Dahlia Square -- AM I a real artist?

This came out beautiful!

It started out as our practice piece, so that Bright and I could practice painting leaves and check dye colors. I am loving it. I think I'll frame it.

And then what? Will it sell? Do I care?

I'm in total rebellion about art as product, about producing art as business. I just can't make the two paradigms--art making and money making--fit together well.

Some people can do it. Some people can promote their work,  create blog posts and web sites that sell their art, sell out of galleries or shows. Somehow I just haven't figured it out. I just get all balled up.

Is it because I think I have to sell my art to prove I'm a real artist? Why? Some artists, Van Gough for example, sold very little during their lifetimes. I think I've outsold him already! Others, like Picasso, became millionaires!

So...why do I create art? Why do you create art?

A Dahlia Tallit for Bright

 Dahlia Tallit is 74" x 44"

Bright's Bat Mitzvah is tomorrow. Last week she and I painted silk for a tallit, a prayer shawl, for her. Bright and I worked on the design together. She wanted dahlias in a pattern, with some orchids and a rose; I worked out 3 or 4 design ideas and she chose one. I drew the design and outlined it with resist.  We worked all one day painting it.

Bright's dedication and care with this project was amazing! With people like her growing up in there world, there is hope!

I feel honored to be a part of this special time for Bright and for her family.

Saphire the Shoulder Dragon got her Wings!

Saphire dragon packs a good book for Suzanna!

Next she will want her own blog!

The night before Suzanna flew to Maine, Saphire stowed away in Suzanna's purse, after making sure Suzanna had the right kind of book to read on the plane.

Saphire dragon looks down over Massachusetts

  Turns out it was a long flight for a little dragon! The little shoulder dragon was glad she didn't have to use her own wings!


 

Saphire Wants Wings

Breathing blueberry smoothies is all fine and good, but a dragon like Saphire needs wings!  Suzanna is flying to Maine in a few days, and Saphire wants to go too--but how can she fly to Maine without wings?
Not just any wings. She wants something special! Can she make wings? out of this brocade perhaps?

Introducing Saphire the Shoulder Dragon

Ta Da! Saphire the Shoulder Dragon has joined my...what do you call a group of dragons? "Herd"? "Flock"? Is it a "Murder of Dragons", like a "murder of crows"? Can't be a "Flame of Dragons"; not all dragons flame.  Most, but not all, fly...My Chinese dragons fly even without wings. "Collection" is too tame. A "Fierceness of Dragons?"

Saphire doesn't seem particularly fierce, but don't be fooled. Oh sure, she breathes blueberry smoothie instead of fire--after all her sister dragon, River's pink shoulder dragon, breathes iced pink lemonade--but just don't get on her bad side.

Peacock Princess has arrived!

It's here, in my hot little hands, and it is BEAUTIFUL!
There are full sized coloring pages  as well as pictures to color within the text. Here is the description on the back:

The old king dreams his beloved son Arden is killed in battle, and
the wizard accuses Arden’s wife, the Princess Annalea, of using
witchcraft to cause his death. Annalea asks one last favor before
the execution.

Here are two sample pages:

Prince Arden watched the women swimming

 

The Peacock Princess, a story to color, is at the printers! I expect copies to arrive in time for strawberry festival, July 17-19. Jane Valencia and I are doing a booth together, "DragonRider Press and Forest Halls".

If you are on Vashon Island July 8-19, look for us in Booth #8, on the west side of Vashon Hiway, near the bank and next to All Things Rich.

I'm working on a backdrop for the booth, painting on silk, Something cool and inviting that represents both of us. I know what to do. I have the drawings done and all my materials together. But now the doing of it--suddenly I am paralyzed. It's work I love and do well, and suddenly I don't want to do it! 

It's that fear that hits when ever I start a new project. It's not that I fear anything in particular. If fact, mostly I don't even recognize it as fear! It disguises itself as Inertia, or Tiredness, or Procrastination, or Rebellion, or The Floor Needs Moping and the Dishes Need Doing.

Sometimes, when art isn't involved, it just means "putting on my boots and picking up a shovel", like when a major house repair job needs doing. Just making a beginning starts the process and soon the next step becomes apparent, then the next.

Art making seems to require something different. I think sometimes it's my left brain unwilling to give up control to my right brain, my art making brain. Sometimes it works to tell my left brain, "It's only for awhile. You can get back in the driver's seat after awhile," and that works. Or writing about the process in my journal.

So now I'm writing to you, hoping that will melt away the block and I can get to work on a lovely backdrop for our booth at Strawberry Festival!