Color Me.......Whatever.....I am bummed

A couple of posts ago, I wrote about being confused about the Jan/Feb issue of Somerset Studio, that I received notice that I would be published in. After trying to get some kind of confirmation, I figured I would just wait it out, and be surprised. Boy was I surprised. I heard from other artists that were contributors to the issue, that it was starting to find it's way into mailboxes. Not being one to sit around, I called Somerset and asked if they could use my UPS account to overnight it to me. They did, and when I got home and finally had a chance to sit down and go through it, I was devastated. I found no artwork whatsoever of mine. I did find a 3 word editorial that was part of my submission letter published, but no artwork.So I wrote an email to the publisher, and the person who had helped me out overnighting the magazine to me. And the answer I got back today was even worse. Turns out, they didn't just put off the feature till next month that I had submitted for (liked I had hoped), they actually sent the 'Congratulations, your artwork will be published" letter BY MISTAKE!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh, I feel like crying right now. Anyway, apparently the person who does the artist list for each issue, mistook the artwork under my editorial comment as mine.

Now I know what it is like to get back your artwork with the "Hey keep trying" letter, and the email rejections with "Hey we don't really have a place for it right now" letter, and especially the "you know your work is not getting used 'cause you didn't get the email confirmation withing 3 weeks of the deadline" So these things I have come to know well over the last two years. But to get "THE LETTER", you know ,the OMGosh I can't believe it finally happened, gonna show it to all my friends and family, and YOU KNOW I AM GONNA BLOG ABOUT IT LETTER !! And then to have it be an "oops, sorry we made a mistake", well I gotta tell ya, it's pretty lame. So I am really trying to accept it, just get over it, and not let it get to me.

So I went shopping.....and found the coolest little Betsey Johnson makeup bag that is perfect for my journal pens. I have been looking for something else since my little pencil bag was not big enough and I had to dig around to find what I was looking for because I could never see anything. Well not anymore, it zips open and it is fabulous!! Plus, I got it for a ridiculous price because the store was having this huge gajillion percent off sale. It is all I could probably afford of Bestey Johnson's line (gosh I love her dresses), so I have a little bit of a spring in my step, yes I do, because it's MINE. Check it out.

Somewhere Tonight

My husband is friends with a Pastor , who has had an amazing vision of how the Lord wants us to reach our community. It involves coming together within every denomination, and offering our community hope through Jesus. I have never met the man, but from what I read of his vision, and from what my husband has told me, he is truly anointed. Part of the vision is to have the same response when anyone asks us why we are doing this. The answer is "This is for people about to divorce, for the people bound by drugs, for the people who are so miserable they drink themselves to sleep, for the people ready to commit suicide: to bring hope to those who feel like they have no hope"

This piece is my interpretation of that and borrows (altered) lyrics from a singer/songwriter named Michael Lord, (who is an independent musician in the L.A. are. And seriously, this man's music is so amazing, I don't know why he is not a Grammy Award winning artist.) 9"x12" mixed media on gessoboard

'Tis The Season

This is Connor's contribution to the Christmas decorating around the house. He came home from school last Friday, and asked me for some white yarn that he could wrap Baby Jesus in, for a "man-a-ger". Oh, I thought, a "manger" scene, OK! So I gave him some white fabric, and away he went. He even went so far as to make sure the Wise Men had their "gifts." He is such an awesome kid! Did you notice Mary's sassy new hairdo? Cute!!

Bring The Rain

I can count a million times, people asking me how I, can praise You, with all that I've been through. The question just amazes me, that circumstances possibly, could change, who I forever am in You. Maybe since my life has changed, long before these rainy days, it's never really ever crossed my mind. To turn my back on You oh Lord, my only shelter from the storm, but instead, I draw closer through these times.

So I pray, bring me joy, bring me peace, bring a chance to be free, bring me anything that brings You glory. And I know there'll be days, when this life brings me pain, but if that's what it takes to praise you, Jesus bring the rain.

I am Yours regardless of, the clouds that may loom above; because You are much greater than the pain. You who made a way for me, by suffering your destiny, so tell me what's a little rain.

So I pray, bring me joy, bring me peace, bring the chance to be free, bring me anything that brings You glory, and I know there'll be days when this life brings me pain, but if that what it takes to praise You, Jesus bring the rain.

"Bring the Rain" MercyMe: Album: All That is Within Me

For an entire blog post from MK Ludwig, sharing the songs that mean the most to us, go here

Child Star

Blank Journal pages

Color Me Confused

Ok, so a few posts ago, I told you about getting an email from Somerset saying I was to be published in the Jan/Feb 2009 issue of Somerset Memories. Now the email I received clearly said Somerset Studios, but the editor I had been in contact with about the pieces I sent, was from Memories. Here is where the confusion comes in. 4 months ago I sent in a submission to Somerset Studios for a feature on "Paper Dolls". Now it has been awhile, and I don't know exactly when that issue is to be published, because looking back through the issue that had the call for art, it does not give a specific publication date. So now I think the pieces I sent to Memories are still in for review and the paper dolls piece is what is going to be published next month. We'll see! So pick up a copy of Somerset Studios and look for my name,because I am not exactly sure what the artwork will look like.

Cosmic Gelly Diptych

I wanted to see if I could do all of the art that I do on canvas, on 1/4" poplar panel board. It is only 6.99 for a 24" x 48" sheet at Home Depot, and I figured I could save some money. This is the first technique I tried, and it came out great. I primed the pieces with gesso first and the applied the heavy gel and paint. They are now framed in 12"x12" frames. The colors are much deeper than shown here, so I will try to get better pictures tomorrow.

Behaving Myself

One of my all time favorite quotes is by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, who said "Well behaved women rarely make history". Now I know this quote was referring to women's suffrage, but I think it goes so much deeper than that. I prefer to tweak the context to fit what I do in my life. I spent many years "not" behaving myself, literally. And now, my behavior, (well or otherwise) is a whole lot different. I believe that in friendships, in faith, in business, and in art; to always go with what society considers "well behaved" is not enough. Not only is it not enough, it is a disservice. I want to be the one who goes beyond, to step outside of the ordinary and to show my individuality, my beliefs and my creativity. I want to make my own history, and I would love it if you all would come along for the ride.

22"x 30" mixed media collage on Fabriano hot press

I am Officially a Published Artist

I got the best email today!! I submitted some pieces to Somerset a few months back, and never thought about it again. (I have submitted so many things, it's just easier to be surprised than to anticipate anything.) WELL TODAY I WAS SURPRISED! I received an email a last week saying they needed to see the artwork in person, so I sent it off, and I got the news today that I will be published in the Jan/Feb 2009 issue of Somerset Memories. Wow!! I am so excited I can't believe it. When I began this journey a couple years ago, I had three goals: (1)Have someone like my work enough to buy it. (2) Have a piece of my work shown in an exhibit, and (3) to be published. As of today, I have achieved all three!! Time to set some new goals. I am not showing the pieces here until they are published. (Apparently that's kind of an unwritten rule....who knew!)

So, not wanting to leave ya'll with nothing to look at.....here is a favorite from a couple of journals ago. Pretty funny how I picked this, when the title is "Why Me?" ('Cause God wanted to bless me I guess!!)