Thursday, March 31, 2011

A Kiss for Luck and It's On Its Way

The other day I shared with you that I was considering applying for a 2 month residency and that I was afraid. One of the reasons for my fear is that I have taken workshops and done residencies in the past, and they haven’t always lived up to what I had hoped for.

Silly me. Worrying that something won’t work out exactly as I planned. But then I remembered that nothing in life ever works out exactly as we think they will, right? Does that mean the experience isn’t worth it? Or worth trying something similar in the future? A definitive no. It might take months or even years to realize the benefit, but it’s there, it’s always there. There are always benefits to every experience. Sometimes we just have to look a little harder to see them.

All of that to say, I shoved aside my fears, with some force, mind you, and did it. Application completed and submitted. Now I just hope for the best, knowing full well that whatever the outcome, it is as it should be.

On that happy note, I bid your farewell. May your day be a creative one!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

More Targets to Shoot At. More Bullets to Fire.

Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines. There have been many deadlines as of late. More targets to shoot at. More bullets to fire.

Which is good, as they keep me moving forward. Most are easy-breezy applications. Fill in the blanks and send in your money. But, I am also applying for a residency. Minimum of 2 months. Which has this homebody a bit nervous.

Well, actually, I am afraid.

And yes, it is easy to say “face your fears,” but it is much harder to do so.

So, I have had some sleepless nights. And heart wrenching conversations.

Is this right for me?
Should I do it?
What if I am not selected?
What if I am selected?
Do I really want to do it?
Will it really be good for me?
And on and on.

In the end, the pros outweigh the cons. So I gotta do it.

Scary, indeed, but I’m just gonna ride it out and see where it takes me.

I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Show and Tell Sundays-Hoop-Lah!

Here are two more small skins that I wanted to share with you, both with the addition of color.

Gotta be the flowers blooming all around that inspired me to add the color.  I like the addition and plan on using more colors on future skins.  Slowly moving forward with the series.  Not jumping out and taking big risks.  But moving forward nonetheless.

Let me know what you think. And may your day be a creative one!


Thursday, March 24, 2011

Do You Do Morning Pages?

Julia Cameron hit a home run with The Artist’s Way. Have you read the book? Done your 3 pages daily? If you haven’t read it, I would highly recommend doing so. It is well worth the read. Check out Julia Cameron’s website here for information on the book and more.

The reason I ask you about the 3 pages is that today I stumbled upon a notebook full of my daily pages from early 2000 and what an interesting read it has been!

Here is an excerpt from March 2000.
“I really, really, really do want to be successful…but I don’t know if I’ll ever get there. I don’t’ think I’m talented enough. I don’t think I work hard enough…what if the ideas don’t come.”

When I first read this I was saddened to hear such self doubt. But, wait a minute. I needn’t feel sad, I should be glad as I don’t feel this way anymore.

Not talented enough? As you already know, I accept that I have never been the most talented artist, but I have tenacity and that takes me much further. And I work very hard in my studio daily.

Ideas won’t come? Hardly. I can’t turn off the ideas. There currently aren’t enough hours in the day to finish all of them.

And success? Well, I’ve matured since then. I’m not sure what I was pining for back then, but I imagine it had to do with accolades from my peers. Fortunately, I have received recognition for my work since then in the form of awards and such, but more importantly, I realize that success isn’t measured by outside sources, but how I feel within.

All of this to say, wow, I honestly feel the pages worked for me. I am happy I took the advice to heart and devoted the time to them. I feel certain they had a great impact upon who I am today. Seeing hard work come to fruition, well, what better testimonial can there be.

So, my advice is to check out the book, if you haven’t already done so, and do the pages, whether you are new to them or starting anew.  And I plan to do the same. Keep me posted on how they go, and I shall do the same.

May your day be filled with new beginnings!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can

Well, Monday came and went and I didn’t post anything as I had promised on Sunday, sorry about that. But I have been plodding along with this new piece. It’s much larger than the ones I have made before, so I’m taking it slowly and listening carefully. No need to rush it, me thinks, the work will always be waiting for me.

I am revisiting the fence from Cover Me (the skin with the life vest), as I really liked it and wanted to see how I felt about it a second time around. A teacher in grad school, Diane Dawes, once advised me to recycle ideas or concepts often, especially when you are stuck as it’s a great jumping off point. I’m not stuck, heck, I can’t keep up with the ideas that keep streaming though my head, but still, it’s good advice.

I see the girls, dresses, fence, life vest, umbrella, etc. as symbols and each time I use them I am seeing them in a new way. Like a story. The words of the story are the symbols, and though the words have been used a bazillion times before, when strung together in a new way, the meaning is completely different. That’s how I see my work, something new from something familiar.

As I say in my artist statement, “Each piece is a fresh attempt to see things in a new way, yet remain part of an ongoing dialog. Each is tied to the next and the one before. They are all intrinsically linked together and the conversation continues.”

And the conversation will continue, but for now I shall get back to work.

May your day be creative and productive!

I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can, 54” x 100”
Kim Radatz

I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can, detail
Kim Radatz
P.S. As you might be able to see, the paint is still wet.  Much work yet to be done, including the stitching, but I wanted to share it with you.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Show and Tell Sundays-Come Monday

Monday is gonna have to come before I have any work to show you as my niece had a surprise wedding this past weekend and I was busy with all the hustle bustle that goes along with any wedding.

I have been working on a new larger skin, 54” x 100”, which I will share with you on Monday; it just needs more work before there is enough for you to look at. But I like what is happening so far.

