I have been paint for awhile but love most arts. With school last year, I really didn't have time to paint with planning for classes. I had to learn the Mac, Photoshop, Illustrator, Digital Art etc. I did silk screen printing and linoleum cuts with some students. It was hard watching them print and not being able to do you own art.
I do like painting. I have worked for years working on perfecting my art. I have different types of paint and have tried different surfaces. I have tried the plein air painting and like doing it at my leisure but get stressed when it is for a contest. If I want to paint other than in my studio it involves a packing of bags of equipment.
After painting for awhile and also teaching printmaking at school, my desire was to do printmaking for awhile. I like the look of the prints, that sometimes you can do all the work and have more than one, and that you can use your painting techiques to do mono prints. The more that I have gotten into printmaking this summer, the more I see how creative and flexible it is with experimentation. I had never heard of Kitchen or wood lithography, and pronto plates before or how I can use my printer. I have cut and printed some linoleum blocks with my wooden spoon. I use oil based ink and sometimes find them at the thrift store if I am lucky. I can use some of my oil paint and Golden open up on monoprints. There just see so much opportunity to be creative as a printmaker. Maybe in the future I will be taking my printing stuff along with my during a plein air event and be printing off monoprints or linocuts instead of painting on paper and canvas.
What this also leads me again to is back to paper making. It is like that "If you feed a mouse a cookie thing" and once I get started, who knows where I will end up at. I am excited about the possibility.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Friday, October 18, 2019
Fall 2019 Life of the unexpected
So, last year I did a long-term subsitute postition for Middle School and High School. It was interesting and stimulating to say the least. I did not apply for that job but did apply for a couple of others this summer. Was unsuccessful - which turned out to be good. A dear friend wanted me to be her long term sub for her maternity leave and I said I would.
I began my summer being a super gardener. Things were going well, but it was a heavy tick year. I ended up with 4 ticks - 2 being deer ticks and called it quits even though I had covered up and sprayed. It sounds like they can float on the wind. My garden is a weed pit now and I need to spray up and see what actually made it past my neglect. Each time I got a tick bite, the area would redden and swell and the last time half my windpipe swelled also. I haven't gotten a tick bite in years and was afraid that I was getting an allergy to the saliva. My next step may be to see an allergist or wear my bee suit and boots when I garden. It has been a wet year and that is part of it.
The rest of my summer started out ok. We went fishing and enjoyed the days when it wasn't raining again. I began to work on linoleum prints. I even have a fish in my freezer to print. I began to have a health issue and went to the doctor. My physical turned out well except for the one issue. I was diagnosed with endometral cancer. It was not something that I had heard about to even watch for. Leading up to the surgery, it was nerve-wracking with the not knowing. After the surgery, it was what does the future hold? Will it come back. I think of those that have gone through much worse and are suffering from various things for years. I know we never know when we will go and could be hit by a car before I would have died of natural causes.
I cancelled my friend's long term sub position, because teaching art requires stamina and I didn't know if I would have it by then. I am sitting here, not knowing where I should go from here. This is my 13th year as a Substitute Teacher and it has been a good job around family issues, my appointments, surgery and recovery. I am ready for something else - maybe less stressful if at all possible. I have a friend that wants me to work for her son. My sister has an opportunity for me also. I am just beginning to look.
So, I feel like I am standing on a mountaintop. I survey different paths and opportunities. I am not sure what my future holds and where I will be going after this. It has made me value life and how fast everything can change. I don't want to waste away what is left - whether it is only a few years or if it is 30 years. It is being immersed in life - family, friends, others.
I began my summer being a super gardener. Things were going well, but it was a heavy tick year. I ended up with 4 ticks - 2 being deer ticks and called it quits even though I had covered up and sprayed. It sounds like they can float on the wind. My garden is a weed pit now and I need to spray up and see what actually made it past my neglect. Each time I got a tick bite, the area would redden and swell and the last time half my windpipe swelled also. I haven't gotten a tick bite in years and was afraid that I was getting an allergy to the saliva. My next step may be to see an allergist or wear my bee suit and boots when I garden. It has been a wet year and that is part of it.
The rest of my summer started out ok. We went fishing and enjoyed the days when it wasn't raining again. I began to work on linoleum prints. I even have a fish in my freezer to print. I began to have a health issue and went to the doctor. My physical turned out well except for the one issue. I was diagnosed with endometral cancer. It was not something that I had heard about to even watch for. Leading up to the surgery, it was nerve-wracking with the not knowing. After the surgery, it was what does the future hold? Will it come back. I think of those that have gone through much worse and are suffering from various things for years. I know we never know when we will go and could be hit by a car before I would have died of natural causes.
I cancelled my friend's long term sub position, because teaching art requires stamina and I didn't know if I would have it by then. I am sitting here, not knowing where I should go from here. This is my 13th year as a Substitute Teacher and it has been a good job around family issues, my appointments, surgery and recovery. I am ready for something else - maybe less stressful if at all possible. I have a friend that wants me to work for her son. My sister has an opportunity for me also. I am just beginning to look.
So, I feel like I am standing on a mountaintop. I survey different paths and opportunities. I am not sure what my future holds and where I will be going after this. It has made me value life and how fast everything can change. I don't want to waste away what is left - whether it is only a few years or if it is 30 years. It is being immersed in life - family, friends, others.
Monday, May 6, 2019
End of the Year teaching Art and the Overload
So, this fall, I was asked to teach MS/HS Art. The teacher had left right before school started. I knew the children and the staff so it was an easy transition. I ended up cleaning up the back storage room and the upstairs storage room finding treasures and throwing out dusty stuff from the past two art teachers. I had to switch to Mac since that is what the school used and also was hooked up with the Adobe Suite which was upgrade 1/2 way through the first sememster. I have a new computer also that I have not moved into yet. At this point, I may not.
I decided not to apply for the position when it was posted. There are many reasons. There are many nice children and teens taking the classes. There are some that do not stop talking and they are loud. There are some that argue about getting off the phone. But there were other reasons that I won't mention here. We had 11 snowdays and during one of them I fell leaving and broke my arm. It is mostly recovered. I still get numb fingers when I type or drive. I am still thinking about the carpal tunnel surgery to take care of that. I am, however, able to still throw a pot on the wheel, which made me very happy.
So, I am looking at my next steps. I didn't do any Art shows this whole 9 months. Actually none last year, and sadly, I hardly created anything at all. I need to get a tent and get back into it. I have been selling a few prints on Ebay - which is good but. I feel like I am starting over again. I did Daily Paintworks last year and that did motivate me. While I only sold one item while I was on there, I miss the excitement of seeing people looking and comment on my art. I am thinking of doing it again. I am taking my art off of Etsy and moving the art to just one Ebay store. The website idea may come up again, just not sure when.
I am in a transition mode. One of the things about teaching is the bit with learning new programs, systems and materials. If I am shopping, I feel like I am in overload - looking for me but also ideas for them. Maybe I am burnt out with the multitasking? I have a problem, since I am a working artist, to limit my materials. I paint with Acrylic paint but also have the sets of oils, watercolors, an inktense blocks and pencils. I sew and am behind 6 grandkid quilts. I have gardening season coming up and just found out about Farm Forests and feel like I should try that also. My bees didn't make it so I want to take a sabbatical from them and maybe have a garage sale instead because then I won't have any unwanted visitors. I love sculpture the best but how do I fit it in? For my sanity artwise, I want to limit my mediums but the teaching sends me further and further into more and more materials to learn and teach. For my sanity, I need to go the other direction.
Thinking out loud - We are in an Art and creative glut. There are creative things going on all over the place. On top of that I see where people have stolen other artists designs and are making money off of copyright infringement. We are importing cheap things from China (who also steal designs and innovation) which adds to the stuff that surrounds us. Savers and Goodwill and Hobby Lobby are full of these things. As a teacher, I see a paradox. All this creative, visual stuff out there, but the students don't have the skills to do or make things for themselves. I have a Crafts class teaching students basic crafts that I thought that they should have done as a child, and a 7th grade class teaching them how to tie a knot.
As an artist, what can you still do to make yourself stand out? Anything online is risky but that is where the collectors and shoppers are. Does one still make "Art" or does one make functional things for people to handle, use and enjoy? My thoughts go in circles just trying to sort this out. It comes down to what medium do I want to do, what do I want to make and honestly right now I do not know. Maybe it is teaching skills outside of the public school where I do not have to worry about grades or semesters. Time will tell. Will have to see what opportunities open up or are found.
I decided not to apply for the position when it was posted. There are many reasons. There are many nice children and teens taking the classes. There are some that do not stop talking and they are loud. There are some that argue about getting off the phone. But there were other reasons that I won't mention here. We had 11 snowdays and during one of them I fell leaving and broke my arm. It is mostly recovered. I still get numb fingers when I type or drive. I am still thinking about the carpal tunnel surgery to take care of that. I am, however, able to still throw a pot on the wheel, which made me very happy.
So, I am looking at my next steps. I didn't do any Art shows this whole 9 months. Actually none last year, and sadly, I hardly created anything at all. I need to get a tent and get back into it. I have been selling a few prints on Ebay - which is good but. I feel like I am starting over again. I did Daily Paintworks last year and that did motivate me. While I only sold one item while I was on there, I miss the excitement of seeing people looking and comment on my art. I am thinking of doing it again. I am taking my art off of Etsy and moving the art to just one Ebay store. The website idea may come up again, just not sure when.
I am in a transition mode. One of the things about teaching is the bit with learning new programs, systems and materials. If I am shopping, I feel like I am in overload - looking for me but also ideas for them. Maybe I am burnt out with the multitasking? I have a problem, since I am a working artist, to limit my materials. I paint with Acrylic paint but also have the sets of oils, watercolors, an inktense blocks and pencils. I sew and am behind 6 grandkid quilts. I have gardening season coming up and just found out about Farm Forests and feel like I should try that also. My bees didn't make it so I want to take a sabbatical from them and maybe have a garage sale instead because then I won't have any unwanted visitors. I love sculpture the best but how do I fit it in? For my sanity artwise, I want to limit my mediums but the teaching sends me further and further into more and more materials to learn and teach. For my sanity, I need to go the other direction.
Thinking out loud - We are in an Art and creative glut. There are creative things going on all over the place. On top of that I see where people have stolen other artists designs and are making money off of copyright infringement. We are importing cheap things from China (who also steal designs and innovation) which adds to the stuff that surrounds us. Savers and Goodwill and Hobby Lobby are full of these things. As a teacher, I see a paradox. All this creative, visual stuff out there, but the students don't have the skills to do or make things for themselves. I have a Crafts class teaching students basic crafts that I thought that they should have done as a child, and a 7th grade class teaching them how to tie a knot.
As an artist, what can you still do to make yourself stand out? Anything online is risky but that is where the collectors and shoppers are. Does one still make "Art" or does one make functional things for people to handle, use and enjoy? My thoughts go in circles just trying to sort this out. It comes down to what medium do I want to do, what do I want to make and honestly right now I do not know. Maybe it is teaching skills outside of the public school where I do not have to worry about grades or semesters. Time will tell. Will have to see what opportunities open up or are found.
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Teaching Art
I was hired at the beginning of the school year as an Art Teacher. Because of the timing being right before school, I was put in as a long term sub - ie a temp. I recieve minimal benes and pay is less than a first year teacher. This year was a record-breaking snow year. Today makes 11 snow days for the year. I get 2 personal days - so the rest is without, but I do like being home to work on my art and catching up on school things - but it is mostly school things that I am volunteering my time on.
All along, I said when I asked if I am staying on I would say that "I don't know". I was always afraid to get my hopes up and say "yes!" when I knew that they could hire somebody else - like somebody that could coach or be involved in sports. After yesterday, I am saying "no". I am considering my future without subbing. This made my 11th year and I am ready for something else. I was going to do something else this fall but got sucked into this. The Senior High students work and have good behavior, you can tease and have fun conversations with them. The Middle School students are rough around the edges. It is hard to make a difference in their lives when they are sneaky, argumentative, loud, talk and interrupt constantly and break my supplies. There are many, many good students in the group but the few wreck it for the rest.
Even without the kid issues, a big part is the support from the top down. That goes wherever you are. I did not get a mentor because I was a sub. All info and program issues I ended up hunting down the answers. There was not any plans, curriculum, information on procedure, grading, etc and a new principal. Emails were not answered, problems, behavior issues not dealt with from above. A lot of times I felt out to sea because when I needed help I had to find it elsewhere. There was no welcome packet with every password and information of all the programs you are going to be using - you are just on your own to hunt it down. I have a new laptop sitting on my desk still waiting to be .set up but haven't had time to focus and do it because it was lessons, grades, orders and everything in between.
