Planning for a Craft Fair

So obviously I still have a lot to catch up and update my blog on (like moving to our 9 acre home and the experience with our first of year of constructing and planting a large family garden). But I'm not quite ready to go back yet, to dig out old pictures, etc. I thought I'd rather share with you what is going on right now.

I am busy, amongst other things, preparing for my first ever craft fair. It is a small, local fair being held at my church in early November but that will give me an easy entry into the experience of participating in and selling at a fair setting. I will be offering some of my original art for sale from St. Catherine's Apprentice, as well as prints and maybe cards of particular pieces. (I've also started selling on Etsy, but again, that is for another post!) It's also an opportunity to advertise for my commissioned portraits and just begin to get the word out that that is something I do, though I'd like to focus more on creating and selling original pieces.

In addition, I have been contemplating a sister business--Brother Sun, Sister Moon Rustic Handicrafts. It would be a bit of a family hobby business endeavor the kids can help with. I've been dabbling with rustic wood projects. It's a resource I have free on our 9 acre home. I love working with the natural material.

A view of part of our wooded acreage last winter.

Woodworking is something that runs in my blood and just feels good doing it! It used to be my grandfather's hobby. He was very talented. He once built me a beautiful, little, rocking baby bassinet for my baby dolls when I was little. I still have that hiding away somewhere in fact! He had a shed in his backyard where he'd create all his wooden crafts and furniture. My father, too, is quite the skilled wood craftsman. He handcrafted a large set of beautiful, custom, built in shelving in my parents' living room with matching entertainment system cabinetry. While I'm not THAT gifted, lol, shaping and crafting wood in it's natural, rustic form is something I find as a soothing, enjoyable pastime. To begin with I'll be offering miniature, rustic Earth Looms. I absolutely LOVE these! I've wanted to make one for years, but we haven't settled down into our forever home till recently. I'll be creating a large scale version in my garden for my own family in the near future. For now, I'll be creating a smaller, portable version for craft fairs.

I'll also be constructing my own miniature tripod display easels to showcase my artwork at the fair. I'll share that tutorial with you tomorrow. But I'll leave you with this little goody I came across while researching tripod instructions. It's a miniature Easel Picture Stand! It's a quick and simple project to create and so adorable. I'll be creating a few of these to display pictures of my children! The Tutorial Instructions can be found here.

Art Charity

I've discovered a way to incorporate everything I do. Lay Missionary of Charity (service), St. Catherine's Apprentice (art), Spiritual Homesteading (blog), MaryJane Farmgirl Sisterhood (earning awesome merit badges), Team McArthur (charity and community). . . . all rolled into one makes Art Charity! Art Charity will be an extension of my art business, which I pursued for my MaryJane entrepreneur badge. I've written that my whole desire behind my business was never to be successful, but to put my art to service. Art Charity is the fruit that desire! My St. Catherine's Apprentice website and this blog will be the canvas to share this.

So those who read this blog already have already met Adam McArthur. He will be the first to receive these donations. But I'd like to expand this service beyond Team McArthur to other charitable causes. My own unique way of giving~using art to spread love!


So here's my blurb:

St. Catherine's Apprentice would like to present Art Charity!! All profits received from this series of drawings will go to charity. Each series will be inspired by and created specifically for a certain charitable cause. It’s art for a cause!

The first Recipient for Art Charity profits will be the McArthur Family! Adam McArthur is a husband and father of 3, diagnosed with brain cancer. His family is in need of donations to continue his cancer treatments and assist with their daily living expenses. You can read more about Adam on Healer in Your Heart and on the Team McArthur Facebook page set up to raise awareness for his condition and support for the family.

An imperative component of Adam’s cancer treatment is his food. He is on a strict gluten-free, sugar-free, vegetarian diet.  Therefore this series will be called Portraits of Produce: the McArthur Collection. Raising awareness for Adam, brain cancer, natural cancer treatment options, organic foods and local farmers, this collection will include a weekly drawing inspired by locally grown, organic produce item purchased from area farmer markets.  Each “portrait” of a fruit or veggie will be coupled with a tasty recipe and farm highlights.

