Two coats of the black, moreso dark charcoal paint, was much better than one on the frames. There’s a series of color photographs. but the frames were in pretty bad shape with the original black peeling off, exposing the wood underneath. Instead of buying who knows what type of paint to redo them, I started with the extra black from the wall. I’ve noticed when hanging on that wall, just touching it will leave white marks. which leads to much touchup. and the same happened after the first coat on the frames. since the first coat didn’t completely cover all the way, I wanted to do a second, but thought I might have to put a top sealing coat of some sort. not looking forward to it, because I did a poly coat on the furniture when I painted them white. but when I got into the gallery today and looked at the few that got the second coat yesterday, looks pretty good to me. and as my goal is for much of the silly tasks, better than it was 1 day ago
The boss sticking up for me through that ordeal. I had to keep reminding myself, life is just one series of mistakes after another. Through some not so pleasant emails, the ex-buyer of a piece called me a newbie to galleries. Um, no. Three years here, and four years prior, at another gallery. I couldn’t help but think it was my fault, for having the wrong price on the label. But I personally told the man the real price, corrected myself. And in the several emails, the boss did too. To which the man denied, claiming it was the first he heard of it. 2 weeks ago
Not thrilled having to do it, but friendly people answering to phone calls I made today. One was to invite a friend of the gallery back, to come see the current show, because she supposedly liked portraits. The other, which I was able to find the contact number online, is a couple who donated a large amount of money, which funded the creation of Opalka Gallery. The recently retired director from there, a former boss of mine, is showing in the portrait show.
A friendly owner at a frame shop. I’ve stopped in there a handful of times, but never personally met him. I was picking up a painting that was no longer to be bought, we sent back the down payment to the buyer. There was a miscommunication of the actual price, which he was unwilling to pay. The owner assured me, don’t worry, usually these things work out. Certainly he heard the story too, from the buyer’s point of view. At least to delay the framing job until further notice 2 weeks ago
Constructive criticism on my art. well, about what I’m submitting and will be hung in the Fence Show. can be up to three pieces, if they’re smaller than say, three feet. Last year I did a large painting, and smaller painting. today I had three framed metals out and ready to bring in tomorrow. the other suggested my other round painting, 40” diameter. it’s metallic spraypaints and some oil. it really is pretty, and is hung in the house. it’s more of a statement piece. last year I showed a different round one. though a more geometric design and more of a stained wood. I’ll do a smaller framed textured metallic painting with it. One of these years I hope to be one of the 50 chosen for the Select Show that follows 3 weeks ago
I am grateful that I decided to stay home today. Breathing is strained, too much coughing and not enough sleep. This day I will rest! 3 weeks ago
Realizing I have two drop offs and two installs this week. I still have two pieces in the portrait show at my gallery. but Albany Barn accepted me for the recycle show. I’ll have a number of pieces in it, I think there’s only two other artists showing. and at that gallery, the artist has to figure out how to hang their own work. which isn’t a problem for me, but. and also this week is the annual Fence Show at the Arts Center. can drop off up to three pieces, if they’re small enough. past years I’ve been reeled in to hang it for them too. which usually happens the day I drop off, they don’t contact me beforehand about it. it’s a floor to ceiling show, a lot of work to put up. I’m willing to help hang it if they want me again 4 weeks ago
I am so grateful for this Friday – it went smoothly, it’s the end of another work week, and I have the weekend to rest and recover!
My sons are both available for dinner tomorrow night.
The kids in the special day class shared things they like about each other. It was a positive love fest!
I enjoyed watching and talking about the progress my students are making. 4 weeks ago
Grateful that the fashion show and tea went well, and that I did fine with modeling – no falls!
When I started feeling sick, I excused myself and went home. Good thing, because I really was sick.
Taking today off, resting, reading, getting well.
Not able to go to dinner with son #2, but he understood and we will reschedule. I love my easy-going sons!
MRI is tomorrow morning, and I do not feel nervous. Thank you! 4 weeks ago
The work week is done – let the play begin!
Getting some unexpected free time today to accomplish more.
Getting my hair cut – lovely!
Talking to my son and enjoying his contentment. 1 month ago
A doozy of a day. not to go into it too much, but lately haven’t been too happy with the gallery job. my boss, specifically. along with that, emotional this week, stressed out. just feeling underappreciated at the gallery. I’ve been more purposefully looking and applying for other jobs. my gardening job started back up, but that’s just once a week. even with the gallery, I know I need another part time to move out. and now the gallery isn’t so much a focus in my head. just looking to find something with more hours instead. not even so concerned if it’s an art job. though racking my brain, wondering what else I can do. since I’ve only even really worked in two galleries.
