Bluegrass and Backroads

Kentucky Farm Bureau Presents Bluegrass & Backroads: Robbie Mueller www.youtube.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGLA0Bmsqfc&feature=share&noredirect=1

Kentucky Educational Televisions (KET) Bluegrass and Backroads episode # 908 aired on Sunday morning April 1, 2012. The show weekly features Kentucky artists, festivals & events in Kentucky, and successful Kentucky agribusinesses and the products they produce.

I was both honored and humbled by this process, as it offered me an opportunity for people to see my artwork and to find out a little about my background and philosophy as an artist. The show airs multiple times in the upcoming months and cn be viewed on both KET affiliates and RFD-TV nationwide. I would be pleased if you had time to view the episode or the condensed segment (via youtube) and would be willing to share it with friends and colleagues.

Life Happens

Ever had one of those days as an artist when everything you touch, just seems to turn to POO. Well I am having one of those days, only its for the third day in a row. Dropped paint, interrupting phone calls, worry about a family members health, a house torn up & awaiting your remodeling efforts, and paperwork that you have procrastinated doing for months.

I was told that there would be times as an artist when creativity would not come easy. That there would be a day when despite all the passion you have for creating your art, you would "hit the wall" and not be able to visualize the next piece. A day when despite the effort being there, the ideas and inspiration were absent. Well, I'm happy to say that THAT day still has not happened for me yet (hope I didn't just jinx myself). Instead, I have been hit squarely between the eyes with a big ol' dose of LIFE HAPPENS.

"Life Happens" at the most inopportune times. Life doesn't care that you have preparations to make for your upcoming show season or that you have commissions that need to be finished. It isn't particular whether you have the greatest idea for a new piece or whether you have new mediums & techniques that you want to try. No, life happens in spite of it all.

The good news is, that "Life" does not discriminate against just artists. It will eventually greet you as well. When it does, what will you do? How will you lessen the sting of the havoc it intends on inflicting on your best laid plans?

For me, I need to give up. Give up the notion that there is something that I can do to change the chaos. Give up the idea that I could have prevented the events of life. And finally, give up the control of my life to the One who can actually affect a change; the One who is more than able to meet head-on this battle with my chaos.

Are you prepared for "it's" coming? Will you be able to trust that there is hope in the midst of it's grasp? Myself, I will be grateful for what tomorrow will bring. I look forward to checking a few of those tasks off my list tomorrow and maybe grabbing a few minutes of studio time. Sorry life, but you're not going to get the best of me this time around!!!

Getting Plastered???

One of the materials that I have been experimenting with is plaster embedded on gauze fabric. I was able to get several outdated boxes of this medium from the orthopaedic surgeon that my sister works for. I thought that it might be a nice complement to the paper mache' work I have been doing.

Thus far, I have mixed reviews about it's potential as a viable medium. The advantages of using this medium include: it hardens very quickly (usually sets within 4-5 minutes after being shaped), it becomes easily activated when placed into very warm water, it can easily be cut into usable pieces for smaller detail work, you can cover a relatively large surface area quickly, rolls are available in a variety of widths, and you can achieve various textures depending upon the way you manipulate the plaster.

The disadvantages include: it appears to be expensive (although, I have not done any in depth research), it takes multiple layers to "build-up" the thickness to assure structural integrity, it is messy, it gets your armature very wet (so you must consider if your materials will deteriorate if it absorbs too much), the wet roll sticks on itself and is difficult to wrap in close quarters, and the archival properties are unknown.

If you have used this medium or know someone who does, I would really appreciate your feedback and/or the necessary contact information to reach your resource. For now, I plan to find ways to put my supply to good use. I may provide future updates as I obtain more information, feedback, and/or experience with this product.

Not Your Momma's Paper Mache'

I have had many of you request the recipe I use for making my paper clay. The recipe is not original to me. I found the mixture formulation on a website by artist Jonni Good. As has been true by so many in the artist community, she is very willing to share her knowledge.

Although you will not find this recipe to be an exact replica of Jonni's, it has been the mixture that has worked best for my purposes. I would encourage each of you to experiment with the materials and modify the recipe according to your needs. Jonni's site has other valuable resources and helpful links that I would encourage you to use if you are attempting the medium of paper mache' for the first time.

You will find that there is no single paper mache' technique that will work for each idea you have. You will likely need to familiarize yourself with a variety of methods, so as to be able to expand your range of work.

As a fellow artist friend shared with me today, "get your hands dirty and create"  So, what are you waiting for, give it a try!!!

Paper Clay
1 - large double roll of toilet paper (makes about 3 cups)(I use the cheapest Walmart brand)
1 1/2 cups - Elmers GlueAll
2 cups - all purpose drywall compound (ready mixed) I generally use the one gallon size because I
   don't want it drying out; you will likely need the 5 gal. buckets due to the larger batch sizes you
   may eventually use
1 - cup all purpose flour
4 tablespoons of linseed oil (assists in preventing mold growth)
2 – small 1 - 2 gallon buckets or comparably sized containers
1 – 12” x 12” fiberglass window screen fabric (used as a filter and for squeezing out excess water)
1- dull butter knife (I use this both to mix my paper clay, as well as, to apply it)
1 – pair of non-latex gloves

How To Mix
1.      Unroll one roll of toilet paper in a small 1-2 gallon bucket.
2.      Cover the toilet paper with enough warm water to completely cover your pulp.
3.      Use a butter knife to stir & breakdown your paper into a fine pulp.
4.      Using a piece of fiberglass window screen fabric as a filter over another small bucket 
       (approximately 12" x 12"), pour about 1/3 of your paper pulp through the filter.
5.      Squeeze-out most of the water from the pulp, by wrapping the screen cloth around the 
       pulp, and place the ball of pulp aside.
6.      Repeat filtering the pulp through the screen cloth and squeezing it out with the remaining
       2/3 of the wet pulp.
7.      When all pulp has been filtered, place back into a bucket and break it up into the smallest
       pieces as is possible.
8.      Add the remaining ingredients on top of the pulp and begin mixing thoroughly; make sure
      to mix all of the dry ingredients into the wet mixture(continue to break-up any clumps of
      pulp)(I have found a dull butter knife the most effective tool to assist in mixing this
      mixture)
9.      If thoroughly mixed, the batch should look like a bucket full of lumpy oatmeal.
10.  If not ready to use, cover and refrigerate.

Top Coat Slurry Mixture
I use this slurry mixture to help “smooth out” the surface of my pieces. Also, the slurry is helpful when adding-on detailed features or building-up or enhancing existing features. The slurry works great over areas where traditional strip paper mache' may need to be blended to hide strip overlap. The slurry is easily tinted with acrylic paints to achieve base colors when applying over a large area.

1 – part drywall compound
1- part Elmer's GlueAll

mix in a container with a tight fitting lid. Make sure to blend the two ingredients thoroughly to get any lumps out. An old mixer would work great to assist in making larger batches. This mixture also refrigerates well.

Preseason Training

As I watch the end to another NFL season with this years version Super Bowl Forty-Six, I am suddenly reminded that "my season" is quickly upon me (By the way... Congratulations N.Y. Giants on tonight's 21-17 victory). The season to which I refer is the 2012 art show & festival season.

Although it is only early February, I know unless I get extremely focused and productive, it is going to be "game on" before I realize it. Winter should be a time for relaxing & renewal from the rigors of a spring and fall show season, however, winter is more like preseason training. Yes, you must find time for renewal, but you better be preparing for what the new year will bring. Reassessing 2011, making new contacts, exploring new ideas, practicing new techniques, planning & applying to shows, and making new art begin the list of tasks that must become part of your daily "workouts".

2012 has the potential to be an exciting year for me and my art. I am transitioning toward the type of show that will more frequently put my folk art audience in front of me. I have spent many hours networking with fellow artists, researching the Internet for shows that primarily feature folk artists, and have tried to expand my work in new mediums that may help me appeal to a broader customer base. Atlanta, Ga., Northport, Al., Morehead, Ky., Louisville, Ky., and Ashville, N.C. are but a few of the destinations to which I hope to travel as I "take my game on the road". I am both hopeful and yet anxious as the reality of how fast this season is about to unfold.

Another busy week has come to a close. I must now get my rest ( after all, I am in training). Tomorrow, I continue my regimen;making ready for when I have the chance to put all this hard work & preparation from my preseason training into action as I take the field in a  "big show" near you!

Really... have I been able to use enough sports cliches' to suit you???

Each month the gallery to which I am a juried artist, recognizes one of it's artists as the "Artist of the Month". I was selected as the February artist to represent Gallery 104. I am very pleased to have received this recognition and am rewarded with additional display space. It's a validation that your time & effort is recognized and appreciated. Thanks Gallery 104 for this encouragement.

Rule # 1: Know Your Customer: They Are A Person Too

As an emerging artist, one of the first lessons that my artist community buddies have impressed upon me is to get to know your customer. This includes way more than putting a name to a face. It means to really invest the time in order to know the person behind that "customers face". I'm not talking about just the person that is willing to hand you over their disposal $$$ for your art, but the nuances that make them an individual personality. I have to admit, this has not yet become my best strength.

I have always been blessed with the ability "to never meet a stranger". As a result, as a former middle school teacher, I always made it my goal to learn the names of each of my new 120 students within the first week of school. Most years I could celebrate about a 90% + success rate knowing either a first name, a last name, or an already assigned nickname. This came from a never ending barrage of asking their names over-and-over again, in every setting of the the school day. While this technique proved benificial to me in my former life, it has not translated as well to my art career.

