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Godspeed

“Soar” – 63″ x 31″ by Nanette S. Zeller (inspired by a photo by Brady Beck)

Yesterday at 4am, my dog, Dakota, woke me up to be let out. Although this sounds early, it’s kind of a ritual in our home to rise and shine before sunrise. I could have slept in, but my brain decided to engage full fire. I couldn’t get back to sleep. I think most of us have had days like these.

What normally happens when I can’t sleep is my brain worries about all that needs to get done. I feel overwhelmed and I panic a little about some huge to-do list ahead of me. Yesterday was different.

The thoughts running through my head at “oh-dark-thirty” weren’t overwhelming, but instead exhilarating. It was like my brain finally realized that I was into a new year with new opportunities. When it was finally time to get out of bed, I was ready to take on the day.

The enthusiasm has continued into today. All the things I pondered, in my time “off” the last 2 months, were ready for me to take on full speed. As usual, I don’t truly know where any of this is going. What I do know is that I can not sit back and ignore opportunity. I have a check list of things that I plan to do with deadlines that need to be met, quilts to be made and proposals to submit. It feels good to have direction and enthusiasm.

I hope this week you too see the potential in your life. Walk away for the negativity and focus on what you want in life. Remember, that the only thing you can change is yourself. Enjoy the journey and godspeed!

Plans for the new year

This past Saturday, we took down the Paper, Canvas, Cloth exhibit. It was a successful show. The gallery noted that a number of people return 2 and 3 times. The greatest success is that each of each sold artwork. That’s the point isn’t? If you’re a professional, you enter shows so you can sell. It’s always sad to take a show down, it reminds me that everything is so temporary.

There are 10 more days until the start of the new year. This time of year, I always spend a lot of time reflecting. I remember all that I’ve done, successes and failures, plus the good and bad. But I also spend a great deal of time contemplating what I’ll do in the upcoming year.

I have several plans that I need to start implementing. My biggest goal for 2017 is financial. This year, as I prepared for Paper, Canvas, Cloth, I took a hiatus from many things that generated income. But I also stepped away from many extracurricular obligations that took up a lot of my time. The frame work is set for me to do some great things. The only thing holding me back is myself.

I always find it interesting to reflect. To think about where I was 12 months ago and what I’ve accomplished. But I’m also eager to get moving onto new things. Have you started thinking about your plans for the new year?

Bad art

While pondering my plans for the upcoming year, I started thinking… “What do I do with the ‘bad art’ I created?”

Now don’t get in an uproar, if you’re an artist, you know you sometimes make bad art. Most of us also are in a constant state of evolution. So something you made 2 years ago, may not necessarily be really “bad” but it doesn’t fit who you are anymore. It’s like that geek who’s hanging out with the jocks; the outliers uncomfortably stand out in a crowd.

So what do you do about it? People who paint on canvas can easily slap a coat of gesso on un-favored artwork and start over. There’s even evidence that Leonardo Da Vinci did this. But what if your work isn’t so easy to make a new? What do you do? This has been my dilemma. I have a pile of things that needs to go…but where? I’ve had the pieces for a number of years and they haven’t sold. I know why, too. ~smirk~

I have been known to have a sacrificial fire in the yard when we’re burning yard waste. You can’t keep everything, so making it turn to ashes puts the energy back into the universe. This might be a bit extreme for some people.

Some of the pieces I culled have a potential to be cut-up into small squares and set aside to be re-assembled and re-purposed. Maybe I could make them into small coin purses?

Frequently charities look for donated art for fund-raising events (silent auctions, door prizes, etc). I’ve done this a few times, but isn’t always the best way to go. One thing I don’t like is that the IRS only allows artists to deduct the cost of materials, not labor or the saleable price. A tax deduction for a tube of paint and a yard of cloth…just seems like too much effort to track for the amount of benefit it would have on my tax returns. Another thing about this approach of giving away bad art that’s no longer your style, it isn’t a good way to market yourself. You really should be publicly showing art that represents who you are…not some former self. So if I can’t get a tax deduction and I’m not gaining anything as a marketing benefit, is donating bad art really a benefit to me the artist?

I really don’t know the answer to this conundrum. I guess in the end, releasing outdated pieces from the heard, is probably requires a combination of many methods. Until I figure out what to do with the culled pieces, I guess I’ll just have to hang on to my bad art.

Where they take me

And so it goes, “Paper, Canvas, Cloth” is hung. The artist reception is over. Now I need to step back and take time to breathe. Between now and the end of the year, I’m re-grouping to decide “what’s next?”

I’ve been working on this exhibit pretty much non-stop since August. I haven’t had time to pursue other opportunities. In some ways, it’s been a tough year. In other ways, it’s been a rewarding year.

I’ve felt some negative blows the last couple weeks, but I’ve also had positive affirmations. It’s time to explore all those things I’ve been putting off and see where they take me.

