Category Archives: My Life Experience

My life from behind my own eyes and ears. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

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Starving Artist No More

Last blog I wrote about “Starving Artist”.   Today, I’m writing about my success as an artist that has never hit the big time but starting to receive attention.  This past year, I’ve been fortunate to sell some of my favorite pieces of art.  They were displayed at a very exclusive restaurant in Newport Beach, California called Traditions by Pascal.   I sold two pieces on exhibition night and then they sat dormat for several months.  Starving no more!  In the past two months, I’ve sold four great pieces that I would not have a problem holding on to myself.  Actually, one very smart waiter who realized my offer for a percentage of sales, sold them.  Thanks to Tony!  Thanks to Pascal!  Love you!

If you are a famous artist, you are fortunate.  People will rush in on the opening night to put their money down.  If you are not, you’ve got to prove your worth. I think it is harder at outdoor events.  It always seems like a swap meet to me.  If I feel that way, I think others might have that same attitude and look for a steal instead of a lovely piece of art for their home.  Maybe I’m wrong and it’s a numbers game.  In my case, it took my customers several dining experiences at the restaurant where they sat underneath my art.  “You’re work improved the environment of the restaurant from the previous decor”, a client told me.  Another exclaimed how they collected art from places they held their best memories. .  Pascal’s was one place they loved to dine.   They did not purchase the first time.  They went back time and again.  Eventually, they bought.  Familiarity, good feelings, inspiration, what have you, to each is own.  People are moved, or they are not but you cannot push them to buy something. 

For all artists I’d like to say, “Think out of the box!”   Read this great blog I found by a new mentor in my collection,  Dustin M Wax.  His slogan is, “Photographer, curator, museumist, and all around art booster.  How great is that?  He’ll give you some ideas.  I love the one about taking a shower if you are blocked.  That is so perfect for me as I do most of my creative thinking in the pool or shower.  It’s true about water.

So get out there, be seen in the world.  Make it happen!  Create exhibitions in your home, places you feel comfortable exhibiting, online, networking in groups of people and always know there is someone who will just love your work.

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My Lunch with Sharon

How many people have friends for 40 to 60  years?  I do and I feel pretty special.  I have friends I’ve stayed in touch with since Kindergarten.  I think that’s amazing!

Today I had lunch with  Sharon. She and were models at Cole of California Swimwear in the 70′s.  In an earlier blog,  I talked about how we had to walk around half naked.  Sharon and I worked in different design rooms but we shared some of the same embarrassments.  After a few days, you got used to everyone tugging on you, sticking pins in you and gawking over you.  We found humor in all of it and became good friends right from the start. 

Today, she came over to meet my little grandson, Aidan and to catch up with me.   Little Aidan swept her away with all his flirting.  I’m a bit prejudice but I happen to think he’s pretty darn cute and very smart.  She recalled how adorable my own son was was back in the day when we were young kids ourselves.

What’s interesting to me is how we’ve stayed friends over so many years.  We even lost touch for awhile but low and behold!  Ten years later, we were both sitting in front of a large mirror, waiting for the aerobics instructor to arrive.  All of a sudden, both of us shrieked loud enough to break the glass.  You know how girls are?  They sound nutty when they haven’t seen each other for awhile. We picked right up where we left off.   We know more about each other than our Mom’s ever did.  That’s probably a good thing.  I think the reason for our long relationship is because we have so much in common.  The first thing that brought us together was our job as models.   Along with that, we’ve always taken the best care of ourselves and we’re holding up better than most.  We also love food although she’s a much better cook than I.  We do find that it is very artistic and self gratifying.  You can make a whole lot of people very happy with food.

Sharon and I also share the interior design talent.  It comes natural for us.  We like similar design themes although I’m the crazier one bending more on contemporary.  Sharon twists up her traditional side with a mix of Asian art and accessories which suggests a playful elegance.  I’m not Lady Gaga but I would love to create a very wild side of me in my own home.  I’m married to a very traditional man so I’ve got to keep it eclectic instead which satisfies my wild side.  Sharon and I  also have that crafty talent.  If we see something we like or we don’t want to pay full price for it, we’ll try and make it ourselves first.