It's going to be exciting! God willing, this will only be a precurser to a larger project I have in store called Saints and Veggies.

Save a farm. Buy local.

Support Adam. Buy art J

Spirit of Chastity: 10 Year Anniversay Surprise

10 years.

That is how long my husband and I have been married already.

Amazing how fast the years can go!

I'm planning a little something special for him on our upcoming anniversary on August 26th.

I have done lots of commissions and drawn a number of portraits of other people's kids.
And while I've done a couple pictures of our daughters as infants, I have yet to do a portrait with all of them together. He's mentioned in the past that he'd like one to put up on our wall.

That is my gift to him!

With summer staycationing, beginning a new year of homeschooling, and, well, just life in general with 6 kids, I wasn't able to start my portrait in time to have it completed by the day of our anniversary.
But it's the thought that counts.

And the old saying goes:
You can't rush a masterpiece!

So stay tuned. . .when I'm done I'll share the finished product :)

Spirit of Obedience: Latest Art Work

 I list my art under the classification of obedience. Why?  It is something I feel called to do.

It is out of the spirit of obedience I try to heed that calling.

See, I have my own little art business St. Catherine's Apprentice.  

I am not interested in the fact that my business be a success or a failure. What's most important to me is that it is my way saying I'm open to God using me and my art if He should want to.

He'll provide me with the business if He wants.

He has my hand to create whatever art He should feel inspired to if He should ever want to.

So whether my business thrives or fails, I'm already a winner because it was never about that to begin with--it's about saying "yes" to God.

This is my latest piece, Christy Gianna.

Having an artist mama, you bet my favorite subjects and most drawn are my own little ones. This is chalk pastel on black board. No one but me might know this, but that is the very quilt I made for my baby; see here.

On the Art Front

Well if wasn't bad enough that last week I weathered a cold, that cold turned into head congestion which contributed to an ear infection on Sunday morning . . . 36 weeks pregnant with an ear infection is a bummer. But all is well. I saw a doctor, got some prescriptions, and while the pain is gone I still can't hear out of that one ear. Other than slowing down my blogging mojo, I'm for the most part back up and running again--just a little deaf (*smiles*)



On the art front, I have news that I received a new commission! My local community college--the same one that gave me my "commission artist" start--contacted me to do another portrait for a benefactor. It's such a beautiful feeling when I have broken the paper in with the first pencil sketchings. . .

This is my make shift art studio . . . my living room. Having little kids that need eyes on supervision I have to stay in the midst of the action. No tucking me away in my own little private art studio sanctuary. Or atleast not for now! One day when the kids are older I'll have all that :) But my duty is a mother and an artist so I do what I have to do to get the job done--which means staying in the war zone to create my masterpieces!

I also get to share that during a midwife home visit last week, I "sold" a photo copy of my drawing of Mother Teresa to my midwife. She posted it on the Tens Moons Midwifery Facebook page!  Take a look . . . Sweet :)

Commission Complete

I've posted in the past about recently starting up my little art business. I 've drawn a number of commissioned portraits over the  years, but I just finished up my first business commission! I wanted to share it with you.

The original photo

The commissioned portrait: 11x14 chalk pastel



close up

This was the first time I got to use my new chalk pastel pencils :) I LOVE THEM! I love trying new textures and such--things I've never drawn before. I really challenged myself this time with a lace umbrella! What a pain! But the picture was so beautiful I just had to include it, as well as the gorgeous pink flower that adds a little splash of color to the composition.

I'll be posting this to my St. Catherine's Apprentice Facebook page and web site, you can check out more there!



Shout it From the Rooftops!

Entrepreneurial Spirit: Expert Badge

Launch (hatch) your business and then shout it from the rooftops. Tell it here. Tell it everywhere. Buy yourself flowers and celebrate. Remember always to support other farmgirl businesses as you grow your own. Think cross-pollination and co-opetition.

