Prints for sale.

Im looking into getting some limited quantities made of color prints of some of my work which will be for sale before the holidays. Official details to follow. Interested parties should contact me asap so I can factor in your requests!! Email me at jeniphersob@gmail.com

Cue tension stage left.

Sometimes the process is more important than the final product.

Im going to work in my studio tonight. I prob have 4,392 works in progress, many of which might not ever be completed for various reasons. Many will get finished but maybe never shown. Some may get finished and then destroyed by the very hand that created them. Im going to work in my studio tonight and I dont care what comes of it. Total & absolute freedom. Lately Ive been into making things and then secretly destroying them. Well, I suppose its not so secret anymore now that Ive blogged about it. Its about the process to me. And symbolism. Lotta symbolism.

For a person whos pretty Virgoesque, I like lots of dirty, tension-invoking asymmetry.

Im feeling the mania creeping in...

Artcity/Journal mention for Impromptu Gallery show 10.16.09

We got a mention for tomorrow's show in the Journal! View here.

This Friday! 10.16.09

This Friday is Gallery Night. I'll be showing @ Impromptu Gallery - for more info please visit http://www.impromptugallery.com

And now I've got some work to do in the studio!!!

The Hermit.

I'm still here. I've been trying out this new thing. Kinda hermit-like. Working it out. Staying out of the limelight and what have you.

I am on hiatus from self portraits, or any portraits for that matter... of humans at least.

Quietly residing in my own thoughts for the moment. I'm still here. I'm around. I'll be back. Just have to iron out a few things. Time for transition. Change is good. Crossing things off the to-do lists. Setting new goals. Renovation. Running away, then coming back. Getting more comfortable in my own skin. Finding peace with myself.

I am working on some projects. My studio is still in the same manic state of chaos as always, just with some new elements.

It'll be interesting to see how I emerge from this and what the final product will be. Just going with the flow. Instead of fighting the current. For once.

Video blog: unframed / uninhibited 7.24.09

unframed / uninhibited 7.24.09

This is a little late. I've been busy & on artistic hiatus for a minute. Needed a break & to tend to other matters which needed tending. Anywayzzzzzzzz...

Unframed / Uninhibited: the party was great. James and my work show well together, if I do say so. Music was slammin. The crowd was awesome. I had a blast! I danced my booty off. Well, not literally. But I dressed my booty in some pinstripe pants paired with suspenders and a white wifebeater, which not too long into the night had a big fat red wine stain on it. This is why I dont wear white. Its a curse. I had an extra, being well aware of said curse, but I said screw it and sported my stained frock the rest of the evening. I made it till 4am! Like thats any surprise. I was good and proper jacked on redbull to kick off the night. I heard a lot of positive feedback about the whole 'art rave' concept, which is good news as I plan to work more of these. Anyhoo, some photographic highlights from the evening of 7.24.09:

A series of drawing I made of some of my DJ pals.

My sister & I <3

Myself w/ sumo wrestler monkey man.

Two days left till Gallery Night!!

Oh my, I've been so busy lately I've hardly been able to keep up with blogging. Details for Friday falling into place nicely. Wrapping up the last of my art for the show, finishing, signing, spraying with fixative. All of my art is unframed, so theres the slight concern of drunk peoples hands molesting it. Though if I see a single person lay a hand on any art I wont hesitate to jump all over them. I dont like to let it show, but I'm actually a tiny bit stressed and exhausted. I've been packing in the maximum amount of stuff a human being can handle in a day and still manage 7 hours of sleep. But! I dont like to complain, so I wont. I love it! I'm really excited for the show, it should be a great time! I am showing tons of new work. Theres a good amount of my usual, but I also did a series of portraits of some friends. I've been pretty good at keeping it under wraps as I wanted it to be a surprise, but as the event is now only 2 days away, I feel comfortable leaking some hints.. And here it is: these portraits will tie in nicely with the rest of the event. Pay attention! You could be one of the subjects and you didnt even realize it! How sneaky of me! ;) I hope to see everyone down there, but if you cant make it due to geographical conflicts or other obligations, worry not. I will post pictures and video after the event. It'll be a busy weekend and could take me a few days, but I will do my best. And now for the details:

unframed / uninhibited
7.24.09
@ Skylight Opera Theatre
158 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, WI
*5pm - 4am*
$10 cover after 10pm
cash bar

