You can only do so much, so make the most of what you do

Wonderful quote from Alyson Stansfield's Art Marketing Action Newsletter, and one that I need to continously remind myself:

Remember that you’re human. You can’t do it all. But
you can look at the available options and prioritize. Figure out what is the best use of your time at any moment.

How was your Memorial Day weekend? Mine was relaxing.... I tried very hard not to pressure myself over my (percieved) lack of productivity, since that it just counter-productive. I did scan lots of pages from the sketchbooks I've had over the years. Funny but for an "aspiring artist" I sure don't sketch all that much. Of course I've heard the advice "sketch every day", I really should try it. Hey, maybe I could even upload sketches to the Moleskine community pages?







I went to the beach on Monday, capturing snapshots of the surfers and other beach-goers. Here are a couple of the better images. They never turn out as good as the scenes look in real life.... Like with that railing I sat behind which is getting in the way of so many of the pics I took! I'll have to give myself the project of cropping & enhancing the photos....

Nothing is original

Quote first seen on one of my newest favorite blogs, emptyspaces (reading his blog is like experiencing poetry through sight, memory, and dreams - thank you, deartroy! I hope you don't mind):

“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work(and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery-celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from-it’s where you take them to.” - Jim Jarmusch

The Newest "i" - the Clayton iHouse

Today Yahoo had an article about a pre-fab home called the iHouse, just put on the market by Clayton Homes. It's green, baby! and oh, so stylish.......



The detached "flex" room could be used as a home office, studio, etc......Oh, to have a home with a studio right out back! I think this is my new fantasy....



A big fan of the iHouse has created a fanblog with some good info, if you're interested he's planning to tour one of the models and will post a review in a few weeks.

Checking in

I can't believe it's been (almost) a whole month since I've posted! It's seemed like such a big hassle. I always feel like I should be posting while at my day job, since I'm just wasting my time there anyway, but then I get paranoid that someone will catch me. And once I get home, it seems like I should do something more productive first, and I run out of time. Why do I always run out of time, it seems like nobody else I know has this kind of problem here in the hyper-multi-tasking-fast-moving Silicon Valley, but hey that's probably just my perception, right? Maybe I should start bringing my little netbook with me so I can blog away during my lunch breaks once in a while. Hmm, need to get a case for it so I can carry it with me....

To be honest, I'm not even sure what my future plans are for this little blog here. I'm still looking into setting up some kind of store on Etsy, hopefully with original artwork and collages and some prints too. And I'm toying with the idea of having a blog that will match my etsy store name (once I've decided on a name!) and leaving this here for my occasional rants and raves.

Oh well, stay tuned. Something interesting's bound to happen....

Vacation mood worn off already!

I took a mini-"vacation" this past weekend - really more of 2-1/2 days in the country with nothing at all to do but decompress from the pressures of real life. Already I am sick to death of being back at work. This happens every time I go away - I have ONE day back where I am in a more positive mindset, and then the second day *BOOM* - it's like I never left at all. The depression and anger all return. Because really, what can a few days away solve? Everything I dislike, all of my struggles, my feelings that I am not living my life the way I should, they're all still here. The only thing to do, and this is SOOO long overdue, is to change my situation in any and all ways that I can.

This week, I'm putting the charge upon myself to look into setting up a store on Etsy. I'm the kind of person who needs to look around, research, look around some more, dip a toe in, retreat, and then maybe jump in slowly. No diving for this girl! But, the sooner I set up a store the better. Been wanting to for a couple of years now - since I first heard of Etsy - and told myslef I would do it after I was "more ready". Well, I'm never going to get myself "more ready" until I have the need to, notwithstanding my recent jump in productivity in my artwork. The way I'll create the "need" to get down to business? Um, yeah, set up a store already! Then I won't have an excuse anymore.

Weekend away

I'm going out of town today for a three-day weekend..... I know I've been more or less ignoring this blog lately. Perhaps the time away will recharge my batteries enough that I return with renewed dedication.... I have been working on my art quite a bit, have been developing a new technique, and spending quite a lot of time actually after work and the last couple weekends. The last 2 or 3 weeks have kind of passed in a blur. I'll post some pics when I have a chance.... I likely won't be around any wifi hotspots during the trip and my camera's already packed, so I'll just have to leave you with that teaser!