Thankful for the boy. I realize he is the only thing holding me together at times with this.
As for today, the handle on my bag has been unhooking itself lately. I should get a new bag. while walking from my car to work today, it unhooked and fell to the ground. I thought I picked everything up that fell out. But once at the gallery, I couldn’t find my sketch/notebook. which I write down things I need to remember and would otherwise forget, like the gallery alarm code. dear goodness. and I rememeber specifically I had it in the car, because I wrote down where I parked. I don’t always park in the same place for work. well the code since the move is easier, my birthday. and setting this new system is easier than the previous. I know for the previous I had a page in the front of the notebook with howtos.
I just opened my art closet to get out more supplies to put together another mini notebook. and sitting on a pile of saved papers was the specific notes for the gallery I was worried about. whew. I emailed the boss when I first got home, telling her of this. and if there’s a way to change my code, make the current one invalid. I was thinking in my head, well if someone found the notebook and the code and figured out it was for the gallery, they could break the top glass of the door and what, do a jump through the then broken door and figure out how to punch in the code correctly to shut off the alarm. worst case scenerio. but now I’m pretty sure it was just incoherent notes to myself and sketches. I emailed the boss again, told her sorry and never mind 1 month ago
My friend and colleague Michelle made it through breast cancer surgery. Here’s to complete healing!
Checking things off my list at work.
My mom called to check up on me. I was able to tell her the date for the MRI. I’m feeling better about it.
Trying on clothes after work for the fashion show on Saturday. I had fun and felt girly!
A teacher friend confided in me about her son telling her he is gay. We had a good talk and a good cry, and she felt safe talking to me. 1 month ago
Hearing back from Albany Barn about showing. a few weeks ago I hung art for a friend there. I did show there last year. and I saw a call for recycled art. I think rusted metal fits that. The contact apologized for taking so long to get back to me, said I did look familiar when I was in. Now I’ll wait to hear details about how many pieces and when she wants me to drop off, and most likely hang them. since that’s seemingly how this place works. 1 month ago
Celebration dinner last night with son Kevin – he has been rehired after a two month layoff.
Wonderful message at service this morning.
Clouds and fog moving in tonight.
Fire in the fireplace.
I made a big pot of soup! 1 month ago
My ENT doctor called to say he’s not yet satisfied that the vertigo is caused by inner ear fluid, so he’s ordering another test. I do appreciate his thoroughness.
It’s good to talk to my mom when I get worried about this stuff. She makes me laugh, and helps me to put it in perspective. Thank you, Mom!
I have nothing I have to do this evening. Relax!
Feeling a bit overwhelmed at work, but I know I will get it all done. I always do! 1 month ago
Having AAA. my car wouldn’t start up yesterday. luckily my gardening job was postponed, when I was supposed to go in for the day. got AAA over here, it is the battery. he said they only last 3-4 years. the car is older than that, and it’s the original. and it was the driveway I got stuck in. Not randomly on the street in my work city. This happened during my two days off from the gallery, having time to get it fixed. 1 month ago
Even though today’s lunch did not work out, I am patient and hopeful.
I enjoyed a beautiful drive from mountains to desert and back again today, experiencing many weather changes.
Seeing the snow fall as I came home made me happy.
I received a tentative diagnosis today for the vertigo I have been dealing with. I feel confident that treatment will make a big difference, and this will not get me down!
I was thrilled to hear that my older son got his job back today after a two month layoff. 1 month ago
For a fun day at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, from butterflies to elephants!
For another good night’s sleep!
A nice lunch out with friends, listening to more friends play cool folk music – life doesn’t get much better than this!
