Cornucopia!
The 7 prints that sold last week,
The sale of the painting on Christmas Eve that allows me to be a full-time artist for a few more months,
The greeting card company that just picked me up—we’re going to begin with about 6 images for 6 different cards, and
Today when Leonardo brought home our January issue of Southwest Art magazine and found a very large image of my Out by Cordova painting on page 10 that accompanied the little article on page 54----OK, I shrieked, I did! What a great surprise!! There I am, right there in front! He looked through it first and said, “Oh, you should see this painting. I know you’ll really, really like this one.” He went on and on. Finally he hands me the magazine. It took a minute to register that I was looking at MY painting.
In other news we are the refugee camp tonight for Elway, an up-the-road neighbor’s outside dog. He’s big, big and fluffy (maybe even part St. Bernard? Some Collie it looks like as well) and so completely mellow the cats have not been unduly traumatized. He came in, plopped down in front of the fire, and that was that. It is Sooooooo cold out tonight, more snow, and we’ve been having below zero temps here at night this last week. Tomorrow night is supposed to be the coldest yet at 9 below. Yeow!
Tomorrow I’ve got High Road secretary stuff to do, plus crate that painting & get it shipped out (we got it photographed today at the digital studio in Taos), and work on all my other stuff which I am, of course, behind on.
I’ve done some research on framing equipment and think we can get just about everything we need to get started for five or six grand. Not top of the line stuff, of course, but good used equipment that should be more than adequate for a small volume frame shop (small volume, I think, the idea is proving so popular with other artists up here that I may have my hands way, way full). I just haven’t had time to make some of the calls I need to make for more comparative info. Next week, I guess.
And SOMEDAY I will get some new pix up on Trishtown. I haven’t forgotten. I just can’t seem to get at it!
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Happy Christmas!
We went to Therese's this morning, with 3 generations of her family (could have been four but they left the babies at home!), to celebrate a traditional New Mexican Christmas brunch with Posole, Enchiladas, Tamales, and Pastillos. Ha, ha, and wine! Thank goodness the morning began late at 11:30am!
Then home to bake pumpkin pie for our traditional, uh, SOUTHERN, Christmas dinner at eL Gallery, about 30 feet down and across the road. Traditional as I understand it, but the turkey’s dressing was so different. Apparently southerners really like cornbread stuffing. While I like cornbread I’m not sure it belongs inside of a turkey. I’m still all about my, apparently yankee, stuffing with whole grain bread crumbs, sausage, celery, onions, and walnuts. Nevertheless, you put gravy on either one, you’re there!
Then we slogged home through a WHITE CHRISTMAS!! The weather people have been threatening us with new snow on top of our now quite old, old (yet still here) snow for days and days and finally tonight we got 2 to 3 inches of new, sparkling powder! Yay!! It’s just SO PRETTY!!
So we came home and turned on KPIG (internet streaming, love it!) sat in front of the fire, had a bit of libation, cradled a kitty on a knee, and called it Christmas.
Love to all of our friends out there.
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Happy Christmas Eve! and Art
Oh joy! Got a call in the gallery this morning. A gentleman from Washington state called to purchase a painting. We'll crate it and ship it out by the end of the week.
Plus I got an email this morning from a small company that produces greeting cards with local artist’s images on the front and a head shot and brief bio on the back—saying they’d love to have me join their artists. They’re wholesalers—so my images will begin popping up in all sorts of retail establishments. One of the owners is coming to visit the gallery on Thursday to pick out work.
And the reception for the show in Santa Fe is Saturday.
And let’s not forget the 7 prints we sold just last week!
A nice bit of art sucess squeezed in before the end of the year. And what a great year it has been.
Merry Christmas everybody!!
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Winter Solstice!!
Another great painting day—I even dug back in to the family history painting. I don’t believe I’ve worked on it since Oakland! It feels so good to be back in the studio groove.
I got an email from USA Artists today—somehow I got on their mailing list. That’s great...I just hope someone from their org actually knows who I am. It’s a great thing....check it out at www.unitedstatesartists.org. You can only be nominated by anonymous jurors. I’m wondering if there is any way to make these shadow-folk aware of our existence? Looking at past choices they seem to pick rather high-profile people. Folks who have already made it. How do we on the edge of things fit in?
Happy Solstice! Good Path, Kind Souls, and Fortutious Future.
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Art, Atmosphere, & Attitude
Looks like we’ve got another big storm on the way in. Another foot of snow by Saturday night and though our roads are clear finally and now, we’ve still got that first 18 inches still sitting in the fields and the back driveways, etc. though it’s melted a bit so it’s only about 10 inches now. Still, add another fresh foot to that? Husband went into town tonight to pick up stuff and I forgot to tell him to get egg nog! We’ve got rum and brandy but what good is it without eggnog? Oh dear.
Well, I got my first real-estate quiz back today. I totally expected to ace it—I was so sure of myself. I was actually expecting 100%. I have to re-take it! I failed. No kidding. I got less than 75% (they did not tell me how much less). OK, I’ve been complaining all along that they give you trick questions, and they do, but then again, it’s my job to know things in and out and make no mistakes. Geez. I was hoping to get my second quiz done by the end of the week but now it’s back to first grade! No matter. I will get through this—it’s just a lot of remembering exact, obscure details....such as—“the governor can appoint members to the real estate commission”—I KNEW that (really, how hard is that?)—but then they added “with the approval of the legislature.” Just the thing you think would make sense. But no, he does not need their approval. So that makes it a wrong answer. See what I mean?
