Comments on: A New Year http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/ Musings on the Nature of Art from An Artist in Nature Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:03:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Julie Chapman http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-13970 Julie Chapman Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:51:46 +0000 http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-13970 Brigitte, thank you - and I'm glad you have a standby. All this has taught me what I value most (my TIME!!!) and I'm adjusting accordingly. I think your approach - that downtime is the a time to experiment - also applies for me. For some reason I'm doing more interesting work, I'm the happiest I've ever been with my techniques, and I feel generally my work is stronger than it was a year ago. You have the right attitude - this is the time to grow and improve. I use various Golden acrylic media to texture my panels with; I've tried molding (modeling) paste, and also grittier media like the fine and coarse texture gels. So far I like the fine texture gel and the modeling paste best (including combined). Brigitte, thank you - and I’m glad you have a standby. All this has taught me what I value most (my TIME!!!) and I’m adjusting accordingly. I think your approach - that downtime is the a time to experiment - also applies for me. For some reason I’m doing more interesting work, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been with my techniques, and I feel generally my work is stronger than it was a year ago. You have the right attitude - this is the time to grow and improve.

I use various Golden acrylic media to texture my panels with; I’ve tried molding (modeling) paste, and also grittier media like the fine and coarse texture gels. So far I like the fine texture gel and the modeling paste best (including combined).

]]> By: brigitte woosley http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-13376 brigitte woosley Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:16:57 +0000 http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-13376 Julie, Congratulations on finding work. I know lots of folks out there still looking. I've gone back to my old standby of teaching to pay the bills and am having to re-think a lot of things. Nice thing about teaching though is that it doesn't chain me totally and I still have the time to paint (smaller and less expensive still selling) I'm an optimist by nature, I remember tough times from the past and know that things will turn around (eventually) and have learned that when the going gets rough I'll still manage (I'll whine and complain, alot but I figure that's allowed.) I use the downtimes to build up inventory and experiment with styles, mediums, etc. that I wouldn't ordinarily have the courage to try w/collectors, figuring if it ain't selling, well, what the heck, at least I'm learning and improving. Keep the faith, keep painting and, oh, BTW: what do you use to texture your panels with? Cheers, Brigitte Woosley Julie, Congratulations on finding work. I know lots of folks out there still looking. I’ve gone back to my old standby of teaching to pay the bills and am having to re-think a lot of things. Nice thing about teaching though is that it doesn’t chain me totally and I still have the time to paint (smaller and less expensive still selling) I’m an optimist by nature, I remember tough times from the past and know that things will turn around (eventually) and have learned that when the going gets rough I’ll still manage (I’ll whine and complain, alot but I figure that’s allowed.) I use the downtimes to build up inventory and experiment with styles, mediums, etc. that I wouldn’t ordinarily have the courage to try w/collectors, figuring if it ain’t selling, well, what the heck, at least I’m learning and improving. Keep the faith, keep painting and, oh, BTW: what do you use to texture your panels with?
Cheers,
Brigitte Woosley

]]> By: Julie Chapman http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12829 Julie Chapman Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:09:04 +0000 http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12829 Wow. Reading each of your stories, and thinking about your courage, inspires ME. Lori, can you squeeze in time to draw, or do little paintings, and sell them yourself on eBay or at local fairs? Marti - CONGRATULATIONS. I'm relieved to hear that you're in a good situation. Larry - to a large extent I agree. Sometimes I'd like to go grab some of the Wall Street jillionaires who got us here, and who are even now taking big bonuses, by the lapels and force them to see what their actions have wrought. I'd rather see stimulus funds going local - like FDR did - than to "too big to fail" crapola. OK, enough ranting... Wow. Reading each of your stories, and thinking about your courage, inspires ME. Lori, can you squeeze in time to draw, or do little paintings, and sell them yourself on eBay or at local fairs?

Marti - CONGRATULATIONS. I’m relieved to hear that you’re in a good situation.

