Alchemy Sealant Alcohol

Still feeling queasy from the new meds but hanging in there to give it a fair chance.  I have to double up on the dose on Tuesday so I am sure I will be really reeling from that.  Anyway, that's why I've been just trolling around the internet today getting caught up with all my google-reader posts Ive been neglecting, and taking care of paper work.   I subscribe to Harriete Estel Berman's blog 'Ask Harriete' where she gives professional advice applicable for all artists, and the post from April 24th was something all of you should read, especially the first one.

Below is her short version for finding success: (click for her webnar info here)

Follow Your Own Path. Close the books on technique. Invest in play and experimentation to find your own path. This is a solitary, lonely activity. Many books and studies of cognitive thinking demonstrate that it takes around 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert. Become an expert in your own work.

Be Resilient. Overnight success and instant fame are fairy tale fantasies. Invest time and commitment into following your own path. Everyone, yes, everyone is rejected and discouraged along the way. Learn from your mistakes, analyze failures and successes. I don't care whether you can only work one hour a day on your own work. One hour a day is seven hours a week. 30 hours in a month, and  360 hours a year. This is enough time to make one fabulous artwork a year.

Surround Yourself with Positive Energy. Ignore the naysayers. Ignore the devil on your shoulder. Listen with half an ear if there is any credibility to the comment, and the other side needs to be resilient and keep moving forward.

Don't listen to all those negative "it can't be done" opinions. Ignore people who say, "It's too hard,"  "Don't care so much", " It's not your job".  Ignore them. Surround yourself with positive energy even if it is one beautiful flower. Be resilient and follow your own path.   

Develop a thick skin.   Whether or not you make money from your art or craft, money is a poor measure of success. Surround Yourself with Positive Energy, Be Resilient, and Follow Your Own Path.Be Passionate. Passionate may mean you will work harder. Passionate should definitely include working smart.  Day or night, be passionate about your goal, or the big idea, even when it is inconvenient and no one else cares. Passionate about your singular path, holding on tighter, pushing through the barriers.

Follow Harriete and avoid this collision

I found this cool costume in my rolling around too-look closely at Vincent-  he has painted all the brushstrokes on himself to make it really look like a self portrait!  The frame finishes it off nicely.  Clever man.  (The portrait guy AND Vincent!)

Finally, I found a really great interview with Patricia Malarcher on the Textile Study Group of New York.  She talks about her process, her history, and her materials.  She is an artist I've admired for a very long time, as long ago as I discovered sewing as art, and though her work is recognizable as it has developed, she is constantly pushing the boundaries and trying new concepts.  Go read the article now!

Malarcher's 'Prayer Flags'