So therein comes attitude. I am disappointed at my score but I am bound and determined to improve it. Plus—I think I really needed an art studio day or two to get my right brain back up to snuff, then it can help out the other side in a day or two.
We have been invited to eL Studio for Christmas dinner and we will partake. We will also cook our own Christmas dinner, here, as planned, the day or so after. We require our own leftovers, particularly dressing and gravy!!
Then we might have guests (they’re on my calendar but they are unpredictable). Whatever.
On January 9th we’re headed out to Georgia for the Booth Western Art Museum (no relation) exhibition & reception. They’re going to get us artists on stage for a panel discussion. Real Estate tests do not frighten me (even if I have to take them twice!). Panel discussions on stage about art do. Still, even if I’m a geek, I’m going to say I’ll participate. Hope I don’t say anything dumb. Ha, ha, hope I’m able to speak at all!
Oh, almost forgot, have a bunch of paintings down in Santa Fe at Exit Real Estate office. We’re having an opening December 29th. I don’t expect much from it but you really never know. I’ve been appointed the “coordinator” –-there are four or five other artists in the show. And I’ll just be nice and keep my thoughts about the bulk of artwork up on Canyon Road to myself.
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About Time!
Yeah! The gallery had a $1200 day today. 7 prints went out the door. The client came to pick up three she'd ordered and in the course of my packing them up for her she decided to take four more. 3 Pedernal and 4 Escalera. Let's just say I'll be sleeping well tonight. Now if the gallery could do that two or three times a month we'd be all set!
Looks like we're in for another storm come Friday--must shovel out a path to the last pile of wood down at the new house, load up and bring here before it hits. We're beginning to run low here. That pickup load should get us through another 2 weeks at least. Then we call our friend down in Cordova who's got a pile the size of a house. Next year we'll harvest wood ourselves--but we'll need a bigger truck. Tonka can only handle a bit less than a quarter cord and we have to take at least a half-cord at a time from the forest.
I need a kitty/house sitter Jan. 9 through 16. Anyone want to take care of the kitties for a free winter Truchas vacation home? It's cozy and romantic! Plus you can enjoy my iTunes.
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Oh, Wacky life
We love each other, it is month-a-versary.
It is also the day we shoveled about two tons of snow off the driveway at the new place, so the gas-man could get in, so he could tell us we have three or five months of work before he can set a tank. OK, in the spring. Geesus. oh dear.
We must have all the heaters, stoves, water heaters, EVERYTHING, and then ETC. in place before
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how did this happen?
I'm too busy to blog? It's true. I just downloaded a @#$*load of pix with the hope of getting a photo-one-day up on Trishtown.
In the meantime, more snow.
Good talk w/ the lady who wants me to be her new real-estate person....I'm thinking this sounds great! She's even open to my home office whilst I keep the gallery open. Exactly what I was hoping for!
So it's nose to the books. And the snow shovel. More snow tonight. In the morning, IF we can get out of the driveway, down to SF to pick up a truckload or two of windows for the new place.
We had to move woodpile and strawbales inside down there. Someone came and stole about six strawbales. Saw the tracks in the snow but thought too late about CSI: Truchas! and making plaster casts of the tire treads. We did see straw scattered in the snow, and I counted them when we put them there. Missing six to eight for SURE!
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Snow, Snow, Snow!
Picked up the prints in Taos today. In addition to the snow we already had it snowed all day, everywhere—Taos, Espanola, Santa Fe, and certainly Truchas. This evening a friend stopped in on her way back from work to phone her partner that she had made it this far and would be home soon. School bus in the ditch, cars lined up everywhere, trucks stuck. We got back into town at 4pm and it was accumulating so fast by then we fish-tailed up the road and it took two or three tries to get Tonka into the driveway. I’m stretching out my ski-boots a bit---this is perfect snow for skiing. We’re looking forward to a day or two tucked away up here, though tomorrow the county snow plows will probably come up. The state snow plows were cruising all over today on the highways—they are at the ready at the first sign of snowflakes.
Kitties didn’t want to go out today! They were happy with catnip in front of the fire instead.
The prints are magnificent, as usual. They printed a couple out with uneven margins—said if I’d let them have one to put up in their studio they’d give me the other for free. OK, that’s a no-brainer. Free publicity and an extra print besides? All it needs is a trim and a mat. And now I’m a pro at that, as well..
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We're Baaaaack!
Busy week! Pick up prints tomorrow, a truckload of double-glazed windows for the new house on Wednesday, take my friend back to the airport on Thursday and maybe another trip to Santa Fe....
Hung all those paintings up in the Real Estate office in Santa Fe week before last. Now she’s telling me there is a $15 per day fee I must pay to hang there. This was never discussed, obviously, or I would never have taken my work there in the first place. I do not, have never, and will not pay to display. She says that was always the case and I must have “missed” that info. I told her if that is the case I will come and remove the work. The nerve! As if I don’t have enough to do this week already!
It’s good to be home. There’s a bit of snow out there, I’m going to go out and try out my cross-country skis.
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See you in a week
Off to Las Vegas to the picture framing workshop. Ha, we'll leave this big storm behind! See you all next Sunday or so.
The artwork looks good in the RE office in Santa Fe. She says they actually do sell out of there so...
Maybe we'll come home to good news!
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