I look forward to seeing you on Monday! Until then, have a great one!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Do You Do it Too?

I worked on some mixed media pieces to match décor this week and my Artist Within that likes angst was up in arms. In my head I kept hearing, “You shouldn’t make art that matches a sofa!”

Also, a friend recently voiced apologetically that she was painting a room to match her art. These “shoulds” gotta go. What we should never do is feel guilty about any creativity we participate in. Our life should be full of joy, not guilt. So, I’m making the choice to ignore my inner artist as she obviously has some issues of her own that she needs to work out.

For me, I’m gonna keep making whatever interests me at the moment. There will be a lesson in all work that I do and I don’t want to miss those lessons because I was feeling guilty.

Those “shoulds,” and the ensuing guilt that comes with them, kill creativity. Don’t let them in. And when they do creep in from time to time, get rid of them as soon as possible. Honor your own special creativity and your true voice will emerge.

On that happy note, I hope you have a creative day!


Fruitful Life, 2011
Kim Radatz©


Tuesday, March 15, 2011

I’m Doing the Tango and She’s Doing the Jitterbug

She’s Come Undone, 52” x 27”
Kim Radatz
Mercy me.

This girl that has come undone is about to undo me. We just haven’t figured out our rhythm and keep stepping on each others' toes. So I’m leaving her alone for a while to work on other pieces. I’ll get back to her soon enough, but for now we rest. I have faith the ideas will come in due time.  At least, I hope they do. :-)

I'll keep you posted.

May you have a productive and creative day!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Show and Tell Sunday - New Possibilities

I’ve been working on the skin “She’s Come Undone, but boy, is she kickin’ my butt. We just haven’t figured out our dance yet, but eventually it’ll get worked out.

In the meantime, here are 2 new possibilities for pieces to wrap.  I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Until next time, have a great one!

In Transit

His and Hers

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Tattooed Bits of Skin

Like cast off tattooed bits of skin, these pieces tell the story long after the moment has passed.

This is an excerpt from my artist statement about the “Skins” series that I am currently working on.

Hmmm, interesting. Maybe I should look at real tattoos as inspiration? And what better place to do some tattoo viewing than at the Bike Week event in Daytona Beach? Road trip!

Me at the Cabbage Patch
Daytona Bike Week 2011
But the reality is (and I knew this before I went, it was just an excuse for some fun in the sun. :-D) is that this series isn’t about tattoos that come from a tattoo parlor; it is about the marks that life leaves on us. Scars scattered everywhere.

I won’t lie to you and say I love all of my scars (physical or emotional), but I know they are a part of life. Permanent reminders of where we have been. So I will happily accept them if it in any way indicates that I am living a full life.

On that happy note, I bid you farewell and hope that you have a great one!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Show and Tell Sunday- She’s Come Undone

As we have talked about before, deadlines can be a very good thing. I could do without the last minute, drama and stress induced kind, but on the whole, I think deadlines help keep us on track.

I recently completed an application for a show, to the point of putting it in the envelope and sealing it up, only to get a notice that the deadline was extended for 2 weeks. Bummer, I first thought. But, no, wait. I need to think about this some more. This means I can keep on working and see if I like any of the new works better for the submission.

Life throwing me another chance to do something better. I like it when than happens. And I almost overlooked it.

Below is the piece I have been working on as a possible addition to my application. It's still in the very early stages, but there is more to come.  A little something extra on this piece.  I'll hope to have it posted before next Show and Tell Sunday.  Time will tell on that front.  But you will be the first to know.

Until next time, may you have a great one!

She's Come Undone
57 x 30"
 Kim Radatz
She's Come Undone, detail
Kim Radatz

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Do You Give Good__________(fill in the blank)?

No matter what the blank is to you, are you good at it?

Do you go the extra mile?

Are you the best that you can be?

Even on a bad day?

I received an order of eggs today (nope, I no longer blow my own as I use too many) from The Feathered Egg. This is my second order from Corinne and both times her customer service has been way above average.

And I’m not talking about the condition of the eggs when they arrived. Though happily, there were no broken eggs either time as each one was lovingly (you could just feel it) wrapped in protective bubble wrap. It was the small pair of scissors included in the first order to assist me in unwrapping said eggs that let me know this was a company that was top notch.

But the box I received today made me break out in a big smile. On top was a tiny little pink chick, the kind you see everywhere at this time of year. So yes, they are readily available. And no, I can’t put it to good use, but it let me know that The Feathered Egg goes the extra mile each time they send a shipment. And it made me happy and warm inside. That can never be a bad thing.

Maybe I can put it to good use, after all. I think I’ll attach it to the top of my computer so that every day I am reminded that I too should go the extra mile and be good at whatever task is currently at hand.

Thank you, Corinne, for reminding me to reach higher!

Have a great day, everybody!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Honest Abe

As I have shared with you before, I love words of affirmations.

Actually, who wouldn’t? We all need a little "life is short" reminder from time to time, me thinks.

And still, with ALL of the magnets, coffee cups, drink coasters, etcetera, that I have I can still find little gems that make me sit up and take note.  I love it when that happens.

Yesterday as I visited my local Borders store for the last time I came across a set of note cards in a pretty little decorative box. Inside the cover of the box it said,

Whatever you are be a good one. 
-Abraham Lincoln      

Love it

Simply stated.

But profoundly important.

Whatever you are be a good one. Wonderful. I think I'll try.

And may your day be a good one too!