I've had the pleasure to be around and talk with other artists lately. Online, email , and at shows, doesn't matter the venue, or medium they use, the stories are so similar! So I thought I would share a few tid bits on us, as artists, and what we are thinking.

These are a few guidelines to follow when you want to order a commission:

1. We can't read minds. What an artist envisions in their mind will be totally different than what you are envisioning. The piece will NEVER turn out exactly the way you want it or pictured it.

2. Smaller is not cheaper. One thing that needs to be realized is that your asking the artist to put all the same detail into a smaller work space. It most likely will take longer to create.

3. Haggling is awkward. Art is a luxury item. Either you love it enough to spend the money or you don't purchase it.

​4. Nit picking is not an option. Find an artist you believe in and embrace their art. Don't ask to have areas changed within the work. A change of color, or a blade of grass that you think needs to be added.

5. Artists don't like to be rushed. Thinking that your piece can be pulled out of a hidden orfice is a mistake. Order your commission with plenty of time to spare. You might think 3 weeks for an 8x10 painting is ample enough time. The artist might have 10 commissions, 3 shows, and a life, ahead of what you want done.

6. Never back out of a commission. If your not prepared for the price, or possible variation between what you picture and what they may create, do not place the order.

So there it is. I know now your saying, "well la de dah, heavens forbid if we do something wrong to an artist!" I'm just putting it out there so that you may know what an artist is thinking, and avoid any disappointment on your end about your expectations. People do not realize the amount of time it takes to create something. It's not cookie cuttered out of a factory. It's not printed off a computer screen. Every stroke, every line, every detail is done manually. Art takes time, MUCHO time, and time is precious.

Already I have followers wondering how my show went at the Rose Festival. It started out fabulous! Everything was smooth like silk! Got to the arena and had my choice of where to set up. Everyone was very accommodating, friendly and helpful. Drove the truck and trailer right through the zambonie entrance into the arena!

So cool!!
Set up went with only a few glitches. My manager dropped the peacock base and broke a toe off the peacock. Phew, only a minor problem. Easy fix. Everything looked awesome!!
Now to wait for the show to begin!...And now we wait for... and now we wait...we wait...wait...where's the crowds? where's the bands? where's the people?... Still waiting... Oh, now you tell me that everyone decided to go to the beach!!
That lack of a peacock toe, that I fretted for 2 hours about, was a waste of energy and worry. The 30 people that DRIFTED over to have a look pointed it out immediately!!! NOT!!!!
So now you say to yourself "ok, so there wasn't a good turn out, these things happen, that's not the worst of times!"
Here it is... Jump in the truck... Scrrrraaapppppe, crrrrrraaacckk. The head bag piper "colonel" had his car door open into my lane in the parking lot. The fender of the trailer caught the door and peeled it right back onto his front fender!
OMG!! Now I'm freaking and immediately my manager steps in and takes control. I cower behind him like a shy child in trouble. I'm thinking this is all my fault. The crowd of bag pipers start to pressure me for insurance information! My manager, Dan, says "wait, this is not her fault! His door is opened onto her lane. You are responsible for that door in a parking lot." The bag pipers then backed off and realized that there was no case to be made. I jumped into the truck, and took off before I got mobbed by the only people that showed at the arena!
DAN YOU SAVED MY DAY!!!
​

For those of you that don't know... DAUNTLESS the driftwood horse bust, with sea treasures, has been nominated for the INNOVATION award at the ETA awards in Toronto in October. He had a great time meeting all of you at the Seaway mall, but has decided to opt out of the Rose Festival Drum Off, at the Welland arena, this Sunday. BLAZED BELL, his close look alike, will be attending in his place!
She hopes to see all of you there! 2pm to 6pm.

photo by: http://chrisliszak.wix.com/cliszakphotography

Apparently I've hired on a new staff member, Tour Guide. It's becoming about a once a week occurrence around my house lately, people knocking on the door or catching us outside, and asking for a tour of SCULPTURE LAND. My husband has really taken up the new position with pride. Showing the tourists my pieces, keeping them up to date with my shows, even cracking jokes! What do you pay a FREE tour guide that's your husband???? Blah haha gutter!