The thing that I like best about my friend, is she is an incredible mother, possibly to a fault.  She’s spoiled her three boys although, she or I would never let our kids sit on their laurels as they all turned out great.  Sharon is also an amazing wife.  I’m sure her husband, Tom will agree with me on that one.  She spoils him more… as it should be.  We have the same ethics about family and our position.  We are soft around the edges but don’t pull too many punches on us or watch out!  We know what we want although we won’t let anyone walk all over us (any longer).  And, we love life and people.

When I think of the best buddies that have stuck with me through thick and thin, you really can count your best friends on one hand. I hope most of you out there have true blue friends and soul mates like I.  If so, you are a very lucky soul!  I certainly am.

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She Works Hard for the Money

The New Year always has me reflecting back in time.  I was thinking about my different careers as an entrepreneur.  I started my first business as an artist rep in 1978.  I knew nothing about nothing and certainly not marketing.  With much determination, I took to the streets with my portfolio in hand.  Let me go on…

When I ventured in to this new career, I started representing my own work.  I met an owner of a bank and he asked me to bring some art to the Wells Fargo Bank in Laguna Beach.  The architecture on the inside of the building is round and had ample space to showcase work both down and upstairs.  I was thrilled!  I took a few pieces in to the bank owner but realized very quickly that I did not have enough art to cover all of the walls.   I  asked him if I could bring in other artisans. ” Wham, Bam!”  I became an art rep overnight.

Sounds simple, huh?  Due to my youth and excitement it all seemed very easy to get started.   I rounded up a half a dozen artists, picked out the most suitable pieces, and hired a carpenter to make a display table for artist’s bios.  It was very corny as I remember now.

It turns out that absolutely nothing sold.  It looked good but the art sat for months.  Oh well!  “Why?, I asked my self.”  Low and behold, a new artist  and mentor came my way.  His name is Larry McAdams.  He now has a very successful marketing firm in Newport Beach and also an amazing painter.   He guided me along the way to represent his work.  He told me that I would make more money in the advertising industry.   This new enlightenment and some additional talented illustrators and photographers created a real career for me.

I miss those days of chummin’ with the artists and the art directors.  Things were more complicated for an art rep back then due to the travel.  I would take a loaded portfolio and hoist it on my back.  It was very heavy!  When I had to take stairs instead of an elevator, I truly groaned.  Lucky for me, I was young and fit.

You see, we did not have fax machines then.  I would travel back and forth up the crowded freeways with sketches in hand to be approved by the agency, take the revisions back to the artist.  I would travel back after a day or so to the artists, pick up the new sketch and back to the agency for second approval.  If that was ok,  I would go back to the artist.  “Oh my goodness, where’s the fax machine or computer scanner?”  One more trip to pick up the final art and then I was done. ” She works hard for the money“, says Donna Summer.  I think she would agree that I’m a good example of the song.

Back in the day,  I had a good eye for talent and chose only to work with the pro’s without attitude.  I became a household name as the Orange County Art Rep largely due to their amazing skills.  Little by little I started understanding what marketing was all about.  Other reps started popping up from Los Angeles so we took ads out in the L.A. Workbook.   Eventually, technology stared killing work for artists that worked with their hands and were replaced by computer illustration.  To stay ahead of the game, I selected some local artist’s who were adapting to this new tech tool and I found work once again.  Unfortunately, I saw the writing on the wall and started looking for a new career.  I think there is still a place in the world for art reps as the artist should work and let someone else do the dirty stuff.  Today, I rep my own work and realize the tools are easier but the competition is furious online.   So, I should blog, link in, facebook, twitter….and so on.

Do you think Michaelangelo would have liked the computer?  I think not, but whose to say?

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Sleep Deprivation

My Mind at Night

 

I know many of you out there cannot sleep as I.  I’m lying here in bed trying to get some “shut-eye” and my brain won’t stop.  How many of you can relate?

When you are the creative type, it is difficult to shut off the brain.   It is good to brain storm and it’s a curse.  I’m actually typing with my eyes closed.  Now, is that absurd or what?  I just don’t know how to stop and relax.  I fiddle if I’m bored.  I pace if I’m stressed,  I clean if I’m procrastinating.  If I have some personal issues that are truly bothering me, I opt for thinking about creating a painting.  This helps me get back to me and my best work has come out of the toughest situations.

As I fade into the night oblivion, I wonder how many artists are lying at this same moment contemplating a new design, or are they blocked and frustrated.  I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.  For me, if I research or happen upon another talented artist or photographer, it usually inspires me.  That is the time to have the sketch book by the bed.  I must go out and get a book light so I won’t wake hubby.  I hate it when I wake up in the morning and cannot remember one of the best lyrics or images I saw in my head.

