Tuesday, September 16, 2008

"As a man thinketh, so is he" - Proverbs 23:7




















Okay...I wasn't back Monday...but better late than never as they say! It has been one heck of a weekend. Attending The Midwest Gathering For Artists is always fun, profitable and tiring in a good way! The event kicked off with midday meeting and drawing for numbers. The numbers represent the order in which the artists work is auctioned off....I picked number 24...ugh...way down the line among 31 pieces! That means, for me, lots of anticipation until my turn. I have related to you how these events are for me and Friday was no different! We then had a brief meeting and introduction of new and returning artists. Well, Lo and Behold I could not believe my eyes! My old teacher, Barbara Courtney, was among the returning artists. There was a last minute cancellation and they called her up. I was so very happy to see her there!! She is a great artist, mentor, teacher and art Mom and is extremely deserving of all this ! She is the one who set me on the right path when I started painting 7 years ago and I owe her much. Most of all, I am in debt for her great confidence in what I was capable of doing in the art world. I hope I never prove her wrong! I will always look forward to growing and do not believe that I will ever "arrive"....which I believe is death to the artists soul, creativity and continued growth towards excellence. After much hugs and kisses since many of these artists I only get to see once a year because of their living distances we adjourned and had a wonderful lunch, set up our auction pieces( one for the first auction and one for the second) chose the artist that we thought was the best and went home to prepare for the evening.
I went home and did the rest of my painting tags and took a brief nap! I had bought a lovely creamy beige confection of embroidered lace and ties and ribbons....very girlie and when I saw it I had to have it....Max said buy it you are worth it! I don't ask for much...but I do like a new piece of clothing every once in a while. Most of the money goes into the house except for the occasional book...I should say books!...art supplies and frames!
We arrived on time to a huge crowd...always good to see...a beautiful arrangement of hors d'oeuvres and wine ( provided by Max's cousins husband Jim)...all of which we enjoyed as we greeted buyers, friends, artists and clients. We sat with Cherry and her squeeze Joe...and had an absolute blast!! Cherry is the owner of Cherry's Gallery and sure knows her stuff! She has great eye for art and a real business head besides being a real sweetheart....Joe is a hoot and he and Max talked about cooking up some fish boil confection that actually sounds delicious. We watched as once piece after another was auctioned off some with great success dollar wise others with not so much success...nerve wracking!! My turn...I started to get very tense that my piece would go for a pittance like some of the others at $300 to $600.....friends to the rescue....Max, Cherry and Joe soothed my nerves.
Now...here is the crazy thing! I have been reading a book Called "The Secret" ....it contains a belief system that I have always practiced or at least tried to. Others have written about it and you have all heard of it. The first time I read this concept was in...yes...the Bible....the second time was a little book by James Allen which is a free online book...at least it was. I have tried off and on to keep this thinking in my mind....but not always successfully. This type of thinking is to positively create images of whatever in your life you want to happen. When I started this thinking on a stronger level...... I was given a house to live in when I suddenly found I didn't have one anymore (another amazing story)...Max came into my life (which is a tale in itself and WILL be recounted at one point!) Then I kind of relaxed and went into a lax posture concerning art concentrating mostly on this house and moving. A few months ago I started the thinking again and have been applying it to my self confidence and my art.
I am here to tell you.....this works!!!! I now have a much better self image and art....well it has taken off like the proverbial gangbusters!!I sold a small piece for starters. Then I sold two pieces to my local hospital for a highly respectable sum. The Richard Schmid Auction netted me exactly what I wanted and a personal introduction by Richard himself(it seems he only introduces the artists with paintings he likes). I received a cold call from a new gallery in Kansas City that would like to represent me. I pay my doctor with prints for services and had some framing done for the same. We are having electrical work done in our old house for a painting (it was once gas lights and rather difficult to rewire) I have been asked to judge a show for this weekend. A newspaper item in the Joplin Globe and 4 State Arts( they wanted to use 3 of my pieces as the pictures for the MGA ad), a Profiles Magazine article and a Carthage Press ad. The MGA first auction piece went for the price I asked the second piece which was a print went for decent amount. I sold a small painting and some cards during the weekend and got home to find a confirmation letter from the gallery in Kansas City! I will be hanging with the likes of Pino and Dan Gerhartz!!! It DOES NOT get any better than that!!! I can hardly believe it!! I can only hope and pray and positively think..:) that one day I will achieve their artistic level. I also received an invitation to paint outdoors with Todd Williams another fantastic artist!
Now, if you have not explored this type of thinking I urge you to start and watch the changes in your life!
Here is a female singer (for you Lori) that has a beautiful sound, her name is Pieta Brown and she is one of my favorites to paint by. Here are a few more...Cat Power, Lucinda Williams, The Felice Brothers, The Avett Brothers, The Be Good Tanyas and just about all Classical(great for improving your intelligence ratio, creativity and imaging.
See you tomorrow...hopefully with a slide show! I am judging a show tonight and giving the awards on Saturday.
Thinking Positively, Theresa

