The Good in 2010: A Year in Review

Before 2011 begins tonight, I thought it was a good idea to see what I've learned or accomplished through the year...

*  Matt and I moved to Portland, Oregon (our dream city), by miraculously driving my Ford Escort across the country without dying.

*  Applied for six juried shows, made it into three of them and had my first solo exhibition.

*  Launched my website- krystalbooth.com- and began this blog with December being the best month yet.  Thank you for taking time out to visit "blank canvas"!

*  Made Thanksgiving turkey for the first time- nevermind the fact that it tasted like tuna.

*  Matt and I saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time in our lives.

*  Discovered the bliss that is the bread pudding at the Beaverton Bakery.

*  Learned that Skype negates the miles that separate.

*  Made bread for the first time from scratch in my own kitchen...Samm, Matt and I began dreaming of owning a bakery until we made a batch of sourdough.  Stinktastic!!!!

*  We adopted little Ivan (kitten) and our other cat, Olive, has been blissfully thankful ever since!  (It should also be noted here that we have managed to keep two living beings alive and well for a year...).

*  Had an amazing end of the year while I was teaching- had the best year with the best students!

*  Gained three blessings through separate sets of friends having children for the first time- three newborn baby boys who are so loved already and have been graced with the best parents imaginable!

Happy New Year to all of you, and I hope that you take the time to reflect about your accomplishments this year.  Cheers to you and your families in 2011!  May this year be better than the last!

A Good Night's Rest

Two days ago I was assessing one of the series I had plans of making and decided that it was no longer a fabulous idea....it was the series of self-portraits I was going to do dealing with facebook and advertising.  The idea died.  What was once brilliant in my head turned into a path that was no longer fascinating to me.  It suddenly felt like the wrong direction.

So I was hit with the puzzlement of what to do next.  I knew that I had the drawing series to work on in the meantime, but I had primed and prepped collaged boards waiting for my attention. 

By the time I woke up yesterday morning, after a good night's rest, a solution was found!  I had a major breakthrough with a brainstorming session and ended up with two pages of possible paintings that I would include in the series. 

I am constantly amazed how much a good night's sleep or a hot bath will suddenly bless us with solutions time and time again.  It's in periods of when we quiet our minds that we can recieve these blessings from above.  Our questions get answered, solutions are planted in our heads, and we can move forward with our paths.  It's nothing short of a miracle and such a relief to know that a death of one thing is a birth of another- afterall, the energy has to go somewhere (Thank you, Mr. Einstein for bringing it to our attention that energy cannot be created or destroyed).

Creating Your Life

Time for creating.  Time for exercising.  Time for bathing.  Time for eating.  Time for fun.  Time for loved ones.  Time for looking for opportunities.  Time for catching up.  Time for RESOLUTIONS.

...and while writing this I just think I felt a little earthquake...a 3 second tremor.  Maybe the Creator's way of pointing out how this Earth continues to change and shift, and we need to do the same.

It's the week between Christmas and New Year's, my favorite week of the year, and it's filled with reflection and new plans for the upcoming year.  It's filled with assessment and hope.  Creating grand plans for a metamorphosis. 

In order to do this, I need a strategy of time- the ultimate schedule that will help me accomplish these new goals...without a strategy, I will look similar to the picture above.  I'm trying desperately to get organized and create a schedule that truly reflects the way I want to live.  This is not an easy task for me, because I am quite moody about time- I resist wearing a watch because I hate to see the minutes of my life flying away without meaning.  Yet, maybe I need to be reminded about time in order to get to where I want to be.  I definitely have plenty to accomplish this year.  My resolutions have yet to be nailed down, but here's a sample of what I'm looking at for 2011, which may be similar to yours:

1. Spend at least 30 hours in the studio creating (writing, painting, drawing) per week (on top of work week of job which I will find!).
2. Lose 25 pounds...not exactly pleased to see this burden return to my life...have gained some weight recently that I'm not proud of.  Need to think health, health, health!
3. Approach galleries in formal manner of appointments- I have never done this, and this is the year!
4. Show my work as often as possible!  Apply to more shows than I did in 2010, which was a great start!
5. Improve the quality of all of my relationships by being in the moment, remembering birthdays, and connecting more often through writing letters, or phone calls (not just quick emails and facebooking).
6. Put myself in more uncomfortable situations to get over fears, and get out of my comfort zone of living. "The Amazing Race" would definitely help me in this manner (would be a major catalyst for this goal), so Samm and I will definitely apply this year!  Whether or not we get a spot on the show, I know that I could accomplish this goal on a local scale as well...the show would just be a fast forward on accomplishing this.

I have put most of these on a Vision Board- it's still in the works-  I'll post a picture of it when I'm done.

The truth is I hope that 2011 will completely be the most meaningful year of all of our lives!  Cheers to filling it with laughter, love, hope, renewal, and living life in a way that reflects who we are and not what others want us to be!  Happy Holidays, and Happy 2011!  What are you planning?

The Artist's Way- Week One's Delectable Purge

Week One in One Word:  PURGE!

Good Things about this Week:      Morning Pages
                                                    Old Madonna Videos
                                                    Task #5:  Letter to the Editor


Bad Things about this Week:        Morning Pages
                                                   Trying to Resist Going to Chapter 2 before I completed wk 1 tasks!!!




Morning pages, morning pages, and more morning pages.  They were fun, they were boring, they were satisfying, they were meaningless.  I established the morning pages writing activity as a friendly way to celebrate the beginning of each new day.  I turned on my Beethoven station on Pandora, filled a cup of coffee and wrote out three pages.  Some days I greeted it with zest, but let's face it- I'm truly NOT a morning person.  Some days were better than others.  I think the trick is to not overthink the words that are manifesting themselves on the paper.  It's almost like a morning purge of old thoughts and gaining some space for the new.  I noticed that I seemed to have a pattern:  the first page was neutral, the second page was a bit negative, and the third page was positive in tone and attitude.  Very strange.  Did anyone else sense a pattern in their morning pages?


As for the tasks this week, I absolutely adored the fifth one- writing a Letter to the Editor and mailing it to yourself.  It was entertaining and extremely therapeutic.  I felt as if I had feng shui-ed my brain and ridded it of some rubbish I had held onto for years.  It felt amazing.  I sent it off in the mail, but I haven't recieved it yet.  I'm wondering what it will be like when I read it again.


