Art for the people.

I've created more art this year already, than all of last year. I guess closing the studio is serving it's purpose. I need to sell some stuff though. Yesterday I dropped off my 'K' at the events center for the 'a is for art' show, starting this week. My painting held it's own to what I saw there so far, so that was a relief. The price however is peanuts compare to other works.
I mean, don't get me wrong - some were very complex in either time creating or money on supplies spent, but some were not and I just didn't see the value in the price. I want my art, which is humble and nothing earth-shattering, to be affordable by all. I want it sold and in people's homes, being enjoyed by someone who makes a connection with it. Yes, I could charge $250 for a dot painted on a canvas and call it my minimalist work, but you won't see that happening. Art for the people I say..... art for the people!

20 Things About Me

This was the latest weekly theme project from

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I love to go bare foot. I fall in love too easily. I don't feel as bad as I look, so I'm always shocked when I look in the mirror. I'm addicted to office supplies and storage containers, yet I tend to be messy. I buy houseplants knowing full well they will die within a few months. My secret alter ego is a goth girl. I watch too much TV since getting my tivo. All of a sudden I miss my Dad and I get angry that I'm his past. I wish I had the guts to call Wendy's kids, but I'm over flowing with guilt. I can't go a day without Sobe Green Tea. I would give up anything except being a mom. I assume I'm invisable so it always surprises me when someone says they saw me somewhere. I'm scared that I'll never have what it takes to loose all this weight. I'm hoping that one day I'll find my style. I feel guilty for not always paying the bills on time so we have crappy credit. My cats, turtle and fish make me happy. I'm addicted to the internet - it makes me feel connected to the world. I don't want to die in a tsunami. I love my husband, but sometimes I try not to so I won't get hurt again. Smelling the beachy air makes me happy.

I can't get enough of

the song Bad Day by Daniel Powter. Go check out his site, you can listen to his songs (CD is not out yet) and see the video for bad day.

TackDots - a cool product

These TackDots I got at Staples yesterday are something I wish I had thought of. They are tiny and fit anywhere like monitors, by the door, etc.

The beach cures the bitchies

All the stress of these art deadlines has got the better of me this week. I was a tad cranky and was not looking on the bright side of life * hence the repost of the tsunami video. Today I took a stroll up the coast and cured the bitchy blues.
Nothing centers you like a good a beach

and a rock of yappy sea lions.

And ironicly, the nice beach picture was at Seal Rock and the sea lions you see here were at Heceta Beach. You can see more of today's pictures at my flickr account. (look to the right side bar for that link)

The artwork of Lisa Kokin

Lisa Kokin's art is stunning. I especially like her button work. It reminds me of my childhood.... tying everything up in the kitchen, garage, my bedroom.... Who knows what possesses me to do these things.

Phone call from my hubby

I had a nice surprise tonight. Pat called me from work and said I was in the Eugene Weekly. "What?" He said a co-worker was browsing the paper and saw my art in there. Like a good husband he picked up a copy on the way home for me to see. Under the art gallery section it pictured my "love is beautiful" collage - to announce the "A is for Art" show. AND the best part... it's in COLOR. Yippee! What fun to see something in there, with my name printed with it.

Maybe coast life isn't for me after all

Discovery Channel :: Video

This is what is the impending tsunami is supposed to look like. Nice of discovery channel to make it 'local' for me.
Ugh.

Feel'n a little poopy

I am so glad today is almost over. My girly insides are killing me, thanks to my on and off again suffering of endometriosis. Today is a painful day. To 'add insult to injury' I'm supposed to be creating collages for the glass case showing, and I have zero creativity today. Absolutely nothing. AND tomorrow I meet with my altered arts group and I don't have that project done either. We are supposed to create some kind of book to swap, and work in using that person's chosen color. I need to create it all - the book itself, the sign in pages, the first page and instructions to go with the book. I'm crazy.

Check 1 off the "art to create" check list

OK, here's my entry for the "A is for Art show"
as talked about in a previous post.
Click to go and read about how it's made.

I want these erasers

Paper Source - erasers They are cool.

update: I got the 'oops' one - it rocks! on the practicle side, because it's white, I use it on my art without damage.

Stop by to say hi

I updated the homepage on my site this weekend. While I was doing that I updated my 'bold chat' account. Now you can talk to me when I'm online and it shows you when I'm offline, so you can just click it to leave me a message.
I had an old button for that, but my 'chat software' was out of date and not even installed on this computer anymore - so now it's all fresh and new - waiting for someone to stop by to say hi.

