“NATURAL TALENT” VS. PERSEVERANCE: Which Works Best?

Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I’d stuck with pottery making. But then I realize my most important creation story, and current practices, might never have happened….I’ve written quite a few articles about how to get good at something (and why NOT to give up when it feels like you can’t).  I’ve tried pottery, martial arts, Tai Chi, and Thai kickboxing, and shared where I made progress (and got pretty good at it) and when I bailed (not knowing what I know now.)

The topic came up again in a Tai Chi class recently, about the power of teaching and the wisdom involved to be a great teacher.

We shared our own experience with teachers/fellow students where all we received was constant criticism, the “U R doing it wrong” approach. How unproductive (and sometimes insulting) it felt, and didn’t really encourage us to do better. Instead, it was DIS-couraging, and made some of us wonder if we were ever going to get “good” at it.

Then Arthur shared a story. As a long-time piano teacher, he’d had students who had “natural talent”–a propensity for music–and people who didn’t.

There was one student in particular he still thinks of today. And surprisingly (though not to me!), it was that student, with no “natural talent”,  who took a long time to gain expertise…

But eventually surpassed the natural-talent people.

Because they didn’t give up.

They loved learning to play the piano, they retained a sense of humor about it, constantly laughing at their mistakes (and made Arthur laugh, too.) And they just kept doing it.

They eventually became his best student ever.

He also shared that although he’s an excellent pianist, he still makes mistakes!

I shared mine, about squishing and centering my first glob of clay on a wheel in a pottery class the very first day, and pulling it up into a cylinder. Perfect! (The first step for making a pot.) I exclaimed, “Oh, I’m a natural at this!”

And for the next 5 weeks of classes, I never got to the cylinder stage. Never even got the clay centered properly. It was discouraging.

I thought, “Oh, I’m not good at this”…and walked away from it forever.

When you read my article about getting good at kickboxing, you’ll find the four stages of competence, created by the Harvard Business School, and beautifully described here: The Four Stages of Competence

This changed EVERYTHING for me.

Years later, I realized there’s actually a FIFTH Stage of Competence:

TEACHING!

When you become an expert, you’re in a great position to share your skills with others, and to encourage your students to keep getting better. To not give up.

A good teacher knows these stages.

They know it isn’t about doing something perfectly. (Arthur mentioned this in his story, too. HE never got “perfect”, nor did his best student.)

It’s about caring so much about it, we keep up the practice until we get pretty good at it. (It helps if it’s something we LOVE to do, too.)

 

Yes, we’d all like to be a “natural” about something. Heck, we could become a star faster, right?

But it’s not about being the best. It’s to do what you love because it makes you a better YOU.

So the word for today is PERSEVERANCE.  And finding the right teacher.

A great teacher knows that creating an environment where someone feels safe to persevere is highly important.

A great teacher knows that constant criticism can be overwhelming and discouraging.

A great teacher knows when to praise a student for even a tiny bit of progress.

A great teacher knows how to mix it up a bit, so it’s not simply monotonous repetition. So there’s a chance for a new perspective, for an “aha!” moment in their students.

A great teacher knows how to make sure students feel safe, supported, and heard.

A great teacher knows when it’s time to create a challenge.

I know there are some folks who enjoy a challenge, and when a teacher is being critical, nasty, downright horrible, that person can rise to the challenge. (Still requires perseverance.) If that person is you, then go for it!

But most of us already have enough stress and challenges in our life.

And the things we take up to help us stay grounded, at peace, curious, and engaged need an environment where we can trust the teacher to care. To care about their practice, their students, and the students’ outcomes.

That’s where I am today. I hope it helps you find a way forward for YOU, too!

THE HIDDEN GIFT IN MESSING UP: The Gift of Time

A few weeks ago, I got an invite to participate in the annual National Arts Program event here in Santa Rosa, and managed locally by the Santa Rosa Public Arts Department

I’d never participated before, but it was only $25 to apply, so I thought, “What the heck, why not?” I filled out the online entry form, and was accepted. (FWIW, I don’t think it’s that hard to get in. The categories are big and inclusive.)

I was pretty sure I’d picked this artwork:

My Blue Bear Clan Shrine:
“Follow the River,
Follow Your Heart”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But when I checked the online form, I found I’d uploaded the image for this shrine:

Shrine Series:
Yellow Horse Clan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whoa! I don’t know how that happened! It’s a lot smaller, so I worried it wouldn’t have much of an impact. OTOH, price-wise, it was also less expensive!

Oh well. Too late to do anything about it. So I took this piece to the show at the Finley Community Center.

When I got there, sure enough, the BLUE BEAR shrine was on the form!

No worries, they said, we’re happy to accept this one. Because it was small and meant to sit on a surface, they put the piece in an enclosed display space in the Center’s entrace, where it sits on a shelf.

On my way out, I overheard a conversation with another artist bringing in different work than they’d entered, and that was no problem, too. Hmmmmm…….

I’d also volunteered to help with hanging the show, so I would be coming back in three hours to do that.

So I went back to my studio and worked on my Blue Bear shrine! It need a few very small adjustments, and I spent a couple hours getting that taken care of.  And most of my larger shrines can be wall-hung or sit on a flat surface.

It took a few hours because that very small adjustment was more complicated than I thought, with a lot of trial-and-error in play. But I finally nailed it, and brought it with me to the venue.

They said, sure, we can take that instead.

And then I bumped the shrine against something and BROKE OFF THE FINIAL on top!

I need a stronger post!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARGH! I said never mind, I’ll stick with the Yellow Horse Shrine.

And I ended up being glad I did.

The gallery section was not quite large enough for all the entries, and they used a rod-hanging system that lets them hang “stacked” paintings, like this:

Image from Wayfair website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only the paintings were stacked vertically in threes. And the paintings were a little wobbly because of the variety in frame depth (some stuck out more from the wall than others, and of course, each frame hung a bit differently.

And I realized the bigger shrine would have either hung a little wobbly, or bounced around a bit. The smaller one sat securely on said shelf.

So my initial mistake in selection, and my finial-breaking goof, were all dealt with by the smaller, better-positioned shrine.

Who knew?

I took the bear shrine back to the studio, made a sturdier post for the finial, and it’s back on display. (Yes, when hung individually, it’s stable when hung on a wall.

It got me thinking….and reminded me of what I’ve learned in life.

So many times, huge disappointments turned out, in hindsight, to be blessings in disguise.

The love of my life in high school dumped me four months into into college, and another romance ended when I found out the guy was cheating on me. Not getting accepted into that college’s art program. Getting fired from a well-paying job because I was “too grumpy”. Being unable to find a teaching job during the 1980’s, even though I even drove cross-country to find one. Being rejected from shows because my work wasn’t considered to be “real art”, or because I work in too many different media.  Etc. etc. etc.

Until I look back and realized the “true love” guy was abusive. The cheater was I left behind for another guy who WAS–is!–the love of my life. (46 years together!) If I’d gotten into art school, I never would have gotten far, because I am NOT a painter. I hadn’t yet learned the hard way that we can master almost any creative skill, if we learn to persevere because we love it. The job was the wrong one for me, and my supervisor was not to be trusted. That any job that required sitting in a room every day, all day, with a schedule and an agenda, and no say, drives me crazy. That I didn’t have to be famous, or make tons of money from the work of my heart–because it helped ME be my best self.

Not always, of course. I’d never dismiss or belittle anyone else’s disappointment or sadness for the twists and turns in their life, nor for the hardships they’ve had to deal with. I know that there will be more ahead for me, too.

But this extremely brief turn-around reminded me that life holds ups and downs, bumps and waves, disappointment and tons of potential insights along the way.

Figuring how to manage them has been powerful.

And realizing what I learn from them has been powerful, too.

Sometimes life is brutal, but sometimes it’s just a (major/minor) learning experience. I hope you are in a point in your life where you can separate the big learning experiences from the true sadness/tragedies (which also take time to heal. Not fix. Just…heal.)

IT. TAKES. TIME.

And I hope you can see the big life lessons that got you to where you are today.

 

 

WHERE TO LOOK ON YOUR LIFE JOURNEY

It’s amazing how a few sentences/insights can change EVERYTHING!

Yesterday, I dropped my husband off at the Pacific Coast so he could enjoy a long bike ride home. We usually take the Coleman Valley Road or the Bay Hill Road, both of which are lesser-used roads to the coast with spectacular views.

I usually drive, but that day, he said he would drive. And as we drove along a stretch of Bay Hill Road, I saw a complete north-to-south view of the hills and mountains along the Sonoma Valley, something I didn’t remember ever seeing before.

When I commented on this, I realized it’s because I’m usually the driver, and my eyes are on the road ahead of me. With only a quick glance to the side, or when we pull over to take in the view.

Jon said that’s why he wanted to drive that day: So I could enjoy that view instead.

