What if I save and use the scraps from my fabric wall hangings to make tiny stuffed hearts for Art Hop on January 26th?
Studio/Gallery/Classroom 1310 8th Street/Sanger Ca 559.905.3517 Open Wedn. through Sunday, 11 AM - 6 PM
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
One Grain of Sand at a time, an hour is a good chunk of time!
What if today I start with an hour of working on THE painting, as timed by my new hourglass that I got for Christmas. And then I do my Post It list, and then I go back to painting? (11:50 AM)
What if I acknowledge that it was a great and productive hour and now I am knocking off my (short) list of to do's for this Sunday afternoon so I can get back to the painting? (1:45 PM)
What if, having knocked off my whole list and a few more things, I get back to THE painting? (3:45 PM)
And almost finish the hardest part of it, today, with over 3 hours of time spent on it! Yay!
What if, what if, what if. . . . .???????
What if I acknowledge that it was a great and productive hour and now I am knocking off my (short) list of to do's for this Sunday afternoon so I can get back to the painting? (1:45 PM)
What if, having knocked off my whole list and a few more things, I get back to THE painting? (3:45 PM)
And almost finish the hardest part of it, today, with over 3 hours of time spent on it! Yay!
What if, what if, what if. . . . .???????
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Mixed Blessings for "Mixed Messages"
What if I ask my customers when they would like my watercolor and mixed media classes to be, four people agree on a particular time and tell me, I schedule accordingly, and then no one signs up for class?
What if I ask which days are best for their children to attend, I schedule accordingly, their children come one time and don't come back?
What if people ask for information about art education so they can look at art more knowledgeably, I plan a 1 hour per month series that lasts for a year, and the people who requested them don't attend even one session?
My first inclination is to be annoyed at the inconvenience of planning for things that are requested and then not attended or followed up on. Another normal response would be to question my abilities and/or performance because people don't show up or don't continue to attend after beginning. But I know I am well-prepared and generous with my time, knowledge, and materials so I don't take it personally though I always welcome suggestions for improvement.
After over a year of experimenting with class schedules, topics for study, lesson plans etc., I've come to the conclusion that people have very hectic lives; gaining personal satisfaction from making art or learning about art is pretty far down on their priority lists. The action I've decided I need to take is to formulate ways of sharing with them (and showing them) how art can improve their lives, their self-image, their health, and their environment. I'm going to work on figuring out ways to do that by providing multi-sensory experiences that give pleasurable feelings that they would like to replicate.
The "mixed blessings" that have come to me as an artist and business owner have come in the form of unexpected surprises, connections, relationships, and friendships that have developed because I did something that I might not have otherwise. If the above-mentioned "catalysts for change" had not suggested I do something a certain way or at a certain time, I might not have done it at all. And if I hadn't done it, I wouldn't have met some wonderful people--adults and children alike--planned some lessons that led me in a direction that I might not have followed on my own, thought about some issues or subjects that were certainly not on MY "To Do" list, and even changed my own art making.
So, to those of you who asked for something specific and then didn't respond when it was provided for you, thank you! You've helped me learn to make my own schedules, lessons etc. based on past experience and my own needs as well as yours. Sometimes, people welcome NOT having to make decisions--they like someone else to take that responsibility. I'll try to be more sensitive to the needs of students and customers, seeking feedback from them, and experimenting until I find just the right "fit" here at "Mixed Messages" ART Studio/Gallery/Classroom.
What if I ask which days are best for their children to attend, I schedule accordingly, their children come one time and don't come back?
What if people ask for information about art education so they can look at art more knowledgeably, I plan a 1 hour per month series that lasts for a year, and the people who requested them don't attend even one session?
My first inclination is to be annoyed at the inconvenience of planning for things that are requested and then not attended or followed up on. Another normal response would be to question my abilities and/or performance because people don't show up or don't continue to attend after beginning. But I know I am well-prepared and generous with my time, knowledge, and materials so I don't take it personally though I always welcome suggestions for improvement.
After over a year of experimenting with class schedules, topics for study, lesson plans etc., I've come to the conclusion that people have very hectic lives; gaining personal satisfaction from making art or learning about art is pretty far down on their priority lists. The action I've decided I need to take is to formulate ways of sharing with them (and showing them) how art can improve their lives, their self-image, their health, and their environment. I'm going to work on figuring out ways to do that by providing multi-sensory experiences that give pleasurable feelings that they would like to replicate.
