1. Open Studios of Beavercreek, October 8, 9, & 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I will be number 9 on the map. I hope you can join me, as I’m getting lots of fun things together…. New work, prints, cards, treats… I’m even getting the ceiling in the studio painting (by hook or by crook if I have to stay up til midnight to do it!) and track lights put up. (I hope!) I have to mail out & distribute cards, clean, and basically get it all together for this one. Check the website (link above)for a map to the studio.

     2. Watercolor Society of Oregon’s  Fall Transparent Exhibition, and our convention October 1, 2, & 3 in Salem. I will be presenting a “Mock Jury” for one session where participants look at artwork & act as jurors, then compare notes. Then 10 mins. after that session I will be moderating a panel discussion with a group of gallery representatives on “Choosing the Best Venue for your Art”.  It will be a jam-packed weekend… critiques, social hours, the awards banquet, and most of all, seeing friends from all over the state & their artwork.

     3. I’m really trying to stir up some enthusiasm for my “Focus on Color” six week class that will start Wednesday, October 13. For readers of the blog & their friends, I’m offering the first class free… just mention this post! I’m trying to be as flexible as possible with this, as I know everyone is busy. You can sign up for just one session, or the whole series. Just leave me a comment when you sign up here on my Teachstreet listing!

     4. I’m really working hard on getting a new website designed that will integrate with my blog & provide a more professional presentation. Many hours here at my desk are going into this. I’m hoping it won’t take all winter!

     5. I still have things to plant in the garden: perrenials, bulbs and groundcovers. Plus, this weekend is the Fall Plant Sale sponsored by the Hardy Plant Society. Do you think I might be able to find more plants that I can’t live without? Will I be able to afford it? Should I just wait until next year, and spend my time gleaning starts from my Mom & my excellent gardening neighbor? Tune in later for updates in the continuing saga.

Two important things… I probably shouldn’t have left them till last:

"Gathering" 22"x22" Watercolor on Yupo Copyright Ruth Armitage 2010

I WON an award! I just got notice Wednesday that my painting “Gathering” was awarded the Swede Johnson Memorial Award in the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition. Juror Judy Morris is someone that I respect and admire, which makes it even sweeter. The show runs through October 31, so if you are anywhere near Golden, CO… stop in!

And finally: I am preparing to do a blog post about different settings for my artwork. If you have a painting or a print of mine, you can help me out! Here is the deal: Send me a jpeg of my artwork hanging in your home, and I will send you a signed, limited edition print of the “Naughty Aunties”. Already have that one? You can choose one from my Etsy shop! By submitting your image, you agree to allow me to use it for blogging and marketing purposes. If I get lots of them, I may even choose a Grand Prize Winner!

I hope you have a great weekend!

Many thanks, Donna, for taking the time to answer these interview questions!

"Uptown Girls", 10"x10", copyright Donna Zagotta

1. What is the best thing about being an artist who teaches? The worst thing?

Being an artist who teaches and writes compels me to identify and clarify ideas and issues that I believe are important in creating art. Secondly, having to find clear and concise ways to communicate those ideas and issues to others helps me better understand myself and my work. 

On the negative side is traveling – which these days is less fun for me than it used to be, and the time that teaching and writing take away from my painting – which is considerable. 

2. Your studio looks amazingly organized and user friendly. Do you have any tips on how to organize one’s studio?

My best advice is to have a home for everything that you bring into the studio. I learned that lesson years ago when I painted in our basement and had no organized system – just piles of stuff everywhere. There were so many times when I would be in the middle of a huge watercolor wash and would need something unexpectedly. The frantic search for it was not a very fun or pleasant experience. My goal these days is to be able to find anything and everything in my studio within a few minutes.

3. Does your environment influence your painting? How?

I am very affected by my environment. I like open spaces and a calm, relaxed, and “pretty” environment. Dust and dirt don’t bother me too much – clutter bothers me a lot! 

4. What is the best part of working in your studio?

That it’s adjacent to the rest of the rooms in the main level of our house. I paint in what used to be our living room, which is next to the kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and family room. With the kids are gone and with my very supportive husband’s blessings, I now consider the whole main level of our house as “my studio.”

5. You mention your father’s untimely death as one impetus for you to begin taking your art more seriously. Are there other events that have influenced your artwork? How?