Then he shared what a friend/fellow biker said to him awhile back:

When you’re doing a steep climb up a hill, don’t look ahead. All you’ll see is the hill you have to climb. No matter where you are, it will always be steep, and long. And maybe a little challenging, or very hard. It can feel discouraging.

Instead, look down. You’ll see the pavement rolling by, comforted by the fact that you are, indeed, making progress.

And look to the side! Enjoy the views, the flora and fauna, vistas of the rolling hills, the views of the coast, even Point Reyes! The clouds, the soaring vultures and hawks, the little California quails scrambling off the path.

I thought this was an amazing point-of-view. Literally, and metaphorically. (Thank you, Bob Stender!)

I’ve finished all the open studio tours for this year, the artist receptions at galleries, the huge project of restoring/refinishing of my enormous sterling silver collection, chains and jewelry findings that I over-oxidized over the last 20 years.

And it’s been a slooooooow year for sales, the usual for recognition/fame/fortune (as in, “not much”), etc. (I know it’s not just me, but of course, it FEELS like it’s “just me”….) And I fret when I wake up in the middle of the night, worrying about all the “what if’s”, the scary stuff, the fear our living situation could disappear almost overnight(this happened to a neighbor last year, after renting a home here for almost 15 years), the dismay when we discover we’ve lost another dear friend from “back home”, and knowing there are many, many more losses to come as we age. Even questioning whether we did the right things and made the right decisions in moving here, even raising our family…. What could we have done better? Is it too late to try harder??

Then come the moments, like this one, where I realize that everything I need in life is right here. Not in front of me, on the road uphill, but all around me.

The beautiful views of mountains, rolling hills, and sunsets. The breath-taking views of the ocean. The friends we’ve made when we started taking our dogs to a local dog park. The local friends and neighbors who have made our lives richer and more meaningful. The joy of finding new people/critters/things to love, finding purpose, finding connections.

With my creative work, I strive to remember that what I can do, is a privilege. I may not get rich from it, nor famous, and I don’t even get paid for writing anymore.

But I have a lovely space to create the work that heals my heart and soothes my scattered brain. I know the real value of the work I do, no matter how many, nor how few, appreciate it. It’s about what it means to ME, how it gets me to a better place, and how it opens my point-of-view–and my heart–to the real, deepr beauty in the world: The people who make life better for others, the folks with compassion for the less fortunate, the ones who help us heal, recover, even those who help us pass on…. The people who strive to create justice, peace, support, hope, for all of us.

I’m rambling again. I KNOW! We leave in a few hours for our flight to visit family on the East Coast tonight. I’m still not fully packed, and no matter how many lists I make, I know I’ll leave something  critical behind. And though I should get packin’, a tiny part of me says, “Write this, NOW, in case your plane crashes, so people will hear this!” (Yep, that’s how my buzzy brain works.)

So if you’re feeling a little “less than” on your own life journey, remember Bob’s words:

Don’t focus on the uphill battle.

Instead, follow path of this powerful Navajo blessing prayer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HERE’S HOW YOU GET STUFF DONE

If you’re putting something off, do SOMETHING ELSE instead! 

Awhile back, our daughter told us she has self-assessed with ADD. I said, “Oh, yeah, you got that from Dad.” She replied, “No, Mama, YOU have it, too.”

It felt devastating at first. I was screaming, “Nooooooooooooo!” in my head for 24 hours. Then I realized there are worse brain wirings: Narcissim, sociopathy, OCD, etc.

I also realized there’s probably nobody on the planet whose wiring is totally “normal”, whatever that is.

And when I shared that with the first visitor to my open studio event in June, they added, “We’re ALL neuro-spicy!” (I LOVE THAT!!)

My main brain issue that holds me back?

Procrastination!

Years ago, I read a terrific article in a book, Dream Big! by Lisa Hammond. Her chapter on procrastination was wonderful! (Instead of cleaning the house, she decided to start a mail-order business.) If you’re putting off something you don’t want to do, find something else that needs to be done, instead. You can read my original article on this on my old blog site at Radio Userland: Procrastination: Love It Or Leave It Til Tomorrow!

I still can’t find my copy of her book, but I just ordered a new one using Bookfinder.com, the best and fastest way to find just about any book anywhere.

Then I read a really funny article in a magazine about someone with the same issue, who made a list of all the projects (sooooo many projects) they finished while putting off that one that lay the heaviest on their schedule. I wrote an article about all the things I accomplished while procrastinated. (And now I can’t find it, probably never will. Argh!)

I laughed and then realized I could do the same! Procrastination is still my best inspiration to get a ton of other stuff done….

And because I now know about my…um…attention span disorder…I now need to constantly remind myself what works for me.

(Um…did you notice I started out with an article and immediately decided I needed to include links to MORE articles? Uh-huh….procrastination at work again!)

The other big thing that helps me get things done?

DEADLINES!

If you procrastinate, sign up for stuff you’re gonna HAVE TO DO!

You know when I clean my studio? A couple days before a studio event!

You know when I get around to finishing an art project? Or taking photos of new work? About two days before the entry deadline!

Do you know when I finally hung up a slew of artwork in our living room, in a house we’ve been renting for for over seven years now? The day before my sis and BIL came out here for a visit!

Yes, life would be calmer and more orderly if I could get my ducks in a row faster. But that’s not me.

So knowing how my brain is wired, helps.

Knowing I procrastinate, can help me get other stuff done.

And having deadlines kicks everything into high-gear to get that one thing done.

Yeah, it can get a little stressful, like me rushing to my studio to measure a piece of my work, and get a photo of it so I could apply to a gallery show.

But in the end, it’s how I roll. And the more accepting of myself, and my quirks, and the less head-banging I do, the more I can accomplish.

So when you find yourself beating yourself up for Not Doing Things Right, take a step back. Give yourself a rest (and a hug!) Think about what gets your motivated, what gets you back on track.

If any of the strategies here help, yay! I did something good today!

And if you have other suggestions that have worked for you, share ’em! Trust me, there’s someone in the world right now who is wired the same way, and who will benefit from your experience, too.

Now I gotta go to the studio to do stuff. After I finish this article, of course.

Wait, I was going to apply for that show….

I’ll use this one!

Or this one??

What about this one??

Inner and Outer Critics

Years ago, I was talking with a good friend and mentioned that my older horses were weird, and they embarassed me.

My friend said, “Did you love them when you made them?”

Me: “Yep.’

Friend: “Did your customers love them?”

Me: “Yep.”

Friend: “Did they buy them?”

Me: “Yep.”

Friend: “Then there are people today who will love them, too!”

Dang. She’s right!

It was only my inner critic talkin’.

I’ve loved all my horses over time, even as they change. And thanks to Ruth Parent for her wisdom about them!

Two interesting things crossed my path today.

One, I found a downloaded packet of an article I hadn’t gotten around to reading for awhile: “Nine Ways to Tap Into Your Creativity and Tame Your Inner Critic” by Karen Lynn Ingalls. ( You can find her at: http://www.NapaValleyArtWorkshops.com) but I can’t find where to get her document….Ask her!)

It popped to the top of a pile o’documents and such I’ve been meaning to organize and stash for awhile now. Didn’t read it until after I found the second thing:

An article written by an art critic who was “doxxed” by an artist they’d heavily criticized.

The artist is well-known for his drawing portraits of people riding the subway, and then he gives his artwork to the person he’s drawn. (I found him on Instagram reels, but he might be on YouTube and other platforms, too.)

I found the videos soothing and wonderful. Every single person is astonished at his work, and grateful to receive their portrait from him.

But after the art critic wrote a bad review of his work and process, the subway artist posted his name online, and encouraged his followers to shout out the critic.

(Not naming names, you can find both of them easily by the words I’ve already used here.)

And then I read the downloaded document about taming our inner critic, and bells went off.

Backstory: One of the critic’s…criticism…was that the artwork isn’t really as ‘random’ as it looks in the videos. It looks like he simply starts drawing, and that the subject/person has no idea they’re being drawn. The critic discovered that the artist actually asks permission from the intended subject, asks them how long they’ll be on the subway, and draws accordingly. So, “fake process!” the critic shouts.

Which is weird, because I think asking for permission to sketch is actually polite and the right thing to do. And the question of how long they’ll be riding is important to know, too. Who wants to be drawing 30 seconds into a portrait and have to bail because the person got off at the next stop?

The critic also criticized the  quality of the artist’s work, which, again, is weird. Because it’s simply “good enough” for me, and for the person whose portrait is drawn, and everybody involved is happy.

I’ve always thought that art critics, movie critics, etc. get pretty boring with their reviews. Look, I either like something, or love something, or I don’t. If someone writes a negative review about something I love, it doesn’t change my opinion. (Especially movies!) And the long-time critics seem to get to a point where they hate everything they’re reviewing, leaving me scratching my head about why????  After all, there’s something for everyone in the world, but not everything will be for everyone.

And then I read Ingall’s article. Hoo boy, art critics are worse than our inner critic! (Except they’re easier to ignore than the voice in our head…)

She provided several quotes about art critics. Here are my faves:

“Pay no attention to what the critics say: there has never been a statue erected to a critic.”

