Show and Tell Sunday-What About You? What are You Working On?

  

Work in progress, She’s Come Undone©, Kim Radatz, 2011


During the Florida Craftsmen show this past summer I sold quite a few pieces. Yay! In this economy I'm not going to take that bit of fortune for granted. Truth be known, I never take sales for granted. I am always so pleased to hear positive words about my work that I’m tempted to give my work to that very nice person.

Thankfully, I don’t handle my sales!

Anyway, I got a commission for one of the sold pieces, She’s Come Undone. I don’t make duplicates, but similar pieces. I don’t think it’d be possible for me to duplicate something. But like my twin sister and I, the work looks similar yet different.

Here are the 2 pieces I’m working on. The buyer will take her pick once they are finished and the remaining one is slated for a show at The Pump House in La Crosse, Wisconsin this September. I’m pleased to be getting a jump start on that show, should have all of the work done by April. It’ll help eliminate some last minute stress, which there always is, no matter what.

So, that's what's new with me.

What about you? What are you working on?

 
I am too exhausted to write.

Sorry.

But while I catch my breath and rest my feet I've got a few images to share with you of the C. Emerson Fine Arts booth.

Thank you, Lori, for bringing my work.  I am honored.


C. Emerson Fine Arts
Kim Anderson, Lee Basford, Clayton Chandler,
Dirk Dzimirsky, Rocky Grimes, Kyle Hughes-Odgers,
Justin Nelson, Danile Mrgan, Kim Radatz



C. Emerson Fine Arts
Kim Anderson, Lee Basford, Clayton Chandler,
Dirk Dzimirsky, Rocky Grimes, Kyle Hughes-Odgers,
Justin Nelson, Danile Mrgan, Kim Radatz



C. Emerson Fine Arts
Kim Radatz

No, as in no more for now.

Until the next time, may you be filled with creativity!

Abstract Thinking



Or maybe better said, sometimes you just have to punt.

I came to Miami for Art Basel.

I scoured the catalogs and brochures.

I made detailed notes.

I planned day by day.

Then I started my day by visiting with a friend.

And then I blew off the list.

I love lists, but it just felt right to drop everything and visit the Miami I knew while I lived here.

I moved to Miami from New York in 1977 and left for Tampa in 1998. A lot of years to do a lot of things.

I worked here. I was educated here. I met and married my husband here. I helped raise my step-children here. Essentially, I grew up here. Not as in years, though, naturally that happened too, but in maturity. I owe much to Miami.

So, today I visited the places I where I had lived, where I worked, the colleges I attended, and some of the people I met along the way.

Bittersweet.  And wonderful.

Tomorrow will be a killer day catching up with all of the “should’s” from today.

But sometimes it is more important to LIVE life than it is to do the stuff we “should” do.

I’m glad I did.

I know the emotions that I experienced today will come out in my work.

I can’t wait to see what it will be.

If I am able, I will post some work that I have seen tomorrow night.

Until the next time, may all be well with you.

 

Image from Internet



Are You Good at Saying NO?



Letters to My Lover, I said No, No, No

©Kim Radatz, 2011

I hope you are better at it than I.  I suck at it!

But 10 days of unexpected down time has forced me to rethink how I spend my energy from day to day.

I fell down the stairs 7 years ago. Graceful, I am not. As I was airborne I made a conscious effort to protect my spine from a direct hit. Quick thinker, thankfully, I am. It worked, though I did suffer some permanent damage. Multiple herniated disks top that list. Which periodically rear their ugly heads and force me to stop everything.

Hence the rethinking.

I know my priorities. I make lists. I remind myself. But inevitably I say "yes" to things that take more out of me than I gain in return. This has to stop.

I don’t expect to change completely overnight, but hopefully I will remember to take care of myself and my needs first. How can I help other people when I need help getting out of bed?

I'll keep you posted on how that goes. :)

I did manage to make more envelopes for my Letters to My Lover series which will be in the SCOPE show in Miami next week. Nothing like a motivator such as that! :)

Here are a few that I’d like to share with you:

Letters to My Lover
©Kim Radatz, 2011



Letters to My Lover
©Kim Radatz, 2011



Letters to My Lover
©Kim Radatz, 2011

And now I am going to go get ready for the holiday tomorrow. Down time will have to wait.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, my friend! May your heart be full of love and may many blessings come your way!

Miami, Here I Come- SCOPE It Out!

2 weeks from today I’ll be driving to Miami to participate in the SCOPE show during the chaos in Miami known as Art Basel.

I am very excited. A little scared too.

I’m honored that Lori Johns of C. Emerson Fine Art invited me to participate. It is reassuring to know that people believe in my work.

And it is a going home of sorts as I lived in Miami most of my adult life.

But the scary part?

Well, it’s always a little unnerving to show work, especially since this is such a world renowned show. Akin to running naked, as I have mentioned before.