• Teaching has greatly influenced my art, for the reasons I mentioned previously. Being invited to teach at a university in the early 1990’s really forced me to get my p’s and q’s together – literally! I always say that I learn more in my classes than anyone else.
•  Being juried into and receiving awards in the top national watercolor shows has been a great help in building confidence in myself and in my work.
• Studying art history and connecting my art to the historical art movements that appeal to me have played  very important roles in my artistic growth.    
• Paying attention to why I’m attracted to certain subjects and finding my connection to them has given me the opportunity to know myself better.  

6. If you could summarize one idea or feeling that you hope all your paintings would portray, what would it be?

 Life is beautiful!

 7. What kinds of support or inspiration do you gather from other artists? How does this influence your work?

 I have been influenced by many artists. Learning what ignites another artist’s passion shows me more about what my art can be. I have been able to bring many new ideas to my art that I don’t think would have occurred to me otherwise by studying the work I love done by other artists.

 8. When you purchase art, what types of work do you choose?  

 I really like to look at art that says as much about the artist who created it as it does about the subject that inspired it.   

9. What other interests do you have? Do they contribute or take away from your art?

I used to play the piano and the organ, and I used to  sew, crochet, and do all sorts of crafts.  When I decided to pursue watercolor seriously, I decided to give up most of my other hobby-type of activities. I wanted to focus all my energy and attention on painting. I didn’t want to be a “jack of all trades and master of none” – I wanted to master watercolor. That’s also the reason that I don’t paint in other mediums – oils, acrylics, pastels, etc. I am glad that I made that decision some 25 or so years ago, as the more I learn, the more I see there is to learn. It will take a whole lifetime just to scratch the surface of mastery.  

10. Do you foresee any changes in your work in the next few years? 

I don’t see any large changes happening. I love the direction of my current work – my hope is to make it more creative and more authentically my own.  

11. What does your art mean to you?

My art means everything to me. It has given my life a central focal point, an ever evolving passionate obsession, a place to find and express my personal voice, and new and exciting challenges to meet with every painting I begin. I am very grateful to have a grand, passionate pursuit in my life!   

I hope you are all enjoying a relaxing Memorial Day and taking time to remember family, friends and those who serve our country in the Armed Forces.

part of our new flock

 I’ve been busy this past week painting, getting photos taken of the new work, planning my framing strategy, writing my artist’s statement, and generally worrying whether my paintings are looking their best. It’s kind of like the frenzy of getting ready to give birth!

Amidst all this activity, spring has arrived here on the farm. We’ve been planning our garden spaces, adding new babies to the flock, enjoying the new blossoms, building fences, and generally nesting in our new home. Here are some images to share:

An orchid shows her beautiful face in the window

Artist buddy Laura Mack's new baby at the Salem Art Association Auction

Jamee Linton and her cute husband at the auction

I’ve really been enjoying the support of my fellow artists lately. It is difficult to imagine what it’s like to put yourself out there, at an auction, exhibition or gallery unless you’ve been there yourself. It’s nice to compare notes, and realize you’re not the only one!

One of the ways I connect with fellow artists is by blogging. It was nice to meet artist and professor Jessica Burke at the Salem Art Association auction on Saturday night. We had exchanged messages via blog, but it was so much fun to meet her in person! Blogging is not just for networking, but also inspiration. Leslie Avon Miller shared a thought-provoking question on her coaching blog this weekend:

What is one of the top energy boosters in your creative practice (or life) that nourishes your creativity, your body and soul, and how can you honor that even more?

For me, it’s not just nature and life, but also music and poetry. I almost always have music on in my studio… all types. I love the random setting on my ipod, and it’s always interesting the way the songs that come up serendipitously dovetail into what I’m painting. I keep my poetry books close by, and sometimes type out parts of poems to keep on my inspiration board. These are some of the things that provide my daily inspiration, what about you?

Winter Morning View

I’d be interested in your response to this question… leave me a comment!

New work, influenced by my new surroundings!

"Private Tune" watercolor on paper 9x12"

Jessica  included a link in one post that is so funny…. the instant art critique. Put in any five numbers and it generates a phrase that will make you sound pithy, smart or at least over-educated when talking about an art piece.  My numbers generated this lucious bit of art-speak:

“It should be added that the optical suggestions of the sexual signifier makes resonant the essentially transitional quality.” 

