Know You Will Die, Hang Out in a Pool and Other Tips for Making BIG ART Projects from Clyde Petersen

I have been having a hard time falling asleep the last two nights thinking about Clyde Petersen's latest Kickstarter project. I am that excited about his story and the way he wants to tell it and that through the modern process of crowd funding it could actually be given voice. And we can all be stop action animation extras!

Please click below to watch the Kickstarter appeal. After you have donated, keep reading for my mini interview with the incredibly talented Clyde Petersen.

 
You have created work with other musicians and spoken word artists. How did you think illustrating other people's stories prepared you to tell your own? Do you think it will be easier, harder or just different to make such a personal narrative?
For the past 6 years I have been teaching youth the skills involved in animation. i have also been making music videos for many bands. I think in many ways it has prepped me for the long road of telling my story the way I want it to be told. I have a lot of tools in my imaginary tool belt. After helping other people for a while, I got to the point where I felt like I was ready to finally take on a big project. I would look at people making feature films and think, well they made a feature, why can't I?

I can't imagine starting a feature length animation.What tips do you have for someone with a huge dream project they are afraid to start? Basically, I would tell them, you're gonna die. Who knows when. You better start doing exactly what you want to be doing, ALL THE TIME. Not just after work, not just before work. Your art is your WORK. One of my friends who I really respect told me that a job is a JOB, Just over Broke. I like that. When I talk about work, I mean art. When I talk about my job, I mean my JOB. I think it is pretty important to say "being an artist is my job" or "doing _____ is my job." No one else can do exactly what you are going to do, or say it in the way you're going to. That is your gross value, right there. So taking that value and story and giving it some respect and time is really where it's at. Otherwise you will just help other people tell their stories your whole life.

What do you do when you feel stuck, scared, or bored in the middle of a project? 
I usually go lay around in the pool at the gym, go for a run, watch star trek: TNG, stare at the wall in a comfy chair, flip through an encyclopedia style book, skype a friend (I recommend this over a phone call because you can show your friend visual things and talk about why you are stuck,) read a Nate Powell graphic novel. Mostly I just space out and say to myself, "it's not happening right now, but that is fine because it will happen soon."

Do you do anything to celebrate the end of a project and acknowledge your hard work?
 OMG YES. I clean my room and change my clothes and do laundry. It's a real process to dredge out the used materials from a film. I have a home studio, it's my bedroom. It makes me a little bonkers, but it sure feels good to clean all the detritus out when a project is done. It's a little odd too, because often I make something and then it has to wait to be released into the music video system by record labels and PR companies. So it is not quite an instant feeling of success. When the movie goes out into the world, then it feels pretty good.

Who or what is inspiring You right now? 
 I am really inspired by a million things all the time. Here is a list of things you should check out! Nate Powell
Amanda Kirkhuff
Jeffry Mitchell
Wynne Greenwood
Kimya Dawson
Aesop Rock
DavEnd
By Hook or By Crook
Boating with Clyde

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people make the event

So a few weeks ago we drove down to Seattle for the summer Urban Craft Uprising in a big cadillac, blasting Elton John and Macklemore at Franklin's request. I haven't attended a craft show as a shopper in a long time and was a little uncertain about not participating as a vendor. Would I feel disappointed or jealous or bored? It is easy to get burnt out on any type of business event, to feel like you've seen it all or the trends are tiring or to feel it is too competitive and all the magic is gone.

But I walked around and marveled at all the talent and creativity and all the wonderful people I have met through the years. Mostly I chatted with my bellingham craft crew, but I was tickled how many people were sort of friends now or at least friendly neighbors at past shows. Somehow not participating as a vendor helped me see the real community and connections I have made. 

Rachel, Spincycle Yarns

Carey Lane, poetic bowl maker and sock monkey maven

Angela, Humperdink hats

Tripper Dungan, trippy painter

Jessica and Arlo (and magical baby), slow loris shirts

And believe it or not, they are opening applications for the winter Urban Craft in just one week. I feel refreshed and inspired and ready to go another round.

urban craft uprising (what I bought)

1.zipper bag with bear from adrienne vita.
2.slow loris hoodie for steeb
3.postcards and little notebook from jillian nickell.
4.wooden gemstone ring by bristorium. so folk art fabulous!
5.fancy lollipops by this charming candy.
6.small top for franklin. (we have a sailboat and covered wagon from tweet toys already)
7.salt from beautiful briny sea. one is honey and salt and the other is called french picnic and I can't wait to use them both. fancy salt makes really simple foods feel really fancy. and these folk are soooo nice.

