Whimsy

A few weeks ago I met an artist at a coffee shop. We talked for over 2 hours. I got a tidbit of inspiration and coincidentally was headed out of town for a retreat (all alone). I made some of these drawings while gone and some when I returned. Enjoy!






"Showgirl" (I know, I know, a nuddie! ~I showed it to my kids. They asked why I showed it to them. That made me laugh!

Arti-cu-late

So when you stay up late because you have sooo many great projects on your plate. Then you ask for some down time to regenerate, it can come. It can come! I'm flowing through this week relaxing from my power-packed late nights and early risings from the two weeks before. I'll share one of my great projects.....an article I wrote for the Robbin Gallery in Robbinsdale, MN. Maybe it didn't make the cut because I didn't see it in the newsletter, however, I'd like to share it here. Thanks for reading!


“Your Inner Art Career Search Engine”

This may sound a bit funny to you but I waited anxiously for my art career to come. I’m not sure, but I think many artists are no strangers to anxiety, which I define as the attachment to outcome.

I showed my art extensively, hoping to get a sale, hoping I’d be discovered! You know what? This all could have worked but my attitude stood in the way. I was positive but didn’t have the key to knowing how to let things really take hold. I didn’t know what I really wanted. I was lacking confidence. If you meet me, I’m a go-getter, dynamic and fun. The one key I lacked was BELIEF.

Unlike ‘faith’, belief is a personal rule. We set it for ourselves. Only we know our rules, which are formed by our desires. When we find excuses, blame and negativity seeping into our day, it’s time to shift gears and ask yourself what you want to experience in your life?

My advice? Live life expectant, responsive and know your belief to be true for you. Looking at everything as an opportunity creates excitement each day. I was at a conference in New York. My feet had blisters and I needed two band-aids. A few minutes later I walked out to the lobby and right there in front of me were two band-aids on the floor. Stunned I walked past them. Then as I got a little further I realized those two band-aids were for me. Now, you don’t need to think this through too hard to realize that I asked and I got what I needed. While I was busy judging this situation, a concept came to me and gave me a new way to look at things and at ‘mistakes’ too.

Somebody lost their band-aids. However, if we look at this from a different angle, maybe this person needed to ask for band-aids to learn how to ask for help or maybe they needed to learn about disappointment. They make the choice. They decide if they blame or get angry or choose to step beyond their fear and ask for help. I’ve seen my son learn about disappointment and what a gift for him to now be able to recognize disappointment without attachment, shift and ask for what he wants or needs. I wish this for my mystery band-aid person too. See, when we fill in our strengths with other’s weakness we are actually doing them a disservice. When we coach people through their weakness, now we are being responsive and expectant of their assured success.

Writing down what you want your life experience to be is powerful. Once you’ve done that, stick to your rule that “you get what you want and need.” When you find your thoughts to be negative, turn them to affirming what you DO want.

My personal shift was as simple as this: For 5 years I said to others, “My art career is coming”. April 2011 I started saying “My art career is here now.” I had nothing more than I did before but I kept believing it was here, feeling it inside, taking small actions each day to see it was true. Since then opportunity has come & the more I say “My art career is here now”, the more I notice my confidence soar and people stand up and take notice! What’s the difference? The first phrase, “My art career is coming” comes from a place of shame filled with “shoulds.” It should come soon, I should make money, I promise, I’ll sell something soon, etc. Unknowingly, I was draining myself of worth each time I said it!

Get noticed for your infectious, confident self! Starting today, write down what you want your life experiences to be and what you need to do to make your art be its fullest. Keep reminding yourself its here now, feel it and live it. You’ll see a change in how others receive you. You know what? This is what we want. We want to be connected to and inspire others, because all of us know, that brings everything else we want. Have fun setting your life up just the way you want it and don’t judge the how. Think of my band-aids!

Amy Cerny Vasterling
www.amycernyvasterling.com

Art is good

Oh, the early Aug post! I submitted art to the fair but this year was not accepted. Each time I think about it I think to myself, this art has another place to be. I bet I'll see that place very soon!

I was asked by the Robbin Gallery to write an article for their newsletter about being a working artist. I felt very honored to do this and have found myself intrigued at the many approaches I can take with this fun project!

My Silpada business is building and that is feeling fabulous! I've put some work forward to really connect to people and it feels like it's fueling me with some of the energy I remember from working in HR many years back.

I've been making art almost everyday and I'm doing sketches preparing for a larger project. I feel good about my career, it is here and building daily!