—Jean Sibelius

 

“A critic never fights the battle. They just go around shooting the wounded.”

—Tyne Daly

 

“Critics don’t matter. Who cares about Michelangelo’s critics?”

—Irwin Greenberg

Yes, the artist went over the line to seek revenge against the art critic. It would have been better for everyone if he’d simply ignored the critic, because the artist already has grown an audience of millions of viewers. He’s got it made. He didn’t need to seek revenge.

And if we ask for a critique, it’s for the desire to get better, for someone to see the things we can’t see…yet!  Even then, we can take the insights, or leave them on the table. (I have stories, people….)

And I’m starting to think that critics, both professional and amateur, are simply people who wish they could do the work others are doing: Making. Creating. Expressing. Telling their story. Speaking their truth.

As a dear friend said years ago, “When someone tries to take you down, they’ve just elevated you to their level.” (Thank you, Melinda LaBarge!)

Ingall’s document has some good suggestions for not silencing our inner critic. After all, it’s there to keep us safe. It just gets confused about how “safe” we need to be, especially when we are doing the work we love.

It’s when it keeps us from doing the work we love that the situaton becomes toxic. When we begin to believe the work we do doesn’t matter, that we don’t matter.

Let me tell you: You DO matter. The work you love, matters.

Here’s one last quote from Salvador Dali:

Have no fear of perfection. Do your work imperfectly, you’ll never reach it!”

I may not like your creative work. But I’m not going to focus on telling you that. It’s not my place. It’s NO ONE’s place.

I’m going to focus on hearing the “WHY”. WHY do you do this work? WHY does it speak to you? WHY do you choose those tools, that medium, that subject, that process? There’s always a good story there!

And it breaks my heart when people walk away from what they love, because they believe they aren’t good enough. (I almost did, and it broke me.)

So listen to the creatives who didn’t listen to the critics.

Don’t even get angry at the critics. Maybe being critical is their superpower. (oy) And maybe learning not to listen to the critics is the most powerful thing we can do.

That’s true for me.  I hope it’s true for you, too.

Now get out there and go make stuff!

WHAT MY LITTLE HORSES MEAN

For Owen’s Mum. Always do the work of your heart!

So both of my open studio tours this year were almost dead in the water. Not many visitors, very few sales, barely covering my participation fees.

Was this a failure? It’s tempting to frame it this way. After all, making money is nice!

But that’s not why I do this work.

Inspired by the horses painted in the Lascaux Cave in France, they represent a major turning point in my creative life. A time where I realized I have to do the work of my heart. (Or I would be a sad, resentful, broken little person in the world.) (Link goes to a 3 minute video of that moment.)

So I do the work I love, the work that has meaning for me, the work that restores me to my best self, for myself.

But it’s not just for me.

The visitors that did come, were all (almost all) totally engaged with my work, my stories, and my process. They were encouraged to browse, explore, and delve into my treasure trove of displays and materials.

And when they were ready/willing to have a conversation, they would ask me a question. That led to deeper convos, and more awe and wonder as they learned what is involved in my process.

Then we go deeper.

I ask them what their creative process is.

This is another thing I consider ‘creative work’:

Sharing the idea that all people have creative energy in them. 

This is resulted in sooooo many powerful, helpful, healing talks.

My POV that most of us believe “real art” is the work of dead white European male painters of the 19th century. (Great artists, to be sure. But not the only artists. And the ones who were left out of the history books for ages who were women, people of color, people of other genders, people of other origins besides European, etc.)

We’ve been taught/encouraged to believe the only “real” form of art is painting. (Though some can now agree that there are also music arts, performance art, dancing, poetry, etc.)

Then we’re taught that there is an “art vs. craft” division. Nope. As a dear friend shared with me years ago, “If I make a clay pot or sculpture, it’s called ‘craft’. If I send that item to a foundery, where it’s cast in bronze, it’s considered ‘art’. What’s that about??”

I totally agree! It’s about the maker, not the method.

Once I share that anything we do/make/create that gets us back to our best self, is creative work, the healing and support for our desired begins. And when we share it with the world, not just by selling, but by letting people see it, hear it, experience it, in our studio, on social media, on stage, or sharing personally, it makes other people happy, too.

And the world is a better place for all of us.

That…is creative work.

People pause and then shyly share the work they love. Gardening. Healing. Repair and restoration. Cooking. Volunteering. Fostering (kids and animals!) Teaching. Innovation. Writing. Hair cutting/styling! Working for a better society for all. I could go on, but you get it, right?

Some people still resist, saying they’ve never settled on one way of creating. They experiment and move on, take classes but never pursue one for long. Welp, I call that “exploration” and consider that creative work, too.

I left my studio every evening, glad that I encouraged so many people to do the work that they love, that restores them to their best self, to share it in any way they can with others.

So as you explore new ideas, ventures, skills, tools, materials, etc. know that you are doing it right.

Anyone who criticizes you and/or your work is actually showing their sadness, the holes in their hearts, the resentment that they haven’t succeeded. I’ve had well-known artists who tried to take me down a peg or ten in the past. Turns out they raised me to their level.

Not everyone will love our creative work, and that’s okay. Never let that stop you from doing what you love. If one person in a million loves my work, that means….(Googling here)  World population is 8,045,311,447 people. One in a million? That means I would still have 8,045 fans!

And the last, but most important part:

What is the story only YOU can tell?

People constantly ask if I can teach them to make my little horses, bears, artifacts, etc. No, I don’t do that. Not because I’m afraid of people copying my work, but because when we totally focus on copying/coasting on someone else’s work, we aren’t doing the work of our hearts.

We all have a story to tell, whether we choose to share it, or not.

We all have a place in the world, even when we feel like we don’t.

Fame and fortune look nice, but they aren’t necessary for being “successful”. (Look at all the famous people who are so unhappy, and all the extremely wealthy people who still want more MORE MORE. What they have is never enough. And it never ends.)

So explore, play, experiment, keep at it, get better, enjoy, relish, and share.

And tell the story only YOU can tell.

SONOMA COUNTY ART TRAILS 2023 STARTS THIS WEEKEND!

New! Small shadowbox art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep, I’m a little late getting this out to you. But better late than never, right?

Sonoma County Art Trails starts this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, September 30-October 1, from 10-5.  And next weekend, October 7 & 8, too!

We’re at 3840 Finley AVE (not the Finley Center) off Wright RD on West Hwy. 12, Buildings #32 and #33. I’m studio #77 in the Art Trails Collector’s Guide, along with Serena Hazard (#78) in Bldg. 33, and Anna Rybat (#76) in the building across the parking lot from us. (Oh, and for those of you who don’t know, I live in California.)

And as usual, I’ve procrastinated setting up because I get all my best ideas before important deadlines…. (Which is fine, I just love that I still get good ideas!) (And I hate cleaning, anyway…)

I’ve created a new series of small shrines, small migrations, and small shadowbox art. New work at all the preview galleries, too! And of course, jewelry and small single sculptures (horses, bears, otters, owls, etc.).

Below are images of new work. (Some are in preview exhibits at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, My Daughter the Framer/Corrick’s in Santa Rosa, Gallery One in Petaluma, Healdsburg Center for the Arts, and Bodega Art Gallery in Bodega (not Bodega Bay.)

Hope you can visit! I can promise that you’ll love exploring my studio. Unless you hate creative mess…..?

Me wondering when I’ll be done cleaning…er, neatening…my studio.

Tiny migration! In my studio…

 

Red Deer Clan on display at Sebastopol Center for the Arts

Running Horse Clan shrine on display at Gallery One in Petaluma

Yellow Horse Clan shrine on display at Healdsburg Center for the Arts

Small shrine series

This Owl Clan shrine is on display at Bodega Art Gallery in Bodega (not Bodega Bay)

WORDS TO HOLD IN OUR HEARTS

A very tiny migration! But as a fan said, it’s a FAMILY, so it’s an important one.

Finally working on my single-box artwork!

Small shrine series

We make our art for ourselves, first.

A couple years ago, I had the opportunity to share my work with a new gallery in a small town here in Sonoma County. The owner loved my work, and did a great job of displaying it.

After six months, they had me take it back. It wasn’t selling.

This is a bummer, yes. But it’s also the story of my life. And the gallery owner’s words made it clear why.

They told me, “People who think they know about art, don’t think it’s “real art”. And people who do know about art, know it’s art. They are intrigued. But it’s also unusual and it takes time for them to ‘get it’.”

I have had this experience my entire artistic life.

The smallest insights can help. In one store/gallery back in New England, my sales were strong the first year. The art gallery manager love love loved my work, and it sold steadily.

Then they left to pursue the work of THEIR heart. Another employee took over for them. They liked my work, but didn’t love it.

Sales tanked.

And eventually, I was asked to remove it.

Yes, it was hard to hear. But it also made me realize that there are many factors in what creates or diminishes our sales.

