Studio Disaster

Yesterday,Bill came into the kitchen and told me he just let three chickens out of the studio. They must have gotten themselves stuck in there the day before. (I think they got through a whole in the screen door) And he added they had made a huge mess. Well, that didn't begin to describe it. I started walking towards the RV when the tears began to fall. Yesterday was supposed to be my art day. I was looking forward to a whole day of creativity. As I walked into the space, the first thing that hit me was the smell, then the devastation. Every surface was covered in poop, and everything I had been working on was now on the floor. Nails and screws covered my work table. Brushes that were soaking in cleaner were tipped over and my projects were scattered. There was chicken poop on my computer keyboard, and even on my Bible. I couldn't even sit down on the couch. It was the worst. They must have been pacing back and forth in front of the window on the back of the couch.

I couldn't touch a thing. I could only cover my face and sob. I walked back outside and sobbed some more. Bill hugged me and let me cry on his shoulder, but there was nothing either of us could change about it. Finally I got control of my weeping and blew my nose. I grabbed the broom and a roll of paper towels from the house and headed back to the RV. All day long I cleaned, and sorted, and pitched things. Thank God, none of my special work was scratched. A few paintings went into the trash, but nothing noteworthy. As I worked, I felt liberated in a way. It was easier to throw away things and organize what I should have gotten in order before. I finished it today and put the worktable back in business. I actually got to drill a few new holes in a piece I've been working on. I don't have a vendetta against the chickens anymore. We've made peace. I've got a new start on a cleaner space.

etsy

Soon I will have my etsy account ready to post new art pieces. I am so drawn to the etsy world. I don't know why. Maybe it speaks the the entrepreneur in me. The one-man-band thing in me that tells me I want to do it all: be shopkeeper, stock boy, and inventory supplier. All this happens in the world of etsy.
My shop is called "Makesmeglad" and it does.
The part that doesn't make me glad is all the set up stuff you have to do before you get to post. The shop policys, (do I take checks?) The wording of all the profiles and about you pages. How do you sum up all that goes on in your head in a few paragraphs? I don't know why I create stuff. It just happens. Hopefully someone else will like it. How do you make it sound like you are someone interesting enough to sit down with and have a cup of coffee?
So I've been watching the etsy help videos and shop critiques. I guess I have nothing to loose by jumping in with both feet. Hopefully I'll be ready soon.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/makesmeglad

Spring is spelled P-A-I-N-T O-U-T.

As crazy as life can get on the farm in this season, this is also the time of the year most paintouts are scheduled. They send out the invitations early, when things are still brown and gray outside. Romantic thoughts of sitting outside among the flowers under a warm sun is hard to resist. Then the dates actually come when I have to pack up and leave, stay with an unknown host or hostess, eat food (or not eat food) on the run, and basically live out of my little pick up truck. I tell myself this is the last year I'm doing it. Period. However, I do get to paint, more than I have this year to date, all at once so there is a continuance to my thoughts and patterns of applying the paint. I get to see a snapshot of where I am in my journey as a painter. It's valuable stuff to sift through. Plus, although I'm always nervous about staying with strangers, I'm always rewarded with new friendships. This year has been especially difficult to switch over from farmer to artist. At the Melrose paintout I got to my host home at 9pm on Wednesday after we packaged 80 chickens, stayed until Friday evening, returned home for the farmers market on Saturday, went back Sat. night to paint Sunday. It was exhausting to say the least. Next week, the Evinston paintout will have to work the same way. I'm not complaining, just wondering if this is what I should be doing. The price is high, but the rewards are high too. I completed 7 paintings in Melrose. I'm thinking painting thoughts again and connecting with other artists. I've made new friends and have plans to paint with old friends after the paintouts. As hard as this season is to keep up with, I guess I'm not willing to give it up yet. Then, as things go on the farm, when I got home, there were new chicks to place, chickens to process, and a swarm of bees set up housekeeping in my RVstudio. Never a dull moment.

Lost in the storm.

After the big rainstorm the day before, I found a little rock dove on the ground. He didn't make it in the downpour. His feathers were soaked and matted. I wonder if he was already in trouble and unable to keep his feathers oiled.

I know it's kind of odd, but I enjoy the opportunity to examine birds up close, so I keep them when I find them. They go in the freezer until I'm ready to do a study. Today I did a drawing, but his subtle colors will be more interesting in paint. An orange beak, blue iridescent spots on his wings, and a rosy pink chest - not what I expected. Lots of these doves fly through our pastures, but they move so quickly I can never see their true colors. They just look like grayish brown stubby birds. God makes so many things more beautiful than we ever see or take notice of.

Happy Ending

A few weeks ago we took the drive to the panhandle to deliver the painting of "Lazarus, the little man, goat" Here he is approving the portrait. Brooke, his owner was also very pleased. And we got to meet our new puppy, Lilly. To say that everyone is happy is an understatement. We are thrilled to have her and now after getting to know her even better we have fallen in love with her. She has made herself at home here and loves playing with our other dog Jonny as much as he loves playing with her.

On another note, my studio is now warmer courtesy of my wonderful husband's talents. Bill devised a way to get the camp stove into the RV with a muffler for a chimney. He used some scrap angle iron for support and put pavers inside for it to sit on so we don't burn the whole thing down. We started it up yesterday and filled the place with smoke. (It doesn't take much to get the fire going in such a small space.) But after a while we got a nice fire burning. Bill is still willing to make adjustments if it needs them. I'm looking forward to warmer times in the studio before spring!!