or windows yet, and certainly, no floor(or roof for that matter). Since the floor is brick on sand, that was problematic (oh, way more than we knew then.) So, I'd strap a beam, climb down, run in, lay a few brick, run out, climb up, strap a beam............you get the idea.

The sum of it is that it was less than perfect, by a long shot. The crew from the hot tub place arrived s I layed the final brick, brought in the tub, leveled it (miracle) and left.

All this time and since, that tub left (in pieces) and another came in, and left (in pieces) and now, after 15 years that floor has come up and is stacked in rows in the only level area that existed, right in front of the double doors. No tub coming in just yet. The sand underneath is miraculously drying (since it's been raining off and on for the past few days) and it's clear I'll need more sand to get it level. The room, in this state, combined with the overcast skies and rain take me right back to 1994 and building this house. Then, it rained for 13 weeks straight. Well, I supposed it stopped now and then, but it sure didn't feel like it. When it rains up here, the temperature dropss to 55 (or lower) and it's just plain cold and damp. Problematic when you are building a house out of dirt...but that's another story. A long one.

Stay tuned. I'm tired. good night all. and here's to you, Dad. (Veteran, Vietnam, multiple tours. Also, another story)

The Scratchboard is finished

Thanks to all of you who took the survey...and so, here are the results: Paint the stems and centers....3 to 1!

So that's what I did, and here it is:
I'm calling it "Connections". To finish off I'll spray it with a clear archival protectant, then mount it and frame in shadowbox style. It won't need any glass. I'm happy with how it came out, so thanks for the input!

I videoed the process, so soon there will be videos on both youtube and katherinesarttv.tv I'll be sure and let you know when I get them up. cheers...and happy Memorial Weekend!

Where should I go now?

Ok...I finished phase two...

One is to create the drawing, transfer it to the board and then scratch out the outline. ok, so maybe that's three...

In that case, I finished step 4. So this is what it looks like....
so...here's a survey for you. Click Here to take survey

Only three questions...so....I'll post again after I hear from you!

Scatchboard Takes Time...but it's Worth It!

I've been working on this one for a while now and progress is steady, but not fast. I did video alot of this and will be putting it on www.katherinesarttv.tv as soon as I get it edited..which is challenging because something is using up my hard drive like mad.

Anyway, I showed you the outline done earlier, and here is a pic of me at it, and what it looks like right now:

As you can see, I've "scratched" out just about half of the daisies. I'll continue down the board with this step, then review it carefully to lift more where I need to. Step three is to paint in the stems and the centers, if i want to. I'll decide later.

This is a 20 x 16 board, so its taking a good investment of time. It's soothing for me though, so it's not like it's laborious, and given the stress I'm experiencing otherwise, it's a good thing it's not finished.
So, back to the studio head I. Watch for more progress, and I'll let you know when the video is online.

Sunday Serenity

Sitting on the front porch, gazing at the lake as I type. It's 76 degrees, and the only sound is the birds, the frogs at my neighbors pond and the tinkle of Grace's collar as she sniffs the ground like she's never done it before.

I'm relaxing as I post, having just returned from Albuquerque where the noise and the traffic was getting to me. I have tons to do in the next few weeks, with 6 commissioned paintings to produce by July, a hot tub to get out of the house so I can pull up the brick to dry the sand, and a myriad of "Spring" household duties to attend to. Oh, and there's the gallery. This coming Friday is the monthly reception "4th Friday" event. Hmmm. I'll breath deeply now and run tomorrow.

The hot tub will be going out in pieces. Daniel is coming on Wednesday to literally cut it up. I'm so mad at it that I absolutely refuse to remove the doors and frame to get it out whole. That's what it gets for causing so much trouble! Once it's gone, I'll pull up the brick (as I just said) and let the sand underneath dry...then re-level it and re-lay the brick. Then, a new hot tub is welcome to come to the room. A smaller one would be nice, to give us more space in the room for growing things. That's what we're hoping/praying for, anyway.

Robie (my roomba) is vaccuuming for me. Which is good, because even in 24 hours of being gone Grace left an alarming part of herself all over the floor...black hair, floating about as you walked through and disturbed the air!

Yup, I'm definitely blessed. And, there with the triumphant electronic toot of Robies "I'm finished" tone, I'll sign off and go investigate the freezer for what to make for dinner. John will be proud of me. I think it will be fish (talapia) and asparagus. Yum.

Hands in the Soil

It's cathartic. I don't think I ever even got to the garden last year, so when I headed out this afternoon to coax the weeds from the soil, I had forgotten how cathartic it is. There is just something about the sun warming your shoulders, the wind tossing your hair, the damp soil soaking through the knees of your jeans. The dirt in your fingernails, even though you were wearing gloves, and the errant twig protruding from your sleeve.

