Working at Art!

Gem shows over! 8 days of walking and buying and looking at all the beautiful stuff! We are a bit compulsive about the gem show. SOOOOOOO much to see! "Oh this is fantastic! We could use this with the..... Look at this! We have to have one of these! I think we will need way more of this item!" Such is the life of an artist. Love it! We both love the making of art and I love painting. Does it show? However there is a little thing called making a living off of our love. Now thats another thing. there are markets and customers and inventory, tools, ect. So how do we make money you ask? You do not sit and wait for the "Mood to hit you" you work. Long hours at times. My wife has been doing this for many years. Long before I came along she supported herself with a tremendous talent and a work ethic that pushes her to extremes at times. She has a saying that is " no one pays me if I take a break". You don't work you don't get paid. Simple. Jack White is a successful artist that writes articles for the magazine the Professorial Artist. In the latest issue he tells a story about inspiration. " When we receive the bills thats all the inspiration we need to work."
Where am I going with this? Well I'll tell ya. The thing that I have learned is that you do what you have to do to sell what you enjoy making. A majority of our time doing art is building products for sale. Is this "selling out"? I don't think so. You see we totally enjoy the rather twisted path and where it leads. Very exciting. One of my biggest sellers are flowers made from recycled tin cans. I have been making them for 10 years! They started out as a curiosity and have changed constantly and now sell exceptionally well. They have shown me so many amazing and beautiful experiences and I can't describe the excitement of watching a finished flower come forth in all it's beauty. And as a bonus the people that by them are smiling!!!! What more can you ask for. Building beauty joyfully and then selling that beauty and bring joy to some one else. That's what art is all about!

Barbie is a bit foot loose and hands free!

Frames? you betcha!

Love the Jewelry!

Our products are many. The ideas for improvement of the existing products and new products seems to be endless. We constantly talk about what to do and how to do it. Inspiration is every where and we get excited envisioning where the inspiration is leading us. Our secret is simple. Do not stop! Follow the path. My metal flowers were pathetic at first and now they are a popular item. Follow what ever, where ever it leads. Growth starts at the beginning and the fruits of joy only come to you as the tree grows. There would be no fun of discovery if you already knew where you were going!

Still at the Gem Show ... But.....

Well while we are negotiating with China for additional funds to buy MORE & MORE, not really, though that might not be a bad idea, hmmmmmm, here are a few of my lovely wife's creations that went to Wyoming. These are a very popular series of match box shrines. I should say the match box shrines are a popular series. Better you think? Well anyway, she has been making these for years. In fact one of these were one of the first creations I saw of hers. I looked with amazement at the detail and quality of work man ship. Not only are they completely encased on the out side when you open the inside they are also finished. She also places a charm on the inside that goes with the theme of the match box. Vincent Van go has a little silver ear on a chain!  She makes a lot of lotiria card ones, saints of all sorts,themed ones and then there are the " fancy " ones. I love them all but the fancy ones are totally exquisite!!!!!

 

Elvis of course. With all the do-dads of the music industry. Then theres Ms.Monroe with her diamonds and the Mermaid with the treasures of the deep and the icon of all girls in the whole world! The one and only ( Trade marked plastic doll ). Do not want to be sued for using the name or anything. But I believe that you can figure it out Can't you Barbie?

Theres More coming up latter. Ms. Cheri Mossie is forever creating gorgeous works of art! I will post more as time allows. I often tell people, you are people right? I guess I can tell you anyway, I live in a land of wonder where Xmas is every morning. See, she works at night and when I get up she has a beautiful new piece of art for me to see. How great is that!!! I LOVE IT !! ( by the way our Xmas tree is still up ). Till later we are again off to the show, fossils I think, for fun.It's all fun. For you artists sketch one of the above, now thats a way to spend an after noon. Now where is my Indiana Jones hat?