When is it time?

We are going to put the biographies aside for just one week.  There will be more next week, I promise.
I have been struggling with when to know the right time to put a piece of art that you have diligently been working on for months into "File 13", or better known as "the trash". Do any of you have that right brain/left brain tug of war going on? The struggle between throwing it away now, or trying one more thing to make something out of a project gone terribly wrong?
Oh the grandeur of the project when I first envisioned it. When I tried to take what was in my heart and head,and make my hands manipulate the gourd into this masterpiece. Well, I made the first attempt. Then after looking at it for about a month, I decided that it didn't quite measure up to what I had in mind and perhaps something else would be better. Perhaps if I cut the top off, removed the weaving and repainted it? After several more weeks of feeling confident that NOW I was on the right track, I forged ahead to make it better than my first piece ever could dream of becoming.
After staring at the "new and improved" version for about another three weeks, it too fell short. Should I?  Should I not? Maybe just throw it away and stop agonizing about it?  No, maybe if I cut it this way or that way, it will be perfect. Back to (almost) square one. After this third adjustment it now makes me laugh and maybe that was what it was supposed to do all along. I can not find the courage to stop thinking about it and just throw it away.  What do you think?
Share your stories of your struggles, and maybe we can all smile together about those challenges that we as artists face every day. Would love to hear your thoughts.

Stay tuned.

Art Mirror Plus

Judy Klein of Mirror Art Plus has been working in art most of her life. She started with clothing design and sewing at the age of 12. When she married she pulled away from her creative side for a bit and concentrated on raising her two children. Twelve years ago she decided to reawaken her artistic side. Her first projects included stepping stones with stained glass embedded in them. From there she went to working with stained glass to create terrariums, sun catchers and panels for cabinet doors. She also has fused glass to make into vases, bowls and other objects to be used in the home. While learning the art of fusing she discovered dichroic glass and spent some time working with that creating some beautiful pieces of jewelry.
When the price of glass and lead started rising she decided to try working with mosaics to use up left over pieces of glass. Since she had many left over pieces of glass it was an easy transition. She has been working with stained glass mosaics for the last seven years. Mirrors and other decorative objects are being used in homes around the USA.
A little over a year ago she was able to work with polymer clay. This has become her new passion and she is using it to decorate wine glasses, make napkin rings, jewelry, covered goose eggs and many other decorative items that are used to add art to your home
Judy has been married for 33 years and has 3 grown children along with their spouses and significant others. She is also "Grandma" to four wonderful grandchildren. She lives in the country between Plymouth and St. Cloud and is employed full time at a Plymouth business.
Judy is so much more than this bio states. A very multi-talented artist to say the least. You can see and purchase her art at Seranya Studios Art Boutique (www.seranyastudios.com)
or even take one of Judy's classes there to bring out your own creative side.


Stay tuned

Carrie Godwin -Mixed Media Art

This is the work of Carrie Godwin, our featured artist this week.
She tells us in her own words that she has a strong interest in staying diverse in the arts and feel it balances out the creativity for crossing over techniques into other mediums. Art is a part of my everyday life and I love sharing and teaching others. People have a hard time grasping that I cross mediums instead of focusing on one. Well, both of my parents were very artistic and art instructors and I was told to stay diverse in the arts. I am so thankful. I go in streaks of each of the three mediums-sometimes taking years off in between. The majority of my Metal Clay jewelry is custom orders and for galleries. I work with the customer from a little idea they have and then do drawings of what their idea can be turned into. This is my favorite part of art, helping the idea become a piece of art for the customer. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Head on down to Seranya Studio Art Boutique in Plymouth to see my work on display for sale, or visit www.seranyastudios.com


Water Color-Metal Clay-Photography
Member Fine Art America


As I was writing this for the post, I realized that there are many artists who don't confine themselves to just one media in their art.  I know that I have never stayed in one area and perfected that particular art. I rather kind of was a jack of all trades and master of none. Everything that was learned through each experience gets carried over and combined with the new and becomes your own unique form of art. Discovering, researching, and learning is an art in itself.  Everyone is creative in their own way
How do you see your creativity? How does that balance your life and work? Would love to hear from all of you---------------------


Stay tuned.

What does an artist see?

There has always been a question about what an artist sees when he/she looks at an object. Why do they look at it differently and think, "I have to paint, draw, sculpt that?"
Artists have often been called day dreamers, but what are they dreaming about? Do they look at the sky and think," oh the sky is blue", or "grey", or "covered in clouds"? Or do they look at the sky and think, "what a beautiful cerulean blue with specks of white tinged with pink and purples?" Do they notice that nearer the horizon it appears darker than when they look straight up? Do they notice the grey in the clouds of white and also the reflections of the blue sky, or depending on the sunlight, sometimes green from the earth?
No wonder it takes artists longer to "look" at something than someone else who looks at the sky and thinks "the sky is blue". I wonder what makes them see the shapes of things, ad the shadows underneath those shapes? Is it a trained eye after many years of study, or is it something they just see?
As an artist, I do believe it is part of both. Yet, what is the spark that ignites the desire that somehow I have to capture this scene, or thought, that is rolling around in my head and get my hands to manipulate into something tangible, showing others what I feel when I look at that object? What passion drives us to want to?
Please share your thoughts on what drives you to do the amazing works of art that you do.
Back to the biographies of the artists at Seranya Studios Art Boutique (www.seranyastudios.com) in a few days.
Stay tuned.

