Calvart Artists’ Guild Show, May 07, Ugly Fish, Torso, Shadow Wymyn:  Isis Rising, Raku vase, Hope Is, by Tammy Vitale

Visualize a ribbon by every single piece.  Yep – I swept the category.  Of course, I was the only one in the category so it wasn’t hard.  But hey, there was money attached to each ribbon so I’ll take it.

The happier, for me, event was the winning of a 3rd place ribbon in the acrylic category for Maggie in the Afternoon.  Surprise!  I wasn’t the only one in that category – and acrylics isn’t my main media.  Well, it is my main media in painting, but 2D isn’t my main focus.  That one made me feel really great!

Here’s the rest of the photos of my work from that show.  Maggie is the last one in the series.

Reloaded the Gallery at Friday’s Creek.  Moved some work around, put new work in, took pictures.

Went to ArtOMatic and stayed there about 7 hours – great evening!  It was artists’ night and many artists were there with wine and cheese and goodies.  I pretty much stayed in my room, and was visited by many of the artists I have featured here but had not pesonally met.  Alison Christ stopped by to say "Thanks!"  She had evidently found the feature on her work and sent along her information.  Here’s her website, where you will note she has several shows listed – and why not?!  Jennifer Beinnacker also stopped by and introduced herself.  She has loaded in many more pieces since I first stopped by her room, and they are all wonderfully edgy and dark.  I think my favorite is still her Totem piece.  Tom Cardarella came through early in the evening and then said he guessed he should be back at his own room.  And Brenda Sylva stopped in to give me a big hug – all dressed up for her fire dancing out front.  She has the best outfits!Met Joan Jenkins, Fine Arts Model, who fell in love with the Zen torso. 

All of these visit felt really good because here are 4 new people to add to my circle of artist acquaintances – more than I’ve managed before at ArtOMatic and a great underline for doing your own outreach when you’re feeling lonely.  Not to mention the great creative energy they flow into my life as I look at and enjoy their work.

We left around 10 p.m. and the crowds were still going strong.  It was a great night interest-wise too.  And almost all my cards were gone – I was going to make more to take with me but I had no colored ink in my printer!  I should have just gone with black and white, because all the ones I had with me went while I was there!  And that was only Friday night, with Saturday being Cinqo de Mayo celebration – yes, ArtOMatic knows how to stage events to bring in the public.  I don’t care what anyone says – this is the best ArtOMatic we’ve ever had.  The public that’s coming in this time is ready to buy!  AND has the money to do that.  I’ll take that any day.  But then my goal isn’t to be classified as an avant guarde, up and coming (starving) artist who is one day going to be hung in the National Gallery.  My goal is to establish myself as a steadily selling, already here, well-fed artist whose daughter is planning on getting rich from the originals after I die- and that’s happening.  So all in all I give myself a pat on the back for achieving my goals! (and that even shut up the A Student who is pretty pleased herself!).  Bravo ArtOMatic – you have my vote.

thought for the day:  Face it, marketing strategies depend on pleasing other people.  Your calling depends on pleasing yourself.  you can’t listen to statistics and inspriation at the same time.  you can look for a snug harbor in the opinions of other people – or you can find protection in your genius.  But absolute genius requires absolute heart.  "If you follow some else’s way, you are not going to realize your potential," says the advocate of ‘follow your bliss,’ Joseph Campbell.  And if you knew your potential, you would laugh at your efforts to fit into smaller molds.  Tama Kieves, This Time I Dance