Although it's been almost 2 months since I posted anything, this blog isn't completely abandoned! Summer was a very busy time and so far that is spilling into the fall. I was actively looking for a new job over the past year and found one in August. Making the transition from one full-time job to another (plus the whole interview process itself) can be quite time consuming I found. In addition to that, I am expecting my second child in the next 5 weeks. I'm ready to have this baby! This past weekend I pinched a nerve or something in my lower back and have been experiencing quite a bit of discomfort and immobility to put it mildly (read shooting/blinding pain). It sucks. Although my range of motion is slowly increasing, so I hope it gets better before it's time to deliver.
One of the angles of this blog is to describe how I balance work, family, and this emerging arts career. Working full-time and being a mom to a 3 year old keeps me busy, I'm a little nervous about how to add a new baby to the mix. I'm excited, don't get me wrong, but nervous because I know that means compromise in some other area and I'm not sure which area that will be. I like to know what to expect so I can plan things out. I am very fortunate to have a great husband who helps with *everything*!
Last month I submitted two paintings to a jury selection for the
Madison Art Guild and was accepted. This is the first arts group I have joined and I'm not sure what to expect exactly (I just like to know what I'm in for and that's with everything as I mentioned above). They require that you participate in one show and volunteer on one committee during your first year. Next week is a dinner at a restaurant and new members are supposed to bring one piece and give a short informal presentation on it. Yikes. Today is the deadline to RSVP and I have been procrastinating because of my physical condition.
I also submitted an application for the ARTspace program through the City of Madison. The two month exhibitions will be either in the mayor's conference room or the Madison Municipal Building lobby.
Finally - gee I guess I do have a bit of art news, what was I waiting for? - I had prints made of some of my paintings. I still need to order the mat, backing, and clear bags for packaging. Funding this stuff slows me down. I plan to sell the prints at Windhorse Frames and perhaps find some other artsy stores that would also be interested.
The week after the birth our computer crashed! Going without internet for a couple weeks was interesting, it is such an integral part of our routines. Although we had to invest in a new system, the upside is that it's a faster and better system *and* also we sprung for Adobe's Creative Suite 4! (I get an incredible discount through my work on some software.) I started working on making birth announcements and thank you cards. However the baby sleeps all the time, which is great, but I can hardly get any photos with his eyes open!
I'm never fond of photos of myself, however I did crop this to use as a new head shot for my web site's About page. I like it when others post photos of themselves on their sites, so I will do the same, sigh.
This photo is from the Mississippi headwaters at Itasca State Park in Minnesota. This is the source of the mighty river, it flows from Lake Itasca, winding 2552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico.