I'm shouting it from the rooftops~


As of today . . .

St. Catherine's Apprentice:Fine Art & Commissions by Carrie Goad

 is officially open for business!

carriegoadportraits.com

Visit me on Facebook~Show your support and "Like" me!

From the Art Archives

I visited my folks house yesterday and found this. As you can see it's taken some wear and tear.

"Study of Pop-Pop", white and black charcoal on grey paper

It's one of my very first charcoal portraits. I drew this years ago. I was still learning to use charcoal, which at first was very frustrating for me. It didn't have a smooth feeling going on to the paper, and was my least favorite art medium to use in art class. Funny, because now it's my favorite. And it's also one of my first "faces", I was still learning to draw portraits. It's my grandfather. He died 18 years ago--I was merely in sixth grade. Though it's been so many years, his presence does not feel "dusty" to me at all. In fact, he feels very present. Perhaps it's because I frequently remember him even after all this time, or maybe it's that I still pray for him every Sunday at Mass. He's gone but not "gone." He has been one of my favorite subjects to draw and by far one of my most drawn. I've done more drawings of him than anyone else. I guess that is my way of showing that he existed, celebrating his life--showing my continued love for him;  like I said, gone but not gone:)

New Year's Resolution

Happy New Year 2012!

Amongst my usual spiritual resolutions this year I set a few other goals for myself. I’ve mentioned it before, but this week I’ll make it happen—make it real. I’m going ahead with an art business. Tomorrow I’ll be marching down to the Commissioner of the Revenue and will be registering my business name. I’ll be applying for my business license shortly thereafter.

 I AM TAKING A LEAP OF FAITH!

I’m so nervous about it all. A little voice in my head tells me not to do it, I’m not good enough, I’ll fail. I have to admit the voice makes me hesitate. Makes me want to turn and run. It’s been a long time since I’ve tried to reach for anything—out of fear of failure. But that safety from failure has also gotten me nowhere. And there is no one to blame but myself.

I've had this feeling for some time, in my soul, that great things would happen for me in my 30s—my time was coming. Last year, 2011, especially was trying on every aspect of my life: spiritually, financially, maritally, socially. . . I bore my trials and carried my cross. Now, if I allow it—if I make it happen—great things will happen.

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
~ T. S. Eliot

Maybe I will fail. Perhaps my art venture will flop. But 1) At least I tried to reach for something. At least I risked it. I’ll never accomplish anything great if I don’t risk failing; 2) I feel like I’m supposed to be doing this. And if my goal in life is doing God’s will, it doesn’t matter whether I’m a success or a failure. I believe Mother Teresa said something along those lines; 3)I'm not setting out to conquer the art world (**smiles**) only to do whatever work--whatever commissions-- God will have me to do. I need not be great; I can take the pressure off my back. Even if I only do but a few commissions, and they make a difference to whoever it is that receives them, my work is accomplished. Again, Mother Teresa speaks not to be concerned about numbers, she always thinks "One". As a Lay Missionary of Charity, a follower of Mother Teresa's order, her example means a lot to me :)

And I won't be going it alone. I'll have my patron saint , St. Catherine of Bologna, holding my hand and my numerous "fans" (you know who you are) encouraging me on until I can do it for myself. Success or failure, good things are going to happen this year.

I wish the best for each of you and your loved one's 

 this New Year!

Art Unveiling

The time has come, Christmas has passed, that now I can share with you what I was working on during the Advent season. I had two new commissions that changed my crafting plans for the holiday a bit, but were very much worth it. The pictures were commissioned as Christmas gifts so I was asked to keep them hush-hush until after the fact.

Now for the unveiling . . .

As always, I enjoy making my art. For me it is not about the art or money--but how my art can help others. I'm still discovering how to do that. It's a little pieces of the story like this, after the art leaves my easel, that make me think I'm on the right path:

. . . I had to giver her the picture in the parking lot. I got it on tape . One of the ladies of her dept was there on a smoke break as well.