New Art

My Light Mag Illustration

I've been working! Here's an illustration that I've done for Jen Gladen's Ezine, "My Light". I also am working on some commissions, just finished up some teaching and applying for some more :)

Doing a variety of art connecting, hoping my efforts connect to some great projects!

Illustrated for the story "A Ferry Ride" by Karin Cameron

A Grand Old Day

My friend Rachel sent me a message and asked if I had a "Grand Old Day". I think that was pretty funny. It was a sunny, breezy perfect day to spend outside. I made some contacts, people had great things to say about my art. Sales were little but praise is payment! Tom spent the day with me and that was something also.




I have a show at Taste of Scandinavia (in the Northern Suburbs of St Paul) and this piece sold today. Thanks Taste of Scan. for hosting me at your location! Great exposure and I feel a right on match to my art. The purchasers said they wanted it because it reminds them of one of their grandchildren and also, it will daily remind them to stay young and take life lightly and with humor. What a wonderful thing for them to share with me. It makes me feel great to see my art find homes with people who can feel it inside!

Tell and Show June 5th Grand Old Days

I'll be at Snelling and Grand on Sunday June 5th selling my art at GRAND OLD DAYS! Stop by to say hi or make a major purchase. :)
Hope to see some familiar faces. The event is 8am-5pm.

Amy

Art-a-whirl

Here's my space. I've been here two days and I've met some great people. It is wonderful to share my art. People have been kind and fun to meet. I am so grateful for attending this show. I also had friends come help and what fun it was to catch up with people and my oh my the time flies when your chatting, knitting, kittens and art!

Upcoming shows

Come see me at the CBC/Thorp building during art-a-whirl May 20-22

Or Join me June 4th at Grand Old Days on Grand Avenue in St Paul! (I’ll post more info about this one after art-a-whirl)

Events and info about Art-a-whirl at the CBC/Thorpe building:

Friday . May 20th . 5-10 pm | Saturday . May 21st . 12-8 pm Sunday . May 22nd . 12-5 pm
Birth Place Of Art-A-Whirl · 65+ Artists
Trolley Stop Location · Diamonds Coffee Shoppe
1618-1620 CENTRAL AVENUE NE . MINNEAPOLIS . MN 55413
www.thorpcbc.com


Art-A-Whirl is one of the largest open studio and gallery tours in the Midwest, with more than 700 participating artists drawing in more upwards to 50,000 visitors to Northeast Minneapolis each year. The Thorp Building and the Central Business Center are in the heart of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District, and with over 65 artists and several group shows, it is a must for your Art-A-Whirl tour.

Art-A-Whirl is organized by the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) and each year it publishes an artist directory which is distributed through out the metro area in the weeks leading up to Art-A-Whirl.

ART-A-WHIRL 2011 AT THE THORP BUILDING & CBC
OPENING RECEPTION EVENT:

FRIDAY 5PM TO 10PM >> LOCATED IN THE BIG SPACE

Live Fashion Photo Shoot >> 5:30PM
presented by Costume the Cities and Vicknair Photography

Live Music Performance >> 8PM
Julie Johnson & the No-Accounts

Unveiling of the Noon Whistle
Presented by Artshare


SPECIAL EVENTS:

Carrier Pigeon and Needle & Black Art-A-Whirl Studio Open House >> Friday 7PM to 10PM
Carrier Pigeon and Needle & Black Studio - Suite 223 in the Thorp

Live Dance Performances >> Saturday @6:15PM + @7:15PM
Presented by Twin Cities movement theater group Black Label Movement - in the Big Space


ALL WEEKEND EXHIBITS:

Thorp & CBC Open Studios
see below

Art Exhibit
Presented by the Bethel University Galleries - Suite 130 in the Thorp
10+ Art Students from Bethel University will exhibit and sell their Senior Thesis Artwork.

Art-A-Whirl Shanties
Presented by the Art Shanty Projects

Home is Where the Art is :: Special Performances + Exhibits
Presented by a 14 Person Artist Collective - in the Big Space

Individual Visiting Artists in the Big Space:
Designer Furniture . Joe Gergen | Artnujo | www.artnujo.com
Illustrator . Amy Cerny Vasterling | www.amycernyvasterling.com
Photography + Stained Glass . Ray Schoch
Pottery . Linda Morse

If it doesn't come, create it yourself, Spring!

First came love.......


"Dad meet my new boyfriend!"

Then came nature......







I'm working on some large oil paintings, getting ready for Art-a-whirl and summer events. Yay!