Cheers to reading Chapter Two today!


I'm wondering how Week One went for you?  What were the good points or the bad points?

The Artist's Way

Back in the day, I only read a few excerpts from this book, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, and then put it aside.  It refuses to be ignored any longer.  I was researching artist groups in Portland and I noticed that there were groups focused upon this book, and then when I was referred to it by a friend (Thank you Kendra!) the next day, I knew that I was supposed to read it.  NOW.  I bought my copy that night, and so it begins...

I have signed a contract with myself to complete the twelve-week course in the book.  I have officially started as of today, and will be posting about any progress or awfulness I find over the next twelve weeks on Sundays. 

I will say that while reading chapter one, I did have somewhat of a revelation about my critic-(that jerk of a negative voice inside our heads that tells us that we suck regardless of proof otherwise).  It was just a simple exercise of writing "I, ________ , am a brilliant and prolific _(whatever you do)_"  ten times and to listen to what the critic says while you are writing this simple sentence.  Write down what the critic says and then think about where that came from- sibling/parent/teacher/friend/etc..  Once finished, turn the critic's statement into an affirmation by making it positive.  I have to admit it's cheesy, but I'll try anything for the sake of building up some confidence with my work.

The surprising part for me- I didn't know that I have let one person in particular have so much power over me that their statements are still playing in my head...and it's been a long time!  Three out of the five where from the same source, and I found it shocking that I have those statements so ingrained into my head that they popped up during this short exercise!  I'll be happy to let them go!  I'm hoping that the affirmations work.

Anyway, if you have time, try this exercise no matter your occupation or interests- I'm wondering if you'll find it as eye opening as I did-  Feel free to post!  Also, if you're interested in reading this book along with me for this twelve week journey(or if you've already read it), I'd love to hear what you think of it too!

BF Skinner and Conditioning

"BF Skinner and Conditioning" 2010

Graphite on Paper.

8.5x5.5"

This is the newest drawing in the Twentieth Century Psychological Tests Series.  I have areas to touch up still, but I just couldn't stand not sharing it yet!

The Truth About Homemade Gifts

'Tis the Christmas Season and with the lack of funds available this holiday to spend on loved ones I do not know what to do.  My artistic instinct wants to create homemade gifts but then the Ghost of Christmas Past enters my studio...

"Remember the year that you made a painting for a family member?  It was huge, and took a lot of long hours to create.  You thought it was perfect for that person.  A gift that would be loved immediately and treasured forever?  Instead, the painting was stared at in silence for a half hour with the person not understanding what it was exactly.  Then after the thirty minutes finally a response- 'Oh, I see it now!'  It was painful, awkward, and embarrassing."

"Do you remember the year when you learned how to knit?  You thought it would be a great idea to make scarves for all of those near and dear.  Instead of spending a nice cozy Christmas Eve snuggled up with your boyfriend, you were both knitting until 3:00 in the morning.  Your fingers hurt, your hands were shaking, but you managed to get all of them done.  What a proud accomplishment!  You thought that this gift was especially warm with love.  Instead, the scarves were greeted with a wide range of 'thank you's that all read 'Kind of you, but this will never be put on my body- '.  You never saw those scarves again and know that they are buried in the back of closets or on a table at Goodwill."

"And do not forget the altered books that you made that took months to create.  They are collecting dust and probably have not been looked at since Christmas."

Not everyone has poo-pooed my handmade gifts, but I have learned my lesson.  (...Kind of-  I'm making handmade distasteful funny Christmas cards for friends.)  I am seriously thinking about having an anti-Christmas Christmas.  It shouldn't be about gifts anyways.  I want it to be about love, and communication.  Laughing together.  Being thankful for eachother.  But then of course, I will be considered 'cheap' by not spending, or they will think I do not appreciate them in my life.  Have I become a poor version of Scrooge this year?

Harry Harlow and The Nature of Love

"Harlow and The Nature of Love" 2010

Graphite on Paper.  8.5x5.5"

This is the first of a drawing series I just started based on psychological tests of the Twentieth Century.  I'm still not sure if I will title this drawing that way, but for now it will do.

"Opening Skinner's Box: Great psychological experiments of the Twentieth Century" (2004) by Lauren Slater is the muse of this series- I highly suggest this read!  I'm going to do one drawing per chapter/psychological test which will end up being ten drawings total.  I'm hoping to get the entire series done by the beginning of January or before that.

I'm hearing the Biography channel say "Krystal Booth was a prolific artist by creating different series of work at the same time." ha!  The truth is I feel I need the practice THAT BAD!  If I want to get better, I cannot go at the pace that I did while I was teaching...which was seriously one painting per four months.  At that rate, I found that I lost some of the progress I was making when I first graduated college.  I wasn't getting better. 

Let's face it- we only so much time on this Earth and it's up to us to accomplish how much we want to accomplish.  The time is not slowing.  I am frantically trying to keep up...maybe not as amazing as fancy pants Vincent van Gogh with his showoff of 200 paintings in a year, but I'm pushing ahead of where I was.

Recent Sketches...

This sketch was made from a wierd webcam photo of my best friend- It's definitely a weird rendition, but it adds a lot of life to my sketchbook!

Just a quick landscape from my mind.

Quick line rendering of mi amore.


Getting a new sketchbook really motivates me to fill it up with new ideas and quick sketches.  There's definitely nothing better than a fresh sheet of paper-

I've had this wierd belief though since I was a child about paper and predisposition.  It knows what it wants to be.  It knows what marks will bring it to life before we do.  Our job is to unravel the mystery by setting our pens and pencils in motion.  This is similar to my beliefs on life, but my mind wasn't mature enough to understand that yet...though I'm still having a debate with myself on life and to what degree it is predestined...or not.  What do you think?

LIFE

Have stumbled upon a transition period in my life...no, it's not menopause yet. I'm really happy about it, but also equally stressed about what's to come. The mysterious. The unknown. It can be exhilerating, overwhelming,and frightening at times, but I'm glad to be at this point. I keep telling myself there has to be a reason why things haven't quite been as easy as I thought they would be. There's a reason why that job I was perfect for is not calling me back. There's a reason why I'm drawn to paint things that aren't exactly what I would place at a Christmas bizarre. There's a reason why I haven't lost hope.