I gave them extras - a lot. The big storage room was a major mess with a vintage pool table down the middle heaped with stuff. I got that out and found tables to go in their place so my independent study students have a place where they can work with nobody touching their things. CESA came through and said everything had to be at least 2 feet from the ceiling so the stuff on the top shelves came down and I found a way to squeeze them in. I was told the upstairs storage had to be cleaned also - there were 600 ceramic molds to get rid of as well as going through stuff from 2 art teachers from the past 30 years. I still have some molds up there and a few piles of trash and misc things to go through. I found treasures that I could and have used like a printing press and stacks of linoleum blocks and printing paper. There were also vintage silk screen frames, a roll of ss fabric and a new roll of Ulano blue 3. I have hauled down several boxes of carving wood. So much has mouse poop on it too so when I grab a box, I do not know if a friend is going to come out of it or not. When I came, supplies were low so I ordered and now have to do another order, but there are things to work with and hopefully the worst of the stuff is cleaned out so they can start fresh.
So, the reset, cleaning, is my gift to them. This is the first school I signed up to sub at and know the children and teachers. That really helped walking in for this job. I was given classes that were only a thought in the past teacher's mind - like Video Game Design and recently the Print Shop that I had to develop from scratch. It might be good to bring that experience to the next place if I do apply for a teaching job somewhere else.
So, for this year, I did have a job offer elsewhere that I turned down, there was this year-long sub job an then I also turned down a Middle School Art teacher long term position because I was already booked. I really need to find something different. We will see how the search goes. I want to walk away from this one with positive feelings. I did my best for the time and materials I had. I gave the students experiences and projects that they haven't had before but should have. I hope when I leave, I will also leave behind good memories of me in the minds of the staff and the students. That is the best I can hope for.
All along, I said when I asked if I am staying on I would say that "I don't know". I was always afraid to get my hopes up and say "yes!" when I knew that they could hire somebody else - like somebody that could coach or be involved in sports. After yesterday, I am saying "no". I am considering my future without subbing. This made my 11th year and I am ready for something else. I was going to do something else this fall but got sucked into this. The Senior High students work and have good behavior, you can tease and have fun conversations with them. The Middle School students are rough around the edges. It is hard to make a difference in their lives when they are sneaky, argumentative, loud, talk and interrupt constantly and break my supplies. There are many, many good students in the group but the few wreck it for the rest.
Even without the kid issues, a big part is the support from the top down. That goes wherever you are. I did not get a mentor because I was a sub. All info and program issues I ended up hunting down the answers. There was not any plans, curriculum, information on procedure, grading, etc and a new principal. Emails were not answered, problems, behavior issues not dealt with from above. A lot of times I felt out to sea because when I needed help I had to find it elsewhere. There was no welcome packet with every password and information of all the programs you are going to be using - you are just on your own to hunt it down. I have a new laptop sitting on my desk still waiting to be .set up but haven't had time to focus and do it because it was lessons, grades, orders and everything in between.
I gave them extras - a lot. The big storage room was a major mess with a vintage pool table down the middle heaped with stuff. I got that out and found tables to go in their place so my independent study students have a place where they can work with nobody touching their things. CESA came through and said everything had to be at least 2 feet from the ceiling so the stuff on the top shelves came down and I found a way to squeeze them in. I was told the upstairs storage had to be cleaned also - there were 600 ceramic molds to get rid of as well as going through stuff from 2 art teachers from the past 30 years. I still have some molds up there and a few piles of trash and misc things to go through. I found treasures that I could and have used like a printing press and stacks of linoleum blocks and printing paper. There were also vintage silk screen frames, a roll of ss fabric and a new roll of Ulano blue 3. I have hauled down several boxes of carving wood. So much has mouse poop on it too so when I grab a box, I do not know if a friend is going to come out of it or not. When I came, supplies were low so I ordered and now have to do another order, but there are things to work with and hopefully the worst of the stuff is cleaned out so they can start fresh.
So, the reset, cleaning, is my gift to them. This is the first school I signed up to sub at and know the children and teachers. That really helped walking in for this job. I was given classes that were only a thought in the past teacher's mind - like Video Game Design and recently the Print Shop that I had to develop from scratch. It might be good to bring that experience to the next place if I do apply for a teaching job somewhere else.
So, for this year, I did have a job offer elsewhere that I turned down, there was this year-long sub job an then I also turned down a Middle School Art teacher long term position because I was already booked. I really need to find something different. We will see how the search goes. I want to walk away from this one with positive feelings. I did my best for the time and materials I had. I gave the students experiences and projects that they haven't had before but should have. I hope when I leave, I will also leave behind good memories of me in the minds of the staff and the students. That is the best I can hope for.
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Cardinal Print Shop -Setting up a Print Shop at school - intro, Week 1
I had mentioned in my last post that I have a first- time offered class that is the Cardinal Print Shop. Last Semester I had a first-time offered class of Video Game Design. I have a lot that I did with that class and what I want to do with both of them, is blog what I did with the classes so if you want to do it with your class, you will have some of my information as well as see some things that I crashed on. Each group reacts differently and what works or doesn't with one group may not or may, work with another. The Video Game Design Class I will blog about probably during the Summer when I have more time. This one is about the Cardinal Print Shop.
Cardinal Print Shop - This was set up as the vision of the previous Art Teacher and the Shop Teacher. Mr C. Mr C. has successfully set-up and established Cardinal Manufacturing. It involves the whole department where students learn skills (and positive behaviors) through their Middle and High School classes and in their Junior year can apply to be in the program the following year. Students in the program create and repair things for the school and community and distinguish themselves with their attitudes and skills so whatever they go into, the program listed on their resume gives them a plus. Even if they do not go into manufacturing, they are positive, responsible workers and leaders. With Cardinal Manufacturing built up as much as it has there are even scholarships for the students involved. The Print Shop is being set-up to be similar in perspective with helping the students develop some printing skills but also positive attitudes and hopefully scholarships in the future.
So, this is where I come in. I was asked to take the Art Teacher position right before school started. The Art teacher had gotten another position. He was just setting up this class and most of the information about this class came from Mr. C. I had subbed for the previous Art Teacher and he lives close to me so I am able to email or call him with questions. My background is that I have done silk-screen printing - which right now is what most of the class will be for now. I learned how when I took a class at a quilt shop and used it for quilting and cards. At one long-term position, I built some silk screen frames from heavy-duty unused meat trays and have taught silk screen printing to 5th graders at 4 schools. I have taken college classes with printmaking so I feel very comfortable teaching this. The other part is that I have had several businesses - selling honey, crafts, paintings with online sales from 3 stores. This initial class will be researching and setting up the details and starting to print. I am having the students research and report information back and we will make decisions as a group. Even purchases will need to be made on a vote basis.
I have set aside $2000 from my budget for materials and equipment for this class. What I have in my backroom already are stretcher bars and a roll of screen material. There were quite a few silk screen frames without the screen in an upper storage area, but they look like something I may use for a different project and start this class with fresh stuff. There also is quite a bit of fabric and other silk screen ink. On one of the carts in the room, was a machine. When I researched it, it turned out to be a thermal printer from the late 1950s early 1960's. The way it makes silkscreens is pretty slick. When I asked the past Art Teacher about it, he said that it needs refurbishing. I had also found out that the prepared screen material is quite high and often in the US, it is out of stock for a long time. I found a roll in the upper storage room still in the package. One of the things the students will need to decide is if it is worth the cost of refurbishing and the purchase of materials to make the screens. If not, should I list it on ebay and then put the money from it back into the class funds. This is less mess and you are not dealing with painting on the emulsion on screens before developing with light.
Second Semester - first day of class, started on Tuesday.
1) I did the regular intro about what the class is about, rules, goals. I will be having the tech dept send them links to download the Adobe suite. It told them they need to share their resources - each know something different computer and otherwise, and if they can help somebody out, then they should.
2). I divided the groups into teams of 4 and had them research different places to have t-shirts printed, the methods and the costs. They had to choose 2 local and 2 online POD. There was quite a range of prices and costs. I then had them report to the class what they found out. It seems like many of them are more of an iron process vs the silk screen method, so we will have to explore that more.
3) Michaels had a one day sale on buy one, get one free on the t shirts so they were $1.99 each. I had the students vote if we should spend the money on a shirt for each student in the class and they said "yes". I went out and got the shirts. Part of the shirt deal is that they will be able to print their own shirt but also evaluate the shirt and ink, how it holds up with washing probably the right way and wrong way. We will need to see if it needs to be heat set and then vote on heating machine/ iron if it does.
4) I gave each group a three-ring binder to put their information in. With their initial research, I had them each do one company and put their name on the evaluation sheet. I don't have dividers for them, but that may come or they will have to make their own.
5) After spending the money on the shirt, I wanted to have a treasurer to keep track of outgoing and incoming money. We may be buying shirts and then getting paid back for materials and shirts later. I want the bookkeeping to be something that the whole group learns about. The treasurer position was taken on by a group of Seniors with them knowing it was not just one person, but rather that any can do it and step in if the main one was gone. They needed to find and download the ledger paper and set up their books.
6) Assigned a group as Secretary - the same as above. We need somebody/group to keep track of the decisions and activities of the group. These positions can be like a club also or like a business.
7) Orders - a third binder and group for orders We already have a few orders that I will be doing this week so we need to have a binder and sheet made up for the information. They were tasked with creating an order form. It has to have the date, who wants it, quantity, colors, sizes, if they are providing the shirts or if we are etc. The orders we have already are - The Spanish Club, MS Robotics Club, the Model RR Club, the History Club, and I think maybe one more at this point. We are starting this class in the Spring Semester so there may have been more orders in the fall, but this year, they can set things up for another time.
8) Because a girl whined about wanting to make something and my goal is to take them through the silk screen process, I got out my small silkscreens and demonstrated that and how to use paper patterns to demonstrate it. I have different plastics in the room already and xacto knives to have them learn to cut stencils and use that method also. I want them to try out, research, evaluate the different ways to get at what they want to do. I am trying to take them step-by-step through the process and not let them push me faster than I want to teach them. I also have a little bottle of diazo to try and some screen filler. I bought my own Cricut because there was a sale and the one at school didn't connect to my computer. I have cut some stencils from home. I will be testing the History club screen with that stencil. For now, the History Club is the only stencil I have to make. The other ones were made by the previous Art Teacher.
One of their research projects - once they have hand-cut some stencils - is to research and decide on the different cutters and plotters that we should research. They will evaluate the home ones such as the Silouette, Cricut and Brother machine as well as plotters.
I have to consider grading issues and with the research and groups, I don't want to give the same grade to a student that just sits and does nothing. I am designing it so they have work they need to do as an individual and then discuss it as a group. I have a sitter already that I need to talk to. With the research they did, I had them put their name on it so I can give them credit for what they have done. I know I have some shy ones and if it is ok with their group, another student can present the research that the other one did. They will be evaluated on their stencils, projects and prints.
Looking ahead to this second week, this is what I am planning on. I know things may flex and change, but that is how it goes.
M - I have a premade stencil for the Robotics Club. When I tested it because it looked funny, there were some areas that printed that shouldn't have. I will be demonstrating how the block filler works, et it dry and then print the stencil again. They will be working on their silk screen print with the paper block-out/stencil.
T - May let them test print. If they want to try another thing, that is good. I have to work out the Spanish Club stencil with the president who is in our class and did some silk screen printing with the past Art Teacher. There is one premade stencil of the logo, there will be separate stencils for the letters. She is having the shirt printed front and back. I will need to buy the t shirts for this one and get reinbursed. I have a stencil cut on the Cricut for the History Club so will show the student how to weed the letters. I cut it on Oracel. I hope it sticks on the screen permanently. I put it on the outside of the screen instead of the inside. This will be out test of the material.
W- The advisor for the Robotics Club is coming with her shirts to print. I will be doing it after school so if they want to come they can. . They can work on their test prints. If they want to make cards or something from their prints, that is fine.
Th/F - pretty much printing. If they finish, I can go over making a blockout stencil from clear contact paper. Discuss the reversal of the letters.
I will be reporting on how it went issues that came up, problem-solving etc.