I found some information on sleep deprivation that might create an urgency to turn out the lights a bit sooner each night.

1. “Sleep is needed to regenerate certain parts of the body, especially the brain, so that it may continue to function optimally. After periods of extended wakefulness or reduced sleep neurons may begin to malfunction, visibly effecting a person’s behavior. Some organs, such as muscles, are able to regenerate even when a person is not sleeping so long as they are resting. This could involve lying awake but relaxed within a quite environment. Even though cognitive functions might not seem necessary in this scenario the brain, especially the cerebral cortex, is not able to rest but rather remains semi-alert in a state of “quiet readiness” (2). Certain stages of sleep are needed for the regeneration of neurons within the cerebral cortex while other stages of sleep seem to be used for forming new memories and generating new synaptic connections. The effects of sleep deprivation on behavior have been tested with relation to the presence of activity in different sections of the cerebral cortex.”

I know some of my artistic friends will stay up all night.  I make it to about 12:00 or 1:00 but my bod shuts down and I’m finally paralyzed.  Then, I can sleep!

Info from http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1690rmation by:

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Chi Ca Go Chi Ca Go Chi Ca Go

We just got back from one of the greatest cities in the world.  Chicago.  Although, I’ve not been around the complete planet, I’ve seen enough to know a good city when I see one.  It helps to have someone who grew up there show you around.  You will bypass all the ugly parts of a town.

I’ll never forget the time I took my son to New York for his first time.  He was scared to death.  To tell you the truth, so was I.   My aunt made reservations for us at a hotel  she had vacationed at a zillion years ago.  You might say this part of town became a little forlorn.  Some of the mugs that met us on the street seemed very threatening.   We weren’t used to protective city glances coming from pristine Orange County, California.   This trip was around 1988, before Governor Rudy Giuliani took over and cleaned up the mess.  Before that, it smelled on every corner and I don’t mean sweet!  This trip was a graduation present to my son.  I wanted to take him to see live theater and get some quality “Mom and Son” time before he left the nest.   We stuck pretty close together until we left NYC to visit relatives in Syracuse where we could relax and be ourselves again.

photo by shutter runner

Chicago is the clean “Windy City” due to the beautiful Lake Michigan.  The endless horizon line is filled with crystal turquoise water.  The atmosphere of the lake and Lincoln Park made the perfect setting for the tremendous array of Chicago Museums, and the amazing historical architecture.

If you want to gain five pounds fast, let me introduce you to a few spots.  Our first stop to celebrate our mini vacation was at Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse.  I think the martini was the best I’ve ever tasted. The second night at Maggiano’s.  I was bummed that I forgot my doggie bag of flatbread.  After dinner, we joined my brother-in-law, Bob Solone at the piano bar.  If you’ve not heard Bobby, may I suggest you make it an evening.    For crowd-pleasing, he will put on his Elton John rims,  or surprise you with Willie Nelson. His classical side is where you’ll see his true talent.  Here’s what Curt Davis of New York Post said about him, “Bob Solone has a nice classical feel that becomes a flourish in contemporary material.”

Ok, now the third night, I’m starting to get fat!  You cannot leave town until you’ve tried Pizanno’s on State Street.  It’s a must and breakfast for the next morning.  It’s also a good thing that there is a pool in our complex so I could work off some of the poundage.  The next day, for lunch we went to a family picnic celebration.  I’m eating, I’m drinking, I’m gaining some more.  Oh well, that’s what R&R are all about, right?

Chicago is my suggestion for the next big city to put on your vacation list.  What is your suggestion?


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Feng Shui Away

They say that Feng Shui is like a magnetic compass.  I believe in this theory because if I’m not in good standing in my home, my mind starts to spin.  You’re good to go if everything is in alignment and if not things seem more difficult.  For me, I must make my bed every morning before I do anything else.  The rest of the house can be clean but if  there are some dirty dishes in the sink, they will call me to finish them before I start my creative juices flowing. I force myself to get past it and just go to work on my art but I find that it swallows me up.  Unfortunately, I think I could be more productive if I could see past the small things.

