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When September 11th, 2021. It was a sunny Saturday in September. The event took place from 4:00 to 7:00 pm covering a convenient time of evening light and the happy hour. What It was an art show: a solo exhibit, a happy hour, a studio tour, a shop and a bit of a party. There was wine, Bellini and lots of snacks. On a large white wall hung 10 small watercolors of different beloved foods. In the hallway hung 4 paintings. In the bedroom hung 2 large oil paintings. In the living space hung 6 fine art paintings (3 watercolor, 3 oils). The whole show revolved around my current theme of gratitude. In the paintings the foods/objects/people were ordinary, placed in juxtaposition with fancy surroundings. In middle-class/upper-class America we take so many ordinary things for granted. I want to express the need to have gratitude and to use what we have for the good and empowerment of others. Where My studio/apartment. One of the historic buildings in downtown Tacoma has recently become my home/studio. It was the perfect place to have an art show because of the tall ceilings and the natural light provided by large old windows. Studio shows are an intimate way for people to view art. It gives viewers a peek into the artist's life and practice. I also didn't have to transport my work to a far away gallery (or share my cut with anyone). Why I had never had a solo show. The art in my arsenal had never been shown off all together. Knowing that people are much more likely to buy what they can see in person and that art should be shared/appreciated regardless of monies-- I decided to host a show myself. As an emerging artist, I'm constantly having to drum up my own hype. The art world is strange. It is a mystery to the uninitiated (both the artist and the viewer/collector). Therefore, it has made sense to have my own event if no one will have one for me. How Thank to several powerful forces when invited, people came. At the start of 2021 I had begun creating and fostering a healthy mailing list. This was my first go-to for invitees. I also was a part of the Spaceworks Business Cohort program and therefore when I reached out, they happily did a promo of my event on their Instagram page. I also did promos on my Instagram. I hung posters in the building, welcoming the residents to come check out the event on the fifth floor. The last powerful resource was my personal community--- my church family. Through posters and the email chain, I invited the church. (Thank you everyone from all these groups who made it to the event. You are my heroes. Thanks to you the event was bustling from start to finish). photos by: Phil Lewis I will happily host this show again (same or different art). And I will happily transport this art somewhere else if you want to host me. I'm always on the hunt for new opportunities. Art should be shared and seen. It inspires us and brings us joy. Please reach out if you want to do a pop up with me or have any other related ideas etc. (253)-495-7991. If you missed this event and want to be aware of the next: join my mailing list.