New art work by:
JAMES KLOIBER
JENIPHER SOB

Music by:
3am CURRENT AFFAIR (tag team duo)
1am DJ HOMEWRECKER
12am POOR BOY RICH (live pa)
11pm CHRIS GRANT
10pm WILLIAM ABRAHAM (live pa)

9pm FORTUNE
8pm WILLIAM ABRAHAM (live pa - ambient techno)
7pm DJ PHD
6pm DJ PJ
5pm FORTUNE (downtempo set)

Digital Art By:
VJ BRY
BARCODE

Gallery night party details coming along nicely.

So after a lovely weekend of blowing off most of my responsibilities, I came back today with a vengence! Many calls/emails/texts/follow ups later and we've got many of the details sorted out for the gallery night event. Kloiber made the flyer (see below), so in addition to finishing the body of work I've got in progress, now comes the fun task of promoting. I love promoting! It energizes me to talk to people and get them as stoked as I am about something, and I am def revved up for this show! I am quite sure it'll be a smashing good time. Now to post this bad boy up all over the interwebs! Spread the word!

Happiest when busy/in motion.

Its been a very productive week for me so far! I finished three drawings on Monday. Yesterday I gathered my resources to begin a six portrait series that ties in with our Gallery Night event. I like to keep things a little secretive, but I have a big mouth so we'll see how long that lasts. Anyway, Kloiber and I are collaborating on a project, so last night I got my piece of it nearly complete. Just some fresh perspective & touch up work me thinks. I also began two of the six portraits for my series. The full moon energy was in full effect last night & I was taking total advantage of it. Things are good! I am really enjoying riding this wave. Still more details to be worked out for the event. I'll be stopping to chat with Chris Grant at some point today to see where we are at. I really love planning events & promoting. I'm elated to see this coming together and to be a part of this. I can hardly wait until Fortune returns from San Fran so I can chew her ear off about all my mania inspired ideas for more events! Woot woot! I feel alive!! :)

So many art projects, so little time! Im planning on doing lotsa portraits of my pals for the upcoming Gallery night. Also the usual self portrait work. Mania!

Confirmed! Ravetastic Gallery Night 7.24.09

I got word from DJ Fortune on Friday that our party is locked in for Friday, July 24 for Gallery Night. I am not sure of the line up just yet, but she and Chris Grant for sure. James Kloiber and myself will be showing art - so come buy some!! And then stay, have some drinks, and dance with me! It'll be a late event. I'm really stoked for this, I'm sure it'll be a great night so pencil it in now as this is one you won't want to miss. ;)

In the mean time, I will be a very busy lady making lots of art! And oh my! What will I wear?? Oh goody goody goody, so many ideas brewing...

You know me and my blogging. I just can't seem to get enough of it. More details to come... :)

The Beauty Sweet 16 party 5.30.09

Party was great! Good show, lots of good art. Good times! I sold one of my drawings (middle piece in photo, hands bound behind back).




Myself and fellow artist & good pal of mine, James Kloiber.


James & his sweet friend Mindy, standing in front of James' work.

Upcoming Sweet 16 Party @ Beauty 5.30.09

Oh yes, and how could I forget! I'm showing some brand spankin' new work this weekend in a one night event. Please join me on Saturday for this:

Sweet 16 Party @ Beauty

Saturday, May 30, 2009
6:00pm - 11:00pm
Location:
Beauty
1633 N. Farwell Ave.
Milwaukee, WI

Celebrate Beauty's 16th anniversary with a night of art, music, film, fashion & fabulousness.