14 comments:

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Theresa,

What an exciting time you've had.
Congratulations on all of it. I have seen the Secret DVD and I too have believed in these ideas for a long time, prompted in the first place by Louise Hays, You Can Heal Your Life, which I think I listened to on tape so often that I wore out the tape.

You are so right that thinking positively works. Thinking positively has allowed me to meet
fantastic artists like you through
the blog network.

So congratulations all round. Your
paintings are magnificent, and you
are too!

Barbara

Peggi Habets Studio said...

So nice to meet you! Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the kind comments, and especially for the alla prima painting advice. You work is great, such versatility and beautiful handling of color. I will enjoy going through all the posts that I've missed.

Art By Erika said...

YIPEEEE! I'm so glad you are having such a blast Theresa! Well I know The Secret and my "check" awaits on my bulletin board lol! Love it when you pass on these great thoughts and good vibes, may it flow all around and back at ya even more enriched!

Congrats on the Kansas gallery - those artists you linked a topnotch, your work so belongs there with them baby!

Susan Carlin said...

Theresa, you must be spinning from all the good experiences recently! Soak 'em up and accept all the good as worthy results of your fine work and thoughts.
Thank you for the kind words on my own efforts, too!

Theresa Rankin said...

Thank you Barbara...you are always so very positive....and it shows in everything you do. Your support is very valuable to me. My second oldest daughter encouraged me to read the book. We learn so much from our children, eh!? I will look into Louise Hays. Thank you once again for being a valuable attribute to my life and spirit!

Theresa Rankin said...

Thank you Peggi...I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw you watercolor portraits ...and you say they weren't finished! Glad to have you aboard and enjoy my (sometimes lengthy) blog!

Theresa Rankin said...

Thank you Erika! You are the epitome of positive thinking and I have a great admiration for you and your stunning work!!! Great big hugs!!

Theresa Rankin said...

Yes Susan...spinning and a little dizzy!! Your work is an inspiration to me and I always look forward to seeing more!

Dianne Mize said...

When you got to the part where you met Richard Schmid, I was thinking "it doesn't get any better than that" and then you kept going. I know this philosophy works; I've lived by it all my life. Yet, it still amazes me every time I find "the lights are on everywhere."

Oh, by the way, I love how you've modulated those oranges and purples in your tree painting above.

Theresa Rankin said...

Thank you Diane!! I am happy to hear that so many people live by this simple principle and thank you for your comment on my tree painting...I love color!

theresamillerwatercolors said...

Hi Theresa! I LOVE the painting of the tree - and it's shadows, above! It's dreamlike!

Theresa Rankin said...

Thank you Theresa....the shadows were the most fun to paint and because of their abstract qualities won me The Best Of America Landscape award at The National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society!

http://www.onpainting.wordpress.com said...

Your mentor, teacher did a very good job. I expect she is very proud of her teaching skills and prize student. Your work is really good.

Theresa Rankin said...

Thank you Onpainting....it is an honor and yes she is very happy with my progress over the last 7 years!