Some Good Advise For Artists

Find a sanctury where you can comfortably work
Dedicate at least two hours a day to your art.
Have more than enough equipment and supplies
Set short-and long-term goals and keep track of progress.
Explore series development and exhaust personal themes.
Work alone with the benefit of books and tapes.
Replace passive consumption with creataiave production.
Use your own intuituin and master your technology.
Feel the joy of personal, self-generaated sweat.
Fall in love with your own working processes.
Be forever on the lookout for the advent of style.
Try to be your own persson and claim your rights.
Don't bother setting yourself up for rejection.
Don't swing too wildly and damage the well-bieng of others.
Don't jump into the ring until your feeling fit.

This came from the painters keys http://www.painterskeys.com/ I copied and put them in several places in my home.

The Face Upon the Floor

Painted Lady
Dimensions: 10" X 12"
Medium: Encaustic Wax
Artist: Judy Vars
SOLD
This was painted upon an old gray weatherd slab of wood with nail holes still in it. I love to do find old rusty things and give them a new purpose. The Painted Lady reminded me of the old poem d’Arcy wrote about a derelict drunk he picked up from the steps of Joe Smith’s Barroom in Union Square New York in 1877.
In my old stomping grounds Virginia City there was a face upon the barroom floor not to mention a few other spirit denezins hanging about.

Northern Light Ravens

Title: Northern Lights Raven
Artist: Judy Vars
Dimensions: W 10" X L 8"
Medium: Oil
NFS

Title: Northern Light Ravens
Artist: Judy Vars
Dimensions" W. 20" X H. 16"
Medium:Oil and Acrylic
NFS
Raven
Black as pitch,
Mystical as the moon,
Speak to me of magic,
I will fly with you soon.
Raven magic is powerful medicine that can give you the courage to enter the darkness of the void, which is the home of all that is not yet in form. The void is called the Great mystery. Great Mystery existed before all other things came into being.
Great Spirit lives inside the void and emerged from the Great Mystery.
Raven is the messenger of the void.

Taken from the book Medicine Cards by Sams and Carson

Game of Tag

Annie Kellher blog title Writers and Witches and Words tagged me:
Here's how it works:
1) Find a book closest to me with at least 123 pages.
2) Turn to page 123 and go down five sentences.
3) Type the next three lines into my blog.
4) Tag five other bloggers.
Thanks Annie for tagging me, So sitting in my chair at the computer the easiest one to reach and the one on top of the stack was, get this, The Wall Street Journal, Personal Finance Workbook by Jeff D. Opdyke.........Here is page 123 five sentences down:

c. I attach equeal value to maximizing long-term and minumizing fluctations in value.
2. How important are these factore when you decide to purchase a stock of mutual fund?:
VERY IMPORTANT SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT NOT AT ALL IMPORTANT
a. Short-term potential for the price to appreciate.

Tag: Dabs http://artbydabs.blogspot.com/
Robin http://artgirls.blogspot.com/
Wendy http://wendyryanfolkart.blogspot.com/
Elise http://www.elisetomlinson.com/blog/index.html/
Patti http://pagibbons.blogspot.com/

Although I am an artist this was the book closest to me. I am doing anything to distract me from getting my taxes done procrastinating to the max. I am goint to help Peter stand a wall in the garage which will be his shop, the temperature is a balmy 19 degrees, I should get busy on my taxes, but the sun is out and its Sunday.

Today I Went To A Float Tank

Yes a float tank. It's been something I've wanted to do for about 15 years. Although I had a different idea of what it looked like, I imagined something more spacey and Star Trek like.
My experience of sensory deprivation was verrrrry interesting….I choose Enya to play rather than total silence. At first the Epsom burned my skin and don't whatever you do touch your eyes or they will sting and ruin the session. It took me awhile to get comfortable floating in 800 pounds of salt and 10 inches of water. The water temp was a motherly 93.6 after a bit I became accustomed to the feeling of no outside stimuli and began to relax imagining myself back in my mother’s womb. I could hear the music and I could sometimes hear the sounds of the yoga class it was muffled like I really was in a womb. I imagined myself in my warm cozy place loved and protected and being sustained with an umbilical cord reaching back through time and space. I was playing some and enjoying my watery world but I knew hour would end so I imagined being born, wondering what zodiac sign I would be?