I found this great video that was posted on facebook, and I feel that I have to share it. It's brilliant, and a good reminder to follow that drive within us despite the challenges.

The Whole Point

This blog is about sharing the experience of creating and showing my work. I should include my emotions about my experiences and not just a list of "I am showing here" and "I got rejected there".

The Emotional Truth:

I am nervous about my solo show and how my artwork will be perceived...how I will be percieved as a result. It's like I just woke up out of the fog of creating the work yesterday when Jason Brown and I were hanging all fourteen works from the Huddleston Series.

The realization set in. I had fourteen portraits of dead people. It is not exactly an attractive topic- the whole death thing- and as I was creating the work, I was not dwelling upon morbid perversions. While I spent hours with each portrait, I made up stories about their lives and honored their well earned wrinkles. I was not thinking about their deaths- I was wondering about their lives. Thinking about the strangers I would never know, and hoping that their experiences of life were wonderful while they were with us. I hoped that they had those moments in which they knew that they were loved by the people in their lives.

This is why I am nervous. Viewers typically spend only a few seconds with any given artwork. It is a rarity that an viewer will stand in front of a work for two minutes or more. People often keep walking as they are looking...

Mark Rothko put benches where his work was displayed to encourage the viewer to spend more time in order to experience the work. Smart man.

At first glance, and just perusing through the work the viewers may only see dead people...unlike in the Sixth Sense though. :) I am scared they will miss the opportunity to create their own narratives and miss out on the point of it all.

FILLED WITH ANXIETY...but this is a part of putting oneself out there, right?

Monday Madness- Office Space Style

Inventory, inventory, pricing, pricing...the must do list prior to the show.

This has been an extremely busy day of record keeping. I feel as though I should be in an office somewhere specializing in database entry...despite my attire. I confess that I am still in my morning clothes as I write this-I jumped into the inventory stuff upon grabbing for my morning coffee and have been working ever since...really not being lazy...am I? heeheehee

Ode to office jobs...which brings me to MONDAY MADNESS!

My favorite office job that I ever had was at a payroll place called Employee Solutions. At that time I was not the best worker, and my experience was extremely similar to the movie "Office Space" in my attitude of not doing much but looking like I did.

For example, one of my best friends and I would go into the supply closet to get paper...instead we were looking out of the supply room's window making up dialogue of the people walking in and out of the adjacent barbershop.

Fridays were days that I was extremely busy with filing...really it was a day devoted to tearing perferation off of documents while goofing around with said friend, and that was it. As for the filing part, at the end of the day I'd grab a folder and slam all of them in there and stick them in a drawer where they would fit. Tah-dah!

The kicker was that I put in my two weeks because my school schedule conflicted. About a week after my notice, I realized that it could work out afterall, and went into the manager's office to ask if I could take back my two weeks notice. She was my distant cousin and she still said no. hahahahaha! I guess she caught on. :)

Posting and Procrastinating

I've been posting a lot lately...on this, on twitter, on tumblr blog. Well, not TONS but more than I usually do. What's up with that? (Am now hearing the SNL song in my head)...

Could it be that I am procrastinating? Unable to make the final push towards the show. Not having discipline enough to face just two more blank panels all gessoed and ready to go? I am calling myself out on this. I'm finding that I procrastinate right after I start something. I will do about an hour of work and then so conveniently get sidetracked onto something else. It's hard to sit still in front of my easel for a long time somedays, especially right before it is supposed to be ready. I never miss a deadline, but seriously, do I just love the stress of last minute? How about you, dear readers, when do you procrastinate the most?

New Website Look! www.krystalbooth.com

Disclaimer: I am not a computer programmer or web designer...

However...

I managed to revise the look of http://www.krystalbooth.com

Thank goodness, I live to tell.

Seriously, I did not realize that in order to be an artist in the 21st Century, one needs to be a website developer, print specialist, media guru, brilliant record keeper, accountant, branding agent...

The list goes on, I'm sure, but I just haven't realized it yet. I have to admit that when I went to the CAA Workshop last weekend, I felt horrible for a few of the older artists who were extremely intimidated by anything having to do with computers. I could identify. The intimidation is not a generational thing. I did not have internet access in my home until this past February. I used the Gateway computer that my parents purchased in 1995 throughout my college career to type my papers, and saved them onto floppy disks. I would get laughed at by my friends as I took the floppy disk on campus to print them out. "I haven't seen one of those in forever! Let me see it! hahaha!" As if it was a ancient relic. My PARENTS even laughed when they realized that I was still using that well built monster they gave me all those years ago.

The thought of websites, blogs, and even social media like facebook were intimidating. Overwhelming. I realized that I had a lot to learn and accomplish if I ever stood the chance of being able to share my art with the world via web.

I have come a long way, baby, and still learning. I'm not going to even try to pretend that I understand all that goes into websites, blogs, and social media networks. I just experiment until I get it right, afterall my computer is not going to explode if I site something wrong. There is no big red button. THANK YOU COMPUTER DESIGNERS for no red button.

Now, enough of this computer stuff- need to get back to the studio! I have paintings to begin and finish in a last push towards the show!

Revision and Sharing the Information

I am going through the process of revising my website(www.krystalbooth.com), and when I say "revising" I am actually saying that I am redoing the whole thing! Every aspect! This is why:

I went to the CAA National Professional-Development Workshop for Artists on September 25th at Oregon College of Art and Craft. The day workshop was titled "Marketing and Entrepreneurship for Artists: Maximizing Your Practice". I really enjoyed this workshop and the panel of people who presented. What a wealth of information on putting together artist packets, and marketing on the internet. I will briefly list some tips and information that I learned that day. If you would like more information about anything, please post the question or email me at krystal@krystalbooth.com and I'll be happy to help if I can.

