Dark Water

Well, here it is. The cover of my husband's new album, Dark Water, with artwork done by yours truely. When the CDs were done, we went to go pick them up. I was kind of scared to look at them and I had successfully avoided it until I dropped a box of them and they spilled out all over the sidewalk. It was a very surreal moment to see these little shrink-wrapped copies of my painting spilled out over the pavement. Then I kind of broke out in a sweat when I thought about the number of copies with my art on it. When we got them loaded in the car, we unwrapped the CD, popped it in the CD player, and I stared at the cover the whole way home. I could not believe that was my painting on there. We thought the collaboration was a success. It also pushed us to try to pursue some other collaborations and ideas that have been stewing.

For more information on LaRue Nickelson and his music you can find him at his website and Myspace. The CD is now available for purchase on CD Baby and soon will be available through other downloadable outlets.

Wood Blocks

Title: Wood Block 1

Size: 9.75 x 9.75 x 1 inches

Materials: Acrylic on Wood

Year: 2008

Click here to purchase

Title: Wood Blook 2

Size: 9.75 x 9.75 x 1 inches

Materials: Acrylic on Wood

Click here to purchase

I love the watercolor effects I got on these paintings and also how you can still see the wood grain through the paint. It was fascinating to watch the paint morph and change as it soaked into the wood. As they were drying I ran out to get some glossy polyurethane to keep that wet look about them. I was getting ready to take them outside to put tthis on as the fumes can be pretty bad. Then it started to rain. I waited and waited...still raining. I finally got too impatient and ended up putting the polyurethane on in the house. Soon my husband was complaining about the smell. Of course, wouldn't you know as soon as I open the can some other people decided to drop by. I can see the headline now. Artist asphyxiates innocent bystanders and her cat with polyurethane.

Budget Cuts

Someone once gave me some wise words about being an artist. "You have to be okay with making something that no one may want or need." It sounds kind of bleak, but I would have to say that stuck with me. I decided I could be okay with that. My husband being a musician and me an artist, we will go on making our respective crafts whether anyone wants or needs them. With that said, I think that Florida, mainly the Tampa Bay Area, has a lot more potential than there is opportunity for in the arena of the arts. I saw a lot of news coverage about the budget cuts coming in Florida, mainly about health care programs, which distresses me till no end. Then I found this on http://tampaartist.com/ and thought I would repost it since this hasn't gotten the media attention I think it deserves. Fellow Floridians, make sure it is known to your lawmakers that you want and need the arts.

"Last week, when Speaker of the House, Marco Rubio, announced that whole departments might have to be eliminated to balance the budget, The Division of Cultural Affairs became an easy target for the House aides who are preparing the budget. By simply zeroing out funding for the Division this vital administrative unit will cease to exist, and our advocacy for Arts and Culture will be carried back to the dark ages in the name of short term and short sighted expediency.During the economic downturn of the 2006-2007 fiscal year when other Departments were required to reduce their overall budget by 4%, the Division of Cultural Affairs took a 61% cut. But the Arts strengthen our economy. We know that for every dollar the State of Florida invests in the Arts we get a Seven Dollar return… we know that students who have four years of Art or Music education perform 60% better in verbal skills and 38% better in math skills on their SAT scores, and become better citizens for the State of Florida. We know that there are over 150,000 full time employees devoted to the Arts in the State of Florida .Why should we forget all that, and pull the plug on the support group that makes it all possible?
Agreed, times are tough, but let us not sell out our cultural heritage, and take away the leadership so necessary to keep Florida attractive as the place to live, the place to visit, the place to invest in.High Tech industries relocating to Florida are choosing communities where the Arts flourish because they know the creative thinking employees they recruit demand cultural facilities for themselves and their families.
Nowhere else can you find finer museums, symphonies, education in the arts and dedication to the finer things in life.We need to make an outcry.
If you are in the news media please pursue this story. The budget is being drawn up as we speak.If you are not in the media, but you know someone who is, please forward this email.
Thank you for taking time from your busy day to help avert this disaster and thank you for your advocacy.Jim Shaw, chairman, Florida Arts Council"