Never Stop Learning

The audience of 400 people for my presentation on September 17

I was asked to speak about collage as my medium and my artistic voice, in addition to how I have become successful with my art through marketing, to a group of 400 at the University of Central Florida yesterday morning. 

UCF is the second largest university in the country, with 65,000 students. The Learning Institute for Elders at UCF (L.I.F.E.) provides educational programs for group study on topics selected by and for the membership. They are a nonprofit organization and a community education program for people of retirement age in the Central FL area who thirst for continued learning. 

A man that I worked with at my first advertising agency job over 18 years ago is on the L.I.F.E. board of directors, and invited me to present to the group. Norman and I have stayed in touch over the years after reuniting at an Orlando Museum of Art function. Norman attended my 2010 solo exhibition opening at the Maitland Art Center and has been following my work ever since. He gave me a wonderful introduction on the podium yesterday morning and his wife Aymar, who is from Brazil, kissed me on both cheeks and hugged me vigorously, right in the middle of the Student Union. She is much much shorter than me, even without my funky heels, so I had to bend at the knees to receive her love. It's nice to feel loved, isn't it? 

I love that one of the rather bold statements on the L.I.F.E. website is "Bring an inquiring and open mind!" and they do. When I arrived I had several people come up to me and tell me how much they liked my hair. I was well received by this group despite my crazy hair, my nose ring and my clashing clothing patterns. They were interested in what I had to say, they laughed at my jokes, and they applauded me at the end. I was inundated with questions and compliments on my work.

The Student Union at UCF where my talk took place

Thanks to teaching workshops, I wasn't a bit nervous speaking to such a large group. To me, it was no different than speaking to 15 students. When folks came up to me afterward and told me that I had a knack for giving a presentation, I told them that my Dad was an independent insurance broker all my life and he taught me how to talk to people. He taught me how to strike up a conversation with a stranger, simply by saying hello and starting out with a smile. I learned from my father that most people are approachable and interesting and that there are many opportunities in a day to engage with someone  new, if you open your heart and your mind. When I present to a group, large or small, I try to remember that it's a room full of individuals.

my Dad on his fishing boat, one of his favorite things to do with us as kids besides talk to strangers

Thank you Dad for helping me find the confidence in myself to say "yes" to that very first art workshop coordinator who asked me to teach, and for saying "yes" to this opportunity at UCF. I never presented my art to such a large group as I did yesterday, but it's true, if you have an inquiring and open mind, you never stop learning.

thank you 

for being part of my

Art Journey,

Elizabeth

Healthy in Houston

Yours Truly critiquing intermediate student work today

This weekend in Houston I had the pleasure of teaching a 2-day workshop and a 1-day intermediate intensive class. Lisa Morales, a super talented face painter, brought me back to Houston to teach again again this year. Since this is a repeat visit for me, Lisa was already familiar with my workout regime and my desire to eat healthy. 

I wanted to take an opportunity to really thank Lisa for all the Google searching she did for "Healthy Eating in Houston" to find restaurants that might interest me. We even went to places she had never been! AND to thank her for picking a hotel for me to stay at that had an above average fitness center which I took full advantage of. 

Ruggles Green offers organic and local food. Two students, mom Tara and daughter Keli stood in for Lisa and accompanied me to dinner after class on Saturday night. Ruggles food was so fresh! I had veggie tacos with black beans, fresh avocado, piled high with corn and carrots and cilantro. The chicken noodle soup featured gluten free quinoa noodles. Houston has a LOT of vegetarian and gluten free options for folks on a restrictive diet.

Empire Cafe's atmosphere was fun 

Lisa and I enjoyed the company of another local working artist Joan, who told me all about her year teaching art in Russia the night we had dinner at the Empire Cafe. This place had a wonderful atmosphere and I had salmon with brown rice risotto that was to die for. 

Missy and Lisa took me to Khyber for Indian food on my first night in town. Missy and I went here last year and the food was so good, with such nice atmosphere, that I asked them to bring me back. Khyber is Indian Pakistani food, the staff is super friendly and they know Missy personally. You can't beat that!

