China and Japan here we come!

Tomorrow we leave for China and Japan for my two week study abroad tour and I am so excited! Chris and I have been shopping and packing for days now and the time is finally here.

So before I leave you for two weeks worth of quietness (I don't have a laptop), here is a peek into the journey we will be taking.

Day 1
Leave Los Angeles Airport

Day 2
Arrive in Beijing, China

Day 3 Beijing, China
-Tiananmen Square
-Forbidden City
-Palace Museum

Day 4
Beijing, China to Hangzhou
-Visit to China Academy of Art - Canceled

Day 5
Hangzhou to Shanghai, China
Hangzhou
-West Lake Cruise
-Tea Plantation
-Tiger Hill
Shanghai
-Yu Garden

Day 6
Shanghai, China to Kyoto, Japan
Shanghai
-Shanghai Museum
-Bund
Kyoto, Japan

Day 7
Kyoto, Japan

Day 8
Kyoto, Japan
-Geidai

Day 9
Kyoto to Tokyo, Japan

Days 10 - 13 Tokyo, Japan

Day 14 Leave Tokyo for Los Angeles Airport, Drive to San Diego

So that is our tour itinerary. I have not included any of the extra things that we want to do, since I am not sure when they will be squeezed in the schedule. Chris's goal is to pick up a musical instrument, preferably something inexpensive from each country. I am looking for art supplies, special papers and maybe some fabrics. We are taking a small dragon doll which will be the spirit of my 12-year-old son, Xen, with us on the tour. Xen made a "Dragon List" of the places he wants me to take a picture of the dragon in front of. His only souvenir request is for a set of chopsticks. Simple and affordable - I like that!

The visits to the colleges have been canceled because of flu health concerns, so I am not sure what will will do in place of that. I am disappointed because that means I will not get to do the presentation on my art in Japan as planned. I had a wonderful presentation of my art completed, using tips from Alyson Stanfield's blog post. Learn more about presentations for artists here.

Even though I will not be blogging on my trip, I will be writing, drawing, taking photos and thinking about all the great stuff I am going to share with you when I get back.

Wish us luck on this fantastic journey!

To your health, creativity and traveling adventures! ~Jaime Lyerly

WCA San Diego: Mural painting photos

A message from the Women's Caucus for Art, San Diego President Laura Jean Thompson:

WCA San Diego: Mural painting photos

Be part of this history-making event!

Help paint the mural on North Park's oldest wooden building, built in 1931.


Come to 8Teen Art and Cultural center at 3925 Ohio Street in North Park (just north of University) this Saturday May 23rd starting at 10 am and going until finished.

See more details about the Mural Painting here. ~ Jaime Lyerly

Artists! We NEED you! Mural Painting at 8Teen Art and Cultural Center

Here is a message from Cynthia Goff, M.F.A., the Vice President of the Women's Caucus for Art, San Diego:

Artists:
We are desperately asking for your help!

We are having our last painting party this Saturday morning at 10 am to complete our mural at the 8teen Art & Cultural Center (a charitable organization that gives to homeless youth in need).

This will be our last painting party as I've been called out of state and so we must get it finished this Saturday. If each of us came out to paint for just a few hours, we'd easily get it done.

Make it a date with a mate; bring a friend.

Thank you so much!

See you this Saturday at:
8teen Art & Cultural Center,
3925 Ohio Street, San Diego, California 92104.

Map to 8Teen Art & Cultural Center

Bliss out on Art!

Cynthia Gott, M.F.A.
Vice President,
Women's Caucus for Art; San Diego
Art Instructor:
Miramar College
Southwestern College


Click on this link to learn more about the collaborative mural painting project at 8Teen Art and Cultural Center.

Hope to see you there! We cannot do it without you!

Creatively yours, Jaime Lyerly

Counting the days and thinking of a Fulbright future

11 more days to go...

Counting the days until my trip to Japan and China! It will be so fun, I can hardly wait. Will write more about it in the week to come.

All this thinking about and planning for visiting overseas got me thinking about what it would be like to live or study overseas. And that leads me to the Fulbright.

