Jerry Garcia - 100 drawings in 100 days...

Grateful Dead Star in Bidding War

"Jerry Garcia"
'100 drawings in 100 days', de Shan  2014

This just made my day! I had a couple of my friends, one from Oregon, the other from OKC both wanting me to draw Jerry Garcia. Now, I didn't really get into his music growing up and I didn't know what he looked like. AT ALL! Then I googled him per my friends' request, saw him, thought "what an ugly son of a mother" and thought "no way", not unless I knew they would bid on him! The friends persisted so I put it off and finally drew him yesterday. Surprising to say, I actually enjoyed drawing this man's face and learning a bit about him, popped on a little Grateful Dead music and just drew. While I was sleeping last night, my two friends were waging a bidding war on Garcia and neither would end it. So... I received a trans-Pacific phone call this morning, and the boys have decided to pool their bids, bid together and share custody of the artwork!!! They are even having a box made to ship it back and forth!!! How cool is that??? ‪#‎coolestthingever‬ 

Find a Funky Venue Competition

it's time for the "100 drawings in 100 days" art show again, beginning in july, and i thought i'd get a jump start on things by trying to find a venue for the show. i'm not that familiar with the sunshine coast yet, nor brisbane for that matter... so i've decided to run a competition to find the best venue for this art show. please feel free to head to the site on facebook and enter.

there is a prize! find out more when you click here. oh, and while you're at it, why not "like" studio de Shan too? here are the details as posted on facebook:

Hi! Well, de Shan is about to start working on her annual "100 Drawings in 100 Days" art show again, but she needs a venue... There is a prize for the person who can find the winning venue for de Shan's art show this year (held in late October, or early November. Date TBA), and that prize is one of your choice of her "Little Tins of Sin" (which you can view here http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150265942008142.370380.29601673141) THE VENUE NEEDS TO BE: a) preferably on the Sunshine Coast b) a bar/restaurant/cafe with a license c) can hold 100 drawings (28cm x 35cm each) on the walls d) is a fun and hip establishment e) would be happy to have up to 200 people coming in on one night, some staying for dinner, but most of them drinking lots of tasty beverages... So, take your time, put your thoughts together and send de Shan a message if you come up with something, and be in the drawing for a fabulous Tin of Sin to carry all your little naughty-or-nice things around in your pocket. (And she'll buy you a drink on the night of the show!) Entries close at midnight on the 31st August, so tell all your friends, and good luck to you all!

post-show blues

i am using "the blog" for the first time ever. after much encouragement, i have decided to take the plunge... it's a little unnerving, exposing yourself to so many strangers, yet quite liberating.

i have chosen this topic because i think so many artists go through the post-art show blues, but we may not realize what's happening. i am currently on the incline after my post-show blues, gradually coming out of it, and i have to say, it's a very real and heavy thing. not only does the painting/preparation/hanging/marketing/appearing at and being chatty at your show stuff all take it out of you, but you are emotionally and mentally as well as physically exhausted. it's as if something inside of you dies, the day after the opening reception, and it can last a week or 2 or more!

it's been 6 weeks since my show went up, and i was painting like a mad woman trying to get ready for this show - i painted 14 large paintings in oils in 2 months, while i was working part time at night, and can i just say, i was exhausted!

now, the thing that really helped me get out of it, was first, get plenty of sleep. second, go treat yourself to something delicious to eat (because when we are painting furiously, we sometimes forget to eat!). third, buy a new pair of cute shoes for all your hard work... fourth, and most importantly, get back into it, and plan the next one!