In my next post I'll talk about how fun it was to be a shopper, visit with my favorite vendors and ride around the city in a big cadillac.

happy birthday to me and america

Taking the day off because not only is it a national holiday, it's my birthday. I was checking out one of my favorite blogs and saw this film is about a leather worker from the town where I was born. So perfect to share today. I love to watch these short videos about american craftspeople. Makes me feel very proud to be part of a longstanding tradition of independent makers.

3 lines for selling art without even saying a word.

I have a funny mix of public speaking engagements this winter and I wanted to share a bit about each one as they happen. My first talk was last week at an art class for folks with disabilities. They are preparing a show for the March 1 downtown art walk. I have worked with a few of the artists through my garden class, but many were new faces. I was actually really nervous. It's one thing to pump up my peers over a glass of wine, I can gage reactions and comprehension based on facial cues. Brilliant encouragements flow off my tongue. And I can assume a certain level of relativity for reference. But how do you explain customer service to someone who may be non-verbal?

We practiced this script with just three lines and ideas for those who are too shy or non verbal. Some of the artists were quite chatty and others said more than they had all day, while others hardly looked up from their drawing as we went around the room. 

1. "Hello, my name is______."
Make eye contact, smile, create a welcoming environment. People will not want to look at your art or buy your crafts if you come off as rude, disinterested or snobby.  Wearing a name tag is a simple way to introduce yourself. I always wear fancy stitched name tag that shows off my skills and lets people know I am the artist. At the very least have clear price tags or price list with your name, title and price for every piece of art.

2."I made this."
This can actually be the hardest part of showing art. Artists have been known to deal with this uncomfortable statement by drinking too much wine at an opening or hiding out in a corner of the gallery surrounded by an impenetrable circle of close friends. Much aloofness or attitude in the art world is simply a response to shyness. It takes confidence to stand by your work. If you aren't comfortable literally standing around talking about your process and inspiration, at least put up an artist statement. Let people know a little bit more of who you are. We are buying a story or connection as much as an object when we purchase art. So give people another layer of possible connection to you and your story. Every thing in your life shapes your unique view of the world and you can claim it with pride. Whether you have a BFA or taught yourself to paint watching Bob Ross, trust that you are worthy of making art.

3."Thank you."
I always thank people for coming out to the show or market. If they don't buy my work or even like it, I still appreciate that they left their houses to experience something different. It is especially good to thank people when they have traveled through cold and rain to come to the farmers market or a gallery walk.  I think I have made sales just by being polite week after week until the casual passerby actually needs to buy a gift I can provide. If you can't say it with words, even a glance or nod with this sentiment in your heart can communicate amazing warmth.

That's it. Three very basic phrases with infinite variations and elaborations to use as you share your work. If we all practice these, the world, and especially the art world, will be a friendlier place.

p.s. Come on up to our studio (1318 Bay Street) This Friday February 1, 6-10pm for the artwalk! 

sacred messages from cheeky monkeys

I am in my winter contemplation, that moment of down time after christmas when I catch up on paperwork, read a stack of business books and dream into the future. While building back up my stock of hats I am thinking about this blog and other services I can be offering and sort of wondering what is next.  It is a time when my busy mind quiets ever so slightly and I listen to the calling of my business. This morning browsing my facebook news feed, Mailchimp caught my eye:

Get out of the daily deals business and into the priesthood.

It was a catchy headline in one of their spectacularly nerdy reports on click through rates of email campaigns. It turns out religious newsletters have some of the most loyal subscribers and daily deals the worst.
So now I am asking myself, what does it mean as a crafter, to move out of the daily deals business and into the priesthood? How can my art serve a higher need? What should I be writing about to inspire not simply sales of remarkable handmade goods, but of something... more?
The answer may prove to be subtle and invisible to the outside world. I may shift some habits and rituals in how I create my work, in how I perceive my own work.  To make every stitch a prayer. Or perhaps I will enter the rapidly growing realm of coaching and virtual teaching, to join the new priesthood of entrepreneurs sharing their journey to combine spirituality with business.