The "mixed blessings" that have come to me as an artist and business owner have come in the form of unexpected surprises, connections, relationships, and friendships that have developed because I did something that I might not have otherwise. If the above-mentioned "catalysts for change" had not suggested I do something a certain way or at a certain time, I might not have done it at all. And if I hadn't done it, I wouldn't have met some wonderful people--adults and children alike--planned some lessons that led me in a direction that I might not have followed on my own, thought about some issues or subjects that were certainly not on MY "To Do" list, and even changed my own art making.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Just Show Up!
What if I just showed up to my blog each day? Would something come to me to write about? We shall see. . . .
This morning I decided to ask myself "What If" when I arrived in the morning (on time, before 11 AM!) after getting up when my alarm went off and making it to weigh in and the Weight Watcher's meeting, I wrote down on a post it 3-5 things I MUST do today?
The good news is that I accomplished all 5 things I wrote down, 3 minor phone calls I'd put off for a few days already and 2 more major projects/documents to think out and type out that I had put off for more than a few days. It feels good!
The bad news is that it is now 4:30 and I haven't worked on The Painting About a Man for even one minute! But I am going there now. :)
This morning I decided to ask myself "What If" when I arrived in the morning (on time, before 11 AM!) after getting up when my alarm went off and making it to weigh in and the Weight Watcher's meeting, I wrote down on a post it 3-5 things I MUST do today?
The good news is that I accomplished all 5 things I wrote down, 3 minor phone calls I'd put off for a few days already and 2 more major projects/documents to think out and type out that I had put off for more than a few days. It feels good!
The bad news is that it is now 4:30 and I haven't worked on The Painting About a Man for even one minute! But I am going there now. :)
Thursday, January 3, 2013
2013--A Year for "What-iffing"
In 2013, I'm going to make "What If" my mantra. I've asked myself a lot of "what ifs" for a long time, but this year I'm going to focus on asking myself a lot more of them.
What if I got out of bed when my alarm rings each day?
What if I always opened the gallery on time or early--EVERY business day?
What if I didn't organize my time, my day, and/or my thoughts around the possibility that some one was coming by, a student was expected, it was too near the end of the day etc. etc.?
What if I stopped feeling selfish when I do things for my own benefit, rather than thinking of others first, always?
What if I went to my blog each and every day, whether I thought I had anything to write or not?
What if I smiled more and pouted less?
What if I took action more and thought about it less?
What if I gave Weight Watchers half a chance?
What if, what if, what if. . . . . .
So, this year I resolve to go to my blogsite every day and start the post with a "what if" question. I'll begin the new routine tomorrow.
What if I got out of bed when my alarm rings each day?
What if I always opened the gallery on time or early--EVERY business day?
What if I didn't organize my time, my day, and/or my thoughts around the possibility that some one was coming by, a student was expected, it was too near the end of the day etc. etc.?
What if I stopped feeling selfish when I do things for my own benefit, rather than thinking of others first, always?
What if I went to my blog each and every day, whether I thought I had anything to write or not?
What if I smiled more and pouted less?
What if I took action more and thought about it less?
What if I gave Weight Watchers half a chance?
What if, what if, what if. . . . . .
So, this year I resolve to go to my blogsite every day and start the post with a "what if" question. I'll begin the new routine tomorrow.
I tried to FOCUS in 2012. . . .
I think I started 2012 off with a post about my word for the year. That word was "Focus". I still need to maintain focus on my gallery in Sanger as my primary artistic effort, but I think that I have moved in the right direction toward making that a big priority. In the effort to focus, I have done the following things in 2012:
1. Decided to leave the other galleries that I've been in--first the Art Stand, then Timberline, and next week, Circle Gallery in Madera. I'm sad to leave the galleries and to not be as connected to Minkler, Oakhurst, and Madera, but I need to spend the time on developing connections in Sanger.
2. Tried to maintain regular gallery hours 5 days/week, 7 hours per day, only being away when I couldn't avoid it--concert days for community band, family emergencies (haven't had any), and illness (haven't been ill!).
3. Held expenses to a mininum whenever possible, on supplies, framing etc. I've recycled frames, bought them on sale, and cut my own mats all year.
4. Worked hard on developing a line of "products" which I call the "Sanger Items" that are images of Sanger. I have multiple items printed and available and they have been popular sellers. I think that they have brought more people into the gallery and, consequently, increased sales of non-Sanger items.
5. Expanded the gift offerings at the gallery by adding small items (ceramics, Suji wire art, goats milk soap) and including guest artists in monthly Art Hop events.
So, in 2012, focus, I did. . . . .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)