This morning for family style Sunday brunch Lisa found Radical Eats, this place was radical. First off, they were growing their own herbs and veggies in wooden planters out front. They asked us if we were vegan, vegetarian or "flexitarian" they cater to all three, as well as gluten free. I can't even begin to tell you about all the food we had, it just kept coming. I will say that the tamales with vegan chili were amazing, as were the gluten free chocolate pancakes and the sprouted salad and kimchi pancake. Such a combination of flavors, like nothing I have ever had. The wait staff was creative and friendly and the atmosphere was funky. I'd recommend this place any time just because it was so different.

Lisa and Me                                          Missy and Me

Last but not least, Missy, Lisa and I convened for one more meal together this evening at Baba Yega. (where I had vegan meatloaf that was to die for) When we pulled into the parking lot I turned to Lisa and said, "What a neat place, how do you find all these wonderful restaurants?" Her answer? "Healthy in Houston Elizabeth!"

Abby and Holly in serious concentration mode

Yours Truly demonstrating the splatter technique with her yellow shoes tucked safely under the table. 

We had a great class this weekend with many new faces and several return students from last year for the intermediate class today. How NICE it was to spend time with folks I have not seen since last year in Texas! Thank you all for coming out to tear and glue with me!

Thank you Lisa (and Texas) for your hospitality and for looking out for me, for driving me all over (and around, and around) Houston, for making Starbucks drive through part of our morning routine, and for being so all-around thoughtful. 

See more Houston workshop photos on Facebook

thank you for being 

a part of my 

Art Journey, 

Elizabeth

The Importance of Having a Current Head Shot

©Douglas Nelson Photography 2013

This holiday weekend I put my husband to work taking new photos of me for self promotion, so much for his Labor Day! I have been asked to give a workshop with Art is You in Petaluma, CA next summer and they requested a current head shot in addition to my artist statement and bio last week. Let me preface all of these lovely Douglas Nelson Photography photos by telling you that I really do NOT like having my photo taken. It takes me a good 25 photos to loosen up and not look like I am in pain. Just sayin'. Thank goodness for digital photography.

©Douglas Nelson Photography 2009

The photo above was the first time we shot me in front of my art, a peacock on an easel in our living room. I put the hat on because I was having a bad hair day, and it turned out to be a very good look. My husband had a small window of time he could work on the photo and I took advantage of it, bad hair or not. I even forgot to put earrings in I was moving so fast!

I have taken my head shot in a number of different settings over the years but my favorite remains to be either outside with blurred greenery behind me or in front of my own artwork with blurred color fields behind me. The colors from my work really help to make for a beautiful back drop as well as say something about the vibrancy of my work. My husband has a lens with an extremely wide aperture that offers a very shallow depth of field, this is what blurs the background. The art is just back there for color, I don't want it to be in focus and competing with me and my sometimes painful expression! ouch 

Always Be Prepared - Like Any Good Girl Scout

In the last six months I've had to submit my headshot for an art exhibit I'm judging at the Art Gallery of Viera as well as for the Seminole County Employees Art Contest which I judged last month. I was very glad to be able to hit reply and attach my head shot within the same day of the request. People love dealing with someone who can get back to them with the materials they request in a timely manner. I would not have been able to be the featured columnist for the ARTzine if I did not have a head shot on hand the day the director contacted me. Be a good Girl Scout, be prepared at all times.

©Douglas Nelson Photography 2012

Original image and post processed image by Douglas Nelson

My column on mixed media, along with my headshot. Submitted within a week of being requested. You snooze you loose, I was prepared with my head shot on my computer. 

Last year when the Sedona Art Center was putting together their course catalogue, they asked me to write a sidebar column and submit a head shot. They had to have the files within the week to meet their publishing deadline. Lucky for me I had my photo on hand and ready to email to them, the writing was the easy part. If you were not married to a photographer who loves your cooking and appreciates you on oh so many levels..., you would be looking at a turnaround time of a week on your digital photo after the shots are taken and then up to another week for any post production effects that the photographer might use to enhance the image you chose. And who knows how long it might take for you to get on their schedule in the first place. You can see why this would not have worked when the director of the art center said to me "Can I have this from you by Friday?"

Is That Really You?

©Douglas Nelson Photography 2007

In this shot I look a lot younger (only slightly in pain) I could keep using it, but it would be kind of a cheat, don't you think?

