Much Ado In Baton Rouge

I've been having a lot of fun the past few weeks creating some gorgeous ladies a la Dias de la Muerte (Day of the Dead).  Instead of using the more traditional roses, I thought it would be fun to work in some antique Haeckel shapes from under the sea.

My time in my art studio has been very limited in the past few weeks.  I volunteered at my art association's summer art camp last week and then spent the weekend at the NOLA Time Fest in New Orleans.  What I have been really been longing for is a day off.

However, last Friday night, I heard about an exciting new development in the Baton Rouge art scene and it drove all thoughts of doing nothing right out of my head.

Talented artist, Michelle Elder, has been extremely busy at 524 North Foster Street helping to renovate the former Southside Motors building into an exciting new art cooperative in the heart of Baton Rouge's arts district!

The venue will feature ongoing events with local musicians and performers as well as art exhibitions AND the building features studio bays which can be rented out by local artists and craftspeople.

I am absolutely thrilled to be included n the preview party tonight!

I really just started a serious foray into the arts world about a year ago.  I took the Artist as Entrepreneur course through the Arts Council of Baton Rouge.   It really opened my eyes to how the art world works.

I learned about juried art markets and art exhibitions.   I applied to two immediately and was ecstatic to be accepted into Art Melt and then receive an Honorable Mention at the September Competition at the Alexandria Museum of Art.

Exciting, absolutely, but what happens next?

Apparently, group shows are the next stage if you're interested in pursuing a serious art career.

Beautiful synchronicity at work, I met Cindy Wunderbar who was creating an urban art house, Chez Fab, to host art exhibitions as well as a venue for performers and musicians.

I was thrilled to participate in Chez Fab's first group show as well as in their "BRothers We Love" show.

And, then, last week, I heard about Studio 524 and the upcoming preview show and party.

Another group show.  Another amazing venue.  Halfway through 2015 and I am absolutely delighted to watch as life continues to beautifully unfold before me!

Grape Jellyfish

I suppose I should just come right out and admit it:  I enjoy anime.

Certainly, I don't watch as much of it as my children but I watch.

The illustration style is refreshingly different from typical Western animation.  

Some of it is so amazing that it quite takes my breath away.  

Over the weekend, I binge watched a short 11 episode series, "Princess Jellyfish".

There is something so elegant and yet almost alien about sea creatures like jellyfish.  

I just couldn't resist playing.

Jellied Hope

What is an artist to do while waiting for the results from the jurying process of an art exhibition?  

Make good art.  (Thank you, Neil Gaimon).

I was expecting the results from the first art exhibition I had applied to this year on the 20th.  Naturally, I spent the day on the results page, refreshing, refreshing, refreshing.  Around noon, two of my entered pieces were listed as "Not Invited", leaving the final third piece as "Received"not "Invited" as normally would be the posted results.

Feeling even more on edge, I naturally continued to refresh, refresh, refresh, off and on for another three hours.  Finally, I received an email from the art association that that one piece had gotten through to the second round of jurying (unprecedented for them but they had a LOT of entries this year as it is their 50th anniversary for this particular exhibition.)

So, I have another five days of waiting.  Le sigh.

Deciding not to let the results determine my fate or drag my self esteem completely down if I do end up being rejected, I seized the moment and entered two more juried art exhibitions.  (For whatever reason, most of the local art exhibitions deadlines seem to happen in the late spring / early summer.)

I decided to try to be positive about the possible outcome of the juries and decided that my young Victorian child would be similarly positive.  It's better to reach for the stars than hide under an umbrella of depression.

Be hopeful.

Make good art.

No matter what the results of the jury, just remember, it's the opinion of one or perhaps a handful of people.  Your passion for art is something not to be too easily abandoned.

Enjoy some toast, young friend!

Just keep reaching for that jelly.  

Freedom Blooms

Time has been in short supply this week so my ability to log any art time has been far too short.

My children are in art camp so I've spent most of my past week there.

I have a pile of prints that need to be matted for my next art market.

I have my steady stream of orders to make and fill.

Finally, we have a scheduled meet of the Renaissance players on Saturday.

My poor blooming fellow!  I suppose it's a wonder that he was finished at all.

This is one of those pieces where all I knew going in that was that I wanted a goldfish bowl where his head should be and his head where the goldfish bowl would be.  Everything else remained to be seen.

I added details, like walls and cranes.  None of them worked.  I tried bars in front.  Bars behind.

I added a keyhole in front; a keyhole behind.  There is something about the intrigue and mystery of a key and a lock that always tempts me.

After tinkering and moving, tinkering and moving, several days later, it finally came together!

Which side is real freedom?

Don't fret, my friend, you have the key if you know where to look!

And we danced

and we cried and had a really, really, really good time!

Jellyfish Rocket

to eternity and beyond!

Jarred

Lady of Jellyfish - Digitalmania challenge

The challenge this week over at Digitalmania was to be inspired by the brilliantly colorful work of Svenja Jodicke.  The color palette, as you can see, is very bright!

I generally prefer something a little more subtle, a little more delicate, but, in the end, I was rather pleased with the brilliant effect.

Jellyfish-iness - Teal and Lime 3Muse Challenge