Can't believe I initially fell for this brain teaser! So how do they have babies, you ask? A peacock is a male bird!!! Blah ha ha.
Speaking of peacocks... EGYPT my newest sculpture is now in it's final stage of completion. Just a few details to be sorted out (like my 200 feathers haven't arrived that I've ordered), but I have a back up plan, so I'm 98% sure I will have him on display at the Welland arena this Sunday, June 26th, for the drum off, after party, of the Rose Parade.
The only people to witness his first reveal, will be those who attend the arena party. If your not there you'll have to wait to see!

Ive learned a lot about people since I started DRIFTING through this new adventure... You get to know who forms your support structure!
I have a lot of really great people who have steadily stayed strong by my side...sharing my posts so that I may get as much exposure as possible. There are too many people to mention, but I truly noticed every little gesture!
However, a few shout outs to some peeps that have gone above and beyond for me...
First of all my husband... Truly my biggest fan and support system❤️
2nd and in no particular order after the first: My manager, Dan. He's stayed strong and loyal, truly my rock. My friend, Chris. He has given me oodles of his time, photo shoots, and has loyally helped at every turn (check out his work at: http://chrisliszak.wix.com/cliszakphotography or scan my website for his watermarks). My friend Chad, the Albino Rhino, who has faithfully promoted me on his successful YouTube channel! Check it out here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/albnorhyno?feature=em-subs_digest
Thanks so much!!!❤️❤️
It's truly a long and hard road without a little help from your friends! Thank you from the bottom of my heart and you know who you are!

Guilded Ticket and my husband, Dave, at the beginning of this adventure. Who would have thought it would have taken me here!

You do the dishes and I'll use the tools!!

So a normal gift to your wife would be something along the lines of flowers. But my husband buys me tools! Such a thoughtful gift today, he bought me a dremil attachment kit.

I thought i would take a minute to explain, in my opinion, why I think the dremil is the most dangerous tool for a woman to use. Not a saw, not a grinder. Nothing that will take your finger off. This little "looking so not dangerous" tool is my most respected tool! A dremil, for those of you that don't know...is a spinning rotary type sander, grinder, etc. Women would see a smaller version used on their nails at the beauty parlor. If this little innocent tool catches just one long hair on your head, you could lose your whole scalp!!! When I use this tool I tie my hair back AND wear a hat!

I caught one fuzzy strand of an ostrich feather when I was detailing the seahorse, off came the entire plumage, 7 large feathers within a 100th of a second!!!

I've waited a long time for this to happen...I have finally got some residents. My driftwood horse's head is now the home for some little feathery cuties. I noticed some straws hanging out the eye a bit ago. I looked inside the eye and the entire head of the horse is stuffed with grass, straw and string. So comfy and warm. In and out, in and out, the bird's have been working hard! Now to wait for the little ones to come.
Of course I would never let this happen to any other pieces, but GUILDED TICKET is a permanent fixture on my lawn, and will never be sold. I am so pleased to share him with nature!

While sitting on the front porch, in my PJ's, looking like Alice Cooper, due to my lack of makeup removal the night before, I watched my husband tinker in the driveway with the car. I chuckle as a great big fire truck with all the ladders, drives by the house a couple of times, circling around our crescent. Suddenly stopping in front of our house.
One hot uniformed fireman gets out of the truck, 2 hot uniformed firemen get out of the truck, 3 hot firem... OMG!! Run for the door!
As I safely make it into the house, without being caught looking like a tossed up mess, I head straight to the front window. Why have they stopped? Just how many hot guys are there? What's going on? I start to worry about the front yard being loaded with flammable wood sculptures and my heart begins to pump through the roof. I'm breaking some kind of fire code!!
I hear my husband in the garage with the men, then in the back yard! Oh what could they possibly want?... A TOUR OF SCULPTURE LAND!!!!

photo by: http://chrisliszak.wix.com/cliszakphotography