* Everything you do, or say should reflect your work.
* The Artist Packet: (Place all of the following neatly inside a folder)
1. Letter- Be specific in who you are addressing and their gallery.
2. Artist Resume
3. CD- 10-20 images labeled with: artist name, title, materials,dimensions
PLUS: Include a physical annotated works list with thumbnail images & same
label information. Number them so that it is easy for the viewer.
4. Printed Images: Print out 5 different images of your work. Preferably 8x10"
with caption on cardstock, or put labels on the back of the print outs. This
allows the gallery owner/curator to have easy access to your work and begin
to get familiar with your imagery immediately upon opening your packet.
5. Artist Statement
* Upon meeting the gallery owner (MAKE AN APPOINTMENT- DO NOT JUST SHOW UP), it is
important to already know the audience for your work, know your availability for
possible exhibitions, be confident and professional. Do not show everything you
have ever made, and do not go into the meeting expecting a critique (that is not
why either of you are there).
* Keep typeface the same on all forms of communication from business cards to blogs.
* Lacking in publications? Create your own catalogue or pamphlet. Blurb.com,
ShutterFly.com, and Apple.com can make creating your own catalogue much easier...
and not to mention the possiblities of ebooks.
* www.kickstarter.com offers an online place to gather funding for projects from
donations.
* Two sites that will help you personalize your website fairly
inexpensively: www.virb.com ,or http://flavors.me

Monday Madness Missed

Monday Madness has been missed around here. Must get back to it. Formally, I am only 18 minutes late of making this one a true and blue Monday Madness post...(It's supposedly Tuesday, but since I haven't slept yet- it's still Monday in my world).

Enough of my disclaimer, and onto MONDAY MADNESS!!!

Today, in light of the premiere of The Amazing Race last night, I will write about...well, The Amazing Race. I will pretend to interview the woman who exploded a melon on her head (accidently) via Chris Farley interviewing style.



Me: Do you remember last night's show?

Melon Woman: Yes.

Me: Remember when you were flinging the melons to hit that knight costume?

Melon Woman: Yeah, Krys, I was there.

Me: Remember when you accidently exploded the melon into your head?

Melon Women: Yes.

Me: Did that hurt?

Melon Woman: Yes, yes it did.

Me: I thought so. Alright...remember when....

We Are Fragile VIII & IX

Mmmmm...Bread Pudding

This is hands down the BEST bread pudding I have ever tasted!

Inspiration comes in all forms. I do not blame Wayne Thiebaud for painting wonderful images of desserts. The Beaverton Bakery is such a place that would inspire such works. It is beautiful- especially the fruit tarts that are bold in their color with the fruit perfectly placed in a circular composition. It's the overlooked objects in life that give the most visual satisfaction.

Hello My Name Is

I am now on Twitter! After attending a CAA workshop at the Oregon College of Art and Craft, I was finally convinced to succumb to the Twitter madness. I have to confess that it is pretty easy, though I do not have it all figured out yet.

In other news, when I finally reached home yesterday after the workshop I realized that I still had on my nametag...after walking for a mile to the train, riding the train for 15 minutes, and then walking another mile to my apartment. I was the unknowing dork. lol

First Solo Show Preparations

Painting, painting, painting, and honestly, I have lost track of what number I am on in my series...13? 14? But there is great reason for my neglect of the blog, and spending as much time as possible in the studio-

I am having my first solo show in about 2 weeks!!! The show is going to be at the gallery space at "Pints" in Old Town Portland on October 7, 2010 (First Thursday) and will be on display for the rest of the month. As of right now, the show is being titled "Fragility".

I am extremely excited and there is much to do! Finish the artist statement, mount the hanging hardware to the pieces, catalogue the works, photograph the rest that I haven't photographed yet, plenty of other things that I have not thought of yet, and of course continue to push my painting into fast forward to get as many done as possible for the show. I am loving every minute of this! I am extremely happy to be so busy!

Tomorrow I will be going to a workshop- I'm sure that I will post some info afterwards.

Cheers to Monday Madness beginning again in a couple of days!

#6 & #7 Finished

What Not To Wear

This is the day before my Portland debute- "The Tribute Gallery" group show themed "Transition" is tomorrow night from 6-9pm. After watching quality programming such as "America's Next Top Model" and "Plain Jane", my mind is swarming around my wardrobe with the frantic question of what I am going to wear tomorrow night. It seems so shallow to be honestly consumed by this. Of all the things to be thinking about, I am concerned with what I will look like. Part of me has the disdainful attitude of Janeane Garofalo by equating my clothes with tea party members and not giving a damn, while the other half is feeling like some sort of fashionista trying to convince me that my image is everything. Sell my image, and then I'll sell my art. What crap.

But honestly, I am well versed on books for emerging artists and I am always surprised to find the topic of what to wear to openings in them. They always seem to say the same thing- look the part. Want to be taken seriously in the art world? Then look like an artist- be outrageous if necessary. Stand out from the onlookers. Do not look like "Joe Public" but instead create an image for yourself as "The Artist".

So, when I read this- someone who does not have much fashion sense since I have never really thought it to be of extreme importance- I see "wear clown shoes, a scarf, red lipstick for eyeshadow, and a tutu. Look as senile as possible. The crazier the better. Be as loud as Chuck Connelly is drunk with your wardrobe. Let's buy into the stereotype that all artists are crazy, unstable, and socially dysfunctional."

Anyway, I find this advice lame and dishonest. It seems fraudulent, and disgusting. I want people to look at my art, not me, and I want to be approachable- not a freak of nature. All fashion is a projection of image to present to others. Every piece of cloth we put on our bodies is a costume. A disguise. An advertisement. Though I want to be myself and honest in who I am to the public, I do not want to show up naked and have my 15 minutes of fame (one of which was spent already by my appearance on Happy's Place) spent behind bars for public indecency. So again, I ask myself, what am I going to wear?

Light + The Formula for U2 Lyrics

I delivered my work to "The Tribute Gallery" on this past Saturday and all is well. I forwarded the price for the piece, and now it's all about figuring out what to wear for the opening. :)

I have realized that I will need to buy a better light for the room I paint in- the natural light here in Portland is not going to be as great as it is now forever. The rainy season is going to be coming up before too long, and I would really love to work past daylight hours too! I was researching tons of information about the best bulbs for artists and reading color. So far, the best seems to be a Compact Flourescent Bulb that gives off around 5000 K and is at least 75 Watts...whatever that all means. :) I'm not even going to try to tell you about the science behind it, because I can't. Like Samm and his vitamin pills.

