Studio tour video and thinking out loud

In my last post I told you I was reorganizing my studio. Well I did - sort of. I am not finished, but I've made a good start. So I thought I would make a little video tour of my studio, which I did. That lead to another whole set of problems. It would not upload to YouTube because my camera shoots in .MOV - or at least that is what I think the reason is. I have a nice Canan Powershot SD780 which is supposed to shoot HD videos, as well as my iphone which shoots videos too, but I never seem to remember that. So I began looking at Flip cameras, which led me to consider the Kodak Zi8. That led me to start looking at bigger, more elaborate camcorders. What should I get? Panasonic at Costco becasue it seems to be a good deal? Canon? Sony? Research - research - research! Frames per second, size, weight, touch screen or not, 1080P or 780P, sound and microphones, flash or hard drive and what kind and how much, battery type and life and on and on. Hours and hours and hours. Maximum confusion!  I still don't have an answer, or a camcorder.

I then decided this whole thing was spinning out of control - as is my pattern. A few years back I wanted a Vespa scooter to run to and from work, and do errands. Just a cute, nice, economical little scooter. That spun out of control. I ended up with a Virago 750 - so NOT a scooter! I promptly went out and got in a wreck. Yep - that's what I do. If I want a sheet of paper I am likely to end up with a 50 foot roll of it. I am not sure why I do this - but I am working on it.

So back to the saga. I tried a few free online file converters to no avail, just a lot of time spent (I refuse to think of it as wasted time). Way to complicated, huge learning curve. I went and bought Corel Video Express software to edit and convert from .MOV to .MP4 and it turns out my laptop was too full to install it. Figured that out after about two hours or more of trying, more learning. So I tried to install it on my desk top. It installed great and I thought finally I am on my way. Nope. The video card is too old and not compatible, I need new one. Back to my laptop. I took programs and files off my laptop and burned them to CD's and DVD's - time consuming - and FINALLY got the Corel software installed and the studio tour video converted and  uploaded to You Tube.

So here it is - so not worth the effort! But I am putting it here anyway after all of this effort - darn it! I learned a few things in the process:

1. Don't rotate my camera to shoot video. You then have to turn your monitor sideways to watch it - or rotate the video clip in editing...and then it doesn't fit on the screen very nicely. Better to just shoot it right.

2. Video editing seems way more complicated than photo editing.

3. I tend to over do and complicated things - well, I already knew that so I didn't actually learn it - just very much reminded of this tendency, again.

4. I am freaking TIRED of learning curves! I never EVER in my life thought I would get to a point in my life where I would say - I do NOT want to learn anything else - for a while. I need a week or a amonth or something of just vegging out. I live for learning, I eat, drink, dream and breathe learning - but I am just tired and weary of it for a while.

5. The first quarter of 2010 is almost over and I am still at the starting line spinning my wheels.

6. I want a Mac...





As usual - for those of you who get my blog by email - it seems like these videos don't show up, so here is where you can see it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERQZQM4joY0

Have you visited me here?
Sozo
N S Davis Art Website
I May Not Be A Genius, But...
Nathalie Davis web site

2010 - New Decade - Big Changes

Yep - there are some big changes a-foot for me. I have been spending a lot of time and putting a lot of effort and prayer and thought into some serious soul searching, goal setting and planning.

Before I get into that - if I even do - I want to tell you  I MISSED you guys!! It has been a very long time since we have met together here in blog-world, or cyber-space. Thank you friends and followers - for hanging in there with me and being patient.

Here is a little  bit about some of the changes. You will just have to watch and see some of them as they take place, becasue even I don't know what they look like yet.

Oh, where to start? Let me do it this way:

1. In a nut shell, I have been contemplating giving up painting on any real serious or regular basis and pursuing business or something else. So far painting has not been all that profitable for me. I was building a business and an income on eBay when I listened to "Nay-Sayers" that criticized my doing it and discouraged me from selling on eBay and so, against my greater desire, I backed off that. I am sorry I listened to them. However - that is water under the bridge.
The fact is I love to paint, I love to make things, I love art. It is a gift that God has given me - I cannot neglect it. So I am not quitting.