Since I will be graduating in 1 year, I am eligible to apply for a Fulbright. The Fulbright is a government run program that sends recent graduates and people with BA or higher degrees to study, research or teach English in another country for up to a year. And they pay you a living stipend to do it!

This is one of my dreams. To live and study in another country, and totally integrate into a foreign culture. Specifically, I want to make art and learn art techniques from masters in their specialties. There is a problem though - I only speak English!

This language requirement is really putting a downer on my search for a country to go live in. Countries like Japan, Italy, France and Spain all require about two years of foreign language study. My partner is interested in moving to India. India does not have a foreign language requirement, but I am not sure I would be able to find someone to teach a woman sculpture. Maybe I am mistaken, but isn't there still a gender bias for occupations of women in India? So what do I do if I want to learn art in another country? Help me figure this one out!

Your turn: Anyone receive a Fulbright? If so, what was your experience? What about any artists - did you go to study art? I would love to hear about your journey!

Let your Creativity Shine! Ten Ways to Let Your Muse Out to Play

Here is a wonderful article by creativity coach Cynthia Morris who writes a blog on traveling as an artist called Journey Juju. It inspired me to think about how to spend my summer. Enjoy!

Summer's Creative Exuberance:
Ten Ways to Let Your Muse Out to Play

If summer isn't the best season to foster creativity, I don't know what is. Okay, you could make a case for the cocooning qualities of winter. You could say that the freshness of spring inspires even the most jaded artist. And then there's the release of fall, which could provoke me to give up art entirely.

But summer, with its uncontainable exuberance, is the best season for the creative. Who wouldn't be inspired by the bounty of a farmer's market? How could the light pulsing off the highway in the middle of the day in the middle of the country not extract a deep sense of mystery in any artist? And then there's the sense of freedom that you get when all you're wearing is a tiny bathing suit and there's nothing to do but dip yourself in the pool one more time.

I vote for summer as the season most likely to inspire creative thinking, being and doing. Summer invites us to return to our purest child-like impulses. We all know that to be deeply creative means connecting to that child in us. It's that part of us that loves messes, that doesn't need to know where we're going, that has no concept of the bottom line, let alone a concern for making money.

Reach out with both arms like an eager child, and immerse yourself and your Muse in summer. Make this your most creative summer yet with these ten tips.

1. Get messy. Mess is necessary for creativity. Eat watermelon and let the juice and seeds splatter all over your shirtfront.

2. Linger outside. Sit in the grass with no agenda. Stay there for a few hours with a book, a notebook, or whatever melts you into a creative puddle. And speaking of puddle...

3. Get into water. Being around water stimulates our Muses, who love to give us ideas in the shower. Find a pool or a lake or a puddle and get in just because you love it and it feels good. Splash around. Choreograph a water ballet. Play.

4. Relish the night. Don't you love how summer days just go on and on and then when the night comes, it's even better? The air is so warm and the sky so full of possibility. Get out in the night. Ride your bike or take a walk. Go pool hopping or star gazing or moon bathing.

5. Try a new art form. Maybe it's origami, or pastry baking or watercolors. Stretch out of your normal creative rhythm and try something new.

6. Use the summer as a frame to explore something. Perhaps you'll read a few classics this summer. Or give yourself a creative challenge like making art every day. How can you use summer as a frame for your creative abundance?

7. Immerse yourself in color. I love love love color and summer gives me ample opportunity to really soak in bright, saturated colors. Tune your vision to the brilliant greens, lush reds and vibrant blues of summer.

8. Plan outdoor excursions with friends. Picnics, markets and art fairs, sketch crawls, all offer an opportunity to fill your creative well. Doing it with friends is even more fun.

9. Allow for a sense-fest. The reason I love summer so much is the way it opens me to my senses. A breeze wafting in the window, the smells of freshly cut grass and barbeque, the sound of a baseball bat hitting a ball, the amazing freshness of the fruits and vegetables of summer....mmmmm. Your Muse loves when you pause and pay attention to your senses.

10. Be prepared for inspiration. You already know this, but I'll remind you: carry a notebook with you always. Use it to capture your ideas and impressions. Give yourself permission to slow down and relish life.

