Fine Art, crafters and craftsmen.

What is fine art?  Is it about the intentions of the artist? Is it about the subject matter?  Is it about materials used? 

If it's about materials or do we draw the line? Is fine art only made of oil paint and acrylics? Are water color and oil pastels included? How about color pencil and markerss?   Is it fine art if someone is using glue and doilies and stamps?  

Is it about original content?  Should a person who is gluing bits and pieces of other people's work to a piece of paper be considered a fine artist or artist at all?  

But what about using found items that are made into a collage?   

Working Artist.

As a working artist it saddens me to the core to hear some people's thoughts about artists and art. Last weekend I did a little art fair in town.  I had someone else that was in this show (although more of a craftsmen) call me a starving artist.  I assured her that I was not starving in any sense of the word.  I told her I am a working artist.

I do take short term temporary assignments from time to time.  I am working tward a goal and that goal will take a lot of capital for the initial set up. I have fixtures to buy along with contracting out some of my bigger print projects. I have faith in my ability as an artist to generate a living;

I am on one of those assignments for the next week.  I was drafted to do the pumpkin for the building contest.  I brought in some acrylic paints and took about an hour to paint an owl .

Everyone seems very thrilled with it. "We are going to win this year!" has been uttered over and over.  Yet the person who is in charge, who loves it,  said... "You were supposted to waste more of the day doing art."  

I heard this so much when my children were young. " Oh, you had house work to do but you were too busy making pretty pictures"   This from my ex-husband.,  I had taken the work to a few places but had no real idea of where to start.  (This was pre-internet ) I had no real idea of how to start and no support. I just quit making any art at all.

I have askef this before but will ask this question again.

If my cousin-in-law can support his family using paint then why cant I?  He uses house paint.  I use a acrylics and oil pastels. Why is one a job and one a waste of time?  In my world it is not.

With the support of my loving husband and my family,  mother, children, step children(they had a perfectly good mother so I will never claim that status)  and on out to extended family.  I will continue on painting my dreams knowing to the core that they have value and are not a waste of my time.
#Art #WorkingArtist #StarvingArtist  

Around Town

I am Pleased to announce that I will be in several Holiday Events in the Minneapolis area in the coming months

There will be several different sized prints of my original art ( both framed and unframed)
There will also be blank photo cards also featuring my art, including the kitten playing with the Christmas tree ornament.
 

 November 15th from 10am-5pm
 Sunday, November 16th from 11am-4pm
 Plymouth Arts Fair
 Plymouth Creek Center, located at 14800 34th Ave N. Plymouth MN

November 19th and 20th 10am to 1:30pm
Holiday Boutique
Normandale Lake Office Park
Building 8500,  Bloomington, MN

 Tues, Dec. 9th; 10am -2pm
 AT&T TOWER (downtown skyway) Minneapolis MN

Thurs. Dec. 11th; 10am -1pm
Capella Tower (downtown street level) Minneapolis MN

I hope to see you there.


I still have a solo Exhibit of Framed Originals at the Kenwood
And cards and prints in AR Apothecary at Normandale office park, in the Retail link.
 

Wow I have exciting news!

I really haven't been paying proper attention to this blog or my website over the summer.  

I have been a busy trying to get a handle on what I really want for my business and what direction I want to take in my art. 

Pursuant to buying the equipment that I need I took a long term temporary assignment. 

Now for the news.  

I should finally have gallery in my website where I can list offer originalls directly to you.  I hope to have it up and running by October 12th

As of October 15th, My note cards and prints will be available at RK Apothecary between Kincaid's and Ryan's in the Retail Link of Normandal Lake Office Park here in Bloomington, Mn. 

If you would like to meet me in person (and who wouldn't, I'm awesome) there will be a meet the artist this Friday at 1:30 October 10, 2014 at 

The Kenwood 

825 Summit Ave.

Minneapolis, MN 55403

www.donnatriska.com

Finally Back in the studio!

Today I get to work on art. Not temp jobs or a messy kitchen calling my name. I am going to go into my studio and lose myself in my own little world for a few hours. I really would like to turn up the music too but alas other peoples ears may not like the hard rock I am in the mood for today.

I have absolutely no business living this far north

You see, I am affected by lack of sunlight and cold weather.

Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D.
 
By Mayo Clinic Staff

Seasonal affective disorder (also called SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. If you're like most people with seasonal affective disorder, your symptoms start in the fall and may continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Less often, seasonal affective disorder causes depression in the spring or early summer.
Treatment for seasonal affective disorder includes light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy and medications. Don't brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the "winter blues" or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own. Take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year.


