Chapter 23 – Distractions become Art Adventures

I bet you’re wondering if Jackie is still painting ‘cause she sure hasn’t been writing. 

Well here I am. I know that it’s very typical of artists to take roads less traveled, but we do get sidetracked on our roads. Actually I find that it’s pretty typical of all artists. 

But I’ll speak about myself. I’m in the middle of a project that’s due on Friday. This is Tuesday and I get involved with a totally different idea. Why you ask?

Well you see I’ve met this group of artists on Instagram who are painting small pattern surface paintings. And so off I go after my exciting new idea. I call this a diversion. I get involved in researching and then painting Seamless Repeating Patterns. What fun I’m having! I’m creating the patterns and coordinating images for either side. Question, I created these to be for “print at home” images for the Etsy shop. Now I’m wondering if you think they should be cutting boards or jewelery boxes or coasters? Help please?

Then I remember that I really need to give the project to the client on Friday. It’s now Wednesday evening and I’ve painted two seamless repeating patterns. It’s time to burn the midnight oil. In other words it’s an all nighter. No where do I consider that this body is no longer in its youthful stage. 

Once I finished it, I went back to the exploration and that’s what I’ve been doing since March. I found out that the Chicago Art Institute allows you to download some of their collection. I picked Monet and a few others and made posters out of them, with quotes from Monet. Then I did them in Cutting Boards. I will put them up on my website. Heres a few examples.

Now you know why you haven’t heard from me in months. I’ve totally taken ten new roads less traveled. I’ve done several different bodies of work and totally neglected the people who have supported me for years. (That would be you)

So please accept my apologies. I’ll get back to the story of my life adventures in a few weeks. Oh…this is one of my life adventures.

I will show you some of the new works here in this email, and I’ll also show you some that are now on Etsy. I’m not looking for you to purchase anything. I’m really sharing some of the new directions that I’ve been exploring. 

I also hope you’ll tell me honestly which of the new ones don’t appeal to you.  If there are some that do appeal to you I’d really be interested in hearing what makes them appealing.  Do you like the poster idea for a cutting board or would you prefer just the painting?

So please if you have the time to be in touch, I’d love to hear from you. 

And now you know a little more about the life of an artist. It’s all about curiosity and allowing yourself to live with constant distractions. I guess I should call them adventures, ‘cause that’s what being alive is all about for me. 

My best to you…I’ll be back in a week or so with some specials just for you and your patience.

PS. We had a big celebration in this partnership of artists. My pal Al, who produces all of the products from my paintings, has turned 90 this month. He is definitely my inspiratiion (I’m not that far behind him 🙂 ) He works out daily ( I don’t) he does all the grocery shopping (I don’t) and he does all the production and shipping (I don’t) Bottomline he looks pretty good also.