This is the final spurt...the last few days to present the work that I have worked 15 months on. The response has been good, and I am looking forward to seeing those people who are still sitting on the fence. Trust your gut feeling, and if that says "I would really enjoy seeing this image on a daily basis, it would calm/stimulate/amuse/inspire/cause me to reflect, (well, fill in the blank)....then we can make it possible.
The weather in Bergen today is, how to say this in a positive way....nope......miserable. Raining cats and dogs and the wind will probably blow me 30% off course on my walk to the Gallery today. Better put on the whole nord-easter gear. My children (grown now) used to look like little moon men when they went to the play-park in this kind of weather, and they stayed dry no matter what, so I'll try to remember how I did that. Have a great day everyone.

Friday already...wondering how today will develop. I have been rewarded with some movement of paintings, and am sure that as the month progresses, those who are on the fence will be back to claim a piece for themselves. Brochures are flying out the door faster than I can make them, and I have used a fortune on printer ink and glossy 180 gm. professional paper...but they are nice!! Love my Mac and iWorks.....Gotta get myself into the Gallery in an hour, and have yet to do the most basic preparations (clothes??, food, reading material??) My wish is that the people of Bergen would trust their own instincts more and not think that because I have priced my work on the lower end of the "original art work" scale, there must be something to be leary of. I did it because I WANT those who want my work to be able to afford it, and for me to be able to replenish my dwindling canvas stock and get some new stretchers-and my landlord (for the studio) has just increased the rent alittle.....it's not cheap to make art, but I'm doing my bit to make it affordable.

One week in to the exhibit, and I must say that I have never had such a good response to an collection of new paintings before. The enthusiasm is so encouraging/confirming what my gut feeling was when I hung it up. So the fact is that I am still waiting for the first person to commit to buying a piece. Can't be the work, because never have I had an exhibit before that was so well received. Some are not trusting their own judgement, and must go and bring back a husband/wife/friend, to confirm what they already know....they want their favorite piece (or to, or three)....I know that times are tough, so I'm patient, knowing that the pieces are so good that it's like anything else that you see that makes a deep impression on you....you won't rest until you have it. I am looking forward to the next week or two, cause that is when the action will start happening..........

What a good day! You think that you'll NEVER be ready, but, that's all in your head. I was more than ready when the first guests showed up at my gallery door today, and it was so pleasurable, that I can't wait to do it all over again tomorrow. Good weather, lots of friends and family, and even a nice mix of total strangers who were ever so positively liking the work. I'll have to make more brochures, cause they disappeared fast.. The cookies went like hotcakes, too. My feet hurt from standing so long, but it's a small price to pay for the fun of putting your work out to a appreciative audience. Thanks everyone for giving me such a nice day.

August Expectations

Again, I'm surprised that it's only a few days until I present the last year's work to friends, family, and anyone who wanders into my gallery, Lille Atelier, Lille Øvregaten 16, in beautiful Bergen. After 3 great weeks in the U.S., I returned to face squarely the fact that I had tons of work to do before I could present my work in a manner that would make me proud. Invitations to make and deliver, posters, folders, emails, blog update, opening wine to buy and I have decided to make chocolate chip cookies and mini brownies to have with the rosè wine.....the list is still not complete. I have taken a breather day today, but tomorrow it's back to the list,..... check/check/check....I am not exactly nervous, but that will come on Friday nite/Saturday morning. It'a funny, but even though I have done this a dozen times before, I keep surprising myself by the small things that I forget-until the last minute. Last year a tourist to Bergen, by way of a cruise ship, wanted 2 paintings, but needed to have them dismantled, packed and ready to go on an hour's notice. I need to be ready for that again.... I will be ready and it will be fun. If you're in the neighborhood, please drop in!! Wish me luck!

Well, it's July 1st and the sun is shining here in lovely Bergen. We are not having to deal with heat waves and humidity...just cool temperatures and a little less sun than we would like. No complaints, though, cause the midnight sun effect is, and will be, in place for another couple of months. Today there is another huge yacht moored off our "front yard". It is a wealthy tourist from New Zealand !! I guess that the fjords of Norway just keep attracting the rest of the world to come for a visit. This morning the helicopter landed on the back deck, with the owner onboard. Now they can plan their cruise up to the north cape-or beyond.

I feel as though the summer is getting away from me, cause it is still cool and we haven't really done anything resembling "vacation" activities yet. Heading for the USA on Monday, though, and I guess I can start to prepare myself for some heat. (Probably complain about that too!) Just wishing to see the family and friends, and get some tan.

The painting is coming along, I keep telling myself. The last paintings have been a struggle, and I am always (ALWAYS) wondering if they are worthy to be presented as finished visions. I look around the net and at other works at galleries and museums, and don't find anything that I can say that my work resembles, and I don't know if that's a good thing, or a bad thing. Something to be said for originality, I guess, but at the same time, don't know if they're increasing in qualities that I am striving for. The only solution I can see is to continue plowing on. Will be photographing the group that I will be using for the August exhibit tomorrow, so I will put one or two on this site. Got to go for now, but I'll return with more updates as I work on putting my exhibit package together. Love and peace.

SUMMER???!!!!

What am I thinking....I realize that having a blog obliges some information from the BLOGGER! My blog has been so neglected, but if you're really wondering what is going on with me, this is a better place to look than FB....that is just the short version of a blog...not even that. It is so superficial that I am beginning to wonder.....I know that it is a great place to connect, but after the connection, isn't it better to have a place that a person can vent/inform/muse in a lengthier way, getting into the real issues that interest us? Like lately, I have been investigating ALOT of web sites concerning health, mainly the fats/cholesterol/carb myths that have lead us down the path to sickness. Now, there are ALOT of environmental issues, gene issues, etc. that come into play when we talk about a healthy body, but I also understand that after decades of the American Medical Association (Heart Association) denouncing natural fats, meat and dairy, it is tough for them to admit that they got it DEAD wrong. Look at our society as a whole. Look at the size of our teenagers and children-not to mention the adults. The fat-free, more carbs pattern of living has given us one of the most unhealthy populations in the world, not to mention one of the sickest industrialized food systems imaginable. After having stumbled onto a good no/low carb website here in Norway, I became intrigued...then obsessed with different countries (Sweden, Australia, Great Britian, Canada, US) research on how to get into the most healthful state possible. I am now 6 kg. (15 lbs.) lighter, haven't suffered hunger one minute, eaten all the things I have been told will kill me for a couple of months now, and scanned the web for everything I can find on why the myth persists that fats make you fat. I can't go into it here, but do the same thing yourself and you will maybe find a way off the hamster wheel of food/medication/guilt/exercise hysteria...

I am painting, in case anyone thinks I couldn't possibly have time to do that while immersing myself into this other area. Been in Aarhus, Denmark to visit Aros, the museum there full of wonderful Danish painters, especially Per Kirkby. My August exhibit will be hard to arrange, cause I have so much to choose from, and so little space to show in...have to look for a larger venue next year (or the remainder of this year). Take care...keep in touch-pray for sun!