There's something in my thumb now, and it hurts...probably a rose thorn or something similar. I pruned the roses, trimmed the potentia , raked the pine needles to expose the rich mulch I did get down last fall. I dug out grasses and weeds and dandelions galore. Now, it's a lovely site to behold, the happy grape hyacinth with bright purple berry like heads bouncing in the breeze, free from the tangles of grasses and weeds that were holding them back.

Once cleared, the circular space in the center of the front garden looks clean and the columbine are standing tall, buds just beginning to form. I discovered the peonies are up and about a foot tall, the rebar I used to support it when it reaches some 3 feet, lying beside it, ready to be deployed.

Ahh. It's that good, tired feeling. Tomorrow, it's back to the gallery. Tuesday, its Taos, where I need to pick up some canvases for my latest commission. (yay...thank you Dr. Tami!) I already have compositions swimming around in my head.

Oh...and, Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there. And a big CONGRATULATIONS and wow, I'm so proud of you, to my sister..the middlest one. She (Rebeka) just got a HUGE promotion at work...one she richly deserved and waited a long time for. And Thanks to God for honoring her! I'm very blessed!

Water, water, soaking wet

No, it's not raining..though it's dark and grey. It did rain yesterday for 4 or 5 hours...that was lovely. But, alas, after filling the hot tub, after the pump wet end repair, the pipes that were plugged (because they leaked) around the moto-massage, the exposed sand where I had pulled up brick to see underneath, started creeping wet toward the walls again. Heavy sigh.

Oh, shall I back up? We've had this tub (Sovereign by HotSpring Spas) for 11 years. It has served us well...husband in it multiple times a day to assist joints with movement. We noticed rather suddenly that moisture was creeping up the stucco on the outside of the...er...um..adobe walls. O drat..now what?

I sought the expert opinion of my favorite engineer, who scoped around the house in 50 mph wind and snow, to grimly turn to me and say, 'I think it's your hot tub, dear' . drat again.

I pulled up brick and found soaking wet sand underneath. The brick didn't show it because they had been well sealed. The adobe walls, on the other hand...um...wet. Thank God we bought the "stabalized" version, but still.
Great.

I pulled up brick from all four corners of the room. Wet. everywhere, wet. Heavy sigh. I told you part of this story in an earlier post, as endeavoring to remove the siding to get to the foam and sprayed insulation inside, was how I hurt myself.
(Wet sand from under the brick.......)

We found one leak, at the moto massage. Our spa guy plugged it, and we filled it and turned it on. Water sprayed from the pipe below the one we just plugged. Ok, we can deal with that. Right? Wrong. Within 24 hours of filling it, the exposed sand, which had nicely dried, began to turn dark brown with mosture again.


Resolute, I set about this morning to find the rest of the leaks. I thought carefully about how to leverage the siding off. And, thankfully, it worked. I'm typing, tired and sore, with raw hands, but my tender back is not screaming.

I pulled off the siding on three sides and started ripping out foam. If I found it dry, I moved down till I pulled my fingers out wet.

What you see is, is the window sill that I curled myself into, the wet brick between the window/wall and the edge of the hottub where I removed the siding and the foam.) The tub is very close to one wall, and I was sitting in the window sill (good thing I'm skinny and small and curl my self up to a ball and still work! I'd show you a picture of the process, but I was rather busy. this will have to do!)

Wet foam found, I climbed around to the other side and started digging. wet and wet and wet. soon water poured out and soaked me, literally. Oh no! NO! NO! Alas, no. Shaking my head and soaked through I hauled myself out of the space I was in. The foam was wet and red, because my fingers were bleeding by now.

Good grief. Enough. I quit. I'm done. I'll let the Spa guy come and tell me that I'm right. Then, if that's the case, out it goes. Out, which is tough and tragic. Tough, because the french double doors and the door frame have to come out to get it out. Tragic, because, as I said, husband used it EVERY DAY. Tough, because we don't have the budget to buy a new one. Tragic there too. Tough because my hands are raw with no satisfaction.

It's the big pipe that runs all along one side to feed the foot jets. And the other pipe below the one fixed. And the other one we fixed before that. Why they make tubs that way, (with sprayed in foam and insulation so the pipe struction is complete encased in hardened goo.) is beyond me. Yes, I get the insulation, and all that, but there must be an eaiser way. hot tubs spring leaks. everyone knows that. so make it easy to find and fix them. ugh.

The bright side is that the spa is draining as I type. There were no chemicals in yet so its happily watering the hillside. And, my heart is hopeful still though I see no reason to hope. Somehow, someway, something will happen to help me solve this. That, i believe with all my heart. I'll let you know what happens. In the mean time, my scratchboard (see the facebook page) is calling me.,