Join me for:

“Paper, Canvas, Cloth”
November 4 – December 17, 2016
Campbell House Galleries, Southern Pines, NC
featuring the work of
Sharon Ferguson, Marilyn Vendemia, & Nanette S. Zeller

Native plants and animals

Today I hung the show “Paper, Canvas, Cloth” at Campbell House Galleries. This has been an amazing journey for me. The show is a collaborative effort between me and 2 friends. Our styles are quite different, but the theme of our art works well together. We each appreciate the beauty of nature.

On this journey, I’ve realized I have a pretty strong artist voice. I really love making nature-inspired art. I also love the challenge of making an art piece which expresses a concern for the environment, but I don’t want it to scream environmentalism.

“Silenced” is all of this. This piece features Carolina parakeets, the only indigenous parrot in the United States. These colorful little birds would form huge flocks near bottomland hardwood forests and were listed officially as extinct by the American Ornithologists Union by 1939. The species decline was apparent in the 18th and 19th century and was attributed to deforestation. Vigorous flocks were still noted in the late 1800s, but the bird had virtually disappeared by 1904. The reason for this rapid population decline isn’t known, but hunting played a significant role. They were hunted for their beautiful feathers and to reduce predation of crops. Their flocking behavior made easy killing, because they would return to the vicinity of dead and dying birds. The final cause for it’s rapid extinction is speculated to be poultry disease, but there is no evidence to prove that.

As humans, we are constantly altering our environment to better our lives. I hope “Silenced” reminds the viewer of the natural beauty around us and also shows how fragile our world is. While making this piece, I wondered how do we rationalize our communities continually growing and creeping into natural landscapes. Something usually has to give and that something always seems to be native plants and animals.

Join me for:

“Paper, Canvas, Cloth”
November 4 – December 17, 2016
Campbell House Galleries, Southern Pines, NC
featuring the work of
Sharon Ferguson, Marilyn Vendemia, & Nanette S. Zeller

Very pleased

I am 3 weeks from hanging the show “Paper, Canvas, Cloth.” Realizing I’m a little bit light on small artwork, I’ve been trying to make a few more things. I’ve allowed myself the time to work on these last minute details. I’m very fortunate to have a supportive husband and employer who allowed me to take this much needed time off from my regular responsibilities. I’m feeling confident about where I am right now. Thankfully, I’m not pushing myself into a last minute frenzy…I hate that feeling. Since I’m the rookie in this exhibit, I’m thankful to be working with 2 pros. We all know what’s expected of us and we’re getting things done with little to no stress. I love this about my friends!

My cohorts in this show are considered traditional artists and they are experienced framers. Their work is always framed beautifully to showcase and complement their art.

Art quilters don’t normally frame our work. Art quilts are usually hung with a rod through the back, reminiscent of tapestries. In an exhibit of all art quilts, this is fine. However, in a fine art gallery show where the quilts hang along-side framed artwork, the quilts don’t command as much respect when they hang on a rod, especially the smaller pieces. As my dear friend notes, the quilts “look like potholders” on the wall. I also think a framed piece makes more sense to a buyer. They know how to hang a frame on the wall, but they’re not so sure about hanging a “tapestry.”

Last week my task was to frame my smaller art quilts. It took me a couple months to figure out exactly how I was going to do this. I wanted the style to be “neutral,” something that would work with most any decor. I also wanted the framing to look a bit modern, not too stuffy. I decided to go with floating frames. With the help of Eye Candy Gallery in Southern Pines, NC, I got the job done.

With floating frames, the art is supported from behind with a small gap between the outer edges and the frame molding. The art appears to float within the frame. I must say the end results are more than I could have imagined. I’m very pleased.

Join me for:

“Paper, Canvas, Cloth”
November 4 – December 17, 2016
Campbell House Galleries, Southern Pines, NC
featuring the work of
Sharon Ferguson, Marilyn Vendemia, & Nanette S. Zeller

One quilt at a time

I often refer to my life as a journey. I know I keep moving forward. I keep changing. And, I definitely keep experiencing new things. As I’ve been working on my art this past few months, I feel like everything I’ve ever done is coming full circle. Well, actually it’s a spiral or mobeius. My life starts on one end and I keep coming back to the same intersection. In reality, I’m slightly misaligned from the last time I crossed that point. There’s too much that has happened, so I am someone different than the last time I was here.

But why does it feel like I’ve gone full circle?

When I was a small child, I played outside a lot. I loved discovering new things. I picked flowers, dug in the dirt, played with earthworms and hugged a few trees. I loved animals. I used to have a slip of paper that I wrote in grade school which read “When I grow up I want to be a conservationist.” I have no idea how I knew that word, maybe it was from the countless hours I spent reading Ranger Rick magazine. I pursued that dream for many years and eventually earned a Master’s degree in wildlife biology.

Then life happened. I needed to work and found gainful employment in IT at the peak of the dot.com era. When that bubble burst, I started exploring art and found employment editing books. During these years, I almost completely walked away from my childhood interest of conservation. My art “sometimes” had environmental components, but it never had a real meaning. I just made things because I wanted to make them.

