Can't I Just Stay Home With My Cats?

I finished painting number three last night. It's a smaller and narrower format than I usually work in but I'm happy with the result. I'm obsessed with tree shadows right now and whenever there is a sunny day, I am out taking lots of reference photos. Many of the trees are still leaf-less and cast the most amazing, limb-like shadows on buildings. Now I have the task of trying to figure out what to do for my next painting - so many ideas! I've got my work cut out for me.

I would love nothing more than to stay at home painting with my cat assistants by my side, but as I move further into the world of being an artist who wants people to see, enjoy and purchase my work, I am realizing that being social is pretty important. Like the old adage offered to shy girls and boys hoping to go on a date: Prince/Princess Charming isn't going knock on your door, you need to get out and meet people. While I do like to socialize and meet people, I am an introvert through and through. Where social occasions are energizing for extroverts, they tend to be draining for introverts. Because of this I am highly selective with my gallivanting.

A case in point--there were two opening receptions tonight that I had planned to attend: a printmaker's show at Avis Frank and Beth Secor's show at Inman Gallery. This morning I felt energetic and raring to go to both. As the day went on, I decided to skip the Avis Frank show, and later, after every shred of extroversion had left my body, I decided to stay home. What I like about receptions is that I usually meet new people, see friends, and meet the artists featured in the show. I also think its important to get out and be part of the art community.

The reality is that making art is a very solitary activity. Because of this, it attracts a lot of introverts who enjoy their studio time immensely and cringe when it's time to get out and be social. While I don't exactly "cringe" at socializing, I really do prefer staying home with my cats. Don't take it personally though, it's not you, it's me.

Ordinary Paintings

I visited the Lawndale Art Center this week to scope out the gallery where I will be having my show in August. I'm a planner (I even have a degree in planning. Unused to this day!) and in order to calm my nerves, I tend to analyze, over analyze and plan every minute detail of any project I undertake. My husband says that I would be great at planning military battles, but I'm just not into that. I'm more into planning vacations and such.

What I love most about Lawndale is that I never know what to expect when I visit. Invariably there is a video on nonstop loop that must annoy the bejesus out of the staff. The other art though is probably not what your grandmother would consider art, meaning that it is challenging and rarely involves traditional paintings. This worries me a bit. While I don't consider my paintings traditional, next to most of shows I have seen at Lawndale, my paintings seem pretty "normal." The last thing I want to present is the most boring show in Lawndale history. At the same time, I did propose a show of paintings. I guess my challenge is to remain true to my original intention but push what I am doing a little further. It's really exciting to think about the possibilities!

Doing Lines and Meeting Deadlines

No, I have not turned to 1970-era, disco drugs to get my artwork done. I've just been painting lines, lots of lines, as I put the finishing touches on my latest painting. This is usually a very Zen-like experience for me but yesterday I ran out of the right color of paint with only a few lines left to do so that was kind of a buzz kill. Alas, I am a fighter and you can't keep this girl down. I went right back to my disposable palette pad, mixed some more paint and charged on. Mission accomplished! Now I need to decide if I still want to add the side building that I'd planned on and whether to do a cool blue, light Diebenkornish "sky" or keep it white. I kind of like the starkness of the white. We shall see...

Thursday night was the opening of my first two-person show, Toward Subsistence: Paintings by Rebecca Hamm and Cary Reeder, at the O'Kane Gallery, UH-Downtown, Houston. First off, the exhibition looks great! What a hidden gem the O'Kane is - such a great space. I'm so pleased with how my paintings mesh with Rebecca's oversized, abstract watercolors based on the natural environment. While the O'Kane Gallery is a bit off the beaten path, I hope you will stop by to see the show. It's definitely worth the trip!