Incentive

Consistency is key to being a prolific artist.  I have to admit, I'm not very consistent unless I have deadlines to adhere to.  (And those can't be self-imposed deadlines or I completely ignore them!)  So in order to turn out consistent artwork, I need to find juried shows to enter, which seems to be enough of an incentive to get me working.  I don't enter the art shows just so that I'll continue making art at a good pace.  That's one of the benefits, but I'm not gonna lie...  it's the potential of winning prize money that energizes me the most!

So, earlier this year, I posted a partially completed graphite drawing.  I have since completed it, entered it in a juried exhibit, and then found out it got accepted.  Here's the finished piece:

It's titled 'Enduring the Countdown' and measures 12"x12", excluding frame.  My favorite part is the fleece lined knitted cap.  That was somewhat tedious, but it turned out just as I hoped it would.

Soon after that completion, I pulled out an old piece I'd started a year prior, and picked up where I left off.  I got it finished just in time to enter another juried show, and then found out it also got accepted.

That piece is titled 'Exaggeration', and it also measures 12"x12".  Both of these artworks are part of a series I'm titling 'More or Less'.  Each of the exhibits they're slated for have opening receptions in May (that's when they will announce the awards), so I have a couple months to wait before finding out how they fared.

I've also been making beaded hat bands this year, which I think are rather fun.  They take quite a bit longer than my bracelets do though.  I like to make the hat bands much chunkier than the rest of my beading, and I fill them with all kinds of semi-precious stones.  I'm enjoying another turquoise mood, so you'll see a lot of that in my work currently.

Next, I'm on to the largest piece of artwork I'll likely make this year.  I've taken reference photos, and am ready to dive in.  It's titled 'Champagne and Sweet Tea', with a woman's and a man's hands that are toasting the respective beverages in the title.  Even though I love drawing hands, the fun part will be the glassware.  The champagne flute has lines cut into the crystal, and the sweet tea is served in a mason jar, with it's raised words, ridged threading at the top, etc.  All of those details will make for a more challenging (and hopefully more impressive) piece of work.  I have the show already in mind that I will enter the new piece in.  How else will I keep myself motivated to work on it?  I'll keep you posted!