Tools of the Trade

Artists need their hands, arms, shoulders, necks, backs, legs, feet, senses of touch, taste, and smell.  Everything in our bodies is connected.  When you have an injury or a physical impairment that prevents you from making basic movements or using an important part of your body, it's natural to get cranky, feel tired, or even get depressed. 

Right now, I have a pinched nerve in my neck - cervical radiculopathy.  Typing is probably not helping, but I have an ice pack on the hurt, which felt like I was being stabbed, so things are kind of numb at the moment.  Thankfully, I'm not depressed, but I was a little cranky before I could get home and apply the ice pack, and a nap seems like a great idea right now. 

Anyway, I want to make something big with texture and layers, and details, although I'm not quite sure what it is yet.  Maybe if I can meditate through this pain, I'll find a happy solution to the idea that's been forming in my head for a few days.  Hope for me that the pinch undoes itself soon so I can feel better and of course, do some art!

New Stuff!

This is my new business card.  I was going to wait until the website was switched over and all that, but there are still plenty of ways to follow the art progress, so these are it for now.  If anyone asks, or if it comes up, I can hand them out at Spring for Art tomorrow night (or whenever).  Once the website is taken care of and redesigned a bit, I'll print more cards with the Cool Beans Art logo, like the original ones had on them. 

More items have been added to Etsy today, too!  Reading shop tips and art business books is helpful and interesting; however, it is also kind of amazing how much time it eats up.  Awhile back I had heard that if you do everything yourself for your business, you won't have much free time.  I can definitely already see how that's true!

Flickr has also been updated again, and all that's not even half of the art "to-do" list!  Maybe I'll get a t-shirt made this weekend, too.  You'll know soon enough if it happens ;) 

The Idea Wheel

The gears are turning again, finally.  I was beginning to wonder if something was wrong with the creative side of my brain (which would be most of my brain).  Unfortunately, I have not actually made any art in a while, but I really want to.  Deciding what to do is what's stopping me...well, that and applying for jobs, going through the 30 library books I have checked out, and being lazy in general.  I don't know what I want to use these for, but they are adorable and I want to think of something awesome....

I also brought this home today from work.  It was packing in a box that arrived from UPS.  It is one continuous piece of brown bag type paper.  I'm not sure how wide it is yet, but I've thought of making it into a dress or a skirt....maybe it could be embellished with some of the green buttons....

This weekend is Spring for Art in downtown Covington.  I'll be there with friends!  Maybe see some of you there, too!

Oh, and I went for a long bike ride this evening and took some pictures, so don't forget to look at Flickr!

My Etsy shop is OPEN!

Hello All!

My Etsy shop is OFFICIAL and NOW OPEN! I'm only starting out with a few listings to see how it goes. Please spread the word to any and everyone you think would be interested! 

Have a great weekend and enjoy this lovely weather!

PS - There is an artist reception tonight at the St Tammany Art Association, so head on over around 6:30 if you're interested.  My friend Christa's jewelry is on display and for sale there right now, too.

Happy Easter, everyone!

This is my Etsy page so far.  I'll upload a couple of lithographs and maybe some sculptures by the end of the week ~ possibly later tonight.  ;) 

Flickr's been updated, too!

Getting Serious

My dream of having an art business is close enough that I can almost touch it.  I can definitely smell it and imagine what it tastes like. This afternoon and evening I researched website servers, Internet selling sites (i.e. Etsy, Amazon, Big Cartell) and my newest fascination, The Square.  A friend of mine and I have put the intention out there to make it to the Mandeville Community Market sometime within the next few months as vendors.  That means, despite my previous comments in recent posts, I will have to have some backstock/inventory sitting at my house waiting to sell at the market. 

All of this research has me wondering about being a true, legal business.  As of now, I'm a sole proprietor, but I should probably get licensed before I get too carried away.  I'm still reading about the different types of licensing, and will likely go talk to the people of SCORE to figure out which is the best option for Cool Beans Art.  With knowledge and determination, perhaps my dream of being an artist for a living, at least part-time, will come true.