Living a day at a time

    At times I tend to get ahead of myself. With the advent of the Internet, time gets corralled and it is easy to get distracted , even when following up on a simple task. The iPhone has proven to be a powerful device. It has changed everyone's life for better and for worse.

    However, this blog is not about that. The progress I've made as an artist has grown. Yesterday, I got involved with a paper marbleling class at our local Art Center. It was a wonderful diversion.Learning a new process has kept me engaged creatively in another medium besides acrylics and rocks.

    The process of making and manifesting pleasing outcomes involves following ones intuition in my opinion.Taking a moment (yes, this moment) Instead of future tripping or dwelling on the past, has lead me in unknown directions and adventurous episodes, both in my studio and out in society. 

    Peaks and valleys during the creative process will always arrive in unexpected ways, both having and intrinsic value all their own.Trying to burrow myself out of frustration doesn't work for me. Especially when I find myself paralyzed before attempting another project.Going into acceptance mode does.Trying too hard to control the situation at hand is usually fruitless.Calling someone, going for a bike ride, visiting a museum or whatever; will free things up considerably. 

    In other words, chosing my valleys just as they are, and doing what is next ( and not putting it off ) has helped.When I lay my head on the pillow at night, it can be said that at least an attempt has been made in allowing a solution to be revealed.Sometimes it is just a matter of staying patient and putting things off until later... sometimes not.

    If all of this sounds like sage advice, it is what just what has worked for me. In no way do I speak for others in their quest for excellence, or even mere survival. Just keep on creating and feed your soul. Like the Nike commercial used to say, " Just do it!"

Below is this weeks "Rock of the week" 

( and a sample from the paper marbeling class I took )

The Summer Season begins

 Tomorrow will be the beginning of the Summer Market in Calistoga ( and also in Sebastopol for that matter ).It is really amazing how quickly the seasons fly by. As it turned out, the rains came and it was a total washout on Saturday. I was glad, because it gave me a chance to catch up on my inventory. For every rock I sell, I get to paint another one... a joy to behold.

 White painted rocks are my latest pursuit. I find that the design on top can be fun. It's turns out looking like heiroglyphics that one might find in an open dig somewhere in Mesopotamia.These rocks glow exceptionally well in the dark. Then, when placed on a glowing doiley, or in this case a "Joilie" ( as my friend Veda who made them has chosen to name them ) Which are made from glow-in-the-dark yarn that she took the time to crochet into a star pattern. Now this showcase rock is enhanced even more so. 

Here we present the "Rock of the Week"

Inspired

 Today it looks like the resin coatings on the rocks are behaving. No air bubbles, no overpours and nice hard, dry results. These rocks can be put outside without a worry about the colors fading. They can even be put inside an aquarium without hurting the fish.

 Occasionally I use a clear-coat called TRIPLE THICK™ which is fine for a quick, shiny and long lasting coat, however, UV resin still works the best. The only down side perhaps is a yellowing over time, but that is more a concern with larger works of art.

    The pendants and keychains have been a profitable sale lately. The pendants are fun conversation pieces, and the keychains are kewl eye catchers when hanging from a backpack, or even when used to hang a set of house keys that are sometimes hard to find when fishing around for them in your purse. Usefulness is the key word here (always fun to add a pun).

    Like the gift rocks that they are, these are heirlooms are eventually meant to be passed on over the years. It is this artist's hope that you are inspired to have them as a keepsake and an item that brings you joy.