Working the Web

I have been neglecting my blogging in order to work some other aspects of the web. I am trying to get an esty store up and running. I have been exploring the world of Pinterest. Researching the best way to get a website active has been on the to do list. But real world stuff keeps getting in the way, like earning money!

I conducted my first copper earring workshop this past weekend. It was fabulous! Everyone left with a pair of completed earrings, most wore their own hand-crafted earrings home. I was so happy with the results. Thanks to everyone who came and added to the experience. Looking forward to next month's project and more awesome results.

In my blog reading, one blogger mentioned PicMonkey as a cool photo editing service. So I played around with it. Here is the result. (not very exciting, is it?)

I took this picture with my camera phone. I did very little editing with PicMonkey just because I had already gotten a really tight pic. But can't wait to try again and utilize the really cool effects. As part of the editing process, you can upload your pic directly to social media. Since the only social media things I do is Pinterest, this pic got sent to my Pinterest account: bstreet studios. So if you are here as a result of my Pin, thanks for stopping by. If you are interested in purchasing the earrings pictured, below is the Buy it Now button. They are $30.00 with free shipping. The Buy It button will take you to PayPal. Please make sure your address is included in the comments section. I will email you when they are in the mail.

New Year, New Events

For the first post of 2013, I am announcing a string of events at which I will be participating. First up is FirstFridayArtTrail. The Llano Estacado Clay Guild will be represented at McPherson Cellars located at 1615 Texas Ave, Lubbock, Texas. It is at the corner of 17th and Texas. There will be many different artists and styles of art from clay to glass to jewelry to collage.

Friday, February 1, 2013

McPherson Cellars

1615 Texas Ave.

Lubbock, TX

6 pm - 9 pm

 

 

Event #2 My Copper Earring Workshop. That's right. I will be hosting a series of workshops this year at Multiplicity Gallery, Slaton, Texas. Each workshop will feature a different pair of hand-crafted copper earrings so each one is a stand alone class. You can pick and choose which workshop to attend and leave with a pair of artisan earrings. I will provide at the tools and materials necessary. You will provide the muscle. The first session is Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 2 pm. Please feel free to contact me via phone or email (bjbeller@hotmail.com) to sign up or call the Multiplicity Gallery. You can leave me a comment, too. Class is filling up fast, but I will always make room for you!

 

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Multiplicity Gallery

157 S. 9th

Slaton, Texas

2 pm

 

Stayed tuned for more events and activities!

Art Business

I can't believe I have not updated the blog since the big Studio Tour! Thanks to all of you who showed up in support of the event. I think this is one of the best local arts events. It is fun to tour the city, get a peek into people's homes and studio space. I am always amazed at how creative artists are to carve out some dedicated studio space in amongst their daily lives. I have a whole building I can stockpile supplies. And I just close the door when the mess gets to be too much and not invite anyone in. I guess that is the undisciplined part of my brain. I can walk away from the mess and deal with it another day. Some people are not as fortunate as I am in that regard.

For all of you who didn't make it out, here is a link to the Spotted pictures. I encourage you to click through them all...but here is a link for my pic...
http://spotted.lubbockonline.com/photos/index.php?id=3766258
and a link for a pic of my mom when she was able to escape to other venues...
http://spotted.lubbockonline.com/photos/index.php?id=3766493

 

 

This is the Save the Date section of my message

5th Friday in Slaton

November 30, 2012

Multiplicity Gallery

(just down from the Bakery)

157 S 9th Street

Slaton, Texas 79364

6 - 9 pm

I am working with the gallery owner, Carol, on getting some workshops and/or classes going for 2013. Stayed tuned for more details. So all you peeps who asked for it, now is the time to let me know what you want to learn! Let's work together to make some fun classes!

First Friday Art Trail

December 7, 2012

GlassyAlley

1940 Texas Ave.

Lubbock, TX

6 - 9 pm

This is the gallery I displayed at for the Studio Tour. Pauline invited me to stay for the month of December. I changed things up so it looks like a totally different display. There should be food, wine, and live music! I know we are going to pack the house out with totally awesome art so stop by to see something new!

