Shelly Bedsaul’s View from the 2nd Floor

My stint at Michael's ends this Friday. YES!!! No more of being the stoop shouldered serf for the corporate machine. I think it's the shortest tenure as an employee I've ever had. I truely feel for the people left behind. FIND SOMETHING ELSE!!! Something that gives you a little human dignity. I'm just lucky to have friends that remember I can paint.

Business has picked up again with commissions and a nice little opportunity on the net that will keep me free. Seems I'm the new art director for http://www.linentablecloth.com. They thought it would be a good idea to have some art on their linens. I'm given free reign to design for different holidays, events, themes and interior decor. There's no limit to detail reproduction. They've got oodles of colors and I can even see creative opportunities for alternative uses for the fabrics and design. They were nice enough to send me some samples so I can experiment with different paints and techniques.

I had this interior design idea quite awhile back. Instead of finding art to go with your decor, how about decor (items) to go with your art. I've got ideas of getting the printed cloths and doing whole cloth quilts, matching pillows and draperies, etc. I can take this a long ways, but first...I need to design. LOL

We hope to have the virtual "doors" open July 1st. I'm pretty excited. Finally, my days of picture framing are truely done...well except for myself. I can finally work where my lil ol imagination wants to take me. Back in the studio, where I belong.

Rose of sharon

To start, I'll explain the significance of this image. She's at an emotional, spiritual crossroad. The institutions of her culture has let her down. Her rebellion against them has left her world in ruins. Through the death of her beliefs, comes wisdom. Although her experiences have knocked her to her knees, she still searches. She is strong. Beyond the devastation is the moon, inconstant, ever-changing, yet always rising, a symbol of hope and of life.

I've started working at Michael's Arts and Crafts as a picture framer, to supplement my art income during the slow tax season. I've been there for about a month and a half. It's my first exploration of corporate employment. I've come to the conclusion that the corporate structure, as it now stands, needs to be destroyed. I've never seen such a dehumanizing mechanism in all my experience. I've the title of part time, but my hours are full time. The title eliminates the need of guarantee of 40 hours per week or providing sick leave, paid vacation or benefits. Also, since the "box" store has eliminated the competition, there's no need to pay a living wage, regardless of 25 years experience or previous wage scale. Schedules are maintained by a computer and posted 3 days before the schedule begins, so sorry folks, no possible planning for a life outside of work. The computer also has no sense of a set schedule. Hours are often double backs, nights, days, inbetweens, split days off, all in one week. There are times, I've gone without eating, because I had not the time to cook or prepare a lunch. Just completing a work order will deforest a small country in a day with all the redundancy of paperwork. They do not recycle ANYTHING! Not their shipping containers, cardboard, nothing. Discontinued items are not sold at deep discounts or given to charity. They go in our land fills, smashed into a thousand bits, so not even dumpster divers can benefit. Then you have ineffective middle management setting policies that instill paranoia, waste time and interfere with the jobs at hand. With an 8 hour day, I'd say 5 to 6 hours of that shift are spent in actual customer service.In the meantime, I see no joy in the workplace. I see a bunch of very tired women. Women trying to make a living, raise families, hope for something better, but without the time to find it. Wage slaves. The new world order. The new third world. Brought to you by the new feudalism, Corporate America of which we are merely serfs.

I used "Rose of Sharon" for it's spirit of rebellion. I term our future as feudalism, as a reminder of what happened to the last feudalist structure. Feudalism was brought about by a need of protection by warriors from other warriors and their greed. The "people" paid for that protection with a portion of their gross village production. The concept of Noblese Oblige grew out of that symbiotic relationship. The people were happy with the setup and called them noble. The title went to their heads and slowly began demanding more changing their status from employee to despot, the people to slaves. My warning....greed has brought the downfall of many an empire. I see history repeating itself once more. Was it about money. I don't believe so. Economies grow from an exchange of goods and services, disposable income in the hands of many. This is about power, to subjugate the masses, leaving only a few at the top to enjoy the spoils and a few minions to serve as their catamites. The rest of us....what will happen when we grow tired of not having bread?