Unleash your creativity and let your inner child out to play this summer. Your art making will be enhanced and if not, at least you've enjoyed yourself.

Copyright 2009 Cynthia Morris. Cynthia coaches creative people to confidence and completion and inspires life as a creative adventure. Visit http://www.originalimpulse.com to get an infusion of inspiration for your art, writing and life.


Your Turn: What kind of activities do you have planned this Summer to inspire the muse to play? I have my big Japan and China trip but after that I have only three precious weeks until I have summer school classes. Why would I do this to myself? Oh, because I am trying to get a minor in Psychology. So I plan to use that three weeks for cleaning of the house and the spirit! What will you be doing?

Encaustic, Beeswax, and Mixed Media Paintings - In Progress

Finally, I have some more pictures of my current projects! Woohoo!

Here are the two series of encaustic, beeswax and mixed media sculptural paintings that I have been working on.

I am struggling with the identities and material choices on these two series. I would love to hear what you fabulous artists and art-lovers have to think about these.

The first series, tentatively called "Stories" includes the piece "Weaving my Story" which was selected for the Women's Caucus for Art juried show "Herstory" earlier this year.

"Stories" series, encaustic and mixed media on 12x12 in panel
(c) Jaime Lyerly

I finished the two other pieces after "Weaving my Story" was selected for the show and hung at the Women's History Museum, and then was moved to 8Teen Art and Cultural Center for "Herstory Exposed". Similar materials were used, but I am not sure if they still go together since "Weaving my Story" has lived so long away from her sisters. I finally got her back from the 8Teen last week.

Here are some details of the series:

"Stories" series, March 2009 - Untitled - detail 1
(c) Jaime Lyerly

"Stories" series - March 2009, "Weaving my Story"- detail
(c) Jaime Lyerly

"Stories" series, March 2009 - Untitled - detail 2
(c) Jaime Lyerly

The second series has no title and the pieces are more in progress exploration than finished pieces. Still working on where I want them to go. Any suggestions?

Untitled, Two pieces, April 2009, encaustic, beeswax and mixed media on 12x12 in panel
(c) Jaime Lyerly

All I know about these ones is that I want to hang them together like this. I embedded color in the bottom one and may carve into it to excavate the colors. The bottom one may have more string on it too.

Untitled, 1, April 2009, (c) Jaime Lyerly

Untitled, 1, April 2009 - Detail 1, (c) Jaime Lyerly

Untitled, 2, April 2009 (c) Jaime Lyerly

Untitled, 2, April 2009, detail (c) Jaime Lyerly

Your Turn: Are any of these pieces working for you? What can be changed? Do you work with mixed media? How do you struggle with the endless choices available and how to make the transition from one material to another? I would love to hear what you think!

Update on Mural Painting at 8teen

Update: May 10th painting session has been canceled due to illness.

The mural painting will continue on Friday, May 15 from 9 am to 3 pm.
Email on Friday to see if work will need to be continued on Saturday.
Clear coat will be put on Sunday at 11 am.

Please see message below for all the details. Thanks to those who have already come out to help! Cythnia says that they are "having a blast!" Please join us!

Original message:

Want a way to help your community while doing something fun? Come help the Women's Caucus for Art, San Diego (WCA/SD) paint a mural this weekend!

At the 8Teen Art and Cultural Center, the Women's Caucus for Art group and volunteers will be painting a large mural on the wall outside of the building. The group will be lead by WCA/SD V.P. Cynthia Gott, M.F.A., who is also painting instructor at Southwestern College.

We need your help!

Here are the details:

Who:
You, the Women's Caucus for Art, Art students and community members

When:
Friday, May 8, 2009 from 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
Saturday, May 9, 2009 from 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday, (Mother's Day - Bring your Mom Day!) May 10, 2009 from 1 pm - 5 pm - CANCELED DUE TO ILLNESS

Added dates:
Friday, May 15, 2009 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Saturday, May 16, 2009 - if needed, email for times
Sunday, May 17, 2009 - clear coat will be put on - 11 am

Come to any of the days for as long as you can. You don't need to be there the whole time.

