Learning new stuff is fun!

Feeling rather like a technological idiot today! I've had my own website, www.carmellajarvi.com, for maybe a year and a half. It has come a long way, but since I've been learning on my own and didn't grow up with computers, some stuff is taking me awhile to grasp!

For example... I recently started this blog & figured out I could make a URL link a 'hot link'. I was painting in the studio today and my mind wandered to business... and I thought, 'Hey, I bet I can do that with my website pages too.' DUH!!

Better to learn these things later than never! I will apply this experience to the future and actually play around with all the settings in my 'writing boxes' on both website and this blog! (The best part of all this is that it's much easier for you to click on a hot link than go to another location.)

On another note... I finished a painting earlier today (got too hot & muggy after awhile so here I am in the air conditioned office:-)... and I started a series of three small 5x7" pastels.

I am good about documenting my work, but now I'm taking a lot of step by step photos for this blog... and my future writings on painting water with pastels. I'll start posting them soon. Hope your work is going well too.

"Artist as an Entrepreneur" Institute

Are you looking to make more money with your art? Would you like to move closer to your goals or the next level, professionally?

If yes, consider attending the "Artist as an Entrepreneur" Institute this fall (Oct. 10, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5) . The Arts & Science Council (in Charlotte, NC) is sponsoring this excellent, multi faceted business of art program once again.

I will be leading one of the sessions and was fortunate to attend the first time they offered it. I know it is GREAT information that helps you to create a viable art business... not to mention meeting other like minded artists and all the networking opportunities! See this link for more details and to register.

(www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=177625)

Two new paintings

These are two recent pastel paintings that I am so happy with. (You can see this new work starting October 9, at Red Sky Gallery, Charlotte, NC... their East Boulevard location... www.redskygallery.com)

Many things have converged this summer for my new body of 'figures in water'. First, a new permanent pastel studio space in addition to my existing studio means I can always have my pastel paintings going... and I have! I enjoy painting with oil, but pastels are my passion... my expressive medium!

This summer, I bought an underwater digital camera which really opened up the images I could capture in water... because I can SEE what I just shot! (This also helped to show the model what I like and am looking for.) Thankfully, I had access to a couple of different pools and models, including one place where I could do live figure study of the model next to or inside the pool! (Painting real water and real person helps me when I go back to the studio and work from photos.)

I'm varying my sizes, working with different color palettes and painting almost every day. This last part is tough because of all the other things I juggle. Anyone self employed knows it IS more difficult to get to work when you're working from home... many, many distractions. BUT, moving my permanent pastel studio space to another building has been great because I am leaving the house!

Do what you want with all this... I just wanted to share my thoughts on this cool body of work being the convergence of many things. (See more on www.carmellajarvi.com.)

I love the business of art!

What a great week... In my pastel studio the first part and this past Thursday, I was in Penland for a Creative Capital Professional Development workshop. (It was a refresher course for me and a chance to see the presenters.)

Even though I teach marketing and strategic planning to others, I still need professional development and inspiration from time to time. There are some things I'm doing well or have improved... but then I have my weak areas too! (And, I like to be around artists that are positive and excited about possibilities!)

You may not love the business end of art, but you should spend some of your time/energy learning about it. A business will improve with intention. (This is the idea behind writing goals and steps to achieve those goals. When you focus on something specific, you see things differently... look at opportunities in a new way.)

Another great aspect of my Penland trip was staying at the Celo Inn (www.celoinn.com/rates.html). It's about 30 minutes from Penland and is very affordable with a tasty breakfast and it's a beautiful Inn & location!! (Of course there are many cool places to stay & things to see in the Mountains!)

Sharing a new article about me...

OK... I'm procrastinating a little... (I do love painting, but have to keep walking away when I am putting the last details on a piece... So, as to not overwork it!)

Thought I'd post the link to this Art Issue where I'm listed as one of the artists shaping our community! It's a good article and you can read about other talented artists too.

(I really like to have a something tangible in my hand when reading, but it's cool to click on a link and get it as well! Thank you University City Magazine.)

www.universitycitymagazine.com/

First stage of a pastel painting

This is the beginning of one of my newest pastel paintings. Tonight I almost finished it (so it looks more colorful, detailed and smooth... will post pics as soon as I share new work with Red Sky Gallery).

One day, I'll do a series of these really rough, sketchy impressions of a moment in water. There is something lovely and raw about the marks capturing that suspended moment of light & movement... body & water. But, finishing a painting and pushing color into color... thick and rich is cool too.

Being dedicated to my own art is why I quit my full time teaching job three years ago. I think this is the first fall I was totally absent of that 'back to school' feeling... finally deprogrammed from 13 years of teaching and how many years was I a student before that?? This fall is about painting in my new pastel studio space and enjoying September... with it's crisp nights.....

I'm taking a painting sabbatical.

I'm taking a "Painting Sabbatical" this month. Still doing a few necessary things (business & personal), but for the most part making art is my goal. There are several important aspects of my painting process... first, I love business so much-it's really my default setting-I must guard my time when painting is priority... hence my scheduled painting sabbatical! (I also recently put my pastel painting studio space in a building away from the house which has no WiFi;-0)

Next, I need inspiration in the form of working from life, having different photo shoots with models for great resource material and seeing other artist's work. Here's one of my all time favorite painters... Lynn Boggess. Check out this link... www.lynnboggess.com/ (His work is even more incredible in person, but can be appreciated in digital form. Also check out the video footage.)

Another thing about me is I must have some interaction regarding my work. I enjoy spending time with other artists, but I'm most grateful to have an artist husband. Although being married to another artist has it's drawbacks, we spend a lot of time together and he has been so helpful with my work! Recently, we were dissecting why one of my new paintings was so hot and the one on the easel was not. As tough as it is to admit faults, I feel so much better when I let go of a painting that is not working... whether priming over it or rinsing off the pastel.

Even though the painting on the easel was almost done and I'd been working on it for over a week, it was not working. No matter how much more I did, it would never be a winner. So, now it's gone and I am happy and excited about the new one I just started and the four behind it. I know what I enjoy, why do I get off track? Perhaps distracted by lovely bodies in water...