I’ve realized the environmental theme has been more evident in my art these last few years. I have a story in my head & heart that I want to share. I mentally visualize the things that mean so much to me. I remember the forests, the plants, and the birds. I think of the earth as a whole and how we’re destroying it. I want you to see the beauty. I am back in my youth, full circle almost, but with a different age and understanding of the complexities of it all. I’m picking flowers and dreaming big about how I will save the world one quilt at a time.

Join me for:

“Paper, Canvas, Cloth”
November 4 – December 17, 2016
Campbell House Galleries, Southern Pines, NC
featuring the work of
Sharon Ferguson, Marilyn Vendemia, & Nanette S. Zeller

To take time

So what is artistic voice? I’ve been on this journey for a number of years and knew that, at times, this concept eluded me. About 10 years ago, I determined I wanted to be an artist and just gave myself permission to make art. All sorts of art and craft. I guess you could say my entire life included expressing myself creatively. But was was my “voice?” I knew I didn’t have one and that’s why it felt like a struggle.

In preparation for the show in November, I put myself to task to “cull” my existing art work. One definition of cull is “to reduce the population by selective slaughter.” Oh. yeah! that is what I was doing. It was time to kill off some earlier pieces. You may shriek at this thought, but sometimes you just have to let go.

When I made these pieces a few years ago, I thought I had “found my voice.” Now, looking at them, I’ve realized I moved on. My voice has changed. Recently someone told me that finding our voices is a process of sorting out what is important to us. This includes artistic style and purpose. Artistic voice becomes somewhat of a brand, you see my work and you know it’s mine without me having to tell you.

Preparing for this show in November, I sense my voice getting stronger. I’ve refined my techniques and I’ve also refined my personal message (a message both to myself and my audience). Some of my old work, just isn’t me anymore.

I suspect that in a few years my voice and artwork will look different. As humans, we’re constantly faced with new life experiences. So in response to these experiences, I believe, our artistic voice is in continual movement. Trying to explain this to someone seeking their own voice is difficult. The secret is to be present and do the work. As you grow, it all starts making sense. You’ll have that moment of “ah-ha, there it is! That’s what I’m trying to say.” Just be patient and expect the process to take time.

Mental lists

Things are plugging along here. I finished quilting the Osprey wing. I just need to trim it down and finish the binding/edge treatment. I’ve decided that finishing this quilt is something that could wait for the last minute, so I’ve begun a new piece.

This new quilt is going to be a companion piece to a one I made a couple years ago. Similar idea and color palette, something more whimsical than I have been working; a giant tulip! It should be fun to work on.

As I’m building my collection, my mind is definitely processing what comes next. As I posted last week, I’ve been accepted for a solo show at Page-Walker Arts & History Center in Cary, September 2018. I know this gallery well, so my mind is thinking what sort of artwork groupings I should have. What is great about having 2 years to work on this, is that I could create pieces specifically for the walls of this gallery space. So many possibilities.

I’m also thinking about what comes next. I can’t allow 2018 to be the only exhibit opportunity in my future. I have so many ideas and I’m looking forward to pursuing them. Just 7 more weeks and “Paper, Canvas, Cloth” will be hanging at the Campbell House in Southern Pines. Once that is up, I’ll start focusing on all my mental lists.

Join me for:

“Paper, Canvas, Cloth”
November 4 – December 17, 2016
Campbell House Galleries, Southern Pines, NC
featuring the work of
Sharon Ferguson, Marilyn Vendemia, & Nanette S. Zeller

Self-doubt

Being an artist can be a very isolating. I spend a lot of time alone in my studio, especially now, as I prepare for my November exhibit. I’m down to crunch time and all I’m thinking about is getting things done. I feel like I’m running out of time. I need to be in the studio more. And I wonder, how will I accomplish all of this? I take comfort that it’s all going to be OK. So I breathe. I know I’m not alone, many artists face the same angst. It’s par for the course.

As an emerging artist, there’s also this underlying insecurity. What will people think? I think my work looks OK, but I’m very biased. It’s like saying your baby is the cutest. And “everybody” thinks their baby is the cutest.

I’ve realized, I’m in a different place right now. My ideas are coming from deep in my soul. It’s a life-long journey coming together and expressing itself in fabric. My art has purpose to me…I’m no longer making it just because. I have stories behind each piece. I’m moving forward. The isolation is there and the angst, but I do my best to ignore it. I’m not going to let the negative speak defeat me.

A few months ago, I made a decision to let go of something that I was deeply invested in. As I walked away from that activity, I was reminded of a call-for-entry deadline that was fast approaching. A friend of mine frequently reminds me that we never get accepted if we don’t apply. So, I pulled my stuff together and, with a kiss on the cheek, I sent in the application. Of course, I hoped for the best, but would be OK with any decision they made.

Today, I received a phone call from out of the blue. An affirmation. They are impressed with my work. I’ve been offered a solo show in a public art gallery. I had a choice of 2 dates, so I picked one. I’m going big, so I’ll need the time. September 2018. As one door closes, another opens.

Having an affirmation like this is a kick in the pants that says don’t give up. Keep trying. There’s no room for self-doubt.