DownTown Art Market

Saturday

December 8, 2012

Tornado Gallery

1840  Buddy Holley Ave.

Lubbock, Texas

9 am - 3 pm

I have not done DAM this whole year! I can't believe I have missed out. So I thought I would end the year with a comfortable old friend. This is an indoor/outdoor event and I reserve the right to chicken out if it is too cold or too windy. Wind being the bigger possibility this season.

I will be displaying in the Llano Estacado Clay Guild annual membership Show. It will be at the Lousie Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA) December 5 - 31. I think I will bring my Tuscan Poppies and maybe a few little other treats.

That was a lot to take in, but I had a lot of time to make up for.

36 hours...

until the doors open at GlassyAlley for Studio Tour!

My display is set and ready to go. I forgot my camera today so there is no preview peek at my space. But it looks really good and I am happy with the results. Now the space just needs to be filled with friends and family, new and old acquaintances. We will have food and wine and plenty of chat and laugh. I am looking to next year already and think I will not display again until June. So this may be the last time to see the jewelry and art of Barbra J. Beller for a long time.

Since there is no sneak of the completed space, here is a peek at my monsterpiece. This is just a 3"x5" look at a 30x40 canvas.

Tuscan Poppies 30x40

I have not touched a canvas is quite a while. In fact, I did a clean out of my new canvas stock and sold all the large (bigger than 16x20) canvases I had. I got tired of hauling framed paintings hither and yon to just drag them home again. So in a fit of frustration and trying to gain some focus, out went the canvases. But at times I just have a burning need to slap some paint on cloth or swirl my paintbrush through pigment. I found this oversized canvas that just needed to be rescued. I had a flash of inspiration when I saw it and could not get it home to the studio fast enough. When I bought it, the cashier kind of looked at me like I was crazy. I handed her my business card and told her to come see what the canvas looked like when I was done with it. She would not even recognize it. I don't even recognize it. So Linda, come see what craziness I did with the monster canvas!

Hope to see you at:

GlassyAlley

1940 Texas Ave.

Lubbock, Texas

Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm

Sunday, noon to 6 pm



Two days Left

Brag Wall

This has been a topic of conversation lately. I went on a tour of a spectacular house in Amarillo, Texas. There was a wall of pictures and accomplishments of the past home owner. The tour guide said that the home owner was a modest woman and did not do this wall. It was done by someone else "because you just cannot do your own brag wall". I personally didn't agree with that thought. Just think of any professional's office you have seen. There is a wall of diplomas or pictures with special (famous) people.

When I was a kid, my mother made a scrapbook that included all my "accomplishments" and awards. There is a picture of me from the local newspaper. My old report cards, music programs, and contest critiques are all there. It is a walk through my childhood when I look at it. But at some point, it just ends.

At a recent event, one of the vendors came by to show me a full page write up about her business in a magazine. I was so excited for her and her business. I told her she needed to display it in her booth. She said she was having a hard time with that because she didn't want people to think she was bragging. I told her I would brag for her and promptly went to her booth to make sure the article was properly displayed. Why go to all the trouble to work hard and then not accept the accolades when they come. I don't have a doctorate. I didn't finish my bachelors degree. But I did complete an associates degree in studio art. It is framed in my office. I was on the front page of the paper several years ago. That is hanging on my bulletin board. My mom may not keep a scrapbook of my accomplishments since I became an adult, but I am. It is just a grown up version.

In getting ready for the Local Color Studio Tour this weekend, there have been many advertisements for the event. In today's paper there was an ad, and my necklace was featured in the ad.  I received an email congratulating me on my jewelry being in the paper. I ran down the street to get my own copy.  It is going on my brag wall.

 So for all of you that missed it, here is the necklace that was featured in the Local Color Studio Tour adverstisement in Wednesday's Lubbock Avalance Journal.

Hump Day

Yesterday was a very successful day in the studio. Today the car will be packed and final decisions will be made.

There is no turning back now.

Enjoy your day!

4 Days and Counting...

I will be in the studio today but I feel the need to escape and run some errands, too. Preview first, work next, play later.

The top picture is of a resin piece I did. I used a large button as the bezel cup. The setting is made from recycled tin. I suspended it on a scarf. I wore this to test it out and got a lot of comments. The bottom piece is a small soldered window. The is an image on both sides.