Artists:
Daemon Raphael
Donna Marquart
Rory Kurtz
James Kloiber
Jenipher Sob
Mike McGuiness
Jessica Kaminski
Amanda Contrerus

Video:
Nathianiel Theis
Jason Burczyk
Sam Macon
Dane Haman
Ashley Altadonna

Music:
Tenant Parking Only
4th Street Elevator
Jayk

Fashion:
Amanda Ergen
Mink Clothing
Judi Rath
Boudoir Designs

Hair designs by Julia Newcomb and Younghawk Bautista

Peaches show & gift

Last week I won tickets to the Peaches after set at Smartbar in Chicago, where a friend got my sister & I VIP access so we got to chill in the DJ booth. It was awesome. I was pretty stoked, as I do admire Peaches' music and her piss & vinegar attitude/persona, and admittedly a wee bit tipsy, so hopefully she did not find my spazzocity too annoying! Anyway, I gave her a small piece of artwork as a gift. I figured considering the type of art I generally make and her music, she might appreciate it. She thanked me and she seemed to like it so I was happy.

Drawing I gave to Peaches:


Peaches during her set:


Randomness & good times:
My sister & I

James Amato & I

05.18.09

So much going on lately! When it rains, it pours, eh? This is good tho. I love this pace. I get stir crazy when I don't have a million things going on. I've met some very interesting people lately & am pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Always striving for progress. No time to sit still! Shows coming up, work to frame, new art to make, new friends to meet, adventurous moments to be in, and so on and so forth. I keep saying that I need a vacation, but at the same time I dont want the hassle of breaking up my routine since I am in a good flow. Thats pretty lame, I know. A vacation would be cleansing & give me a whole new perspective I imagine. But I am in a good mental state. I'm pretty darn good at keepin it real. I'm not one to fool myself or play games with people. Yes, I think I might have mastered the art of forgiving myself & moving on. So much time is wasted when you get "stuck". I think I was mentally stuck on a few issues all of which have just worked themselves out and vanished from my thought pattern. Time to move on to better & bigger things! I have no time to waste. No one knows whats best for me except me. I'm not into it when other people tell me what I should or should not be doing. Trust me, I know what I am doing. Sometimes its not always the "best" thing, but its what I feel like doing so I do it anyway because I feel like it. Like I could get out there an paint a bunch of landscapes that my heart isnt in just to sell them, but I dont want to. I pursue the things that make me feel passionate. But just as easily I tire of those things if I'm not getting what I want out of it anymore. Thats how it goes. Art projects started with so much passion, but sometimes these things go astray. Sometimes I just wake up & feel completely different about a project. I guess thats how the unfinished projects heap grows. Sometimes my feelings just change. Oh well. Thats prob why I have a tendency to work fast and act on impulse. You just never know with these things!

I have a lot of things to tend to this evening, but I am running on fumes today! Only 3 hours of sleep last night ;) Can I do it? Can I push on thru and be productive tonight? My guess is yes. I can do it! I can do anything! I can & I will, because I don't have time to waste. Life is just too short for that nonsense. :)

05.09.09

I finally got around to scanning some interviews and adding them to my website, after, oh I donno, like 5 years passed. LOL Better late than never I suppose. It was interesting to read them and see what is unchanged about the way I think and also how my views on some things are very different. Seeing your own growth and transformation is like an artistic process. I enjoy documenting the various stages of a piece of art that I am working on, photographing it in the line drawing phase, and then a few times during the painting phase. I've done seemingly a lot of looking back at old photos and memories lately. It makes me feel good about where I am and how far I've come, though I continue to strive for progress always. I just don't think that I am the type of person to ever decide, 'Ok, I've done enough. I can chillax now.' Yeah, thats just not gonna happen, like ever. But thats good! Its what you call drive.