Kissing Fooles

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

In spite of the crass commercialism, I still relish the thought of practicing sentimentality. Besides, red is my favorite color. I wouldn't mind if some of that crass commercialism would be directed to me, as in BUY MY ART, and I don't mind if we have to make a special day to be nice to each other.

In our rushing about to make a living, get the kids raised and remembering to take out the garbage, sometimes it's necessary to stop and notice why we do all this stuff. If I remember this correctly, it was to create a near perfect world for those I love.

All the things we do are less obvious. They're covered with words like responsibility, duty, very serious stuff. So what if the floral industry made sure this day was marked on everyone's calendars. It's still cold outside and I need something to cheer the winter doldrums. My kids are grown and gone and husbands have long since taken other paths. It's my day to remember to be kind to myself and draw silly pictures.

My conclusion...quit bitching about retail therapy, just take the day to gorge on chocolate, smell roses (even if you don't buy any) be silly, share some affection, a hug maybe, a passionate kiss. Don't worry, tomorrow, we can go back to complaining how disgusting it is that our economy is now based on consumption and trumped up holidays.  We may have a little twinge of guilt because of our hypocrisy, but what the hell, we're Americans. 

Morgause

The August Nibblefest theme was to illustrate a story or poem. I chose "The Hollow Hills" by Mary Stewart. It's one of a series of 4 books based King Arthur. It's told through the eyes of Merlin, beginning in his childhood. I highly recommend this series. Merlin tells the tale in logical terms and explains how he manipulated superstition to create the myth.

Morgause, more commonly known as Morgan la Fay, was eaten with hate, greed and revenge.  Where Merlin used his "magic" for the greater good, she sought the dark arts for the power to serve herself and her ambitions.

TheMuffinThieves

4 comments

EBSQART.com, has online art competitions. For all other artists out there, this is a great opportunity to get your feet wet. Every month they sponsor 3 different shows with different themes. This month, I chose to be part of the Ripped Off show. Two artists team up and "rip" each others work. Doesn't have to be an exact replica or even style, just be inspired by their partner's piece. It's a lot of fun.

I teamed with Susan Olga Linville. She does delightful paintings of cats on small format canvases, in a folk art style. Check her out.

This piece, inspired by her, is a salute to the two goofballs I live with, Toulouse and Alphonse. They are always up to mischief. Now, I don't really look like this woman, but she is me in spirit. Notice the coffee. A cup of the brew is NEVER far from my reach.

The style of cat is really Olga's, but I had so much fun telling the boys' story, I'm inspired to do more tails. Maybe even do a collection to be done as a children's book, "Adventures with Toulouse & Alphonse, a cat's tail". I just have to develop a style of cat that is more like the boys and more like my own. The ideas never end! Back to the easel!!

Originalsin

It's July already and the Nibblefest is in full swing for this month. The theme was Polka Dots and Plaid. The title, of course, stems from the ubiquitous apple, but also the creature comforts and color that appeals to the senses. Denial is not a life condition I choose. LOL

The 20th is almost upon us. The June theme for Nibblefest

Breakfast at Sunrise

 is Sunrise/Sunset. We could do either subject or both. I was a little stuck for subject, then settled on breakfast. The yellow roses represent the sun of course, breakfast coincides with sunrise and the egg is not only food, but represents new beginnings.

Ok, here goes the blatant self promotion. This is an ebay auction. The opening bid is .99 cents. The auction runs from the 20th to the 27th of every month. The one who gets the most individual bidders wins. The bidders get a shot at some quality, yet inexpensive art. I have no idea, who's going to be entering, but past competitions have had several excellent choices, not just mine. To find us, all you have to do is type in Nibblefest or NFAC into the ebay search. It's a lot of fun.

