“What if”….  I believe those are two of the most powerful words in the English language…. or any language for that matter!  Think about it.  I bet Christopher Columbus  thought them when looking out over the western horizon.  In fact, it is my belief that  most  great thoughts, deeds,  acts and inventions began with the very kernel of  “what if…”.  Those two little words can become a stepping stone or even a launch pad to a higher level of thinking or acting.  Heady stuff .                            

However, I also have always thought these wonderous words, were a double edged sword .

They seem to have the power to be two of the most paralyzing words to run through the mind.  “What if”… it’s malignant,  “what if”… it there is an accident, ”what if”…. nobody comes or likes me, ” what if”… I FAIL.  It is amazing that those same words that can inspire a person to climb to new heights,  can also cause you to never try in the first place…. or even hide under the bed!

I have been dealing with “what if” quite a bit as of late.  I must admit, emotionally,  it has been a bit of a roller coaster ride.  I have been exploring new venues for selling  my work this spring.  The ideas were very intriguing and potential for financial success exciting.  Unfortunately however, like many things in life, the reality fell a bit short of expectations.  The alluring and seductive side of  “what if”  had suddenly begun morphing into that hairy, yellow eyed monster of fear.   I began doubting and questioning everything I was doing.  It didn’t matter that I had been doing great for the last several years… it just all went out the window, chased by the “What If” monster.

What happened???  

Well, it finally occurred to me (with the help of a very patient friend).  Nothing happened.  “What If”, although still powerful, is not a double edged sword.  It is still only two words.  It was my own perception that changed.  It wasn’t that I gained fear…. I simply lost confidence.  It’s the old “is the glass half empty or half full?” thing.  The level hasn’t changed…just how we look at it.

With my perception given a little shake, and my expectations brought to heel, I have been able to chase any and all would be monsters back where they came from.  I am now, once again, ready to entertain more “What Ifs…..” and can’t wait to see where they will launch me to.

It’s spring time!   

When I last spoke with my mother in Chicago, she told me crocus were pushing up through the ground already and the tulips were not far behind.

Here in Alaska, we do not often get to enjoy those sunny harbingers of spring until…well summer!  Not content to wait that long I did what I could to bring a bit of color to my still whitened world.

But if you’re going to put down roots up here, you had better be tough!  No pansy pansies around here! No sir-ee Bob.   (well, actually…I really LIKE pansies… but that’s another topic…)

I introduce to you… Fierce Flowers (careful…they nip!)  On the left is  the beautiful, but dangerous “Deadly-dils” and the terribly unpredictable “Dandy-lions”.

(not picture as of yet are the wily Grrrr-aniums…I’ve yet to catch them with the camera since the last bunch escaped.  Be on the look out…)

Here’s a little sneak peek at a new series of work I’m playing around with.  My good friend and amazingly talented lampwork artist, Elise Strauss and I, decided to collaborate.  We thought this an especially great idea since we will be traveling together to Tacoma Washington later this year.  We are going  to participate in our first major, natioanlly recognized bead show. (The Puget Sound Bead Festival)  Since we will be sharing a booth, why not share in a few pieces of work?

This blue octopus sits on on his hoarded treasure.  Who knows where he’ll be the next time we see him.

This is a bead, but would be awkward to use in a jewelry piece due to it’s size and weight.  It perches nicely on a post, nestles on it’s own custome base.  ( approx. 3.5  inches tall)

Yup, I’m still fantasizing about being someplace much closer to the equator! Here is what I have been working on at the table. I must say, I like them better in person than in the photos. I have been playing with a technique of tinting and shading my sculptures by using chalks and liquid clay. Perhaps I will do a tutorial on it!

Birds in the Bush

On the Climb

These guys are small. They’re intended to be pins/pendants.

Art business.  It almost seems like an oxymoron.  I know when I was growing up, I never imagined, in a million years, that I would be working at the business of doing art.  I am even still struggling with not feeling awkward when referring to myself as an “artist”.   Perhaps it was my up bringing.  Oh, I don’t blame my parents really.  It’s  just the way things were.  I grew up in a solid, middle class, hard working, Midwestern family.  My folks taught me about a lot of things, such as the Golden Rule and the importance of a strong work ethic.  Art, was never a topic.  In fact, as a kid, if asked if we had any art in the house, I would have laughed and said,  ”Of course not”.  In my mind, art was something you visit at a museum, (which we rarely did), or something only wealthy people had.  Art was big paintings and sculptures by famous, usually dead people.  It certainly wasn’t something I could or would ever do.

   Now here I am, struggling at making a go at a business making my very own “art”.  Its one thing to finally accept becoming an “artist”…but the business of art?  That is another struggle altogether.  My childhood notion that  artists were always dead people , thankfully, didn’t last past the 3rd grade.  It was replaced with one that is almost worse.  Artist are people that walk around with dreamy expressions,  have visions, wear funky clothes and are generally described as hippy, dippy and trippy.  Let’s not also forget, they’re starving  because they don’t have REAL jobs.  The word “business” on the other hand, summons images of the corporate world, ie; suits, money,  rules,  committees, money, legalities, and did I mention money?  How could one word have anything to do with the other?  It’s Craziness.

