I remember to just go out and play.

When you try to sell your art, you sometimes lose sight of what attracted you to it in the first place. I find I've lost sight of the fun - I only pick up my camera if I'm either paid and/or requested to do so. It's for a specific purpose, and to please someone else. I mean, I enjoy the results of those endeavors, but when's the last time I made something just for myself? I decided to dust off my Lensbaby and head out to Blacklick Metro Park with Craig. While he did the rounds on his recumbent bike, I just played, my trusty Magic 8-ball providing additional muse and entertainment.

My First Gallery Hop!

Saturday night was my first time exhibiting at the Short North Gallery Hop. My friend MaryEllen, who owns a downtown business called Counter Culture, invited me to show my photography for the May Hop. I had no idea what to expect. Would people show up? Would I make any sales? What about networking opportunities? What should I display? Is it going to rain like this all day? I decided on about 10 framed images, a couple of bins with some older matted works and a small display about my event photography.

Photo courtesy of Scott Alan Greif

Well, the rain stopped, the people came out and I didn't sell much, but what a rush nonetheless! Some friends showed up, I talked to visitors about my art, talked shop with some fellow camera fiends and had the best damn hot chocolate ever. What's more, MaryEllen and her business partner Rob enjoyed the whole evening so much, they've decided to stay open for Gallery Hop throughout the summer - with me as their artist-in-residence-type person! Yeah!

On Percolating and Micromoving

So, this is my first blog entry. Hmmm. Now I feel pressure to make it especially darling and clever, but I'll resist and just stick to the facts, ma'am.

I'm creating this blog to document my creative journey, to remind myself of things I need to do, like breathing and making that phone call and writing about the way the rain smells when it falls on the pavement in the summertime.

I like SARK's theory of Micromovements: little teeny-weeny babysteps one takes in order to realize a creative dream. I've been micromoving ever since I decided I wanted to be a photographer, but I kept thinking I wasn't going fast enough, wasn't getting enough results. I've been so frustrated at times, forgetting about the plateau thing. You know, you're progressing and it's an exhilarating upward journey and suddenly, nothing seems to be happening at all. You've reached a plateau. It's important to recognize it and to understand it's importance. My friend Saira calls it 'percolating' - how the hell do you know what you're supposed to be doing if you don't stop to let it sink in a little, right?

Anyways, here I was instinctively micromoving and percolating from the get-go. As it turns out, taking a walk is working towards the dream, and so is going to the conservatory to photograph orchids, or staring at the wall thinking about business cards, or whining to my journal about how unfair it all is. Your mom and dad don't think this is going to help sell your art, but we have to trust the process.