Hot Pink Lipstick

My desk sits in front of my window, looking out to the street. My usual view includes the usual cars going by, a ton of birds going to & fro the wax myrtle tree, old guys riding their scooters to Safeway, and the cute neighbor coming and going all day, but the best one was yesterday. There was this petite little woman with snow white hair walking her matching snow white haired dog. She was decked out in the usual Oregon-casual clothes... but what tickled me was her gigantic black sunglasses and her hot pink lipstick. Not bright pink but a pink so hot, so intense, she could guide in airplanes.
I chuckled at first because it was over the top, but kudos to her for getting dolled up to walk her dog. Sporting her Jackie O glasses, she walked that little dog down the street with all the confidence in the world.

What's my muse?

I often get asked what my muse it. Mostly because my 'style' is... well.... I don't have one. You can't look at one of my pieces and say "oh yes, that's a tracy webster". My art changes with my mood (and I'm never short on those). I'm influenced by what interests me at the time, by my surroundings, finding something new to work/play with, etc. But what really gets my art MADE, done, finished is this little secret....... deadlines! I start all kinds of projects, and get tickled by something else and start something new. My 'to finish' file has grown from a few things on my studio table to a rubbermaid tote to a full fledged rack of shelves. Hey - I can't help it. When the 'mood' strikes, I'll finish them. :)

I've been asked to put some of my art in a few gallery shows coming up here in town at the Florence Events Center. Well - that's just the ticket - I HAVE to finish my stuff now. Finally a muse I'll listen to... my sweet deadline. Hey- what a great idea! I'll make a 'deadline doll' to sit at my table to keep me going. Was that another project idea? Here we go again :)

Upcoming shows & corresponding art to be finished:

"A is for Alphabet" running all of March & April at the FEC. I'm the letter K. I'm working a mixed media piece called 'key to my heart'. So far it has a canvas fame; plexiglass K; super light, air dry, art clay heart; metal keyhole & key; and wickedly fun bright colors.
"Green" Art Squared theme week project. I finished this last night and it's called 'he loves me... he loves me not...' It's on eBay for a week. Bid now if you want to support this starving artist. OK, I'm not starving, but it would be nice to sell something to keep my profession of artist legit. "Rent a Rod", except I'm in a glass case, not hanging on a rod. Also at the FEC gallery, running all of March. I'm still working on these. I'm thinking the common thread is 'springtime in paris' so that will probably be the name of my show. I'm including some art squared stuff, soldered glass shrines and some soldered & beaded necklaces. It's due very soon and I should be working on it instead of being online. Oops.
And finally a small format art show - which title I forget. It's a weekend show in March or April at FEC, and I'm putting 4 art squared pieces in there. Probably all beeswax collages.

Coast Video

OK, this takes forever to load, but if you want to wait around, this is the video I took when Amanda & I drove up the coast, 2 weeks ago. It's from my digital camera, so I appologize right now for the 'wiggle' and the glaring sun on the screen. Other than that - turn up the sound so you can hear the surf crash, and enjoy.

http://www.artwerx.us/page/page/1890002.htm

Move over Martha

With the so called 'free time' on my hands, since closing the studio, I've been able to do the little domestic things that make people happy. For a treat on Valentine's Day, I dipped strawberries into chocolate and then scribed a little heart on each one. I packaged them all up and delivered them to my friends and they seemed to be a big hit.

When my kids were little and I was a stay at home mom, I was very Martha-ish. I'm not sure when it stopped - when they grew up, when I was working? Probably both. At any rate, I'm sure this little burst of domesticism won't last long, as I work harder on my web sales and art, but my husband is enjoying it while it lasts. I'm actually cooking dinner now - what a shocker. I hope they remember me at Azatlan when I return ... I love walking in there and being handed a strawberry margarita without even having to order.

Learn to Dance with Napoleon Dynamite

My pal Amanda sent me dance lessons. Now it's your turn:
Learn to Dance with Napoleon Dynamite

A "peep" show like no other.

LivePiipShow
I dare you not to think this is cute!

Weather ... then and now

It has been so nice and sunny all week here, but the weeks before that were another story... rain rain rain and more rain. The road to civilization (Eugene) would even close due to the combination of high tides and too much rain. I was cleaning pics of my camera and forgot I had these... just 2 miles out of Florence, on the way to Eugene. We got through just in time before another closure.


This week Amanda and I went for a nice drive up the coast and took these shots:

P - you are the best!

P, this is for you because I have not voice to call you till I'm better, and I lost your email address, and didn't know if you checked it very often.
When we were on the phone the other day, I found out afterwards that you were calling to give me you good, no GREAT news - and what did I do? I hogged the conversation and made it all about me. I'm so sorry! You just let me carr-on till the phone died and that's just like you, to nurture everyone, being a good friend. Mom told me your news and I couldn't be more relieved or happy for you! I'll see you soon, thankfully. We are coming up at the end of next month.
I love you!