Cardinal Print Shop - This was set up as the vision of the previous Art Teacher and the Shop Teacher. Mr C. Mr C. has successfully set-up and established Cardinal Manufacturing. It involves the whole department where students learn skills (and positive behaviors) through their Middle and High School classes and in their Junior year can apply to be in the program the following year. Students in the program create and repair things for the school and community and distinguish themselves with their attitudes and skills so whatever they go into, the program listed on their resume gives them a plus. Even if they do not go into manufacturing, they are positive, responsible workers and leaders. With Cardinal Manufacturing built up as much as it has there are even scholarships for the students involved. The Print Shop is being set-up to be similar in perspective with helping the students develop some printing skills but also positive attitudes and hopefully scholarships in the future.
So, this is where I come in. I was asked to take the Art Teacher position right before school started. The Art teacher had gotten another position. He was just setting up this class and most of the information about this class came from Mr. C. I had subbed for the previous Art Teacher and he lives close to me so I am able to email or call him with questions. My background is that I have done silk-screen printing - which right now is what most of the class will be for now. I learned how when I took a class at a quilt shop and used it for quilting and cards. At one long-term position, I built some silk screen frames from heavy-duty unused meat trays and have taught silk screen printing to 5th graders at 4 schools. I have taken college classes with printmaking so I feel very comfortable teaching this. The other part is that I have had several businesses - selling honey, crafts, paintings with online sales from 3 stores. This initial class will be researching and setting up the details and starting to print. I am having the students research and report information back and we will make decisions as a group. Even purchases will need to be made on a vote basis.
I have set aside $2000 from my budget for materials and equipment for this class. What I have in my backroom already are stretcher bars and a roll of screen material. There were quite a few silk screen frames without the screen in an upper storage area, but they look like something I may use for a different project and start this class with fresh stuff. There also is quite a bit of fabric and other silk screen ink. On one of the carts in the room, was a machine. When I researched it, it turned out to be a thermal printer from the late 1950s early 1960's. The way it makes silkscreens is pretty slick. When I asked the past Art Teacher about it, he said that it needs refurbishing. I had also found out that the prepared screen material is quite high and often in the US, it is out of stock for a long time. I found a roll in the upper storage room still in the package. One of the things the students will need to decide is if it is worth the cost of refurbishing and the purchase of materials to make the screens. If not, should I list it on ebay and then put the money from it back into the class funds. This is less mess and you are not dealing with painting on the emulsion on screens before developing with light.
Second Semester - first day of class, started on Tuesday.
1) I did the regular intro about what the class is about, rules, goals. I will be having the tech dept send them links to download the Adobe suite. It told them they need to share their resources - each know something different computer and otherwise, and if they can help somebody out, then they should.
2). I divided the groups into teams of 4 and had them research different places to have t-shirts printed, the methods and the costs. They had to choose 2 local and 2 online POD. There was quite a range of prices and costs. I then had them report to the class what they found out. It seems like many of them are more of an iron process vs the silk screen method, so we will have to explore that more.
3) Michaels had a one day sale on buy one, get one free on the t shirts so they were $1.99 each. I had the students vote if we should spend the money on a shirt for each student in the class and they said "yes". I went out and got the shirts. Part of the shirt deal is that they will be able to print their own shirt but also evaluate the shirt and ink, how it holds up with washing probably the right way and wrong way. We will need to see if it needs to be heat set and then vote on heating machine/ iron if it does.
4) I gave each group a three-ring binder to put their information in. With their initial research, I had them each do one company and put their name on the evaluation sheet. I don't have dividers for them, but that may come or they will have to make their own.
5) After spending the money on the shirt, I wanted to have a treasurer to keep track of outgoing and incoming money. We may be buying shirts and then getting paid back for materials and shirts later. I want the bookkeeping to be something that the whole group learns about. The treasurer position was taken on by a group of Seniors with them knowing it was not just one person, but rather that any can do it and step in if the main one was gone. They needed to find and download the ledger paper and set up their books.
6) Assigned a group as Secretary - the same as above. We need somebody/group to keep track of the decisions and activities of the group. These positions can be like a club also or like a business.
7) Orders - a third binder and group for orders We already have a few orders that I will be doing this week so we need to have a binder and sheet made up for the information. They were tasked with creating an order form. It has to have the date, who wants it, quantity, colors, sizes, if they are providing the shirts or if we are etc. The orders we have already are - The Spanish Club, MS Robotics Club, the Model RR Club, the History Club, and I think maybe one more at this point. We are starting this class in the Spring Semester so there may have been more orders in the fall, but this year, they can set things up for another time.
8) Because a girl whined about wanting to make something and my goal is to take them through the silk screen process, I got out my small silkscreens and demonstrated that and how to use paper patterns to demonstrate it. I have different plastics in the room already and xacto knives to have them learn to cut stencils and use that method also. I want them to try out, research, evaluate the different ways to get at what they want to do. I am trying to take them step-by-step through the process and not let them push me faster than I want to teach them. I also have a little bottle of diazo to try and some screen filler. I bought my own Cricut because there was a sale and the one at school didn't connect to my computer. I have cut some stencils from home. I will be testing the History club screen with that stencil. For now, the History Club is the only stencil I have to make. The other ones were made by the previous Art Teacher.
One of their research projects - once they have hand-cut some stencils - is to research and decide on the different cutters and plotters that we should research. They will evaluate the home ones such as the Silouette, Cricut and Brother machine as well as plotters.
I have to consider grading issues and with the research and groups, I don't want to give the same grade to a student that just sits and does nothing. I am designing it so they have work they need to do as an individual and then discuss it as a group. I have a sitter already that I need to talk to. With the research they did, I had them put their name on it so I can give them credit for what they have done. I know I have some shy ones and if it is ok with their group, another student can present the research that the other one did. They will be evaluated on their stencils, projects and prints.
Looking ahead to this second week, this is what I am planning on. I know things may flex and change, but that is how it goes.
M - I have a premade stencil for the Robotics Club. When I tested it because it looked funny, there were some areas that printed that shouldn't have. I will be demonstrating how the block filler works, et it dry and then print the stencil again. They will be working on their silk screen print with the paper block-out/stencil.
T - May let them test print. If they want to try another thing, that is good. I have to work out the Spanish Club stencil with the president who is in our class and did some silk screen printing with the past Art Teacher. There is one premade stencil of the logo, there will be separate stencils for the letters. She is having the shirt printed front and back. I will need to buy the t shirts for this one and get reinbursed. I have a stencil cut on the Cricut for the History Club so will show the student how to weed the letters. I cut it on Oracel. I hope it sticks on the screen permanently. I put it on the outside of the screen instead of the inside. This will be out test of the material.
W- The advisor for the Robotics Club is coming with her shirts to print. I will be doing it after school so if they want to come they can. . They can work on their test prints. If they want to make cards or something from their prints, that is fine.
Th/F - pretty much printing. If they finish, I can go over making a blockout stencil from clear contact paper. Discuss the reversal of the letters.
I will be reporting on how it went issues that came up, problem-solving etc.
The Second Round
I haven't been on here for awhile. I have been busy. I am still doing my long-term Art Teacher position for Middle School and High School Art. It is not as idylic as it sounds. It is amazing to see the behavior of students - like they think it is acceptable to yell in your face or at you, not do their work, throw markers across the room. I have had Middle School Lunchroom duty also which included gym time afterwards. I was hit in the head by a basket ball once and in my upper, sensitive part of my torso another time. With all the balls flying, I am lucky I didn't develop PSTD. I don't know how the kids do it, but maybe they are oblivious. With the semester change, I now have High School lunch duty. Things are not as loud and calmer in both the commons and the gym. I had the opportunity to see kindness and including others in their game which really blessed my soul!
The semester change brings different classes and different prep. I now have 7th graders which actually after a couple of days have been better behaved than the 8th graders, but will need to stay firm to keep it from getting out of control. There may be a lot of talking, but they seem to have different abilities and like art more. I had a boy ask if they were going to get to do airbrush. I didn't know how he knew that we had the equipment, but no, it will be in high school. I think these two groups will be fun.
My Senior High classes are -
Crafts - I was disappointed this was on the menu because it does not seem like Art, however, students are looking to make things and probably feel uncomfortable in Art. Things that in the past were considered crafts have made it into an Art form so, hopefully they will find something they enjoy doing from my class. I have a vast range of skills that are considered crafts and I have quite a few that want to learn crocheting and knitting so, this may be fun. The semester switch was just this week so I wanted to start them out with a bang. We did marble painting, shave cream marbling, and water color paint effects - washes, salt etc. I think we will next do perhaps paste paper and then with this make collages and cards. It has been nice to see them so eager to learn things and also they are good at cleaning up after themselves!
Next, I have the Print Shop. Our school has built up their regular Shop Classes into a big deal. The district has allowed the Shop Teacher to expand his vision on what the shop is. They build and construct things for people and businesses in the area. His senior group is hand picked by their behavior, working skills, ethics and they are able to earn scholorships. Locally based companies that have a global outreach have helped support and sponcer them. He has set it up as a business and people come from all over the country to see his set-up. His goal is to train students to be good,responsible workers for the manufacturing industry if that is what they choose to go into. It is nice if they have good skills, but he is also looking for good attitudes, responsible students, so skills alone do not guarantee them an in. They have to apply to be accepted.
This is the first time the Print Shop has been offered, so there is nothing for me to go on. They are hoping it will build up into a similar thing like the Shop has become with a separate work area and supervisor from the classroom. It may take ten years for it to get there. There is nothing for me to go on, so I am winging it as I go. I am setting it up with teams of students doing research, keeping the books, doing the work. The want the the Print shop to be able to print t shirts and other printed material, create logos etc. It will start out adressing the needs of the school and then maybe with other nearby schools and businesses. I was told there was a model in the Twin Cities which is about 100 miles to the west, so I may have to research and see if they have days that explain their process or a time to tour and ask questions. I started them out this week by having them research POD shirt companies and demonstrating silk screen printing. right now they want to jump in and make something. I also assigned a group as secretary and a separate one as bookkeeper. I have taken $2000 out of my budget to buy equipment and part of their job in this class is to research and decide as a group what equipment they want to spend the money on. I bought - with their approval - blank t-shirts for each of them at Michaels on sale and that was $40, so I think they will be surprised how fast it goes. I have also said that we are tapping into the experience of the students in the group so they need to share what knowledge they have. I know some are more technologically saavy than others, but they can share what they know. The school has just gotten the Adobe CC suite, so I will be having access to that sent to them so that will have it's own learning curve. I think this may be the class I will be blogging about mostly this spring.
I have Studio Art with about 10 students. This is where I am going to focus on the Elements and Principles of Art. I want them to learn good design skills. I also have Ceramics again. It is the same time and group that my Painting class was last semester so we all know each other and it should be fun.
With this job, I acquired the back storage room and an upstairs storage room that needed to be cleaned out. So, I have been doing lessons, making lessons up, grading, meetings and the full clean out. There is some vintage stuff from the past two teachers. Some is dust covered and when I am upstairs, I am aways afraid that I will put my hand in a box and find a tenant! I have found some treasures upstairs. I found an old printing press that I need to clean up and see if it works. There were three blankets for it still in plastic. There was quite a bit of linoleum blocks and paper to use also. There are tons of silk screen frames that have a wonderful patina of old age as well as paint on it that would be great for a project. I found something I can do with them - repaint and make as a birdfeeder, but now I wonder the type of ink - oil or water-based.
Anyway, it is a little daunting now with starting a new semester but it seems like I have some pretty good and eager students and that helps that I have a great team on this adventure.
The semester change brings different classes and different prep. I now have 7th graders which actually after a couple of days have been better behaved than the 8th graders, but will need to stay firm to keep it from getting out of control. There may be a lot of talking, but they seem to have different abilities and like art more. I had a boy ask if they were going to get to do airbrush. I didn't know how he knew that we had the equipment, but no, it will be in high school. I think these two groups will be fun.
My Senior High classes are -
Crafts - I was disappointed this was on the menu because it does not seem like Art, however, students are looking to make things and probably feel uncomfortable in Art. Things that in the past were considered crafts have made it into an Art form so, hopefully they will find something they enjoy doing from my class. I have a vast range of skills that are considered crafts and I have quite a few that want to learn crocheting and knitting so, this may be fun. The semester switch was just this week so I wanted to start them out with a bang. We did marble painting, shave cream marbling, and water color paint effects - washes, salt etc. I think we will next do perhaps paste paper and then with this make collages and cards. It has been nice to see them so eager to learn things and also they are good at cleaning up after themselves!
