| Talent Verses Tenacity by Armand Cabrera |
[Jul. 2nd, 2009|09:53 pm] |
I follow a blog called Art & Influence by Armand Cabrera. A few days ago, he wrote about something I can really relate to...
"I don’t believe in talent. I believe in tenacity. I believe what people often cite as “talent” is actually desire and perseverance. I know plenty of people with talent…and they do little or nothing with it. Tenacity is never giving up until you’ve attained your goal. The level you attain is limited only by your work ethic..."
"People say they want something and they declare they are willing to work hard for it. But really, they want something the way a two year old wants it---they want someone to give it to them. People decide they have worked hard enough and then they quit. They are not willing to sacrifice their comfort, a family life or money to achieve the goal ahead of them. They unwittingly (or knowingly) take on too many interests and other commitments that render them incapable of continuing to pursue their dream."
Armand keeps a blog full of good ideas. He doesn't know it, but I learn a lot from him. |
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| Poor Eddie |
[Jun. 24th, 2009|11:13 am] |
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Around 7:30 am I woke up to dodger growling at something. Blurry-eyed I saw him looking out the window, and upon further investigation I saw that the draft horse and quarter horse from down the road had somehow gotten into Eddie's new organic farm behind my house, cantering around and trampling rows of plants. The owner of the horses was running around trying to catch them, and the horses were of course spooked and not listening to him. He had to run a half mile back to his house to get a halter and lead, and he came back, caught the quarter horse, and the draft horse followed him out of the garden gates. Poor Eddie was standing around helpless, hands on his hips, worried about the damage I'm sure... After the horses left, he took a walk with one of the garden interns, and just said "w t f". what a way to start the day. |
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| tiger man |
[Jun. 23rd, 2009|12:36 pm] |
a sketchbook drawing I did in response to a photo I saw in a 1966 national geographic of a guy in a singapore tiger costume |
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| Bird box |
[Jun. 21st, 2009|03:34 pm] |
Black Headed Grosbeaks
A bird box I woodburned for a benefit auction coming up September 26th for Friends of the Dunes.
I'm not sure whether i'm going to paint it or leave it yet... I have another to do soon.
( three more views ) |
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| late spring/early summertime |
[Jun. 18th, 2009|03:42 pm] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | elvin bishop | ] |
mom's garden is in full bloom right now. on sunny days, the air hangs heavy with rose perfume. I picked kale from the hidden veggie section of the garden today and ate it for lunch.
a curious rooster...
Open studios was fantastic. I sold 18 paintings over the two weekends (!!!!!!). Traded another couple with artists I admire. Met a lot of wonderful people. I brought two pairs of chickens so people could meet the birds who inspire a lot of my art. Got a lot of chicken stories from folks, and even a guy reciting chicken poetry to me. The weekends were completely exhausting but worth every moment. Thanks to all who came over!
Monday I drove my art back down 80 miles to the gallery in Redway - or, attempted to. My beloved toyota corolla wagon broke down half way there, making a horrible band-saw-like noise around the wheels, so I pulled off the side of the road in a bad spot. I saw a turn-out down the road a few hundred feet, so I limped the car about half way there, and then the brakes locked up suddenly and I skidded to a stop. The car wouldn't budge, foreward or backwards. I made some phone calls and got the dogs out of the car and waited a ways behind the car in case it got hit by oncoming traffic. Highway patrol stopped to see what was up and to make sure I was okay. Dad showed up, fussed with the car and got it moved to the turn out. We went back 40 miles north home to drop the dogs off, ate hamburgers, and borrowed a big diesel pickup truck with a gooseneck trailer. A few hours later we had my car home safe and sound. Turns out the differential leaked all of its oil and got all fouled up so we are going to replace the transaxle. Part's coming this weekend... I am blessed with a mechanic for a father. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 11th, 2009|12:46 am] |
Yesterday I went to the studio at midnight and painted til 5 am, then drove over to the marsh and had a beautiful walk as the sun rose, came back to my place and slept til noon.
i painted 6 coyotes over the last two days, they aren't quite done. I altered some old t-shirts today with the sewing machine, i turned one into a tank top and embroidered a bird on it, and tailored the other shirt to fit right.
This interview with Reuben Margolin, a guy who makes these incredible beautiful kinetic sculptures, is really amazing...
As is this interview with swoon, my favorite street artist... |
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| debt-free |
[Jun. 4th, 2009|01:08 pm] |
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I finished paying off my school loan a few days ago from when I was at california college of the arts in 03-04. I'm sooo happy! |
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| North Coast Open Studios this weekend and next |
[Jun. 4th, 2009|12:40 pm] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Fleetwood Mac - Never Going Back Again | ] |
I bought a mabef sketchbox easel yesterday. I lugged it right out and did some stormy plein air painting in the forest and then got rained out. I can't wait to use this thing more! Listening to birds/thunder and painting by sunlight is a completly new grand experience for me.
I've been getting a second art education lately by reading James Gurney's information packed "Gurney Journey". He's the guy who created Dinotopia.
I have been at the art studio every day lately, achieving my goal of doing two (or more) drawings every day. I bought some really nice paper so I have to use it and not let it just sit around. I won't be showing these works on paper because I don't like framing stuff - so the drawings will be available at open studios and online only for now. North Coast Open Studios is this weekend, and the weekend after - from 9am to 4 pm! My listing is in the local booklet, and I was also featured on page 5 with this photo I took a few weeks ago-
One of my roosters, a silver phoenix, who follows me around the yard every day. 18x24" pencil and gouache.
Carol has been critiquing my avoidance of drawing chicken feet, so i've been challenging myself to do better in this area.
( a few more new drawings and some studio stuff ) |
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| today |
[Jun. 2nd, 2009|12:49 pm] |
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rolling thunder, a humboldt rarity, but usually sometime around this month it happens here. |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 30th, 2009|04:14 am] |
18x24" gouache and pencil on paper, drawing on big paper is sooooo nice for a change |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 8th, 2009|03:56 pm] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | scott h. biram | ] |
tuesday was beautiful
go do something |
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