Art on the Hill

My neighborhood art walk is just weeks away. I have had a small role in putting it together by approaching potential artists, creating the artwork for the publicity and contributing my two cents worth of advice. The Upper Queen Anne Merchants Association is sponsoring the event and as it is an annual event (as opposed to the usual monthly art walk) they are making efforts to create an extraordinary evening. Along with meeting the artists and seeing the art there will be stations set up to create art, times to hear the artists talk about there work, a drawing for prizes, entertainment and plenty of treats.
I will be showing my latest paintings at Chocolopolis, a simply beautiful shop with chocolate from around the world. And really, what could be better than that? Art and chocolate.
If you are in the area, please stop by.
Be Good, Scott

What does it take to be noticed?

This past weekend I saw the movie "Julie and Julia". It is the story of a woman - an unrealized writer - who desires something more in her life. She has an unsatisfying job, a self-important group of friends (she's not always the nicest person herself) and the longing to be a writer. She also likes to cook. With her supportive and patient husband's encouragement she decides to cook her way through the Julia Child cookbook and blog about it. She gives herself a year for the project.

At the same time, we are given the story of how Julia Child became 'Julia Child'. She is an affable woman who loves to eat and wants something to do with her time while her husband is employed in Paris. She attends Le Cordon Bleu and learns the art of French cuisine. There she is noticed by a couple of women who are writing a French cookbook for Americans. Julia helps them make their cookbook more accessible to the American audience.

In both cases, their stories end with them being noticed. Julie, the writer, ends up with a book based on her blog entries and then this movie. Julia ended up with her cookbook but also became a television personality and a major influence in the history of American food.

Julie was 30 when it happened for her. Julia was closer to 50.

So, why were they noticed? What did they do? How did they get there?
I have been trying to figure this out since the first showing of my work 10 years ago. What will it take for me to be noticed as an artist?

I have also tried to figure out why I long for more, when clearly, I have so much. I have always believed that I was meant to make a difference. That my life was to be a legacy of something good. This has been my understanding from the beginning. It is why I try to create art that is accessible and light-filled with meaning and insight.

I am grateful for the support I have. I am surrounded by people that believe in me. My art has opened doors and created relationships I had never imagined. I have been able to do things, go places and meet people all over. My world has expanded greatly.
And yet, I wonder when will I be noticed?

I am constantly looking for ways to put myself - my art - out into the world. I have had moments when I thought this is it, this is when I will be discovered. These were the times when I believed I would be thrown into the national/international spotlight. Each time they have passed with a quiet little 'whoosh'.

I have auditioned for television shows, sent my portfolio to numerous galleries, shot a television pilot, lead creativity groups, donated hundreds of pieces to organizations across the country, I have even sold the painted shirt off of my back. I have gathered my creative friends for brainstorming the road to my success. I have designed clothes, landscapes, graphics, interiors, theater sets, costumes, murals, children's books. My work has been shown in businesses, restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, fairs, gift shops and galleries. My line of art cards is scattered across the country as well are my prints on canvas. I have been the presenting artist for several events both locally and nationally. My art has been used as the 'image' of several businesses.
My life is centered on being creative, being an artist. It is what I eat, drink and sleep.

I will continue to put myself out into the world. I will face it's give and take. I will.
What does it take to be noticed?

Be good,
Scott

Even on Vacation

This past weekend Cameron and I went camping with friends on Lake Chelan.

Lake Chelan is located on the eastern edge of the cascade mountains. The south end of the lake is a popular resort location and full of summer activity. The north end of the lake, 55 miles long, is accessible by boat, small airplane or on foot. We have friends that own 65 acres very near the north end.

There is not much there but wilderness. Occasionally, a boat passes by or an airplane flies overhead, but for the most part the only sounds are the wind, the waves and the birds.

We were there for four days of relaxation and simple living.

It was the third day when our friend John suggested that we each make a puppet. It suddenly occurred to him when I peeked out of the tent window looking very much like a puppet in a puppet theater.

We had til the end of the day to create our characters using anything we could find. I decided to give myself even greater confines by letting myself use only natural material.

It was a greater challenge than I had anticipated, but fun nonetheless. The result was this rather unattractive, pine-cone-headed woman. But, her unattractiveness was overlooked do to the fact that she was all held together by grass and tension.

Though a couple of us (who shall remain nameless, what happens on Lake Chelan....) couldn't bring themselves to create a puppet, the two of us that did, had a great time doing it.

As you can see, she is not pretty. But, she was a great way to spend a couple of hours. I had to push myself to create something I have never done before, with 'limited' resources. I was pleased and surprised that she actually stayed together and was rather sturdy. Who knew that grass could be so durable?

So I challenge you: create something ridiculous just for the act of creating. Can you make a puppet with only the things you can find around you?