About Lighting...It is now time for MONDAY MADNESS!!!

So I was thinking about Monday Madness, and what I would write about light. I started thinking about posting "Ultraviolet" by U2, or maybe "Even Better Than the Real Thing". THEN I CRACKED THE CODE!!! It seems that a lot of the songs that I love by U2 seem to have lyrics that deal with light, especially on 'Achtung Baby'. It's crazy! Their lyrics often give off the imagery of light or lack there of, for instance:

"to drag the past out into the light"
"when it's one need in the night" - from "One"

"last time we met it was a low-lit room" - from "Until the End of the Word"

"It's no secret that the stars are falling from the sky,
It's no secret that our world is in darkness tonight,
They say the sun is sometimes eclipsed by the moon" - from "The Fly"

"Lift my days, light up my nights"
"Let her pale light in to fill up your room" - from "Mysterious Ways"

"Sunrise like a nosebleed" - from "Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around the World"

"The day is as dark as the night it long"
"Light my way"
"Your love was a light bulb hanging over my bed" - "Ultraviolet"

"Blow out the candle" - from "Love is Blindness"

And I know there are more besides just on this album! Afterall look at the song "Lemon". Right off the bat- "See through in the sunlight, she wore lemon, but never in the daylight". This is crazy!!!

Okay, so am now appearing to have gone completely mad and obsessed. I am making myself stop now- must...walk...away...from...the...keys... :)

Finished #5 and Submitted It! Hoorah, Hooray!

I have finished my fifth work in the Huddleston Series and it was a fun one! I loved working on the wrinkles in his skin and trying to figure out the colors. I am really excited about this one- I feel like it is showing a progression of some sort.

I photographed it today, and then instantly submitted it for a show in Cincinnati through the wonders of email. I feel so spoiled by the ease of submitting for shows by email- thankfully, I never had to do the whole slides thing. At least not yet... Anyway, wish me luck! Also, if you would like to see a bigger image of this, just go to my website @ www.krystalbooth.com
Thanks! Gotta go get started on #6!

Monday Madness!!!

Our cat, Olive, is driving me crazy today! Today she is choosing to stop meowing only if she is sleeping, or if I am holding her while I paint. So, I thought it'd be fitting to post this video of her for Monday Madness- a time when she was a bit less loud and entertaining us with a trick she made up one night. Happy Monday Madness!!!

Like Seinfeld- I even out!

This week my work was both accepted and rejected by two galleries, and I'm happy about each one. Okay, so yeah, it's not exactly ideal to be rejected, but I'm excited about the fact that I'm participating. I am celebrating both! All about balance here. :)

My work will be showing at "The Tribute Gallery" in NW Portland beginning on September 2 (opening is the first Thursday Art Walk) through the 28th in a group show called "Trans-IT-ions". Extremely excited about this opportunity, and will be dropping off my work this week! Hoorah, hooray!

MONDAY MADNESS!!!

Tonight I was involved in a facebook drama that was unnecessary and ridiculous. Drama on facebook- is it a surprise? Anyway, typed communication seems to really be a thorn in my side sometimes. People read things the wrong way. I don't understand how friends read text and suddenly assume the worst. This has happened twice in the past two weeks to me. Is it the heat that is making people read things so grouchily? Or is it the fact that I assume people know me and my personality better than they really do? Maybe it's a combo deal? Anyway, this whole typing topic brings me to


MONDAY MADNESS!

Today I will tell you a story concerning typing- I know, it doesn't really sound that entertaining, but it is one of my top 10 embarrassing moments.

I was taking a computer typing class in high school. The teacher was an extreme type A personality and everything that we did had to be exact or else an insane amount of points were taken off. I was intimidated by this, and it set the stage for the first assignment we were given. The teacher told us to type out this paper about Julia Roberts in the exact format as what was on the paper before us. Perfection was necessary, or you would need to start all over again. How easy is that? So I took my time and was proud of my work when I handed it in at his desk. I was confident that everything was correct. A few minutes later I hear the teacher demand furiously, "Who turned in a paper with 'Mr. Malone' on it? Who wrote my name instead of their own?" The class roared with laughter, with a few saying, "What an idiot!" as Mr. Malone stared out of his heavy brows into the sea of laughing faces.

i did. I raised my hand. I was so red that I was sweating. Huge smile. Nervous giggles... one of the best worst first impressions I ever made I think. Still makes me laugh out loud though, so perhaps it was worth it.

Submitting Work & Divine Intervention

I have been researching galleries in Portland like crazy! I'm looking for possibilities and juried shows. I found a juried show that I submitted to a couple of days ago and I should hear back within the next few days. I also submitted information over to an online magazine for a feature- PortlandTalentMag.com

Hopefully they have recieved the information...have been having quirky little problems with my krystalbooth.com email.

Also, I have been experiencing Divine Intervention lately in a big way. It's been extremely strange and exciting. The most noteworthy is that I went to the library the other day and checked out "Encounters with Great Painters" compiled by Goger Therond. The book has interviews and stories of several of the Western World's most celebrated artists with beautiful photos of the artists. I was reading the section about Francis Bacon and he stated what I have always felt and never had the words for. I have been struggling with my artist statement a bit for my current series and right there, in the type was the most clear answer to what I was looking for:

"Death is the only absolute we know of in life, the only clear certainty. Artists know nothing can be done about it. They are acutely aware of their coming annihilation, and the awareness of it follows them around like a shadow. I think this is why most artists are so alert to the fragility and fatuity of life, and to the vulnerability of their lives and the lives of others."
- Francis Bacon
Amazing.
Thank you God, Allah, Universal Energy- however you declare the all powerful- I know he/she/it was behind this. I could feel the "presto" energy of the moment and smiled with a great "Thank you!"

New feature! Monday Madness!

I just read how blogs can be attractive to viewers by getting a bit sidetracked with what things remind you of...and with only 9 wonderful followers of this blog at this point, I have a lot to learn. (To my followers an obvious big thank you is headed in your direction!!!) So I have decided that every Monday I will be... wait for it...wait for it...


MONDAY MADNESS!!!