Next, I have the Print Shop. Our school has built up their regular Shop Classes into a big deal. The district has allowed the Shop Teacher to expand his vision on what the shop is. They build and construct things for people and businesses in the area. His senior group is hand picked by their behavior, working skills, ethics and they are able to earn scholorships. Locally based companies that have a global outreach have helped support and sponcer them. He has set it up as a business and people come from all over the country to see his set-up. His goal is to train students to be good,responsible workers for the manufacturing industry if that is what they choose to go into. It is nice if they have good skills, but he is also looking for good attitudes, responsible students, so skills alone do not guarantee them an in. They have to apply to be accepted.
This is the first time the Print Shop has been offered, so there is nothing for me to go on. They are hoping it will build up into a similar thing like the Shop has become with a separate work area and supervisor from the classroom. It may take ten years for it to get there. There is nothing for me to go on, so I am winging it as I go. I am setting it up with teams of students doing research, keeping the books, doing the work. The want the the Print shop to be able to print t shirts and other printed material, create logos etc. It will start out adressing the needs of the school and then maybe with other nearby schools and businesses. I was told there was a model in the Twin Cities which is about 100 miles to the west, so I may have to research and see if they have days that explain their process or a time to tour and ask questions. I started them out this week by having them research POD shirt companies and demonstrating silk screen printing. right now they want to jump in and make something. I also assigned a group as secretary and a separate one as bookkeeper. I have taken $2000 out of my budget to buy equipment and part of their job in this class is to research and decide as a group what equipment they want to spend the money on. I bought - with their approval - blank t-shirts for each of them at Michaels on sale and that was $40, so I think they will be surprised how fast it goes. I have also said that we are tapping into the experience of the students in the group so they need to share what knowledge they have. I know some are more technologically saavy than others, but they can share what they know. The school has just gotten the Adobe CC suite, so I will be having access to that sent to them so that will have it's own learning curve. I think this may be the class I will be blogging about mostly this spring.
I have Studio Art with about 10 students. This is where I am going to focus on the Elements and Principles of Art. I want them to learn good design skills. I also have Ceramics again. It is the same time and group that my Painting class was last semester so we all know each other and it should be fun.
With this job, I acquired the back storage room and an upstairs storage room that needed to be cleaned out. So, I have been doing lessons, making lessons up, grading, meetings and the full clean out. There is some vintage stuff from the past two teachers. Some is dust covered and when I am upstairs, I am aways afraid that I will put my hand in a box and find a tenant! I have found some treasures upstairs. I found an old printing press that I need to clean up and see if it works. There were three blankets for it still in plastic. There was quite a bit of linoleum blocks and paper to use also. There are tons of silk screen frames that have a wonderful patina of old age as well as paint on it that would be great for a project. I found something I can do with them - repaint and make as a birdfeeder, but now I wonder the type of ink - oil or water-based.
Anyway, it is a little daunting now with starting a new semester but it seems like I have some pretty good and eager students and that helps that I have a great team on this adventure.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
October 2, 2018 and the teaching thing
So, I have completed the first month of Long Term Subbing Art 6-12. I like the school and teachers. It was the first school I began to sub at 11 years ago. I know most of the students also. It has been interesting.
I view this as my dementia protection. I keep learning new things like different computer programs I have to use as a teacher. and those "by the way' things. I am putting grades in one program, documenting behavior in a different one, learning mac, learning Photoshop to teach it and maybe learning Unity and Scratch in a little bit for my computer design class. I am working on how to keep my Middle School kids from coming in wild, talking loudly all through class and not interrupting.
My Digital Design class has been tough because the different abilities of the students but also by just having a boring book to go through with them (maybe it is just me making it boring). I was blessed when I found the Adobe Exchange with different things to do with them - like interesting projects to try. This class is the one that I am having to learn the most to teach.
With stepping in at the very last minute before school started, I have been working on getting meaningful lessons together too. Then there are the "surprises". I keep hearing about. The school has a fantastic shop program where people come to check it out and a big factory in the area is giving them a matching grant to expand and also do a Print Shop. That is where I come in. In the Spring Semester I will be teaching the basic print shop even though I have no information, equipment or space. It should be interesting too. I am working with students now to introduce the idea of the printmaking. I am starting my 8th graders on silk-screen printing and found a way to give my Digital Art students a fun project too by using the computer to do color separations so they can do the silk screen printing too. There project may be a little bit off for now.
My newest thing yesterday was finding out about Thermal silkscreen printing. He has the machine from like late 50's-60's that I am figuring out. I found a brochure and it is an interesting process. I can take a photocopy (needs to have carbon on it) or a print from a laser printer and put this mesh over it and it cuts/burns the stencil that is attached to the screen. Easy peasy. I went online and the mesh / is out of stock until the end of November when I could use it now for printing t-shirts. I saw something similar on Ebay that says mimeograph film which I think may be the same thing in a hold ya over state.
So, that is my life right now. I am hoping things will settle in and not be as time intensive but it is fun to see what different projects are out there. This is Homecoming week. Today the teachers are dressing up as "Where's Waldo". I have my red and white striped shirt and my glasses and red cap are at school. It should be fun!
I view this as my dementia protection. I keep learning new things like different computer programs I have to use as a teacher. and those "by the way' things. I am putting grades in one program, documenting behavior in a different one, learning mac, learning Photoshop to teach it and maybe learning Unity and Scratch in a little bit for my computer design class. I am working on how to keep my Middle School kids from coming in wild, talking loudly all through class and not interrupting.
My Digital Design class has been tough because the different abilities of the students but also by just having a boring book to go through with them (maybe it is just me making it boring). I was blessed when I found the Adobe Exchange with different things to do with them - like interesting projects to try. This class is the one that I am having to learn the most to teach.
With stepping in at the very last minute before school started, I have been working on getting meaningful lessons together too. Then there are the "surprises". I keep hearing about. The school has a fantastic shop program where people come to check it out and a big factory in the area is giving them a matching grant to expand and also do a Print Shop. That is where I come in. In the Spring Semester I will be teaching the basic print shop even though I have no information, equipment or space. It should be interesting too. I am working with students now to introduce the idea of the printmaking. I am starting my 8th graders on silk-screen printing and found a way to give my Digital Art students a fun project too by using the computer to do color separations so they can do the silk screen printing too. There project may be a little bit off for now.
My newest thing yesterday was finding out about Thermal silkscreen printing. He has the machine from like late 50's-60's that I am figuring out. I found a brochure and it is an interesting process. I can take a photocopy (needs to have carbon on it) or a print from a laser printer and put this mesh over it and it cuts/burns the stencil that is attached to the screen. Easy peasy. I went online and the mesh / is out of stock until the end of November when I could use it now for printing t-shirts. I saw something similar on Ebay that says mimeograph film which I think may be the same thing in a hold ya over state.
So, that is my life right now. I am hoping things will settle in and not be as time intensive but it is fun to see what different projects are out there. This is Homecoming week. Today the teachers are dressing up as "Where's Waldo". I have my red and white striped shirt and my glasses and red cap are at school. It should be fun!
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
September - a new beginning
Art has been my life forever. I have been a subsititute teacher for years -beginning my 11th. I passed up an Art teacher postion this summer because it was just too far away especially in bad weather. I got a call yesterday for a long-term substitute position for 6-12 Art for the school year. I am pretty excited!
I went in today to find out the details. I have been subbing for this district since the beginning. I have subbed for the teacher I am replacing. One of my classes is Digital Art. Another one is Video Gaming. I am going to have to learn quickly what I should be teaching. The rest of the things I am good with. This will be a stretch:) I'll let you know my journey and sources as I find them.
I went in today to find out the details. I have been subbing for this district since the beginning. I have subbed for the teacher I am replacing. One of my classes is Digital Art. Another one is Video Gaming. I am going to have to learn quickly what I should be teaching. The rest of the things I am good with. This will be a stretch:) I'll let you know my journey and sources as I find them.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
August 2018
I haven't written for awhile. Maybe I didn't think anything I had to share was important. Life just clicked on. I have been listing/selling my stuff on Ebay and Etsy but that has been slow too.
This whole year has been off. We have had hot, cold, dry weather and have had to work around it. I have bees and this year when it got to 90 degrees in the early spring, I had one hive swarm. I have been nursing the other one along and am ready to remove that honey. It will be interesting to see what is in there. My vegetable garden got a family of rabbits that ate my cole crops and there was still a baby in there so the only thing I planted was tomatoes and the rest went to weeds.The gate is open now. I am hoping the chickens will forage in there and perhaps clean it up. My other gardens have been hit and miss. Deer have found them and eaten on the hostas and the lilies, and the flower seeds I planted. I just gave up.
I have been looking for work and even though there are jobs out there, I don't want to be a truck driver, cna, not sure if I could handle factory and have had enough of retail. My sister gave me an option that I need to look into. I really don't want to sub again, but it pays better than many things. I finally did get a job offer for an art teacher but it was 45 miles away and I was thinking of winter with snow and ice on back country roads. There have been other teaching jobs pop up, but most are a distance similar to that. I have an interview today for a local one and that would be nice if I would get chosen. I spent a couple of weeks of hard, heavy, grueling work setting up a store and then not chosen to get a permanent hire - which I think ended up to be a good thing. I need to go in there and tell them that I quit. The hard part was with subbing, I was like a subcontractor and had freedom. Working in a store it would be odd hours - when they say jump, when and where you have to. It is hard to give up your life/freedom unless it is worth it.
I do my online sales, but it is hit or miss and usually summer is my busy time. This year it was not. I have listed more but my free listings fill up fast so I can't get everything on. I am thinking about other options. I have my Ebay store for paper dolls, sheet music and other misc (julesartstuff). I have another Ebay account for art, postcards and prints. (julespaints2). I am on Etsy (julesartstuff) but that can be hit or miss. I was on Daily Paintworks for 8 months and had one sale - a $5 ACEO so I cancelled it at the beginning of the month. I probably could have done better if I had gotten involved with the community. It was nice to see people actually looking at your work. I signed up for Truegether but haven't done the social media thing and nothing is happening there without it. I closed my Bonanza store because it was too much work for no sales. Everytime they did an update from Ebay, I would end up with duplicates (a lot!) to delete off. Somebody on Facebook was saying if you want to get your Ebay moving you need to make changes in the listing - like change the title, price, etc. When I did that, those ended up there along with the original listing so the whole thing was a mess. I think both Bonanza and Etsy now want more money to promote your items. I am not sure if it will help or not or if they are just padding their bottom line.
What I am thinking of is this -
1) Orangenius for my art. I know it is fairly new but they also help with copyright protection. I signed up but haven't put anything on it yet. I need to go the profile and everything. I think that will serve as my art portfolio/website.
2) Linkin - have had it for years but haven't done anything with it. I need to get it together.
3) Look at my sister's option and try that out.
4) Cancel Bonanza, Truegether (possibly)
5) POD - on Etsy. As an artist I already have plenty of designs.
6) Sub (If I don't get a teaching job) or look for something else where I have regular time off to plan my life. I can also get a pt job - even maybe an online one to suppliment my finances.
7) Get a tent. Sign up for both art and craft shows and do them.
8) Check with Artisan Forge and see if they still want my art or if they want to switch it out to something fresh.
9) Print sale is coming up again. I want to make some new ones to put in there. I was thinking of making some prints also ACEO size.
I always have plenty of ideas - I just need to find a way for this to pay - even on a part time basis. I have sold some art this year, which is nice, but it has been lower price. Just trying to get some strategies going. Everything takes time and money.
This whole year has been off. We have had hot, cold, dry weather and have had to work around it. I have bees and this year when it got to 90 degrees in the early spring, I had one hive swarm. I have been nursing the other one along and am ready to remove that honey. It will be interesting to see what is in there. My vegetable garden got a family of rabbits that ate my cole crops and there was still a baby in there so the only thing I planted was tomatoes and the rest went to weeds.The gate is open now. I am hoping the chickens will forage in there and perhaps clean it up. My other gardens have been hit and miss. Deer have found them and eaten on the hostas and the lilies, and the flower seeds I planted. I just gave up.
I have been looking for work and even though there are jobs out there, I don't want to be a truck driver, cna, not sure if I could handle factory and have had enough of retail. My sister gave me an option that I need to look into. I really don't want to sub again, but it pays better than many things. I finally did get a job offer for an art teacher but it was 45 miles away and I was thinking of winter with snow and ice on back country roads. There have been other teaching jobs pop up, but most are a distance similar to that. I have an interview today for a local one and that would be nice if I would get chosen. I spent a couple of weeks of hard, heavy, grueling work setting up a store and then not chosen to get a permanent hire - which I think ended up to be a good thing. I need to go in there and tell them that I quit. The hard part was with subbing, I was like a subcontractor and had freedom. Working in a store it would be odd hours - when they say jump, when and where you have to. It is hard to give up your life/freedom unless it is worth it.