Art and Teaching

I am ready to create! I'll start off with some paintings and then share some inks. I'm teaching a community Education class and prepping for a show in April and one in May. Life is good!

The Amazing Annie Young!

Hi all,

My friend Annie has the spirit of a visionary and in perfect contrast to this she is blind. She is a triathlete, artist and
marketeer for Costco in Brsvl. Tom might have the privilege of guiding Annie on the swim leg of a triathlon this
summer. She is highly competitive but seems like she will be well matched with Tom. It would be a great honor for Tom
and getting himself regularly into a pool would delight his personal training efforts and I suspect soul too.

Visit Annie's blog. She has a new painting called Big Heart~fabric of love. Her passion and execution compositionally is extraordinary. It appears that the heart is in motion based on her placement. The background speaks volumes about the
underpinnings and of love, sometimes including melancholy, bliss, desire, anger and many emotions that are encompassed
when love is applied to relationships as demonstrated with this heart is motion because, "Love" is a verb.

http://annieyoungarts.blogspot.com/

She also has a wonderfully layered image called "Life is a Journey". This piece clearly suggests we build a skin around
our journey, however if we peel behind that skin there are real feelings and experience which is the rich part of who we
truly are. That is something, very well done Annie!

BVAS Art Fete show Burnsville, MN

I have a piece at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center for the show "Art Fete". I was able to attend the opening with my friends Nina Victor Crittenden and Sharon and Dean Wagner. Sharon has a piece in the show too! You can see her image at this link......

http://www.sharonrwagner.blogspot.com/



I'm happy to report my piece sold on the opening night.

Wendy and a book

Wendy is a friend of mine. She likes books. She likes to read them, edit them and alter them.

She's talented at anything books! Check out these altered art pieces.
She's prolific cranking these out overnight! Who knows what's next.........maybe she'll write a book!

I worked with her yesterday and created my own book. I'll be sharing parts of it soon!

Teaching, showing and more!

I am teaching an art class through Community Education in District 196 coming up at the end of March. I also just wrote a summer class for my annual class at the Commons on Marice in Eagan where I teach elderly and preschoolers together. It is a fun one and I chose some great projects this year!

I am currently showing at The Create Dining Studio in the Waterbury Building in NE Minneapolis. Wonderful location and setting for art. I'm hopeful for a successful show, seems to be a location in my art demographic.

I started selling Silpada Jewelry www.mysilpada.com/amy.cernyvasterling
I felt it would be a great social match to my solo art making.
Silpada is an ample muse!

I also will have a piece at the Burnsville Visual Art Society's Art Fete opening on 3/10
6-8pm at the Center for Performing arts in Burnsville.

Lastly, the proofs for my project came in for the entrepreneur with which I am working.
they look great! Can't wait to see the finals, gosh, what a haul its been. I am grateful and
proud of this entrepreneur, she's been wearing many hats and doing it pretty darn well.
Still finishing some web development for her too.

Commission for a theater

Here is a commission I just completed for a theater production in Eagan. It is a take off on Jack and the Bean Stalk and adds many fairy tale characters and icons. It was fun making this painting!

Knit Wit!

I needed something new and I wanted to learn something with my daughter. So we are taking a knitting class from Steven Be at the Yarn Garage in Rosemount. It is so nice, the textures and colors, WOW! I finished (as far as I can) my first project, maybe I will post it when it is completely done. Now I am knitting this highly textured accessory scarf. I have a lovely skirt pin made from Malachite bezel set into sterling that I will use to secure this scarf. I really like the knitting and hope to partner it with my new venture of selling Silpada jewelry. When I set displays I can use scarves like this one to help add depth, color and ideas to my table.

Ahhhh! Paper Mache People!

I am marketing my paper mache people. Here are some shots strung with wire.

You can purchase them at:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67199624/paper-mache-people?ref=sr_list_3&ga_search_query=paper%2Bmache%2Bpeople&ga_search_type=handmade

Time flies when you're having fun

Nothing much is new. It's the height of winter so I am hunkered in making a lot of art. I have some commissioned work, I'm working on my new blog, Truth is stranger than......., building a platform to sell my paper mache men on Etsy and working on a personal project in the metaphysical realm. Lastly, I am thinking about dusting off my dummy (manuscript with Illustrations) and sending it to some publishers. Wow! That is a lot. I guess I just flow with it each day and forget how much I do. So life is good! I have two shows back to back in May and June so I am working to have enough art to support both events. That's all for now!