lots of rambling

Days

February 2, 2012 by Jes

Today marks 25 days until I need to drop off my work for my next show.

My next solo show.

Just me.

No pressure….

Today, I am grateful that I have a studio day. On my task list is printing the prints for 5 new pieces. I finally decided on the sizes to print and frame them (after magically finding frame bars for two frames in the exact size I need hidden in my studio). I finally decided that the words I plan to letterpress on two of the pieces are ok and aren’t crap. Signing the exhibition contract for this show, and working on putting together my image list.

Everything is becoming more final.

It is hard to blog at this point in the process. I feel like there are so many whiny voices in my head (“this isn’t good enough” “this won’t work”) and right now I would love to scream because my printer just screwed up a print and my paper supply is limited and I have to re-cut spine strips and book cloth for my books today. And I’m sure that doesn’t make for very interesting blog reading.

But here I am. This is where I’m at.

Mr. Webmaster has been working on my website. It is almost to the point where I can update it and change things around again. In the mean time, I am learning to be patient.

There are many things I want to tell you about, and talk about here, but they will have to wait just a little while longer as well.

For now, here are more photos I took at the Art Shanty Projects while helping at the Shantyquarian! http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/sets/72157628903113411/ I finally managed to get my film photos scanned and posted. This weekend is the last! Go see them if you can!

Until next time,

~Peace~

I’ll be back soon.

This little blog of mine…..

November 30, 2011 by Jes

I have a new plan for this little blog, as well as new plan for my website.

First: there is a new design coming for my website. Yes, the redesign has started, and you will notice a few things (specifically the background) look a lot different than they did a couple of months ago. But there is more work to be done both with the pages you see and what goes on behind the scenes. I’m hoping that all of these changes will be coming to you in less than a month…but I am relying on a pretty great webmaster to help me with these changes, and he needs some time.

Second, as of January 2012, I will be closing my online photo shops…Etsy and BigCartel temporarily. I am not sure how long this will last. The reality is, I sell 100% more at the art festivals and other places I display my artwork than I do online. I’m not complaining about that! I just can’t justify the fees of keeping an online shop open, when the shop itself is not covering any portion of those fees. So, I’ll be running little promotions through the month of December (follow me on Twitter if you are interested!) and then will be taking my shop offline in January. Hopefully, I will find a more affordable solution soon, and will be able to have an online shop again, but in the mean time, this is what needs to happen.

Third, I have never been a big one for New Year’s resolutions, but I do actually have a few for this year, and a few of them affect you, my dear readers! The plan is to implement them immediately, but I’m giving myself a little leeway, and saying they are resolutions for the new year.

Resolution #1: Try some different film developers! Seriously, in all of my years as a darkroom girl, I have used D-76 and Ilfosol 3. I know I’m missing out on many great developers! I just need to spend the money on them and try! So this year, I shall, and the results will be posted…

…which leads to….

Resolution #2: I will post more here! I’m going to try to post daily, but I realize there will be times when that doesn’t happen. But I’m going to try! There will be more personal posts, yes, but there will also be many more art posts in general….about things that come through my Twitter feed, things I hear from other artists, things I am applying for, things I am day-dreaming about, etc.

Resolution #3: to do a 365 project. Really. I have tried at least 3 times now, and haven’t made it more than a few months. My friend Cate on the other hand has a knack for keeping them going. In fact, I think she has one that has been on going for 3 years now! I’m going to make it 1 year. This, I will start on December 22nd. (That date will be explained later for those of you who might not know it’s significance.) It will be a cell phone 365 – nothing against film at all. I just realize I need to relax my own rules and give myself a little easier start on this one.

So, that’s it. Just me deciding to take charge of my site, be a little more vocal here, and get back to expiramenting. I think 2012 will be a great year….I think 2011 will end well too.

Until next time,

~Peace~

A good day for catching up

March 28, 2012December 6, 2010 by Jes

I told you there would be a catch up post coming. Those always happen when I find myself a little too involved with things other than keeping up a blog.

We have been getting ready for Christmas, like so many others, though this year has been different. This year we have been working on not feeling so rushed, and I haven’t been so crazy with holiday sales. I only had artwork in a few this time. We actually bought a Christmas tree this year too! We haven’t had one since the year John came home. There were many reasons really, we were busy, there wasn’t room, and we just really weren’t in to the holiday. But this year, there were no excuses. We found one that is pretty perfect.

For the first time in quite awhile it seems like a lot of the craziness has stopped. I still have these random moments of feeling overwhelmed that quite often lead to small meltdowns. Last night John pointed out to me that all of these feelings of being overwhelmed were from self imposed deadlines, and that none of them mattered. They matter, but not in the sense that I have to scramble to get them done. It is amazing how often I need to be reminded of this, but he is right. For now, I need to focus on enjoying things, and being creative.

I have still been doing the ‘Cell Phone Pic A Day’ project. My favorite photo app has a random setting, where you don’t know what effects it will give your photo. I really love that setting! It has been fun to play with! I am glad I started this project. For one, I am enjoying using my cell phone basically as another toy camera. Also, it has kept me taking pictures. I haven’t been photographing as much otherwise lately. I’ll get back into that, it just always takes me a little while after working on a big project like I did. This at least keeps me doing something.
Of course, it always helps when an awesome customer leaves a new camera as a present!

It works perfect too! I don’t think anyone has used it before! It has been a lot of fun to play with so far. I’m excited to see what I can do with it.

After spending the last couple of days at MCBA (http://www.mnbookarts.org) I really want to get back to playing with my printing press too! MCBA just introduced a Book Arts Certificate program. I can find out more about the program and curriculum in January, but I am already excited! I think it is the first time I’ve been excited about going back to school in a way! There is something about making books and printing that I have loved since I first tried it. I believe there is nothing cozier than working on art and book binding and printing on some of these cold winter days.

Well, maybe really long thick socks are up on that list too!

My ultimate goal in all of this, is just to slow down, and enjoy it. I need to be more present. Giving myself the permission to slow down enough has been tough, but I know it will be worth it in the end.
I think that is enough for now.
Until next time,
~Peace~

Jes Lee