It's an age old question and I can't really tell you. But I can write 4-5 paragraphs about what I think Disclaimer I I'm not very interested in discussing the art that most confuses you. I think you know the art I mean, *The bananas duct taped to the wall* The sale of something completely talentless, useless, ugly, without talent or merit for $$$$$$$$$$$ simply to be talked about in the world makes me think of the depravity of man. It is the age old worship of money, power and fame for both the artist and the collector. Maybe it's impossible to talk about without sounding bitter and skeptical. Maybe if I sold an NFT for 5 billion dollars I would say something different. Nevertheless, the easiest explanation is greed. If you find another motive, please let me know. Disclaimer II The categories have always and will always overlap in a myriad of ways. This is primarily why is it so difficult to pin down what makes art art and what makes art good. 1) Art- the visual Let's start with visual because it is the most accessible and the most universally accepted. I think visual beauty goes hand in hand with skill/talent. So to avoid too many headings, let's say art that is skillfully made and beautiful qualifies itself as art. Now if you only have this category, it is going to allow for a lot of doctor office/stock art to qualify as art. But thankfully there are also different categories of art: fine art, illustration art, decorative art etc. A piece that falls into only this category is likely to be decorative art. 2) Art- the emotional There's also art that is art because it provokes emotion. Emotional merit and spiritual merit are the two hardest to quantify because art will never affect the viewer the exact same way. Personally, I think if you can incorporate beauty, skill and emotion that can be considered fine art. Emotional art will often start from a place of emotion. Decorative art that is made to be bought and sold wholesale is often created to appeal to the public. Art made from a place of emotion is thought of in the mind, believed in the heart and flows from the practiced hands of the artist. Van Gogh is often quoted talking about the emotional quality of creating and the hope that his viewer sees that emotion. “I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say 'he feels deeply, he feels tenderly.'” (Vincent Van Gogh, the link below) He wanted his art to affect others' emotions. 3) Art- the intellectual Art is also highly intellectual. This covers a number of categories such as historical or political. Art has always been an instrument of historical record or political motivations. The art world often goes from one extreme to the other. I can think of several examples where art was used to make the point of those in power and then artists rebelled to make art exclusively decorative, spiritual or emotional. Compare Neo-Classicism to Romanticism. Art that focuses on historic or political subjects are super important. Paintings, sculpture, dances etc. can become a capsule of a historical moment. It is a means for the "common man" to speak against "the man." It can be, and often is, a way to be counter cultural in a way other facets of life can't be. Art that fits in this category is often accepted as fine art. I get that. But I think there's also something to be said for having a standard. If I package garbage (without thought or beauty or skill) and sell it does that really mean I'm a fine artist making a statement about our society or am I a scam artist making money on your naivete? Intellectual art does not have to be historical or political. Art that has any thought put into it is intellectual. So except for the very mindless creation of mass produced works art can usually be categorized as intellectual. Aristotle is quoted as saying: “The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” (Aristotle, the link below). Art at it's best, reveals something true about life. It says something that the written word can't. 4) Art- the spiritual You might be thinking "hey she gave the religious art it's own category rather than putting it in the intellectual section." Hear me out. Art is not spiritual just because it is religious. Actually, I think there is probably 40-60% (I just made that up) of religious art that doesn't even approach the spiritual. There is also art that is not religious at all but is still deeply spiritual. Keep in mind spiritual doesn't necessarily mean heavenly. I can recall several instances of feeling a spiritual depression in an art gallery or museum. The artist's personal view of spiritual topics leak through the art whether they intend it or not. Maybe they intended to make you upset over the raping of the earth's resources but they might not have intended the spiritual quality of hopelessness that accompanies that subject. I was reading a book about the German Expressionists, painter's known for their emotional view of art. I can't recall which artist was quoted but he said "Art is the longing for God." That sums it up for me. You could be completely unreligious and look at a beautiful painting of lines and color and be brought to tears. That's emotional. But if you crack open nearly any book on the topic of art you will find that people throughout history have felt that art is more than emotion. Art brings the unbeliever closer to the spiritual. Art touches that soul within our animal bodies that knows there is something we aren't seeing with our eyes. Conclusion In the end. It all overlaps. Some say that you don't need all categories. I can get behind that. But also I think that art at it's highest is all of the above- created with skill to be beautiful, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. See my second post on this subject which discusses best practices for when you see that "high brow unintelligible art" Also I've probably missed everything important. See this link full of what "the greats" thought art is.

What should you do when you get frustrated because you just don't get it 1) educate yourself I'm pretty bad at doing this. But thankfully museums know this about people and they provide a lot of educational materials so you can appreciate what they are showing you. Sometimes a gallery show will do this too. However, at gallery shows sometimes the artists don't want to tell you. They want you to see. Thankfully google is in our pockets. You can google the gallery and the artist(s). Somewhere there will be an artist statement or an artist bio which will tell you a little about what you're looking at. If you don't educate yourself you won't see that urinal as the statement that it was. 2) let it go Each piece of art was not created for you. Artists often do not create to be liked. Even when the work is aesthetically pleasing it will not always appeal to everyone, nor should it. But you don't have to the judge. It's freeing. Learn to recognize when art might just not be for you. 3) appreciate it If something is beautiful and skillfully made it is easy to appreciate it. It's okay to enjoy this art more. It's harder when the artwork is stronger intellectually, emotionally or spiritually but not aesthetically beautiful. Try to appreciate for a moment the bravery of another human being to spend their time, money and life to create something that will 9 out of 10 times be misunderstood and derided. Conclusion Years ago, I went to a museum exhibition that impacted me negatively. I didn't educate myself before hand and I'm not sure how much of the museum material I read. I got caught up on how I didn't understand the art at all. I was frustrated that they could call something so pointless and dark - art. It made me feel a spiritual darkness. A lot of art is designed to impact us like that. Sometimes the artist wants us to feel a certain way or sometimes work is created from a dark place and so it has that impact unintentionally. We don't have to accept it as truth just because it's in a museum. If art affects me like that I try to examine why. Maybe the artist did strike truth I need to examine or maybe not. Art is as complicated and varied as humans. Just remember, there is most likely a lot you don't know, it might not be made for you and some other human being had the bravery and fortitude to do something you didn't.