There are plenty of ‘reasons’ why my work doesn’t sell quickly.

First, there are probably more artists today than at any time in history. As people age, they often take up the work of their heart in their retirement that they set aside for decades in order to earn a living or raise a family.

As we downsize later in life, we have less room for the art we already own, let alone the space to buy more art. (Ask me how I know.) (Okay, it’s because we live in a small house now, and I have no more wall space for anything!)

My work’s foundation, polymer clay, was not considered a “real” art medium for decades. And my work still doesn’t fit into many “boxes”, which is ironic because now a major focus of my work is on small shrines, where I use….boxes.

I can only continue to make the work that makes me happy, and continue my pattern of moving into other versions of my work.

My migrations are my latest “work of my heart”.

I’m looking for the story behind my “Migrations” series, and maybe I just found it today:

We need to keep moving, to keep moving forward, even as we circle back from time to time.

It’s not about the money. It’s about the work we were born to do.

It’s OUR journey, and an important one!

 

HOW TO OPEN STUDIO #26: Meeting People Where They Are (and Move Them Forward!)

Now I’ve added driftwood to my media-of-choice!

 

In my previous blog post, I shared all the reasons that photography is also an art form, and using photographs to create a painting from is not only fine, it’s a tradition! (https://luannudell.wordpress.com/2023/06/20/how-to-open-studio-25-when-people-say-hurtful-things/ )

Today, I’ll share the times people have said something…less than…about my work, and how I’ve handled it.

My favorite story….

Several years ago, during an open studio event, a family came into my space. The teen was a member of ArtStart (https://www.artstart.us/what-we-do ) which supports and mentors young artists. They are strongly encouraged to visit our open studio events and engage with artists.

The wife and son were instantly intrigued by my work. The dad? Not so much.

He glanced around and said, “This isn’t real art. We gotta get you some real art to look at. We gotta find someone here who paints. (Turns to me.) Is there anyone in the building who paints?”

The son and mom were instantly dismayed. “Noooo, dad, this is art!” And glanced at me, understandably concerned I would be insulted, annoyed, even angry by those remarks.

But oddly, I’m almost never this way. To me, this person may not be my customer, and that’s okay.

And they’ve just given me the perfect opportunity to share my story…and to expand theirs.

So first, I started with agreement, that many people over the years have felt the same way about my work. The medium (“It’s just plastic!”), the category (“This is craft, not art!”), the breadth of my media (polymer clay, fiber, 2D work, sculpture, shrines, jewelry, etc.)

I gave the backstory about my inspiration, and my creation story. (I still cry when I see this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfnnPL7LeQw )

Then I shared my own evolution as an artist.

I believe all humans have creativity in them.

Over the years, I grew to see more versions of creativity. Yes, painting, sculpture, and of course music, performance/dance/theater.

But also teaching, healing, restoration, gardening, cooking, caretaking, repairing, sewing/knitting, you name it, it’s creative work. If it’s something that restores us to our better self, and when we share it with others, helps them be better, and the world is a better place for that? It’s creative work.

Now, as I’m talking, the wife and teen are nodding their heads in agreement.

Then, I ask the dad, “What is YOUR creative work?”

“Me?” he said. “I’m not creative.” (Mom and teen again…”Dad!!!!”)

I asked him if he had any hobbies, interests, etc., and he said no.

I asked him what he did for a living, and he lit up. “I build houses!”

I asked, “Are you good at it?”  He said, “Yes!” (Wife/kiddo nodding.)

I asked, “Do you enjoy it?” He said, “I love it!”

I asked, “Do you customers love your work?” He said, “Yeah! (Wife/kiddo nodding.)

I asked, “Is the world a better place for the work you do?” He said, “Yes!” (Wife/kiddo nodding.)

I said, “That’s your creative work!”

His wife and teen are vigorously nodding at this point. Woot! (They saw where I was going…”

But the guy was totally stunned. Speechless.

And his wife and son gently led him out of the room and on to other studios.

I haven’t seen them since. I hope the teen comes back some day. I’d love to ask him about his own art journey, and encourage him to explore it.

And I’m glad I had the opportunity to show this guy where his own work, his own creativity, adds value to his life, to the lives of others, to the world.

Now for another sweet example.

Four young women came in the next day, also with ArtStart. In our conversation, I shared that story, then asked each of them what their creative work was.

The first three said painting. And the fourth?

“I cook!”

The others were shocked! Apparently they had not heard this before, and looked at her agape.

“I don’t care! I like drawing, but I LOVE cooking, I’m good at it, and I’m gonna keep doing it!”

Me? I gave her a high-five and told her to hold on to that courage and passion, no matter who disagrees with her.

I hope my words encouraged her, too.

So no, I don’t have a template everyone can use in these situations. But I do hope you can see that our stories–especially our creation stories—are powerful connectors to people who can use an insight or two into what is “real art”. Or even better, set aside the narrow box of what we consider “real art”, and look instead into the depths and breadths of our creative hearts.

A good friend works in colored pencil. Her work is so beautiful and precise, it looks like oil painting. She could make ten times the money if she actually painted. But she chooses pencil because that’s what speaks to her, what her hands want to do.

Just like I tried carving my work at first, but carving means you have to know exactly where you’re going and when to stop. (And my comic remark, “And as you can see, I have trouble trimming my own bangs.”)

Finding a material I could shape, shift, rework until I got it just right, a material I can fire in a small convection oven the size of a kitchen microwave, and one I can create the look of real ivory, stone, shell, etc. changed everything for me. As for the comment that “it’s just plastic!”, I can gently add, “Yes! And cave art is ground rock and spit, glass is melted sand, and ceramic work is mud.”

We are not defined by the materials, processes, techniques we use. It’s what works for us. What resonates. What gives us the effects we need to tell our story.

When people tell me my work is “all over the map” because of all the ways I use my little artifacts, I agree. And also add that it is all united by a single story. (ICYMI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfnnPL7LeQw) (I’m also happy to report that MOST people can tell it’s my work, no matter what form it’s taking!)

So when people have doubts about your method, your material, your place in the world, know your story. Knowing our creation story (above), know your story of inspiration, your story of the meaning behind your work (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xSgwPspjQk ), and why we share it with others, is the secret sauce to turning all those suggestions that “we are doing it wrong.”

Know your strengths. Understand why you chose the medium you’ve chosen. Know its value. Know YOUR value. Keep your temper and stand your ground with compassion and patience. Know your stories.

Meet people where they are, and lead them gently, kindly forward.

Be a positive force for good, for good change, in the world.

A big P.S.: When you’re out of steam, have signs with your stories available, and point people to them. Sooooo helpful!

HOW TO OPEN STUDIO #24: The Value of Volunteering

Volunteer work for open studio tours is always a thing.

Back in New Hampshire, another artist and I founded Keene’s first open studio tour. (It didn’t last long, unfortunately, and ended only a year or two after we left for California.)

We kept it simple, we kept it affordable, and only a handful of us did all the heavy lifting.

It was a huge success, and I learned a lot in the process.

We called it KAT (Keene Art Tour) and set up a website. My colleague created a map, another artist designed the signs, someone created a flyer with that map and the artist listings, I handled publicity, and a couple other artists contributed work, too. (I accidentally deleted ALL my emails from the last two decades soon after I moved here, and I can’t remember or look up all the deets. OY vey!)

At our wrap-up meeting, a few people had complaints about what could be better. We asked them if they’d like to take over those areas, and they said yes. And unsurprisingly, they reneged on the following year. (No worries, our small crew still managed! The fewer people involved, the less drama.)

Here in Sonoma County, our tour is much, much larger (in number of artists and area), and more expensive. The cost is mostly due to the beautiful catalogs published, tens of thousands, which are not only delivered to galleries and other businesses that promote us, but also mailed to individuals who sign up for them. Although this makes the tours pricier, these catalogs/collector’s guides also hang around for a year, or even more. So for the price of a quarter-page ad in a newspaper (for a day) or magazine (for a month), we get a year-round ad that people hang on to. (I’m gonna brag a little here and show the cover I appeared on in 2021!)

That’s me in the corner! My big Bear Clan Shaman Necklace…

 

 

Both tours I’m in (Art at the Source and Art Trails Sonoma County) require either 10 hours of volunteer time or $200 payment to opt out.

Both tours have similar committees we can choose to volunteer for: Publicity, mentoring, catalog proofing, catalog distribution, art intake/pick-up (for exhibits), hospitality (for in-person meetings with food and refreshments), signs, envoys for local farmers’ markets, etc.

I’ve served on several different committees in both organizations, and chaired/co-chaired the mentoring committee for one.

I’ve become a steering committee-at-large member lately, because I love to jump in and help when it’s something I have expertise in. But instead of encouraging you to volunteer just because it’s the right thing to do, let me give you a peek behind the curtain.

Behind each committee volunteering are some pretty cool gifts!