Also, I will be seeing people, specifically former teachers and fellow classmates, most of whom I haven’t seen since leaving Miami.

I graduated from Miami-Dade Community College with my AA. Then Florida Internatioanl University with my BFA. And finally the University of Miami with my MFA. Which took me 16 years to complete. Longer than average, but I needed that time to grow as an artist.

And grow, I have.

So I shall relish the tingling going on in the pit of my stomach and forge ahead.

I’ll hope the show is a huge success for all of us.

And I’ll enjoy spending time with old friends and making new memories with them.

This time though, it’ll be the new, more confident artist that you know. Instead of the rather shy, insecure one that left way back when.  And that, my friends, can only be a good thing!

On that happy note, I shall sign off.

I'm happy to be back and apologize for the long absence!

Until the next time, may you have a creative day!

Clowning Around and Thinking Out Loud in the Bag

I have been teaching myself to sew this summer. Yep, for more than a few years I have used the sewing machine as my main tool, yet I officially don’t know how to sew.

I can get the job done, mind you, my work just hasn’t been about the sewing. To me, using the sewing machine is akin to using welding torches, (which I do know how to use); the end result is the same, it’s the materials and the tools used to attach two parts together that are different. But connecting together they both do.

So I bought a book about sewing and started the lessons. It has been an interesting journey so far. Obviously, some things worked out better than others, but each one has taught me something, and that is always a good thing.

About the time I started my lessons I received my dresses back from the Cloth Paper Scissors Artisan Search which now hang in my studio. After looking at them for a while I was inspired to try one of the projects in the book with the paper fabric that I used for the CPS dresses.

Below are a few of the bags I have made. Not sure where they’ll go from here but I have been enjoying the process. It has been a labor of fun, with a touch of aggravation thrown in. =D

And now I shall put the fabrics and sewing machine away for the weekend, very appropriate for the Labor Day Weekend, me thinks.

Wherever you are and whatever you do, I hope you have a fantastic and safe Labor Day Weekend!


Kim Radatz©



Clowning Around Red, Kim Radatz©

 

Clowning Around Blue, Kim Radatz©



Thinking Out Loud, Kim Radatz©



Never To Give Up, Kick Against the Pricks

I’ve been working on more envelopes; here are 3 of them.

Like any ol' spin doctor, taking words out of context changes their original meaning.  These 3 pages came out of a heavy handed religious book from the 1940's.

Food for thought.

Never To Give Up, Kick Against the Pricks, 2011
Kim Radatz

Deep Down Below The Fire Sill Lives
2011
Kim Radatz

I hope you have a creative day.

Show and Tell Sunday-Double Edged Sword

I have been working towards a show a C. Emerson Fine Art, and instead of delivering something from a current series, I wanted to try something new and different.

Which brings me to the double edged sword.

It is great to be challenging myself to try something new, as in doing so the challenge is also pushing me forward towards new and wonderful possibilities. But, it also leaves me feeling nervous and vulnerable.

Tell me, does the same thing happen to you?

And if yes, how do you deal with it?

In the meantime, here are some pix of my new piece, Letters to My Lover (Bleeding Out), along with my artist statement.

For many years I used the house form as a metaphor for people. That concept evolved to include clothing as an actual house for our bodies. Taking the concept one step further, I removed the form altogether using only the skins. Like cast off tattooed bits, the skins remain to tell a story long after the moment has passed.

With Letters to My Lover (Bleeding Out), I am reintroducing a form, this time a simple envelope, but one rich with its own history and symbolism. In tandem with the memories of the viewer the piece becomes a unique experience to each individual. 

Letters to My Lover (Bleeding Out)
2011
©Kim Radatz

Letters to My Lover (Bleeding Out), detail
2011
©Kim Radatz

Letters to My Lover (Bleeding Out), detail
2011
©Kim Radatz

Whaddaya think?

And no matter what you do, I hope you have a creative day!




P. S. The gallery owner loved the piece. :-)

Some Days Are More Challenging Than Others

“Happiness comes when you overcome the most impossible challenge.”

In the whole scheme of life, the challenge I am facing with this new series I am working on is nothing. But, oh how I wish it would ease up a bit. I have been inside out and upside down and everywhere in-between with no resolution on the work.

So, when I brewed my tea this morning and read the inspirational message that came with the tea bag, I felt the universe was trying to tell me something. And I will heed the advice. Struggle through the piece. It’ll all work out in the end. Hopefully it’ll happen soon!

In case you aren’t familiar with Yogi Teas, and I wasn’t until very recently, each tea bag comes complete with delicious tea and an inspirational message. As some of you know, I just love inspirational messages! Makes me want to run out and buy more boxes just for the messages. But, I won’t, it’s back to work for me, I will resolve this piece!