Anyway, I plan to photograph and post some new art on the site soon as I get a chance. The look of the site will also be revamped whenever I wrap my head around where I want to go with it. It will prob always be a very basic, simple, clean looking page however, considering that I do it all myself in html. Less is more, no?

I've chosen which pieces I'm going to show at the Beauty Sweet 16 party the last Saturday this month. Now I just have to frame it, and thats the easy part for me. Choosing the work is always the hard part, but I am confident I picked works that have a cohesive theme. Also noteworthy that they are all new works so this will be the first time I am showing them.

Ah, and the most exciting thing that I can report is that Brent (Cedar Block) and I spoke last night to discuss several art event happenings. Lots of stuff in the works. We are both actively working hard on planning & lining up venues. Dates are yet to be firmed up. But its gonna happen. Oh yes. Its gonna happen. Stay tuned!!!

What I've been up to.

I've been an art making machine lately. This is good. I am really loving it. The more art I make, the more I want to make. I am really in a productive mindset and quite pleased about it. Not so pleased with getting guilted out by people for being busy tho. That bums me out. If I am busy & being productive, I am happy, and you should be happy for me, otherwise you are being a selfish fool. Trust me, when you are busy I miss your sweet ass too, but I am happy nonetheless when I know my pals are happy. It motivates me.

I have a fantastic idea for a big project I cant wait to start. Its going to be one big series. I need to do some research first. I can hardly wait to launch into this one. Like digging your fingers into damp earth in spring. I can smell it in the air. I can almost taste it. I long for it. But I cant get ahead of myself. This project has been brewing in the back of my mind for a while. Not good to be too eager, just gotta let it flow naturally. Not going to force this one, that only tends to backfire. This needs finessing.

Trying to get a big group show organized. Finding a suitable venue is tough. It is even tougher because I am busy at work and dont always have the time to make all the calls/emails I need to. Once I do nail down a space & a date, its on yo. I have SOOOOOO many ideas for this show. Its gonna be hott. Its hard for me to sit still when I have this much inspiration & drive. Likely this is prob why I have had an issue with insomnia again on and off lately. Comes with the territory of having the mania. Sometimes sleep deprivation is a minor side effect from making progress. Just try to go with it. Fighting is futile. It is what it is. Speaking of sleep deprivation, this lil lady needs some beauty rest.

I am what I am. Get ovs.

Something really valuable occurred to me tonight. Not really totally new, maybe a revisited theme in my life, but whatevs it is what it is.

I'm kind of a loudish gal. I got a bit of spunk. Charisma. Whatevs. I don't try to hide it. Its part of me, love it or leave it. I refuse to downplay a huge part of my character due to some one else's insecurities or inability to deal with it. Those who are close to me love me unconditionally, as I do them. Any other way is bullshit.

I will not hide behind false pretenses, toning down my character, I dont play games with hidden messages, I say what I mean and I mean what I say. Don't assume that my duty in life is to figure out some sort of riddle. Need I remind everyone else I am absorbed in my own drama, just like the rest of the world, focused on my own goings-on & responsibilities. I know everyone else has their own agenda, and that is why I generally dont get bent out of shape over things. Im busy, your busy, we're all busy, arent we?!

I do not need to apologize because my art is not generally filled with subversive political hidden messages and whatnot. All due respect, I may hold yall in high regard for making that kind of art, but I certainly feel as though I am due a little respect too. There may be a lot of vaginas and breasts and 'obscenity' and the like in my art, but do not make the mistake of underestimating me, writing me off like that. I see right through it and it just gets on my nerves. I assure you, my randomness is completely calculated. It bums me out that no matter how far we seem to come as a species, theres just a little something lacking. Come on now guys. We can do better than that, cant we??? Gah.

Perhaps that is the point I've been trying to get across all this time.

I am perfectly capable of figuring shit out on my own. Trust me. I do it all the time. I just dont always make a big deal of it.

Ugh. Tomorrow I will likely feel completely different about the whole thing. Perhaps I will think its not burdensome at all to play the silly games and I will have all the energy in the world for it. Maybe partially its being a chickenshit on my part, and maybe its partially thinking what a total waste of time it all is. Whatever. I am not into playing guessing games. Dont pinch me under the table and assume that it should mean something. If you have a problem with me, f***ing tell me so. If you feel like you want to confess something to me, then do it. Otherwise, it bores me a little bit. I just need a little honesty and sincerity.

I'm going to go to bed now with the one person who I know is completely authentic 100% of the time. Me. G'nite yall.

Secrets.

I like secrets. I find them intriguing. Arousing even. Very interesting.

I enjoy having secrets. I enjoy stumbling upon other peoples' secrets. I don't like to share them however, because they are mine and this is what makes them special. No one else knows.

I'll never tell.

Tell what??

I don't know what you are talking about.

I'm going to quit screwing off now and get back to work.

Mermaids and Nerds and Cloves, oh my!

What an amazing evening for a Gallery Night stroll! This was my first Gallery Night in years, so I felt like a born again, re-popping my cherry, and it was awesomely awesome. My first stop was Paper Boat. Loved loved loved the portraits by Micaela O'Herlihy, which came with little stories about her 10 year old son's bullies. Both amazing portrait work and also some bittersweet memories of my own awful pre-teen years. Most def my favorite work of the evening. I also purchased a most wonderful mermaid shadow puppet for my wee one. She has a fascination with mermaids, and she insists that she is one. Interesting, no?? Then I flew up to The Armoury, where I was entranced by a piece with birds soaring over a body of water created with rice paper over a video screen, so soothing. Embarrassingly I forgot the artist tho, my bad yall. I'm a jerk, sorry. Then I headed over to the Third Ward, where I circled for a good 30 minutes in search of parking, slightly on the verge of road rage-ish, but mostly kicking myself in my own ass mentally for not owning some sort of moped. Anyway, after forking out my $10 happily to finally ditch my car, I ventured to several fine establishments - Water Buffalo, Cedar Gallery, Hot Pop, to name a few. Hop Pop: Brent, thank you for insisting. I was SO happily mcslappily giddy about this show. Dwella vs. Ella rocked my world and then some. Dwellephant + 6 year old girl = me jumping for joy inside. This was so inspiring to me. For seriously. I almost bought a few pieces but then I remembered I am broke, so I had to silently admire and circle the show like a vulture about 3 times. Perhaps I smiled in a creepy like fashion, but my heart was filled with such immense joy I could not help it. I didnt want it to end. Cedar Gallery is awesome. I really enjoyed Bridget Griffith Evans' birds. Especially the two 'fast' ones in the corner. My pal Kileigh and I had a moment of discussing said 'fast' birds, one had a lot of movement in its long tail, the one next to it had a lot of movement in the negative space, both fast but in different ways, as noted by my fab lady pal. Fantastic use of negative space. I am a big fan of negative space and all its potential. Gene Evans work rocked out as well. The Evans's always consistently create engaging interesting work. Thumbs up guys! It was a very lovely evening. I really wish it went later, honestly though. I really enjoyed just breathing in fresh air, strolling about in nice weather, people watching, chatting. Ah. Love it. Love it. Love it. Lets do it again soon Milwaukee, mkay?? For seriously tho, as cute as it might have appeared, strutting about the town in 4 inch heels is a waaaaaaaayyyy better idea at the beginning of the night ;)

Ok guys, I am so very pleased that I captured my impressions immediately upon returning home. Now I shall retire, nerding out to the max in my dreams, dreaming of art-making amidst the fine fine scents of clove cigarettes and magic in the air. Electric magic in the air, to be exact. So much electricity, I might not be able to sleep. However, I must wake early with a wee mermaid! I wonder if tiny mermaids like blueberry pancakes? To hell with it, I LOVE blueberry pancakes, so the mermaid might have to just deal with it. :)

