My Glasses Bug Me

Any artist's biggest fear must be the inability to continue to create and I suppose there are a number of possibilities that can cause that to happen. A loss of vision is what has always come to mind for me as a possible debilitating factor and sure enough, as so many others have, I began to have vision issues a few years ago. Reading glasses became necessary for both reading and my artwork. The detail work that is a part of my style requires hours of concentration and I now rely on glasses for any work I do. That goes for my retail job as well. I was miserable with the prospect of getting glasses. It represented something I wasn't yet willing to accept. I'm getting older! When did this happen? After all, I look good for my age, I'm in shape - I don't feel like my eyes tell me I should. Getting glasses for me was like getting notices in the mail from AARP. It was reality slapping me in the face. Soon I'd be able to take advantage of breakfast specials at Denny's and discounts at the movies on Tuesdays. I'm not ready for this. The dreaded visit to purchase my glasses finally took place but not without an extra intense workout at the gym prior to my appointment to assure myself that other parts of me remain vital. I told myself it wasn't a big deal...after all there are very young people that wear glasses and it isn't necessarily a sign of one's age ( am I really this vain?). During my appointment I was told I needed bifocals! Oh my God, don't people that soak their teeth at night wear those? Not me! I won't! Well, I did...and I do. I opted for a frame that I thought would look current and trendy to offset any Grandpa reference. I think they look good but they came with a set of issues. The frames are heavy and they slide down my nose constantly. I believe they cut off my peripheral vision because I can see the frames and I think they limit what I need to see. People think I'm looking at them when I'm not and I can tell as they are walking by that they had smiled at me and I didn't acknowledge them. I run into everything and I'm always bruised. They are an extra thing to think about on a daily basis. I hate it when I forget to bring them to a restaurant and I can't read the menu. I've actually had to ask the waiter to borrow a pair. The pinnacle of my hatred of my dependence to them came the other day. I was at work, carrying several boxes and the glasses had slipped down my nose. I couldn't push them back up because my hands were unavailable and tried unsuccessfully to use one of the boxes. I'm walking down the hall and someone points to my face and says "WHAT'S THAT!?!". I looked at him incredulously and thought maybe a sesame seed was left on my face from my bagel I just ate ( I love those "everything" bagels ) so with boxes in hand I tried to wipe my mouth. He said "no, THAT!!". I found a place to put the boxes down and, thinking he was referring to the fact that my glasses had slipped to close to the bottom of my nose I pushed them back up. One more time he pointed to my face and said "NO, THAT - YOUR GLASSES!!!". I took my glasses off and to my extreme horror there was a WAD OF GUM stuck to the bridge of my glasses ( please see a previous Andrea Marcovicci blog for additional gum mishaps ). How long had I been walking around that way? How could it have happened? Think back. Well, I just had a bagel a bit ago. I had just started chewing gum when I decided I was hungry. I'm not a wasteful person. I wasn't going to throw the gum away that I just started so I discreetly set it aside. I obviously chose to set my glasses aside in the same location. I've always had remarkable aim.

I guess I need some press

As an artist one would think that the primary concern would be developing one's talent, skill and creativity. That, I'm learning, is just the beginning. In order to achieve some sort of success an artist needs to be confident, vocal and assertive; attributes I'm not particularly known for. I would love to be able to stay in my studio and paint 24/7 without the prospect of having to actually sell the work so I can continue the process. Not gonna happen. Being a salesperson of one's own art is using a different side of my brain then what I use to create the art...the less developed side, in my case. Thank goodness I feel good about what I create so that's not the issue but talking about me...ugh, it's painful. I look back on all the years I've spent creating artwork and fortunately I have people that support me and I'm able to have commissionwork on a fairly consistent basis but no one else knows I exist. It's time to change that. Enter the art coach. Toby is wonderful but scary as she is turning upside down the way I think and do things . One thing I've never had is any kind of press and although it was never a conscious decision to avoid it that's exactly what I've done. I try to keep every pearl of wisdom that Toby doles out with me. Last Friday night I was at a Christmas party in Woodside and someone I haven't seen for years was there. She is a retired journalist. I thought that it would be a good idea to ask for a bit of advise. I got my nerve up and asked her if she had any thoughts for someone that has never done an interview or had any press. What I didn't know that I learned that night is that she now freelances for several magazines. She suggested doing a story on me ( she knows my work) and pitching it to a few people. Cue the insecurities - time to worry about whether people would want to read about me. Am I interesting enough? I have no "colorful" and "engaging" personality that other artists have to draw people to them. I just have my talent and I hope that will speak for itself. I won't shy away from it this time and hopefully I'll get through it and some good will come of it. Maybe I'll tell her that I paint with my toes or something.

The Creative Process

For months now I have had an idea for a completely new collection of work. It has been fermenting in me for a very long time and I have had no opportunity to let it manifest itself into reality. I had previously written about how I was determined to protect a body of time that I thought was vital in starting this creative process. I failed at saving that time...or did I? That time, in fact, was used to fulfill my greeting card orders. My greeting cards were started many years ago as an avenue of promoting my watercolors. I thought that it would be a good way to let others know I exist as an artist and here's what I can do. It has developed into a nice sideline and it keeps me quite busy during the holidays. I am about to work with my art coach to see how I can make it profitable year round and start attracting retail interest. Pardon my digression; I was talking about my creative process. If the cards turn out to be worthy of further time investment, that's wonderful but not at the sacrifice of moving forward with new ideas that I must explore.
It's been a very long time since I've had a major show although there have been a few galleries that on a one time basis hosted a show for me. Here's an opportunity for change. I want to create a new collection that is totally unexpected. There's danger in this. I have collectors that like what I do for a reason and to change that may threaten their continued interest. On the other hand there may be potential interest from others not as fond of what I currently do. I've learned long ago not to try and please everyone. It is impossible to do so and not even a desirable thing because I believe that in order to please everyone, a concept would have to be watered down and an edge is lost. So, the new collection. I have a cohesive concept, not a collection of paintings that simply have the common bond of being watercolor, or floral, or whatever. I have a theme! Who knew I was capable of it! I intend on allowing myself to venture out of the box and my comfort level and explore thoughts in a variety of mediums ( this is huge for me as I have primarily worked in watercolor for so many years ). I will also allow my exposure to textile design to seep into my fine art for a new, somewhat contemporary edge. I better not say anything more as I may hate the results - suffice it to say that all this excites me which is a very necessary component.
I'm awed at the prospect that you have actually read through my entire creative process drivel. Congratulations! You've proven to have the stamina it will take should you be waiting to be invited to the opening!