Dedication & Inspiration

I knew that I was an artist by the age of four. What I didn't know was that I would spend a lifetime of compromising (I like to call it "course correcting") in order to keep active within my field. Recently someone said "I really admire how you always manage to continue being an artist." Wow, I thought. If you only knew about all the times I endured less than glamorous "artist survival" part time jobs in order to make ends meet. [Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, Barbara Ehrenreich]. Truth is, I'm used to the artist's struggle and these economically challenged times feel like more of the same, except now it's more intense because others are joining me in their efforts to hang on to the professions they hold dear. The bottom line is that I do whatever it takes to keep developing and selling my drawings, jewelry and curriculum. If it means taking on jobs that I'm not crazy about (both inside and outside of my field), I do it. Why? Because ultimately the creativity that I enjoy (as an artist and teacher) is the most rewarding thing I can do for my community and myself. If someone likes my work enough to pull out their wallet, it validates my endeavors (check out the artist JSG Boggs in Wikipedia: ). The arts (humanities) are important because they teach us what it means to be human.

Creativity sells. Not just in the arts but in all disciplines. I used to tell my college students at Eastern Illinois and Georgia Southern University: "Show me something that I haven't seen before." To make a living at making stuff, I've always kept my price points reasonable, even when my retail venues encouraged me to charge more. Finally, there's just plain old hard work in terms of cranking out a lot of pieces to reach the "success" tipping point. [The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell]. Keep in mind that if I want to earn a hundred dollars a day, I have to make at least two hundred dollars a day's worth of sellable goods: every day! Some formulas triple and quadruple that amount of production to support staff and overhead. How do you keep at it even when you are left uninspired, overwhelmed or just tired? Like the child sitting at the piano while their friends are out playing in the sunshine; art is a discipline and practice makes perfect. Check out the article "What it Takes to be Great," Geoffrey Colvin: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fort une_archive/2006/10/30/8391794/index.htm .

During these rough times, my mother's words of wisdom are re-gaining relevance. Money statements like: eating at home is cheaper than eating out. Saving your money is better than using credit cards. Your rent/mortgage should not be more than one week's worth of wages (boy, now that's a tough one). Marty Nemko keeps me on track: http://www.martynemko.com/ and of course anything by Suze Orman. As a role model, my mother also taught me to develop a satisfying hobby that you can come back to everyday to relax your mind and enrich your soul. I'd like to add a couple of my own truisms: the key to longevity and mental clarity is to surround yourself with like minded friends (and students!), read an hour each day and of course, learn something to develop new pathways in the old noggin.

Besides making art and teaching, I love love love to travel. In the first twelve days of January, I drove 3,000 miles. First stop was Lassen (Volcano Country) in Shasta County. Tosca (my trusty hound) and I stayed with a couple of friends (Hi Tina and Eve!) for a few days. It gave me the opportunity to work on some of my projects and I even sold some work. Next I drove west to the coast and then north to The Gold Coast in Oregon. Marlene (who has a passion for jewelry making when she's not helping to save lives at the hospital for her day job) and I had a blast. She took several private lessons from me and I think there would have been more lessons if I had stayed longer.

It took all day to drive back to Marin. The Northern California coast, Redwood- and rain forests were amazing. I found a beautiful agate stone on the Oregon shore which I easily transformed into a necklace and wore for days. I also found an excellently crafted sterling silver Navajo cricket pin at a museum that I bought for my mother. Oh and I almost forgot, there were more elk sightings than you can shake a stick at.

After returning home for only one full day I took off again to go to the Santa Monica/Newport Beach area of Southern California. A group of ladies organized themselves to bring me down for a weekend to teach them the Viking Knit and Bezel workshops. There was lots of great food and fun. I'm secretly hoping they'll find something else that they want to learn and invite me back! Hint hint hint.

What better way to get away from it all than to join us at a Bed and Breakfast (home cooked) on the wild Mendocino coast? The glass beach is almost unworldly in its beauty. I've combined the Viking Knit and Bezel Knit workshops (excellent technique for capturing sea glass) which I run simultaneously for a discounted (combined) cost. New students will find the atmosphere personable and relaxing. Return students are invited to participate sans the instruction cost. Because we meet each year before Valentine's Day, the rates are still off season and very reasonable. To find out more, go under the News section of my website. If you're seriously considering signing up, email a request to me with the subject: Beach Glass Retreat 2009. Hurry, it's only a few days away!

Two years ago I was so crazy busy that my "to do" lists didn't leave any room for error. [Faster: The Acceleration of Just About Everything, by James Gleick]. One mess up would lead to a cascade event. A year ago, many of my retail venues permanently closed their doors. This year, I have the time and space to add new schools and develop more classes. What a pleasure it is to teach workshops at a school that is within a ten-minute drive from my home! Check out my website calendar to see what I'm offering at Mt. Tam.

Back to the Hawaiian Islands of Maui and Oahu: April 16-26th. The University of Hawaii's VITEC Program at the Maui Community College has agreed to have me teach several classes this time. We even get to play with fire! I'm excited about introducing fusing techniques to my Maui students. I'll also be available to teach private lessons. Deadline for requests is (of course) way before I get on that plane so contact me right away if you're interested in booking me.

As for The Bead Gallery I'll be teaching three of the Matchsticks workshops: Color! Lotus Blossom and Pretty Prongs. You can check out the photos and descriptions on my website. In addition, several students have organized to have me teach them soldering outside of the store setting. Contact me if you would like to join the soldering group or book your own private lesson.

The goal for private lessons is, of course not to compete with my venues. If you're interested in customizing your interests or you need a portfolio review (course correction) contact me for rates. Hint: they are cheaper than therapy. BTW, several years ago I taught 13 year old twins Max and Amelia at my studio and drawing class at City College of San Francisco. Max's interests in the fine arts have settled on film making. Check him out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrGLhn3W1DU . If you look closely, you'll catch a glimpse of my Borzoi, Tosca and I are in one of the film excerpts.

I am currently putting together an itinerary to drive (yes drive) 'cross country at the end of July through the middle of August. The goal is to teach in Statesboro, Georgia; Raleigh/Durham and Wilmington, North Carolina. I don't have the route and exact dates mapped out yet, but if you live anywhere on the northern or southern route across the country and you would like to have me stop by for a private or group lesson, please contact me as soon as possible. My travel time will expand/contract accordingly.