Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Art Works (via Mowser)

You can read my experiences trying to learn to fly here.

A recipe for chaos.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

A fellow art friend from college, Ali LaRock, currently has an exhibit in Bismarck. She is sharing the show with Gretchen Bederman.

Since I'm here in Bismarck, I'm thinking of taking it in next week. I wasn't able to make the opening reception or gallery talk, but I'd like to see her stuff up on the walls and in a different context than I've seen it previously. The show is called "A Recipe for Chaos" and is through the Bismarck Art and Galleries Association. I'd link you to some relevant page on their site, but all the links go to some wacky format which seriously needs to be changed to make their web site more user -riendly.

I haven't had a gallery show for years.

I sort of grew tired of the whole gallery thing.

Generally, it was marked by bad cheese, thick eyeglass frames, pinky-up swilling wine, and disinterest beyond the same handful of people.

It costs a lot to put up a show. Framing is costly, not to mention other incidentals which quickly add up and make it economically ludicrous (unless you sell a lot of work, which, since I'm unwilling to put deer in my art, I don't here in North Dakota). I understand it's more about exposure, in some sense, but I guess if I was so interested in that I could just stand on the side of the I94 and lift my shirt.

I think I can safely say that everyone potentially involved in such a scenario is happy I'm not doing that.

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Labels: art life

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The right 1000 words.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

I know a picture is worth a thousand words, but I'm starting to think the words are getting short-changed.

Pictures are little more than height and width and implied depth. The right 1000 words can inspire tastes and smells and pull things from our memory that are so strong.

I was looking at a photo ID of someone recently and though the photo looked like the person, it also did not. It said nothing about the sparkle in the eye or the twitch of the mouth in full grin. It didn't capture the furrowed brow in a moment of thought. There was nothing in the ID but a pattern on a flat surface.

I should begin to practice finding that right 1000 words.

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Labels: writing, writing prompts

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Teaser Chapter

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

I convinced my writer friend (the same one I mentioned here) to put a teaser chapter of his Deadwood novel online.

He did so.

Here it is. He's good. (Too bad about the use of Comic Sans, though.)

Two Up on a Dead Bandit's Mule Chpt001 - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: Two Up on a Dead Bandit's Mule Chpt001

Labels: stories, writing

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Suspenseful first line.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

A writing friend of mine commented on how some of my more successful Twitter messages could be the opening line of a short story or suspense novel.

I had earlier made note of how I was finding his Twitter messages about his work as a judge and a vacation cabin remodeling project hilarious enough to make into a humorous story. "You need to write a story about your work at the cabin. Or just put your twitters together in a collection," I told him. You can see what I mean when you read them.

But, back to what he told me regarding my efforts to hint at what I'm doing this summer without selling the farm... this one would probably be fun to work with:

There was a stranger sleeping on the couch this morning. How did he get there?

This message stems from this incident which, truthfully, I still don't know the answer to. However, I could have fun with it and make up the story behind it.

So could you, if you were looking for a little writing prompt to get your day going.

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Labels: writing prompts

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Green Journal.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

I've found myself preferring soft-cover "recycled" look journals to the deluxe, hardcover versions. I find that the cheaper journals have the fun writing paper that is thinner and less ostentatious and doesn't scream "You'd better write something glorious and meaningful and not ruin my fancy pages!." In the soft-cover journals, the binding tends to be simple staples or basic stitching in the middle of the soft spine, which means if falls open flat and is easier to write in. Plus, they are easier to cram into a purse or backpack. They just flex more and say "Hey, it's all good. Write whatever you want, roll us up, and toss us in your bag."

I'm not at all enamored with journals that are printed all over inside with all kinds of gimmicky graphics and crap. That's my job; I'll fill it up inside!

So, the Moleskine kraft-paper covered journals are nice (but pricey). And (gasp!), I'm not actually a fan of the paper Moleskine uses; my art pens bleed on it, and it's terrible for watercolor and pencils. Recently, though, I found the perfect journal, and promptly bought three. I know how it goes (and how it has since gone): you find one you like, it's gone, and you never find it again. It's like the notebooks from the movie The Interpreter: everyone is looking for them, yet no one can find those elusive Marcel Schurman notebooks.

The journal in question is a simple recycled-brown soft-cover, made of "Italian ecological paper" (i.e. made in Italy of recycled paper), with the words "Green Journal" stamped on the cover. There's a green elastic cord to keep it closed. The paper inside is a fun-to-write-on, thin, lined off-white sheet. The inside of the journal gives a web address of: alfabet.it.

And that's it.

I can't find them anymore. Haven't seen them in any stores. And I'm certainly not going to order them from Italy, though they are listed on the site.

If you happen to run across them, you ought to buy them. Unless you're into the deluxe-look of a journal. These won't make you happy. Otherwise, buy them. As many as you can. They aren't expensive, and they are a forgiving journal; you can spill coffee on them and it only increases their charm (try that in a leather-covered gold-edged-paged journal). They're all recycled and soft-covery and pliable and a sort of haphazard on-a-whim joy to write in. I don't feel guilty about writing in all directions on the page and filling it with crazy drawings or taping stuff inside (which is problematic if you do it too much to a hardcover journal with a fixed spine). And so, I love them.

Buy me one, too, and I'll pay you back. ;-)

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Labels: journals, supplies

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Handmade and sarcastic stationery.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

I'm always on the look for stationery. Letters, and the writing/sending/receiving of them, is an obsession of mine. Regular readers of this site know I frequently blog about writing letters, sending them, when I get them, and all the paraphernalia involved in making paper mail happen.

I recently stumbled across two web sites that offer some really great stationery. One is an Etsy site, which I've talked about before, and the other is called 16 Sparrows.

YourSecretAdmiral is the Etsy shop which features really cool, handmade creations. There are lots of fun notebooks and paperback books made out of envelopes and more. Etsy is filled with artists doing something similar, as far as creating really unique journals and stationery, so by all means, check out the whole site and find some cool stuff.

16 Sparrows (see their blog here) has stationery that appeals to me on many levels. For example, if I weren't doing most of my bill paying online, I would absolutely love to use the "blood money" envelopes that they have. Now, some of the designs are going to probably offend people (particularly the f**ing card series, or the Paddingken set which I like the looks of), but what kills me most is the use of graphics and design that are so staid while using words that throw it all off kilter. For example, in the mood for fake Private Detective stationery? Yep, they have it. There's even a set of sarcastic "from the desk of" stationery.

My favorite design, though, is the telegram stationery. I am also extremely appreciative of the "letter writer's alliance" stationery set (there's also a gift pack), which has a purpose that I fully agree with. I may just have to join the Letter Writers Alliance; they have a wonderful mission statement and lots of cool stuff.

To top it all off, they have free things for you right now.

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Labels: links, stationery, supplies

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Calling cards.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

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My first real use of a "calling card" came in the form of my high school graduation announcements. In that far bygone era (ha ha), people were still ordering and using the high-level professionally printed and embossed graduation announcements (rather than the photo-postcards that people are making today). These cards came with corner brackets cut inside to my name card inside, with a senior photo tucked behind that.

That name card was very similar to the calling cards I later found of my grandparent's and others of their generation, though I wasn't sure how those little name cards were used. It was while watching a movie that I understood how a calling card used to function. In the film, a man, who had stopped by to visit the family but found they were not at home, left a calling card with the maid so that when the family came home, they could review the cards of all those who had stopped by.

I thought that was really cool.

(And not just because a man came for a visit.)

Of course, people don't just stop by much like that anymore, and email and the telephone and answering machines have made a calling card seem a little ridiculous. And, if people leave a card now, it tends to be a business card.

I have had a gazillion business cards over the years, finally getting a new design that matches the branded look I'm going for here on this website.

But I got to thinking -- what about all the times I find myself saying "do you have a pen and paper? I'll write my email address down for you" -- times when it wasn't about business and I didn't want to seem like I was one of those perpetual networking people who were always shoving business cards and business up into every possible moment. Essentially, I wanted some kind of modern take on the calling card. Something to give the person my name and how to contact me, and not leave them with a niggling wonder if I was just trying to hit them up as a possible customer in the future instead of just being friendly.

My friend Corrine once gave me a set of The Bad Girl's Calling Cards with me promising to use them if she gave them to me (with the intention of helping me meet people, which I don't do well on my own, I admit). I do keep my word, and did use them (sort of), but some of the, messages on them made me blush, and I found myself scribbling out some of the options the card allowed the giftee to redeem. (Here's a tame sample of the calling cards.)

I decided to head on over to the website I frequent when it comes time to get business cards printed, and I chose to only put my name, email, and website address on the card. I didn't talk about what I did. I didn't put my phone number on it because I would rather give out my email address instead.

I made myself a calling card.

It's not quite as traditional as they used to be, where just the name on a piece of high-grade cardstock sufficed, but it serves the purpose I was looking for.

Links:

Get your calling cards printed for free (pay shipping only) Hire me to design your custom calling card or business card

Labels: links, promotions, supplies

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Scribd.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

I've written about Scribd before, so you can read that for the background on what it is.

I've been working on uploading all the documents that I have available on my own site into my Scribd account (since they're free here, already, but a little hard to find sometimes). I also made it so you can subscribe to my Scribd feed (even by email, if you want) so that you know when something new is added.

Scribd is an odd place. There are all kinds of crazy documents on there... One thing I like about Scribd is the ability to embed documents into a web site in a way that is less excessive than the behemoth that is Adobe Reader. Scribd uses something called iPaper, and it's pretty cool. Scribd's blog seems to feature different ways people are using iPaper. They also have an app for Facebook, though it's done in a way to appeal to teachers/students.

I'd be curious to know if any of my readers have an account, or what they think of Scribd. In particular, I'd like to hear thoughts on concepts of information sharing, copyright issues, and so on.

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Labels: free stuff, internet, links, promotions

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Ye olde artiste statement.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 1 comments link this post

My friend is having some difficulty with her artist statement.

