Art & Perfectionism~

Words from "Art & Fear" by David Bayles and Ted Orland.

"The pattern is predictable: as you see error in what you have done, you steer your work toward what you imagine you can do perfectly. You cling ever more tightly to what you already know you can do - away from risk and exploration, and possibly further from the work of your heart. You find reasons to procrastinate, since to not work is to not make mistakes...

To demand perfection is to deny your ordinary (and universal) humanity, as though you would be better off without it...

The seed for your next art work lies embedded in imperfections of your current piece. Such imperfections...are your guides - valuable, reliable, objective, non-judgmental guides - to matters you need to reconsider or develop further. It is precisely this interaction between the ideal and the real that locks your art into the real world, and gives meaning to both."


I love this passage! Don't you!?

New art in my ebay store~

www.velvet-rooms.com

HIS MUSE Art Card Project~

This art card was created for a group I am in...."His Muse"
www.velvet-rooms.com

My jpeg trophy!! For winning the contest~

Here is the lovely trophy I won for the ZNE contest "Waiting for Spring"
Thanks Chel!!!
www.zneart.com

A worthy cause~

Here is a note that I wanted to pass along~ copied & pasted from another site.....

Attention animal lovers

Just received this email from Bernie. If you can help, please do. It's a very very worthwhile cause, and Bernie is amazingwhen it comes to caring for and rehabilitating animals in need.


Hi Everyone!!

I have recently moved to Tennessee and thought I would be able to take some time off from rescue, well.. the powers that be have put me here for a reason. The animal situation here is Dire!!

Our local animal controls are very poor, therefore the animals that get there don't have much of a chance. They die within days of being there,from Parvo, Distemper, etc.. Most live their lives chained outside with minimal food and shelter.

The thought is they are just animals.We all know they are miracles in little furry coats!! Loving beings that deserve better than that. There is much work to do, to change themind thought and it will take time, but I believe by education and creating a spay/neuter program we can make a difference.

I have only been here since the end of December but have found 3 other like minded people and have a plan that I hope you can help me with. I have already been in contact with the North Shore Animal league and they have agreed to take animals from me if I can get them healthy. They will come down twice a month to get animals from us...So that will mean I will have to vaccinate and worm.

My husband has applied for our non for profit status, so by the middle of March we should have it. Then I can start applying for grants. We need to build a structure here on our 20 acres to foster them, till they can go to their new shelters.

I have posted on my live journal a wish list of things that I could use now, since we are starting puppy season and I can't believe how many puppies are being dumped by the sides of the road.

I really hate asking for help, but this is a cause that is dear to my heart..Not to mention I just got a lecture that none of us can do it all alone:)

I'll be having an art auction in October to raise funds to build our shelter, any art would be greatly appreciated!! (plus you'll be able to write it off as a donation:)

Please help me spread the word!!http://www.livejournal.com/users/thecre8tivei

In Love and Light, Bernie Berlin Grafton,

http://www.picturetrail.com/thecre8tivei

In Rescuing Animals I lost my Mind, But found my Soul

My first attempt at selling prints~

This is my first week selling, prints of my art cards.

I have been so busy these days, with deadlines etc, I haven't had time to create any original pieces, so what better time, to try selling prints!

These are high quality prints.
www.velvet-rooms.com

February 13, 2006

I won the ZNE contest!!! "Waiting for Spring"

How exciting... I won the ZNE theme week contest!

I get to choose the theme for next month's contest....I chose CROWNS for the next round ~ should be fun to see what my fellow zner's will come up with~

A crown made for me~

Had to show off, what my sister made for my birthday! I adore this crown~

Scribblings of David Blaine~

I wanted to share some scribblings of David Blaine. I truly enjoy reading his blog, I love his writings & info..but I really get a kick out of reading the comments from his fans...wow, some of them, are not of this planet!

www.davidblaine.com

It was a rumour~

My dream house really wasn't for sale!? How dreadfully disappointing! Well, I have to admit it's just a tad out of my price range~

How strange.... it had a listing on the MLS, maybe a change of heart by the owner~but here is a note, I received from the General Manager. I think I may ask them if they would allow a small art convention...what a dreamy place to have one! Oh, I can just imagine.....how lovely.....such incredible inspiration that dwells in that place~


Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Christopher Berrios, and I am the General Manager and Director of Marketing & Promotions for the Parisian Palace. This European Palace, located in the heart of Las Vegas Nevada, is over 14,000 sq. feet and available for video and/or film productions, photo shoots and even your next corporate (or private) event. This architectural masterpiece is worth over $15 million dollars and filled with extraordinary artwork that took over 5 years to complete.