You should have heard the 2 of them, they couldn't believe it, at first, they didn't think it was a drawing, they thought it was a picture!! When I told them you drew it, they were in disbelief. They both said what everyone else said that I showed the picture to "I feel like I can just reach out and touch her " meaning A*** in the picture, because you got it that close to real life.

Personal Portraits are your specialty because you really capture the spirit of the person, like I said before not many people can do that.When you see the video, you will see what your work does for people.

A**** gave me a great big hug and said it was "The Best Present I EVER got" . . . I know this picture meant the world to her, because this time it was about HER !!!!!! I couldn't have given her anything better :-)

SO C*****'s picture, came out beautifully framed !! C***** opened it and didn't realize it was a drawing, said this is Beautiful and then asked me, "where did I find it?" then S**** said "Look at the signature " then C***** said "Get the Hell out of here" She was in disbelief too. I'm not sure if I got hers on tape, if I do will send that down too. I got a new camera and still learning it.

She loved it and could not believe the amount of detail . All the girls at work want to know if you realize what kind of money you can command for these types of drawings. A few people said you need to draw these pictures and keep them going , as you can always sell them at a later time .

I proudly said that I am going to be your agent and will make you famous !!!

You are on your way to something Special !!! One thing people love is pictures of themselves, loved ones, deceased , babies and their pets !!!!

So as I enter the New Year, wish me luck and offer me prayers as I begin St. Catherine's Apprentice: Fine Art & Commissions by Carrie Goad. St. Catherine of Bologna is the patron saint of artists, who is my patron saint. I have always forsaken her in the past, wishing I had gone rather with St. Jude, patron saint of hopeless cases, which I believed to be better suited for me :) I figured it was time to pay St. Catherine the homage due her. I ask for prayers for confidence--which I lack--and divine guidance--which I need--as I begin this venture. Let it about what my art can do for others and not merely about the art itself or the money it can provide for my family.

Dreams

As a child, I had two dreams: 1) to own a horse farm and 2) to be an artist. With a childlike mentality and grandiosity, I joined the two together. I envisioned this wonderful future of owning a horse farm with tons of horses (I was a huge horse fanatic) and doing all things horses--boarding them, breeding them, giving riding lessons. . . I’d have a big beautiful horse barn. Downstairs I’d keep the horses. Upstairs I’d have an art studio. I’d have the best of both worlds! I used to tell my grandmother that one day we’d do Christmas on the farm. I was that serious about my dream that I was already making future holiday arrangements!

(**sigh**)

But parenthood and "life" set in too early and my ability to dream, in general, was lost. Seventeen with a child, no high school diploma, working minimum wage, doesn't leave too much room for dreaming and the life that comes after that is no walk in the park either. My passion and love for horses was replaced with the responsibility of tending to, providing for, and the loving of my children. Art was an unnecessary, useless activity that I had no time or energy for. It went by the wayside. The grind of living left all dreaming to my childhood--facing reality and survival were the main focus of daily living. I was literally without any dreams or true aspirations for years, accepting that it was enough and I should be grateful to just get by day to day.

I did made it back to school. I earned my associates degree, magna cum laude and with honors despite having three daughters I was raising at the same time. I made it all the way to university level--attending George Washington University in Washington DC and Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA. But I lacked a vision, a dream. Where was all this learning going? What did I want to be? My major was in psychology, hoping it would lead to a graduate degree in art therapy. But something was missing from that plan--a spark or something. Eventually I was drained of all tuition money regardless which put a stop to my college days.

Only recently can I feel a seed of a dream beginning to stir. It started with realizing my desire for my farm--my homestead--again. I realized that if I could live anywhere that place would be a little, tucked away homestead somewhere. Kind of sounds like that childhood dream, only this time without the all horses. Why stop there? I would like to have some chickens, a milking cow, maybe a goat.  I’d eventually have one horse or pony for my six kids and I to enjoy.

This is how it began!

As simple and innocent as that--I had a dream again--something to hope for, to strive for, to work towards. It was like that seed had been there--inside me--the whole time, all these years. Not dead, just dormant. Little by little it is awakening.

