Uplifting Art from the Great Cosmic Happy-Ass

If you are not already familiar with Diane English, she is absolutely one of my favorite artists who will always bring a smile to your face with her artwork. Living and operating her business in Western North Carolina, Diane is known as the Great Cosmic Happy-Ass.

Diane at work with her "team"

"The Great Cosmic Happy-Ass Card Co. is a one-woman, independent enterprise designing original, greeting cards that reflect my dizzying spiritual odyssey, that happens to be very funny and inspiring at the same time. In 1998 as an aging a baby boomer, I followed my passion to combine spirituality, cartoons, humor and inspiration and plunged head on into a world of fun even though it seemed totally... insane at the time. My original designs, available as greeting cards, prints, and magnets envision playful messages from a universal consciousness that prompts us to play along our spiritual journey. And more often than not, they're hysterically funny because they say, (what those of us on a spiritual path, have often thought but never dared uttered)...you know, spiritually incorrect thoughts! Egads! The cards and magnets are now carried worldwide at really smart and independent bookstores and galleries."

Diane creates several line of greeting cards, prints, totems, and magnets. You can find her work online, and in many galleries and shops.

 

To visit Diane's Website

http://www.greatcosmichappyass.com/index.htm

Get ready to smile !
 

Support Local ~ Artisan Made Screen Doors

As promised in my last post, I begin to share Artisans from around the country who's creations are "functional" for the home, garden, and us personally. My goal being.. to offer you options to buy creations that are American made by some wonderful Artisans.

My first spotlight is on Tim and Karen Chambers, a wonderful pair of artists from Highlands, North Carolina. I met them maybe 5 years ago at the Hard Candy Christmas Art Show in Cullowhee, NC.

I was introduced to their fabulous Folk Art and cheery personalities and have been fond of them and their work ever since.

I later learned that they offered Custom Screen Doors. Classic styles~custom artwork~each created just for your home or business.

Tim and Karen provide Beautiful Quality work, and their screen doors would be a meaningful addition to any home.

You can learn more about them, their show schedule, and how to contact them on their website

http://www.tkchighlands.com/index.html

~Support Handmade and Support your Communities~

http://www.consciousartstudios.com/









Support Local Artisans and Farmers and Improve our Economy

So many conversations and debates about our economy are filling the air. As of late the buzz has been actively talking about how little product  is manufactured in the United States, and we are predominately importing almost all of our goods. Recent television footage has challenged consumers to take a look at what is in their homes and asking how much of it is created here in the U.S. And it's not only household goods, but our foods as well.

The state of the economy can be overwhelming, and people get frustrated thinking there is nothing that they alone can do...but there is. My mantra is "Support Handmade and Local Growers".  When you support your communities artists and farmers, you will find that most of that money exchange actually stays within your community.

Artist creations have become very diverse and are often overlooked. I have visited many art and growers markets, and each time the offerings are more and more plentiful.

I have found beautiful handmade furniture - desks, dressers, coffee tables, chairs, dining sets, and bed frames. There is an abundance of potters that create functional pottery  - baking dishes, coffee mugs, colanders, mixing bowls, along with their other beautiful decor. Fiber Artists are creating wraps, scarves, hats, and clothing. Soap makers have gone beyond just making their luxurious soaps, and are making shampoos, lotions, lip balms, and shaving creams. Wood turners are creating kitchen utensils and children's toys. Metal artists are crafting outdoor art and accessories.

My list could be endless.

Will the items cost more? Generally yes. But isn't your community worth the investment?

I will now begin to post pictures and links here on this blog to promote local artisans and growers.

If you are an artisan or grower that would like to be featured here, please email me.

http://www.consciousartstudios.com/



An Artist's Makeover

An Artist's Makeover

 

Just as in any other profession, an artist's career needs to have the occasional re-evaluation. A look at what is working and what is not. With the economic downturn that all of us have experienced in  varying degrees, this seems to be a good time to ask yourself, "Does my art career need a makeover?"

While I truly believe in the old adage "if it ain't broke don't fix it", as a Feng Shui practitioner  I also believe that careers need touch-ups along the way...clearing the clutter...and a re-defining of  purpose and focus.

Following are some questions that you can spend some thoughtful time on:

~Self Evaluation~

~ Since the economic downturn, have your sales increased, decreased, or stayed the same?

~ What avenues do you sell your work?  (i.e. Online, Art Shows, Galleries).  And, have you considered moving into a new arena to sell your work?

~ Do you create in one medium or more than one? (i.e. Pottery, or Pottery and Paintings, etc.)

~ Are there certain things you create that seem to have become outdated?

~ Is there a new medium or product that you have wanted to delve into, but haven't?

~ Do your physical displays need updating? A fresh coat of paint? A redesign? Replacements?

~ Does your web presence need to be updated or polished?

~ Do you offer any kind of service? Teach classes? Custom work? Mural Work? Bridal Wish lists?

~ Are you giving your offered services the advertising attention that is required?

~ Is your current artwork speaking to your collector's needs and wants? Is your current artwork speaking to your OWN needs and wants?

~ How much of your time, percentage wise, do you spend on marketing yourself?

~ Do you feel like you need an assistant, intern, or representative?

~ Is it time to find new ways to market?

~ Do you demonstrate your art? At events or online?

