Sunday, February 24, 2008

New Article up!

My article on making first craft shows painless is up at Articlebase, check it out.

Twelve hours later...

I'd forgotten how tiring full, full work days in the studio can be. Yesterday was the first time I've had a chance to really spend a big chunk of time just working on my own projects, not assignments, not academics, just me and the torch and the metal. Beautiful. But 10am - 10pm will get you. I woke up this morning with my back aching from hunching over the torch, my arms hurting from hammering and grinding stones, my fingers still swollen from getting chemicals in cuts, and my hands so dry they look like crocodile skin. And you know what? I couldn't be happier. I woke up in pain but so excited about my new pieces I just wanted to sit and look at them all day. I love this job.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Barely Controlled Chaos

So here is the breakdown of my life right now. I'm taking six classes, four academics and two studios. I'm trying desperately to get into the studio enough to build up my inventory, since I've been on the other side of the world for most of the last year. I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel of my savings to seriously upgrade my display and pay booth fees for better shows. On top of this, I'm applying for the dual degree program, meaning that I'll be making my life even MORE academically insane, and attempting to have some modicum of a social life. And you know what's strange? I thrive on this. Granted, I barely sleep, I occasionally burst into tears for no apparent reason, and I'm up at 1 am writing on this blog, but when I get into the studio, my hands itch to work. I don't have time to get bored.

I got some gorgeous geodes in today, and I'm starting a whole new series of fused pieces with them, I think they'll be pretty spectacular. It's been a little while since I've done a big conceptual piece, but if I've learned anything in the past year, its that I have to let my art lead me rather than the other way around. I know interesting things pour out of me when I let them. Maybe this weekend I'll camp out in the studio and see what happens. Wish me luck!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

In the Beginning

So what with the new website, the new displays, the new... everything, really, I'm trying to make a go of this as a real business and I need a space to think things through. I'll be posting my inspirations, ruminations, frustrations, and some other "ations" (Get your mind out of the gutter!). I'll also be posting about the stresses and complications of being a college student, business owner, art and academic student all at once. I swear I'll throw in some fun stuff, too!