The Adventures of Two Assemblage Artists

     This seems to be a nice time for reflexion. Since Christmas Michael and I have been revisiting painting. Michael is busy with oils and I am revisiting watercolor with lessons learned last year in assemblage. It’s not like we are abandoning assemblage (I actually have one on the burner,) just adding to our art vocabulary.

Awhile back, I took someone’s advice from a blog, can’t remember who, and took a walk and some photos. What a really great way to try something new with no attachment to the outcome. I fancy I will never persue photography as an art, but the cross-over lessons to assemblage and painting still apply. At the left is my favorite shot of the day taken with my ipad. Ipads rock.

I can see the start of an abstract painting in this photo…hmmm.

You can find us at www.artavenuegardenstudios.com  and Etsy  www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeatGallery

 

Adventures of Two Assemblage Artists

     Three days off last weekend! Michael manned the gallery Saturday, and then Sunday and Monday off as well. And something interesting happened to me. I got all bummed out Sunday because somebody forgot to bring home the acrylic paints I needed for a project I was working on.  (hmmmmmm) Anyway, I was sitting on the back deck steps feeling sorry for myself-really sorry. And I told myself, “pay attention to what’s going on here…”  And I noticed how noisy depression is. It’s not dark and silent for me. It’s a ton of inner dialog of martyrdom and misery.

I’ve been trying to meditate lately, so I told myself to get still and quiet. In just a minute of quiet I got the very strong message, “Today would be great to make those “vision” cards.” So I did. I made twelve of them. All the things for now that I want to manifest and work on this year. It was a blast. Today they sit on my desk at work. It was the best use of my time that day! Funny how the universe works….. Here’s my “ART” vision card. What a fun and inspiring project-

Don’t forget to comment on last weeks blog for the random drawing….so far Terri of the Red Boots is getting it because she’s the only comment, but I do appreciate the new followers!

You can find us at www.artavenuegardenstudios.com  and the Etsy site  www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeatGallery

Michael and Susan, The Two Assemblage Artists

The Adventures of Two Assemblage Artists

     The TV seems full of obligatory nods to those January resolutions….loose weight, save money, get organized. Here’s something in our house that’s a head-shaker: I have to declutter and clean up to feel ready to work. Whether I’m cooking, or taking a day off, or starting a new project. It helps me clear a mental path so I can think.

Michael, on the other hand, can work in utter chaos. At the moment he is oil painting in a 10 x 10 room that every inch of space is already covered with equipment, paper, and dust. And now he is painting about 5 different canvases from a chair with the canvas on top of the computer keyboard. Scraps of cardboard with paint overfloweth on top of every surface. The spare chair is filled with the assemblage he “will get back to.” And he has been working like that for days. I think it is the most amazing thing! How does he do it?! Is this normal??

So, I’d love to hear from other folks on this issue. How much does it matter, for you to get going on a project, if your space is cluttered up? I don’t care if your project is sewing, cooking, blogging, art, what-ever. I would be interested in the feed back.

And for fun, if you leave a comment for the rest of us to read, you will be entered in a random drawing for one of the small tile pieces we carry at the gallery.

     Free stuff for fun! Can’t wait to hear about the clutter habits out there!

As always, you can find us at www.artavenuegardenstudios.com and the etsy site:

www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeatGallery  and our sister biz blog http://beatgallery.wordpress.com

And at the gallery  The Beat Gallery, 109 W Perkins, Ukiah, CA 95482    707 462 4180

Michael and Susan, owners/assemblage artists.

Adventures of Two Assemblage Artists

     ” To thine own self be true:”

Last February we opened this gallery in a small town. We call it The Beat Gallery. We are assemblage artists and now gallery owners. A lesson learned early on was that the gallery had to reflect us as artists and our eclectic asthetic. The gallery has improved over time and marched steadfast along. I think the lesson works for artists, too. Before you can chart a course to represent your art, you have to know who you are, and where you are starting from. This allows you to stay sincere. People like that.

• Assemblage Tip:

Matte medium gel. The workhorse on a brush in our studio. Once you paint this on a surface and let it dry, paint will adhere. It  works wonders on newspaper, metal, wood, most anything you want to “distress” or colorize.

• Cool Assemblage Find:

      Jim and Tori Mullan’s assemblage birds. Our customers love them, and so do we! Clean work.

You can find us at: www.artavenuegardenstudios.com and www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeatArtGallery

The Beat Art Gallery, 109 W Perkins, Ukiah, CA  95482     707 462 4180

Michael Wilson and Susan Spencer, assemblage artists, gallery owners

Adventures of Two Assemblage Artists

“Celestial” by Susan Spencer

     Well, as two artists from a tiny town, Michael (the husband) and I did something really right this year. After being involved with our local art group and the co-op in the nearby town, we took the leap. We opened our very own small gallery in the near-by town. It has been a great year of ups and downs and the learning curve continues to be fast and furious. Luckily we have remained like quick silver and it is paying off.

     I plan on keeping this blog the personal account of where we started and where we are going and lessons learned. Our art is assemblage, enigmatic even to fellow artists, so imagine the “niche” art market we are involved with. Also, that these tough times have not always been kind to us, but that people have been kind. And our little neighborhood gallery receives stacks of complements daily. And we feel blessed to have joined this neighborhood of charming shops and big-hearted people.

     So my first lesson to share is truly, “follow your heart.” With that said, I am reminded of the saying “Trust in Allah, but tether your camels.” Don’t think we started this venture without some reality checks. But we found the right rent, the right landlords, and the best neighborhood. And here’s the measure of our success this year: we have sold more of our own personal art pieces in the 10 months we have been here, than we have over the course of our “artist’s lives.” And we have managed to stay out of the red, business-wise. Meaning we’ve paid the overhead. No big paychecks, yet.

     Next post, I hope to get into more specifics, but for now, happy holidays, and get your “dreamboards” ready for 2012, we wish everyone a great new year full of adventure and fun.

You can find our updated website (another future lesson) at www.artavenuegardenstudios.com Susan Spencer and Michael Wilson, the two assemblage artists.