Take your time in answering these questions for yourself and make notes of your ideas and thoughts as well. As I begin to go through my OWN artist's makeover to readjust for our current economic and social changes, I will share along the way some of the things that I am doing.

I will be sharing with you some Feng Shui tips for your Artist's booth at Art Shows, Applying Feng Shui to your displays, and Feng Shui tips for in your studio.

I will also be sharing some of the new or different things I will be doing to re-shape my art career in marketing and networking.

For now, spend some time deciding how you want your Art Career to develop.

Full of Talented Folk at the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival

Can not believe that it has been so long since I posted, but I have been finding it difficult to get done all the things that I love to do, and Creating Art usually overrides everything on the list.

With the vast amount of festivals and art events that we have been to, participated in and attended, I was very impressed with the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival. Four long days filled to the brim with talented musicians, dancers, drummers, artists, teachers, healing arts practitioners, and organic foods. One of the few shows where the array of foods available were healthy and delicious...crepes filled with grilled chicken, portabella mushrooms, organic greens and swiss cheese, pasta salads, smoothies galore, outstanding coffees, even Easter dinner.

(Art Car)

 The organizers did a wonderful job at creating an even balance of talented Arts, that truly you would want to be there for the entire 4 days of the festival in order to see and experience everything they made available.

While the stages were filled with music and the grounds were layed out with diverse artists, workshops were going on throughout the show: eco sustainability talks, dance workshops, art programs for children to be involved in, soap making, and glass blowing demonstrations.The Healing Arts section offered massage therapists, accupuncurists,and cranio-sacral workers.You weren't left wanting for something to do at anytime during the show.

The Paperhand Puppet Intervention was present, making their way through the crowds with their parade of phenonemal characters.

Of course, the thing that was a difficulty of the show was the the rain and mud. The festival is held on a big beautiful farm, and scheduled in the spring - a time when those rains move through. The second day of the show brought with it a contant moderate to heavy rain the entire day and evening, making many areas a mud bowl to walk through. Thankfully the following two days were  hot and sunny, helping to slowly dry it up, key word slowly. Many of the campers wore shorts and skirts for the warm days ,adorned with mud boots for walking around. And if you needed to leave the festival at any point before things dried up at the end of the show, more times than not you needed one of the tractors to pull you out, which they happily did.

So, while the sun did it's part to help the process, we did ours by spreading mulch around the booth to dry up mud holes.

A good time was had by most everyone I talked to, in spite of the rain and mud...smiles and laughter abound through the grounds while the music played on.

Long Awaited Spring due to Arrive and Inspire the Artist in You

Anixiously, Impatiently, and Long Awaiting for the arrival of Spring..new life...new beginnings, and a new season of inspiration to bring to Artists. It has been a long winter, but the signs of Spring are pushing their way through to greet us.

Any day now we will be bursting at the seams with beautiful spring buds and color splashes that are rich and warm. This past week I've watched so many geese flying overhead, birds dancing happily at the feeders, dogs shedding their winter coats...all preparing for those beautiful days that lie ahead.

Humans feels it too..that anticipation that overwhelms you, whispering in your ear that colorful happy days are coming. They have a spring in their step and their artistic flairs are emerging with the season.

Last weekend, while browsing through market we came across a young man who had a most interesting array of his treasures spread out on the pavement. The goal..to sell of course..but he spent countless hours throughout the day arranging and rearranging his prizes, presenting them to you in his own unique way.

He definitely added his own sense of flair to the day.

More exploring led to coming across a beautiful bunch of Windows to the Soul, making me think of all the ways I could utilize them, bringing gorgeous refracted light into your home.

And finally came across one of my all time sweeties, a conisour of Antiquities and Native Craft, Chad. Hadn't seen him in 8 years, and now he has come back into my circle.

We all wait patiently for those warm days ahead, to shed these layers of protective garments, and breathe in the new life of Spring !

http://www.consciousartstudios.com/

One Man's Junk is Another Man's Art

I have always admired the Artist that can see a work of Art, in what other's often overlook, and give it new life.So often  items from another time, once loved and often used, get tossed aside when they begin to show their age. Their character is then reborn into a new Treasure, by the diligent Altered Artist.

Saturday I went to Market and came across the mother load of potential, and stories came along with it.

I came across a man who would the best friend of most any altered artist. He had a booth 4 times the size of many of the vendors, that was filled to the brim of metal beauties that would keep you digging for a good while. I asked him if I could take pictures and with his charming  older southern drawl said "Why, sure !"  "Would you like a little story to go along with it?" Now of course, you know I did.

"Well, he said with a smile, "Lots of folk ask me where I come across all this junk...."

And, I tell 'em "Well, my wife and I are in the Iron and Steel business. She does the ironin' and I do the steelin." A great big smile and belly laugh erupted from him that was contagious to everyone standing around.

Dozens of people worked their way around his trailer filled with metal glories.

After rummaging through his metal works for a bit, I meandered into the adjacent aisles , finding windows that were begging for new homes and crystal chandeliers that could reflect beautiful rays of light in someones writing room.

It was a walk down memory lane filled with daydreams of what COULD be, and I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning. Of course, the one thing that keeps nagging at me is the mannequins....

 Oh how the Creative Muse keeps nudging me...wouldn't it be grand to sculpt some heads on top of them???

http://www.consciousartstudios.com/