Larry - to a large extent I agree. Sometimes I’d like to go grab some of the Wall Street jillionaires who got us here, and who are even now taking big bonuses, by the lapels and force them to see what their actions have wrought. I’d rather see stimulus funds going local - like FDR did - than to “too big to fail” crapola. OK, enough ranting…

]]> By: Larry Jewett http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12609 Larry Jewett Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:04:52 +0000 http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12609 ...and of course I left out the biggest failures of all: Alan "I believe I have discovered a flaw..." Greenspan and the bankers and others who "created" the financial mess, out of whole cloth, it would seem (think "derivatives"). Perhaps "creativity" is best left to the artists, writers, poets, scientists and engineers. Much less dangerous. …and of course I left out the biggest failures of all: Alan “I believe I have discovered a flaw…” Greenspan and the bankers and others who “created” the financial mess, out of whole cloth, it would seem (think “derivatives”).

Perhaps “creativity” is best left to the artists, writers, poets, scientists and engineers. Much less dangerous.

]]> By: Larry Jewett http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12589 Larry Jewett Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:00:31 +0000 http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12589 If anyone has failed, it is certainly not you, Julie, or any of the countless other artists or other "ordinary" people in this country who now have an even more difficult time than usual making a go of it. The real failures are sitting in the halls of power in Washington. They should be hanging their heads in shame, but ironically, they are the least likely of anyone to do so, patting themselves on the back for "saving the economy", as it were. "Heckuva Job, Timmy" (see "Dunning-Kruger effect") Contrast the primary focus of our current "leader" (trillion dollar bank bailout) with the primary focus of FDR (massive public works projects to put millions of people back to work, including artists, writers, etc.) Sorry to get political, but the way our so called leaders have set the "priorities" in this case just makes me ill, especially given that Obama is now sitting where he is largely based on his promise of "change we can believe in". If anyone has failed, it is certainly not you, Julie, or any of the countless other artists or other “ordinary” people in this country who now have an even more difficult time than usual making a go of it.

The real failures are sitting in the halls of power in Washington.

They should be hanging their heads in shame, but ironically, they are the least likely of anyone to do so, patting themselves on the back for “saving the economy”, as it were. “Heckuva Job, Timmy” (see “Dunning-Kruger effect”)

Contrast the primary focus of our current “leader” (trillion dollar bank bailout) with the primary focus of FDR (massive public works projects to put millions of people back to work, including artists, writers, etc.)

Sorry to get political, but the way our so called leaders have set the “priorities” in this case just makes me ill, especially given that Obama is now sitting where he is largely based on his promise of “change we can believe in”.

]]> By: Marti Millington http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12394 Marti Millington Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:28:36 +0000 http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12394 After months of submitting resumes, today good news - I am once again employed in the legal profession. While it is going to painfully cut my painting time, it is a relief to know I won't be doing the literal "starving artist" thing. This new position will be a lot less pressure/stress than the last - small firm - great people! I think I'm gonna cry! After months of submitting resumes, today good news - I am once again employed in the legal profession. While it is going to painfully cut my painting time, it is a relief to know I won’t be doing the literal “starving artist” thing. This new position will be a lot less pressure/stress than the last - small firm - great people! I think I’m gonna cry!

]]> By: Lori Lemanski http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12381 Lori Lemanski Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:05:03 +0000 http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12381 You are not a failure...at least you paint. i work 40 hrs a week and earn a whopping $24,000, with a Masters degre...trying to find a full-time librarian job in the Detroit area is a joke- it has been 2 years now since I got my MLIS. And, when I get home, I am too pooped to paint. And my days off are filled with errands and house work. So I feel that you are WAY ahead of me!!! I need to have the energy to paint after work...so that I can find gallery rep and sell some of my work. The economy has hit us all so hard....but you are one of my mentors and idols so HANG IN THERE!!!!! PS I love Missoula! Would rather be there than Detroit ANY day!!! You are not a failure…at least you paint. i work 40 hrs a week and earn a whopping $24,000, with a Masters degre…trying to find a full-time librarian job in the Detroit area is a joke- it has been 2 years now since I got my MLIS.
And, when I get home, I am too pooped to paint. And my days off are filled with errands and house work.
So I feel that you are WAY ahead of me!!! I need to have the energy to paint after work…so that I can find gallery rep and sell some of my work. The economy has hit us all so hard….but you are one of my mentors and idols so HANG IN THERE!!!!!
PS I love Missoula! Would rather be there than Detroit ANY day!!!