Hospitality: This committee is where a lot of new members end up, because you don’t need much expertise here. I chose this committee for years, because it was easy, didn’t involve much travel (just to the center and back), and needed none of my expertise.  The hidden gift in this one? You get to take home the leftover food! A lot of people leave behind their appetizers, desserts, COOKIES, etc. And after the kick-off meetings and the event wrap-up meetings, we would divvie up the leftovers and take them home to very happy family members (and us!)

Catalog distribution: Yes, you get some destinations that are loooong and far away. But that chair recently shared that those drives often go through beautiful country here in California, hours of redwood forests, rivers, and ocean views. Think of it as work with benefits! (Thank you for the insight, Katie Kruzic!)

Publicity: I was interviewed for our Keene NH tour, and because I love talking about such things, it was exciting–and an honor!–to be featured on a live radio show!

Farmers’ Markets: Members attend farmers’ markets to hand out catalogs and talk about the tours.) A new member not only enjoyed talking with people about our tour, they also got to promote themselves. They brought samples of their work and bookmarked their listing in the catalogs they handed out. (Thank you, Madeline Behrans-Brigham!)

Mentoring: I love to write. And I love visiting people’s studios and working with new artists on how to set up their work, how to welcome visitors, how to look for problem areas in our space that people unconsciously avoid, etc. It’s one-on-one work, most people are very grateful for the insights and suggestions, and now my blog series, How to Open Studio, is a resource available to all artists on both tours. (And my subscriber numbers took a leap, too. YAY!!)

Catalog distribution: Most of our catalogs get distributed to art galleries even as far away as the East Bay/San Francisco area. A new member on that team was unsure about driving so far in such urban areas, and I offered to travel with them. That’s when I learned that we get to not just visit those galleries, the gallery owners/managers are kinda interested in OUR work. New opportunities for gallery representation we otherwise might never know about!

Exhibition: (This chair, who hangs the artwork for the Center’s preview exhibits, is also the person above. They sit on both steering committees and chairs the Board of Directors for Sebastopol Center for the Arts, the non-profit that hosts both tours.  (Thank you thank you thank you, Sally Baker!) First, we get to see ALL the artwork ahead of time. Second, Sally takes input/suggestions from the entire team. Third, she not only creates the perfect display of over well over a hundred artists, she makes the entire committee feel heard, and respected. I love watching such a wonderful, engaging, wise human at work. Am I surprised she taught art for over 30 years? I would have loved being her student!

Ad sales: One artist has handled the ad sales so vital to our program. They are also somewhat introverted. This task well for them, because businesses hate being contacted by phone.  She researches the business owners, communicates with them by email, and mails them media kits. This volunteer work suits her, and she’s been amazingly successful at getting the ads that fund our projects. Because they avoid the in-person stuff, I’ll wait til I have their permission to add their name. Update: She’s says it’s okay! So…Thank you, Jane Garibaldi!

Member-at-large: I’ve become one on one tour, and I love it! I simply volunteer whenever a committee leader needs something extra. One year, I accompanied one of the founders of one tour to deliver work to a satellite gallery. (These are galleries who partner with us to host preview exhibits in other cities.) I not only got the back story of how and why one event was created, I also got beautiful words of wisdom that I share with others. The most important: “I’ve been doing these shows for over 30 years. Some years I’m swamped with visitors and sales, and some years it’s totally dead. No rhyme or reason. It is what it is, there’s no ‘fixing it”.  And it doesn’t matter, I just keep doing the work and showing up.” (More thanks, Sally Baker!)(Very mature, and very helpful for newbies, who often quit if their first year isn’t successful.) Another year I had the perfect solution for restoring/repairing road signs for our event, and jumped in to help the sign committee.

I hope to hear from to hear from other people about the advantages of their committee service, but here’s the biggest one I can think of that affects them all:

We get to meet other artists!

The downside to open studio tours is, we artists don’t often get a chance to visit other artists, especially their studios. The committees I’ve served on, from hospitality to at-large, all result in me getting to know other artists first-hand. Friendships have formed. Insights and wisdom are shared. (Er…I also learn whom to avoid in the future….)

Now…if you’ve served on, or chaired, similar committees, please feel free to share what you learned, gained, enjoyed about your experience! I’d love to hear about it. And heck, maybe I’ll join that committee next year!

HOW TO OPEN STUDIO #23: Who Took My Signs?? And WHY???

I found this lost sign and delivered it to its rightful owner!

 

The series continues! Today I offer a few insights about the road signs provided by our local open studio tours.

If you have questions, you can contact the “signs” steering committee chair(s) for info about where/how/why to put signs. I’m no expert on this, and I rely on the map for sign placement for my studio from another longtime tour member. (Thank you, Serena Hazard!)

Short story/basic instructions:  Put signs near your studio with arrows pointing to the right place. Put signs at major intersections to guide people through. Use signs on major roads/highways for guidance and to announce our tours. (DO NOT put signs on city/county/state equipment such as telephone poles, highway signs, traffic lights, etc.) Coordinate with other artists in your area to keep directions simpler. And cluster signs (when you combine your studio numbers with other artists in your building or neighborhood) are powerful, too. You can use wire H-frames, wood stakes, rebar, etc. to hold signs.

With all the new ways we can navigate with our cell phones today, it may seem unnecessary to plant road signs out there. But they can really help if your studio is in a complex or area where roads, turns, and lots of buildings in one location (like mine!) can confuse people.

And when we place a few of our signs on major roads/highways/thoroughfares near our location, people “just passing by” find it appealing–and easy!–to take a turn and come visit us. (Again, see road rules above.

My setback this year was….someone took some of my signs. Ugh! ARGH!!

Long story short: I haven’t found two of them. But I found someone else’s lost signs and delivered them back to the artist.

And when I asked others about their experience with missing signs, I got lots of stories.

One person said one of their signs near a busy commercial property disappeared. They suspect a very popular taco truck owner may have taken it down. The truck has been there a long time, they take up a sizeable section of the parking lot, and they may have felt the sign competed with their own business. (Food vs. open studio?? Who knows. Why not…both?)

Sometimes neighbors take them down. Again, who knows why? Maybe they felt they were a detraction to their neighborhood, or too close to their house. I have thoughts, but they are negative ones and I’ll keep ’em to myself!) (Hint: Envy?)

Sometimes another artist takes them down, and reuses them for their location. (Not all artists, of course, and very rare. But there’s always someone who’d rather take yours than pay for their own.)

And another artist said there’s a person who ocasionally steals signs for no discernible reason.

Mine were on a highway, and sometimes those are taken down, though I was careful NOT to attach them to any stoplights, telephone poles, and other off-limits stuff.

My favorite suggestion I was told about mine? A homeless person might have taken them!

I had to think about that.  My studio is very close to a walking trail that has historically held huge homeless encampments. And I’m also close to the largest homeless shelter in Northern California, where clients have to leave during the day, and even people who aren’t sheltering there still camp/hang around near there.

Here’s why this suggestion actually opened my heart:

If someone needs protection from rain, and my sign keeps them dry, I’m okay with that. Still frustrating, of course, but I have sympathy.

The people at the shelter? They have CHOSEN to take assistance, counseling, resources, chosen to take those first steps to start being rehomed. They often resist because they want freedom, even with the scary, uncomfortable consequences of living on the street. For those who home at that shelter, I applaud their courage. And if my $8 sign keeps them dry, I’m okay with that.

And at our first kick-off meeting for another tour last night, I found something that helped even more:

My partner and I had put up a sign at a busy intersection to guide people to my studio. It was windy and the sign wobbled a lot. We did our best, but had to move on.

But when my husband went back to check on it, some kind person had added heavier wire stakes to it to stabilize it. WOW!!! And YAY!!!!

I was talking to another artist after the meeting, and after expressing frustration at losing two signs, I mentioned that the fact someone had taken the time to fix that sign lifted my heart.

And it turned out the person I was sharing this with was the person who fixed/restaked it! (Thank you, Katy Kruzic!)

So disappeared signs, and an act of kindness…

Guess which one I choose to hold in my heart?

 

OLD ADVICE STILL GOLD: How to Navigate the Dark Part of Your Creative Cycle

OLD ADVICE STILL GOLD: How to Navigate the Dark Part of Your Creative Cycle

Recently, someone told me an old post of mine had brought them solace, joy, and encouragement. I can’t even figure out which one it is, from their description! I’ll check in with them soon. But I’m glad it helped.

And even more recently, my partner said he had the same experience, from my words. (Woot!)

He’s in a slump. He’s questioning his value in his beloved industry.

He’s been courageous his whole life about moving forward, starting over, believing he still has something to offer the world. (He does!) He loves to help people do better, and he’s an amazing teacher, too. He’s struggling with doing great work in dead-end jobs, where his unique skills are not appreciated. And now his latest dream project may be biting the dust soon, too.

It doesn’t help that the cold, rainy, dismal weather is back, too. (He’s half-Italian, and LOVES hot sunny days.)