Please take some time and visit our website at www.parisianpalace.net and see for yourself, all the beauty the Parisian Palace has to offer. If you have any questions or would like to set up an appointment, please contact me at

P.S. Sorry, but the rumor is incorrect. The Palace is not for sale. Thanks again, Chris Berrios

ZNE Theme Week~Waiting for Spring

I have created a 5 X 7 hanging piece for the ZNE Theme Week. It has hand dyed papers, flowers and beautiful ribbons, not my usual style of colours, but that is why I love to enter these contests, it really helps me to experiment with new ideas.

I think you win the contest by how many bids you receive...but it's just fun to enter & have fun with it~
If you feel like taking a peek, here is the link, but it isn't scheduled to be listed until 8 pm Sunday night..... www.velvet-rooms.com

Also, if you want to see the other entries...you can type in the ebay search bar ZNE Theme Week Waiting for Spring

New art on ebay~

Scheduled to be listed Sunday night at 8:30 a reversible altered tin, with vintage looking clay doll face, vintage sheet music & feathers~

Check out my ebay store......www.velvet-and-rust.com

February 5, 2006

There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening
that is translated through you into action,
and because there is only one of you in all time,
this expression is unique.
If you block it,
It will never exist through any other medium
and be lost.
The world will not have it.
It is not your business
to determine how good it is;
Not how valuable it is;
Nor how it compares with other expressions.
It is your business to keep it yours,
clearly and directly,
You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work.
You have to keep open and aware directly
to the urges that motivate you.
No artist is pleased.
There is no satisfaction whatever at any time.
There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction;
A blessed unrest that keeps us marching
And makes us more alive than others.

~Martha Graham to Agnes DeMille

~My dream house!!!

This is the house I want to buy!!! oh my goodness!! I can just imagine myself creating art here, in the grandest of art studio's....can you imagine grand art retreats?! Would you travel to Vegas if you were invited?! :) Here is a lil info on the 14,000 sq. ft palace...

One enters the Palace through a 5 foot wide 650 pound door which leads to a "Coat of Arms" that was imported from Italy and installed by crane because of it's over 1200 pound weight.
The outside walls are all over 1 foot thick which lead to the foyer of the 8 bedroom 9 bath Palace. The entry is divided by a 5 foot wide Italian marble staircase and an overhead walkway. A 600 pound crystal chandelier hangs overhead as do 12 other imported chandeliers throughout the property.
There are 7 hand carved cherrywood fireplaces and most of the bathrrom fixtures are 22kt Gold plated.
The hand painted murals on the ceilings took Master Artist Thomas Bisesti over 6 years to complete. Which include an absolute masterpiece on the master bath ceiling above the enormous all marble jacuzzi. The bidet and european toilet are also built from all solid marble slabs.
In 2004 entrepreneur/designer Nico Santucci purchased the palace and Contracted Thomas Bisesti to return to the property to restore his existing work as well as add new works on the North Wing to include the recently added proffessional Bowling Alley. Not -withstanding a staircase wall covered in over 10,000 red roses Is another absolutely breathtaking addition to the the already awe-inspiring eclectic interior Santucci is known for. A complete tour of the palace takes over 60 minutes to simply absorb it's vast history and romance.
A European Palace in the heart of Las Vegas...... The Parisian Palace

To see the vitual tour... www.parisianpalace.net
It is simply breathtaking! (There is tons of pictures, info & a virtual tour, and a really cute picture of the man who owns it, looking a lil' devious ;)