My big, scary list that will be fun when I stop being scared

If you really need to work something into your routine, try doing it right before bed. No matter where you are or what you're doing, you will always be going to bed, and you can always sketch before bed.

I finally succeeded in getting up earlier - I woke up early a few mornings in a row by chance and now I have my body clock set for a 5:45 awakening. I love the little space of alone time I have then to make my coffee and go out to the studio (aka the garage) and draw, paint, sit on the sofa and write in my journal...(yes, there really is a sofa in our garage). I just have to make sure I do NOT go anywhere near the computer 'just for a minute'...

Well, on the goals... I think I need to alter them a bit, I've concluded that my main aim has to be to produce "a coherent body of work" - a largish number of paintings that are recognizably mine rather than exercises done for my class. Working a little every day should help.

I've written in my blog 3 times this year so I'm behind - I really need to get some photos posted and make a banner for myself. I will post the url as soon as I get it looking a little better, I promise. I'm terribly perfectionist but I just need to get this banner done asap. Right now it's some grey box that comes as standard... not a good idea for a visual artist.

The one issue I'm having a real problem with is REJECTION. You know, the "sorry, but you were not successful this time, please try again" type. I think I expected that stepping out of my comfort zone would be the hardest part but actually dealing with what hits me while I'm out there is worse. It always seems when reading others' stories that they only sent their stuff out once and immediately got positive feedback and an exhibition/published. Of course that's not how it is really, but it seems that way... The media love an overnight success story more than a long, hard graft story I guess.

Enough whining... Over the next 3 months I committ to getting 10 pieces of work produced so that in October I can host an Open Studio. I need a big, crazy, committed-to goal in order to get anything done. Like, I had trouble exercising regularly until I committed to a marathon. Maybe I should put that Open Studio in my calendar now and get invites printed already, anything to make my brain realize that it's time to get working!

http://carolineroberts.blogspot.com/

So, time for an update. I've been doing a bunch of other stuff so far this year, like running a marathon and cycling ridiculous distances, but now it's time to get back to my Goal.

Start a blog and make entries at least once a fortnight (25 for the year MIN.): Way, way behind... having trouble figuring out what to write about.

Finish my website and get all my recent work up there: Well, yes, I did get my website up and running BUT now I want to have one with my own URL and some wording. Basically something much more professional. *sigh* Now I have to figure out how to make a nice template with Dreamweaver. I'm a "get stuck in and see what happens" learner so I've already half-created something. I shall commit to getting a basic template coded by the end of May.

Submit two articles to mixed media magazines: Have done nothing on this yet... need to start thinking of some ideas.

Enter 3 juried exhibitions: entered one so far and got very disheartened by the rejection. My art school has one in May which I will enter to make two and I'll find another one in the Fall.

Enter at least 10 pieces in the studio school sale: I just listed all the pieces I have and there will be at least 10, probably 15 in the sale IF I get everything that needs doing completed. Some things need some major re-painting, others just need stretching. I have a list now and 4 weeks to get it all done...

Enter at least 2 Readers Challenges: Entered one, didn't get in. I'll be looking out for the next one.

Host an open studio event, even if just for friends and neighbors: I've committed to myself that I'll do this in October. I'll have to work hard over the summer to have enough pieces since obviously I'll be selling so many in May at the school sale. Being very upbeat and optimistic here...

Write a business proposal for my art business and figure out how to define and set it up tax-wise so I have good records for tax-return time next year. OK, I found an easy answer to this on the internet - I can deduct 'hobby' expenses against 'hobby' income to the full amount of the income so I just need to keep receipts in a special envelope. Action is to label the envelope and start putting receipts in it...

Work on the 3 painting series' I have in mind - complete at least 3 paintings in each series: Trouble is, I keep changing my mind about the series... I'll produce 10 new paintings before the Open Studio in October instead.

Identify and apply to at least 2 places I have not exhibited before: No progress. I need more work and an artist's statement etc. first.

Sketch at least 10 minutes every day: Getting places with this one... I get up super early now (5:30 anyone?) and go and work with a big mug of coffee. I'm so much nicer for it! The creative work AND the coffee that is...

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On April 12th and 13th I'll be cycling the 182 miles from Houston to Austin to raise money for the MS Society. Please consider sponsoring me, every little helps in the fight against MS!
http://www.ms150.org/edon.cfm?id=217588
Thank You!

http://carolineroberts.blogspot.com/

I'm working like crazy on getting everything ready for the sale and exhibition. I also came up with an idea for some work to do over the summer when I have no classes and only the early mornings to work while the kids are off school. I'm going to blog about that.

I'm trying to work on the website - I need to put some serious work into getting good photos of my work and preparing those shots for the site. I'm pretty pleased with what I built in an hour this morning with no previous experience of Dreamweaver...

http://carolineroberts.blogspot.com/

Yay! I have finished the thing. AND I got my blog moving and figured out how to upload photos - blogger was a bit temperamental about uploading from my computer so it's a 2-step process via flickr.

So here, with a big fanfare are the links: *ta-da!*

http://www.carolineroberts.net
http://carolineroberts.blogspot.net

AND I have 13 paintings currently on sale at the Glassell school of art in Houston. The exhibition and sale opening is tonight - wish me luck! I need to sell a few so I can buy more paint.

http://carolineroberts.blogspot.com/

For a while there I had a great routine going of getting up early and working in the studio for an hour before the rest of the family got up. This was great except I barely saw my night-owl of a husband and was getting very tired. I took a break and now I'm struggling to get back into the early rising and studio time.

I find it really hard to get back into my groove once I've left it. And life right now is certainly interfering with everything. I have a test on Monday that will determine if I might need surgery. I'm hoping not since I'm due to fly to the old country on Wednesday for a little over 3 weeks. And that's an expensive flight that I do NOT want to have to change. Then I have to get everything ready to leave and the tax accountant hasn't done the taxes yet and the extension expires 12 days after I return and AAGH *head explodes*

Sorry, had to have my little rant. I'm finding the challenge even scarier than I imagined. 'Coming out' as a painter is really hard and I forgot how much rejection stinks.

Trying to remind myself that sketching for 3 weeks and maybe doing a little collage is just fine. And that come September I will have 3 hours a day when both kids are at school and I can work uninterrupted.

On the plus side I have a half-baked glimpse of an idea for nano '08. And my other half is pretty supportive of writing - he thinks there's more chance of living off an author's wages than a painter's.

http://carolineroberts.blogspot.com/