Usually I try to keep my mouth shut. I do my best not to lecture or say “You’re wrong about that”. This time I just acknowledged that this is not his favorite weather, he is a constant force for good in the world, and most importantly, the creative cycle has a definite downside. Hello….CYCLE! (It goes around and around.)

And I shared a quote from an oldie-but-still-goodie source: Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way.

I can’t find my copy to get the exact words. (And so I just bought another copy from a thrift shop. Which means it will show up later today. Which is why I have so much stuff……)

The gist is, after we finish a huge project/dreamwork/goal, there’s exhilaration and joy.

There is also a natural let-down.

We may feel depleted. We may miss the process of experimentation, trying new techniques, collaboration, etc. We may be disappointed that our dream project didn’t actually “take off”. (Yet.) We may simply be exhausted from working late at night, every single day, for weeks, or months, or years. Or maybe we’ve hit a rough spot in life, one that forces us to step back from the very work that excites us.

What we must understand is, this is a normal part of the creative process…and life.

Cameron uses a river as a metaphor. Yes, we’ve been enthusiastically paddling our canoe down the river, but now we’re too drained to paddle. What should we do???

It’s okay, she says, to simply put down the paddle down. To lie back, and rest. To simply drift with the current…

Until we find our mojo again.

I love this because it helps me understand that even in our low points, our “lack of inspiration”, we are still making our way down the river.

We can be kind to ourselves. Let ourselves heal and recover. Let go of our expectations of fame/fortune/success, and simply enjoy the beautiful views along our life journey. Keep hope in our hearts that someday, someone somewhere, may be inspired by our creativity and creations…and let them know they can have hope for their creative work, too.

My partner is not into the woo-woo. TBH, I’m not, either. But I do find it helps when things get hard. (So, an agnostic approach to life.)

And this time, my partner saw that, too. He thanked me for listening, and helping him frame this seemingly hopeless, helpless stage as normal, and human.

Keep up the incredible, innovative, powerful work you do in the world, Jon!

I’ll stop right here, but I’m also gonna share some pics of my dream project for the last 15 years that is finally, finally coming to fruition. Enjoy!

Bear Migration

 

 

WHY WE ALL MATTER

Every year I make at least one Shaman Necklace, a large piece that rarely sells. But it reminds me to go big, and not to think small.

I’ve been struggling with blogging lately, and feeling like I didn’t have anything (good) to say.

But then I reminded myself (for the jillionth time) that writing helps me get clarity about what’s bringing me down, even if I can’t fix it yet.

And soon after, I got a beautiful message through my website, from a reader who shared how my words helped them get to a better place, too.

It might have been from an older post, but that’s the beauty of writing. Our thoughts and words can cross the path of someone who needs to read it, at any time.

Here’s an extended version of what I wrote back:

THANK YOU for letting me know that my words helped YOU get to a better place with your art!

I always write my way through the confused muddle in my brain when I hit a rough spot in the road. I always get to a better place, and I’m honored and delighted it helped you, too.

Re: You feeling you aren’t 100% there yet with the self-doubt and what matters about your work…. That’s okay. That’s normal. You did the deep digging, you got to a happier place, and that’s enough, for today.

Your misgivings and doubts will pop up again and again and again. And I hope you will always come across something–an article, a memory, a comment–that will get you back to your true self.

There’s a emotions guy I subscribe to, Nick Wignall (NickWignall.com)

I find his articles helpful, especially the ones about anxiety and questioning our worth in the world. Sometimes it’s just enough to tell our squeaky brain, “Thank you! I know you’re trying to help, and to keep me safe. But I got this, and you can take a little nap for now.”

I don’t know why that always makes me giggle, but it’s true! We might all be anxious critters. We worry we don’t matter, our work doesn’t matter, we’ll never get rich selling our work, etc. etc. But we DO matter, and the work we do matters. It helps us be better/do better, and if it helps one other person to do the same, we’ve ‘won’ !

See how what YOU wrote yesterday helped ME feel heard? YOU MATTER. QED!

Re: Art sales slowing down….Yes, times change, people’s lives change, the world is different than it was even 20 years ago. I wrote a series for on online/email newsletter for years, Fine Art Views, and the series that got THE MOST BLOW-BACK from readers was the one called “Why Millennials Don’t Buy Our Art”. (I totally spaced this, but I republished all these articles on my blog: https://luannudell.wordpress.com/?s=why+millennials+don%27t+buy+our+art) (For part of my research, I checked in with my daughter and she had lots to say about that!)

Newer generations are dealing with loss of job benefits, less income, smaller homes, etc. And older people have been denigrating younger people since ancient times. Here’s the first article when I Googled that just now:

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20171003-proof-that-people-have-always-complained-about-young-adults

I believe that part of this resentment comes from fear. In fact, the very fear we have about ourselves, and our art: That we don’t matter.

Every person on this planet matters. Every person has the potential, the option, to make their life meaningful in a jillion different ways. Even if they are damaged beyond repair, that can teach us something, or enlighten us when we see their true selves, if only to encourage us not to follow the same path they did.

I could write a looooooong post about all this. (Trust me, a lot of people let me know I write too much…!) Suffice to say, life is never a bed of roses, but we can choose to see the beauty even in dandelions.

And I also remind myself of two things that might explain the lack of sales:

1) There’s a heckuva lot more artists/creatives alive right now, more than at any other time in history/prehistory. But that also means we have the FREEDOM to be the creative we want to be in the world, no matter how large or small our audience is.

2) Somewhere, someone in the world loves our work. Maybe they can’t afford it, maybe their walls are full, etc. But when they let us know, that’s a gift, too.

Just like the person who wrote yesterday to let me know my words mattered.

That is the gift in doing what we love, no matter how “successful” (or “unsuccessful”) we are. Someone, somewhere, will feel better. And when we feel better, we can choose to do better.

P.S. Aaaaand right after I got that beautiful message, I got a typical scam email from that guy who wants to surprise his wife with the gift of one of my paintings.

I don’t paint.

P.P.S. If you ever have suspicions about an email, just Google the body of the letter to see if a thousand other people have received the same one.

Sorry not sorry, Winston Churchill, not fallin’ for this….

 

LEARNING TO SEE #16: Solutions Require Testing

This wood pattern made me gasp, and also shined that little light at my feet.I love this series! (Learning to See) And yes, I reread my older articles often, because a) I forget that I wrote them, and b) I often have to relearn my life lessons. (Thank you for the fabulous quote, Melinda LB!)*

Today’s theme is a familiar one: Me trying to figure out every project production step in advance.

Guess what? That has never, ever worked for me. (Surpriiiiiiiiise…)

I’ve had a project in my heart for years. The theme is “migration”, and I want to use it for my horses, bears, oh, and fish. (Okay, I don’t think bears migrate, but maybe they used to…?) (And “migration” is a more beautiful name than “rambling around the continent in a bunch.” Shorter, too!)

Originally, I saw these as herds mounted on long, narrow planks of wood, even imagining them as museum installations that traveled around corners.

Now, I’m collecting driftwood from the California coast, and grapevine wood from vineyards. (Grape wood is actually kinda hard to find, because it’s the heart of the grapevines that produce wine. And the pieces you can buy for reptile pets are pretty pricey.)

I’ll drill holes for metal or wood rods to hold the critters, arranged to create a pleasing composition. (Which I know will drive me crazy: How many? How close to each other? How tall?? OMG WHAT AM I DOING???) But that’s down the road.

Because I was caught up in how to position the driftwood.

Both sides look good, but which side will be up? At first I thought, well, the flatter side, of course. But it turns out a) very few of my pieces even have a flat side, and b) both sides will work, and be stable.

And that’s where I got stuck. Again. (Or as we say in my family, “Uh-gain”, when my now-adult-but-then-toddler son back in the day requested me to sing the same song over and over and over and over while riding in the car.)

After delaying for a few more years, I finally decided to simply start cleaning, sanding and Briwax-ing the wood chunks.

And that’s when today’s “aha!” moment happened:

One piece that really baffled me (beautiful on both sides) gave great clarity, because the colored Briwax I use to color and wax wood, revealed a beautiful wood pattern I couldn’t see before.

And that side was obviously going to be the “up” side!

Once again, once I can get moving forward, with trail-and-error and wait-and-see, I find more insights and easier decisions to make, by simple starting.

I hope that if your personality is anything like mine–tending to ‘perfectionism’, holding back til the entire path ahead is clear, trying to solve problems in your head instead of simply experimenting–then I hope you find a little clarity and support here today.

Sometimes the project of our heart does need to be set aside, until we can do better, get clarity, hone our skills, figure out what went wrong. Sometimes, it can take years to understand our life journey more fully, to view our “bad” decisions now seen as fortuitous ones, our hardships teaching us powerful insights that can take a looooong time to get clear on.

And sometimes, we just need to start. As Anne Lamott said in her book, Bird by Bird, all we need is a little light shown at our feet, so we can take one step forward in life…

This wood pattern made me gasp, and also shined that little light at my feet.

