So what I’ve learned so far is that no one is interested in working with artists who are starting out. You need to be showing to get help… to show… ergh.

So I decided to bite the bullet and visit a local modern craft gallery. Its called the Beet Gallery, its on NW Lovejoy in Portland, and I generally like the things that they show. I was just there to check it out, with the plan to build up a specific portfolio and go in when I was ready…

Didn’t work out that way. A couple of questions about leaving flyers lead to discussion of my studio situation which lead to the question of what I do… Before I knew it I was giving the gallery owner my web page and she was checking out my stuff. My mind was actually in this “eeeeeeeeeeee!!! PANIC!” stage but I was trying very hard not to show it, and working very hard to think through it. I think I still sounded like a scared rabbit when I talked, but thats ok. The gallery owner said she was used to dealing with shy artists. She also liked my work and, though its pretty late in the season, asked if I wanted a couple of pieces in her Christmas display.

So long story short, I’ve got some work in the Beet Gallery’s Christmas display! You should check it out for two reasons. (A) My work is there. (B) the show they have going now is really cool and features this awesome Tentacle girl that you just have to see.

Today I’m out looking for someone who is a business manager. I’m kinda’ nervous… I don’t want to end up with some asshole who’s just out to make a buck by preying on artists. I’m looking for someone who takes a commission, not a flat fee. I figure that if the person takes commission then (a) they’ll be motivated to sell my work and (b) they’ll believe in the value of my work to begin with. I don’t know if anyone out there has any experiences with this sort of thing, but I’d love to hear them.

Part of me is screaming that I should be able to do all that business stuff and marketing on my own, but the past couple of years clearly demonstrates otherwise. Maybe if I just got up off my ass more, that obnoxious voice says, but when I do I seem to always hit the bad sales. At what point am I just admitting my weaknesses and getting the help I need vs. just being lazy? Because by getting some sort of manager, I feel like I’m just being lazy. Totally white male culture there… Or at the very least family culture. Ergh.

Come share the love and joy! I and a number of my colleges are selling our works at Radius Studio this coming Dec. 11th and 12th. I’ll have out both functional and sculptures for sale and viewing pleasure. You’ll also get to see my studio space and meet the people who drive me crazy on a regular basis. They’ve got some good work to, so drop on by!

What can I say. I’ve just not been feeling the sculpture vibe for the last year. However, thanks to a kick in the ass and a bit of time looking at Ernst Haeckle etchings, I’ve got my sculpture on again.

And this is just the first one. I’ve already got two more completed.

The other thing I want to do is find a way to make a porcelain lamp. I’ve got one attempt already, but I’m not sure I like how it turned out. I’m probably just going to reclaim it and start again. … no, I AM going to just reclaim it and start again. I learned a few things which is good. I’ve never really tried to work with lighting so this is a real learning curve for me.

If you have a thick back, anyhow.

So I lost my ceramics job. It’s been rather depressing, especially because the studio my job was in is in the same building my personal studio shelf is in. AaaaWwKward. Anyhow, I generally like my former boss, and I would love to have the job back (an actual possibility, as I lost it due to lack of orders for the studio) I’m trying to keep down the bad feelings about how the boss handled things and treated me. Or at least out of the public eye. Still, I want to cry a little every time I go past the door. Its going to be a while before I can (sanely) talk to my boss again. I really loved that job.

I’ve never had a job I loved before.

In the meantime I’m redirecting my angst and seasonal depression into more productive things. Like therapeutic hole poking. I’ve got a tripod that is very largely influenced by Ernst Haeckel etchings that I’m a little in love with. Different types of holes on this one, they’re bigger and less clean. Yet more clean. Hard to explain, I’ll just have to go take a picture tomorrow to show you.

I also think that the change in light bulbs is really helping me. I’m using full spectrum florescent, mostly in combo with warm florescent, but I spend time in my bedroom every night with just the full spectrum ones. I feel less inclined towards addiction and escapism (which has been my major symptoms of depression in the past, since I buried all the bad feelings in game playing and book reading. It is kinda’ OCD.) I’m still pretty sensitive emotionally, but not as out of control as I usually am at this time and the bad feelings don’t cling and seep into my pours like the usually do. Well, except for the lost job, but even that seems a bit more remote and less in my face than I expect.

I’ve also been re-familiarized myself with the best motivation for getting on the job-search ball: Looking at your bank account and credit card bills. Damn.

So I finally gave into my nerdy roots:

This is me as my Path to Power Character with mugs I made for the Mud team’s Mug exchange. It was a good day yesterday. The photo was taken by my friend, Joe Garber.

Ok, so I’ve spent the past two weeks doing production pottery. Holy crap there’s a lot of throwing. I went from doing 12 pots a week to 40 a week. I’m actually quite proud of that. However, between the work and the dog I’m having diffiiculty getting time to work on my own stuff. So tomorrow Banafsh is going into Doggy Day Care. He’ll love and he’ll be nice and floppy at night. We hope.

Anyhow, I’m getting a lot of technical skill out of this, which is good. I just want to work my schedule out better so that I have a couple hours a day to sit peacefully and poke holes. Mostly, it involves getting out of the house earlier, which means that I have to ween the dog off long mornings with someone in the house. He’s a cuddle-bug in the morning, and its very hard to say no to such a cute face, esp. when you have a good book, pottery magazine, or sketch pad to work on while he sleeps on your legs.

Hey all. Sorry I lost track of days and not keeping up the posts.

Last month I put in a bid on a house, but failed to get it. So we’re still looking.

Also, my bad teenage habit of wearing contacts for a month at a time without taking them out (dropped at some point during college) finally caught up to me. Let me tell you, ulcers on your eye ball HURT like the dickens. It lead me to walk around looking like an inebriated pirate (one eye covered and bouncing off the walls I couldn’t see because it hurt to have the other eye open as well.) Trimming with one eye was a disaster. Depth perception plays a greater roll in that action much more than I realized.

Lastly, I’ve been hired by Pigeon Toe Ceramics as the primary studio assistant. *squee* A real job in pottery! So I’ve been working my ass off, but not on my own stuff. I do have time to do my own work still, just a lot less than I use to have. But damn, I got a pottery job. I’m pretty happy with that.

Went and checked out the Alberta St. Fair today. It was pretty need, with the different types of music going around. March Fourth Marching Band was there looking all shnazy, as well as a native American Drum Circle. It was pretty awesome. There were also some nice, more regular musical presentations, but its always the slightly wierd (weird as in cooly different) ones that catch my eye.

I also visited the Green Renaissance Fair that was at the park outside the Lloyd Center. I was both happy and disappointed. There was a lot of good information for a hopefully soon to be new home owner, from the real costs of Solar to what plants are local. On the other hand, no one was dressed in costume, quoting The Bard, or speaking with funny accents (and its Talk Like a Pirate Day!)

I’ve also been looking at joining a couple of street fairs, and I’ve applied. Acceptance letters won’t be out until October, so now I get to wait and see where I will be peddling my wares this Christmas season.

FALL SALE! At my Etsy Shop! As I’m gearing up for the New Season some things have got to go! 25% of selected items (in the SALE category) and 10% everything else!

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