It would be fun to look at a random painting and a random critique together and try to make sense of the two!

OK… enough procrastinating! Off to the studio

So, at the risk of making you think that I have too much time on my hands, I post this short video of our faithful dog Lola and her minion Emmy, the cat. I edited this video while chaperoning a choir retreat two years ago. Who knows what those high school kids were doing?

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Naught Aunties Poster

So here’s the skinny for the Gift with Purchase! Receive a “Naughty Aunties” poster free with a minimum $50 purchase at any art fair (Salem or West Linn) or in my etsy shop(www.rutharmitage.etsy.com), or at your own studio visit. Simply email me (ruth @ rutharmitage.com) to set up a studio visit & bring a friend! If you didn’t get a postcard in the mail, just mention this blog post to get the same deal. It’s just my way of saying Thank you for being a reader Feel free to pass this offer on to a friend, too. I always appreciate referrals!

I got a postcard in the mail today too Mary Lou Zeek has an installation titled “Postcards” at Project Space II in Salem July 14 – August 1 2009. I’m looking forward to seeing it as I contributed a piece The opening reception is July 16 from 5-8 pm. Just another reason to head to Salem that weekend! Project Space II is located at 388 State Street and is open Tues. – Thurs. 11-5 and Fri. – Sat. 12-7. I  hope you’ll stop in. And while you’re at it… visit the gallery across the street
I can’t believe it is already Thursday! AAAACK! Time has not been my friend this week. A few of my days got eaten by illness. I’ve been down with Vertigo. Spinning head, nausea, vomiting, the works And at my busiest time of year!  Lots to do to get ready for the upcoming art fair, framing, shrink wrapping, labels, pricing, packing….. the list goes on! And throw in home inspections on the new house, 3 teens and their work schedules, supervising yard work, etc…. I love being busy, but this is a bit of overload! I have a feeling I will be having a few late nights of working in the studio.

“If we are able to stay with a situation, it will carry us to a new place.” Shaun McNiff

I hope you’ll check out her blog for the entire article… This is something I believe in, and have been pondering for a couple of weeks. I saw something recently on another blog (sorry I can’t remember where) that says basically the same thing….

One does not stand still looking for a path. One walks; and as one walks, a path comes into being.” – Mas Kodani

Basically…. work, stay with it, keep your mind open, and a path will appear. That is very encouraging stuff for an artist, and something I always try to keep in mind when I go into the studio. The hard part, is getting time to be in the studio. I know other artists struggle with this, and the successful ones are those who find a way to overcome it.

This summer it has been a challenge to keep my own schedule amidst getting the kids to the dentist, sharing cars, moving them all in etc. This morning, my daughter revealed that she snuck another distraction into the house last night.

Meet ‘Kimora’

She is so darling… but thin and covered with fleas…. and we absolutely cannot cannot keep her! I was hoping to get rid of the cat we already own as soon as Tim gets his own place. Anyone looking for a new little buddy?

Before the ‘kids’ came home, I finished the painting I’d been going back & forth with:

This is what it looked like before

This is the final version "Knowing" 22"x15" Original Watercolor

 I like the revised painting much better… the hair fits with the rest of the image now. Thanks to my friend Ted for the ‘virtual’ critique. I actually think I like the virtual critiques better than our meetings in person when I hear about half of what is said. To see the comments in written form helps me put aside my insecurities and objections and consider each suggestion thoughtfully.

The rest of my weekend was spent trying to restore my blog posts from April and May and setting up a new Etsy Shop! After chatting with my friend Linda Rothchild Ollis about her new shop and seeing friend’s shops like Blenda’s I decided it was time to take the plunge into the online market. For now I have a few small prints available, but I plan to add some smaller originals after the Salem Art Fair this summer. I want to have as many originals available as possible for my loyal collectors who attend that show. Looking forward to seeing you and your friends there!

I hope you’ll visit my Etsy store and share it with your friends. I really appreciate your referrals. If you refer a friend and they buy an original, I will give you your choice of 8×10″ prints! Word of mouth is my most powerful marketing tool, I find. People who live with my art & love it, generally know others who have the same inclinations!