As a way to promote my artwork and books, I joined a few content develpment sites this week. They are so much fun, it is hard to pull myself away. Here is an article I am particularly proud of. It gives directions for writing a love poem and, as a sample, contains a poem I just wrote about my first date with my husband. We met in an art class taught by Latvian artist Vija Celmins (long before she was famous). Our date was an assignment to visit local art galleries. In Los Angeles, at that... Read Full Story

This morning, as I was pedaling an exercise bike at the gym, I watched a show about ancient paleontology . The program pointed out that the ancient Greeks and Romans collected and displayed fossils of Pleistocene mammals. Certain historians have speculated that some mythical creatures could actually be theoretical reconstructions by the ancients, based on these bones. This program reminded me of an exercise we did at the workshop on Saturday. For those who were not there, we combined parts... Read Full Story

For those of you who attended my workshop on Saturday, and for those who were not able to come, here's a book you might want to pick up. It contains more than a hundred ideas for classroom teachers who want to teach art, but who have little time and few materials. Many of the ideas can inspire adult artists, too. Read Full Story

During the Saturday workshop (see previous post), members of our group made quick sketches inspired by poetry. The poems I read were from "Talking to the Sun" (see the picture link on the right for more information, or to purchase), but the internet is a wonderful source for poetry, too. Try it! Read the following poem. Without referring to the text, do a sketch based on any impressions that "catch" in your mind. Develop the drawing into a painting. It will not be an illustration of the... Read Full Story

Are you stuck? Here is the first in a series of posts based on activities I tried out on a bunch of great sports, and terrific artists at the Western Colorado Center for the Arts yesterday. Our first activity, very loosely inspired by Japanese Calligraphic paintings and the exciting works of Franz Kline, was string painting. We used black tempera and jute package twine, but you can also try black ink with yarn, string, or even rope. 1. Pour the paint or ink into a cup. 2. Dip the string... Read Full Story

An excerpt from the free online ebook "All at Once: A Practically Instant Guide to Creativity" Any experienced teacher will tell you that the most valuable lessons are learned from students. Find a place to share your interest in art. •Ask at your local elementary school. There are probably several teachers who would schedule art sessions more often if they had an extra adult to help. •Work with a youth organization such as 4-H or start an after school art club at your local church... Read Full Story

(Previously posted as a comment on ArtMarketBlog.com) I have long struggled with pricing. I am also a freelance writer. When a client and I work together, we agree on how much I will be paid before I begin the job. There is an established price range for a certain type of work, and I do not delude myself into thinking that I am the only one with the necessary skills required. My paintings are different. I do them as part of a personal need, a spiritual journey. Before I started painting, I... Read Full Story

from All at Once: a practically instant guide to creativity Each generation stands on the shoulders of the last. The wheel took a long time to invent. The Sumerians started out with simple logs, added grooves, cut out the spaces between the grooves, then, at last, made the wheel and axle separate. As artists and human beings, we need to reinvent ourselves every day, but we do not need to reinvent the wheel. Many problems of form, color, texture and line have been solved by other painters... Read Full Story

from the online ebook All At Once a practically instant guide to creativity This one is harder than you might think, and more important. There’s an old playground saying: “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names can never hurt me.” It is not true. Broken bones are not fun, but they heal much faster than broken spirits. Criticism and teasing have left their marks on most of us. I taught elementary school long enough to know that in every class there was a “Designated Artist”. This... Read Full Story

from All at Once a practically instant guide to creativity The love of money may not be the root of all evil, but it is the root of a lot of mediocrity and unoriginality in art. There’s no doubt about it, the market-place loves the familiar. If you want to support your kids through college with your art or writing, then the advice in this booklet is not for you. Originality is not as popular as people would like to believe. If you are doing art for yourself you have the best chance of... Read Full Story