one more thing...

I wanted to add a picture of one of my pieces. I am pretty sure this dear friend bought it. I am very flattered. There is another piece that another amazing friend bought, but that is a a gift for someone so I won't post that yet! Next month.

What is good for you is hard to start.

I have been negligent in my posting. The show started two weeks ago tomorrow. It was a really nice opening and so nice to see my friends. I was terrified that no one would come, but that wasn't the case. I have been back to Space Monkey once since the show. A couple people I don't know actually bought pieces. It is funny to think that strangers will have some of my work. I like that.
I had so much more than I thought I would. I was able to fill the place up. I am hoping pictures will be coming soon. I am relieved that the pieces are moving on. I don't really want to bring them home. I feel like I am done with them and want to move on. Truth is though that I haven't been in the studio since. I know I need to get out there. I have been drawing every night and have some ideas for a new project. My excuse (pretty legit...) is that my studio has no heat and it has been really cold here. I don't wear gloves when I work since I use my hands and fingers a lot and my hands get too cold without them. But I am itching to get out there. It's a little bit like exercise. I know I will feel better if I do it, but getting started is really difficult. Maybe writing down here that I have to get out there will push me just a bit.
Personally speaking I have a lot of fodder for my new project. We have been thru a lot in these last 4 months and my 6 year old daughter has been affected in the worst way. She is my baby and if there was any way to take away all of her hurt I would do it gladly. For myself art is my outlet. She is also an artist. She loves to express herself thru painting and crayons, anything actually. I have noticed that she wants to start only coloring inside the lines. I think maybe a lot of parents like that, but I wish she would still feel free to color wherever she wanted. One thing that she holds onto is her color choices. There I don't believe she will ever be "conventional" from her clothes to her art, it is all her choice. She doesn't care about what matches. I LOVE that.
My kids were so proud during the art opening. That was fantastic. My son was especially proud. He was so excited to see my art hanging on the walls. He still tells me all the time how he thinks I am the "best artist ever". Nothing like giving birth to your own personal fan club!
The last thing I want to note is that this awesome artist is coming to Portland for a show at Redux on March 7th. I am looking forward to meeting her in person. I have read her blog for probably a year or so and am always inspired by her. She is one of the people that inspired me to show my work at all. I have always felt intimidated since I have not had any art training what- so-ever. To know that she is out there showing her art with confidence made me feel more sure of myself. So thank you.

( I hope my spelling isn't terrible here, my spell check isn't working and I am too lazy to do a read thru!)

Decisions

"Damage" Kelly Akin 2007

The day is coming for my first solo show. I am excited and pretty nervous. I had a lot of inspiration over the holidays and spent a lot of time painting. It was good therapy and I think I made some pieces that were alright. I need the art to deal with all of the stress and emotions, frustrations etc.. that come up during this time. Ironically having a show causes me a lot of the same feelings, which send me to the studio. One thing I have realized is how much I hope to have these pieces move out of my life. They represent so much of what has been my experience over the past few years. But I feel like I need to allow myself to clear those out and allow all these other pieces some room. I actually look forward to taking the paintings and collages off my walls and bringing them into Space Monkey. Of course the idea of hanging them on the wall and watching other people look at them terrifies me. Being that exposed is truly frightening. I have never done anything like this and I am curious as to how I will feel at the time. Currently I run on about 4 hours sleep a night. I am hoping that before the show I will actually get some rest. Tom at Space Monkey did tell me I can have free espresso that night. I will probably need it.

As far as the decisions go; I have many, many pieces and have no ideas which ones I should put up. That right now is stressful. I am trying not to think in the terms of what will sell, or what looks like something others will like more. They all are important to me. I am hoping there will just be some natural flow to this decision.

If you are in Portland, the show is at Space Monkey Coffee, 5511 SE 72nd Ave, PDX 97206
Artist Reception: Friday January 18, 630-930. The show ends on Friday February 15.

Art Show at Space Monkey

January 18th starting at 630 the Reception for my art show at Space Monkey in Portland, OR. This will be my first solo show and the preparation has been feeling intense. I have enough pieces, but I never know which one's I will feel like displaying. Each piece came out of a dire need to create. Each one feels different and has a different emotion attached to it, a different experience. I prefer to leave each one up to the viewers interpretation. I am not trying to be coy or aloof, it is that to me they are absolutely personal. Putting a piece that I have made up is scary. Having to explain it terrifies me.


"Disease due to Injuries" - 2006 Kelly Akin

Please don't use image without permission.