The first two books I am reading and listening to this year are The Simple Faith of Mr.Rogers and The Martha Rules. And I believe I will live my answer somewhere between the two inspiring and influential characters. I'll let you know as things develop...

golden cloak

Simon Peers and Nicholas Godley discuss Golden Spider Silk from Victoria and Albert Museum on Vimeo.

I just heard about this magical cloak made from the silk of over a million golden orb spiders. It is so fairy tale/superhero/mythological. And so many people were involved in making it real. Just awesome, nature and fiberarts blowing my mind and bringing a tear to my eye.

Advanced style

spent a little time sketching from Ari Seth Cohen's amazing book(&blog!) Advanced Style yesterday. Franklin helped me color the dames, he went right for the purple before I was even finished with the first turban. The women featured have such style and grace and it certainly isn't about the latest trends. It's a personal expression brought forth from a lifetime of collecting well made clothing and accessories.

This video does cuss and swagger alot, but it is so fabulous. Macklemore &Ryan Lewis are getting some excellent coverage right now for their song Same LOve in support of gay marriage and equality, but dang, this is the song I did my dance break to at the studio.

3 more radical ways to make time in your life for creative persuits when you aren't doing it full time (yet).

I hope you enjoyed my last post on making time for art with kids. Here we go one step further in rearranging your relationship to time and work. These ideas work equally well for those who do not live with children, but who have day job responsibilities as well as creative dreams.  I am really inspired by how Steeb manages this in his life and I appreciate the work he does outside the studio so I can spend more time doing my craft. If you aren't familiar with my husband's art, check it out here.

1.Use vacation time and sick days to make art.

steeb in the studio during his week of vacation.

Steeb does this every year and takes his one week paid vacation to prepare for an art show. He stays up late,  goes to concerts and paint paint paints. Even if you don't have the luxury of paid vacation, consider planning a creative vacation to push a project forward. You won't have money coming in necessarily, but eating at home and no airfare makes it more economical than a regular vacation. Save for it as you would any dream to Hawaii or NYC. And if you need something official to help you request the time from your boss and sweet talk your co-workers into covering your shifts, consider taking a class, scheduling a public event, or going on an organized art retreat.

bonus inspiration: Our friends Jen and Will applied for an artists' residency in Iceland to make their schedules have room for a month of art. They are there right now! With a toddler! You can read about their adventures right here. For the record, she works in a bakery and he in a bar. They applied, saved and filled in some financial gaps with a Kickstarter campaign.

5 ways to make time for your art when raising amazing kids

Without grandparents nearby or daycare in our lives, making consistent time for our art is the major challenge as a family. Steeb and I just hung an art show at the Old Town Cafe and it was a crazy week. F is wearing the same pajamas for the third day in a row, but we did it and so can you.

 5 tips to make time for your art, changing out of pajamas optional.

1.    Do the dishes while the kids are awake, do your art while they sleep.

    If you are at home with your child, it doesn't mean you need to be on the carpet pushing trucks around all afternoon. It is valuable for little ones to see and participate in the tasks that make up our lives. If you get the chores done with the kids around, then when you get your private time you aren't using it to fold laundry. This goes for both household chores and errands related to your business. Often there are little chores related to making art, like buying supplies and preparing materials, that can be done with kids underfoot.
And perhaps it goes without saying, but it's okay to have a messy house around a deadline.