2. However, I really enjoy people and I really enjoy business. Being a studio artist can be very, very isolating. I want more people interaction in my life - real, live, warm, breathing, sit across the table and touch them kind of people. While I love my internet friends and appreciate you all - I need more live humans in my life to be balanced and happy. That is another gift that God has given me and I can't neglect that either.

3. I love playing on the internet and spend WAY too many hours doing it. I am intrigued by the idea of making money by being online, I am intrigued by network marketing. I am curious. I think it can work to supplement my income, thus taking some of the pressure off my artistic endeavors, allowing me to be even more experimental and free in my art.

4. I am a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, my Lord, my God, my Savior, my All. Don't freak out - I am not going to beat you with my Bible - LOL. But the fact is I am a believer and it is an enormous part of who I am. The truth is I have tried pretty hard to avoid saying to much "religious" stuff on my blog for fear of offending anyone. That will end right here.

5. I am politically interested and active. I am a conservative with some libertarian leanings. Or maybe I am a libertarian with heavy conservative leanings. Not sure how to categorize me but I am patriotic - I LOVE my country, I love our Constitution and Bill of Rights and I will fight for it.  Again - I have kept my political views pretty much separate from my art. The majority of the art community are liberals and progressives, and I am sorry to say I have lost a few "friends" from posting my political comments here.  I will probably continue to keep my views separate - you can always check my "I May Not Be A Genius, But...." blog. On the other hand...maybe not, we will see.

6. I have been spending a ridiculous amount of time and energy trying to keep my art, my spirituality, and my businesses all separate. I was afraid that my art friends would be annoyed and bored with my business endeavors, and my business friends wouldn't care at all about my art, and any spiritual or religious aspects would just annoy everyone. It has made me feel very fragmented - and it just makes so much more work for myself.

So I guess it all boils down to this: I am a believer who is a full time artist with an interest in the health and wellness industry, and also network marketing. That is me and that is who I am. It might be a little bit of a strange mix, or maybe not, it is what it is.

I am going to be working to get all of  "me" merged into mostly  one place. I do not yet know how I will be doing this but I will be doing it - watch and see what happens.

I have not been painting. As I said I have been contemplating, praying, seeking, trying to figure out how to organize and put this all together into one cohesive whole me, or thing, whatever.  I don't have all the answers yet. But since God won't drive a parked car, I have put myself in drive and I am moving. It will be an adventure to see where this all takes me.

You will be seeing much more abstract work from me. I have to - and I mean I HAVE to - finish the Joyful-Joyful project. I will probably continue the traditional Hymns painting series - I already have another hymn in mind for after Joyful-Joyful. My paintings will be changing I think - much more intuitive - we will see, won't we?

I am THRILLED to announce that I have lost 36.6 pounds as of today and have 21.6 more pounds to go to reach my tentative goal. I feel great and I look pretty darn good - at least compared to where I was. If any of you are interested in what I am doing to lose the weight please email me. I have information and a link for where you can get the product I use. I am an affiliate for this product, I get a small commission. My affiliate agreement does not permit t me to post the link anywhere on line - so email me for it. That is the only way I can get the information to you. It is amazing how effective and easy this has been. Eventually there will be a permanent reminder about it on this site.

Also I found an incredible new product called SoZo, made from the fruit of the coffee plant that is just amazing. It is loaded, and I mean loaded with anti-oxidants. Like 625 times the anti-oxidants of blueberries. One 3 oz serving of this tasty beverage is the equivalent of 16-20 servings of fruits and vegetables. The testimonials of people who have been using it are pretty incredible. There will be links to that on my site in the near future, until then check out www.sozolife.com/nsdavis or www.nathaliedavis.com (still under construction but should be up and running any day now - there are links there now that will take you to more information) or just email me.