   I am happy to say that I have long since abandoned both stereotypical views and am embarrassed  that I even held them.  Unfortunately however, I find that many other people still hold this ridiculous idea of an artist.  I feel it even more pronounced for polymer clay artists because polymer clay is still such a relatively new medium.  “How lucky you are”, I’m told by a well intentioned person,”you get to play all the time”.   I think even my own In Laws wonder why their son puts up with a wife that ”plays” all day.  

 Yes, I do consider myself extremely fortunate to be able to do what I love doing…but “playing”…playing ???    Most people have no idea what is involved.  I, myself, didn’t even have a complete picture, until recently, of what is involved to make an art business work.  I’m learning that the creative work itself  is probably only 50 % of it.   There is the marketing, and maintaining your on line presence with web sites, and blogs.  Perhaps you have an on line stores.  There is figuring out show scheduling, meeting application deadlines, up dating mailing lists, keeping up with the latest news/techniques in your field,  photographing your work, updating portfolios, and sending thank you notes.   All of that is in addition to actually doing the shows themselves.  There  you are dealing with lighting issues and how best to display your work. Yikes!   Top that off with all the everyday flotsom and jetsom that life sends your way.  The grocery shopping still needs to be done, the house cleaned,  the dogs feed, bird cages and fish tanks to clean. sigh. The list goes on.   Sometimes, I think a “REAL” job might be easier.  After all, the hours are usually more regular, as is the income. I could go back…     NAH!!!!!    I am loving what I do and loving the fact that I am still learning about this  business of art.    I am  going to try not to worry about how other people view artists.  I have learned that as long as I view myself as one, it is all that is important.

Well, for most of us, it’s a no-brainer. We dream of any place warmer…and greener. We dream of humidity and the smell of growing things. (The first scent to make it’self know in Anchorage in the spring is generally; doggie doo… gross, but unfortunately true.)
My own thoughts have definately turned to the tropics. Since the budget can’t handle a plane ticket to the equator, I thought I would bring the tropics to my work table.
Check out what I’ve been up to. It is the first in a new series I’m working on.

I have always been a big fan of learning.  Whether it is a new technique in polymer clay, beading, or whatever.  Most recently, I have learned the incredible value of coaching.   A business coach to be exact.  What the heck am I talking about?  Let me back up a minute.  I have been creating in polymer clay and selling my work in shows for a few years now.  I love it.  I certainly wish to continue doing it and most importantly, I wish to be successful doing it.  I already know that gaining proficiency with polymer clay comes with time and a great deal of practice.  (often generating a ton of scrap clay!)  What I could not seem to get a handle on was the other stuff.    How do I juggle a polymer clay business with the rest of my life?   How do I get “noticed” by the rest of the polymer clay world?  (or the more basic question; DO I want to be noticed in the polymer clay world?)  How do I measure success?  how do I market myself?  What exactly IS marketing and “branding”  ?    I have no doubt that these are questions many artists selling their work ask themselves.  Over the past few years , I have picked up a thing or two , from reading books and articles, talking to more experienced folks, and attending the odd seminar.  I still felt like something was missing in my education.

I discovered what it was.  It wasn’t my education that was necessarily lacking…it was how to put it all together.  I needed a coach.  I came across a web site called www.artbizcoach.com.   Alyson Stanfield offers a variety of classes  to help artisans grapple with many of those nagging questions and then how to channel their energies in the appropriate areas so they can realize their goals, (what ever they may be).  I am in the process of finishing up one of those classes….and  I can honestly say, I view my business and many other areas of my life quite differently.   It has been eye opening and profoundly empowering.  I would encourage everyone to check out Alyson’s site..or someone like her.

I have no idea what the future has in store for me in regards to my career in polymer clay.  But at least I now know  that I have considerably more control of it than I previously thought I had.  ( a powerful thing in these troubling economic times.)  I have learned that sometimes it takes much more than  talent and luck.   Sometimes, finding the right coach,(whom ever it may be) will help you pull it all together so that you have a shot at achieving your dreams.

Hello and welcome.

I’m certainly late coming to this whole blog party, but I suppose it doesn’t really matter.  I have visited many blogs before deciding to start one myself.  Some have been good, some…. well, less so..  Hopefully, this will develope into one of the better ones.

I wasn’t too sure what I would write about at first.  I mean, what could I write about concerning polymer clay that could possibly be of value?  Well, I’m still  not sure… but I believe I have things to share.  I ‘ve learned a great deal about the business side of polymer clay.  I am in the process of  expanding my comfort zone and looking at exploring markets further afield .

 I am also fortunate enough to live in a remarkable place like Alaska.  Inspiration for my work is literally right outside my door.  (Sometimes, they are large and hairy, and like to get into the trash cans.)  Life in Alaska, certainly has it’s challenges for anybody, but especially the polymer clay artist.

So please do return.  Check out my latest adventures be it in polymer clay or living my Alaskan adventure.