I do my online sales, but it is hit or miss and usually summer is my busy time. This year it was not. I have listed more but my free listings fill up fast so I can't get everything on. I am thinking about other options. I have my Ebay store for paper dolls, sheet music and other misc (julesartstuff). I have another Ebay account for art, postcards and prints. (julespaints2). I am on Etsy (julesartstuff) but that can be hit or miss. I was on Daily Paintworks for 8 months and had one sale - a $5 ACEO so I cancelled it at the beginning of the month. I probably could have done better if I had gotten involved with the community. It was nice to see people actually looking at your work. I signed up for Truegether but haven't done the social media thing and nothing is happening there without it. I closed my Bonanza store because it was too much work for no sales. Everytime they did an update from Ebay, I would end up with duplicates (a lot!) to delete off. Somebody on Facebook was saying if you want to get your Ebay moving you need to make changes in the listing - like change the title, price, etc. When I did that, those ended up there along with the original listing so the whole thing was a mess. I think both Bonanza and Etsy now want more money to promote your items. I am not sure if it will help or not or if they are just padding their bottom line.
What I am thinking of is this -
1) Orangenius for my art. I know it is fairly new but they also help with copyright protection. I signed up but haven't put anything on it yet. I need to go the profile and everything. I think that will serve as my art portfolio/website.
2) Linkin - have had it for years but haven't done anything with it. I need to get it together.
3) Look at my sister's option and try that out.
4) Cancel Bonanza, Truegether (possibly)
5) POD - on Etsy. As an artist I already have plenty of designs.
6) Sub (If I don't get a teaching job) or look for something else where I have regular time off to plan my life. I can also get a pt job - even maybe an online one to suppliment my finances.
7) Get a tent. Sign up for both art and craft shows and do them.
8) Check with Artisan Forge and see if they still want my art or if they want to switch it out to something fresh.
9) Print sale is coming up again. I want to make some new ones to put in there. I was thinking of making some prints also ACEO size.
I always have plenty of ideas - I just need to find a way for this to pay - even on a part time basis. I have sold some art this year, which is nice, but it has been lower price. Just trying to get some strategies going. Everything takes time and money.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
2018 and My Art Journey
Last year, I had a lot of things going artwise and booking things. This year, with so much art in the house that didn't sell last year, I am trying to get my online "ducks in a row". I did have a website that I cancelled and they said they couldn't give me a prorated refund (Artspan) and had to stick it out until the end of the year. On their information page they gave rates for monthly and annual fees, but when I was signed up it only had the annual. I was upset when they wouldn't prorate my cancellation (even with taking out fees) so when they asked if I would be back, I said "no!". Why would I want to be back if that is their service. I had to let them know I was cancelling again when June came up because I didn't want them charging my charge card again for the year and domain name. I had chosen Artspan to have my things on because they had a gallery and people could order prints right from my webpage. I didn't sell anything in 6 months and didn't have time or a place to promote myself so I figured it wasn't worth it. Not sure if it is my fault - if there was more I should have/could have done or not.
My next forray into trying to sell my art was to sign up for DailyPaintworks.com. You can put your art on there with a monthly fee of about $12-13/month. They do have auctions so your work gets seen and you have a gallery page. I signed up at the beginning of the year and have posted paintings and prints. I have only sold 1 ACEO for $5 - so I am reconsidering my choice. I know they have other things and contests that I haven't explored as well as perhaps liking and commenting on other artists work. I am still on the fence on this one.
Ebay/Etsy - I have been on there mostly to sell vintage items - paper dolls, sheet music, other misc. I did put some prints and paintings on and have sold a couple. I have a couple of larger paintings on Etsy but have only sold one and that was several years ago. Sometimes they do not get any looks for a long time or ever so I do not know if they are even getting seen. Both have been slow,slow, slow this year. Summer is usually my big selling time next to Christmas but it has been crickets. I did set up a separate Ebay store for Postcards, Prints and Paintings. I have had a little action there and most of my small prints and painting and ACEO's are on there.
Bonanza - they have an importer so my things on Ebay are on there - sometimes in duplicate. I haven't sold but one thing so I put them on vacation. With Ebay some advice is that you change something in the title or about the price or description to get it to hopefully look fresh and pop up somewhere. Every time I do that, it goes on Bonanza with the new listing without getting rid of the old one, so I spend a lot of time editing and looking for duplicates. now they have where you can pay a tiered membership to get more advertising and exposure. Not sure if I want to do that yet.
The next thing I am looking at is Orangenius. Still looking, not signed up yet. I also am considering POD. I did Truegether and did the Ebay download, but haven't had time to look it over much yet.
The thing is, I think there is something I am missing. When I watch these art promote videos, they talk about a mailing list - which I do not have. They talk about doing it on Facebook - which I am nervous about. I am on a Facebook Page that talks about how big copyright infringement is right now. I hate to have my creativity stolen and others make money off of it. There is talk about SEO. Google ads, Promoted listings. They talk about the POD sites where your designs might be stolen off of.
So, as an artist, what am I to do?
Outside sales and fairs - I go alone. It would be setting up a tent alone - if I had a tent. Not sure if my car would hold everything in one trip. If I get overheated I get sick (I know I sound like a baby with a lot of excuses), I use a tablet for taking charge cards but if there is no wifi in the field I am out of luck. I need to get a phone, but rarely use the cell I have now and with not working for the summer it is tight anyway without buying a new phone and service.
I guess I will have to look for indoor sales. Take a fan if there is electricity.
Online issues - I cancelled my webpage and have been using DailyPaintworks.com as my portfolio and a way to show my art. I feel pressured (by myself) to put my work on there and then am compelled all day long to see how many people looked at it, at my gallery and my blog. My options are to look it over and see what more I can get out of it. Maybe there are ways by their contests, or looking at and commenting on other artists work to network and encourage others. I know the numbers go by how many people a day are looking at the site and some days there are more than others. I think I will try to see if there is more I can to to use and enjoy it more before cancelling.
Etsy/Ebay - I am sure there are a glut of artists and artisans (besides everything else) that it is hard to be seen. I know there are creative ways to get known online and I might have to try some.
- Etsy - Jules Art Stuff - I think I will be moving my paper dolls off of Etsy. It seems like when I sell something it mostly pays off fees from listing and selling. My art doesn't seem to get seen. They charge a listing and selling fee(s) and now are having promotion and advertising fees. I may wean most of my art off of there and convert it over to a pod and have some prints. I think a lot of people are doing t -shirts right now so it is an option. They also have other ways to promote like collections or treasury that I haven't tried yet either.
Ebay - Jules Art Stuff - I have an awful lot of sheet music on there. I am marking down my paper dolls and hopefully by the first of the year be close to done with them. I enjoy selling the sheet music. I have a store and have been paying a raising fee so the goal would be to end the store subscription and just go on the free listings. They also have a collection you can set up that might help promote y sites.
Ebay - Jules Paintings, Prints and Postcards - for a new site, doing not too bad for the limited items. For having 50 free a month non-store, they give me plenty of extra listings so I am up to 200 listings. I have both hand pulled prints as well as prints of my paintings. I mostly my lower end paintings on there for now. I figure I would like about 100 ACEOs on there too in the future.
Artzok - I signed up with them to teach Painting, prints and ACEO's. New operation, waiting for a job.
Explore Orangenius and Truegether.
The thing is, nobody knows me. I have enjoyed Daily Paintworks because I know my work is getting seen even if sales are slow. Ebay and Etsy have disappointed me this Spring and Summer and this is not the first year with it. I want that whatever I do, I do it well. It has taken this half of the year to come to this point. I am thinking of a Weebly portfolio for free just to have some things out but will look to see what Orangenius has first. I am re-thinking about the big craft shows too if I am doing the local art.
I know a lot of this comes down to promotion. I am not on Instagram.I have a Linkin site just sitting there with my profile blank. I have lots to do, and it just doesn't end. I just want to create but I also want to get some of my art out of my house. Any good ideas - please let me know as I know this is a common problem with other artists right now.
My next forray into trying to sell my art was to sign up for DailyPaintworks.com. You can put your art on there with a monthly fee of about $12-13/month. They do have auctions so your work gets seen and you have a gallery page. I signed up at the beginning of the year and have posted paintings and prints. I have only sold 1 ACEO for $5 - so I am reconsidering my choice. I know they have other things and contests that I haven't explored as well as perhaps liking and commenting on other artists work. I am still on the fence on this one.
Ebay/Etsy - I have been on there mostly to sell vintage items - paper dolls, sheet music, other misc. I did put some prints and paintings on and have sold a couple. I have a couple of larger paintings on Etsy but have only sold one and that was several years ago. Sometimes they do not get any looks for a long time or ever so I do not know if they are even getting seen. Both have been slow,slow, slow this year. Summer is usually my big selling time next to Christmas but it has been crickets. I did set up a separate Ebay store for Postcards, Prints and Paintings. I have had a little action there and most of my small prints and painting and ACEO's are on there.
Bonanza - they have an importer so my things on Ebay are on there - sometimes in duplicate. I haven't sold but one thing so I put them on vacation. With Ebay some advice is that you change something in the title or about the price or description to get it to hopefully look fresh and pop up somewhere. Every time I do that, it goes on Bonanza with the new listing without getting rid of the old one, so I spend a lot of time editing and looking for duplicates. now they have where you can pay a tiered membership to get more advertising and exposure. Not sure if I want to do that yet.
The next thing I am looking at is Orangenius. Still looking, not signed up yet. I also am considering POD. I did Truegether and did the Ebay download, but haven't had time to look it over much yet.
The thing is, I think there is something I am missing. When I watch these art promote videos, they talk about a mailing list - which I do not have. They talk about doing it on Facebook - which I am nervous about. I am on a Facebook Page that talks about how big copyright infringement is right now. I hate to have my creativity stolen and others make money off of it. There is talk about SEO. Google ads, Promoted listings. They talk about the POD sites where your designs might be stolen off of.
So, as an artist, what am I to do?
Outside sales and fairs - I go alone. It would be setting up a tent alone - if I had a tent. Not sure if my car would hold everything in one trip. If I get overheated I get sick (I know I sound like a baby with a lot of excuses), I use a tablet for taking charge cards but if there is no wifi in the field I am out of luck. I need to get a phone, but rarely use the cell I have now and with not working for the summer it is tight anyway without buying a new phone and service.
I guess I will have to look for indoor sales. Take a fan if there is electricity.
Online issues - I cancelled my webpage and have been using DailyPaintworks.com as my portfolio and a way to show my art. I feel pressured (by myself) to put my work on there and then am compelled all day long to see how many people looked at it, at my gallery and my blog. My options are to look it over and see what more I can get out of it. Maybe there are ways by their contests, or looking at and commenting on other artists work to network and encourage others. I know the numbers go by how many people a day are looking at the site and some days there are more than others. I think I will try to see if there is more I can to to use and enjoy it more before cancelling.
Etsy/Ebay - I am sure there are a glut of artists and artisans (besides everything else) that it is hard to be seen. I know there are creative ways to get known online and I might have to try some.
- Etsy - Jules Art Stuff - I think I will be moving my paper dolls off of Etsy. It seems like when I sell something it mostly pays off fees from listing and selling. My art doesn't seem to get seen. They charge a listing and selling fee(s) and now are having promotion and advertising fees. I may wean most of my art off of there and convert it over to a pod and have some prints. I think a lot of people are doing t -shirts right now so it is an option. They also have other ways to promote like collections or treasury that I haven't tried yet either.
Ebay - Jules Art Stuff - I have an awful lot of sheet music on there. I am marking down my paper dolls and hopefully by the first of the year be close to done with them. I enjoy selling the sheet music. I have a store and have been paying a raising fee so the goal would be to end the store subscription and just go on the free listings. They also have a collection you can set up that might help promote y sites.
Ebay - Jules Paintings, Prints and Postcards - for a new site, doing not too bad for the limited items. For having 50 free a month non-store, they give me plenty of extra listings so I am up to 200 listings. I have both hand pulled prints as well as prints of my paintings. I mostly my lower end paintings on there for now. I figure I would like about 100 ACEOs on there too in the future.
