Rufus!

This morning is March 20, 2008, Thursday. The day after I originally posted the latest round of Rufus drawings.
I had gotten up much earlier this morning, planning to write a brief synopsis of what stage the drawing process is in for my subject. What stage of creating I am in, as I get closer to committing to the painting that Rufus as subject, will ultimately become.
As a brief aside, one of a relevant few that may confirm potentially forming apprehensions that this is a morning, side-tracked.
Yet irresistibly, you must read on:
Last night, I was talking with another artist colleague. We were agreeing that posting artwork on the web is an intriguing visual experience: to look at our individual work in another medium.
Take these drawings of Rufus for example. I am noticing that the Prisma colors that make up the drawings look so velvety, all the more visually sensual when I stare at them on my computer monitor! I love looking them!

I also had planned to go to Seattle today, to check out the weather and other employment details of interest to me. Yet, thus far yes, I have let myself get sidetracked. Instead, I seem to be in Tibet, looking at wonderful people and their stories through their photography, as I found it on a "blog of note."
The idea to create a blog for a variety of Tibetan voices and views seems to be facilitated by a non-profit in NYC, called: Bread & Roses! Their goal for this and other photography projects around the globe as I understand, is to have the photos exhibited in a variety of venues in order to make the unseen, seen_ une idée naturellement qui est bonne! And because I have allowed myself a detour, I know this day has already been blessed.
I have cried recognizing the universality present in these images. That they are accompanied by very humble, articulate, and simultaneously noble personal stories enriches the viewing. I have learned these are life-stories in pictures and words, from a variety of Tibetan people currently in exile in Dharamsala, in Northern India.
Through this project, I have experienced an intimate glimpse into a way of being in the world: Tibetans who are of a spiritual history and culture, a human presence that embraces life in ways that are inspiring for me. Because of this detour, I am grateful to be a little bit better aware through their own words, their own images of a people I know I already love.
Yet, as an observer of other cultures this sounds very lame as I write it.
I have access to the Internet thereby experiencing the world at my fingers... but it isn't enough.
This recognition brings me back to my original intention for today, the reason for checking out Seattle in the first place: the job search.
My job search.
I am interested in connecting to meaningful work, where currently my own arduous transition, still seems to involve traversing no particularly dangerous mountain passes. Nonetheless, there are metaphoric and social mountains that do take their toll when one works vigilantly to find the good job. I won't quit until I find it, and even then, there will be countless opportunities to reinvest in it so that I continue to grow! My 'escape' to good work, is to connect to what I know at last I can be successful doing. To work in a setting I can stay with, will also help a lot.
I want to be effectively participative with the world, right along side many other employed people!
I have skills, a degree and I have a deep desire to work well and long. Now, where is my job and first right place of work in this world!?!
Pace and environment are my two criteria for success, oh, and the right money is also a factor. Wait, hang on! Hello? ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...!
That was my daughter! It's the morning break where she is training at her new job, and she called me! How cool is that?!
She is spending spring break training (and studying!) to work in a bike shop. Last summer she impressed two of the women working there, with all her enthusiasm for building her own bike so, they offered her a job!
We are actually a cool family. I am an artist who really wants a day job and has the skills and chops to back it up! My daughter is a music major at a very good school, and right now she wants to work on bikes!
It is this isolation, the helplessness one feels when one is unemployed that is a wasteful experience. Ok! I hear the voices saying the differences between successful people and those who wish to be successful... I am continuously doing stuff to keep my skills updated, knowing full well this is the kind of stuff that puts more polish on the rés...

Meanwhile the morning's adventures have also included another light-hearted stop here to visit cowgirls with dogs, both of whom I would like to know and know better! Oop! Time to get back to the drawings and painting then.

How's your day startin' out?

This just in...

I believe life happens the way it is supposed to, as horrible in many situations as that may be unfolding for any human being, myself included. Never-the-less, this bit of wisdom has arrived in my email box today, I believe to keep me going right now. Maybe it holds wisdom appropriate for you on your path today as well: ‘Social evolution is the result of interaction between two wholly distinct factors: the individual… bearing all the power of initiative and origination in their own hands; and, second, the social environment, with its power of adopting or rejecting both the individual and their gifts. Both factors are essential to change. The community stagnates without the impulse of the individual. The impulse dies away without the sympathy of the community.’ - paraphrased from, William James (1842-1910)

We are all connected. For society to evolve, its individuals must evolve. In order for individuals to evolve, we must be supported by society. Our growth goes hand in hand. When you look at how certain trends arise, you can find some examples of just how this works. Yoga has been around for centuries, yet just recently here in the west, it has become something of a phenomenon! It seems like there are yoga studios popping up everywhere. Likewise as more individuals become vegetarians, perhaps we’ll have more vegetarian and really healthy foods restaurants to choose from. The relationship between the individual and society can create remarkable evolution!


The key of course, for those who do not know, is to take wisdom metaphorically to your own circumstances, not literally! May you recognize wisdom (in you) on your path today.

Health Insurance for Artists

In this blog I journal as a painting artist, a self-identified women-artists-centered researcher and curator. This latter identification is the result of historic community and West Coast regional volunteering and working with various art exhibitions and project crews on an assortment of art projects. It also represents my return to the university in 2003, to earn my bachelor's degree. As it turned out, to be in Liberal Studies based on my four years research principally focused on, French women artists' and their careers leading to, and occurring in the modern era of painting.

From: Marie Louise Elizabeth Vigée Le Brun


to Rosa Bonheur


to Berthe Morisot


to Eva Gonzales


and to Paula Modersohn-Becker,


(the only other-than-French female painter).


The second reason for this post, is that I received an announcement concerning progress of a little known artists' advocacy organization in New York City. Fractured Atlas provides resources for artists across the country!). Their announcement is affordable health insurance for artists! Without further ado, take a look at this, (& check out the resource links under "Artists Career Development Resources" on the blog, for more on SmARTist Telesummit; where all of this resource linking started):

FRACTURED ATLAS OFFERS AFFORDABLE AETNA ADVANTAGE PLANS FOR ARTISTS

FRACTURED ATLAS MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN
29 STATES AND WASHINGTON, DC ARE ELIGIBLE TO ENROLL
IN AETNA’S VARIETY OF AFFORDABLE HEALTH PLANS

NEW YORK, NY – March 3, 2008 – Fractured Atlas, a nonprofit organization that serves a national community of artists and arts organizations, announced today that Aetna Advantage Plans are now available to its members in 29 states and Washington, DC.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor and research conducted by Fractured Atlas, there are roughly 300,000 uninsured artists in the United States. Aetna Advantage Plans provide three PPO plans available to more than 50,000 members of the Fractured Atlas Open Arts Network.

Fractured Atlas knows of no other national organization offering this type of comprehensive health coverage with criteria for membership based on self-identifying as an artist. Aetna Advantage Plans are now available to Fractured Atlas members who qualify for coverage.

"We know individuals who purchase health insurance on their own have a variety of life circumstances that create a wide range of needs and preferences, and the members of Fractured Atlas are no exception," said Frank McCauley, head of Aetna's Consumer Business Segment. "The plans and services we are offering to Fractured Atlas should address their unique needs and provide their members and their families with high-quality, affordable health insurance coverage."

Fractured Atlas' founder, Adam Forest Huttler, has been researching quality, affordable coverage that could be made available on a national or near-national basis for nearly seven years.

Fractured Atlas has been the leading provider of affordable health insurance to artists in NY State since 2001, but finding appropriate options outside of NY has been nearly impossible. "Several times a year for the past seven years we've contacted all the major insurance companies and tried to negotiate something," said founder, Adam Forest Huttler. "Aetna has always been our first choice carrier because of their stellar reputation, especially for customer service and dependability. Already, we've had as easy and pleasant an experience with them as we've had with any other insurer we've worked with."

"Artists are poorly served by our employment-based health insurance system," said James Brown, Director of Health Services for The Actors Fund. "High levels of self-employment, project-based and episodic work patterns, and relatively low wages result in a disproportionately large number of uninsured and underinsured artists."

Fractured Atlas is providing affordable, comprehensive coverage with slight variations from state to state. Previously, the only available coverage through Fractured Atlas was a limited plan that provided discounts on medical bills and partial reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses.

Fractured Atlas offers three of Aetna's Individual Advantage Plans. Two are HSA- (tax-advantaged health savings account) compatible. These two plans have average deductibles of $3,000 and $5,000, respectively. They also feature access to preventive care on a co pay basis before the deductible has been met, with no waiting periods. The third option has a $2,500 deductible and is not HSA-compatible, but features preventive care, primary care office visits and specialist visits subject to co pay before the deductible has been met. The lifetime maximum per insured is $5 million for all plans (unless state variations apply). Fractured Atlas is also offering Aetna's Dental PPO plan as a rider to the health plan. Information on Aetna Advantage Plans along with enrollment materials is available at www.fracturedatlas.org/healthcare.

The plans are medically underwritten and rates will vary. The plans are now available in the following states:
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, KS, LA, MD, MI, MS, MO, NC, NE, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WY and Washington, DC.

About Fractured Atlas
Fractured Atlas is a nonprofit organization that serves a national community of artists and arts organizations. Our programs and services facilitate the creation of art by offering vital support to the artists who produce it. We help artists and arts organizations function more effectively as businesses by providing access to funding, health care, education and more, all in a context that honors their individuality and independent spirit. By nurturing today's talented but underrepresented voices, we hope to foster a dynamic and diverse cultural landscape of tomorrow. For information on membership, visit www.fracturedatlas.org

About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.7 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, government-sponsored plans and expatriates. www.aetna.com

Water-Rufus development

I consider this portrait nearly complete, even though the water in the upper left background is still not very satisfying. It is the one area that does not consistently move in the same way with the rest of the image when the eye comes to it. Given the composition, that experience is very important.
I will continue developing harmony in movement, and visual media-control until these elements take on continuity/ resolution. Then, I believe it will be a more finished-looking portrait-study.
Once that is accomplished, I move on to the next colour study: looking at the effects of light as it visually defines the coat texture of this big beautiful Labrador named, Rufus!
What continues to be obvious in my experiences drawing this lab, are physical features not quite true to Rufus' own character appearance yet. Therefore, the colour-study series is continuously folding in lots of information, familiarity, and strength as development material that I will ultimately use for a successful painting of his portrait.
On this note, I am grateful to my current client for the time this journey is allowing me. It is a re-entry to painting after a number of years being available full-time for my daughter's growing up years during her high school experiences. Nothing traumatic beyond her just needing me to be full-time present and hands on, with her.
As the timing in life is more open for me now, I am coming back to my own true medium. I have the great fortune to be working on a portrait of loyalty, comfort, and constant companionship. I am very grateful for the facilitation within the subject matter here, as my own life traverses the literal tumult of transition on all personal and professional fronts.