Goodies from Liberate Your Art

Hi All,

I totally forgot about the blog hop for Liberate Your Art postcard swap and so I am just bringing the goods today. The hop was May 10-12th and those that participated in the swap shared the beautiful treasures received in the mail. I was so tickled with my postcards because a couple came from my own neck of the woods, even from my address. I did question the universe of how that happened, but it was and is all well.  Thank you to the artists and photographers that participated in Liberate Your Art and here is a list of the artists whose cards I received:

1. Madge (www.theviewfromrighthere.com)

2. Tamara (www.writeyourliferight.com)

3. Sheila (www.sheilahughespetphotography.com)

4. Vigdis Lobach (www.kunstkaniskje.blogspot.com)

5. Colleen

6. Kat Sloma (www.kateyestudio.com)


P.S.  Kat Sloma who put on the swap created a beautiful video showing the many postcards that were a part of this experience. You can find it here.

To Mother Figures Everywhere: Happy Mother's Day!



Carefree Woman

 

To My Mother Edgar Allan Poe (1849) Because I feel that, in the Heavens above, The angels, whispering to one another, Can find, among their burning terms of love, None so devotional as that of “Mother,” Therefore by that dear name I long have called you— You who are more than mother unto me, And fill my heart of hearts, where Death installed you, In setting my Virginia’s spirit free. My mother—my own mother, who died early, Was but the mother of myself; but you Are mother to the one I loved so dearly, And thus are dearer than the mother I knew By that infinity with which my wife Was dearer to my soul than its soul-life.



 To mother figures everywhere, I bid you a Happy Mother's Day.

 

 

 



 

 

Teaching Fractals

Image: http://www.sxc.hu

Next week, I will be standing in front of middle schoolers discussing the wonderful world of fractals. This is a moment where I am feeling much joy as well as anxiety. Here I am being vulnerable in front of other vulnerable beings in hopes that what I share will click for them. As I prepare for this presentation, I am consciously thinking about this age group and how I was at that age. I was very much into math and science and I always enjoyed the ooh and aah moments that these subjects brought. But, I also remember that not everyone was as enthusiastic. And that my dear is why I am anxious. I know I shouldn't be hard on myself, but sometimes my ego likes to get me in a tizzy. My ego wants all of the students to go "I love fractals!" or even "Thank you so much, Ms. Darnita. I learned something amazing today." (sigh) Back to reality and all I can really hope for is that I show up in the way Spirit has me show up on that day and that the students take a bit of something new with them. Shouldn't that be enough? Yeah. OK, I'm better now.

Virtual Artist Trip Around the Globe

Yesterday, I read an article on tips to get out of a creative rut. One of the tips was to do something different from the regular routine. In my case, I decided to watch various art videos on Youtube. I am still watching them. I found a number of videos on hand block printing in India, a couple of artists doing Pop art, HanJi (Korean paper crafts), and most recent is a playlist from the Korean Artist Project. Below are some of my favorite videos thus far from my virtual artist trip.

Hand Block Printing in India

 

 

Thomas Fedro from Fido Studio

 

Jelene Painting Fish Bunnies

 

  

Myungkeun KOH from the Korean Artist Project

http://youtu.be/Ve6rNrAm81M

Bounty of Spring Blossoms

 

Flowers don't worry about how they're going to bloom.  They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful.  ~Jim Carrey

These past couple of days have been amazing in Seattle and surrounding areas. The sun has been shining brightly and the temperature has been just right to go without a jacket. Yesterday, I made my way out into the sun and into the mountains but not without my trusty camera. As I enjoyed the fresh air, I couldn't help but to capture the lovely flowers saying hello. If I didn't have allergies causing me strife, I would consider Spring as my favorite season.

 

Little Works

I have yet to create a large-scale painting but it is still on the To-Do List. For now, I am enjoying little, cutesy art. I started on these two 6x6 works a month or two ago as I prepared for an exhibition. I wasn't satisfied with either, so I have been hanging on to them. I wish I took before shots but can't change that now. I think these are done, but we'll see.

 

Working Outside the Lines

Every once in awhile I end up in a conversation with someone that asks what I do. Then I respond with "I'm an artist." Sometimes I add the "and a textile designer". For some reason, I get a little choked up with the artist title because the next question out the other person's mouth is "What kind of art do you do?" or "What is your medium?" I respond, "I'm a fractal artist." Oh "I've never heard that" or as one guy said several weeks ago (trying to tell someone else) "You try to figure out what you're looking at". WTF?!!!!! No, that's not what fractals are. Anyway, I shared my pitch about fractals but also interjected by saying "I also paint."

Which brings me to the need for this post. I HATE being confined. Whether physically, mentally, emotionally, metaphorically, whatever.  It is suffocating. And I guess I have a little panic when someone inquires about the type of art I do. I feel like I have to give one answer when in actuality I make what I make. For now, my website acknowledges me as a fractal artist, abstract artist, surface designer, and photographer. I know that seems a lot already, but I do much more than that. I follow the beat of my own drum and go with what makes my heart content at the moment. So, you might see drawings, figurative paintings, collage, poetry, or whatever I decide to create under the sun or moon. That's just how I roll. Whew! I felt like I completed a confessional. I feel so much better now. 

Ok, but to you fellow artists/creative/entrepreneurs, I have some questions for you. How do you explain yourself to others about what you do when you do more than one thing? Do you find yourself wanting to justify your actions and work? How do you thrive in business when so many strategies/business/marketing tools say FOCUS and gear toward your target audience or pick one thing?

Happy Prints

I am thinking about making small happy prints or postcards. The ones above are what I have done so far. Stay tuned to see how this project unfolds.

CREATION Virtual Gallery Showing

Let There Be Light

A few weeks ago, I entered a call for artists hosted by St. James Cathedral in Seattle for their Creation exhibit. Unfortunately, my piece wasn't selected for the exhibit; however, I was invited to be a part of the online virtual gallery. I didn't know when it was going to be available for viewing so I have been waiting patiently. I just so happened to do a google search of my name and low and behold, I see that the virtual gallery is up. So, I invite you to see my piece entitled "Let There Be Light" and the other great works that are a part of the Creation Exhibition.

New Site is Up!

Good day lovelies!

My new website is live! I have been using darnitalhoward.com for my dear Blogger site for a couple of years. Now, it has a new home. So visit www.darnitalhoward.com and see what's new. No worries, I will still blog using Blogger with a link back here from the new site.