Okay so we talked about where to get frames. But what are my options??? 1) Traditional Frame This is the frame you think of when you read "frame" Your work will be mounted on a mat which will be placed in a frame. In front of the mat there will be either plexiglass or UV glass (glass is best) The back of the frame will be sealed with paper. If your art or art print is flat this is the best way to keep it safe from dirt and sunlight. 2) Floating Frame This type of frame looks like a box. The canvas or wood panel sits inside the frame. There is a 1/4-1/2 gap between the panel and the frame. There is also a floating frame which is completely different. This type is where the art hangs between two panes of glass pressed together inside a traditional frame. This type is cute for photos but is not recommended for art. The traditional frame with a mat protects the art. When the piece is pressed against the glass it will age more quickly. 3) Shadow Box A shadow box is a box with glass. It is typically used to hold things that aren't 2-dimensional pieces of art. 4) Other HERE is a list of non traditional ways to frame art. I wouldn't recommend any of these for fine art or fine art prints. 5) Extra Resource I don't need to reinvent the wheel for you. HERE is a great resource on finding the right frame for your art.

We are a little confused about framing. Let's talk it out. 1) TAKE IT TO THE PROS The EASIEST way to frame is to take it to someone who knows what's up with framing. They will make sure your art is safe and sound for generations to come. They will have good ideas and wise advice. However, they are paid for that wisdom. This option is the easiest, but it is the most $$$ If your art piece is a standard frame size it might not be that expensive. But as soon as you dip into custom frames the price goes way up. My favorite (PNW local) framers are Museum Quality Framing. They are super smart. They also have some more affordable options I've taken advantage of. My advice when going to the pros: ask lots of questions and don't be afraid to ask about cheaper options. They want to help you. 2) DIY You can make your own frame and cut your own matt. You can do it! But it's labor intensive. It's a life style choice. You can also make your own frame and then get someone else to cut you a custom mat. HERE's a helpful video on it (she doesn't have the ideal everything which I think is relatable and helpful). If your art work is on a wood panel or canvas you'll need a floating frame. See HERE on how to make a floating frame. 3) PURCHASE + ASSEMBLE See HERE for this option. This is always an option. It is probably the most common and is the most middle of the road as far as money. Search through resources such as: Amazon, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Etsy, Target, Walmart or TJ Maxx or a garage sale to find a frame you like. Buy a frame that is bigger than your art piece. You'll need a mat (that piece of mat board that surrounds and protects your art). If your art is a weird size you'll need to get a custom mat. Hobby Lobby, Michaels , or a pro shop will cut a custom mat for you. Don't be tempted by the pre-cut mats at the craft store, they are never the size they claim. Important Note: When you are searching for a frame, pay attention to the listed size. If it is a "16x20" frame" that most likely means the frame is 16x20" and the art that goes inside should be 11x14" or something (depending on your mat). If your print is 16x20" you should get a frame that is larger than 16x20" (such as 20x24"). Some frames are labeled well and they say "matted for: ____" But others will be more cryptic. Think it through before you purchase. After you've got your frame and your mat, you are ready to assemble. See HERE for more information on that. OR you can take your pre-purchased frame and the custom mat to the pros (or hobbly lobby/michaels) and have them assemble it for you. I highly recommend this because they have experience and that way you don't have to buy all those extra supplies. HANGIN' Hanging framed art is a different topic. But here are some videos to help you out! THIS video is about adding wire to the back of your frame. THIS video are some hacks on how to hang the frame.

