PineShoreStudio/Paintings by Helen Harris

  I have found myself muttering to my canvases lately. Stepping back, tripping over my desk chair, backing into book cases and knocking over my water containers. What had been a comfortable,well lit studio space for my watercolors has become a very uncomfortable and too dark space for my acrylics!   Just as I found out that I could not think watercolor and then paint with acrylics, so it follows my physical surroundings have been slowly changing as I paint in acrylic each day. It was a slow adaptive change, nothing sudden, just a slow incorporation of different tools, timing, lighting and attitude toward my subject matter. Did I need a bigger space? Increasing the footprint of the room was not possible, using a different room did not solve the lighting situation. What to do, what to do? rearranged studio space   Solution! I rebuilt my old classic drafting table into a full size easel. Used upright now for acrylic canvases rather than flat for watercolors gi...

Recently I've devoted more and more time to my art marketing. I began Facebook ads and invested time and money to send more traffic to my web site , my posts on my business page , and my new shop site . I've joined a new art group  too. Do you know what? I stopped painting!!! There has to be a balance of time spent painting,and marketing . After all you can't market what you haven't produced.Emotionally I got myself into a tailspin and a litany of "have to". I have to do this,I have to do that ... hmmmmmmm something is definitely off here. So today I pause...... Washed out my brushes, squeezed out some new paint ...breathe, paint....center...there that's better.

After doing my paperwork for this month, I started clearing out my 2008 files and setting up the 2009. I then shifted from my "paper work " to my computer files. Oh dear! What a mess! Admittedly, there was a time I could walk into a room with computers and they would simply shut down. It was scary. Finally I became adept and at least being capable of some basic skills. As they say ..."a little knowledge....". Oh! I have all the makings of a computer disaster just waiting to happen. Back ups ...uh...files scattered .. hmmmm .... now where is that photo and what group was that ? I hadn't realized how many bookmarks, rss feeds, groups and sites that I've clicked while learning how to navigate the Internet . Guess what I'll be doing this week? My last post is nudging me to take my own advice again! Is it working for you? Time spent cleaning up and organizing will definitely speed up my desk time and let me have more painting time..and isn't that the po...

I posted "AFT" 08 on Twitter this morning. What does that mean? Though I'd love to give credit to whomever taught me this method of organization, I simply can't remember. Basically,AFT,stands for Act, File or Toss. My art desk may get piled up with papers because I use them as textures in my paintings, but you will not find my office desk piled up. What a relief at this time of year when we all rush to finalize business papers. The key to this organizational habit: Everytime you pick up a paper, mail, file etc. (paper work clutter) place a mark in the upper left corner. If you get 3 marks you MUST STOP and Act,File or Toss. No excuses, no exceptions! Try it! Your work area will stay ...workable. Now I'm going to go figure out a way to apply this to my computer!