4.17.09

Tonight is Gallery Night - Woot woot! I am excited to get out tonight and do some schmoozing and see what everyone has been up to. I love to check out my friends' art and meet new people & artists. And it should be a most perfect day for it as well, considering that it appears as though spring might just finally be upon us here in Milwaukee. Hopefully it will prove to be a very inspiring day/evening!! But I've learned its best to let go of one's expectations and just go with it, so we shall see what comes of it all. So many spots on my list that I'd like to hit up tonight. Will there be time for it all? Mental note to self to remember my camera and a stack of business cards.

It amuses me.

Part of being an artist is exposing yourself to your audience. Raw unfiltered bits of your soul, just out there for everyone to see. But often those glimpses come with little or no explanation, so it is subject to interpretation. Then in a way, the art becomes the viewer's own experience and has little or nothing to do with the artist anymore. So perhaps being an artist is a little like being a psychic medium, merely channeling energy for others, serving others needs. Maybe even a tad like a prostitute. Used and tossed aside. Unless, of course, the artist is somehow benefitting from this process as well. Maybe the viewer is using the artist for said experience. But perhaps, the artist is also using the viewer, maybe even without their knowledge. Reclaiming their identity. Reinventing themselves.

With every highly inspiring day or period of time, for me, is generally followed by a crash, exhaustion. I pour so much of myself into what I do, and then I withdraw, tired of it all. But then out of my own ashes I find some new interest or inspiration and the cycle begins again. Never dead, just overwhelmed. Then underwhelmed.

Sometimes I think you're not listening. Maybe I should start over.

Its like having an intense crush on someone. Butterflies when they speak to you, or when you even think about them.

And then BAM.

One day it just hits you. You're over it. Then a stretch of time passes since you've spoken to them or even thought about them, something reminds you, and you rediscover that its still there, just wasn’t on the forefront of your mind. Ah, but its fun! Its certainly a magical feeling to look at a piece that I made years ago and recapture that same lust. Powerful. Addicting. Hott rush. Like being 13 years old again and having the biggest crush of your life, legs turning into noodles, sweaty palms, heart racing. Just thinking about it now makes my toes tingle...

Do I have your attention yet?

I can hear you breathing.

I can feel your hot breath on my ear, my neck. Wanting. Urgent.

That is what I’m talking about. The chase. The buildup. The toe-curling climax. The bittersweet afterglow, accompanied by a hint of let down that the whole affair has come full circle. Looking for that next fix. Searching. Lost and abandoned. Then like a slap across the face when you least expect it, the next one arrives. And it feels amazing, like it will never end.

But you know better now. Not 13 anymore. Made enough art by now. Been through this before. Know its not going to last. Better to just let go and enjoy the moment. Lose yourself in it. Forget about tomorrow and make some damn art.

Robots.

Dammit. I've been thinking about this all day and I go to search for it and apparently someone complained and had it pulled off YouTube, so here is Mike Sullivan talking about his movie in progress, "Sex Machines".

04.07.2009

So I was just walking, nice day out, perhaps enough caffeine today to qualify for mania status, and as I passed a restaurant I could see the bartender talking to a patron and the sun reflected on his eyes in a most creepy manner. Stark white. Vacuous. Soulless. And as my head is constantly going a million miles a minute, this somehow brings me to, 'man it would totally suck to be a robot'. And then it hit me like a thousand hyperactive children jumping up and down, begging for ice cream. Inspiration. Mania. And so it begins, again...

Ah! I wish I had time to write more!!

Progress.