    2.    Recognize your child's rhythm. 

Work with your child's a natural energy flow if you are trying to create while they are around. You may need to play wildly at the park or have an extended snuggle to get the quality of time you need to do your creative work at home. Reading a favorite book one more time before you get to your project can prevent a little whining person tugging at your sleeve for an hour.

book club

I was having a conversation yesterday about some changes I am making in my work life(more on that in another post...) and I ended up referencing the inspirational/aspirational/motivational/spiritual/business/whole life improvement books I love to read. There has been quite a parade of them coming in through the library request system.  I wanted to share some of authors who fired me up this summer. These folks practice a new business style with loads of free content online and then information products, coaching and trainings that cost money.  The new policy to give away your ideas then leverage yourself as an expert works quite well for some of these sassy soulful entrepreneurs. And it provides a real gift to those of us who are living a rich life within a tight budget. As soon as I return the copies on my nightstand, they are all available at the Bellingham public library. And as I mentioned, each has a website with resources, inspirational posts and videos.

Danielle LaPorte  

Fire Starter Sessions. I love Danielle, subscribe to her list and was totally sparked by reading her book. I didn't get to all the exercises before it was overdue, but the ones I completed have already inspired some juicy change in my life. This is one I am going to buy. It is really beautiful to read and I got super pumped. While it is important to challenge yourself, it is also beautiful to choose things that are easy and graceful and enjoyable. Focusing on how you want to feel in your life, she helps you say "no thanks" to things that are no longer feeding your soul so you can say "yes!" to the greater gifts you can bring to the world. One of her beliefs is that Life Balance is a myth not worth stressing about. As a working mother I find this message so refreshing. She embraces the cycles of passion(where dishes pile up and friends are gently put on hold) and rest(where you honor your success or failure and seek out that which refuels your soul.) You can have it all, just not all at once.

sometimes I give and sometimes I receive

Yesterday I received a prize from our friend Erin Klauk in the mail. She is an awesome illustrator and sometimes enters contests on Spoonflower for her fabric designs. She offered a prize made from the material to one lucky friend who voted for her fabric on the site. I was the lucky winner! The theme was extinct animals and let me tell you, there were a lot of dinosaurs entered in the contest. Her toile, which I did no justice in my sketch above, features lost creatures like horned gophers, dodos and wooly mammoths.Oh, and they are enjoying a fine tea party. It is so lovely and I am so full of gratitude.

to see the actual pattern click here.

 These sisters are awesome. And listen how they creatively reuse a plastic container to make treasure from trash.

yes oh yes!

I listen to this album a lot sewing in my studio. Just saw this video and it made me cry with happiness.

magical lands

Last night we Stomped the Sunnyland neighborhood. This annual artwalk happens in people's backyards and front lawns. Lots of art hanging from trees, crafts for sale and snacks. It was the perfect opportunity for me to start a blog project featuring my amazing artistic friends in their creative spaces. Christian Anne Smith is a fellow crafty mama juggling day jobs, puppet workshops and her parenting while keeping a sacred space open for her own amazing art.

 

while the boys played in the sandbox tent, I snuck around the wild garden peeking at puppets.

Inside she was showing her fantastic paintings.  Christian creates a world both colorful and dark as all good folktales should be, equal parts dangerous and alluring with plenty of vixens and pirates and striped socks.

 

to see more of her work click here.

yard art or I want to be like the Fridays when I grow up

If you have ever heard me talk about my friend Harlow Friday or if I have introduced you to him, I'm sure you have heard me talk about the rhino.He is probably sick of hearing me introduce him as the man who made the enormous rhino off of the Guide Meridian. He made it as a birthday present for his fabulous wife,Anna, and I have seen glorious snapshots of her astride it's wide back. The Friday's entire yard is full of metal art. Anna hates yard work, so they tore out all the grass and gardens save a little patch for their dog. All around their hot pink house sprout exotic grass clumps and rocks and dozens of whimsical sculptures.Harlow trained as a sculptor but then got a desk job (insurance, if I remember correctly) to support his family. Now that he is retired he makes whatever he wants without following market trends or customer requests. As Joseph Campbell suggests, he "follows his bliss." with a welding torch.

Now in their 70s,The Fridays serve as an example of how I would like to age, with quirky grace and a sense of humor. They are comfortable in their own skin.They are fantastic supporters of the arts, not just as serious theater patrons, but actually supporting the artistic lifestyle. Whenever I apologize for something like "Oh I didn't know you were coming over, the house is a mess..."they gently remind me I am an adult and I can live how I choose. Then they ask me about art projects we have going on and I relax.