]]> By: Julie Chapman http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12087 Julie Chapman Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:59:07 +0000 http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12087 Oh my. I can't begin to tell you all how meaningful it is to hear your comments, encouragement, and empathy. AND...your posts inspire ME to keep up my end of the bargain and provide a virtual artist coffee-shop for hanging out and discussing art stuff. I also believe - with all my heart - that things will get better. While my husband, who is deeply studied in international economics and finance, suggests that 2010 will see more shoes dropping (more bad notes coming due), I see signs of encouragement in different places. And by golly I'm going to work to that. Time for a new post! Oh my. I can’t begin to tell you all how meaningful it is to hear your comments, encouragement, and empathy. AND…your posts inspire ME to keep up my end of the bargain and provide a virtual artist coffee-shop for hanging out and discussing art stuff.

I also believe - with all my heart - that things will get better. While my husband, who is deeply studied in international economics and finance, suggests that 2010 will see more shoes dropping (more bad notes coming due), I see signs of encouragement in different places. And by golly I’m going to work to that. Time for a new post!

]]> By: Doug Fletcher http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12086 Doug Fletcher Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:51:42 +0000 http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12086 julie you have not failed far from it. You have given all of us a place to connect or reconnect and a place to learn. That in it's self is more of a success than you know and I thank you for it! Just because you had to go back to the 9-5 so to speak is just another fork in the road that had to be taken to survive. This will I suspect give you even more drive to succeed as an artist. I myself still work and long for the time when all I do is paint. We all are challenged by this economy. I have taken it upon myself to try my hand at making my own frames. Earlier this year my framer left the business after 25yrs. I know there are other framers in my area but for the prices that are being charged I know buy doing the numbers I can save money in the long run and get a better understanding of that part of the business. It will cut in to painting time but I still get the chance to be creative! This economy will teach us to be better artists and even more self reliant. We are all waiting to see the next Chapman Master Piece!!! julie you have not failed far from it. You have given all of us a place to connect
or reconnect and a place to learn. That in it’s self is more of a success than you
know and I thank you for it! Just because you had to go back to the 9-5 so to
speak is just another fork in the road that had to be taken to survive. This will
I suspect give you even more drive to succeed as an artist. I myself still work
and long for the time when all I do is paint. We all are challenged by this
economy. I have taken it upon myself to try my hand at making my own
frames. Earlier this year my framer left the business after 25yrs. I know there are other framers in my area but for the prices that are being charged I know
buy doing the numbers I can save money in the long run and get a better understanding of that part of the business. It will cut in to painting time
but I still get the chance to be creative! This economy will teach us to be better artists and even more self reliant. We are all waiting to see the next Chapman
Master Piece!!!

]]> By: Marti Millington http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12068 Marti Millington Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:08:41 +0000 http://julietchapman.com/blog/2010/01/03/a-new-year/#comment-12068 We all do what is necessary to survive. While still looking for work, I am currently selling portions of my stamp collection (had it for eons) on ebay; something I had planned to do when I retired - but which became a necessity with the financial hardships I and a lot of others are faced with. There are not many jobs here - and younger people tend to get preference - but I know there is an employer out there who will see the "experience" which comes with an "older worker." Kudos to all of us for finding ways to keep us going!!!! We all do what is necessary to survive. While still looking for work, I am currently selling portions of my stamp collection (had it for eons) on ebay; something I had planned to do when I retired - but which became a necessity with the financial hardships I and a lot of others are faced with. There are not many jobs here - and younger people tend to get preference - but I know there is an employer out there who will see the “experience” which comes with an “older worker.” Kudos to all of us for finding ways to keep us going!!!!

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