I am constantly bombarded by posts, tweets, phone calls and texts that I find it hard to concentrate.  I am going to start turning off the sound to my phone when I get home and start doing at least one hour of art every day.  Now that doesn't mean I will be actually doing art but as long as it is related then it's okay.  For example...my studio room desperately needs cleaned and decluttered.  I have become a hoarder and it is time to let things go or better yet use that stuff to create something...wow what a novel idea!  Here's a pic of my room:

One of my favorite books is "Art & Fear" by David Bayle and Ted Orland.  I keep a copy in my nightstand and read it when I'm second-guessing myself in regards to my art.  I highly recommend it for all artists.  It is a small book and quick read.  Here is a quote from the book:

"The difference between art and craft lies not in the tools you hold in your hands, but in the mental set that guides them.  For the artisan, craft is an end in itself.  For you, the artist, craft is the vehicle for expressing your vision.  Craft is the visible edge of art."

Every artist should have this book.  It is really inexpensive (less than $10 on Amazon).  BUY IT!

For my first post to my first blog...let's talk about our very first show coming up in July.  This won't be the first time we have displayed as a group (did that last year at the Ashland Fall Festival) but it will be the first time we have done it as a juried show with the public invited to participate.  We don't have a lot of details yet other than the theme, which is "Bridges of Boone County".  We are celebrating all the old bridges located in the Boone County area and are asking that the submitted works be on this subject.  Here are some pictures I took last week to get you started: