Hello Again

Hello again from my geenie's lamp.  I have a funny story to tell you about this past year that I have not been blogging and a new lesson learned.  It only took me a year to learn it.

Ha!  This is my minds answer to my requests...  

I went into 2013 with my new resolution being to "Speak My Truth".  Funny because I have not said a thing all year.  Not funny because that is what I was trying to overcome.

I have learned a few things this year.  About myself, about life, about truth.  I have for a long time said that I am a lover of truth.  I have searched for it my whole life.  The absolute truth.  At the same time I came to realize over this past year that the truth scares me to death!  And when faced with the truth I tend to clam up. Not to mention that when I try to make myself do something, or think something my mind simply refuses to cooperate.  Like a teeny child having a tantrum, my mind will do all it can to avoid doing what I ask of it.  So I have learned first of all that I need to use reverse psychology on myself.  Sounds crazy, I know, but truthfully aren't we all a little 'crazy' sometimes?

So I started the year with the intention to 'speak my truth' and honestly I failed miserably.  Sounds like an easy thing, right?  Well let me tell you it proved to be a lot more challenging than I ever imagined.  Half way through the year I found myself writing in my art journal " The Truth is I am not a liar, I simply cannot tell the truth."  It made me laugh to realize that, even though it is not at all funny.  My mind works that way, it's quite humorous.


 I have found a lot of answers in that method.  I sit down and write "The truth is________" and see what it gets me.  It's a scary thing, try it sometime.

My art journal tends to be a chronicle of my life and all I am learning day to day.  And I am surprised at how much I learn, and how much there still is to learn.  It blows my mind when I remember all the things I used to 'know' and finding out daily all the things I really don't know.  In fact there are many things that I am convinced one just cannot ever truly know.  That's a scary thought to me,  being one who needs to feel in control of everything.  The truth is I control nothing.  I really know nothing, despite all my efforts to learn.  Some things are just too big for my comprehension.  And that's ok.



I used to think I needed to KNOW everything.  Beyond the shadow of a doubt.  To know the right answers to all the questions.  And that would make me legitimate.  A legitimate __________.  But over the last decade I have learned that life is not that simple.  And no one can ever know anything fully.  Sure there are experts in all kinds of fields, but does that mean they know everything?  I used to think so.  And that made them 'acceptable', it gave them credentials.   The problem is that also made me a 'fraud'.  The truth is I don't know everything about anything, and honestly I don't think I ever can.  Life is just too big and too much of a mystery to fit it all into my little brain.  Especially with all the other millions of things I need to know like school schedules, doctors appointments, social security numbers, the list is endless.  And add a husband and kids into that mix and the list truly does become endless.

Someone once told me "Jack of all trades, master of none".  That little blurb has stayed in my mind my whole life and crippled me really.  If I cannot master things then I have no credibility, right?  Because there are masters of everything these days.  What is a master?  Someone who has dedicated themselves, their time, their energy to learning all they can about a particular subject of their choosing.  Where does that leave me?  Mom of 6 kids just trying to make it through a day without permanently harming anyone?  Jacked that's where.  To have such a high standard for myself is only hurting me.  I suppose the truth is I could choose to be a master of something, if I really wanted to.  But clearly I don't.  I have chosen a husband, six kids, friends, various pets,, respect for the earth and all it's inhabitants and all the commitments that come along with that.  The truth is I simply have no time left to dedicate right now to mastering something else. Now that is not to say that we don't work hard at things, and try to be exceptional at them.  I think we all want that, right?  But it does help me to see that my expectation of perfection is all in my mind.  And I'm done with that.



I had a new friend look me up online and encourage me in my art.  Honestly this year I have been struggling with the question "Art. Does it really matter?"   and  more specifically "Does mine matter?"  The world is full of artists and dreamers.  Many of them better than me.  Why add my voice to that? It was the same when I was a singer.  Someone once told me "singers are a dime a dozen"- so my thought was 'then why would my voice matter?'.

The answer to these questions is still formulating in my mind.  And most likely is too long to write here and now.  One day hopefully I will have an answer to that question...

It would really help me realize that an art degree and mastery of all things art related are not a necessity in my life right now...


 maybe when Lucha Pigs fly...  

My Ensemble Showcase as a RAW artist

At the end of September I had my first art showcase.   I'm not so good at self promotion you know, or at being out there so I almost backed out.  But decided to just go with it and step out of my comfort zone for a couple of days.  

And step out of my comfort zone I did!  Here is a little photo blog of the night...

My sweet husband setting up-  If it hadn't been for him I don't
know that I would have accomplished much.

The landscape artist next to me

almost done now

Suzi Doom and a mermaid

 Suzi Doom stopped many .  She is probably peoples' favorite.  She was the RAW Orange County location Director.

most of my display  

My setup crew even put out cards

And so the night begins. People arrive.

The bar lights up as people enter

I attempted to sit and be 'relaxed'  HA!

This was the night's host with the Poet
Marcus Omari.  He was amazing!

A couple of my friends who showed for support

The band was Courtney Jenae.  She was good.

 I attempted to get pictures of the fashion show.  The girls were all ballerinas and did much of it en pointe.

This was the only shot of the two main dancers.  It was a scary moment. She leaped and he caught her.  Right on the end of that catwalk.

The night ended up being fun in spite of my attempts at self sabotage.  I sold a few paintings.  Gave out .lots of cards and met some new friends.  All in all I am really glad I did it.  Bouncing back from that day has been rough, it was a very strange day for many reasons.  I lost two people that week and had been at a memorial service right before the showcase.



Finally I will show you which painting sold first.

a close up

 This painting I had done for myself.   It's the second painting of The Mother Of God I have painted, and both have sold.  Thanks for joining me on this crazy journey!

Showcasing my art

  

 The other night I had a walk through of the venue where I will be showcasing my art with RAW Orange County.  I was apprehensive about meeting all the different organizers, artists, musicians, photographers, hair stylists, fashion designers, etc.  And was extremely tempted not to go.  I am so glad I went.  

 I actually prefer keeping to myself and my family life.  I was nervous upon entering the nightclub.  However I quickly recovered.  Avec nightclub in Huntington Beach is a beautiful place.  I loved the decor.  I loved the feel. I loved the people I met. 

photo from  http://www.avecnightclub.com/

 The organizers were friendly and helpful.   We began with a tour of the club, where they pointed out the various spaces available for our art.  They answered all of our questions, offered suggestions and any help we need.  Explained how the night would play out.  

 and now I'm excited.  

 The space is gorgeous, and lavishly decorated.  Look at these couches! 

photo from  http://www.avecnightclub.com/

 I am excited that it will be an evening full of art, music, fashion, even poetry. All the things I love in one place. One evening.  And it promises to be fun.

Tickets for the evening are available here http://www.rawartists.org/orangecounty.     If you follow that link my art is featured.  Click on my painting of Suzi Doom and you can read my bio.  I am so looking forward to this evening now.  If you are around, come and join me!

So if you follow my facebook page (a link is there on the sidebar) you know that I've been talking about some exciting news...  I know everything is exciting to me, that's a good thing, right??  

Check this out 

So, I did it!  I submitted my art to RAW Orange County.  And there I am.  I will be in their September showcase!  I am excited, nervous, pleased, freaking out, happy, hopeful, tentative, well I'm all over the map really.  This sounds like a great opportunity.   I understand it's a really cool experience.  Come check it out! 

Any my artist profile is here: 

 Your profile is live!

You can access your profile at www.rawartists.org/thegeenieslamp

the link to the RAW website is here:
http://www.rawartists.org/orangecounty/ensemble

Lily of the Valley

So, I'm about to seriously date myself here but I cannot help walking around singing this song:

and here's why.  We have a guest.  Her name is Lily and she is beautiful.



A beautiful young button quail who is being quail sat while our friends are on vacation.
I have always wanted a quail.  It's been nice getting to care for one this past week.  

 

Here she is walking around in one of my planter beds.   She loves this spot my gardeners have been neglecting.  A nice little weed patch to pick through and duck in and under the weeds and tall grass.  

My gardeners

 She's a very sweet, curious little button. I love to just sit there and watch her walk back and forth, take her dust baths and find tasty bugs to eat.  I also have to keep watch for the hawk whose smorgasbord my backyard is.

The chickens and ducks don't seem to know what to make of her.  The ducks seem suspicious, and I think she moves too quickly for their liking.  They keep a watchful eye on her.  The chickens, well who knows what they think, but they avoid her too.  

Another guest til the end of the week when she'll go home.  She also has quite the set of lungs on her.  Here's a short video I took of her calling out.  It's really quite loud, and she does this all night long, and most of the day too.  

Hopefully I wont drive my husband crazy with my Lily song.  I just can't help it.  And it makes me laugh.  Here I''ll leave you with a pic of my latest painting for sale on Etsy.  It is my wish for all of you...

Ok it's now 6:33 pm.  And I have to add a note.  File this one under more excitement than I needed in a day!...  Lily just flew the coop!  Those wings really work!  So we're sitting outside in the planter box dust bathing, eating bugs, etc when she decides to hop out.  Frightened by a Chicken (most likely Morpheus) who was looking at her rather ominously with one eye and being flanked by the twins and I she flew off!  Over the wall, over the neighbors whole house!  Every neighbor around me for at least a few houses in each direction have dogs.  PaNiC sets in!

Off we went knocking on neighbors doors with our very strange request (as if they didn't think we were strange enough) "Could you please go look in your backyard for a small brown quial?"  It's a good thing neighhbors are neighborly.   "How am I going to explain this one?"  I ask the twins who accompanied me......

Two doors down-- in the backyard of a neighbor with not one but two big not so friendly acting german shepherds was Lily!  We went in back, scooped her up and returned her to her cage indoors.  Phew!  Dodged that bullet, right?!  Thank goodness my friend doesn't read my blog.  She and her girls would be heartbroken if Lily was gone...  Only one more day to go too.


And this one's for you Suz:

  

Me, Myself and I

It's been an especially busy summer here, and the studio has not seen much action lately.  I have had some good feedback on the items in my Etsy shop and some possible interesting things for the future happening.

I wrote a little

This past weekend was the first ever mobile Geenies Lamp Studio.  Well, kinda.  I took some much needed time and camped overnight by myself for the first time.  I did have this intention when I first decided to get a Vintage Trailer, that I could use her for my personal art studio at the beach, or wherever.  However we've had so much fun family camping that I have not had the time or the guts I guess to get her out on my own.  I finally did.   

It was the first time I've ever willingly spent any time alone.  I took some books, some art supplies (a lot of art supplies) and my meals and found some peace and quiet.  Peace and quiet are generally unattainable at home, there are just too many little people and pets.


It was good to get out in the fresh air and just sit.  I love to just sit and stare at trees and all the animals that come out when one is still.  I did not move to get any pictures of them, though I wanted to.   I was enjoying them so much I didn't want to frighten them off.

 These shots were taken from the dinette in the Pearl.  The view from my front window.

The campground was virtually empty, so it felt like I was truly alone.  Of course anyone who walked by complimented the Pearl, but other than that I really didn't see anyone.    And I preferred  it that way.  Just to sit in stillness, and quiet and enjoy the breeze.  The scents and sounds of the woods.  It was exactly what the doctor ordered.  I am convinced that living here in a big city I am severely  nature deprived.

Here is a short pictorial recap of all I did...

I burned candles

Drank coffee 

Did a little walking around

 In the morning I was able to cook my breakfast.  A fresh egg, bacon and some coffee and sit and enjoy my lovely meal in peace in The Pearl with that gorgeous view out my front window.

I did get a bit of drawing and  painting in, but didn't take any pics.  It was a lovely time just being with myself and thinking about life.  

Who's with me?

So I had so much fun camping this past weekend in the Pearl that I cannot stop thinking about all the potential.  When I first discovered Vintage trailers I thought this would be an excellent home away from home.  Or studio away from home.  This past weekend was a family thing, and we had much fun, but so much fun and responsibility that I had no time to do all the things I took with me to do.  No art, no crocheting, not even any serious reading was accomplished.  

It was pretty easy as far as setup and camping goes though.  I kept thinking I can see the appeal of a group like Sisters on the Fly, or the glamping group with the cute name, that I cannot seem to locate again.  But I don't fish, am not a cowgirl, and am not even sure I'd fit into the glamping category.  

See that's where you come in.  

First a few pictures...  

this is how I picture The Pearl when she is all done
except in Pink.  

such Cuteness!!!

these pictures were posted from http://www.tincantourists.com/-  this trailer is sold.  But here's another one


this ad says "roughing it, easy camping trailer for one"

Simply Adorable!!

And a porch swing!!!  What else do you need??

find the ad for it here.  

'66 Aristocrat Loliner 15.5 ft

Look at all the potential here!  It doesn't even look like it needs much

and the exterior

and it's in Burbank!  Close, close!  Find the ad for this one here

So, who's with me?? I'd so love to go camping, or glamping, or Gypsy caravaning, or Art caravaning, or really anything with someone...  Come on, you know you want to....  

btw there are ads everywhere, not just where I showed you.    Craigslist  has some, even Sisters on the Fly has ads.  Check em out!