I belong to an online art group

Hey Jude

1 comment

called EBSQART. Every month they have a contest called Nibblefest. It coincides with ebay. Between the 20th and 27th, we post a work of art to be bid on. There's usually a theme.Whoever has the most individual bidders wins. It's a matter of money isn't everything, but having the most lusting for and coveting your work.

This was my first entry and for the month of May. The theme was "Groovy 60's". I was in high school then, about 3 hours north of San Francisco. Some of my early influences were the concert posters for the Avalon Ballroom. This is my homage to those artists and the wonderful friends I grew up with. There are elements of all of them in her. 

I took second place. It was a hoot. No monetary gain, as for awards, but it was great publicity and stirred up quite a bit more interest in my other auctions.

I paint stuff. Sometimes I draw stuff. I'd like to do this all of the time. Unfortunately, I never wished to entertain the concept of the "starving artist". This choice may have been taken from my direct control. In November of 07, my place of employment with be closing it's doors. My day job, for many years, has been as a picture framer. It too, is very creative, but it's time to follow my true calling. If it doesn't work, I'll be delivering pizzas

With the onset of free trade with China and accessability for goods while wearing your underwear, people just don't want to go "out" anymore or pay for quality.  This is having far reaching effects on our economy and how we entertain ourselves. But, I reserve this rant for another time. My point now, is if you can't beat em, join  em. Success depends on adaptability and I've been practicing this concept for 54 years. For a couple of years, I've been putting the practice into action.

As an artist, I have to get my work seen. This depends on galleries and the subbjective opinion of one or two people. After acceptance has been acheived, I have to invest in framing the work, pay for promotions, pay for a reception and pray someone will like the work enough to buy it. After a piece is sold, I have to pay the gallery an additional commission of up to 50%. This makes for very expensive art and very few sales. I see a need to adapt.

Ah.....the internet. What a wonderful invention. Thank you Al Gore. Many sites have popped up with affordable means of getting one's work seen. The term most frequently quoted is "democratizing art". It's now possible to see the work that the artists themselves have pride in. No longer do we have to depend on the opinion of a benevolent dictator. We are finally free to control our own destiny and the content of our work. Plus, we are able to show it to the world, rather than a limited, frequently pompous, local market. If I choose to paint abstract, I can. If I choose to paint fantasy, I can. If I choose to paint a folk art embellished bird bath, I can. I don't have to wait for the approval of a self important curator who never buys anything unless it meets with the pleasant nods of their pedigreed peers. Now, the communication is strictly between the artists and their potential customers, as it should be.

For the last year, I've been on 3 art marketing sites and they have all been in the black since the first month. Each serves a different function. Artistrising is a fairly decent place to show work and customers have the option of purchasing the work in print form, complete with portfolio page, bio page and shopping cart. They handle the printing and drop shipping to your customer. Cafepress provides the same service, but you can have your work printed on functional items, such as t shirts, coffee mugs, etc. EBSQART is a fabulous site for your portfolio. They also provide attractive templates for auction sites, easy links to your other sites, online competitions and a very friendly community for support, ideas and in general comraderie of like minded folks. Lastly is Ebay. Just opened my store a couple of weeks ago and I love it. Many people complain about the cost, but in the light of the above mentioned gallery costs, the fees are minute. My work, as a beginning ebayer is selling at a lower price, but the actual profit margin has increased. I see great potential for possible expansion.

Getting a head start on my period of unemployment, doesn't seem so scarey now. At last I can finally say "I'm following my bliss". It's not going to be an easy road, but definitely a fullfilling one  and a gift I've given myself with steady research and dedication. And if necessary, I'm not too proud to deliver a pizza or two to fill in debt gaps till my goal is realized.

http://sbedsaul.ebsqart.com

www.cafepress.com/shellybedsaul

www.artistrising.com/galleries/Shelly_Bedsaul

for ebay, just type my name in the art search

For my first entry, I think it best to explain why I picked this site to blog on. Very simple. I'm stalking my son and I just happened to find him here.

Oy! Brian! How you doin?