First Friday, this Friday!

So this Friday (Aug 7) is the First Friday event downtown Lakeland. The theme is the 'Dog Days of Summer' so if you have a pooch, bring it with you to roam around.

The most exciting thing for me is that I was accepted into the show at Arts on the Park; Long Days of Summer. Look for my black&white photograph titled, Toothpick Carnival. The opening is FREE and from 6-9PM, although I'll only be there about the first hour.

This Friday is also the opening of another show in Tampa, the Emerge! Art Party at the Tampa Artist Emporium on Bay to Bay BLVD. I have two photographs in that show as well! (It's FREE and from 7-10PM)

My friends, the Dark Romantics, are also having a concert at Hard Rock this Friday night in Orlando. So whether your in Orlando, Lakeland or Tampa, Friday is going to be a great night!

Corporate Photo Shoot

Today I took photographs of an investment consultant, Zach Schlobohm. He needed some promo shots for his website. Here is a sample of the images we got...

July

So it's the beginning of July. I feel like a total loser because I forgot about the artgroup meeting that I planned tonight. Well, I technically didn't forget, I thought it was tomorrow night but for some reason (my tired feeble mind) I scheduled it for tonight, a Tuesday, and didn't realize. I'm fired. I think my brain has just been on overload lately because I'm starting to forget a lot of things. You know you have too much on your plate when you're as scattered as I am these days.

A few things that I'm working on are:

A logo design for ChaeMae, LLC. She wanted curly writing and daisies. Personally I think the one in the middle is the strongest, but we'll see which direction it goes. This is just the first comp.

I've been doing other logos and web design for Victory. I've also been making a lot of jewelry and hair flower pins which are SO much fun! Here are a few samples:

You can find lots more at www.branchart.etsy.com.

I'm also trying to get all my stuff together to contact preschools about doing their portraits this year. I'm getting some posters made but I can't decide what is the best way to market myself... letter size flyers? postcard size flyers? Just go say hi and give them a business card? What are your thoughts?

My first day.

It's my first day of freedom. I'm officially an artist. Well... in truth I've always been an artist, this is just my first day of that being my official career title. I have to say, so far so good. I do feel a little like I'm just playing hooky from work and that I'll have to go in tomorrow. I wonder when I will no longer feel this need to go into an office. I feel a mixture of so many things. At times I feel FREE. Free from set schedules, free from a boss, free from working for other people, free to do whatever the heck I want to do. Free to have an open schedule, to do whatever I am called and discover to do. These freeing moments are interrupted by fleeting thoughts of stress related to staying busy and finances. But I believe that this is what I'm supposed to do. I believe that I'm right where God wants me to be, and how can that be a bad place to be?

I can't wait to look back and say, "Wow, look at all God has done. Look at where I was and where I am now. What an amazing ride."

Right now I can't help but feel gratitude. I'm grateful for my art progressing and having the confidence to take this step. I'm grateful for my husband in supporting us and being willing to take the financial burden on himself... and for being ok with not knowing about our future (because who really knows anyway?). I'm grateful for family and friends encouraging me. I'm grateful to be right where I am. It's such a beautiful place. 

www.jordanweiland.com

Ideas...

So I just made a new stencil of Jimi Hendrix that looks great! I'm excited to paint it. I'm definitely going to use some bright color this time because of his character. It should be a fun painting!

I'm experimenting adding things onto the canvas as well... like the buttons on Audrey Hepburn. I'm considering adding things like strings onto guitars, newspaper... i'm just not sure. I guess whatever I'm inspired by at the moment. I want to add interest into the art and make it different. Plus, I love working 3-D.

On another note, I've been thinking about new artwork and a series that I want to start. I'm trying to decide what medium to use in the series or if I should maybe try a little of everything. Basically, I am interested in how we all tend to think of ourselves as higher than others... or we think of certain people as higher than us and how that can be skewed in our lives, and how that translates physically to the people around us. It's something that I know I've done and also see in friends or family around me. It's perplexing and frustrating at the same time. I want to capture all of this in a painting, photograph or mixed media piece. Right now it's just figuring out how to put it on paper, so-to-speak. At first I was thinking photography would be best, but I'd need to find willing models.

I'm also entering a show that is titled, "Old Florida" so I want to take some photographs for that. I may go down to Ybor and see if I can find some shots down there. I haven't decided if I want to go rural or urban... I think we'll see what I can scout out and what turns out better.

On another note, I am a big fan of Project Runway. The big finale was last night and I was in love with Leanne's line. I love that her whole line was an inspiration of waves and movement, taken from sitting by the river in Manhattan. Here's some of the fabulous clothes she made:

J. Rowan Gallery

So I'm in! I took several pieces down to the J.Rowan Gallery today and they will be up for tomorrow's opening and then I'll have an official space on Saturday. You should definitely stop by! They are unveiling the sculptures in the park, then having a Jazz band, h'or dourves and a 100 foot canvas for people to paint on along Kentucky street. Arts on the Park will also be having an opening for their new show, "Cutting Edge". One of my friends, Kristen got in that show and art vendors will be all along the streets. Yay for Arts in Lakeland!!!



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