Paying the bill$…

I have a love/hate relationship with dictatorial commissions (where the client dictates what you’ll be painting). They pay the bills, but quite often I’m left painting subject matter waaaaay out of my skillset and comfort zone; but…they pay the bills. Sooooo, here we are.

Surround yourself with beautiful things.

altered art, art, artist, DIY, mixed media, recycled products, studio, upcycle

There are particular products, mediums & tools that are an absolute necessity in the artist’s dance with creativity. They aren’t sexy, inspiring or even vaguely attractive (like that guy standing in the shadowed corner after you’ve consumed a full night’s worth of firewater).
I digress.. sooo, unsexy, BUT necessary art supplies; and I have to suffer their uninspiring presence every. damn. day.

Annnd so, I beautified them…because I couldn’t/can’t help myself!

I realise that there’s something wrong with me. It’s a compulsion, nay, an obsession; as I truly can’t help myself…mind you, as a pursuant of creativity, that’s not necessarily an erroneous pursuit.
[…] because there’s somrthing kind-of awesome about living & breathing the chaos and obsession of the everyday artist.

My envelope book…

altered art, art, artist, collage, DIY, mixed media, painting, recycled products, studio

I finally, finally, (seriously…sooooo much work went into these; layer upon layer upon layer!) FINALLY finished my handmade envelope book.

I wanted somewhere special to store my little sketches and artworks that weren’t on display…and so I undertook a massive endeavour. I didn’t just make one artwork/ envelope…oh no, a book has multiple pages; and my book included six envelope inserts. Annnd all six needed to be alike in both design and degree of finish. Boo.

However, that being said, I love the final product. I’m happy with myself for persevering and commitment to finishing! So, yay! Go me!