I always have a current head shot on my computer in a high- and low-rez version for submission at a moment's notice. This is a good idea, and you should be proactive with your head shot rather than reactive, which means rushing to figure out how to have a head shot taken when you are asked to submit. Current to me means within the last six months. We have all been to art exhibits and seen artists bios on the wall and said "Wow, that photo looks at least ten years old!" I mean let's face it, you and I both looked a lot younger ten years ago, but that's no reason to hold on to that head shot and to keep using it.  This shot above was on marketing materials for the now defunct Katherine Butler Gallery in Sarasota, FL circa 2007.

Out With The Old, In With The New

©Douglas Nelson Photography 2013

This head shot was current up until a couple of months ago.

Why did I have to shoot this weekend rather than take my own advice? I changed my hair, drastically. As you can see from the above photo, I cut my hair off and went blonde. I could not really send this photo to the folks at Petaluma, so it was time to update my head shot, even though it has been less that six months.

©Douglas Nelson Photography 2013

Even this image is now outdated as I went even shorter with my hair, but I think I could still squeak by with it in a pinch. 

The above studio of me working is a nice one for editorial purposes. It shows my medium, and my studio space, it's colorful and fun and can be used for a variety of purposes. Again though, if your look has changed, your studio shot needs to change to, you have to be current at all times. 

Customized Images Beyond Your Head

©Douglas Nelson Photography 2012

Shot for Lake Mary Life magazine, showing what I do by surrounding me with my collage paper

Last summer I received a call from Lake Mary Life magazine and they editor said, "We'd love to do an article on you this month, do you have photos of yourself we can use for the layout?" This is more than a head shot, this is images that show what I do and can tell a story. Often times people ask for images of me working in my studio. If you can swing it, images of you working in your studio are great to have on hand as well. You might be able to get a photographer to come to you and shoot your head shot and studio shot in one day. 

©Douglas Nelson Photography 2013

This image was shot in the studio on a white back drop and effects were applied in Photoshop by Douglas Nelson specifically for a magazine article 

This June I traveled to Western Upstate NY to teach a class and compete in a triathlon, the local paper wrote an article about me and asked me to submit a photo they could use. I was going to send a head shot but my husband really wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to present them with a true true editorial photo. The Chronical Express ran the photo with their article and it really was great! Once you establish a relationship with a photographer, you should bounce ideas off them for future photos that might tell your story or explain what you do more than just a head shot.

Putting your Best Foot Forward

You'll notice that all of these images are three-quarter view, shot from the same side. I never take a photo head on, I always insist on using my good side. If you know there is an angle that is most flattering for you, don't be afraid to tell the photographer you are working with. Nobody knows you better than you, so speak up and ask the photographer to try getting on a ladder and shooting from above or shooting you from your good side, we all have our own quirks. When you are paying for the photo session and the images you want to be sure you come out with something you are happy and confident to submit to those requests for publishing.

©Douglas Nelson Photography 2013

The Price of Being Fashionable

When you think about cutting all your hair off you have to remember that you're going to need another new photo, this gets expensive. I liken it to getting a new prescription in your glasses an then having to change lenses in all the six pairs you bought just so you could be über fashionable. It gets expensive, über expensive... so make the most of your photo session and your photographer.

Typically head shots are vertical in nature, make sure to ask your photographer to shoot some horizontal images of you for your Facebook masthead. Social media is of the utmost importance to artists and anyone trying to market their product. You can use your head shot for Facebook, Google, Blogger, Twitter, etc. Don't forget to keep them current too, once you receive your new image, be sure to go in and update your online photo presence. The above photo was part of my head shot photo session and is now my current Facebook masthead image.

Thank You, Thank You!

Many thanks to Douglas Nelson Photography for his patience and ability to take photos of me at my beck and call. He's a saint to put up with my good side and edit out 400 photos with ouch! painful expressions. If you're looking for a good headshot, look him up in the Orlando, FL area. 

thank you for being a part of my 

Art Journey, 

Elizabeth

Neck and Nest

Neck and Nest 20x54 / ©St. Hilaire Nelson (click to enlarge)

This piece is the first of the Preparing for the Flood Series, a whimsical take on my Noah's Ark Series from a few years ago. Preparing for the Flood was inspired by the fish prints that I received from Chuck Seaman, and artist I met in Key West, FL two years ago. Chuck provided me with his cast-aways and experimental fish prints, the ones he cannot keep for perfect. 

Learn more about Chuck and his Gyotaku prints here

The Sketch on wood panel, in my studio (click to enlarge)

I start each collage with a sketch in pencil on my wood panel. 

