Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Crazy December

Good Bones, 2009, Oil on Birch Panel, 16x16

Crazy, wacky, insanely busy week (and month) here. I am really feeling the show deadline looming and am freaking out about whether I will have enough work ready. Three weeks seems like a long time but we all know how fast that is going to spin by.

I am also thinking a lot about my upcoming residency at the Vermont Studio Center in January. The show opens on Saturday, January 2 and then I will be driving to Vermont the next day. Some very precise military-style logistical planning may be necessary for that weekend........

Like the last time I went (almost two years ago) I am planning to work on painting things that are NOT landscapes! I want to focus on the 'People You Know' series, the abstracts, and will maybe make some collages while the paint is drying.

Unlike last time, I have few concerns about sharing a bathroom, meeting people, making friends or finding someone to sit with at dinner. Turns out I am still quite sociable in the right environment and certainly being around other real live artists will help facilitate my chattiness! I still have occasional contact with a few people who work there and I also look forward to meeting fellow artist/blogger J.T. Kirkland, who will be doing a residency as well.

So currently the plan for the rest of December is to have a birthday, paintpaintpaint, have Christmas, deliver paintings for the show, prep all the panels I need for the residency, pack up a month's worth of art supplies and clothing, have a kiss or two with Doug on New Year's Eve, and attend the show's opening reception before leaving for a month.

And that list does not make me feel tired at all. Heh.

19 comments:

Unknown said...

I look forward to meeting you too!

Unknown said...

Oh... my last name is KirKland, not KirTland. :)

Tracy Helgeson said...

Sorry, J.T. I knew that but choose to blame my poor typing skills and bad proofreading abilities;) See ya;)) Are you driving up, or flying?

Unknown said...

I haven't decided between driving or taking the train. The biggest question is how to get all my materials and tools there. Should the roads be safe to drive on? Do we have a big need for a car while there?

Tracy Helgeson said...

No real need for a car while you are there, everything is in walking distance. But you may want to consider it if you are bringing a lot of materials. They have a pretty good shipping system set up, but still, you can lose a lot of studio time unpacking and packing etc. The roads can get pretty tricky in the winter, but they keep them pretty well maintained. All bets are off if there is a storm though! This year is pretty mild so far, hard to believe there will be much snow there in a month, but could happen. I have a 4 wheel drive so I plan on driving again, it's about 5 hours from here.

Unknown said...

I just don't know what to do! Mapquest says the drive would take me about 11 hours. That's not too bad. But, a 12 hour train ride would be much better. I just don't know how to transport all of my wood, paint and tools. I better figure it out soon!

Tracy Helgeson said...

Yeah, that's a hike! Could you break up the drive over two days? That's probably what I would do, but then I will do just about anything to avoid packing stuff up for shipping, yuck!

Unknown said...

The drive doesn't bother me. My drives to KY for the holidays take about 8.5 hours each way and they are now a breeze for me. I just worry about the weather. And that I don't have 4 wheel drive.

Tracy Helgeson said...

Well, barring any kind of storm anywhere along the drive, the roads will probably be ok until you get into VT. You're supposed to let them know how you are arriving by now, didn't you send in the travel form yet? ;)

Unknown said...

Nope... oops! I guess I need to find that form! Thanks for the reminder.

M.A.H. said...

Bummer y'all. Have fun. I applied at the 13th hour, but January was full. I may try and get there next fall. I'm not sure I could have handled January in Vermont after 9 years in SoCal anyway. I'm such a delicate flower. :O

Tracy Helgeson said...

HA! Delicate flower....
January is an oddly busy month at VSC, always full whenever I have applied. I only got in this year because I couldn't go last Feb and there were still some openings for Jan'10. Anyway, you definitely should try for next Jan, one of my favorite teachers from college will be a visiting artist and he is way cool, Tom Butter, I think he has a site if you want to look up his work. So I am going to barrel my way into that month;))

Jala Pfaff said...

Awesome barn! It reminds me of a Wolf Kahn.

patty a. said...

Tracy, I feel you pain! All I have been doing since Nov. 14 is sew, sew, sew! I am particpating in an Art Mart at the Akron Art Museum and I am bring small contemporary quilts - bigger than a baby quilt but small than twin sized. I had to finish one bathroom before I could get started on the quilts so now the push is on to try an get as many done as possible for the Dec. 17 show! Enjoy your time in Vermont! I can't wait to see what ends up on the canvas from that experience.

Natalya Khorover Aikens said...

that dark barn is awesome! have a blast with all your prep and enjoy it too!

Katherine Kean said...

I love this barn painting - something about the darkness against the paler sky just vibrates.

Congratulations on the residency!

Melody said...

The residency sounds wonderful.I need something like that.
Enjoy!
Remember to bring dark chocolate...they just may not have to chili pepper variety

Unknown said...

Greath work

rob said...

Hello,
I came across you blog--after a search-- because I too will be at VSC in January doing a writing residency. So reassuring to know that we all have those same fears, even as adults (who will I sit with? Will people like me?). I'm beyond thrilled to be going, though, and especially seeing the caliber of artists of all genres. Wheww! Can't wait to meet you all.
Happy Holidays.