Moved

With some mixed emotions I have switched to blogging at my wordpress site. www.danabarbieri.com
I have read and been told all about keeping your home all under one roof. I mentioned I was considering it, feeling a bit sentimental and nervous and then blogger went bust for a bit so I decided why not now? And now it is. I set it up so that if you were a follower here you are still one, now just at the new site. I believe if were subscribed in a reader you may have to re-subscribe. I am not totally sure though.

All of the old posts are on the new site and things may be a bit wonky with things but it will get better.

I am doing things bit by bit.

I really hope to see at my new home. Bye, Bye Blogger. :(

this and that

This post may take me all day to write which sometimes they do. It is 7 a.m. and little noises are coming from my daughter. This is late for her. Nearly another week has gone by. Whew! It has been a swirl of: an anniversary (11 years :)), Mother's Day (happy one to you mama's), t-ball, pre-k registration and PAINTING!

Painting from a photo by Leslie from A Creative Mint

I have been doing more one hour pieces, and lately they have been uh, not so great. BUT I am happy that I am painting consistently. Just DO THE WORK. This seems to be it.

In reference to the top photo and the question on my mind... ARTISTIC STYLE. I feel drawn to paint in many ways, many mediums, many subjects. I like nature, city influences, patterns, country/cottage,homey. I look at the top photo and see a commonality in perhaps the color and paint application. I often wonder how well known artists crank out the same, same and stay inspired. And yet I know these artists are known for their particular thing... Kelly Rae Roberts for girls and words of hope,  Marisa of Creative Thursday for her little characters, Geninne for her watercolor birds. And they are successful and their is art gorgeous. I wonder if their is a trade off between success and creative freedom?

Other things swirling, reading, loving....

*I have recently read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.  Please get this if you ever deal with creative blocks. O.K. so everyone get it. :) He has a new book that I just began Do The Work, you can download it for free!

*Art and Soul Radio. I love, love, love listening to these shows! Yes, I think I am a bit addicted. I download them and listen as I am cooking dinner, walking, painting. I have learned so many things from each and every one!

*I am going to open an art shop soon, should I go to Etsy or Big Cartel?

And just to mention, this post was the last saved version I had before Blogger bit the dust for a bit so I don't remember how this post ended. :)

I hope you are enjoying the weekend.
xo

Art Biz Mama: Suzanna Scott of Sushi Pot

Today I have a brand new Art Biz Mama interview! This time with Suzanna Scott of Sushipot. I remember coming across her Etsy shop and just falling in love with her creations. She is a hugely successful seller and of course a mom. Enjoy the interview friends.

Could you please share a bit about you, your family and your business? 

Hello to all you fellow artists and blog readers of the lovely Dana! I’m Suzanna Scott, a 36-year-old artist/wife/mama living in the “Little Apple” (aka Manhattan, Kansas). My best friend Patrick and I were married 10 years ago and we have a little girl named Lizzie who is at the spunky age of six. Patrick is a graduate student at Kansas State University. We homeschool Lizzie and we’ve been running a home business together, Sushipot Art Objects, since 2006. I create and sell my own ‘art objects’ and vintage goodies as well. Patrick handles the business side of things to give me more time in the studio and ‘cuz numbers make my head ache. Lizzie keeps us from getting too serious about life!

When did you make the decision to start your art business? 

Shortly after Lizzie was born in December of 2004 I started to seriously look for ways to make it happen.

 How has having children affected your business and creativity?

Both have flourished! Before Lizzie came along I had no steady business. I was an artist and would sell my work from time to time but was not making a living doing it. My daughter has inspired me to create every day from the day she was born and she is an artistic little soul herself. We feed off of each other’s creativity.

 Would you please share what a “typical day” is like for you? Is there school or childcare, etc. while you are working?

On a typical weekday Patrick and Lizzie wake up first, have breakfast together and Patrick leaves for school. They let me sleep in ‘cuz I’ve been up late working in the studio the night before! Lizzie and I take the morning a bit easy. I shower and get ready for the day while she takes care of her chores. After my first cup of coffee, Lizzie plays in her playroom or reads while I turn on my computer, answer any urgent emails, post my blog post (hopefully composed the night before) and check our Etsy shops for activity. Next we do schoolwork together, gather any orders that need to be packaged up and stop for a lunch break at 1:00 pm. After lunch we go for a short walk if the weathers nice and read a few chapters out loud from our current book. The afternoons are spent packing orders and/or working together at our huge 8 foot crafting table that Patrick made for the studio. This table has been a lifesaver ‘cuz we can work side by side and I’m able to keep working while overseeing Lizzie’s current craft projects or school work at the same time. Patrick returns home at 5ish and we cook dinner together and have family time until Lizzie’s bedtime at 7:30. I hit the ground running after the little one is in bed and work in the studio until the wee hours.