I have been really enjoying the challenge of working oversized lately. For this series I will have to create all pretty large pieces because the fish prints are from ocean fish, and they are BIG. I do have another artist I work with who provides smaller, fresh water fish as well, but I'm out of stock. Do you hear that Raejean? :)

Sketch and gesso background effect (click to enlarge)

I prime my wood with a variety of acrylic gesso.

On this piece I primed with a combination of clear, white, and black gesso. in the background of the giraffe, I used multiple layers of white gesso to build up a texture than I then glazed over with multiple yellow and gold translucent paint layers. 

The completed underpainting (click to enlarge)

I under-paint with acrylic paints

I paint in an under-painting for my collage to be glued on top of, this painting serves as a road map for where I am going, what colors I am using, and what values give the illusion of volume in the piece. Here I have applied the Gyotaku prints along the bottom and have added effects with the paint to make them appear in the water rather than on top.

Detail of collage application on the nest (click to enlarge)

I collage on top with a variety of hand-painted papers.

I hand-paint all of my own collage papers, utilizing hand carved stamps, splattering, texture rubbing, dry brushing, layering, etc. The more layers of texture on the paper, the better. This part of the process is the most relaxing and therapeutic, I could paint papers all day long. 

Detail of collage application on the giraffe (click to enlarge)

A picture tells a thousand words, this detail (click to soon) is really what the collage is all about. The wide variety of colors, textures and patterns is due to my inventory of hand-painted papers. I love using handwriting in my work. 

Click here to learn more about writing me a letter to be used in my work!

See the Facebook album of all the in-progress photos here

thank you

for being a part of my 

Art Journey,

Elizabeth

Christmas in July!

Christmas Ornament Cards

The holidays are coming like a freight train, you officially have LESS thank six months to prepare.
Order your glossy A2 note cards with envelopes. Each set is boxed and contains 10 cards.

Get them while they are hot, I have limited quantities!

Flower Note Cards NEW!

My NEW note cards have arrived and they look GREAT! I could not be happier with the color and quality of the printing. These are glossy A2 note cards with envelopes. Each set contains two each of five images. Get them while they are hot, I have limited quantities!

Huxley, The Therapy Cat

The computer composite sketch that I worked from

My latest commissioned piece is very special. First off, because it's a secret Christmas gift, so if you know this person, sssshhhhh. And secondly, because it's just an amazing use of personal ephemera.

I met Nanette in my Atlanta collage workshop, where she attended the weekend class with her good friend Susan. Susan found me online and purchased an original by me as well as some prints. (Thank you, Susan) and she decided to meet me in Atlanta.

At the workshop, Susan and Nanette sat right up front, they were excellent students and really enjoyed their time together. On Sunday, Nanette asked me if she could commission me to collage a very special cat. Her son Zane had a Maine Coon cat that was very special to the family.

A "Maine Coon" what is that? Well I did a little digging and found out that they are the largest domestic cat (up to 30 lbs) and are quite interesting looking, with their pointed whispy ears and toes!

the original photo with background removed, he needed some fun color to make him more lighthearted

Nanette was super happy with the computer composite, so I moved forward in the process. The first step was to take all the personal ephemera she sent me (including original hospital bands for both her and baby), and to stain it with fluid acrylic paints. 

part sketch, part underpainting, on the easel

painting the personal papers Nanette sent from Zane's childhood

In my class, I talk about using the originals of things. The original birth certificate, the original hospital bracelet, the original pediatricians bill, the original report cards. This makes the finished collage extra special, and it gives you an opportunity to enjoy and appreciate these things every day as art, vs. once in a blue moon from that box under your bed. 

the completed underpainting, what I collage over the top of-- 20x30

I created a Facebook Album with all the images along the way of this piece for Nanette to view and to share with her friends and family. She was thrilled to be able to watch it come together. (You do not need a Facebook account to visit this album)

personal ephemera was included in both the background color fields and the body of the cat

paper whiskers, finishing touches

Now that the piece is finished (the finishing touches were adding the paper whiskers) Nanette says that she can't wait for Christmas to give this very special gift to her son. 

Thanks for supporting a working artist Nanette! Thanks for trusting me with your keepsakes. Thanks for meeting me in Atlanta and spending your weekend taking my class.

Finished, headed to varnish table, check back to Facebook for professional images of the finished piece

And thank YOU for being a part of my 

Art Journey

Elizabeth