I will look at what's going on around me- objects, events, everyday stuff- and tell you something that it reminds me of. Maybe it will be a story of the ages, maybe it will be an embarrassing moment, maybe it will be a Captain-Insane-O situation. The possibilities are endless, and you, by dear readers, will be astounded with your overwhelming sense of anticipation of what will be next!

In fact, this reminds me of the anticipation I feel for my grandmother's Butterscotch Pie at family functions- this luxurious cream pie is a family favorite and sure to please at your next get together whether it be gamers convention, a car expo, or a retirement home.

Grandma Kain's Butterscotch Pie Recipe

1 stick of melted butter
1 c. Brown sugar
1/3 c. flour or 3 T cornstarch
1 can Milnot and add milk until you have 2cups total of milnot/milk mixture
3 egg yolks
pinch of salt
2 capfulls of vanilla

Use a cast iron skillet if possible- have no idea why, but my family says it's better when you do this. Anyway, melt butter in the skillet over medium heat and add in brown sugar. Allow the sugar to melt a bit while mixing it around. Then add the flour. Cook this and stir like crazy (if you don't it will taste like crap). Add in the milnot/milk mixture gradually while stirring- definitely do not want it lumpy. Add in yolks, salt, vanilla and cook until thick and smooth. You can put this pudding in an already done pie crust, top it with meringue, or just grab a spoon and go for the diabetic coma. Good Times, good times. (And I wonder how I've always been at least slightly overweight all of my life...hmmmm....)

And there you have it! Let the MONDAY MADNESS begin!!!

Intimidated? It's just a panel!

So yesterday I began working on my fourth painting in my current series and it was like trying to get a child with severe ADHD to sit down for more than 5 minutes without anything to do. Seriously. I was wandering the apartment, and then wonder how I got there. I was avoiding the current panel. It was intimidating me. The dimensions are bigger than the other ones I have completed, and the composition is going to possibly be a bit of a challenge to pull off...but I'm definitely going to try! There are three bars that vertically split up the figure, but I absolutely adore the idea of trying it...if only I could get myself to sit still long enough without getting intimidated.

My trick lately to getting myself to sit down long enough to experience flow has been to listen to laid back music I can ignore for the most part- Elton John, Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple, Billy Joel, and OK Computer. Yesterday it was the radio...obviously I need to switch back to listening to CDs...I know that I will be made fun of for this list of music artists because well, they have absolutely nothing in common with eachother as a group, and yeah, some of it isn't exactly the "cool" thing to listen to, but there you have it. My lame music works for me. Hopefully Elton, Aimee, Fiona, Billy, and Thom can come through for me today- I can't let that thin board with gesso intimidate me!!!

#3 is Complete

"Be Compassionate, We are Fragile 3" 2010, Oil on masonite, 14x18"


For a better view of the work go to www.krystalbooth.com

Amazing Book for All Artists!

I was looking for a book that would motivate and help me gain some consistency in my creative work. I definitely found that and more when I picked up this book! Eric Maisel's "Coaching the Artist Within" (2005) gives brilliant advice and guidance to artists of all types. It is motivating without the fluffy-feel-good kind of stuff that fades as soon as you put down the book. His words have staying power that resonate. It is not a book to passively read. It is an interaction with writing prompts to help artists realize their potential, develop discipline, and grow in their dedication and understanding of their creative work. It has caused me to push myself further than I would have- had I not read this book. I finished reading this a week ago, and I'm happy to say that I have finished three new paintings from start to finish over the past two and a half weeks. Maisel really caused me to wake up and get going! I highly recommend this read to all artists, and especially to those who are just beginning their creative professions.

Sleepless & Staring at a Ghost

I find myself unable to sleep and obsessing over my current painting. Just staring at it as I lay in bed. I worked on her face today quite a bit, and will be posting pictures soon. I can't help but be a bit disappointed when I look at her pale face in the dim lighting in our bedroom. There are so many colors that I layed down to show the curves and shadows upon her face and yet, in the artificial lighting she looks as pale as a ghost. I stepped back from my work quite a bit today, but I guess I need to take a better look at it tomorrow during the day. I realize that the proper lighting is everything, however it looks as if the contours of her face are just flat white right now...it is kind of funny though...work with nothing to show for it, no physical proof.

My new profession: a ghost painter. I paint and paint all day, and nothing changes. Ha! Better luck tomorrow.

New Finished Work

"Be Compassionate, We are Fragile 1 & 2"

Work in Progress

Ode to Egon Schiele

Egon Schiele...here's an artist I have often ignored, and I'm not sure why. His work just didn't catch my attention while I was in college. I am now beginning to understand the brilliance of what he accomplished in his work.

He didn't overwork the surface. He worked with thin washes of color. He knew just where to put certain splotches of color to describe what he saw. He didn't over blend, and allowed the viewer to do this with his/her eyes. As some artists gain experience, they seem to know what is necessary in terms of line and color and do not rely on the extra "stuff". It's more mental work than physically applying the paint and lines. I admire his ability to make risky decisions within the image and keeping his surface so raw. He knows just where to put lines, and how thick or thin they should be. Schiele's work is sensual. It's vivid and subtle all at once. His figures are vulnerable because of how he shows the fragility of their flesh.

On a completely different note- I didn't make it into the show that I submitted to because they didn't recieve my email in the first place! All of that waiting and checking my email was in vein! ha! I called them, and that's how it was all figured out. Technology is brilliant, but sometimes it really doesn't come through when it should for people. HOWEVER- I am excited to submit my work to them for their next show, and the owner is extremely nice. So all is how it should be, and I'm excited to look ahead.

Waiting...

I am driving myself crazy today with the anticipation of an email from a gallery I submitted my work to for an upcoming show. I find myself checking, checking, and checking my email every couple of hours...or maybe less than that, but who's keeping track? I shall ban myself from the computer for the day as soon as I post this.

In the meantime, I have also been waiting on the paint to dry. I've been prepping some panels with gesso. MORE WAITING inbetween each layer, when all I want to do is begin creating the images now! I guess this is a much needed exercise to increase my patience when I'm excited about something, and not have that instant gratification of being able to start. It's good for me, right? Of course, it is.

New Work!