Afternoon Snack, 30x40" oil paint on birch wood cradled panel 2018 1) Inspiration I could wax eloquent upon my muses... OR I could just give you the bullet points: -Gucci's collaboration with artist Ignasi Monreal - Harry Styles (always) -Ocean's 8 (diammonnds) -1700-1800's aristocratic paintings (you know the ones with lace + silks) -Metropolitan Market's french fries (my true love worked there) -Editorials. Editorials that sell jewelry or food commonly pair the two together. These types of photos are probably the closest thing I've ever seen to my pieces. I've seen a lot of food paintings and a lot of jewelry paintings. Maybe it's a little like stealing, but that's what every artist does anyway. Every set up/ composition is my own. Take a look for yourself: here. 2) Supplies Then I started mining my local thrift shops, antique shops and garage sales. I was looking for costume jewelry that was fancy looking and something to hold the French fries. I did not have the glass swan in mind, he was a complete surprise. I found the emerald bracelet and the swan at Luluz's on Broadway. That is providence, or serendipity if you like. The rings were mined from Goldie's which also resides on Broadway. The "curtain" is an old satin 80's dress my mom had kept. She (a seamstress) tacked fringe to the edge of the dress and hung it over a garment rack to make it look like a working curtain. I asked a friend to model for me, I asked my boyfriend to pick up the French fries and I bought ring pops from Fred Meyers. The whole thing was orchestrated in my tiny studio (a small room in my parent's home). 3) Makin' it happen Okay so first- I had the idea. I probably did some sketches (always crap + no where close to the end result) The idea was a luxurious setting with French fries and a fancy hand reaching for them. I thought, this'll be funny. Then I gathered the supplies. After weeks to months of that, I was ready to shoot my idea. The shoot probably took several hours. At one point I didn't think it would ever work. The composition just wasn't working. It was incredibly difficult to make the dress function like a curtain. In the end, I still ended up editing it as I painted. It was probably a coincidence but the shoot was complicated by illness befalling me. It was as if the stress literally made me sick with fever. It took me, the model, my boyfriend and my mother to finally get the image that I ended up painting. It took a serious amount of team work. 3) Why?? Why did I spend 100 hours making this painting in particular? Why is it important? Is it important? Why do I continue in this theme if it's secretly not important? Did I know going into it that it was important? (you can substitute the word important for many evaluative words like- meaningful, significant, relevant, worthwhile). To be honest: I didn't know if it would be important. I don't know if it is important. Maybe it isn't important. However, what I do know is: -it is a good composition -it is visually satisfying -it is relatable and often nostalgic for viewers -it was an idea that I felt like I needed to paint Since creating it, I've found meaning behind the composition. I've essentially made up a story of what it means to me. But almost always I'll paint something because of the way the idea feels, not necessarily the narrative I'll discover later. I believe in this work and for whatever reason so do others, so that makes it important, I think. Afternoon Snack probably won't change the world, but it can add beauty and enjoyment. It can grace your walls and inspire you to create. Maybe your narrative isn't the same as mine but that is one of the beauties of art.

FAQ: How do I start a sketch. I keep messing up and throwing out my drawings. Is there a better way? (Copy of Louis Darling's Ramona Quimby illustration) Hey! Lots of people have this problem. You start a drawing. Something goes wrong (because you're human) and you throw your drawing out. Lots of discouragement and self doubt ensues. Here are some tips and things to remember to prevent drawing depression: 1) Sketch LIGHTLY If you’re drawing, start with a sketch. Like a LIGHT sketch. The closer to the bottom of the pencil (like the graphite part) the darker and harder your lines will be, which equals harder to erase. Therefore, using the end of your pencil (close to the eraser end) will help you draw lighter. It takes getting used to but, trust me. (Helpful videos listed below) 2) It's all about PLANNING It’s all about planning. So A) don't make your first draft your “final” draft. Just like writing B) your sketch should start by planning out the space (like when you make a happy birthday sign and then run out of room bc you didn't plan). Also starting with LARGE shapes then getting more and more detailed. For instance, if you’re drawing a face, don’t draw the eyes before you’ve planned out the actual shape of the head. If you're drawing a whole person, don't start with their head. (Helpful videos listed below) 3) Some mediums are more forgiving than others Yes, some mediums are more forgiving. In thicker mediums like with oil or acrylic, once they dry you can paint over them. Whereas, with watercolor (even though you work in layers) it’s not really going to allow you to paint over mistakes as well. However, I love love watercolor because it’s gorgeous and it’s also a pretty cheap and accessible way to learn how to paint. (So is acrylics but I don't love acrylics). I learned how to paint by using those Crayola watercolor sets for kids bc they are super bright and you don't have to know how to mix color. 4) Copy Copy Copy Even professional artists are looking at objects or images. For instance, I have an idea and I pose the subject, I take a picture and I work from the picture. Unless you're an abstract painter, the human eye needs a reference to work from. Practice makes better. If you want to get better you gotta practice. Copy master works, copy art that inspires you, copy google images, copy celebrities, copy your cat sleeping in the sun. (if you copy someone's work for practice. ALWAYS give them credit. ALWAYS ALWAYS. It's important. See how I credited my sketch of Ramona, it's easy.) In Conclusion Maybe you take my advice and you still mess up. That's okay. There's lots of paper. Be easy on yourself, you're new at this. I believe in you. Drawing lightly + getting larger shape down first actually has a name. It's called gesture drawing. Here are some helpful videos: video one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVXOIBRdzPw video two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNzVKD2UNiQ

