Painting the $100-dollar Mural

The Dream of Painting more Murals

2010-11-23T10:57:00.000-08:00

At my recent art opening, a new acquaintance, after looking at my art for the first time, asked if I have ever painted a mural.
I told her that I would love to paint more murals, and then went digging in my photos archives to locate this one image (below) of a mural painted some years ago.
Though it is not the only mural I have painted, it is an example of mural painting opportunities of which I would like many, many more!

Modest Needs, can you help?

2010-07-14T21:25:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of Modest Needs?

Even though the link I have provided takes you straight to my particular grant request, you can go to the homepage to check out the whole Modest Needs story from the "Start Here" section on the menu bar, or really, from the top of any page_ including mine.

My own grant request is modest, as I transition back into new employment, after a recession lay-off 10 months ago. Your donation, of any size to my request, will be ever so appreciated! Just click on the link below and thank-you, very much!!

Application 159557: New Job - Rent Help - Modest Needs®

*Be sure to pass this information on to those you know who may need the kind of help available through a Modest Needs grant!!

Daily Digital Collage- 4

2010-03-20T20:26:00.001-07:00

I love the sense of being surrounded by imagery that feeds the soul positively. Inspiring! *Enjoy today's collage ideas, & consider having a muralette of your own design painted in a day!

Daily Digital Collage- 3!

2010-03-20T20:22:00.000-07:00

The Daily Digital Collage, from my "Positive Images" series: "Life's Adventures."
Tell me what kind of muralette you would love to have painted on your wall!

Daily Digital Collage- 2

2010-03-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

"Hunger"

Each day, I am creating digital collages from my "Positive Images" Series, to promote one of my creative businesses; muralettes!
I can paint a small mural in your special place for $100 in the course of one day.

Contact me! Let's talk about your idea and then collaborate! From that brief conversation I will create an original design that commemorates a moment in your life you want to 'captcha foreva!'

Daily Digital Collage

2010-03-17T13:50:00.001-07:00

" Life! Bohemian-Refined"

I am posting daily collages that I am creating in Photoshop, to spark ideas for Muralette projects! Spring is here! If you see anything that peaks your attention leave a comment!! Let's talk muralettes together!

End of the Year- Claiming the Top of the Mountain Again!

2009-12-13T13:25:00.000-08:00

Ok, now it's December! If I could only truly share what this year has really been like!

Of course the recession has had a little to do with getting on my feet; only a little really!

New posts!

2009-01-13T21:28:00.000-08:00

I have not been very present to this blog as I slowly get my life back on track, after battling with homelessness for two months this past summer.
For now, I would like that briefly ill-fated experience to reflect back on my family-of-origin. I ought not to have gone through such extreme living but for ignorance as a choice on that branch of the family tree. Having openly released as much, I invite all readers to not discount the words or my experiences however briefly written about in this post. Not all details are posted and I am not blaming them. I just did not have to go through what I went through, and I want that truth to reflect back on them as not being there for me when I needed help and asked them for it. When I needed reasonable help and asked for that three years ago, in order to avoid this kind of situation as I transition from full-time, single-parenthood back into the job market.

Consequently, I am re-doubling my focus on meaningful, creative work resources such as this $100-Mural business-project. In independent resolve, I refresh my connection with this blog_ I am still here! Anyone with a wall needing fresh, healthy ideas painted out, can leave a contact comment for that work to be arranged here and I will get right back with you.

Thanks in advance for your support from this working artist!

The Ginger Path Back

2008-08-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

I seem to be making steps back from the abyss of homelessness; a hard lesson in beginning to own other neglected facets of my own personal power. I am not quite 100% back on my feet, yet simultaneously amazing acts of kindness and generosity keep showing up each time I renew my commitment to this developing stage of conscious attention to my own life. This has included a stay in the rural-side to doggy-sit my commission portrait subject, "Rufus." Yes, I have painted and made more progress on his portrait! I will upload photos of this stage in the painting when I can get a camera to do so. Meanwhile you can visit my main art blog here.

I will add that my life is ready to face my needs for engaged, meaningful, healthy friendships, and indeed online, this past year has seen some of that develop. I have traveled a long way on my own for way long enough now. Some of this history reflects flat-out wrong choices I made in earnestness and naïveté. I can say that I am more than ready to change this now. Stay tuned. Make contact. Do let me hear from you, won't you?

Homelessness

2008-07-24T13:38:00.000-07:00

I post for the time being as I venture into unchosen, unwarranted, circumstantial homelessness today, an essay on my own homelessness.
Many voices are sending their words of love and support to me. If you have such words, please post them here.
There is also room for other responses, especially to solution-find with me. Understand that within reasonable measure of my own endeavors along with your support, my conditions in this state will not persist for very long at all!

