Sunday, January 23, 2011

this post is "not exciting"

I do a lot of things that I could only describe as "not exciting." And I spent the weekend doing "not exciting" things. While painting is fun, there is something ironically rewarding about the part right after the painting where I'm sitting there in my living room waiting for paint to dry while chuckling at the idea of waiting for paint to dry and trying not to act impatient about it... it's downright existential.

It'd be one thing if I was going to keep them all for myself, because, well, then I could just leave them be until I got around to framing them... but that's not how it works when you want to sell the things that you've made to other people.

So, I spent the weekend doing the "not exciting" task of burning files off my desktop onto cds in order to make more room on my desktop to scan my paintings... which in the circle of life will eventually need to be burned to disc so I can make more room for new things on the desktop. It's really quite "not exciting." But it is time consuming.

Yesterday I scanned, edited, and saved 13 watercolors (not unlike the detail pictured below), and this morning I scanned in 20 acrylic paintings. The thing about both of these endeavors is that the paintings are larger than the scanner bed so they have to be scanned in two parts and then I have to align those parts and mesh them together...

Are you bored to tears yet? ; )

(this is a little snippet from "astral indigo")


Yeah, it's not exciting (the post-painting process stuff), believe me. It's time consuming, but definitely not exciting.

Anyway, I have a project percolating in the back of my mind... something about doing watercolor painting over a print. I sat down this morning and sketched up a prototype for the "print" portion of this endeavor while finally watching the Johnny Depp version of "Alice in Wonderland." I like Johnny Depp. I can't say I'm an uber-Depp fan or anything, because I've never seen any of those Pirate movies (nor have I ever been able to convince or force myself to watch "What's eating Gilbert Grape") - but I do generally enjoy anything Johnny Depp or Tim Burton. So, yes, I know, I'm way late to the party when it comes to finally watching Alice on dvd (which I think has been hanging around the living room since at least September)... but somehow, this weekend was just right for it. Besides, my other movie choice involved homicidal clowns... apparently I was just not down with the idea of killer clowns this weekend.

Time will tell if I get on this current project - and finish it. Ironically, the acrylic paintings I scanned in this weekend were painted 4 years ago. I made them for a project that I just never quite got around to finishing... and now, I suppose, it's time to let them go. Eventually, they will appear in my "sarahknight" shop on etsy... that is, of course, after I type up the listings, calculate the shipping, and format graphics for the listings.

Yes, the painting part happens so fast... it's the post-painting activities that draw this out.

In the mean time, I look forward to season 2 of "Archer" this week. It's apparently my new favorite show. I caught a little marathon of it on FX a while back and I was smitten. Plus, new episodes of "Supernatural" return this week. And "Fringe" is back from the abyss of mid-season reruns and whatever happens to tv shows when they disappear in the middle of the holidays. Yes, I have the tv likes of a geeky college student, I know. I'm just not ready to start watching "Nova" yet...

I hope you have something keeping you busy during these dreadfully cold January days.

8 comments:

happyone said...

We all have those not exciting things we must do but with the right attitude they too can have their moments of fun. :-)
I liked Johnny Depp the best in the movie Chocolat!!

Catherine said...

It sounds like you have been very busy to me! When you are creating such beauty ~ it would be hard to get board!

Happy Sunday Sarah!
xo Catherine

Unknown said...

Thanks for your kind words on my blog. I like your style... it feels very ephemeral! I look forward to following your blog!

Out on the prairie said...

I can't believe you haven't watched Gilbert Grape. It was an early Depp character to look at, and a fun read. Peter Hedges that wrote it was a friend so I had to see and read all.

Nancy said...

I know what you mean. That work stuff takes all the fun out of creating, doesn't it?

I spent most of the weekend moving my blog over to Wordpress. The husband wasn't exactly excited about it, but it had to be done.

"Not exciting" pretty much covers my weekend too. :)

Frannie said...

You know....once you finish the "not so exciting" things. Then it's back to painting and creating. I find listening to my favorite music while I cut out fabric or writing text or taking photos....keeps me moving right along.
Johnny Depp, well he is so versatile. Try watching another one of his movies and see what you think.
Loved your post....I was not bored....I promise. :)
Frannie

koralee said...

Hang in there my friend....not exciting things sometimes take up too much time. xoxoxo

Unknown said...

Love the astral indigo piece!

And I completely understand about the scanning/matching up as well as burning discs. VERY, VERY time consuming!!! But, one of those necessary tasks.. and it means you've been productive, which is always good. :)

The paper tree bowls in your shop are also very cool.