The cool woman at the Blue Mountian Wellness Center with the nose piercing and Rastafarian hair asked me how it went. I told her the only thing that would add to the experience would be add some contractions, flush me down a watery slippery slide and slap me on the ass.

There is a book called The Book of Floating: Exploring the Private Sea by Michael Hutchinson, talks about experimenting with floating and psychedelic drugs the movie is a cult classic so I'll find the movie. Here is an excerpt from book:
Floatation is the ultimate tool for enhancing creativity. Creativity is as important for business people as it is for artists. Relaxation plays an important role in the creative process. It allows one to be calm and able to listen to their mind. While floating, you are able to view your life and business from a more objective perspective, where the answers to all your questions are apparent. You float effortlessly in a silky solution of Epsom salts saturated in body-temperature water. With all distractions eliminated, including light and sound, you easily enter a profound state of relaxation unlike anything you have experienced on planet earth.

To me the experience was like sex, at first I wasn't sure what exactly I was supposed to do and felt uneasy and inexperienced, but I was sure of one thing, I wanted do it again. I am going to float again very soon only next time there is going to be a masseuse waiting with warm towels and hot oil, Oh MAMMA
For more floating fun go to U-Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYNaDcYGaeI&NR=1
p.s. no phychotrophic drugs were used in my experience.

Trail Sentinel, My Painting for the Dorthy Page Museum in Wasilla, Alaska for Iditarod Days

Title: Trail Sentinel
Artist: Judy Vars
Medium: Oil
Dimensions: 12" x 24"
Price: 360.00
Completion Date: February 2008



I used a magnifing light to paint the musher and the dog team and yes, it is as cold as the painting looks.
Here is the official site of "The Last Great Race" which starts March 1st 2008 http://www.iditarod.com/ HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU!

Models at the Wearable Art Show

The night was a success, good food, full house, creative entrys, fun models, everyone had a good time.
The video clip didn't work out :( so here are some pics.

This was my entry Transparent Man, Peter was my model. One lady said to me, "how did you ever convince him to do it"? Truth is, I couldn't talk him out of it!

Mike took a funny picture with each model.


The lady with the belt outfit and the pink flamingo were my favorites.
The pretty one is Carmen Sommerfield president of the Valley Arts Alliance and the organizer, she's Awesome!
The next big event is the "Art on Fire" Iron Pour Art Fest
check it out at http://www.valleyartsalliance.com

Can you Say U-Tube

I've been keeping it under wraps, what my entry is going to be at the Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show, "Overdone." It's top secret! hint, hint, it's called Transparent Man.
My damn camera is not back from repairs so my son-in-laws-brother is going to take a video clip. Can you say U-Tube? He He He (diobolical laughter). My new piece has taken 100s of hours and lots of blood, sweat, tears and a few heated debates. But the overall effect is going to be over the top and way overdone.
My model is getting cold feet and very nervous and mistakenly thinks he can remain annonymous, he he, heeee (more diobolical laughter).

This is my entry last year a Mardi Gras Angel, we had so much fun that we are back for more, be there or be square.

OVERDONEPalmers 2nd Annual
Wearable Art
&Runway
Fashion Show

Saturday, February 16, 2008, 7pm at The Palmer Depot
Presented by the Valley Arts Alliance http://www.valleyartsalliance.com/

So Dad, Who's Da Nekid Lady?

With Wanda's passing I inhereted my fathers photo album and with it his memories and some of the momentos of his life, pictures of him as a baby, pictures of his Maw, pictures of us kids, Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy 1946, all kinds of fascinating things.
Oh the stories these photos could tell. Like for instance who was this curvy lady? Written on the back is
Sarah May Chatterton
380 2nd Ave.
Phone 90388

My Sons 18th Birthday

At 30+++something I got pregnant with my last child. I gave birth on a weekday at about noon a perfect baby boy, my Son.

At first I hated the idea of having another child I was already in my late 30s done with raising kids. I was getting off easy with carefree adult years ahead of me it was a great place to stop... But once I made up my mind to have another child, I vowed never to regret my decision. I've been told I hover about Porter like a huge helicopter, it's been so hard to let go and not protect and worry about him. My son has taught me so much, brought me so much joy, I am so very proud of his accomplishments he is a rock star to me. My other kids brought me much more grief than he ever did. YIKES the stories i could tell.

After out annual sourdough Pizza at the Yukon he went to see Rambo a R rated movie with his friends.