1) Pinterest art. Not only do I scroll through Pinterest art (it's a lot of work, so much garbage) but I also curate a board that exclusively has pieces that make me go "wow". If it's not wow, forget it, it probably isn't inspiring you. Find my art board here. 2) Listen to music 3) Read books (novels almost exclusively, poetry works too) 4) Follow other artists/creatives on Instagram to see what they are doing 5) Let your mind wander. 80% of my ideas come to me 9-11 pm. They come when I'm reading but not paying attention to the words or when I'm trying to fall asleep. If we don't let our minds rest a little, we might be blocking some good ideas from coming our way. White noise + darkness does wonders Lastly, This isn't a tip to get inspired. It's a tip what to do AFTER you've been inspired. Write it down. A drawing is great but if you can't draw it (drawing is hard) write it down in words. Just use simple wording that will trigger that memory when you need it. Sometimes the idea will be dumb. But you will never know whether it was gold or not if you can't remember it (and trust me, you'll forget). Once you forget that idea, you may torture yourself trying to remember what that idea was. So, just write it down. If you have no pen/pencil/paper. Try to tell it to someone else or practice word association (like when studying for a test). But best to just be prepared. #getinspired #helpfulhints #methodtomadness

Here is my work ethic + motivational speech on creativity: You don't have to go pro Guess what? not everything has to be about money or fame. It's amazing how freeing that realization can be. I have to remind myself of this all the time (more than once a day probably). Your life can be enriched by making art. So paint, sculpt, do whatever because it gives you joy. Money isn't everything. You don't have to be the best This sounds like the first category but hear me out. 80% of people I meet tell me the same things 1) wow I'm not creative like you 2) I can't do anything artistic creating art in any capacity is extremely emotional and it makes people feel vulnerable. Often they tried painting (etc.) at a young age and they didn't excel at it and they weren't encouraged in it, so they STOPPED. You guys are breaking my heart. Firstly, everything in life has to be practiced. Art is no exception. I would not expect to be able to sit at the piano for the first time and play Mozart. You can't sit down and paint a Van Gogh. But you can certainly practice. Secondly, every single person in the universe who has ever lived or will live, is creative. "Creative: relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas" (that's from Google). We would die if we weren't creative. Maybe you found a creative way to set the table or feed your children. You don't have to be the best or be original to enjoy creating art. It will still feed your soul even if it kind of sucks. But I get it, it takes a serious amount of courage to be willing to fail. Imagine you're a little kid and encourage yourself to just try. Kids are forced to try everything. But over time we become better at stuff because we kept trying. Get inspired No one can be a good writer without reading. No one can be a good artist without looking at art. Sorry, thems the rules. Inspiration is personal, random, emotional and hard to cultivate. There are many many books on the subject (go ahead google them). My methods to get inspired are found here. Supplies You're a noob. Supplies can be expensive. Your mistakes will throw you into emotional turmoil if you spend good money on something you're trying for the first time. Just use what you have and if you need to buy, buy cheap. Once you realize your supplies are holding you back, then you're probably ready to upgrade. #artinfo #inspired #create #cultivatecreativity

This is a little personal Makes me feel Making art makes me feel: productive, important, satisfied, excited, inspired and a part of something bigger than myself. But I have to summon courage when I introduce myself as an artist. It feels like simultaneously saying "I want to make money by selling craft projects" and "I am inspired directly by God himself, thanks." People have ideas in their mind of 1) the starving artist myth 2) the myth of the divinely inspired artist But in the end, it doesn't matter what most people think (just the people that really matter). I paint because it's important to me. I'm good at it. And I'm addicted to the process of creating: inspiration, excitement, hard work, panic, relief, contentment, excitement and fulfillment. Feeling Called Yeah I feel called to paint. I am a Christian and I do believe I've been created to create. This does NOT mean: 1) I think my art is more divinely inspired aka better than other people's ideas 2) I will always be called to be a painter I don't know what my life story is. However, I do know that I have the desire, the means and the drive to paint. For me, right now, it feels like the work I should be doing. Maybe that's a bit wishy washy. But if you open a book on being an artist (by a believer or unbeliever) you will find art commonly connected with spirituality. People create because it allows us as humans to reach something beyond facts/data. It's just that I happen to believe in a specific God that has created me for a purpose rather than a generic universe that has developed art to exercise my soul. Give I really hope that my work is important. My goals right now are to: 1) inspire 2) produce joy 3) generate a renewal in contentment/giving/generosity My current theme is "If I can afford to be a consumer then I can afford to be a giver" #createdtocreate #artist #realtalk