Artzok - I signed up with them to teach Painting, prints and ACEO's. New operation, waiting for a job.
Explore Orangenius and Truegether.
The thing is, nobody knows me. I have enjoyed Daily Paintworks because I know my work is getting seen even if sales are slow. Ebay and Etsy have disappointed me this Spring and Summer and this is not the first year with it. I want that whatever I do, I do it well. It has taken this half of the year to come to this point. I am thinking of a Weebly portfolio for free just to have some things out but will look to see what Orangenius has first. I am re-thinking about the big craft shows too if I am doing the local art.
I know a lot of this comes down to promotion. I am not on Instagram.I have a Linkin site just sitting there with my profile blank. I have lots to do, and it just doesn't end. I just want to create but I also want to get some of my art out of my house. Any good ideas - please let me know as I know this is a common problem with other artists right now.
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Artzok
While I do have a degree and could teach English on line or converse with people from around the world, I also would like to teach using my art. I just found Artzok - which was just launching today. I had seen it before in my art lesson search but just applied and got my things on yesterday. Today it is up and going.
Artzok is different than other art lessons. This is something where you can work on your art on your own and if you have a question or somethings is not right you can email a teacher in the speciality that you are in and they will respond with helpful lessons or information. Say you draw a face and something is not right you can have them look at it and they can help you out and get over that road block. I have chosen to teach 4 different things.
https://artzok.com/downloads/learn-acrylic-painting-with-julie-miscera/
This one is acrylic painting. I have been doing it for quite awhile, so if you want private lessons you can take a picture of your artwork and I can help you out. If you are struggling with materials or the subject I can help you out. It is on your time. You email me and I email back and answer. When you are ready, you can email me again. There are different mediums and teachers that you can choose from.
I also am teaching printmaking - without a press, ACEO's and those can be done in any medium, and I also have up for approval the Inktense and water-soluable pencil drawings. Please check out Artzok and see if there is something that you would like to do or if there is somebody in particular whose work you like that you would like to work with.
There is a free trial. Take advantage of it!
Monday, July 2, 2018
Aceo's and Creativity
So, I have done some Aceo's lately and it seems like a nice project when you don't want to do something large. I have also heard them called "pocket painting or art". That is kind of fun too. The more I do, the more I want to do. They are not as intimidating as large paintings. They are small, intimate and fun. These pieces of artwork are 2.5"x3.5" and at first I thought it would be hard to get details that small. It can be, but you need to plan ahead. The size makes you not put in too many details because you have to be able to create them in a miniscule size but you also want them to be seen. Because my eyes are getting older, I need to use my glasses or the clamp on light and magnifying glass. It allows me to see exactly what it looks like. It may look fine to your naked eye, but if I am going to photo and put them online, this small painting gets enlarged and all the little flaws or details show up big time. What looked great in person looks sloppy and uneven when it is blown up on the computer screen.This is one time the magnifying glass is my friend. These have to be able to stand up to the scruteny of being blown up so your viewers can see them.
So, these are my thoughts -
-I like working on watercolor paper but prefer the Arches Art board. Blick doesn't carry that particular one any more but it may be released under a different title with Canson. It is watercolor paper on a 300lb art board so it is stiff. As a painting, I try to paint the edges of these with paynes gray acrylic paint like I would a regular painting to finish it off if someone is going to display it on an easle or someplace else where the side shows.
- I mostly in the past have used Cold Press paper and board. For somethings it works well and other mediums - not so much. I have done the Inktense pencils on the Arches CP board, but it is uneven in coverage because it is going over the bumps. I think I will be trying the Inktense on the Hot Press watercolor paper because it will be smooth.
-Aceo's are not just limited to painting. The only thing you need to have to qualify it as such is size. So, I think of other things I can do to create artwork with this size. I have the water soluable graphite pencils that I want to try and will experiment on hot and cold press paper. I want to try some relief and silk-screen prints too. I will have to experiment if I want to print directly on my base or if I want it on paper and then mount it to the base. Mixed media and collage. In the past I have made a ton of homemade paper. I have some I resoaked and cast them in a rectangle shape the 2.5x3.5". It is thicker and I think it will be fun to experiment with and maybe go more sculptural. I have also been playing with the sun developed paper. These are the sheet you lay things on and then set the out in the sun and after a little bit "develop" them in water. I have done a few of those that I cut out shapes and layed them down as a blockout . When dry, I mounted the on the art board and then used acrylic paint to put accents on to make them more interesting.
-Small but not always fast. These are still artwork that you put care in and want to make them look interesting. They do take up less room in my studio and supplies can be more affordable.
- I have been a careful but not totally frugal artist. I like to reycle things, or not go with top of the line always. However, I do have standards. I do not use the cheapest stretched canvas. I like things that are gallery wrapped and actually prefer my own stretched canvas. I don't use the cheapest paint because it just does not cover, so I go a step or two up. I don't go with the kid grade brushes but a lower grade artist brushes individually purchased not as a pack. With the aceo's though I am going to step up my game. I have used cheaper brushes because my kids would borrow them and not wash them out and I would end up with a stiff, useless brush. I didn't want to invest too much in a brush that had that kind of a demise. Acrylic paint dries so fast that it is one of those things you have to watch for. If you have it in water too long too, that does not do it favors. I have some that I liked but they ended up looking like my hair on a bad hair day. So, next step is better brushes and smaller ones so I can capture all of those tiny details.
Please keep checking in on here and Daily Paintworks to see what I am up to. I am thinking wood, screws and wires might be in my future.
-
So, these are my thoughts -
-I like working on watercolor paper but prefer the Arches Art board. Blick doesn't carry that particular one any more but it may be released under a different title with Canson. It is watercolor paper on a 300lb art board so it is stiff. As a painting, I try to paint the edges of these with paynes gray acrylic paint like I would a regular painting to finish it off if someone is going to display it on an easle or someplace else where the side shows.
- I mostly in the past have used Cold Press paper and board. For somethings it works well and other mediums - not so much. I have done the Inktense pencils on the Arches CP board, but it is uneven in coverage because it is going over the bumps. I think I will be trying the Inktense on the Hot Press watercolor paper because it will be smooth.
-Aceo's are not just limited to painting. The only thing you need to have to qualify it as such is size. So, I think of other things I can do to create artwork with this size. I have the water soluable graphite pencils that I want to try and will experiment on hot and cold press paper. I want to try some relief and silk-screen prints too. I will have to experiment if I want to print directly on my base or if I want it on paper and then mount it to the base. Mixed media and collage. In the past I have made a ton of homemade paper. I have some I resoaked and cast them in a rectangle shape the 2.5x3.5". It is thicker and I think it will be fun to experiment with and maybe go more sculptural. I have also been playing with the sun developed paper. These are the sheet you lay things on and then set the out in the sun and after a little bit "develop" them in water. I have done a few of those that I cut out shapes and layed them down as a blockout . When dry, I mounted the on the art board and then used acrylic paint to put accents on to make them more interesting.
-Small but not always fast. These are still artwork that you put care in and want to make them look interesting. They do take up less room in my studio and supplies can be more affordable.
- I have been a careful but not totally frugal artist. I like to reycle things, or not go with top of the line always. However, I do have standards. I do not use the cheapest stretched canvas. I like things that are gallery wrapped and actually prefer my own stretched canvas. I don't use the cheapest paint because it just does not cover, so I go a step or two up. I don't go with the kid grade brushes but a lower grade artist brushes individually purchased not as a pack. With the aceo's though I am going to step up my game. I have used cheaper brushes because my kids would borrow them and not wash them out and I would end up with a stiff, useless brush. I didn't want to invest too much in a brush that had that kind of a demise. Acrylic paint dries so fast that it is one of those things you have to watch for. If you have it in water too long too, that does not do it favors. I have some that I liked but they ended up looking like my hair on a bad hair day. So, next step is better brushes and smaller ones so I can capture all of those tiny details.
Please keep checking in on here and Daily Paintworks to see what I am up to. I am thinking wood, screws and wires might be in my future.
-
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Aceo - Interesting option
So, I have seen this term ACEO off and on for awhile. I wondered why people would want to do something that small. I had for years seen the Art trading cards and thought I wouldn't do that - put all this time into a little card and then give it away. A teaching friend of mine had a box where students could make one and put it in there and then take somebody else's out. I just didn't get the attraction.
I don't know what opened my eyes to how neat these mini artworks are, but it has been recently. I looked into them and they have been around since 2006. I had been living under a rock at that time since my hubby had been hurt at a work accident and for about 10 years didn't do much art wise except paint on bee hives. I think I missed the trend because of it. Anyway, since I substitute teach, I have some down time. Some days more than others. After subbing for 10 years, I am tired of reading books and sometimes want to bring my art supplies. I have had an acrylic paint set up that I had taken to certain classes in the past but am always having to be careful with not getting it on things like teacher's desks, clothes etc and then the brushes and water that I do not want to spill there either. I have been looking for a cleaner/easier material to take with to school but also on day trips where we may not sit for hours so I can paint. I have different dry materials like colored pencils, water color pencils, oil pastels, water soluable pastels etc, but there was always a shortcoming with it. I started using my Inktense pencils again and these seem to be a good take along material. I needed something small that I could have in a box so it would not be heavy or take up much room. I think I have found what I was looking for.
I began by taking minimal drawing supplies - the Inktense pencils, watersoluable graphite pencils, sharpener, eraser and things like that. I needed something small to work on. I began with bookmarks but may need to laminate them when finished in case there is some undissolved ink still on the paper. I was looking for something different and came across the ACEO cards.
These are small - 2.5"x3.5" - so they are a handy size. I have plenty of watercolor paper and artboard that I can use. They are meant to be an art collector card like the sports trading cards. They are cheap to do. I can use them for studies because they are handy to take with. If I make a mistake, I can keep it and redraw on another card or just throw it out. The difference is that ACEO's can be sold where the ATC's cannot because they are just meant for trade. There are mats and frames out there that your card can be put in as well as some store them in albums like other collector cards. Some online say that the fad is over, but there are still plenty selling on ebay and some are big prices. They are still original art and some put quite a bit of time into these and the details show their care in working.
So, for now, this is another option. I may do these off and on, do them for studies, maybe work on postcards and the 5x7". I think the point is to keep on working, keep on drawing, painting etc. These do not have to even be paintings. There can be some out of clay or other materials just so they meet the size criteria. I think about doing silk screen and relief prints on these also.
I don't know what opened my eyes to how neat these mini artworks are, but it has been recently. I looked into them and they have been around since 2006. I had been living under a rock at that time since my hubby had been hurt at a work accident and for about 10 years didn't do much art wise except paint on bee hives. I think I missed the trend because of it. Anyway, since I substitute teach, I have some down time. Some days more than others. After subbing for 10 years, I am tired of reading books and sometimes want to bring my art supplies. I have had an acrylic paint set up that I had taken to certain classes in the past but am always having to be careful with not getting it on things like teacher's desks, clothes etc and then the brushes and water that I do not want to spill there either. I have been looking for a cleaner/easier material to take with to school but also on day trips where we may not sit for hours so I can paint. I have different dry materials like colored pencils, water color pencils, oil pastels, water soluable pastels etc, but there was always a shortcoming with it. I started using my Inktense pencils again and these seem to be a good take along material. I needed something small that I could have in a box so it would not be heavy or take up much room. I think I have found what I was looking for.
I began by taking minimal drawing supplies - the Inktense pencils, watersoluable graphite pencils, sharpener, eraser and things like that. I needed something small to work on. I began with bookmarks but may need to laminate them when finished in case there is some undissolved ink still on the paper. I was looking for something different and came across the ACEO cards.These are small - 2.5"x3.5" - so they are a handy size. I have plenty of watercolor paper and artboard that I can use. They are meant to be an art collector card like the sports trading cards. They are cheap to do. I can use them for studies because they are handy to take with. If I make a mistake, I can keep it and redraw on another card or just throw it out. The difference is that ACEO's can be sold where the ATC's cannot because they are just meant for trade. There are mats and frames out there that your card can be put in as well as some store them in albums like other collector cards. Some online say that the fad is over, but there are still plenty selling on ebay and some are big prices. They are still original art and some put quite a bit of time into these and the details show their care in working.
So, for now, this is another option. I may do these off and on, do them for studies, maybe work on postcards and the 5x7". I think the point is to keep on working, keep on drawing, painting etc. These do not have to even be paintings. There can be some out of clay or other materials just so they meet the size criteria. I think about doing silk screen and relief prints on these also.