Clutter is the worst.  My desk mess must be sorted in to one or two piles before I can open my laptop.  I can be in my pj’s but I must have my ducks in a row.  These little duckies above look like they’ve got it all together and are dancing a jig.  I feel that way once I’ve cleaned up as well.  If I’m a bit stressed, I put on Hawaiian music.  It mellows me out immediately.

I have a friend who told me his wife keeps newspapers, all the newspapers.  He has to walk through hourds of papers when he comes home.  Needless to say, he stays out a lot.  Can you imagine? I could not live that way.  My studio can become a wreck in minutes due to the nature of silk painting.  It has many steps in the procedure.  When I finish a piece and unwrap the foil and paper, I almost have to tear it off the roll of fabric.  I must rinse the fabrics after that.  I’ll be pretty tired after a days work and I’ll leave the papers, dyes and complete mess.  When I go out to start the next day, I want to scream.  “Why didn’t the Cleaning Angels come in last night?”  Argh!  How funny that I just used that term.  I just googled cleaning angels and found out that there are numerous housekeeping company’s called that. I thought I was being original.   I guess I’m not alone when it comes to thinking it would be a godsend to have someone come in and clean.

On that note, I think I’ll go clean up my dishes now and get to work!

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Success in Baby Steps

How do we judge success?  To each individual the rate of success is different because we are hardest on ourselves.  I’m extremely tough on my own self.  If I don’t get my quota for the day completed, I am stressed.  Needless to say, I guess I’m stressed every day even though I’m feverishly working all the time. I must focus on my smaller goals instead of the gigantic ones daily.   This week I dreamed of designing a car.  Now, is that crazy or what?    I woke up and scratched my head on that one.

What I found works for me is to follow a goal list and I mean follow.  I have created many a goal book, set it aside and come back and found that years later, the goals are all the same.  If I keep three month to six month goals in a tablet that I look at daily, I can scratch off the things that I’ve accomplished.  It is not so overwhelming as the Big Goal Book.   I keep the bigger goals in a binder and break down the monthly in a small tablet I can fit in my purse.  As I look back at the past year, I’m doing OK.   If I rate my success based on my larger goals, I’m disappointed but my baby steps are in progress.  I look back and realize that I’ve actually accomplished quite a bit.

Now, it’s time to kick it in to high gear.  I’m been more relaxed due to the recession as most folks out there aren’t spending but that is no excuse for me.  It’s my time to create, create and market, market, market myself.  Soon, the money will be flowing again and I’ll be in the loop once again.

The best motivation for me is to look to my mentors.  Ok, now that I’ve said that, I’ll keep in mind how they work.  I’ll sleep and dream of big things tonight.  I’ll wake up refreshed.  I’ll go swimming and my brain will be creating on each lap.  I’ll focus on focusing this week!  How about you?

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Pay it Forward

Tonight, my husband and I got in to a conversation that was not fun tonight.  It was one of those core issues that came up. We were talking about an old friend of his that I just find very Ego-Centered.   I rid those types of people from my inner circle and I can’t quite figure out why it would be important for him to keep this friend.  Everything turned out just fine as it always does.  He can keep the friend but I won’t be around.

I think the most important thing for me is that we must remember to approach life as if it were our last day.  How would you want to treat someone or be treated.  How do you want to show up in this world.  This particular person is over 60 years old and can’t figure out how to be appropriate. Ego’s just get in the way.

I have to admit, I have one too.  When I let it get in the way of my performing, I could see that I did not connect with the audience.  I hated that.  My job is to make people feel happy and I can only emote that if I’m being real.  If I do my job  with the confidence of working in sync with my musicians, then we are really making music.  We’re swingin’! It’s just a ball!  And, they everyone is having fun.

I was thinking about the idea of “Paying it Forward”.  Imagine the joy you’d get out of doing just that. Imagine, if you did it on a daily basis.  Then, break it down further and see if you can do it every moment.  Whew!  What a nice life you’d have.

We forget to think of others first because if is natural to be selfish. The average person will have many selfish moments.  The hard part is to recognize them and then change that behavior.

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Ground Hog Day

I may sing, I may dance but I do not crawl on my belly like a reptile. It’s not that every day is creative for me.  At times, I feel like Bill Murray in Ground Hog Day but I’d rather have my life than sitting at a desk all day, hating my job.  Everyone can choose what they want to do in their life.  I choose to be creative!