I will close by leaving a copy of a posting I submitted concerning my own impending homelessness to the local craigslist. It is confounding to me to realize what is happening in my life as the artist in America in the 21st Century. Arriving at this moment, I can see that in my future creative work, a book and a painting series will come out of what I've learned so far. For the sake of America's well being, invest your spirit and faith in what this country stands for in all her ideal by considering in your own communities, the pro-active ways you support the artists' fiscal access to an income much the way a plumber and electrician are enabled to support themselves:

My craigslist post of July 22, 2008:

A Call For Social Justice

Date: 2008-07-22, 4:28PM PDT

I am a fifty-three year old woman who has very recently completed 20 years of full time, single parenting_ yet not parenting itself, as one can never "complete" parenting. During that twenty years, I earned my undergrad degree and home-schooled my child. I built my foundation as a producing, exhibiting bartering/selling artist, while I negotiated all levels of cultural exposure, choices and access for my child through on-going activities and travel that has only added to the quality of experiences with which my child has grown up. I am skills-rich where work is concerned, and I have done more years of therapy, self-examination and spiritual enlightenment discipline, than many people my age it seems. In a nutshell, my child now a young adult, is doing quite well at a very good college with lots of scholarships. Likewise, I have finally been freed up to rejoin the world of healthy social connection and most importantly to work long and well! I relish this part of my path, except the on-going threat of homelessness that shadows my every step right now.
After many months of struggle pertinent to me, I have at last found wonderful employment. Yet, the benevolence of one who has housed me in my efforts to transition from a small town to the "bigger city" where more employment choices abound, has run its reasonable course. I must leave this coming week-end: 7/25/08.
I have titled my plea for reasonably supportive access, "A Call For Social Justice," because this seems to be all too common a scenario out here: women who have sacrificed willingly for the well-being of family to be faced with an uncaring society in large measure. This is simply a reality-based recognition. I understand the system very well, having made myself unfit for it by virtue of its challenges that a recipient better one's life. My own background of understanding, isolation and lack of traditional forms of support coming into this nature of experiences so many years ago, also plays a role. In effect, I am truly as unique as anyone in this world.
In greater advocacy for the well-being of our collective humanity, I do call on the greater community to cognizant(ly) recognize the wealth that is here in this society among everyone who is working, earning benefits, and able to care for a family. There are those among you all, who have gone without all those traditional mechanisms of support, courageously, ingeniously, persistently providing for self and family against all the odds, that have in other ways evolved by forced choice, yet have made it heroically nonetheless, most of the way to responsible social participation. I personally have done this in ways from which even the most materially successful, can learn. Creative business people take note. I embody those ways that can inform solution-building processes that do not have to leave human lives on the street with no place safe to live.
At this juncture, at this moment, I need your help to get into my own place to live in order to complete my return to responsible social participation. I may even have help for your own enlightenment on compassion, beginning with your own self. Simply. Not judgmentally_ that informs how others can also find solution for homelessness, for reasonable social access, education, and in natural health resources. Portland, you are not as enlightened or as organized or as motivated as you market yourself in the media. Please hear my in-earnest plea, for reasonably accessible support, to get on with my own successes for self and my child. Let us open a door together on possibility that can only result in what is always bigger than what any one of us can ever accomplish alone. My position of resource-lessness at this moment in my life, is truly only in-part, a reflection of my individual choice-making. Will you meet me in this opportunity where I am right now? To step into solution-building with me is to learn what is possible together for (your) own self and many more!
I am hopeful for this city and our country. I hope you will respond to my call for social justice, as compassionately as you know how. I am yearning for this in earnest.

I know that people generally treat this reality as if it were a comunicable disease that one must distance themself from in order not to "catch" it. It is precisely that response that renders us each vulnerable to these life phenomena that can change everything in an instant for anyone. By running away versus sitting with someone in the dilemma life can sometimes "offer," we each miss great opportunity to strengthen coping muscles important in order to show up well when life comes calling! Contact me, ask me about this experience. You may be of help just by listening; just by inquiring. We can learn from each other what the solution-finding path can look like. Running away, keeps opportunities to grow that can be disguised as problems, means no coping muscles. Sometimes it just takes a village. How do you want to live?

Namasté

Look over my new blog. A call card for a more streamlines manner to be employed and meet regular folk's incomes where they may be.

First Muralette Project Underway!

2008-07-15T00:52:00.001-07:00

Launching a New Creative Project

2008-07-02T00:13:00.000-07:00

It is late as I get this "baby" launched so, here is the basic idea: I will paint custom created murals for your home, work environment, vacation home, club-house, etc. Your custom muralette is painted in acrylic (so it is completely washable!) directly onto existing wall surfaces with no prior treatment. Most any image idea that is say, 33" x 13" in size, or any configuration that occupies the 429 sq." area those dimensions would cover. So, the image can be pre-chosen, or an original image from a sketch of yours or a photograph that can be simply executed from start to finish in a four-hour, time-frame. Ah ha! This challenges you to be as specific as you can about your mural idea. Don't worry I can help_ let it be an image that commemorates a special moment in family life, a special accomplishment in sports, work, etc., an anniversary, or just pictures of the kids after they are gone, your favorite pets, car, heck this is Portland: a favorite bike, a special vacation, a dream, whatever you want it to be. Its a motif format.
Exceptions can always be made about sizes and time put in and so we will adjust the price accordingly. For example a prelim, full-color drawing, 9" x 11" would run an additional $250_ yours to keep of course! A 10" X 13 1/2" drawing would run $500 + the to be negotiated costs of your muralette. Again the prelim, black & white or full-color drawing is yours to keep, mat and frame!

Visually confirm the beauty in your life, one wall at a time by having it marked permanently as a meaningful muralette!
Send me some feedback about this idea and the blog start so far, will you? then, schedule me to paint your special muralette!

**Forever yours_ a life in the body, art & spirituality.