I’ll let you know if and when it works out.

Until then, may your day be a productive one!

BRAVA- Women's Work at Salt Creek Artworks

Our show opened on Friday and what a lovely evening it was visiting with old and new friends alike.

Here are some pictures I took after set up, but before the opening as I was way too busy to get any pix at that time.  I intended to take some, but......

Have a  great evening and a creative day tomorrow!

Kim Radatz

Margaret Conte

Candace Knapp

Phyllis McEwen

Carolina Cleere

Lyla Haggard

Show and Tell Sundays- Games People Play

Tonight I’ll be packing up work to be delivered tomorrow to Salt Creek Artworks in St. Pete. Set up begins in the morning. Let the games begin.

I’m bringing Wishful Thinking and 5 or 6 Skins. The final count will be determined once I start hanging. I’d always rather edit out than run home to finish work in a hurry.

Speaking of being in a hurry, this past week I was rushing around my studio trying to get some extra work done and tore the paper on a piece in progress. I tried to repair it, but things only got worse and the piece was ruined. You can see the big tear on his right hand.  Ah well, that’s what I get for rushing. I quickly began a replacement piece.

I’ve included an image of the first one with the mistake and the beginnings of the second piece with just the pencil drawing. It’s actually further along now, but I shall share images of all of them this week once they are hung.

Off to start my day. Whatever you do today, may it be fantastic!

Games People Play, 60" x 26"
Kim Radatz

Show and Tell Sundays-Work in Progress

Here is a piece in the early stages for my upcoming show at Salt Creek Artworks St. Pete. I like it so far. But there is much more to do yet.  I'll keep you posted.


Kim Radatz


What do you think?

Show and Tell Sundays-Biting Off More Than I Can Chew

Most of the work that I have accomplished in my studio as of late has been on the computer, except for the odd times here and there when I can work on my behemoth skin, I’m Dancing As Fast As I Can. I think I bit off more that I can chew with that one. And I wonder why I felt the need to make it big. But big it is. It just seemed to call for it and I obliged my inner artist on that one. So I am plodding along slowly and soon it’ll be time to add the stitching. Because it is big, fitting into my sewing machine will be interesting indeed. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes. For now I am feeling the need to work on some embroidery hoops as I can work through ideas much quicker with those. And immediate gratification is a good thing sometimes too!

On that happy note I bid you farewell. I hope you have a fantastic day.

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

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!

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.

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!

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!

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

Tenacity Trumps Talent

My 15 year old niece is applying for a summer workshop at an art college and needs my help with the whole application process. I am always happy to help. People have helped me and I am eternally grateful for that, so I am passing it along. I was once told you can only repay kindness with kindness. Seems like a lovely rule of thumb to live by.

Back to my niece. What can I do to help her at this very beginning step in her art career?

First, I’m gonna tell her to read my blog. She can skip over most of it, if she wants, but I want her to read about the failures. About my failures. I do walk on water in her eyes, so it’s time to show her otherwise.

Secondly I’m going to tell her that the single most important part of success isn’t talent, its tenacity.

Though I knew my entire life that I wanted to be an artist, I was never the most talented kid throughout that time. I’m talking all the way through school, elementary through college. And it took me 20 years to get my MFA so this isn’t just a casual statement. I’ve got the time under my belt to prove my statement. Admittedly most of those college years were off and on for my AA. Once I set my mind to getting my degree, first my BFA and then my MFA, I was very focused and on track. Again, not the most talented. But nobody worked harder than I did, even in the early years.

As you already know, I was very shy and insecure. All those classes I took were my testing grounds. I tried, I failed. I watched and listened. I learned from all of it. I needed those 20 years to finally believe that I was an artist. And I am glad I did it that way. It worked for me.

I hope Lydia takes a shorter course. Though I hope she doesn’t skip failing.

I hope she will be willing to step outside her comfort zone to try something new. Something uncomfortable. I hope she tries things that don’t come easy or things she is not good at. If she stays only in her comfort zone she’ll be holding herself back and not growing to her potential. I hope she’ll have some great failures. And I hope she sees me in the back corner with my pom poms cheering her on.

Nurture, 8 inch hoop, Kim Radatz

Have a great day!

Show and Tell Sunday – Finally Something Finished

It took me a while, but I am back on track and getting some work finished. Finally.

You saw this skin early on, and now here it is finished.  I cropped the long threads hanging off of the fence in the photo as they just didn't show up.  Tis a shame as I love the threads.  They are an important part of the piece.  Just as the "stuff" below the dresses are in my "dress series."  To me they are the detritus we gather moving through our lives.  Still an integral part of us as they drift away from our physical self.

All of that to say, you're just gonna have to see it in person to see it in its entirety. :-)


Cover Me, 30" x 38", Kim Radatz

Feel free to send your thoughts my way.

May your day be a creative one!