One of the reasons I love my Mary Jane Sisterhood Membership (my member name is Homestead Dreams)--which was a little gift from my mother, who herself is member--is that it gets you to try things that you may not ordinarily attempt on your own volition. The Sisterhood is sort of a Girl Scouts for grown women--farmgirl style! Not necessarily “literal” farm girl, but at least one at heart. Just like in your days of girl scouts, you pick a project, fulfill the requirements, and you receive a certificate and badge. It helps broaden your horizons and adds a little fun to life. I’ve blogged about a few of my badge earning experiences.

There’s a badge called Entrepreneurial Spirit. Your supposed to:



Go for it! Put your dream business down on paper by learning how to write a business plan. Put numbers to it and a timeline. Pick out a name. Tuck it under your pillow for now and dream on it.
So I went for it. If I could be anything, do anything, I’d probably put my art as more of a focus in my life--be a freelance artist. The reality is I'm a mother of (to be) six, My children come first. This would be a great way to provide for my family, doing something I love, and still keep up my responsibilities as a mother. Not to mention it could be a means to working towards that homestead dream! People have suggested this idea to me in the past and I receive many compliments on my work, but I’ve always lacked the confidence to do anything serious with my art--to actually consider myself an artist. I researched how to write a business plan for a simple home based, free lance art business. I looked up how much it would cost to start it up--which in my case the costs are minimal, $60-100. I’m still working on a serious name. I am temporarily referring to it as Project Barn Loft Studio, a reminder of that childhood dream--of that place in me that once dreamed--that wanted to be artist and took it seriously. I printed out my plan and, yes, I’m literally sleeping with it under my pillow! Just as important to me, I've been praying about it as well. Maybe someday having a little studio--an art space of my own-- on my little homestead isn’t too far fetched after all. Confidence is what I need. Confidence to pursue my dream. If I find that, I could make this dream into reality possibly as soon as the beginning of the New Year. Wish me luck, and say a little prayer for me, as I continue this venture.

. . .and Mom-Mom keep a Christmas free for me in a few years. Don't call off that Christmas on the farm just yet!
　

From the Collection of My Biggest Fan

My biggest art fan has always been my Aunt. She has collected my art since I was a child, encouraged my skill, and supported my art “services”. She saw the “artist” in me long before I did. So when I started collecting photos to put together a section for my blog, it was to her I went to assist me in finding examples of my work. I either never bothered documenting my work for a portfolio or I took digital pictures only to be lost on a crashed computer later on.

For my birthday she sent me a fun little gift: a collection of photos of my artwork going way back! I forgot about most of these. It was neat to see where some of my more current pieces unbeknownst to me were actually inspired from younger works.

Enjoy the show!

 My first attempt at a collage, age 11. Submitted for an elementary school art show, the topic I recall was something like "soaring" or "flying". I created a girl on an eagle. It won me third place!

A horse fanatic, I spent many hours studying
and drawing them. One of earlier pieces, age 11.

 Two shells I decorated using marker one summer, age 14.

 

Rose, age 15. I went through a big phase of drawing roses using oil pastels. My first attempts at drawing roses, back in an elementary school art class, resembled pink cabbages!

Sketch of a gigantic stuffed bear I received
that year for Christmas, age 14-15?

An etching I did in a middle school art class.



I remember doing this in 9th grade for a history class. We took a field trip to a museum of some sort and we had to choose one artifact to sketch. Once back at school we used the styrofoam used for meat packaging to make an etching for a print. I chose a little polar bear statue for my piece, age 16  


Pencil deer skull drawing, high school art class.










An unfinished sketch in ink I created for my Aunt of her dog during a visit to her house, age 17.



A little card I made my grandmother.



Kitty, colored pencil



One of very first portrait drawings, my grandfather. Despite passing away when I was middle school, he has been very prevalent in my art work. I have done several pictures over the year with him as my subject--he may be gone but not forgotten. This one was done in oil pastel.