If you’re just now reading this for the first time, let me get you up to date. I am a stay at home mom with a degree in fine art. My concentration in school was ceramics and painting. I have a fondness for ceramics, but it’s expensive to produce and requires special equipment to throw, fire and glaze. I have a potter’s wheel and a used kiln that I just bought a few months ago (but I still need to test it once my garage is fire safe.) I’ll have more time and energy to do that once my daughter is back in school this August.
In the mean time, I’ve been painting mini works on paper in a standard ACEO (Art Cards Editions and Originals) size which is 2.5 x 3.5 inches. Scroll down to see some of my mini-paintings. I sell these and am averaging better than 75% sold, many over asking price. Lest anyone think that painting and ceramics are far removed, they’re really not. Painting is allowing me to play around with color combinations that I hope I can apply to my ceramic work.
In the past, I would happily throw forms until I ran out of clay. Then my un-glazed pieces would sit on the shelf as I agonized over which color I should glaze them. You see, I enjoy the process more so than the outcome much of the time. I’m getting better.
Anyway, that is a condensed background. I have cut up another 40 little mini-canvases and will most likely keep painting them. Maybe not show and tell depending on your answers. It’s a small stream of income that will hopefull allow me to outfit my ceramic studio with glaze ingredients, more clay etc. without breaking into the family’s bank. It also keeps me active working in the art field.
On another note, I went in to visit my primary care physician after she saw the lab results diagnosing me with anemia and I was just a little depressed for a day or 2. Apparently un-explained anemia is a symptom and indicator of other diseases that we are testing for, the most heinous of which is colorectal cancer. I was convinced the other day that this is what I have and did not feel like doing anything. So far, the at home tests I’m doing are pointing to something else, possibly other digestive issues or maybe a re-occurance of endometriosis for which I was treated in ‘95. I’ve decided to think positively and won’t worry about it until the tests are completed.
Entries (RSS)
If you are selling ACEO’s that well, I would continue.
Hope you solve the anemia problem. Female issues seem to be a common cause — and what may seem average, may actually be excessive.
Your work is beautiful! Do you sell it?? You may e-mail me at jettingthroughlife [at] gmail [dot] com
JTL
eek Cyn that is scary! Female problems are definitely a common cause of anemia though and hopefully that is all it is! It is great that you are selling most of your ACEO’s. Your paintings are so well done! Keep up the good work!
Hi, Cynthia,
My advice? If you’re selling ‘em, keep painting ‘em! You’ll know when you’re ready to stop.
Definitely don’t fret about your anemia until all your test results are in. I remember going from specialist to specialist, being tested for everything from lung cancer to lupus. It turned out to be asthma. Of course, it’s chronic and severe Level 4 asthma that ruined my life, but hey, that ain’t lung cancer by a long shot! I’ve had bouts of undiagnosed anemia several times — so far, it’s been nothing.
Hope for the best, and don’t waste your time planning for the worst, unless it actually comes to that!
Having said all that, I’ve got my fingers crossed for you!
Thanks everyone for your kind words and thoughts! I feel much better now, both mentally and physically. I am going to wait till all test results are in and figure that I’m already living a fairly healthy life, exercise, eat right, drink moderately, so what else can I do?
No use worrying about the past or about the future…I can’t control either! What all this did affirm though is that I’m where I need to be in life.
I had been previously diagnosed with a gluten senstitivity which I’m going to follow up with my doctor…it could be something like celiac disease basically an inability to digest wheat, rye and barley gluten. I’m doing my own self test by attempting not to eat it to see how things improve. I’m also taking a twice daily iron supplement to get my iron stores back up to normal.
WJ, I’m sorry to hear about your level 4 asthma. It must be very challenging to keep it in check. You seem to have such a positive outlook and I love your art work!
If it turns out I can’t ever have wheat again, it will be a small price to pay for a healthier life. It certainly isn’t cancer. And, no more feeling sorry for myself!
I am sorry to hear about your anemia. While everyone has poured in their kind words (on top of which I am running out of suitable words to comfort you), really hope that your reports turning out to be just fine. Take care!