Been making lots of new art lately. It’s a beautiful thing! Have been thinking a lot lately about alter-egos, taking it to a dark place, or humorous, playful, sexy, mysterious, etc. Trying not to overanalyze, just going with it. Doing lots of work on paper these days, as opposed to my usual oil on canvas, which is more or less for financial reasons. Gotta be resourceful, there’s a damn recession happening people!! Gosh, but I have so many creative ideas, problem is just finding the time & money to execute a lot of them. I’m already burning the candle at both ends many days, but I have this intense desire to be productive and push myself. I’m not easily satisfied with my progress. When I leave this world, hopefully a loooooooooooooooooong time from now, I want to leave behind a prolific body of important work. I want to make work that has an impact, leaves a lasting impression on people, but on the flip I also don’t care what people think and I need to remain true to myself. Sometimes the finished product isn’t always so important as the creative process. Sometimes the mania driven frenzied thought process & execution of such is more important to me than how saleable the final piece might be. I’m cool with that at times, however I need to get out and line up some shows. I swear there are not enough hours in the day!! Also been thinking about green ways to make quality art. Definitely am not wasteful with my materials. From time to time when I see something interesting put out for the trash, I’ll take it if I think I can paint on it or re-work it into something neat. I’m all about recycling & reusing stuff so long as it doesn’t look cheap. So that’s the dealy yo yo. My mind is racing in a million directions. Ah, if only I were working in the studio right now. Where are you, wealthy benefactor?? I know you are out there somewhere. Sigh. :)

Bound with electrical tape.

Ah, I've been crazy busy productive in the art studio. I had another manic moment of inspiration today and just went with it and its amazing thus far. You just never know whats going to happen with ideas. I have a lot of them and I don't always follow through for various reasons, but this project is really moving me and I suspect I'll be on it over the weekend. Love that. Nothing makes me feel more alive than just being in the moment, making art, doing what comes most natural to me, getting my hands good and dirty with graphite, charcoal, watercolors, pastels, oil paints. Yes. Gah. I can hardly wait to get back at it again tomorrow!!!

Video interview re: art/parenting

So there was this blog someone posted a link to online. This mother took her kids to the Milwaukee Art Museum and apparently she did not come away with a moving experience from the art. She referred to the Ellsworth Kelly as "primary colored rectangular pieces of crap". As they passed the Standing Woman, one of the girls "saw the HUGE backside she looked disgusted and said, 'I don't like that bum!' We actually passed this statue three times and every time we passed it Audrey closed her eyes and said, 'Tell me when we're passed that statue so I can open my eyes again.' I'm right there with you child!" And in the current Jan Lievens exhibit "as you turn the corner one of the first paintings you see is of a woman with her breasts hanging out. So ugly." and one of the girls commented "She is so immodest!" So this mother told them to close their eyes. "Seriously, I don't understand that kind of painting. It is not attractive to me at all and I was just as disgusted as Audrey was. It's times like those that I love having an unabashed five year old who will say out loud what I am thinking!" However, this woman really enjoyed some paintings of flowers and some pretty blown glass.

So this had been eating at me for days when I was approached by Mary Louise Schumacher who writes Art City for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She suggested that a constructive response might be to do a video interview, one mom to another, about the matter, which can be seen here.

Of course all the thoughts & arguments that had been dancing in my head for nearly a week seemed to evaporate the moment a video camera was in my face. The point I wanted to get across was that this was never meant as an attack on this other mother, nor was it intended to be an art history lecture about the relevance or importance of the artworks in question, not for me anyway. This was simply supposed to be one mom to another mom. The most frightening part of the whole thing to me is not this woman's opinion of the art - its a matter of raising clones vs. raising kids who can think for themselves, who can ask questions and think critically, and don't just follow the herd, kids and parents engaging in intelligent discussions about things whether they agree or disagree on the matter at hand, so that they learn how to make good choices and grow up to be successful adults. Perhaps I did not convey this well enough to get my feelings across on the matter, but I was really nervous. This was certainly never intended to be a pissing match of any sort. But as an artist and a mother, the whole thing really got under my skin as very sad and unfortunate for these kids that they were missing out on a bigger learning opportunity.