It's Summer! Sorting out my direction
This is the last week of school in the area. Some go until Friday but many are done Wed and Thurs. I worked yesterday and also have a job for tomorrow so that is pretty good. I am thinking of what I want to do next. I have been substitute teaching for 10 school years. Sometimes - like this year - I think that maybe I should find something else to do that does not involve behavior issues and putting out fires (not literally). Summer break is starting and I am back to re-evauating my direction.
I have some online stores with my vintage things and art. I have an Ebay store, and Etsy store, a Bonanza store and now just started a Truegether store. They are not all different items though. My Bonanza and Truegether allow me to move my ebay stuff over to them so they can be viewed in two markets. I just opened up a new site on Ebay for my postcards, prints and paintings because I wanted to set my art out from the vintage jumble of paper dolls and sheet music. I have had 2 sales of postcards already so that is positive. Sales have been slow on Ebay, Etsy and Bonanza for 3 months so I am looking at different options. I may eventually faze out the Ebay and Etsy store or reduce it and was thinking of a new Etsy store for POD and my art. I have been online a lot trying different things to tweek and get things back to where they were. With school out, I may have time to keep getting my stuff together like it should be.
Sometimes, I wonder if I should just get a regular job. Regular hours, even some overtime, regular checks instead of hit and miss. I like the snowdays where school is closed and I do not have to drive in that, but it comes with a price - low pay (subs get paid much, much lower than teachers), intermittant checks (not having an amount that you can count on each week), and dealing with behavior problems. Pay has gone up and supposedly there are jobs out there, but in this area they have always been tight. I feel like I have always been chasing the dollar. I should be signing up for art fairs but don't have a tent yet, I would have to do it alone, and getting overheated makes me ill. It may come to that though. I look at correcting exams online or teaching English online too. Those are always options.
With all the work, family and trying to get my online stuff together, I haven't painted much this winter. I probably will do it now that I have a chance. I still have online things to do - like finally getting my Linkin profile together and using it, listing more items for sale, getting things on Truegether. I also need grandkid time and see some friends.
This probably sounds depressing, but I feel like something has to change. I need a new roof , the cars need to be replaced and the crumbs just are not going to do it. I am excited to think of getting a full time job again but also know what it involves. Life just goes on.
I have some online stores with my vintage things and art. I have an Ebay store, and Etsy store, a Bonanza store and now just started a Truegether store. They are not all different items though. My Bonanza and Truegether allow me to move my ebay stuff over to them so they can be viewed in two markets. I just opened up a new site on Ebay for my postcards, prints and paintings because I wanted to set my art out from the vintage jumble of paper dolls and sheet music. I have had 2 sales of postcards already so that is positive. Sales have been slow on Ebay, Etsy and Bonanza for 3 months so I am looking at different options. I may eventually faze out the Ebay and Etsy store or reduce it and was thinking of a new Etsy store for POD and my art. I have been online a lot trying different things to tweek and get things back to where they were. With school out, I may have time to keep getting my stuff together like it should be.
Sometimes, I wonder if I should just get a regular job. Regular hours, even some overtime, regular checks instead of hit and miss. I like the snowdays where school is closed and I do not have to drive in that, but it comes with a price - low pay (subs get paid much, much lower than teachers), intermittant checks (not having an amount that you can count on each week), and dealing with behavior problems. Pay has gone up and supposedly there are jobs out there, but in this area they have always been tight. I feel like I have always been chasing the dollar. I should be signing up for art fairs but don't have a tent yet, I would have to do it alone, and getting overheated makes me ill. It may come to that though. I look at correcting exams online or teaching English online too. Those are always options.
With all the work, family and trying to get my online stuff together, I haven't painted much this winter. I probably will do it now that I have a chance. I still have online things to do - like finally getting my Linkin profile together and using it, listing more items for sale, getting things on Truegether. I also need grandkid time and see some friends.
This probably sounds depressing, but I feel like something has to change. I need a new roof , the cars need to be replaced and the crumbs just are not going to do it. I am excited to think of getting a full time job again but also know what it involves. Life just goes on.
Friday, May 25, 2018
Hot Spring, Art and Distractions.
So, we have had an odd Spring. We went from cold and continual dumping of snow to hot temperatures. There may have been just a couple of 60 degree days and then went into hot, hot, hot. This week we had 91, hot today again and this weekend - Memorial Day weekend they are predicting 90,95. Ugh. I have gardening to do so will see if it is cool tomorrow to get some things in the garden.
This time of year, after being trapped in the house for so long you want to get out and drive. We have done that once, but I also want our fishing license. It is hard to photograph when the fish are calling. Our Summer is so short that when you have time you want to do it all.
I signed up for the Go Paint! Plein air even in Eau Claire. It has grown through the years and the participants, activities and awards have grown. I did the Quick Paint in Phoenix Park a couple of Saturdays ago. We went from cold to 80 degrees out there. I got a painting mostly done - done enough to submit for the judging. I took it home to fine tune and ended up putting more on it so I just count it as a regular painting and not a plein air. I had to go back to photo the benches and light posts, but haven't added those yet. I was struggling getting started and this sweet little girl began to talk to me and I was able to relax and work. It had been a busy day with prom participants strolling and having pictures taken by themselves and their parents besides the other walkers.
It made me realize that the plein air that I enjoy is not the contests. I like to go to a park, pick out a nice spot while my husband birdwatches or photographs. I can stand or sit where I want, when I want, and for how long I want. I can choose my spot with nobody looking over my shoulders (even though I do enjoy talking with those interested). Maybe it is the introvert in me. I am working through problems, thinking, and I don't want to call attention to myself when I am working. I don't like being hot, being cold, the bugs, possible snakes. I know, it sounds like I am a princess:) When I do the contests, I am often working alone and maybe the difference would be to have that friend to paint along with. Go Paint! tries to help you meet other artists by the train event in Tiffany Bottoms to paint and the get-together at Many Fires. It still may be hard to connect when you are working on your own things. I also consider the financial effects of taking a full day off of work and if I do take a few jobs, I have my feel in both worlds and don't have the mindset. Maybe another time when I can be free to just do it.
Last year I dropped out because I was sick. This year I did the Quick Paint. A family member passed away that day so it was hard to concentrate. I think that I will do it on my own for awhile. In my own way, in my private locations, in the shade. It also is hard to be by water to paint. The fishing calls me.
This time of year, after being trapped in the house for so long you want to get out and drive. We have done that once, but I also want our fishing license. It is hard to photograph when the fish are calling. Our Summer is so short that when you have time you want to do it all.
I signed up for the Go Paint! Plein air even in Eau Claire. It has grown through the years and the participants, activities and awards have grown. I did the Quick Paint in Phoenix Park a couple of Saturdays ago. We went from cold to 80 degrees out there. I got a painting mostly done - done enough to submit for the judging. I took it home to fine tune and ended up putting more on it so I just count it as a regular painting and not a plein air. I had to go back to photo the benches and light posts, but haven't added those yet. I was struggling getting started and this sweet little girl began to talk to me and I was able to relax and work. It had been a busy day with prom participants strolling and having pictures taken by themselves and their parents besides the other walkers.
It made me realize that the plein air that I enjoy is not the contests. I like to go to a park, pick out a nice spot while my husband birdwatches or photographs. I can stand or sit where I want, when I want, and for how long I want. I can choose my spot with nobody looking over my shoulders (even though I do enjoy talking with those interested). Maybe it is the introvert in me. I am working through problems, thinking, and I don't want to call attention to myself when I am working. I don't like being hot, being cold, the bugs, possible snakes. I know, it sounds like I am a princess:) When I do the contests, I am often working alone and maybe the difference would be to have that friend to paint along with. Go Paint! tries to help you meet other artists by the train event in Tiffany Bottoms to paint and the get-together at Many Fires. It still may be hard to connect when you are working on your own things. I also consider the financial effects of taking a full day off of work and if I do take a few jobs, I have my feel in both worlds and don't have the mindset. Maybe another time when I can be free to just do it.
Last year I dropped out because I was sick. This year I did the Quick Paint. A family member passed away that day so it was hard to concentrate. I think that I will do it on my own for awhile. In my own way, in my private locations, in the shade. It also is hard to be by water to paint. The fishing calls me.
Sunday, May 6, 2018
The Week of Plein Air Painting
This has been a crazy week. I worked, there was a baby born and I babysat for 3 children - one 6, a 4 year old and a 1 year old for a day and a half. Very good children but at Grandma's house we are making art, playing in the yard and all sorts of things. I was ready for a nap when they left. Yesterday was the first day of my plein air event - Go Paint! Eau Claire. This is the 4th time doing this - technically 3 since I was sick that week last year. Yesterday was the Quick Paint at 3 pm. It goes for 2 hours and you paint like mad. It is like Master Chef where when the whistle blows, you lay your brushes down. It was 80 degrees out and a beautiful sunny day.
This Quick Paint is held in Phoenix Park. It is along the riverfront in Eau Claire, WI. They had renovated the area and it has walking paths and rail bridges that you can walk over. The Farmer's Market is located there with the Community Gardens being across the street. There are always people walking there. Yesterday it was especially busy. It is Prom weekend. There were all sorts of students dressed in their finest parading around in groups and their proud parents taking photos. There was room for everyone.
I was stressing, Things were going slower than usual. I had gotten to the point that I figured that I wouldn't finish, my problem- solving was slowing me down,etc. God sent this little girl to calm me down. This sweet little girl came over to look and talk to me. I instantly relaxed because I thought it was ok to not finish since she was interested. I teach and sometimes kids hit your heart. She was kind, cheerful, just the kind of encouragement that I needed. She stayed with me for a while - her mom was a little bit over but was watching her - and I was able to start up and paint while she was talking. She eventually moved on to look at other art but would stop by a couple of times again. I did finish enough to show at the end. She asked her mom if she would take a picture of us by my picture. I stood behind the easle and she to the side as her mom too the photo of us and my name.
Plein air for me is a stretch as it is. I am not really an outdoor girl. I will do it for gardening, camping or hiking and fishing, but I don't like being hot, people looking over your shoulder, breaking your concentration, the bugs, possible snakes, ticks, etc. What I usually don't like is the having to paint on cue - it feels like performing. I did this yesterday because I wanted to meet people. When your week goes on you might never even see anybody except or the group get togethers. Yesterday I met several local artists, but the one that will stay in my memory is the angel that came to visit me and calmed me when I was stressing.
My painting at best is so-so. I know what needs to be done. I will probably go back this week and make the additional changes that need to be done to resolve this picture into something more interesting. I can add the tree and benches and other details that I just didn't have time for. It will no longer be a quick paint but I would rather have a good painting than a medocre one.
This Quick Paint is held in Phoenix Park. It is along the riverfront in Eau Claire, WI. They had renovated the area and it has walking paths and rail bridges that you can walk over. The Farmer's Market is located there with the Community Gardens being across the street. There are always people walking there. Yesterday it was especially busy. It is Prom weekend. There were all sorts of students dressed in their finest parading around in groups and their proud parents taking photos. There was room for everyone.
I was stressing, Things were going slower than usual. I had gotten to the point that I figured that I wouldn't finish, my problem- solving was slowing me down,etc. God sent this little girl to calm me down. This sweet little girl came over to look and talk to me. I instantly relaxed because I thought it was ok to not finish since she was interested. I teach and sometimes kids hit your heart. She was kind, cheerful, just the kind of encouragement that I needed. She stayed with me for a while - her mom was a little bit over but was watching her - and I was able to start up and paint while she was talking. She eventually moved on to look at other art but would stop by a couple of times again. I did finish enough to show at the end. She asked her mom if she would take a picture of us by my picture. I stood behind the easle and she to the side as her mom too the photo of us and my name.
Plein air for me is a stretch as it is. I am not really an outdoor girl. I will do it for gardening, camping or hiking and fishing, but I don't like being hot, people looking over your shoulder, breaking your concentration, the bugs, possible snakes, ticks, etc. What I usually don't like is the having to paint on cue - it feels like performing. I did this yesterday because I wanted to meet people. When your week goes on you might never even see anybody except or the group get togethers. Yesterday I met several local artists, but the one that will stay in my memory is the angel that came to visit me and calmed me when I was stressing.
My painting at best is so-so. I know what needs to be done. I will probably go back this week and make the additional changes that need to be done to resolve this picture into something more interesting. I can add the tree and benches and other details that I just didn't have time for. It will no longer be a quick paint but I would rather have a good painting than a medocre one.