Getting to know our Artists

Getting to know our artists

This week I would like to start a series presenting the biographies of the contributing artists at Seranya Studios Art Boutique (www.Seranyastudios.com). Founded by out "fearless" leader, Susan Radke, we have become a co-op of varied artists and personalities. Sometimes, getting to know the artist is part of the whole art experience. When you purchase a piece of art you are buying a part of that artist's essence which he or she contributed to the beautiful work of art.

Our series begins today with one of the finest watercolorists, Richard Conrad Rooker. In his own words, and included in the bio are images of two of the wonderful paintings Richard has done, and of the awesome studio at home where he can capture the fine works from his head, heart and hands unto the paper. I told him I would love to have that studio--

Richard's bio states "My art education came from the art books my father would bring home for me when returning from work in New York City. It came from spending years at the Art Institute in Chicago standing in awe of all the great artists, wishing I could paint like that. It has come from lesson after lesson from instructional DVDs. But probably the greatest educator was simply practice, practice,practice.

Having been accepted at the Art Institute of Chicago, at the last minute I decided to enter the school of Architectural Design at the Univ. of IL, Chicago Circle Campus. After graduation and a tour of Vietnam, (and thanks for your service Richard--my words, not his)I was destined for a career in engineering. My art was to be a time for my private world away from the harshness of life. After retiring in 2011, I decided to apply myself to my watercolor and art work with greater dedication, and have been rewarded beyond my hopes and wishes.

Recently, I came to realize that painting doesn't have to look like something, but rather it needs to feel like something, and to that end I am endeavoring to relax my style and techniques, having the courage to let the medium do its will rather than hold it in confine.

When I was encouraged to join Seranya, I was tentative in the respect that I was not sure of the validity of my art. After passing the "Susan test", and a very successful reception in November, I knew then I had started on a new journey. I knew I could not afford to have my own art studio and all the benefits that come with it, so the chance to be part of Seranya opened up opportunities I would never have had otherwise. We all have hearts the size of Montana and personal drive with the power of Hoover Dam. As artists, this is just how it is.

I am also a member of Fine Arts America,(www.fineartsamerica).

All together we have a terrific venue here at Seranya. There isn't a person that has visited us that hasn't left with glowing comments about the studio.

I invite you to share this experience--to see--to feel the essence of Richard's works of art, stop in at Seranya Studios Art Boutique at 307 E. Mill Street, Plymouth, WI.

Next week we will learn a little more about another one of the contributing artists.

Stay tuned.

Frustrated Artist ?????

Does that title speak to you? It often speaks to me. In trying to be the best I can be so often I fall so short of that goal, or is that frustration just in my own mind? How many times have you said to yourself, this piece just isn't good enough, I can't expect anyone to like this. Do all artists have struggles with this? If so, what can we do to stop this sabotage in our minds? I came across an article, author unknown (if someone does know the author I would love to find out to give proper credit)

How To Feel Fulfilled As an Artist-or how to get over your self-sabotage.

1. Never compare yourself to other artists.
2. Know that your family is biased. Whether for or against, their views are skewed and do not represent an accurate reflection of your work in the world.
3.Base your success on how your art has enriched your life and how YOU feel when YOU create it.
4.Constantly push yourself to expand and learn.
5.Know that art can never be measured in dollars and will only ever appreciate in value.
6.Trust that when you are making the world more beautiful, there is always enough. Honest work is not a compromise if it supports the creation of art.
7.Remember, it is the job of the artist to create new culture, not simply to regurgitate what exists.
8.Never expect your family to understand your art, but do your best to educate them about it, patiently.
9.Whenever a client/gallery/owner/patron offers their advice, smile and nod. Then create your art authentically.
10.Remember what Dau said: "Have no fear of perfection. You will never reach it.

I have re-read this many times to help soothe my frustrated mind (or monkey mind as I like to call it). I hope in some small way by reading this, it will help you too.

Next week we will begin exploring the many contributing artists at Seranya Studios Art Boutique,www.seranyastudios.com ,and see what inspired them.

Stay tuned.

The Serenity of Seranya

As I unlocked the door to Seranya Studios Art Boutique (www.seranyastudios.com) Tuesday morning I could feel the shift in the atmosphere. I came in from a hurried morning of getting the chores done at home in order to be at work at 10 A.M.
There is a calmness in the air that one can not really describe, but needs to experience for themselves.  When you are among the many works of fine art there is a vibe made up of all the energy that went into each piece from each artist.
When I am working on a piece, I never know until it is finished exactly what it will look like because it is a work in progress until I think, ah, you are done.  Sometimes that is the hardest decision to make.  Is it done?  Could I improve it or would I mess it up if I try to do anything more?  Once your signature is on the piece, it is complete.
You take this one feeling of completeness and multiply that by all the fantastic pieces of art that are at the studio and combined they create a serenity in the air.
After all, Earth without "Art" is just Eh !!!
Have you felt that serenity when you are in the midst of art?

Stay tuned.