This last winter was very long it has only been warm and sunny hear for a few weeks.  I had scheduled a Cat-a-thon for April, but  just couldn't make myself do it. The weather was still cold and grey.    I managed to get two done and another started that really just was not making me happy.  I almost gave up on myself and my art.  I had all kinds unpleasant  thoughts that I will not get into here.  Just know that this is the worst that it has ever been.

The sun is out and my mood is sunny too.  I am ready to start filling paper with the kitties again.
I am not going to give myself a schedule but I will keep you updated with photos and news.

HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE !

Cats are still being painted.

I regret that I was not able to work on any art today.   I have been having small bouts of vertigo for the past 7  days. Today was particularly bad.  I wound up at my Dr's office.  

I will resume work on the fab felines as soon as the studio stops spinning.  

Cat Lady ~ Jonathan's Portrait

I fixed the problem with Jonathan's eye span.

Ready to start the next kitty tomorrow! 

Crazy Cat Lady Leigh / Jonathan

I am a bit late posting today.   Jonathan was soothing to paint.  I started out with color pencil

 

I then started adding Oil Pastel.

I need to let him set up over night and I will add his wiskers.

It is ashamed that the richness of the color does not show up well in this photo.  I will try to get a better photo in natural light.

 Edit:  I am not happy with this portrait.  I as I went the eyes seemed to get farther apart.  His right eye needs to move in quite a bit.  My Painting Schedule will be off by at least two days. 

Crazy Cat Lady ~ Jenna's Cali

I was so excited to get started that I forgot to take progress photos!

Cali was a joy to do.  I love her expressive eyes they seem to plead "cuddle with me"

Name of Portrait

I have 5 spaces open should I save one for your cat?   See what this is about here

Tomorrow it begins!

Tomorrow begins Crazy Cat Lady Month! 


April  1st ~ Jenna / Cali
April  3rd ~ Leigh / Jonathan
April  5th ~ Drew / Gandi
April  7th ~ Zenka / Queen Mab
April  9th ~ Charlotte / Phoenix
April 11th ~Charlotte/ Arwen
April 13th ~ Tanya / Jupiter
April 15th ~ Dan / Jasmine
April 17th ~ Rachel / Eddie

Each finished painting will have it's own post.
Please understand that I will be using a photo and the finished portrait for future advertisements of my art.  As well as offering prints of some of the portraits.

Instead of sending an invoice out I will be placing a PayPal button like the one below.  You fill in your name / cat name. Shipping address is requested after click.  You can pre-purchase or wait to see the portrait.   If you choose not to purchase the portrait I will place it in my Etsy Store. Portraits will be shipped out May 12th
 As you can see I still have room for 5  more cats.  Come join the fun!
Email your photo or photos to donna.triska@yahoo.com 

Name of Portrait

Hurry up Already and Spring!

There are only 11 days left in March and I still have piles of snow in my yard.  I don't know about you, but I am ready for the tulips to push up though the dirt and the lilacs to bloom.  I am ready to put the winter coat away.   And just between you and I, I am ready  to lose that winter weight I that I have gained!

I am also looking forward to my Crazy Cat Lady Month.  April 22, is my birthday.  I will not tell you how old I am but I will give you a clue.  I saw Joan Jett and the blackhearts when they were the opening act for The Police. 

In celebration of my birth month I am painting 15 cats.  The paintings will all be 8 x 8 inches on professional grade watercolor paper.  Just under half of the spots have been claimed at the celebration price of $60.00. I normally charge $120.00 for this size. 

To claim a spot just shoot me an email with:

 your name and address
 a good photo of your favorite kuddle kitty
 I only have room for 7 more


www.donna.triska@yahoo.com

Crazy Cat Lady For April.

I will be the Crazy Cat Lady in April.  I will be painting 15 cats.  If you would like me to paint your cat send me a photo.  All Paintings will be 8x8 and will be for sale for $60.00 each.  You do not have to buy one to submit your cat but those that do will be given first priority. 

Email me at donna.triska@Yahoo.com
To the side are two paintings and the photos that inspired them.


 Follow this page to keep up with the progress.  I will be posting  updates in the blog. Do me a favor and leave a comment.  I love comments!

If you intend to purchase I need:

The photo,
Your Name and Shipping address
I will send an invoice for $60.00 for each one that you order.

                                               Edit.  I am using a PayPal button for  your convenience