I think one of my first goals is to start making enough income from SoZo, my online network marketing, and of course my paintings, to be able to rent a big studio space in a very public place where I can paint and still have people around me a lot. I don't get lonely and I don't have problem being alone, but when I can go a month or more without ever leaving my house - I wouldn't even have to get dressed if I didn't want to - well, that really isn't the way I want to live anymore. I am not complaining - there are things I really like about that lifestyle - I just want more now.

That is more than enough for now. I don't have a painting but I can't leave you without a picture of some sort.

 

This is the Riu Santa Fe Resort where we stayed in Cabo San

Lucas last week. It was just beautiful.

The grounds were just stunning with neatly trimmed blooming bougainvillea hedge rows everywhere. I can't believe I got these picture without people in them - what luck! Although they said the resort was full and the place was huge - it never seemed crowded at all.

I have no idea how many pools there are at this place - but this vanishing edge pool was the one closest to our room. It was cool to see cruise ships come in several times. We had a wonderful time. even though we had never been to Cabo San Lucas, we never left the premises. We had seminars for most of the morning and we just relaxed and chilled and visited with amazing people we met there. We had a great time.


Have you visited me here?

I May Not Be A Genius, But...
Nathalie Davis web site

Working Hard and Nothing to Show

I have had this video on the back burner waiting to show it to you. Watch this -



go here if the video doesn't show up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFx2hSkuWk8

Are you kidding me? I certainly admire the technical skill and expertise - and maybe the creativity of this cake decorator - but SERIOUSLY! are people supposed to EAT THIS? How could you possibly?- this is just twisted! What do you think?

I have been having bad headaches almost daily and my knee has been giving me problems since the L A Art Show. I think the headaches are partly weather and partly because when my knee is messed up I stand and walk funny causing back and foot and hip and neck pain - might as well make my head hurt too, and my eye, pretty much the whole right side of my body - LOL.

I've been working on the big portrait and also on a website and online store. I was up until 2 AM last night trying to figure stuff out. Plus I have been doing a lot of writing, journaling really.I really have been working hard - just not on stuff I can photograph and post.

I have chosen my 2009 theme. Introducing (insert drum roll here)...2009 THE YEAR TO SIMPLIFY & STREAMLINE...tah dah. So to that end each day I am tackling a box or shelf and getting rid of stuff. I am also working toward painting and working more efficiently as a part of the streamlining. I think by the end of the year I would like to have close to 50% less of almost everything...well, like clothing, books, craft supplies, junk.

And my major intention or goal for 2009 is to get my portfolio together and approach some galleries. 2009 will be my "make it or hang it up" year. Either I get in the black with my art or I just make it a hobby or something. Eww - a little old lady with a painting hobby - that doesn't sit well with me - well, so this is my intention/goal for now anyway. So any way - IF I am going to fulfill my goal/intention I will have to produce more which means I need to be less encumbered and more streamlined. See how it all works together? Genius. Right? LOL

I have a lot to say about what I learned - or figured out - from the L A Art Show - I have thought and talked and sorted and processed and have a real handle and focus - but this is enough for tonight. Tomorrow is another day - I'll write about it then.

Visit me here:
NathalieSDavis.blogspot.com
www.NSDavisArt.com
www.NathalieDavis.com

New Daily Painting a Day and 5 Sentences

Yellow Tulip Shadow Essence
3.75" x 5"
Oil on Hardboard

I read 5 sentences at lunch that influenced me to make today's painting. I could not even read any further - I had to practically run to the studio and paint this little painting. An article by artist Christopher Schink in the current issues of The Palette Magazine says " Simple doesn't mean easy. When you take a minimalist approach, you can do less, but you have to do it better. Legendary Russian ballet dancer Rudolph Nureyev said that the problem he faced when performing was not making the difficult look easy, but rather making it look interesting. That's similar to the problem faced by experienced painters who take a minimalist approach. They have the skill to paint a barn or a figure or a bouquet of flowers in every detail, and they can convincingly depict a complicated scene or event, but reducing any of these subjects to its essence is a far greater challenge"

When I read those first 5 sentences some kind of bell rang in my head. I have been interested in moving toward more abstract work and mulling it over and over in my head. I have been sort of stuck on the big portrait the last few days, but now I think I may have a direction to get me over the hump and back on my way. Plus I like this little semi-abstract tulip today so much better than yesterdays too, it's more fun. Yay!