"What Is Real" 2010, Mixed Media on Masonite. 18x24"

I am so glad to report that I finally finished the work that was stumping me for a couple of months. Hooray! I posted it today on my website, and also updated my site to include past works from a few years ago. Check it out at www.krystalbooth.com

Thanks!

Revisiting Gladdy

This is the untold story of Gladdy, my black goldfish who lived a beautiful life until 2005. I truly enjoyed Gladdy while she was with us, and it was the best therapy to watch her freely swim across her big tank after I had a particularly stressful day. When she passed I was extremely sad, and immediately decided to paint a picture of her. I scooped her body up in a coffee cup and began sketching with full plans of giving her last rites above my toilet bowl.

However, I thought that I would miss out on details and colors if I flushed her. I needed her as a reference to do her justice in the planned painting. I put her in a plastic ziploc bag and promptly put her in the freezer.

Time passed, the painting began and then was finished. Gladdy remained frozen in time like Walt Disney's head. The apartment ceiling gave out due to heavy rain during roof repairs, and we had to abruptly move to a new apartment.

Two months passed when I realized that I had forgotten Gladdy. Her clear coffin was to be the last object I grabbed before going over to the new apartment. How could I forget my dear friend?

So at some point there was an extremely confused and disgusted maintenance person, and a thawed out fish in a bag. Gladdy, I have no idea where to mourn you now, but RIP my friend. Your body was forgotten, but your spirit is remembered for who knows how many years into the future...peace be with you. :)

Ode to Resumes and Coverletters

I have spent the evening working on a new resume and a coverletter for a specific job that I would die for at Laika, Inc. I don't exactly have the traditional experience that they are used to seeing, but the experience it there...just in a not-so-conventional way.

For instance, all of those years that I mixed paint at Menards gave the ability to match hues amazingly well. In a wierdly excellent way. My managers and the games we used to play are to blame- Felicia and Kari used to have me change pink into blue, or mauve into taupe without using the color matching computers. It was fun! I loved it! Though I didn't know at the time that it would have any value outside of the Paint Department. But Now...

One of the qualifications of the position I am applying for is that one needs to be able to match colors well, and have extensive knowledge of paint techniques and textures.

So, I want to thank you Menards! I never thought I would truly benefit through the job skills themselves- it was enough for me that you gave me a weekly paycheck through college and allowed me to meet some fabulous people and make great friends! And my cup runneth over! hahaha!

Opportunity Knocks

Okay, okay, so it's been awhile since I posted. In fairness, a lot has gone on. I lost my teaching position due to a reduction in workforce, and my fiance and I finally decided to go for it by moving to Portland, Oregon. This was huge! We have been daydreaming about Oregon for over three years, and it seemed as though this was the moment when opportunity was pounding on our door enough to make our paintings tumble off of the wall.
After five days of sitting in a car without airconditioning loaded down to the tires, we are at our new apartment in Portland. This city is phenomenal. As I look for employment, I will be free to take in the surroundings. The aboundant amount of trees stretching and swaying in the breeze, the mountains that cradle the city buildings, the traffic that stops for pedestrians and does not even expect a thank you. I will be so happy once my art supplies arrive, because I truly feel inspired by the energy and the comfort of my surroundings.
Here's an update: I will finally be recieving my paintings back that I had submitted to the "The Good, The Bad, The Money" show. As lucky as I am, they of course arrived at my doorstep in Fort Wayne two days after we had left. Thankfully, UPS is forwarding them to my current address without any additional fees. It will be good to see them again. It's funny how paintings can feel like old friends.

Expensive, but Worth It

I am realizing how expensive it is to show artwork. Entry fees are one thing, but postage is another. I now understand how the US Postal Service makes money. A three hour drive for two works was not an option at the time, and so it cost $70.00 to ship them to the show. I now need to send out another $70.00 to get them returned, because I will not be able to drive there to get them.

But it's worth it- being able to share one's passion with the world is important. It's not about monetary gain. It is about participating in life, and sharing what you have. Of course, I have had to put the breaks on "participating in life" due to trying to save money, but I am looking forward to the next opportunity!

Life Happens.

Life happens...cliche, but completely accurate at times. I'm not meaning this in a negative way at all. It's just that while I fantasize about spending all kinds of time creating art, the reality is that I have been extremely busy for the past two months with other endeavors that have taken a front seat. If I didn't prioritize in that way, I would have been reprimanded at my job, lost it, become homeless, and I would certainly not have internet access to write to all of you nice people out there. Time is luckily freeing up again now.

Not too mention, I am still stuck on that painting/collage that I posted about having trouble figuring out. I am still figuring it out...perhaps I need to move on a bit and work on another project to get going again. It's time to pick up the steam, and I'm looking forward to it!

Eureka! Ode to a Bathtub

Some of the best ideas happen in a bathtub. The scientist who came up with measuring volume realized how to do this in a bathtub and ran naked through the streets shouting "Eureka!" (If I remember correctly it was volume, or perhaps it was something else related to raising water levels)...

Anyway, I've found I do my best problem solving while I'm soaking in a tub and today was a perfect example. Armed with a smoke and a cup of coffee, I began thinking about The Big Lebowski action figures (thanks to my mentor's recent facebook link), which somehow led to a chicken costume, which led to solving the problem I have been having with the current work that I have pictured above.

I have been puzzled over it for weeks now- not quite sure where to take it. And it seemed so damn serious...a bit too much. I just read "The Butterfly and the Diving Bell" to gain insight into the thoughts of a person trapped by their own body. Their minds wander, fantasize, remember, in order to live a life that they are unable to with their bodies.

Well, I have decided that my comatose victim is going to be dreaming of someone in a chicken costume. Ridiculously perfect, and problem solved for now! It's so stupid, "how can I resist?"

Both Paintings Accepted!

To my surprise, I was accepted in the 42 Gallery show in Mason, Ohio!

I am so excited! I found out this morning, and this evening I have spent by redoing the hanging hardware on both of the frames, and checking around for shipping boxes. Thank you, U-Haul, for the large mirror box size! I was extremely relieved because after talking to the nice man at Fed-Ex, I was worried. They said that they could put a box together for shipment, but it would cost me around $100! That’s insane! I wonder what that box could possibly be made of?…is it made of bronze? Cardboard engraved with gold address labels?