And in the work of our heart.

*Melinda shared this with me when I shared how embarassed I get when I have to rediscover something I’ve already gotten clarity on: “I love my life lessons! I love them so much, I learn them over, and over, and over…”

THE ANGRY PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE

Horses were my symbol for courage, to pursue the work of my heart. Now maybe I need a fighter pilot to protect it….!

 

For some reason, I have had a lot of encounters with angry people in my life.

I used to think it was something I was doing wrong. I would try everything I could to “correct” the situation, apologize, explain, etc. And nothing ever worked, until I would finally go along until I could get away.

I realize now that’s a habit/strategy from my childhood that never worked. I had no idea how to set boundaries, stay safe, etc. (I’m getting better!)

My latest was an exchange with a former gallery manager who used to carry my work, until they had to shut down at the beginning at the pandemic. They sent me my final consignment check.

Which I set aside and forgot about, until two years later. (As in, last month.) It was a sizeable check, too, for me. Drat!!

The check was “stale”, of course, but I tried to reach out to see if they would still honor the payment with a new check. After many, many unanswered attempts, they finally wrote back.

And the resulting conversation(s) were so toxic, I couldn’t believe it.

Their first response was, “Sorry, you messed up, not me. So too bad.” I responded with, ‘okay’. I thought that was the end of it.

I then checked with a few other galleries I’ve been in/am in, and asked them what they would do if a consignee hadn’t cashed their check. I did NOT tell them I was the person who had to be notified.)

Every single one said they would reach out to the person, to make sure they’d gotten the check, to make sure they were okay, and to make sure they deposited the check.

I thought the story ended here. I didn’t hear back from this person….

Until weeks later, when they asked if I’d gotten their replacement check. Wha……??

Yes, they’d finally sent a check. Did I get it? No. Because rather than contact me, they found the address to my STUDIO on my website, and had mailed the check there. Where we can’t receive mail.

There was a terse bit of back-and-forth, and of course, more blame assigned to me. But they finally sent a second check to my home address, which I provided them. With the $30 stop-payment fee deducted. Okay….

But the card had quite the toxic message.

I had “messed up” by losing the check. (Yes, I know.)

I had “failed to provide a proper mailing address.” (Um….no. They never even told me they were sending a check, or I would have given them my home address. And they HAD my home address at some point, or I wouldn’t have gotten ANY of their consignment checks.)

They found an address on my website, but it was the wrong one. (Um…yeah. For the record, a LOT of artists who are women/women living alone/jewelers working with precious metals and gemstones, avoid giving out their home address, and yes, I have the backstories for that. My website has my STUDIO address.) (I have added my mailing address, though I still worry about visitors mistakingly coming to my HOME.)

So it was “my fault” the second check got lost, and so it was on me to pay the $30 stop-payment (for a new check I never was informed about.) Both the card and the check had a “FINAL SETTLEMENT” note on them. (Okay……)

In my research about this person, I contacted a few friends, and got confirmation this person’s ethics, processes, etc. were slightly off. It was a relief to know my suspicions were confirmed. No, this person was not playing fair….

Fortunately, I had a meet-up scheduled with a dear online friend of mine who mentors artists.  And I got clarity about what was really going on.

This artist friend and I both had a similar toxic encounter with someone similar years ago, and they came up in the conversation, too. My online friend’s insights helped me heal from that incredibly toxic encounter, they shared some of their more recent experiences, and they gave me more clarity about why/how we get caught up in these entanglements.

They said these people are someone with “The Dark Gift”:

The ability to see our tender places, and to use them to demean and destroy us.

“WE are the real thing!” they said. “And they attack us because they want what WE have. And when we don’t see our own value, we can’t see their envy. And so we tend to blame OURSELVES for their anger and agression.”

Wow. WOW. This explains soooooo much.

Another dear friend shared a similar insight years ago when I was struggling with another, very famous toxic entity. The person was so successful, and internationally-reknowned for their work. Why were they constantly trying to take me down??

This other friend shared a similar encounter they’d had, and then said, “When someone at that level tries to take you down, they have raised YOU to THEIR level.”

It was restorative, and combined with these new premises and insights, it was a (BIG) breath of fresh air. And comfort. And a huge “Aha!” moment.

Keep these words in your heart the next time someone blames you for issues they have created.

Constructive criticism can be helpful. Destructive criticism serves no purpose, except to that person with “the dark gift”.

It’s hard to recognize our value, especially at our most vulnerable, when certain people let us know they DON’T value us.

But then, those are exactly the people whose words and actions we shouldn’t take to heart. 

And now for the “if’s”….

If you know someone who might need this, pass it on!

If you’d like to share it, please be sure to share my name and appropriate links–THANK you!!

If someone sent you this newsletter and you found it helpful, sign up for more at my webiste LuannUdell.com

 

 

 

ANOTHER HOLIDAY MARKET but with a difference!

 

 

I love love love these! Colorful, lightweight, unique, and upcycled.

 

 

I know, I know…Yet another holidary shopping event. This one is the Holiday Markett at Sebastopol Center for the Arts this Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 & 4, from 10-4. What’s different about this one? I’m having a sale! I’ll be there my upcycled jewelry: Vintage buttons and resistors, transformed into colorful earrings and necklaces, with antique and vintage trade beads. I’m discounting them about 40%-50%, so get ’em while you can! (Pic of resistor earrings below my signature stuff.) Oh, and my freshwater pearl jewelry, too! The weather is supposed to be lousy, but no worries if you can’t make it, especially if you live anywhere except Northern California…. …Because I will offer these for sale on my Etsy shop after the event! Hope to see you there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now for the ifs…. If you know someone who might enjoy this, pass it on! If you’d like to share it, please be sure to share my name and appropriate links. Thank you!!!! If someone sent you this newsletter and you found it helpful, sign up for more at my website (at the top of the home page): LuannUdell.com

button and resistor jewelry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

button and resistor jewelry

THE EYE OF THE STORM: VERMEER IN BOSNIA

This article was originally posted on my Radio Userland blog on Sunday, October 2, 2005. 

This summer, I created a special “artist’s table” for our local coffee house, Prime Roast. The owners, John and Judy Rogers (who also happen to be our good friends!) commissioned artists who were also regular customers to create “art coffee tables”. When the final table is completed, there will be a grand reception. I hope to post images of my table soon. (UPDATE: See all the images of my table at the end!) (Yeah, they’re out of order, so you could start from the bottom and work up…)

Last night, we had friends over for Bad Movie Night, a tradition where we find a terrible movie, invite friends over, have tacky (but yummy) snacks (jelly beans! caramel corn!), and talk and joke about the movie as we watch.

They had seen my table, and loved it! We got to talking about where I got the inspiration for it. (Bear with me, this is a meandering journey!)

Years ago, I read an article in THE NEW YORKER magazine by Lawrence Weschler. It was an excerpt from his book “Mr. Wilson’s Cabinet Of Wonder:  Pronged Ants, Horned Humans, Mice on Toast, and Other Marvels of Jurassic Technology“. You can read about this book here. 

The book is about an odd and intriguing “museum” called The Museum of Jurassic Technology. You can explore this unusual work of performance art here: 

http://www.mjt.org/

It’s a real building, with exhibits, in a strip mall in Culver City, CA. I hope to visit it someday. (UPDATE: We DID visit it a few years ago, and it’s even more fascinating than I imagined! If you go, go with an open mind, no judgement, and READ the exhibit information. Jon is pretty sure he saw Mr. Wilson while we were there!) It’s a fascinating mix of real and faux scientific exhibits, and inspired the “History of Coffee Part I” collage tabletop I made for John and Judy. (UPDATE: Judy told me a few years later that a customer came in regularly for weeks, sat at “my” table, and read every entry. Then they announced that everything on that table was false. I told Judy to tell them that almost 3/4 of the entries were TRUE!)

While searching for the link to send to people, I came across a second book by Mr. Weschler. Here is the Amazon entry for “Vermeer in Bosnia : Cultural Comedies and Political Tragedies“:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0679442707/

The first essay on the author’s musings about Johannes Vermeer (Girl with a Pearl Earring artist) and his world, juxtaposed against Weschler’s coverage of the War Crimes Tribunal judging the atrocities committed in Bosnia in the 1990’s.

Now, scroll down that Amazon page to the customer reviews, and read the review by G. Bestick of Dobbs Ferry, NY. (UPDATE: That review can’t be found anymore, and I’m so grateful I captured it here!)

This passage especially caught my heart. Weschler writes about a war crimes judge who retreats daily to a local art museum to restore his soul after gut-wrenching court sessions:

“Weschler shows us that Vermeer’s greatest achievement was to imagine a world of stillness and serenity at a time when all of Europe was being torn apart by national hatreds and religious persecution, and then to will that world into existence through his art. Those magnificent paintings are more than technical triumphs; they are triumphs of the human spirit. The distance between Vermeer and the murderers, rapists and torturers on trial is heartbreaking. Weschler makes us see Vermeer in a new light, and makes us feel in a new way the unique burdens of being human.”

