Am I A Hooker? Yes & No Way!

Friday night I suggested to the Swell Sister knit/crochet group that we needed a new name besides boring "knit/crochet group". Something fun. Like Needlebugs, Yarnies, etc... Then Terry hollers out " The Hookers!" It was so funny, everyone was laughing and I think everyone agreed we would be "The Hookers".

Yesterday, after my post, my husband found out that he would have to drive alone all the way to North Shore Lake Tahoe to play a show at the Tahoe Biltmore Hotel & Casino. (He' s in the orange shirt & jeans.)My back was feeling better, I'd just have to sit there and possibly drive home, so I decided to go. I dressed in black jeans, a cute, buttoned up, 3/4 sleeve, very light, white, gray & black leopard print sweater, one of my favorites, it's cold there at night, black Clark sandals. I put a little blush on my cheeks and mascara, I'm a plain Jane, don't ever overdo the makeup and rarely wear shadow. Actually dressed how I would if I were back working in a cubicle on a business casual day. We were 1/2 way to Tahoe when I realized I forgot my rings on the counter after putting on some lotion. I felt naked.

When we got there, there were lots of people at the bar and sitting at tables and filled a lot more when my husband's band began to play. I decided that I would keep myself entertained at the bar playing video $.05 poker rather than sit alone at a table dangerously close to the dance floor. I wasn't going to dance and take a chance on throwing my back out again! So I positioned myself in a spot that I could see the band and my husband could see me. I haven't played video poker much and was trying to figure out what to hold and not hold when I noticed a nice looking man hanging in the doorway. Then from the corner of my eye, I realized that he was possibly staring. (It didn't bother me, kind of used to that, see previous post on subject.) Within moments, he very quickly comes over and sits in the stool right next to me, as if he was in a hurry, there were 2 stools next to me, he could have left one in between us. He sees my coffee, yes I was drinking coffee, he asked the bartender for a coffee, turns to me and smiles, politely I smile back. Then he leans over next to me, into my bubble *uncomfortable*, appearing to watch me play poker, so I say "should I hold the King & the Queen?" He replies "Yes". Then leans even closer to me *uncomfortable*, so I lean away a little and he asks "Do you want to make some money?" Stunned. I look at his hand directed toward me holding a large wad of money, I look back at his smiling face and meekly say "No". He smiles bigger and says "Are you sure you don't want to make some money? I don't think I am that bad looking." Me in disbelief, shook my head, maybe like a bobble head doll I don't know, but as if to say no you aren't bad looking, but all the while I was probably looking like a retard, because the only thing that came out of my mouth was "unt ahh"!! Then tells me, as he looks back toward the door, he doesn't want to be caught in the bar by his brother-in-law and has to go. Takes a big gulp of the coffee, flips through his big wad of money, grabs a bill and pushes a 10 in front of me and bolts out. I was left sitting there thinking What the?!? I have to admit after the shock wore off in a minute or so, when my brain had digested what just happened, I found it a bit flattering and insulting at the same time. His $10 lay on the bar next to me for at least an hour, which was how long it took for me to lose my $2 I had put in the machine. I felt a little dirty *laughing* as I inserted it into my poker machine but I actually played all night on that man's $10!! My luck turned out to be pretty good, however, I can't say the same for the man's! haha

When the night was over my husband asked me to drive the car to the entrance so he could load in equipment. I started up the stairway to go get the car just as a Casino Security Officer was starting down, he smiled, I smiled, and as he past me he said "My girlfriend would love that blouse"! I said "Thank you", then laughed out loud and thought to myself "She can have it! I may not be wearing it again!"And perhaps a leopard print is not the best thing to wear in a Nevada casino!" LOL What do I have some kind of Hooker mojo now?! LOL

We got home at 4:30 this morning (over a 2 hour drive) so I slept in until 10:30! I finished my collaborative piece and did nothing else. I collaged a map, painted the poles & birds then covered with beeswax and ironed. Tomorrow is a new week, I'm feeling almost like new and I will be painting like crazy! Here's the before and after of my collaborative piece...

Perturbed, Painted & Perplexed

I think it's so easy for artists to fall into worry about what others will think and what buyers want, etc... instead of just creating art for art's sake. I must admit that I have, but I'm trying to learn not to and getting a little better at it. For example I am a bit anxious with the upcoming gallery show. I do paint & create things that I like and I am thrilled when others like it too, but it is easy for me to worry over a piece. I don't normally try & sell something I don't like, however, the painting that I mentioned the other day that I didn't particularly care for... well I have already had someone email me and say they love it! Go figure. So I might just go through some more things I've dragged my feet on listing! I can certainly use the extra space. I think when you do quit worrying about what others might think, say, react, you can really start to grow. But it's tough! There is always those "Them's & They's" out there that reside your head. Who are they anyway, who put them there?And why don't they move out? That same ugly worry may be part of the reason for some artists not approaching galleries or more galleries than they do. And for goodness sake why are so many artist statements & statements on pieces full of such pretentious deep thoughts and big words that you need a dictionary and an hour to actually figure out what they are trying to say? I recently read one and when I figured out what they were saying (and I'm not stupid), looked at their piece, I thought ...What the...?! You must be kidding! It totally changed my feelings toward the piece, the artist and not in a good way. I think because of those kinds of artist statements, and seeing large quantities of those statements, can really intimidate a young artist while trying to write their own. I like this one... "I paint things because I feel like it, I like all the colors, especially red, it would all look good over your sofa, I didn't think of any world issues while painting but if you want to interpret any of my pieces that way it's ok by me and I might agree with you". LOL No? I don't think that will work either.

There is so much art out there I realize it's hard not to be influenced by others, wish you'd thought of that(I actually say that all the time to myself & sometimes out loud!), or might like to try something like it, however, there are some that blatantly try to copy, changing little, to make some money too. I truly don't understand this! Doesn't their own art, art itself and their abilities mean anything to them? If you can copy why can't you can create? Where's their own mind that God gave them? Why not just sell something else if means nothing. There are plenty of other things to sell and Walmart is always hiring. It's really disturbing when I see it. Obviously I came across that today which prompted the rant.

Today I painted, packaged & mailed out my sold paintings and seriously stared at my new collaborative project on and off for hours! I still haven't decided what direction I am taking with it. It's fairly small maybe 12 x12 and there may be 10 people working on it, don't know how that will be possible but it was mentioned, so I can't be greedy with the space on the piece. I learned on the last project that after about 3 people work on it room is scarce.

BBQ, Pool party & some Little JJ baby sugar tomorrow! Have a good weekend!

I'm All Over the Place!

The Swell Sister meeting tonight was terrific. We have a new Sister, Gale Hart and she spoke. Please take a moment to check out her website & her fantastic work it's listed below. She was awesome, funny, full of info, very inspiring and I loved her hair, all wicky wacky in a funky, free, surfer, skater, sexy I just got out of bed kind of way. Cute really cute. She owns a gallery and has been involved in the art scene for quite some time. One piece of advise was to stick to one thing. UT OH. That's a problem. I'm a Gemini. That's nearly impossible. I want to do everything! Try everything! I love it all! I haven't even put some of my clay work or altered art up for sale yet. So what do you think I should stick to? What do you like best? This is a big dilema!

I got my first Indie collaborative piece back tonight as well and will be posting a picture later. I think it came out great. It's a very fun & unusual piece!

Ok if you must know, it was hot, everybody was sweating! lol