365accordionproject Archives

Day 23 of #MarchMeetTheMaker: Top tip or advice

#MarchMeetTheMaker, 365accordionproject, Instagram, Sketchbook

I’m a few days behind again… but still in the game! Which kind of feels like it applies to my art career, but substitute years for days… or even decades! Which brings me to my advice. Start now. Do a little something every day… even if it’s nothing but drawing a few leaves. Carry a sketchbook and pens (or an iPad and Apple Pencil) with you everywhere you go. Just doing a little something every day can add up to a whole lot in a...

Day 22: Proud of

#MarchMeetTheMaker, 365accordionproject, Instagram, Sketchbook

Day 22: Proud of I posted this project on day one of #MarchMeetTheMaker for “favorite to make,” but I’m sharing it again today for the “proud of” prompt. Paducah has a wonderful non-profit art center called the Yeiser Art Center (@yeiserartcenter) that supports local and regional artists, has great programs for the community, and also has some amazing international juried exhibitions. I’ve been a member off and on throughout the 15 years that I’ve been in Paducah. Each year they have a members show where anyone who is a member can show a few pieces of art. I’ve never participated in it before, but in January of this year the director of the Yeiser, @lexieabra, encouraged me to enter and I did at the very last possible minute. I have a hard time entering local shows, because I kind of feel like I have saturated the market in Paducah. It’s a small town with a small – but fantastic – community of artists, and I have my work in two places in the downtown/lowertown area year round and also do several pop up markets throughout the year. I worry about overexposure. So sometimes I refrain from participating in extra shows. But with Lexie’s encouragement, I entered my #365accordionproject sketchbooks. I didn’t even know there was judging and prizes for the show, and I missed the opening reception, so I was quite surprised the next day when several people congratulated me on winning best of show! And on top of that, it came with a cash prize! This is a tough piece to know what to do with, because it’s...

#MarchMeetTheMaker Challenge

365accordionproject, Instagram, Sketchbook

Because my weekly self-directed challenge isn’t enough of a commitment, I’m also doing @joannehawker’s #marchmeetthemaker challenge. So expect a daily post that will let you learn more about me and my art. First prompt: favorite to make. I make a lot of different things – but the one thing they all have in common is my signature line work. My favorite is simply putting pen to paper and drawing nude women, leaves, flowers, birds and insects. These drawings are the starting point for all the other things I make and the products I sell....