Now - back to work.....
Visit me here:
NathalieSDavis.blogspot.com
www.NSDavisArt.com

No Painting a Day and Look at This!

Yep- you read that right. No "Painting a Day" for me til - well, I hope next week. You might not get a blog email from me for a few days. I have decided to continue to clean, plan and organize and do a few things right this year. Getting a new web site is a top priority for me right now. I have been with Freeservers.com for a couple of years and they were fine for a while - until I needed some help and they turned into the rudest, most insulting and non-helpful people ever. I canceled my account and I see they have put advertising on my web site - even though I am paid through February NOT to have ads on it. They are resellers of an outfit from Australia and darned if those Aussies weren't just as rude and bad, I don't know how much $$ I spent on hold with Australia, until I gave in and hung up, which is what I think they wanted me to do anyway - Creeps - it's not worth any more of my time or effort - I just need to change it. SO to all of those people that I have recommended Freeservers.com too in the past - I am sorry, I take it back.

Resolving this and getting a new website is top priority right now - and I have been working on it the past few days - I bought web designing software and am trying to learn - really fast. SO let me see, I think I will list stuff:

1. New Website - actually 2, one a professional portfolio, and one a store for my Daily Paintings
2. Get my accounting and taxes in order
3. Clean up and organize my computer files - get my photos sorted and organized - right now they are all over the place, on disks and thumb drives and on 3 hard drives - ugh! How did this happen?
4. Start acting more like a serious business person and stop playing flighty, flaky eccentric artist -

*OK - no one ever gets everything on their list done now do they?? and actually I'm NOT playing LOL. Oh and ---

5. Get the big portrait done ASAP
6. Put my professional portfolio together and start looking for gallery representation

Yikes - now it's all out there, and now I feel really committed.

Okay - now look at these pictures!! A pea flower! I am going to have at least 1 pea pod to eat! Hooray! (as long as the birds or pests don't get it first) I guess it pays to go outside during the day : ) Actually it is just beautiful out there today. I noticed the fountain wasn't running. I looked out and saw that the bottom tier was completely empty - even though I just filled it the other night. Get that Rick? Another leak to fix. So I went out to fill it and lo and behold I saw this pretty little flower on my pea vine, and another bud starting too. They are on the vine that looks like it might not make it - it figures, so we will see. I may try to get a few minutes in to plant a few more things - this weekend is supposed to be warm and gorgeous too. Good, maybe my feet will finally warm up -
.

And will ya just look at that sky? Beautiful. Since I live in a hole and feel like I am always looking up - I thought this view would be particularly appropriate. LOL








"See ya" in a couple of days

Visit me here:
NathalieSDavis.blogspot.com
www.NSDavisArt.com - uh, well not here, not right now - but soon

I don't have a title for this and many questions

Oil on hardboard
6" x 6"

Well, here is another painting I did before Christmas - sure is nice to have a couple of paintings waiting in the wings for the days that just don't go as expected. I am still not feeling on top of the world - but much better.

I don't have a title for these paintings. I don't have title for this blog. This year is off to a slow and very unimpressive start - "starting out behind already" seems to be a consistent thing for me. I did start preparations for a 36" x 48" canvas for a corporate portrait. I am eager to get going on that one.

Here is what is going through my head these days regarding art; passion, vision and substance. Can passion be taught? Can you have a vision without passion? What is substance in a work of art? Where is the line drawn between commercial art and fine art? Can fine art be marketable art? If you are making marketable art then is it commercial by default? and that is just the beginning....

I saw a report on the news that thinking a lot leads to being overweight! AH HA!!! - so THAT is my problem! If I could find a way to turn my brain off would I lose weight? The scale says I am a GREAT thinker!!! LOL


Visit me here:
NathalieSDavis.blogspot.com
www.NSDavisArt.com