Where:
8Teen Art and Cultural Center
North Park area
3925 Ohio Street, San Diego, CA 92104
Map and Directions

What to bring:
Medium and Large brushes
Please wear a hat, sunscreen and lots of water.

Questions? Please contact Cynthia Gott. Hope to see you there! ~ Jaime Lyerly

San Diego Community Mural Painting at 8Teen - Everyone Welcome!

Want a way to help your community while doing something fun? Come help the Women's Caucus for Art, San Diego (WCA/SD) paint a mural this weekend!

At the 8Teen Art and Cultural Center, the Women's Caucus for Art group and volunteers will be painting a large mural on the wall outside of the building. The group will be lead by WCA/SD V.P. Cynthia Gott, M.F.A., who is also painting instructor at Southwestern College.

We need your help!

Here are the details:

Who:
You, the Women's Caucus for Art, Art students and community members

When:
Friday, May 8, 2009 from 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
Saturday, May 9, 2009 from 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday, (Mother's Day - Bring your Mom Day!) May 10, 2009 from 1 pm - 5 pm
Come to any of the days for as long as you can. You don't need to be there the whole time.

Where:
8Teen Art and Cultural Center
North Park area
3925 Ohio Street, San Diego, CA 92104
Map and Directions

What to bring:
Medium and Large brushes, if you have them
Please wear a hat, sunscreen and lots of water.

Depending on how much of the mural gets done this weekend, it may be extended to next weekend. But don't miss out on this weekend's fun!

Questions? Please contact Cynthia Gott. Hope to see you there! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Beeswax / Encaustic Sculpture Pictures Coming Soon!

My enthusiasm about social networking has gotten me in trouble again!

I volunteered at the Women's Caucus for Art, San Diego board meeting to help get the WCA/SD blog and social networking into gear. This has been great so far. The blog has recent posts; we have groups on Facebook and LinkedIn; and even have a Twitter account for members to tweet as a group.

But what happened to my time? Oops, I neglected my own blog and social networking connections. I promised my twitter followers some pictures of my new 3-D beeswax / encaustic sculptures that I was wondering on last week. I even took pictures on Friday of them for posting over the weekend. Alas, I ran out of time and now it is Tuesday.

Update 7/15/09 - pictures are finally up on this blog post - Unique Beeswax / Encaustic Sculptures by Jaime Lyerly.

Until then, come connect with the Women's Caucus for Art. We would love to have some followers and interactions!

Happy art-making (and time management)! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Call for SD Artists - Alley Cat Juried Art Show

Image from Alley Cat Juried Art Show

Call for San Diego area Artists!

3rd Annual Alley Cat Juried Art Show
Sponsored by the Friends of East County Arts, Inc.

Entry Date: June 5th

Jurors are Vickie DeLong, Director of Bonita Museum and Richard Todd, Coordinator of Arts and Culture, City of Chula Vista. More about the Jurors.

Fees: $25 first entry, $10 for each additional entry

Show runs from July 17 - August 14, 2009 and the opening will in conjunction with the Alley Cat Summer Festival on July 17 - 18th.

Prizes will be awarded in different categories. See the Friends of East County Arts for more details and Prospectus.

Happy Art Making and Show Entering! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Selling Art Online

So I have only just begun to think about really selling my art online. I tried a few years ago to sell on eBay, but mostly it was just stuff and not art.

As I look to this new bright future with my art going out into the world, I am overwhelmed by the choices available.

Here is a quick list of free or pay per sale places that I have come up with:

Etsy
Foundmyself
eBay
ArtFire
Deviant Art
Imagekind

Then there are also the pay to be a member ones:

Boundless Gallery
ArtSpan


And there are the ones where they make your art into stuff that people buy like T-shirts and coffee mugs:

Cafe Press

I am sure that there are a million more of each of these categories. This list does not even include when you sell art from your own website or Google shopping cart. So many choices!

Your Turn: Help me sort these out! Any suggestions on which one of these is worthy of my time to turn my art viewers into art buyers? I am also looking for art exposure more than quick sales if that makes a difference on which one to choose. Share your knowledge!

Overwhelmed by choices - but still Creatively yours ~ Jaime Lyerly