Porter is 18 and as far as our government is concerned an adult. The rest of his life just beginning ripe with possibilities and like alot of us he dosen't know what he wants to be when he grows up.

I also stand at a new phase done with raising children, when I grow up I want to be an artist my future is also pregnant with possibilities.

p.s. I will discourage my son from fighting in Uncle Sams war.

I love you son

MoM

What You Think Of Me Is None Of My Business

Wordy Raven
Price: 10 cents
Artist: Judy Vars
I have to tell myself this often, what you think of me is none of my damn business. Because often I worry a bit too much about what others think of me, simultaneously having a cavalier attitude that says, I don't give a damn what you think of me, and as a caveat to that, but just please think of me.

Sure I'll admit it I want to be loved and accepted for who I am imperfections and all, but lets be honest lots of people have judgmental attitudes. Like when I was eavesdropping next to my one of my Raven creations in the gallery, the lady told her husband in a real snippy tone of voice, "I wouldn’t give you 10 cents for it," Well how rude, and the letter I just got from the Anchorage Museum in answer to my submission, "We regret to inform you that your artwork will not be included into the second phase of the judging process," and then there is the person who says, "your art is improving," what the hell does that mean anyway? See what I mean? I'll write it 10 times for 10 days until I believe it. What you think of me is none of my business! What you think of me is none of my business!

It means be true to myself and stop trying to please other folks.
I ask myself, do I have my own approval? Yes! Am I being true to myself? Yes! Do I trust myself? Yes!

Although, I would like to know why Jari-Pekka Vanhala currator of the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki, Finland; passed on my art for the Anchorage Museum http://www.anchoragemuseum.org/, All Alaska Juried Art Exhibition. He is giving a lecture on Wed. Feb. 27 and will talk about his choices. I plan to attend and get some enlightenment.

So Maybe a more true statement would be; sometimes what you think of me is none of my business. Because it's still all about me, and what you think about me,
is none of my business.

If it aint one thang its another

Friday my daughter and sister/friend and their business partner Mindy called me to buy some NIKKEN home health care products before January ends, Charmaine needed to reach her monthy goal. They worked me hard but I needed more time there was still 24 hours to decide. Laura e-mailed me some testimonials about the KenkoWave infared treatment system it treats tendonitis arthritis, rheumatism, tendonitis, bachache, joint pain and psoirisis. I grumbled about how much the products cost. Then Laura made me a deal that I couldn't refuse. She commissioned me to paint something in trade. I say; "now yer talkin my language" after some more negoiations, We decided I would paint a raven.
They have loved me and encouraged my art endeavors for years telling me how much they love my creations. I started it immediately feeling so inspired to paint my oldest and dearest sister friend Laura and Alan from Vancouver a raven painting. It is turning out soooo great.
A week or so ago I dropped my camera and broke the button that takes the pictures so I sent it off to Olympus to repair, who knows how long that will take. So no new pictures of the piece.
This raven painting I did over 5 years ago. It's on my web site http://www.cabinfeverinalaska.com/ this is the one Alan liked best because the raven has character so I am basing my new paintings on this one. You're gonna love it!
Northern Lights Raven

Ground Hog Day Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow so 6 more weeks of winter

On an episode of Northern Exposure one of the characters a native medicine man wanted to understand our western culture better so he asked everyone for our stories, it was funny because all anyone could come up with was Urban Legends, Do you have a favorite urban legend? By the end of the show he thought whites were crazy and concluded we had no story telling traditions amongst our culture. Until the last scene, he sat with Ed to watch a movie and realized all our ethical, moral, and spiritual questions are answered in the movies. Movies are our stories.

Ground Hog Day is in my top 10 all time movie favorites. A news crew goes to Punxsutawney to cover the Ground Hog Day celebration, the self absorbed Bill Murray is the news weather man, he gets caught in a time loop living February 2nd Ground Hog Day over and over again, at first he pleases himself and his hedonistic nature because there aren’t any consequences and later he begins to make himself a better man. (I could write movie reviews)
What if we could relive each day over and over again until we finally get it perfect? I guess the notion of getting it perfect is as absurd as living the same day over and over. I loved the sweet message of hope and love that this movie brings, because every new day is clean slate a chance to improve, get it right, make amends, show your love, improve your skills, each day we are given the grace to keep trying until we get it right.