the gallery

I have about ten minutes before I have to leave, so I will write a few words.

If I am forced to hang out anywhere, I am glad it is at this pretty gallery. As a business? Meh ... as they say now. However July has been pretty good thanks to the sale of one big painting. I was overjoyed for the excellent artist, the happy buyer, and for me.
I need to do better with marketing on social media. I really hate Facebook, but I know it is necessary. Yesterday a friend posted to it for me.
This is one of my favorite paintings for now. It's little and inexpensive (considering) and it may end up with me.

where is the gallery?

This is the building. Gallery is bottom of the blue section. Twenty-seven apartments above.

plastic paint

The Gallery has a very nice back room with a refrigerator, sink, base cabinets, storage racks, a printer, and enough tables for a small class. It also can be used as a studio. I brought in tubes of acrylic paint and some of the nice small, sturdy panels that Trip made and gessoed for me. Something to do during down time, like yesterday. I am not a trained or educated painter in any way, but sometimes it is fun to smear paint around, especially just two or three colors to see what can be done with them. So until I learn something, I will just smear away.

a couple of photos I like

next to do

I have been working on a website for the gallery. It may seem that I should pay a website designer to do it, but no. I wanted to do it myself. At my age, I have learned to make no apologies for me being me. It is so satisfying to learn something new, and I have been looking forward to doing the website since the gallery was just a twinkle in my eye. Of course, I am starting from scratch, knowing nothing, but as I learn and practice one thing at a time, it is beginning to come together. Another plus for doing it myself is I will have it like I want to present it to the public. Maybe that is called creative control? Sometimes it is hard to get an idea, a vision, across. It also feels like the icing on the cake, because a lot of the other work is drudgery. Labor. And business stuff that I know I have to do. So here goes.

art is good for the soul and body

Copying words from a NYT article:
"Numerous studies have shown that art and music can help soothe chronic pain, stave off symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and accelerate brain development in young children."

  In addition, a longitudinal British study recently concluded that people who engage in the arts, even    minimally, live longer.

"Professor Steptoe said researchers theorize that people who expose themselves to the arts are likely to be more engaged in the world. We know that a sense of purpose in life is important,” he said. “Being involved and excited by the arts keeps and maintains your purpose in life.”

The study also noted that engaging in the arts can reduce loneliness, promote empathy and emotional intelligence, and keep people from becoming sedentary — all factors that contribute to a longer life."

a time of solitude

We are in the midst of the viral scare, and practically everything is shut down. I am one who likes to dig in and study so I can understand a situation, or a person, or whatever, but with this, I do not get the big picture. Therefore I am doing what I am told and being a good citizen.

My gallery is located in a park-like setting next to the river. Today is mild, the breeze is nice, and the air is clean. "They" have given me the option of closing or opening. I have a business to run, so I decided to let folks know by way of social media that I will be open today and tomorrow from 11 am to 5 pm. So here I am, and so far, nobody has shown up. Can't say that I blame them, but I thought also that it would be nice to give people a place to go. As for me, it is as easy to be here as at home.

Without people, the Roomba was free to roam about and clean the floor. Such a great invention! I had wanted one for a while. Who wouldn't? And when I saw them for $250 at Costco, I bit. The gallery has to be kept clean and pretty, and I didn't want to sweep everyday, so . . .

Around the oyster roaster, three men are sitting and talking. Their bikes are parked nearby. Generally when I am here, a lot of cars pass and slow down to look. Not so much today. However, there has been a good bit of interest in water+color, and I find that fun.