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Plein Air - Go Paint! Eau Claire
Saturday marks the beginning of the plein air event - Go Paint! Eau Claire. It began about 5-6 years ago as just Go Paint! in Durand, Wisconsin. Last year it moved to include Eau Claire. I did it for 2 years in Durand and last year was sick during it so I missed out. Hopefully I can shake this cold by this weekend and enjoy it.
The range of the area that you can paint has expanded immensely. It used to be a 10 mile radius of Durand, Wi. Now it goes from Nelson on the Mississippi to Augusta, Wisconsin. It is a 10 mile radius of the Chippewa River and I think they are now including that section of the Eau Claire river also. There are so many things to paint that it is hard to decide what to paint. There is a Quick Paint on Saturday to kick off this event. It is at Phoenix Park in Eau Claire. You will paint from 3-5pm, frame and turn it in and have judging, and awards will be at 6pm. I will go before that to register and get the stamp on the back of the canvases or boards that I want to use during the week. I usually take extra since I do not know what I am going to paint or use. Our house is within the 10 mile radius so I can paint at home. They are including Chippewa Falls so I could paint things there also, but I painted up there so much last year I want to paint something else.
You can paint on your own all week. I think it would be more fun to find a friend to paint with. My husband usually goes with me on some events or trips but oftentimes I am painting alone. I then try to be in a safe public place. When painting you are concentrating on what you are doing and somebody could come up behind you and you wouldn't know. Wednesday is the Tiffany Bottoms trip. It is a nature area and they take you in by a rail car. It is not a train by the usual sense - it is open, more of a logging car. You have to haul all your stuff in on this train so I try to take as little as I can get by with. They also have a biffy car since you are pretty remote and are there for hours. Later in the day there is a dinner at Many Fires in Fall Creek. I didn't do it last year so I don't know what to expect. I guess we start about 3 and paint their area, socialize etc. That should be fun. Friday is the day to turn in your art. You get to put up to 4 on display. I hope I have some good ones.
It is a big range of where you can paint. When it was just Durand there were many interesting things to paint. I have an idea of what I want to do this year but am not sure how much I will actually get done. When I am driving through areas it is like my mind is taking note of scenes to possibly paint. I need to get a county park pass so I can go into those areas also. Whatis nice too is that it doesn't have to be realistic. I think maybe I could do some patterned versions also. Not sure how that will go over.
Here is a partial list of my options -
Home - scenery around the yard, the creek at the back, the horses across the street, chickens,
gardens, flowers, some still lifes with gardening stuff
Close to home - barn falling down, the old gas station, the hill with cows, Lowes Creek, Lowes Creek
Park, fairgrounds
Southside Eau Claire - the river under the highway bridge, the Chippewa Trail, the wayside rest,
Eau Claire - Putnam Park, Carson Park (Braun's Bay), confluence, from the walking path, misc parks,
Points East - Parks, Big Falls, City parks in Fall Creek, Beaver Creek Center, Old Mill, farmland,
beaver dam area, Altoona Parks/fishing scenes, barns
Points North - Lake Hallie, Chip Falls, Lake Wassota, Irvine Park, My friend Sandy's gardens
Points West - bike path on O, Durand, Nelson, train stuff lying around at Tiffany Bottoms, Nelson,
Mississippi River
The range of the area that you can paint has expanded immensely. It used to be a 10 mile radius of Durand, Wi. Now it goes from Nelson on the Mississippi to Augusta, Wisconsin. It is a 10 mile radius of the Chippewa River and I think they are now including that section of the Eau Claire river also. There are so many things to paint that it is hard to decide what to paint. There is a Quick Paint on Saturday to kick off this event. It is at Phoenix Park in Eau Claire. You will paint from 3-5pm, frame and turn it in and have judging, and awards will be at 6pm. I will go before that to register and get the stamp on the back of the canvases or boards that I want to use during the week. I usually take extra since I do not know what I am going to paint or use. Our house is within the 10 mile radius so I can paint at home. They are including Chippewa Falls so I could paint things there also, but I painted up there so much last year I want to paint something else.
You can paint on your own all week. I think it would be more fun to find a friend to paint with. My husband usually goes with me on some events or trips but oftentimes I am painting alone. I then try to be in a safe public place. When painting you are concentrating on what you are doing and somebody could come up behind you and you wouldn't know. Wednesday is the Tiffany Bottoms trip. It is a nature area and they take you in by a rail car. It is not a train by the usual sense - it is open, more of a logging car. You have to haul all your stuff in on this train so I try to take as little as I can get by with. They also have a biffy car since you are pretty remote and are there for hours. Later in the day there is a dinner at Many Fires in Fall Creek. I didn't do it last year so I don't know what to expect. I guess we start about 3 and paint their area, socialize etc. That should be fun. Friday is the day to turn in your art. You get to put up to 4 on display. I hope I have some good ones.
It is a big range of where you can paint. When it was just Durand there were many interesting things to paint. I have an idea of what I want to do this year but am not sure how much I will actually get done. When I am driving through areas it is like my mind is taking note of scenes to possibly paint. I need to get a county park pass so I can go into those areas also. Whatis nice too is that it doesn't have to be realistic. I think maybe I could do some patterned versions also. Not sure how that will go over.
Here is a partial list of my options -
Home - scenery around the yard, the creek at the back, the horses across the street, chickens,
gardens, flowers, some still lifes with gardening stuff
Close to home - barn falling down, the old gas station, the hill with cows, Lowes Creek, Lowes Creek
Park, fairgrounds
Southside Eau Claire - the river under the highway bridge, the Chippewa Trail, the wayside rest,
Eau Claire - Putnam Park, Carson Park (Braun's Bay), confluence, from the walking path, misc parks,
Points East - Parks, Big Falls, City parks in Fall Creek, Beaver Creek Center, Old Mill, farmland,
beaver dam area, Altoona Parks/fishing scenes, barns
Points North - Lake Hallie, Chip Falls, Lake Wassota, Irvine Park, My friend Sandy's gardens
Points West - bike path on O, Durand, Nelson, train stuff lying around at Tiffany Bottoms, Nelson,
Mississippi River
Spring and all things new
So, Spring is finally here and long overdue. I know that here in Wisconsin our last frost date is toward the end of May so it is possibly not quite over yet. Last night on the news they said it was our coldest April on record. That is the kind of record that you do not want! Two weeks ago we had over 13" of snow dumped on us with the Twin Cities - about 80 miles away - getting 21". We are sick of snow and are feeling cheated out of our Spring. It is these teasers at this time of year that makes it hard to commit to gardening. Sometimes in March even you are itching to garden because it is so nice. The garden centers usually are open mid April but not this year. Even the bee deliveries have been put back. We went from 20 degrees F below normal for this time of year (around 10 - 40) to 83 degrees overnight.
This is a busy time of year with things like that as well as gardening to think of and the yard to get back in shape. We have a baby due and will be babysitting for a few days too. Hopefully it will be nice outside for them to play. Saturday. We have baby chicks in the kitchen with more coming soon. I have been busy at work because there are field trips and meetings to get in at the end of the year. The fishing opener is this weekend. On top of this is our local plein air event. You feel like a juggler trying to get it all in, but it is a nice change to have the warmth of the sun on your face, being able to get out of the house and in the outdoors and participate in life again.
This is a busy time of year with things like that as well as gardening to think of and the yard to get back in shape. We have a baby due and will be babysitting for a few days too. Hopefully it will be nice outside for them to play. Saturday. We have baby chicks in the kitchen with more coming soon. I have been busy at work because there are field trips and meetings to get in at the end of the year. The fishing opener is this weekend. On top of this is our local plein air event. You feel like a juggler trying to get it all in, but it is a nice change to have the warmth of the sun on your face, being able to get out of the house and in the outdoors and participate in life again.
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Experimenting with Inktense
This is just the beginning of my journey with Inktense. I am just starting to see the possibilites of what can be done with this material. I had bought a set a few years back, looked at the limited colors in the 12 pack and played a little bit with it before setting it aside. I substitute teach so I have different times with no students so I wanted to have something small that I could bring with to work on. I had taken acrylics in a small sealed palette with cups, but I wanted something smaller and easier to take with in odd places.So, I dug out my Inktense pencils. I had thought of getting rid of them before, but because they were pricey, I hung on to them. I am glad that I did! Even though it felt like limited colors originally, I found that I could blend and layer to get the shades I wanted. I eventually did buy the larger tin of 24 and notice colors in one of the online stores that I want to pick up to compliment my set.
Disclaimer - My creations now are experiments. More developed artwork will come. I started with bookmarks since they are small. I can use a heavy weight paper of different textures to see what I like. I have seen online about using them different ways but most roads lead to Pinterest collections. I wanted to see actual artists. So, instead of wading through those sites, I wanted to add in the blog some of my own things. Most are experiments, so don't expect big things yet - those will come.
So, there is drawing with the pencils themselves. You can leave them dry - right out of the pencil, but since I use a textured paper I did not get anything smooth. It was a lumpy coloring. It would have been different on a hot press paper. I really wanted it to look like the ink it was. I found I could draw out a design and color it in. It did not even need to be a solid thick color to begin with. When coloring, I took into account what areas I wanted to have lighter and either left that area white for another time or just had my coloring lighter. There are light colors but they do not always go over a darker color like acrylic paint might. It seems to be a mix of watercolor and acrylic methods. With using these pencils you have 2 choices. You can do a solid color (as thin or thick as you like) and then paint over it with water or you can use the pencils and make blends of colors and go over that. It really does feel like you can be creative with how you do your pictures. When I had a color/area that I liked I would paint it with water and let it dry. I would not dampen touching areas at the same time. By waiting for the one section to dry before coloring or wetting the next you have control over bleeding. You can even color over an area that you have already colored and dampened to get the shade or intensity and depth that you were intending. Another way of working is to dip the pencils themselves in water and apply it to the paper while still wet.
I have been doing bookmarks since the small pieces give me a chance to experiment with how they work. I have colored and painted water over both sides but will test it also. I want to make sure that all inktense has been dampened and is permanent because I would hate to use it and have unset ink on the pages. I might also laminate it to seal it in but it does not need to be. I have read that varnishing is iffy but that is a future experiment also.
Inktense is supposed to work well as a multimedia material. I wanted to see what that meant by trying out some different things. I have some pictures that I did using the water soluable pencils. They have been drawn then using a brush with water, blend the drawn and colored in areas so you have control over your light and dark values. Because it is a graphite? it tends to be a graytone picture. Some things work well with that material as it is, but other pictures may have so many details that it ends up mushed together. I used some Inktense accents on some of my pictures to see if it would perk them up. I think it was a big improvement. I had pictures that I was ready to throw out and felt now that some were salvagable. The issue may come up that when originally drawn with the water soluable pencils that not all of it was dissolved at that time and maybe is reactivated or something when you use water to activate the Inktense. I did not have much mushing, but it is something to watch for and consider.
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| Purple Iris - Pencil wash drawing colorized with Inktense |
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| Before Iris - pencil wash drawing |
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| Schoolhouse - experiment - watersoluable pencil wash drawings colorized with Inktense |
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| Yellow and Blue Sunflowers - multimedia acrylic paint on paper with Inktense accents and dimentional fabric paint |
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| Landscape Experiment with Inktense pencils on light blue acrylic paint base |
I know even for myself, I am just scratching the surface. There are a lot of possiblilities using the pencils. Using the blocks, fabric applications, and even printmaking open up a whole new world. It seems like with the drawing that the materials seem to last for quite a while too so that is a bonus.
Counterfeit Art Supplies
I guess the reason I am being touchy about this is because one of the Facebook groups I follow is talking about people stealing their designs (mostly from the far East) and making money off of them. Original intellectual property has lost out because of the theft of copyrights/patterns/inventions stolen and their rights have been infringed upon. I want to know if I am buying Yarka, that it is actually Yarka made in Russia instead of a knock off made in China. Passing off one for the other is fraud. It is knowing that I really am getting quality and not wasting my money on a fake. People have spent time and money developing product, setting up their businesses, building a reputation, and it is not right or fair that somebody hacks it and makes money off of somebody else's hard work. I would rather support the inventor than the thief. As artists, we do not want our artwork stolen and somebody else making money that we should be making off of our creativity and hard work so we, in kind should be supporting other innovators and creators in maintaining their copyright also. If ideas/ inventions/ art/ copyrights continue to get stolen at the rate they have to date, then there will be nobody inovating anymore because it is just not worth it.
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