ColorBurst

My first chance to paint since opening my new business The Cookie Cab.

This original,vertical floral is a mixed media/collage using my signature textures.

Unframed, it can be purchased directly from my web site.

The Cookie Cab Gallery

As hoped...The Cookie Cab Gallery has come into existence. I have filled the walls with art work from a local art group, provided them with a meeting place and initiated a commission for one of the artist...all while baking & selling cookies! The group is currently having an ATC (Artist Trading Card) activity.

The reality of painting again is not an easy one to attempt each day ,especially as work increases with holiday orders. I have splashed in some paint but more importantly I have returned to my drawing. On Wednesday evenings, The Cooke Cab stays open until 8pm to accommodate a large group of high school students that enjoy a teen night at the local library. We bake/ chaperon & interact with this group in our shop . I have enjoyed the activity of observing & sketching the scene and will post some drawings soon.

As the days pass The Cookie Cab is evolving into something more than just a bake shop...and being a part of it is an unexpected joy. Lol ...Sharon, the other half of the baking team ( also an artist/photographer) has declared "cookie dough is our canvas and royal icing is our medium!"

Remember ,you can become a fan of The Cookie Cab on Facebook too! I'll be featuring work of the invited artists on the Facebook page.

The Cookie Cab

This past week was the successful preview opening of my new business, The Cookie Cab. Originally it was to be a only a home/business delivery service of warm cookies to your door but....opportunity after opportunity arose & by the good grace of friends and their willingness to lend a hand it is now a full shop/ art gallery! I'm on the run right now to buy more baking ingredients & deliver paintings for a solo show this week but will write again soon....

Thank you to all my blogger friends for their understanding & support during this hectic time!

Work in progress

My granddaughter, Leah Erin ,was born this past weekend. She is beautiful and strong but 5 weeks early. Her mother, my daughter, struggles with the emotions of joy and fear as she

watches Leah,attached to many monitors and tubes, strive to gain her strength and be placed in her arms rather than in neo- natal intensive care .

There is such fragile beauty in a new born. I've always felt that my greatest work of art was the birth of my three children. Now grown, they are beginning to experience that joy and wonder as the cycle goes round and they take their place at a crib. Gently touching, softly praying ...a work of art in progress. Thank you to all my blogging friends for their good wishes and prayers.

Caught between two worlds....

I thought the last time I became a full time artist it was finally my time. I'd found all that I needed and wanted. I worked very hard at my marketing, show schedules won awards and sold my work on a regular basis. Circumstances beyond my control have once again placed me in the forked path of my art and " other " work. My palette went untouched this past week for the first in a long time. I am feeling the strain of needing to be in two places at once.

My partner & I are about to open "The Cookie Cab" (if you are reading my post, it is a cookie delivery service/ bakery). Scrubbing floors and ovens has been my work week of late.

I did honor the artist in me by setting up "the artist's corner". An old drawing table from my college days, along with some sketch pads and pencils sits in the corner of the well scrubbed area by the front windows, awaiting a moment for me to begin work in my new "studio". I've ordered a hanging system to install in the shop for my own paintings to hang and that of other local artists. I'm sure the place will take on a character of its own..but right now it seems ...well ..clean. I'm hoping that the soon to be baking aroma ,the bustle of customers and the interaction that will happen, will relieve this feeling of being once again out of step. Not artist, not baker,....not me.

Sidetracked?

I'm not totally sidetracked by the ongoing business of creating my new business "The Cookie Cab". Baking ,creating ...still painting.

My last outdoor show of the season was this weekend..great Saturday ,rainy Sunday. In fact for the first time ever I sat out the rainy day. I think I've finally had my fill of rain soaked tents and soggy shoes,all in the attempt to protect my work from the elements. Now, I'm turning my attention to The Cookie Cab.

I'm creating an Artist Corner within the bake shop. It is my compromise of life's curve balls ( see my last post) and my need to continue painting. The Artists Corner,complete with drawing table, will enable me to continue to do my painting in slower times and demo, as I am prone to do, interacting with the public. I am providing exhibiting space on the walls for local artists groups, and a welcoming space for their meetings. I've been receiving very positive feedback and feel the "warm to your door" cookie delivery service, the retail shop as well as The Artist Corner will be a creative, new and exciting space in my local community. More to come as the opening of The Cookie Cab becomes a reality!

Play Ball!

So what do you do when life throws you a curve ball?

( Please read...everything was going just fine and then there was an unexpected career changing event!)

How do you hit the ball out of the park?

( in other words... how do you keep your goals,survive the upset and turn it around successfully?)

Ignore the twitches and antics of the pitcher! The shoulder feints ,the high leg kick,the side arm delivery that distract & confuse you.

( stay focused on your goal,ignore the angst, fears, and negative thoughts, of others as well as yourself of the events that you can't control caused by someone else's actions.)

The ball will always go from point A to point B. It simply changes its path but the destination is the same. ( your goals are the same,but your path to them has altered . Make adjustments. Redirect your energies.)

Step into the batter's box.

(show up...every day. )

Keep your eye on the ball. ( You know what you want..,you know your goal)

Swing ! (you'll never know till you try)

Miss !(it happens...)

Hit! (yessssssss.!)

(btw ... I'm a Yankee fan!)