Surrender to him and he will help you achieve your biggest dreams. Surrender to him and he will help you get through the toughest times of our life.Surrender to him and he will save your life.

Artwork: Let Us Pray - 8x8 mixed media collage

 Storytelling in Art 

The story as I know it... This picture is from my family's collection (mother's side - Fetherson & Grant.)  All I could find out abou this image was that the two ladies are sisters. The image was taken at a South Carolina chruch camp meeting. 

 Inspired by:  The closeness of the two sisters- shoulder to shoulder. The beautiful smile on one of the ladies with well manicured nails. Printed dresses- checker and floral prints. Large round hats- that menmics roundness of thier faces. Braided hair- neatly tucked under hats.

Recognized Symbolism: Checkers - squares, land, earth element , realization or materialization; Round -  circles, empty, sun, powerful, charisma; Floral - flowers, crowing achievement, feminine beauty; Fingers/fingernails - connection with spirtual power, wealth and status; Hair- life force, strength, royal power, freedom

Contemporary Mixed Media Artwork Final Results  

 ^{4.5 x 11 Print , Mixed Media - "My Sister's Keeper" 2009}
 

Action Taken This Week:

I needed to get my folders organized to actually be able to find the things I need to jump start my artist business. Although I consider myself, sort organized- I knew I needed to organize my folders on my computer.

Alyson Stanfield suggest you also organize your paper files.  I have most of my information digital - I just print what I need.  Now most of my art related stuff is digital - it took me about a hour to really organize my files into the suggestion categories Alyson's mentions in the book.

Suggested Categories

Business/ Legal : Bank statements, contracts, expenses, insurance, receipts

Art: artist statement, materials & techniques, resume/bio, wish list, workshops

Marketing/Publicity: Blog, Galleries, Mailing List, P.R. Articles, media releases

Sales: Inventory & Price List, Articles for Sale & Selling

I made a few changes to the categories- because a few of them didn't make sense to me. But if you are interested in reading more about organizing your information - Buy it Here!

Continue to Wish Me Luck,

 _{From Father's Day Collection - Fenced In , 2010 10 x10 mixed media collage on  watercolor paper} 

A Dusty Walk with Dad

 All I can remember of my dad are our trips out to the field to check Mr. Claude's crops. On this hot days - it would be very dusty and I could barely see where we were going. Once the dust would clear- dad would say " Issac hurry, I don't want to be out here all day. We need to get home to check our own crops."

I would try my best to keep up with dad. He walked in such long strides, a stride I just couldn't keep up with, but I tried my best. Most the time- I was running along side of him, and when I couldn't keep up anymore- he would grab one of my arms and pull me to his waist side. It was a much better view then below and the dusty walk through the fields didn't bother as much.

What I am saying is that.. I'm learning a lot from this book. Some of it I know, but just too lazy to do something about it.  But not now, no more excuses. By the way, Alyson teaches the Artist's No-Excuse way of self promotion. She is honest and to the point.

This is what I'm going to do for me and for those wondering if the book is any good. I'm going to share every action I taken, recommended by Alyson. Do I expect results? Heck Yeah! But along with learning how to better promote myself as an artist, I will also learn what's holding me back from getting things accomplished.

So, please join me on this ride... I promise it to be a learning experience for the both of us.

At home with my family. It's a sweet time to be home. The hens are laying their eggs, the cows are giving us milk and the crops will feed us good. It's nice to be home. To hear mother humming her favorite song in the kitchen, to hear my children laughing in the yard, to hear the dogs barking at each other. It's nice to be home.

 I Am Working ... on artwork that needs to be completed, I have ideas that are dying to place on a canvas and I need to prepare for holidays sales. I have been commissioned to work on artwork. So it's not like I am not doing anything, it is more or less I just don't have the time and energy to work on all the creative work I would like. I hope I don't sound like am complaining, because actually I'm really glad that I am busy. Its God's way of rewarding me for working my purpose.

 
I Am Working... on my branding image. I am revamping my website. I wanted a website that conveys all of what I do and not just my artwork. It is still a work in progress, but it's creative work I enjoy. I using weebly.com to create my website. It is a great place to create a creative business website.

I Am Working... on creative direction with Flow by Tara Davis. Creative direction work allows me the opportunity to share my vision on a particular theme. Flow by Tara Davis is hosting a Holiday 2010 Trunk Show on Dec. 18th. There have been lots of trunk shows, but this one will include workshops, vendors and other designers local to the Charlotte, NC area.

There are other creative entrepreneurship business going on, but I will save them for later. So hope you guys understand why my blogging has been missing in action lately. I Am Working....

Talk with you soon,

Today I’m starting to see myself getting burned out and defeated. My body is showing the struggle and battle of physical living. I know what’s happening, I know I am killing myself. I’m losing faith in my ability to survive, much less win the battle. My demising strength is weakling because I’ve been taught to fight what I see rather to listen to what I know. I’m looking outward, rather than turning within to God’s given iteration.

I can see very clearly in others what I cannot see in myself. I can see defects and faults, I can see very clearly what others need to do, I can see potential in others, and I want to help them live up to their God giving gifts. I can see in others, what I can’t see in myself.

How can I prove to myself- I’m right, when I know I’m wrong? How can I be good if I acknowledge the bad things about myself? Good & Bad, Right and Wrong are predetermine judgments placed into my head by past experiences, and recurring thought patterns.

Until I am willing to acknowledge my true self- I’m powerless to change. The universe will send people and situations into my life to show me who I am and what I think, though for providing me with an opportunity to choose people who will show me the way. I must accept what I see- if it quarks and walks like a duck, then it must be a damn duck.

What I can learn and put into action is my ability to choose. It’s my choice. If what I see is not something I like or want in my life, then I need to get to STEPPIN’. I will not make excuses; I will not entertain, change or fix what I see. I will see it, accept it, then reject it and haul ass as fast as my 8.5 feet will take me.

Artwork by Alease Michelle: Titled "Ms. Mary" part of the Phenomenal Woman Series.

Peace & More Love,

 
1.Click on image.

2.Save image as jpeg.

3.Open up control panel on your computer.

4. Choose appearance.

5. Desktop screen. 

6. Locate image.

Enjoy!,

_{Board Created by: Alease Michelle}

Tailored- Smart consturction- items that virtually go with everything

_{Board Created by: Toni- student}

Mixing It Up: Putting items together that neccessary don't go together- rules of mix and matching are out the window. Liberate yourself- Mix it up.

_{Board Created by: Jeffery -student}

Minimalism - creating drama in a no-glitz zone is a powerful.

_{Board Created by: Natasha- Student}

Jewel Tones- colors with an intensity that's more than the eye can take in.