Perhaps I should have just sat down with her over coffee so I could say to her in a pleading manner from across the table, don't you see what a disservice you are doing to your children when you don't allow them the opportunity to think outside of their comfort zone, encourage them to look at things from other perspectives to gain a deeper understanding of the world around them?? If you are raising your children to be just like you, little mini-me's, little clones, then whats the point? I realize it takes a lot of different types of people to make the world go round. Aren't kids people too, worthy of having their own unique experience? I believe each generation should push the limits of the one before it, this is how we make progress, learn, grow, make discoveries, etc. Let's open up a dialog with our kids, it will make them AND us better people. Be open minded. Or, are we just reproducing because kids are cute? That makes me very sad. Yes, kids are cute. But they are intelligent human beings full of limitless potential and they all deserve their own experience and parents who are willing to push themselves beyond their own comfort zones to help them achieve that higher, more meaningful existence. I don't know about anyone else, but I have found parenthood to be a HUGE learning & growing experience. Sometimes its about learning to let go of your expectations and go with the flow. Sometimes its about having to keep an open mind myself about things. If my child wants to be an athlete when she grows up, and I personally am not so into sports, should I discourage her from this? Absolutely not! I want her to be the best that she can be at whatever path she chooses. So I guess I've had a lot of time to think about this. And in a lot of ways, parenting is like an art form - seldom perfect, lots of 'happy accidents' or learning opportunities, always searching for answers and new techniques.

Jan Lievens on a Jet Plane 2.20.09

People.

I love people. All types of people. I like looking at them. I like talking with them. I enjoy hearing their stories about where they've been and where they would like to go. I love to make people laugh and I love people that make me laugh. I like relating with people. I like meeting new people as well as staying in touch with old pals. I like unique people, intelligent people, funny people, eccentric people, people with drive, charisma, intensity, people that are interesting to look at. I like hearing that people are busy, productive, pursuing their dreams, its very motivating to me. Though I can be shy, I like to push myself to be outgoing and talk to new people and take an interest in them so that they feel appreciated and understood. I like smiling at random people in passing and having them smile back at me. I like to live in the moment and enjoy the connection I might have with a person I meet, be it a person in one of my social circles I've never actually met, a long time friend, or a random 30 second encounter with a person I might never see again. I have found that keeping an open mind about people is prob the most important thing because you just never know when you might come across a person who leaves an impact on you or in some way changes your world, your perception, introduces you to a new experience or teaches you something about the world or about yourself. Its important not to underestimate people, because they are really pretty amazing. I like noticing the unique qualities of a person and the details of their face and their mannerisms. I like analyzing their laughter and the way their mouth forms a smile. I like when people smile with more than their mouth, like the eyes. Eyes give great smiles. I love to look people in the eye and have them really look back at me. I just genuinely love people. This is prob why I am a portrait artist!!

2.18.09

Lots of exciting stuff going on! Tomorrow morning I drop off my finished painting at the Milwaukee Art Museum for the event this Friday 2.20.09 titled Jan Lievens on a Jet Plane, which is in conjunction with the current Jan Lievens exhibit. This is a Cedar Block/MAM event, it takes place this Friday from 8-midnight in the Calatrava. (As a reminder: theres no poppin it in the Calatrava) It should be a pretty fun evening and I am looking forward to it. Also, there has been much discussion as of late between Brent of Cedar Block and I about collaborating on art events. He has many fine ideas which are totally top secret that I can say no more about. I've already been on the hunt for venues and have some sweet prospects. Overall I've been super busy. I'm busy creating a hott new body of artwork, many drawings/watercolors. I've seriously got the mania, as I like to call it, basically I've been extremely focused and productive. Also have lots of plans for updating my website, but I have to remind myself that Rome was not built in a day and likewise my plans need to be carried out in baby steps. But thus far, 2009 has been a great year and I am making excellent progress, hope it continues this way!