Be good,
Scott

A Cup of Light

Seattle artist Russ Morgan creates lighting fixtures using recycled glass and glass objects. They are interesting and beautiful pieces. I have seen them around Seattle for many years and have admired them. It was not too long ago when I saw a few of his pieces and was inspired to create my own.

I went on ebay and began searching for glass punch cups. It took me about a month to collect 30 cups. I also purchased a chafing dish holder. At the hardware store I picked up the lighting parts and all the hardware for assembly.

The idea was to hang the cups from the chafing dish holder with wire, while the light bulb hangs surrounded by the glass cups. I hung the chafing dish holder from the ceiling light cap. For working purposes I hung the entire contraption from a hook on the ceiling while I wired the cups.

Transferring the finished chandelier to the dining room proved to be the most challenging part of the project as it weighed quite a bit. It ended up being a three person job. With my aunts Annie and Joyce in town, I put them to work holding up the chandelier while I wired the electricity. After struggling with the old wiring in the ceiling, I finally got it ready to hang.

I am happy with the finished chandelier. It is contemporary and traditional, fancy and simple and decorative and useful. You can do it too. Really.

Be good,

Scott

Art and Eat and Art and Art and Art

I have returned to Geraldine's Counter in the Columbia City neighborhood of Seattle. I had a showing there 2 years ago and have been wanting to get back ever since.

Geraldine's Counter serves the quintessential Americana fare. The food is very good.
The space is bright and open with color-filled walls. My artwork looks like it belongs there. It will be there through the end of May. I invite you to stop by, see my art and enjoy a home cooked meal.


The Sirani Gallery in Pittsburgh is now representing me. I will be there in May for my show opening and cocktail party. The Sirani Gallery has both my original oil on canvas pieces as well as prints on canvas. If you are in the Pittsburgh area, I hope you have a chance to visit the gallery.

The Seattle Men's Chorus will be celebrating it's 30th Anniversary this year. They commissioned me to do a commemorative painting in honor of the anniversary. My relationship with the chorus spans 20 years, so I was greatly appreciative of the invitation to create a piece for them.

The Chorus is offering limited edition (100) prints on canvas. They are 24"x36" for $300. All prints are numbered and signed and have a certificate of authenticity.
You can read my artist statement and learn more about it on their website.
SMC 30th Anniversary.


In the meantime, I am working on several other commissioned pieces. I can truly say that 'Life is Art (and Art and Art)'.

Geraldines Counter
4872 Rainier Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98118
206•723•2080

My art lives there through May 31, 2009.


Sirani Gallery
5875 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412.422.2121

Meet the Artist Cocktail Party, Saturday May 9, 2009 - 7 PM

Be Good,
Scott

Singing in the Bathroom

Earlier this week, on her daytime talk show, Ellen Degeneres announced her 'Singing in the Bathroom' contest. She had discovered a couple of young, beautiful women on youtube who sing pop songs in their bathroom and then post the performances.
(you can see their Ellen bathroom performance:
http://www.youtube.com/)
Since then, Ellen has sung in the bathroom with several of her recording artist guests. The prize for this contest is a trip to Hollywood to sing in the bathroom with Ellen.

When she made her announcement I immediately thought about the first time I discovered the art of singing in the bathroom. I was in 4th grade and had been given a solo in the chorus concert at school. I practiced and practiced that song. I'm certain that it sounded better in our downstairs bathroom than anywhere else.
I just had to submit an audition, so I asked my friend Patti to help. This is our video. It is a recreation of me singing that then-contemporary song. Patti sings the chorus part. (no, the chorus was never in my bathroom, but...)

When I hear it now, the song, "One Tin Soldier" seems so serious for a 4th grader. At the time, I'm pretty sure I didn't pay any attention to what I was singing, just that I got to sing a solo.

Hello Ellen, here we come!

Be good,
Scott

Everything old is new again

This past fall as I was cooling down from one of my morning runs, I came across 'free stuff'. You know, the pile of stuff by the side of the road with the handmade sign saying 'FREE'. One of the houses in the neighborhood was being renovated and each day something new, rather old, was put out for the taking. This particular day I found a piece of furniture that had been a built-in desk. I liked it but couldn't really justify taking it. What was I going to do with it?
But, that afternoon I was still thinking about it. So, I got into my car and loaded it into the trunk.
It had sat in the garage for the last 5 months, in pieces.

I finally decided to tackle it. My friend Elynne had sent me an electric fireplace insert, which I ahd used as a heater, but it lacked character. The desk would become the new home for the fireplace insert.

After getting the desk back together, I still had a bit of work to box in the sides, build a 'hearth', make an inner frame and paint it, antique it (there was no way it was going to ever look new and fresh) and wax it.
It turned out beautifully.I used the scalloping of the leg and drawer shapes to dictate the design. I selected a print of one of my paintings that has similar shapes and covered the inset frame with it. I was even able to maintain a working drawer.
Be good,
Scott