For the anticipation of a lunch date on Monday – makes me smile! 1 month ago
Today didn’t go nearly as bad as I expected. The boss seemed to be a little grumpy on friday during the show opening. and really unhappy when she saw the state of the storage room. Well I think she actually made her way in there. she walks with a walker, and the door doesn’t open all the way to it because of a table. so she usually might peek her head in, and then send me in for whatever it is she wants. Yes there’s boxes of stuff but that’s because there’s no where to put it. and all the stuff was in boxes before the move about a year ago. Prior to, we were in a space probably double the size. But I asked the intern if she could come in today and help out with it. With the two of us there moving things for the boss, she seemed to be much more pleasant 1 month ago
I may have sold two of my pieces tonight. a return buyer was in, first interested in a piece by someone else. which turns out the label I printed was 1/4 of the price that was on the consignment sheet. I don’t know how I managed to do that. but the guy returned again that night, I apologized, and told him, but he still seems interested. then he and his partner found my work, spent an awful long time looking at it. I was asked several times tonight which pieces were mine. blink. um, the 9”x12” of 30 or so pictures of me? yea, that one. and he called me photogenic
I was asked out for a drink by an artist after we closed up. He came in tonight with his “muse”. his painting portrait looked like a man, but with her standing next to it, ok, I see it. to which I was awkwardly like uh. but we agreed, I’d drop off my stuff at my car around the corner, and we’d meet up at a different gallery across the street. at first I thought I was stood up, I didn’t see them. o well, wasn’t so fond of the idea to go out drinking. so I went in to take a look at that show anyway, and they were in there. small gallery space, they seemed to disappear more than once. but eventually we found eachother. after I looked at the show, he came over. we spoke about some of the art and had an actual conversation. he’s in his 30s, doesn’t look it. we agreed to find eachother on fb, chat some more about art. I’d be interested in any of his experience. he’s had art fellowships and whatnot all over, but ended up back in upstate NY? he seemed to downplay it, making me feel not so bad about the point in life that I’m at right now
Speaking with another artist in the show tonight. we’ve added eachother, and he spoke of a possibility of running a gallery part in Davy Jones Gallery. we both showed there, turns out in the same show. and he’s spoken with the owner. there’s been a few art curators there, but they always seem to leave. I’d be willing to be part of it somehow with this kid. if monthly calls for art fail, we joked we could take turns bimonthly with which of us would get a solo show there 1 month ago
Feeling exhausted today and deciding to stay home after work.
Making the 7:00 rehearsal.
Being greeted by the dogs as I arrived home.
Throat coat tea!
The excitement of the upcoming performance. Ready or not, here we come! 1 month ago
Finding out that a potential lawsuit at one of my schools has been avoided, and the decision was made in the best interests of the student.
Celebrating my oldest son’s 30th birthday (how time flies!).
Feeling on top of my finances once more.
Sleep, marvelous sleep! 1 month ago
Readjusting the show today. I got it all hung on monday with the boss there. but it was just getting onto the walls with her watching me. the majority of a wall had to go up 2”. which I could see. her, probably not so much. but it would’ve bugged me not to fix. and then I wanted to play around with the alignment on the black wall. it’s looking much better.
That I wrote down the information for a piece of art before I lost the consignment sheet, that the information was on. I do not know what I did with it, but it’s in the gallery somewhere. not in the artist folder yet, not in the garbage, I looked several times. hopefully tomorrow it’ll just be blatantly sitting out somewhere that I overlooked 1 month ago
Going to church this morning and hearing just what I needed to hear.
Remembering the wisdom that was shared with me: It’s not personal. Let it go.
My wise young friend Billy.
An afternoon baking and making soup – ahhh, satisfying.
One more week of work and then spring break! 2 months ago
Celebrating my son’s 30th birthday a few days early with my family.
Seeing my nephews, who are growing up so handsome and funny.
Making a delicious birthday cake, and then not having any.
Liking my haircut.
Realizing that the trouble I had with my dad was old stuff coming back, and me being vulnerable.
Being able to let go of the terrible time I had at school on Friday, dealing with the potential lawsuit. 2 months ago
Texting with my niece last night about her upcoming wedding – I am really hoping I can go!
A very, very good night’s sleep.
Taking an easy day, canceling a few things, so that I will feel better.
Pedicure! 2 months ago
Finding the Mozart music I want to practice on YouTube.
Getting my brother John’s phone number at his new place so I can call him.
Talking to Mom about my becoming a licensed Practitioner.
A positive meeting with a parent today. 2 months ago
Waking up refreshed.
Very good response to the talk I gave at church on health.
Realizing that the message I gave was for me!
Lunch out with friends afterwards.
Driving down the hill with the window open, breathing in the cool, fresh air. 2 months ago
A nice long talk by phone with my mom tonight.
Dinner with my friend Iva, who just returned from a trip.
A day of observation instead of work – good for the soul.
Connecting with the kids I was observing.
Getting a French manicure. 2 months ago
Making it through an unpleasant meeting with no personal hard feelings.
Recovering my sense of fun with my students.
Making vegetable soup and adding chicken sausage – delish!
Getting the photographs I ordered.
For health! 2 months ago
I am celebrating my installation today as a licensed Practitioner at the Idyllwild Center for Spiritual Living. This is one of my 43Things goals, and today was the day!
Successfully hanging the curtains in front of my closet, to replace the doors.
Nice lunch with Zach and Anne after service.
A relaxing drive to and from my sons’ house.
A cooking lesson dinner – son #1 made spaghetti with a little coaching. 2 months ago
