The 50% Rule

I try to lead a balanced professional life and that balance would be in the area of compensation where I attempt to be paid for at least 50% of my activities. I was holding up quite well for a few years but lately there has been an onslaught of freebies and hopeful expectations flying at me from every direction.

Sure, it would be fabulous if I gave you a mural for free.
But why should my - or any other artist's - skills and efforts be the one and only, poor little lonely unpaid contribution to a 15 million dollar project??

Ffffuzzz

Fini!

Three quarter view of the wrap-aroundie-ness of my mural. I touched up all the screws and any bare edges today. Had my own scissor lift with chauffeur!
The reactions were 99% positive with the 2 most extreme being old German guys. One repeatedly proclaimed me 'a genius!' - ' she could be painting hotel lobbies!', while the other grumbled about it being 'a waste of money'. I still have a separate piece with an eagle on it but it wants to be a 'seagle' at the moment so there may be much wrestling and gnashing of teeth ahead.
I was corresponding with a watercolour instructor I know today and couldn't resist adding an attachment of my mural; he called it 'spectacular' and complimented not only the technique but the composition as well!!! I'm going to print that off and post it on my studio wall. I couldn't help but respond in a most gushy and unseemly fashion!

Ammendment: not fini
Still have to do some touch up...

Here Fishy, Fishy! #3

Third annual 'Here Fishy, Fishy!' art exhibit and this year we have the coolest thing!! This mechanical sculpture moves and lights up! The artist also composed an extremely exhaustive background story complete with authentic looking font and presentation. The short explanation is that this fish is/was a data gathering prototype created by the Department of Fisheries & Oceans back around 'now' and that it ended up on the banks of the Kitimat river in 2038, where it was discovered by fishermen who handed over this curious looking artifact for display.

I'm betting on this baby for People's Choice!

Bukowski - a glimmer of hope

So many dead, young Cobains and Ledgers in our culture: all one can do is celebrate the persistence, tenacity and longevity of Charles Bukowski.

...endless, airless fog of dread...

My guts are a sinkhole. Imploding.
I can't fill my lungs and the world is flat, lacking depth.

My thoughts hover constantly - awake or sleeping - around and around my TwinnyB. She's done badly for a couple of weeks and she doesn't know how she resisted taking a walk last night. I asked if there are any new wounds...yes...a cigarette to the neck. 'just like mommy'

I'll have to remind her that that was mommy's very last self injury.
Three decades 'clean'.
Do the same.
please...

Hey! The Sun IS Shining!

Here's the bottom half of the mural I've been working on for Multi Level Care. Each section is one sheet of plywood. Seems to be at the stage where I can lay it all out for the final going-over so that everything lines up.

The bears weren't my idea but I'm happy enough with them. It's not like I'm a wildlife painter.

Got some wicked tendonitis in my left forearm, most likely from holding a liter of paint for hours on end and now I can barely hold a styrofoam tray. *whimper*