Just a beautiful essay, one that speaks deeply to the artist in me today.

Art can be beautiful, but not always.

Art can inquire, and expose, and provoke. It can arouse us to look and think deeper on the world.

It can also offer respite and restoration, and peace.

It can ask, “What if?”

What a delightful journey Google and Amazon took me on today! I’m ordering the book now.

And now for the coffee table images!

CRAFT EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR THE REST OF US Part 2: “Show Organizers Messed Up!”

My show booth! (A very edited-down version…)

Second story from an article originally published in The Crafts Report (now known as Handmade Business) in July 2010. Backstory now included!

(Phone rings)

(Operator): Craft 911, what is the nature of your craft emergency?”

(Caller #2): “#*@!?(@*!!%!”

(Operator): “Sir, that kind of language is not helpful. Please state the nature of your craft emergency.”

(Caller #2): “Oh, sorry. I’m just SO MAD!! I set up my booth at this high-end indoor fine craft show, and there’s half an empty space on each side, and somebody says I’m in their space! The show floor is laid out wrong! These show organizers are brainless, stupid, #*?@*!!$#!!”

(Operator): “Seriously, buster, knock off the foul language. Okay, I think I know what your problem is. I want you to lift the corner of your booth carpeting and see if you see some lines of tape on the floor underneath. Go ahead, I’ll wait.”

(Caller #2): Yes, there are tape marks under my booth.”

(Operater): “Sir, by any chance are those marks running down the middle of your booth, from front to back? Right down the center?”

(Caller #2): “Why….yes! How did you know??”

(Operater): “Just an educated guess. Sir, you need to enlist the help of some sturdy people. I’m sure the show organizers would be happy to shut you…er…help you out. Have them grab your entire booth frame and carpet, and shift it halfway to either the left or right. Heck, there might even be a little marker on the floor with your real booth number to guide you.”

(Caller #2): “You’re right! I found my booth number! Thank you!!”

(Operator): “It’s what we do sir. Have a great show.”

Backstory: This is a true story!

Back in the day, I did several major fine craft shows, retail and wholesale. At one I did every year (sometimes twice a year!) for awhile, I got to meet many other creatives, and some became good friends. (Thanks to social media, it’s easier to stay in touch, too.)

I also got to know many of the show organizers/employees, and grew to appreciate their wisdom, their integrity, their skills, and their support.

And one year, an exhibitor did this exact thing. Set up their booth halfway in their space, halfway into their neighbor’s space. And then they complained loudly and often to everyone within site and range, especially the show managment. (They had been a pretty cool person before this incident, so we were all kind shocked at the awful things this exhibitor said about the show personnel.)

Especially when, later that day, from the staff that it was NOT the show peeps’ fault. The exhibitor had set up their booth in the middle of TWO booth spaces, despite the very-easy-to-see tape markings outlining their booth space.

The show staff handled it with kindness and efficiancy. They didn’t even tell the exhibitor that the EXHIBITOR had messed up their set-up, not the booth layout team. They just got the booth moved to one side, and reassured the exhibitor that they were always there to help.

Later, I learned more about the exhibitor’s personal backstory, and complicated family matters, and had empathy for them. But it still changed everything about how I viewed them as a professional creative, and as a grown-up.

Yes, there are jerks in every organization, every group, etc. But most show organizers DO want you to have a GREAT show! Most professional service providers are pretty good at their job. And obviously, in this case, they set aside the unfair attack against them, and simply fixed this person’s problem without adding to that person’s stress.

I thought that was pretty amazing! Still do.

What I learned:

It’s okay to be (understandably) frustrated when things go wrong. We all mess up, other people sometimes mess up, etc.

But making assumptions without exploring the “why” behind what happened, asserting blame without knowing the whole story, and telling complaining loud and long to everyone and everybody, is not okay.

And that person never owned their own goof. I asked the staff later, and no, that person never apologized, or even admitted to others that it actually wasn’t the staff’s fault.Either the person never realized that THEY had goofed up, or it wasn’t part of their nature to accept responsibility for their errors.

The temper tantrum was really, really hard to forget, too.

That totally changed my opinion about them and all the “professionalism” they claimed to bring to their career.

Short story: We all make mistakes.

But it’s never okay to blame others for ours. And being the only booth out of hundreds of booths, to be out of alignment? Shoulda been a clue….

Coming soon! Part 3!

 

 

I’M STILL HERE! AND READY FOR ART TRAILS!

 

 

My goal this year: More big necklaces, and more small shrines!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first weekend of our Sonoma County Art Trails open studios event is coming up fast! As in….this weekend!

My studio will be open Saturday and Sunday, from 10-5, September 24 & 25, and October 1 & 2.

You can check our website to see work by 125 Sonoma County artists.

And you can see MY listing there, too! I’m #63 on the tour. #61 is Cynthia Jackson-Hein, painter of quietly-aging landscapes, in the building across the parking lot (Studio Santa Rosa, bldg. 32), and #62 is Serena Hazard, abstract artist extraordinaire, on the 2nd floor of my building, 33Arts, bldg. 33 at 3840 Finley Avenue. (NOT the community center, we’re in the buildings formerly known as “the Barracks”, the housing units left over from a former Naval air base.)

Yep, I’ve been out of the picture for awhile. Several severe health issues took me down and made my life miserable. (Not fatal! Just painful and exhausting as all heck.) Now I’m on the other side, grateful for everything and everybody who helped me get through.

So my studio is even messier than usual, but don’t worry, I kinda like it that way! Some artists like to make their creative space look like an art gallery, or museum. Me? Not so much.

I work in a mess, I create in a mess, and I’m never sure exactly where I’m going with each new work of art. Sometimes all the options are overwhelming, but eventually, I get to where I want to be.

It’s my process, and that’s never gonna change. What I love about it? You get to see EVERYTHING involved with making my artwork: The equipment, the materials, even my process. (I have a couple works-in-progress.)

There’s no single way to be an artist, a creative in the world, and I’m living proof! 

So come on by, say hello, explore, open drawers, pick things up, try things on,ask your questions, and have a good time! 

Hope to see you there!

And now for the ifs….

If you know someone who might enjoy this, pass it on!

If you’d like to share it, please be sure to share my name and appropriate links. Thank you!!!!

If someone sent you this newsletter and you found it helpful, sign up for more at my website (at the top of the home page): LuannUdell.com

Luann Udell, artist/writer

“Ancient stories retold in modern artifacts:
Jewelry, sculpture, fiber works inspired by ancient art.”

Visit: Studio: 33Arts 3840 Finley AVE (Bdg 33) Santa Rosa

(text only, or leave a message) 603-352-2270

LuannUdell@gmail.com

LuannUdell.com

Luann on Facebook Luann on Instagram

By appointment on StudioDoorz.com

Professional advice: My past columns at Fine Art Views

HOW TO SEE THE WORLD Part 1: What Made Me Put On My Rose-Colored Glasses This Week!

Can you tell I’ve been feeling saggy lately? Go figure (says the rest of the world who are also feeling saggy.)

Last week, something happened that made it worse.

I got my husband his dream Christmas gift this year, a little Sharing Library. (It’s like a Little Free Library. Ours is from the same family but a different company, hence “Sharing Library.) It’s been up for six months, and we restock it every week or so. It had just reached the point where people were adding as many books as were taken. Yay!!

Then one morning, my husband sent me this picture while I was at my studio:

No more books :-{Yup. Someone had taken ALL of our books. (Turns out the two remaining were actually left by a neighbor’s kiddo, who saw that they were all gone and generously added two of theirs. Love love love you Nova!)

My heart went to a sad place. Who would do such a thing?? And WHY???

I checked in with NextDoor, and with a Facebook group of fellow Little Free Library members in Santa Rosa.  At least two other people said this had happened to them, too. People shared their thoughts:

 

Was it someone with a mental health issue?

Was it someone who thought “free” meant “take ’em all!”??

Was it someone who realized they could resell them to a used bookstore???

Fortunately, I’d stockpiled some books to move on, and half-filled the library again. But it left me in a bit of a huff. As in, do something kind and look what happens! Ugh.

And then the light poured in.

Someone in the FB group offered to bring us more books. Someone else did, too. Soon we were swamped with offers of books.

One person brought theirs over immediately, and totally restocked the box. I met another person who meant to do the same, and gave me their box to store. More people did the same. Soon people from NextDoor chimed in, too.

Dozens of people offered books, brought books, left books on our porch, and left books on THEIR porch for me to pick up.

We now have enough extra books to fill up that library for months!

So one tiny act of greed/misunderstanding/poopiness resulted in hundreds of words and actions of kindness and generosity.

So what do I want to hold onto this week?

An empty giving library?

Or a little world of good deeds?

Yup. You guessed it!

If this lifts YOUR heart today, too, then I’ve done my work for the day….

When good people do good things.