Back in March, a friend sent me a link for artists to submit their work to be considered for inclusion in the 20th annual "Artists of The Seacoast" calendar.   Proceeds from calendar sales help the organization, Families First, provide affordable health care, family support, education and mobile health care for the  homeless.  I, myself, have purchased the calendar in past years because it features local artists who I admire and it benefits a great cause.

 The word "jury" never has appealed to me as an artist and I have avoided submitting my work to juried shows because, I admit, I do not like the possibility of rejection.  I have submitted work to the last two Biennials of The Portland Museum of Art and I am the proud owner of two very nice rejection letters.  However, I had a very healthy expectation of being declined from something as big as a city museum.  Nevertheless, I still tend to shy away from anything containing the "J" word mostly because I am an outsider artist and feel somewhat diminished in my ability next to many of my art educated colleagues.          

It was on a whim that I clicked on the link I received and went through the process of submitting a painting I had just completed that was more experimental and quite different from my usual work.  "Why not?", I said to myself.  I like the painting and it would be something I, personally, would like to see while flipping to the next month on a calendar.   Two months later I received my very first congratulatory acceptance letter!    It was a surreal moment where  I kept checking to make sure it said what it said and not "Your work sucks".  That moment for me was like winning a lottery.  

This doesn't mean I am ready to run off and submit to another juried show any time soon but it is nice to know there are other possibilities out there for me as an artist;  that, although I am self-taught, my work has validity.  And even when my art is rejected, I know that my paintings come from the heart and they make me and others happy...no jury needed there.     

      

Every year, for the month of February, artists throughout the Seacoast area are challenged to create one piece of art within the 28 (sometimes 29) days of the otherwise very dull month.    The idea came on the heels of the famous RPM Challenge in which musicians meet the task of writing  and recording 10 songs in   February.  The results then culminate in a "worldwide" listening party in March.  So, a beloved local artist, Jocelyn, decided to put forth the same idea for visual artists a few years back and with great success.  Each year artists bring their creations to Buoy Gallery in Kittery, Maine and in mid-March there's an opening party.     

I've been doing this challenge since it started in 2010.  Most years I've done both the RPM and the ArtPM challenges, leaving the rest of my life in utter chaos but it made the shortest and most bitter month go faster and with a tad bit more excitement.  But this year I stuck to just the one and I set out to do my largest piece to date- a 2'x4' mixed media called "Deity".  I truly worked on it all month which sometimes meant drinking coffee and staring at the blank canvas for long hours.  Sometimes days.  That's a lot of coffee.  I love coffee so that's ok.  Coffee's the best.

Last night was the opening.  The collection of art was as eclectic as ever and the wide variety of artistic background was humbling.   It was a good turn out and people were generally just happy to emerge from whatever hibernation  to which the challenge or the elements confined us.  However, one of the best parts about it were the snacks.  I love snacks.  This smorgasbord  included PB&J canapés!  seriously- it's brilliant!  But not as brilliant as coffee.      

So, another challenge was met.  I feel good about it and with that, I have a renewed sense of  creative ambition and a wish list of art supplies to match!   

It was New Years Day 4:30 pm .  I receive a message from a local restaurant owner asking if I want to be the featured artist for January and February.  My first thought was "Cool- I get to show my art!".  Then my second thought was "Yikes!  TODAY is January!", after my delayed realization that this was NOT going to be some drawn out relaxed process of putzing around in my studio and painting at a leisurely pace with time to daydream of what I am going to hang on the walls of this establishment.  

But seeing that I had only one solo  show in 2013, I accepted the invitation/challenge.  Luckily for me, I bought some time due to the fact that the place was scheduled to be closed  4 days for renovations.  With that said, I will be hanging my work  this Thursday at Colby's on Daniel St. in Portsmouth, NH.  It is one of my favorite breakfast/lunch joints and they have THE BEST pancakes EVER...(except for the Dutch style  my Mom makes or the freaky shaped creations my BFF, Iris, made when we were kids).  

So, if you are in the 'hood, please come by, have some great food and look at art.   It's winter in New England.  What else is there to do?

              

 
 

After 5 years of resisting the alignment of my art with modern technology, I am finally giving in and starting my own website...yay for me!  No big deal, you may think, but for those who know me, this IS a BIG deal.  I come from the kind of stock that still likes to handwrite letters and thank you cards; I still have a landline and I still read actual books- with pages...made of paper!

So, here it is- a new adventure and I welcome you to it.  I enjoy my art and I hope you do too.