Today, I have an appointment for a color and design consultation.  I’m looking forward to this because the client likes contemporary decor mixed with an eclectic touch.  That is my design forte’, I believe.  Her condo is overlooking the ocean.  I’ll pick neutral colors most likely but will spice it up with ocean blues and brighter shades of her choice.

Also this week, I researched boutiques and spas to carry my wearable art, sang at our gig on Friday night at The Vintage Steakhouse in San Juan Capistrano, painted five large pieces of silk, photographed some finished pieces, created a video or two and babysat my grandson.  The last part is the toughest.  Just kidding.  My little Aidan is the best part of my week.

It’s my routine weekly. If I seem like I have a lot going on.  I do. You are probably thinking,  “Make up your mind, girl.”    How can I stop at one thing when I have such a versatile life?  I am grateful that I have skills.  I went to school for the design but the School of Hard Knocks taught me to use the natural talents I was born with.  Every time I strayed from my artistic bones in my body, I ended up falling off the wagon, so to speak.  I found out that I’m happiest when I’m creating, and I mean creating anything.  It could be design for a home, as simple as a greeting card, or a new piece of art which could be on paper, silk, canvas or a wall.  I love design and everything associated with it.  You’ll find in my writings that I’ll talk about fashion, interior design, art, and product design too.

If you ever feel like your day isn’t creative enough, just rent Ground Hog Day and you’ll be laughing in no time! If you can’t laugh at Bill, who can you laugh at?  He’s my favorite comedian.  He really rips me up.  People forget that being creative doesn’t have to come in the form of being artistic.  You could write, sing, garden, knit, sew, bake, shake, rock and roll. You must try and enjoy your life if you hate your job.  Choose to be creative at something, anything!

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My Lunch with Sharon

How many people have friends for 40 to 60  years?  I do and I feel pretty special.  I have friends I’ve stayed in touch with since Kindergarten.  I think that’s amazing!

Today I had lunch with  Sharon. She and were models at Cole of California Swimwear in the 70′s.  In an earlier blog,  I talked about how we had to walk around half naked.  Sharon and I worked in different design rooms but we shared some of the same embarrassments.  After a few days, you got used to everyone tugging on you, sticking pins in you and gawking over you.  We found humor in all of it and became good friends right from the start.  Sharon Today

Today, she came over to meet my little grandson, Aidan and to catch up with me.   Little Aidan swept her away with all his flirting.  I’m a bit prejudice but I happen to think he’s pretty darn cute and very smart.  She recalled how adorable my own son was was back in the day when we were young kids ourselves.

What’s interesting to me is how we’ve stayed friends over so many years.  We even lost touch for awhile but low and behold!  Ten years later, we were both sitting in front of a large mirror, waiting for the aerobics instructor to arrive.  All of a sudden, both of us shrieked loud enough to break the glass.  You know how girls are?  They sound nutty when they haven’t seen each other for awhile. We picked right up where we left off.   We know more about each other than our Mom’s ever did.  That’s probably a good thing.  I think the reason for our long relationship is because we have so much in common.  The first thing that brought us together was our job as models.   Along with that, we’ve always taken the best care of ourselves and we’re holding up better than most.  We also love food although she’s a much better cook than I.  We do find that it is very artistic and self gratifying.  You can make a whole lot of people very happy with food.

Sharon and I also share the interior design talent.  It comes natural for us.  We like similar design themes although I’m the crazier one bending more on contemporary.  Sharon twists up her traditional side with a mix of Asian art and accessories which suggests a playful elegance.  I’m not Lady Gaga but I would love to create a very wild side of me in my own home.  I’m married to a very traditional man so I’ve got to keep it eclectic instead which satisfies my wild side.  Sharon and I  also have that crafty talent.  If we see something we like or we don’t want to pay full price for it, we’ll try and make it ourselves first.

The thing that I like best about my friend, is she is an incredible mother, possibly to a fault.  She’s spoiled her three boys although, she or I would never let our kids sit on their laurels as they all turned out great.  Sharon is also an amazing wife.  I’m sure her husband, Tom will agree with me on that one.  She spoils him more… as it should be.  We have the same ethics about family and our position.  We are soft around the edges but don’t pull too many punches on us or watch out!  We know what we want although we won’t let anyone walk all over us (any longer).  And, we love life and people.

When I think of the best buddies that have stuck with me through thick and thin, you really can count your best friends on one hand. I hope most of you out there have true blue friends and soul mates like I.  If so, you are a very lucky soul!  I certainly am.