Q&A pt.4 “Blog and Art”

Ok, ok, so this was suppose to be posted on Monday and its now Friday. I am guessing I am a little behind but here is the conclusion to the Q&A session. These are all questions asked about the blog and my artwork.

One of my paintings from 2 years ago

1. How do I have time to do everything, are there more hours in my day than others?
haha. I wish there was more hours in my day. I will say I am a very busy person. With working full time, trying to have an etsy shop, blogging (which takes as much time as another full time job), artwork and family, and life, I don’t have a lot of down time. Sometimes it does honestly get too much, but for the most part I wouldn’t want it any other way. On days when I have nothing to do- I get so bored so fast. Like when I stayed home from work last Wednesday, by 2pm I was going crazy. I try to just plan stuff out so it never gets overwhelming.

2. Did my parents always want us (me and my sisters) do things or were they ok with us doing whatever (watching tv, etc…)?
Hmm another good question. We grew up in Canada with a pretty big yard and lots of woods around us. I never remember my mom saying “You cant watch tv” but I think we just always chose to go outside or play, or make things. My parents are both very creative. My mom always had a giant craft room, that she very kindly shared with us (although she might disagree, we ruined so much stuff), but we always felt we could go down there and create really anything. We had drill presses, sanders, band saws, fabric, wood, paints and gadgets glory. It was like a magical craft world in our basement growing up. My dad having 3 girls always had fun activities for us outside to do with him. We all had bows n’ arrows we would play with, we would go for hikes and the old dumping grounds in the woods and dig for treasures. I think we grew up with the mentality that there was so much better stuff out there to fill our time with than tv. At least thats how I remember it. I will have to ask my mom.

Click the “Continue Reading” Below to read rest of questions…

3. How do I stay motivated to keep my blog going and not stop and be lazy and watch tv?
I guess this goes with the last question. Don’t get me wrong, its not like I never watch tv but I just don’t watch a lot of it. I know I could if I let myself, there are so many shows to get addicted too, but I try to keep it to just a few. Thursday is the one night that we let ourselves relax and be couch potatoes for the evening. We love all the NBC shows on Thursday night, and don’t even get me started for the return of LOST. We are obsessed.

I stay motivated because I just love blogging. I continue to do it because I love it- its not a chore to me. I also look at lots of other blogs which are very inspiring, fashion wise, art wise and food wise.

4. Where do I find inspiration for arts and crafts?
Again like I just said from a lot of blogs, but for art its usually from comic books and other artists out there. I love looking at art magazines at the bookstore. I usually write down the names at artists I like and them look them up later on the computers.

5. How do I create my artwork?
I would say mixed media is my primary medium. Haha which really just means anything and everything. All my art is usually collaged with old book pages, tape, lace, ripped paper, etc… and then I draw and watercolor on top and then ink it all. That’s been my process for my last handful of pieces. But I really love printmaking A LOT!. I love letterpress as well. Kev and me have a tiny handpress, we also have a 4 color screen printing press that we like to play with. I also love making books.

6. What is my favorite Museum?
I love the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The John Singer Sarget painting when you walk in is one of my favorites. I also love museums with lots of Renaissance paintings. They are my absolute favorite!!! I really love the Louvre because of the Renaissance wing. They also have my other favorite painting of all time, “The Coronation of Josephine”. I could stare at that painting all day long, I have been lucky enough to go 3 times. I love the ICA in Boston and I also love Mass Moca out in the Berkshires.

7. How do I keep my blog in perspective? Do I ever feel like it becomes to much of a priority? How do I not let it?
It is easy to let it take over sometimes. I am not a person who spends her rent payment on a new pair of designer duds, but sometimes I find myself jealous of the people who have all these amazing things. I hate when I get like that. That’s not who I am nor do I really want that life. At the end of the day I know that the most important things in my life are Kev and my friends and family. They are what make me truly happy. If I get like that as soon as Kev walks thru the door I feel better because he is my life. I focus on the things that matter, and feel good about who I am and my life that I lead because it is pretty fabulous. I love finding treasures at the goodwill and I love handmaking my brooches. It really is about feeling good about who you are and making sure your priorities are right.

8. How do I keep my blog focused while incorporating different things?
I am assuming you mean because I post about different things each day. Hmm. I don’t know really. When I started the blog I just had so much I cared about. I didn’t just want it to be about fashion because that is just one part of me. I think I would consider my blog a lifestyle blog so that is why it works out to post different things. It would be weird if it was all fashion all time with not really any mention of my life, and then all the sudden post a dinner recipe. I could see that not working, but since I really share alot about us it seems to work. I do keep a schedule so that there is some sort of order. Like you know on Tuesdays I will post a Last Nights Dinner. I also really don’t like reposting things. I do like sharing but I think you need to find your own voice for your blog. Then it stands out. It becomes personal.

9. How do I balance between sharing to much information and sharing just enough about my life?
Wow, good question! Haha. I dont know. Maybe I do share to much? I just try to be honest. I would never share our dirty laundry or things that are private but I do share things that I think people can relate to. That’s one thing I love about this blog is hearing from you guys that you can relate about this or that. I think you just learn over time what is something you should write and what is something you should hold back.

10. What camera do I use?
We have 2 cameras, a nikon D70 and a D80. Nothing super fancy or anything. Kev’s camera is the D80 which he uses to take all the pictures. He is hoping to upgrade soon to something a little better. I think he is going to make the switch to a Canon as well. He also uses 2 off camera flashes when he takes my pictures. He will be doing some special guest posts on Photography and how to take the best pictures you can with what you have sort of stuff.

11. Do I have blog host Recommendations?
I am not an expert on this by any means. I know it seems now a days every one loves tumblr but my site is hosted thru wordpress. It was designed by Kev and programmed by our friend Jon. I think if I asked Kev he would say use wordpress. I know they have lots of great templates you can buy and then customize.

12. What are my plans/goals for the future of this blog and my career?
Well as far as my blog and career go I hope that they can blend together a little bit more. I love doing this blog and I think it would be really great to get more into the fashion industry but at the same time I need to go back to school to get my MFA if I want to keep teaching. I would also really much like to become a college art professor. I think that would be just awesome!! High school is fun but I think college would just be 100 times better. I have big goals for 2010 and I am just taking it day by day trying to make this blog as good as it can be.

13. What is the best way to revamp your blog?
I think it can start with making a mission statement of what you want your blog to be about. I think that is really important. If you don’t have a clear idea of what you want to talk about it really doesn’t matter how well designed or how pretty the layout is. Then I think it can be as easy as creating a simple yet effective header/banner for your blog. Give it some presences. Also make your blog easy to read. Don’t have thousands of things going on, and make sure you can read the type well. If you have some bright background with colored letters I bet you that people can’t read it and you are probably giving them a headache by trying. Remember how bad myspace got with everyones crazy backgrounds and all the gif. and moving and flashing things. Blah that stuff is not good. Simple and clean is better I think.

14. How do I take pictures without feeling like a doofus?
lol, well I dont know if this goes away. I am sure there are many that feel comfortable in front of the camera but I am not one of them. I just try my best and the more you do the more comfortable you will become.

Well that ends our Q&A’s. If you have any other questions please at any time email and let me know.
Happy Weekend Everyone!!