I guess that they do not know that I am a low-maintenance kind of gal as I do not require my skittles to be sorted before I eat them. Or excuse me, before I don’t eat them, because my size 0 body is on a diet. :)

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a size 0, NEVER have been, and NEVER will be, and I’m proud of my well deserved curves- I’ve ate a lot of cake for them. Every cellulite dimple is a small wonder in and of itself, and it’s been well earned! Love to all, and thanks for reading!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered!

These are the two works that I am currently submitting for “The Good, The Bad, The Money” exhibition.
I put off sending in my entry into the 42 Gallery for long enough- I finally sent it out today! Hoorah! Now all I have to do is wait…and look for the next opportunities!

I took a career/personality quiz today for the heck of it. My boyfriend, Matthew, took it earlier today, and it sounded weird and interesting. He is an artist too, and voila! The personality quiz told him that his ideal career would be as an artist. I was wondering what mine would say…I was preparing myself for something like restroom attendant, cheese maker, or miner. I took the quiz- weird questions- drinking milk past expiration, to call fire department or not, create list or get to work… anyway, according to the test I am a Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving type, and indeed, artist was at the top of the list. Evidently artists throw milk out at the expiration, look for the fire first, do not call plumbers, do not take our cars into the mechanic when we probably should, and create lists before we work, instead of just working immediately…sounds about right…J

Looking Ahead

There is a gallery show coming up in Ohio that is all about Money- “The Good, The Bad, The Money”. I found it on www.artshow.com (what a great site!). Anyway, I couldn’t be more excited about the theme! I am going to gather my packet to send for the show this week. This will mark only the second time in my life that I have sent away to submit my work to a show. The last time was back in college and I submitted a couple of prints due to the nudge of one of my mentors. I was happy to submit my work, but unfortunately, it did not get into the show. REJECTED stamped all across the letter. At the time, I was just happy to have submitted my work. The rejection letter was smiled at, joked about, and thrown out without any big negative impact on me.

Hopefully this time will be different! I have optimism! I feel ready for this now, and it’s just what I have been wanting to do. I need to take chances, and it’s time to jump in. The deadline is in about 10 days. Cheers to revisions, good paper, burning the two images to a CD/DVD, and confusion along the way! Cheers to it all!

Let the Games Begin!

The Winter Olympics are back! Vancouver 2010! Witnessing greatness as it happens. Watching stories of the athletes’ trials and tribulations which have brought them to their current state. Cheering for the triumphs. Getting teary-eyed at the beauty of a perfect run, or routine. Understanding the dedication it takes for these outstanding athletes to reach this level of excellence. The sacrifices. The heartbreaks. The courage. The euphoria of victory.

The Olympics are great for inspiration, but maybe not so great for allowing me to work. Here is the extent to which I have worked on my art since the Vancouver Winter Games have begun…

A bit of collage work…

And


Yes...paper hats...

The Day After

The Day After…

Top Ten Things I Learned From the Opening Last Night…

10. Print off as many color copies of your brochure as possible, and do not bother with black and white copies for several reasons…I am now speaking from experience…

9. Follow the advice of NOT showing up with an EMPTY mailing list. I did. It was pristinely blank upon arrival, and it struggled to even get half-filled. I simply forgot…I’ll write it up as a social experiment I guess.

8. Be bold in approaching people looking at your work. I did it once last night to people who, as soon as I opened my mouth, I could tell were not really that interested. It felt awkward and so I failed to be so bold for the rest of the night…I need practice.

7. Definitely bring gum or mints, because you will be talking- a lot! After all, I am not in the business of burning off other’s nose hairs, and I am so glad that I remembered gum.

6. Bring a wall case for displaying brochures, business cards, and displaying your mailing list by your work. (I wasn’t quite organized enough to even think about that detail…)

5. Enjoy the pointing and laughing by immature boys at one of the male genitals you drew. At least someone is noticing your efforts! (That particular penis took me 2 hours to make it look right and it was the size of 2 grains of rice! Glad someone appreciated the small details! Ha!)

4. Have business cards on hand and displayed. I need to prepare some for the next show.

3. Wear comfortable shoes.

2. Have cake and wine afterwards with friends, while laughing hysterically at failblog.com.

1. Enjoy your friends, loved ones, and fellow artists. Enjoy the atmosphere. Laugh a lot. If someone comes up to you for a hug, just do it. They’ll explain later, and we all need random hugs from strangers.

Getting Ready for the "Dry Illusions" Art Show

So, I have this ongoing list in my head of things to do before the show. I will be showing two of my recent drawings at the Ryan Hadley Studio this Saturday night, and I am so scared that I am going to forget something. I've written down my list, but it just seems to be getting longer...buy frames, matte board, sign the 15 prints, photograph the work before I frame it, polish my bio, create a brochure with my bio and artist statement, get them printed at Kinko's, post my works up to my website so that visitors will have something to look at when they check it out after the show, and oh yeah!- drop the works off at the Studio! And on top of this, I keep having that little voice in my head asking, "What am I going to wear?" Really? That is beyond what I need to be thinking about right now.

I am NOT complaining at all. I am just really excited about the opportunity, and I don't want to muck it all up. Cheers to the few days prior to exhibiting work!

Where to Begin?

Hello!

Welcome to Blank Canvas! This blog is going to catalogue my journey of getting my artwork out into the world. It seems as if I just woke up. During the past few years, I was putting off showing my work because I was waiting for this epiphany of greatness. I didn't want to show my work prematurely and be embarrassed years later when my "masterpieces" began to flow. Several more experienced artists give that advice to young artists, so I followed it, and I followed it well.

Well, I did have an epiphany, but it wasn't exactly what I had been waiting for. I turned 32 a few weeks ago. I am realizing that time is gaining momentum, the last few years in particular have been ridiculously short, and if I didn't get my artwork out there now, when will I? It's too easy to sit back and say, " My work is not good enough yet." Well, forget that! I don't have time for that.

Now, I am finally understanding that if every artist followed this advice, we probably wouldn't have very much to look at. Empty museums, blank billboards, every CD cover would look like the Beatles, "White Album", or Spinal Tap's "Black Album", and there certainly wouldn't be a cheesy poster to stare at on the ceiling of the ob/gyn.

I've made my point, and now it begins...