 How many hours do you give to your business each week? Are you working during the days/evenings/weekends?

Let’s just say I put in more hours at this job than any other full time position I’ve ever held! I work in pockets of time throughout the day. Before becoming a mom I’d have scoffed at the idea of working in my studio in only 15-20 minute intervals but it’s truly amazing what you can accomplish in that short amount of time. My prime studio time is from Lizzie’s bedtime until at least midnight (and dare I say sometimes later). Every weekend Patrick gives me another big chunk of studio time while he and Lizzie run errands and spend some time together. 

Balance seems to be a myth for many women.  Do you feel you have a healthy balance between your work life and your family life?

I liken the ideal of “balance” to more of an “ebb and flow” or a “give and take”. What works and lends “balance” during one season doesn’t always work for the next. There’s a constant juggling act going on during periods of transition where we have to “go with the flow” or fall off that proverbial tightrope. If it weren’t for Patrick’s voice of reason when the going gets tough I’d have fallen off a long time ago!

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us today? Any words of wisdom for other artists/moms out there who wish to create a business out of their art?

Thank you so much for inviting me to share my story with your readers Dana!! To any of you artist/mama’s out there who want to do this I’d have to just say—Go for it! Seriously, start using those tiny pockets of time in your day to create and make it happen! 

Thank you Suzanna!

You can find out more about Suzanna by following the links below.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 ART OBJECTS: http://sushipot.etsy.com
 VINTAGE: http://sushipotparts.etsy.com
 BLOG: http://sushipot.blogspot.com 

 TWITTER: http://twitter.com/SushipotArt
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

some more one hour paintings

I am really enjoying the challenge of painting for one hour. Have any of you tried it? I feel like lessons are being learned. I am being more decisive (you have to be), not so critical (who has time?) and you don't get attached to the piece. You let it come and then you are done. Yes, there is a tiny bit of temptation to go back in and fix this or that but I didn't do it and I won't. You have heard it before I am sure but it is true, if you want to paint, paint, if you want to write, write. So often just the getting to it causes problems.

I hope your weekend was full and great.
xo

spring described

magnolia, finally bloomed. two weeks late

this is truly my favorite (and newly arrived) season for these reasons

blooming
magnolias
robins
clothes on the line
food on the grill
green grass
clear days
beginning again
buds
windows open
renewal
light
light
and
more light
+an anniversary :)

what is it that you love about spring?
_______________________________
P.S. A winner was randomly chosen by my husband for the Creativity Boot Camp. I couldn't pick. I wanted you all to attend but in the end Line won! Congrats Line!
And remember if you are still interested you can still sign up. Half of the course fee is going to a great cause.
Click here to learn more.
xo

One hour

I gave myself one hour to create a painting. I listened to a podcast that Carol Marine, a daily painter, did with Melissa from Thriving Artist's Project and felt inspired. Her story is great.  I did this while my daughter was up and playing. I used acrylagouache on a Ampersand board. I had a lot of fun. Giving yourself a time limit is great! It forces you to work fast and not over think everything. I know my bottle is wobbly and shadows aren't really right but I still really like this little painting. My daughter is napping now. I am off to try another one. See you soon. Don't for get to enter to win a spot in Creativity Bootcamp! There is just a couple more days to enter.

Creativity Bootcamp

Are you ready to answer the deeper callings of your creative soul? Are you tired of following the pack and are ready to begin producing your most authentic work? Do you yearn to produce work with full of meaning and brimming with authenticity? Then I have something for YOU!  

From May 15-28, 2011 Maegan Beishline from Life Set to Words is running Creativity Boot Camp:Spring Training.

From Maegan:
CBC: Spring Training is all about artistic exploration…and through that exploration, getting to know yourself as an artist. It is all about doing the work and flexing the creative muscles in an effort to get to the place where you are producing very authentic work…the work of your soul. Each day of the two week course, there will be a different essay on creativity, an activity to go along with that essay, and some ideas for journaling or further thinking. Also, throughout the course, there will be thoughts and inspiration shared by other artists to really dive into the different mediums. 

I was lucky enough to be asked to participate and one of YOU gets a complimentary spot in the course! 
To enter for a chance to win the spot please just leave a comment telling me why you would love to take this course and a way to contact you (blog,website,etc.) so I can get in touch if you win. You have until Friday 4/29/11 to enter.

Here is a sneak peek of some of the soulful goodness you will be treated to!


If you don't win the spot you can still sign up for the course right here. The cost is only $49 and what is so great and a testament to Maegan's big heart is that she is donating half of the course cost to Show Hope, a movement to care for orphans!


Here is the link to the Creativity Boot Camp site and remember just leave a comment by Friday 4/29/11 telling me why you would love to take this course. Good Luck!