I hate artist statements. Are there accountant statements? Doctor statements? Shouldn't we have an explanation for what the reasoning behind the charges of the average doctor's visit is? Why do artists have to give statements?

It sounds like something from Law and Order. "You need to give me your statement now."

I suggested a fairly simple statement for her to use: â€œI like dogs. I also like clay. Everything else is natural.â€

Short and sweet. She came up with a pretty good one, though, without my help.

But artist statements. Ugh.

I have an "artist statement" but I prefer to call it a mission statement because I, like the Blues Brothers, am definitely on something.

Once, back in one of the earlier versions of this site, I had this to say about that:

We're all taught in art school to have an artist statement, or a mission statement laying out in words what it is our work was to accomplish, where our inspiration came from, yada yada yada. I'd go to the senior shows and read some of the statements with a bit of horror, realizing that I wasn't nearly as lofty in my goals or methods. It's like an artist piling dirt on the floor and saying in his mission statement that he wanted to bring attention to the plight of Vietnamese boat people. All I saw was a pile of dirt, and I wondered who'd get stuck cleaning it up. My mission statement is straightforward (I hope) because my work is what it is.

Sometimes I use green in my paintings because I have lots of green paint to use up. Sometimes it's to symbolize life. Sometimes I spilled paint or dropped a brush on the board. Sometimes I think, "Hey. Green. Neat." Not terribly romantic, and fairly disappointing for the customer who really could care less about the image but is more interested in buying into the Oprahfication Art Gobbledy Gook myth that allows a towel rack to be nailed to a board and sold for $20,000 in some gallery.

I don't think if you lack a super-fab artspeak statement that you're going to end up the Art World's Corey Feldman. You just won't be allowed to wear a beret.

I also included a handy list of words to avoid using in an artist statement because they carried a high risk of making your reader vomit:

self-taught (Learned your art on your own, but had to be potty trained. Yahoo.)
heartfelt (Good to know you're not whoring yourself to make money only.)
spirit (Oh, please.)
essence (Also works great on a decorative candle label.)
dialogue (Hey. Try the word "talk.")
capture (What is this, The Fugitive meets artist effort?)
primitive (Unless you've whipped up a few Venus of Willendorf's, lay off the claim.)
yearning (Brings to mind a constipated person on the toilet.)
evocative (Half of the country can't pronounce the word. They think it's associated with pornography.)
"I strive" (I think we can all see that you're at least "striving.")
catalyst (Brings to mind things like "Dr. Frankenstein" and "frog dissection.")
intended vision (Seems a little apologetic, using the word "intended." As in, "I intended to draw well, but instead I bombed.")

I then ended it with this:

mission statement: cliff notes version
I draw what I know. I'm not trying to make social or political statements. I make stuff that I like.

I was told I shouldn't use the word "stuff" in such a statement, as that was not a professional response.

Whatever.

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Labels: art life

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Success with Etsy.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 1 comments link this post

My friend has a store on Etsy, the web site that features handmade and original items of all kinds. I have a few items on Etsy myself, though I haven't made the decision to jump fully over to Etsy. I haven't decided the ifs and hows of keeping a store on my site versus having it on Etsy. Or, if I should move all of my "craft" type items to Etsy and maintain my art gallery on my site.

I've written about Etsy on this blog before, albeit briefly. Its low listing prices and great help with graphics, stores, marketing, and forums (plus a public forum where people list things they need someone to make for them) make it something akin to a huge art fair.

Regardless, Etsy is a favorite place of mine to visit and shop. And, for some, it has really been a path to online, home-based success. An article in the Minot Daily News (April 14, 2008) featured Jenna Lou Dauer. She makes absolutely fabulous purses and wallets and sells them (with great success) on Etsy.

Check out Jenna's store. She has great taste in fabrics, colors, and design. She's also begun to gather attention on other sites. Jenna Lou also has her own blog, and is part of a Minnesota group of artisans tied into Etsy.

Personally, I prefer the higher-priced handmade, not-from-sweatshop stuff. I've gotten a few purses from Yukiko Sato for the simple reason that they are delightfully made and very unique. I've gotten a purse to give as a gift from Amani Ya Juu, a company that features African women and helps them earn a living making really great purses. As I go through my closets and work at remaking and reusing clothing, I realize how the cheapness of things has contributed to not only excessive consumerism and greed, but the abuse of the people in countries forced to make things for so little pay. A $40 purse might be more than the similar $15 purse at Target, but I can promise that when you buy it from a person and make a connection to the person who made it, you're less likely to just toss it away next season.

And so, I encourage you to shop Etsy, and sell on Etsy. If you really want something unique and not cookie-cutter common, that's the place to go.

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Labels: internet, links, marketing, selling

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A recipe for chaos.

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The right 1000 words.

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Teaser Chapter

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Suspenseful first line.

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Green Journal.

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Handmade and sarcastic stationery.

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Calling cards.

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Scribd.

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Ye olde artiste statement.

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Success with Etsy.

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