In the art world I have to be more intentional about getting information about my customer in the "short windows" afforded me. In the beginning, my opportunities are brief; a 1-2 minute discussion as they enter my booth for the first time, a 5 minute continuation as they return to make a purchase, an encounter at the snack bar, or, if I'm really fortunate, a return to my next show. Each of these encounters are brief, so I must value them each as an opportunity.

I'm not afraid (or embarrased) to re-ask their names, as I did as a teacher, but I need to be equipped with questions that will enable me to obtain more information than a name. What do they do professionally? Where do they call home? How did they become interested in collecting your style of art? What are their spouse & family members names (if they are in the booth with them)? and etc. All such inquiries enable me to build repoire with my customer, letting them know that I value them as a person, rather than just a potential customer.

Find new ways to gather this type of information and use it to develop your customer base. Keep a notebook at shows and jot down information that you garner from these brief encounters, start a data base and update it with additional information as you obtain it, talk to other artists that may have relationship with your customer, and learn from other collectors that may know the customer (collectors typically travel in close circles with other collectors to the same shows).

In an artcle by Harvey MacKay, 66 Things You Should Know About Your Customer, MacKay discusses his business philosophy about the importance of knowing your consumer. He so feels the need to know his customers on a personal level, that he demands everyone on his sales staff to use the 66 Questions, as 66 Questions a prerequistite for gathering information before being assigned to a client. I know the amount of information may seem overwhelming, but, anything you learn about a customer will enable you to build your relationship. Knowing them as a person becomes more valuable, than knowing them as a customer.

Timing Is Everything

As I adjust to the preparations necessary to begin and maintain a blog, I ran across an article by author Jason Keith, that I found quite interesting. I think the information presented may be beneficial to others. The article looks at the share patterns & trends of a wide range of blogs and has determined the best times of the day to submit your posts. I am hopeful that whether you are new to the blog-game (like me) or a seasoned blogging vet, you might find this article informative & somehow useful to your efforts in finding, "feeding", and keeping your blogging audience.

Lessons Learned

One of the lessons I am learning as I try to better my craft as a contemporary folk artist, is that there is a never ending need to continue being educated. Not the type of "schoolin'" that puts you back into a formal classroom, but the type that comes from a run-in with "the-school-of-hard-knocks". No matter if you are the graduate of a noted fine arts college, or the self-taught artist who learned from watching grandpaw, it is always necessary to be on a never ending quest for new knowledge.

I have been astounded (and at times overwhelmed) by the amount of time and effort that must be invested into making art. There are many hats that must be worn. Each requiring skills that can only be learned by experiencing them; researcher, secretary, custodian, buyer, marketing director, advertising executive, salesman, writer, photographer, packer, unpacker, and merchandiser... just to name a few.

The only life experience I can compare the whirlwind I have encountered in the past 48 months, was when I stepped into my first classroom as a middle school teacher. All of the coursework that 4 + years of college taught me, in no way prepared me for what I would experience in that first year of teaching. I had no idea the many roles I would be expected to fill. Each day was different, bringing with it, it's own new challenges. Eventually, as I became more comfortable with all the hats I was being asked to wear, I grew as a teacher.

This same passion that I had as a young emerging teacher is the same passion that I must now rely on as an emerging folk artist. I must take the challenges that each day presents, and learn from them. In other words, I have to be willing to "take the next step".

Lesson learned: Nothing of value comes without a price.

I, Too, Could Have Used Some Elves 

I now know why Santa needs his elves. There comes a time when a fellow just can’t do anymore on his own. Well, I probably could have done more, but time management isn’t one of my greatest strengths. Trainer, the train from the Isle of the Misfit Toys … check. Identity Crisis, my reindeer wearing the green… I mean the blue… I meant the red nose, well not so much. And my sister-in-law's orange tabby cat … does it count if I got started before Christmas? If you haven’t already discovered, my 2012 has begun by trying to bring to a close 2011.

As this new year gets under way, I can only hope that it will bring as much excitement as did 2011. As I continue to grow as an artist, I have come to understand the importance of better learning my craft. This pursuit entails experimenting with new techniques, reading & researching, networking with other artists, and the endless task of discovering new ways to introduce my work to potential buyers.

I’m not a big believer in New Year’s resolutions, so I won’t bore you with a list of things I’m hoping to accomplish or avoid in 2012. I do, however, recognize the importance of being a better planner, finding ways to be more efficient with my time, and the need for setting achievable goals for myself as an artist. My desire is to take my current energy & passion and channel it in a productive way. Who knows, maybe if I remain focused this year, I really could look at acquiring an elf. Heaven knows I really could use that extra set of hands around the studio!

Miss Tina is wowing us with her technical expertise. She is showing us how to create a blog. Isn't she doing a wonderful job???

Hello from Richmond