Yet

 

If you've followed me for a while, you already know my wordsmithing passion. When it's time to decide my focus for the new year, I mull over many choices.  Usually one comes to the forefront during the mulling period and when this one did, it surprised me.  Yet is a small but powerful word.  It can be applied in many circumstances, positive and negative.  Who can forget the "Are we there yet" from the backseat of the car or in my case, out of my mouth in the car?  Merriam-Webster has two entries for yet.  It can be a conjunction substituting for but.  I remember those papers where teachers said that my verbiage was redundant.  I'm sure that at some point I substituted yet. Studying the dictionary, the far more interesting usage is as an adverb and that's how it spoke to me as I leaned in to what I want out of my 2021 life. Don't worry.  I am not going back to my roots to present an English usage review, but I was interested in how such a little word can change how you think about something.  In 2021 I am looking to yet as a door to possibility rather than a focus on the fact that something hasn't happened.  This way of framing may teach me some patience in my artful and personal life.  Yet will be a precipice of sorts in my head. Something out of current reach but not completely out of the realm of possibility.  I'm going to try that thinking on for 2021. It's a little word as I said, but little words can pack quite a mental punch either way.   I'll let you know how it goes.  I'd love to hear what your words are so please comment back any time. 

A hearty thank you to all of you who came to my online sale.  It was the most successful one since I started selling this way.  I loved sending art to other continents.  I still can't believe that happened.  My show I spoke about in the last entry has done well considering the lockdown situation here and I am happy that so many originals went to people not only in Missouri, but in other parts of the country.  I was so honored to be part of Green Door's Signs and Wonders exhibit. Check out their site to see the resident artists' works.  They are fabulous.

Today is the last day to get the December reduced rate for Creative Jumpstart.  It starts tomorrow.  Holy Moly. I've talked about it for a month but if you want to get in at the reduced rate,  click on that link.  It will blow your mind.  

Well, I must get ready for dinner and champagne.  I leave you with a hearty thank you for supporting me and enjoying my art, my poodles, my ramblings, etc.  I appreciate all of you.  

xoxo

Nancy

Catch up: Cyber Sale on Nancy Curry Art and StencilGirl

I really hadn't intended to wait almost another a year before writing, but the year slipped by with a couple of twists and turns that slowed down my well oiled machine.  The year started off great with the debut of my Merry Everything class at Checkered Cottage in February, an online alcohol ink project class for the Alcohol Ink Society Facebook group,  and the acceptance of three classes at Stampaway in May.  Oh, and I completed my second #100dayproject and this year the topic was achieving negative space in acrylic pours.  Yes, a targeted dalliance for sure, but I had great fun doing it on Yupo and other flat surfaces. 

Many of you know that I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in May.  That will stop anyone in their tracks, including me.  I am happy to say that my "Bird Brain" series of Citra collages came out of that dark time.  They were highly addictive and very distracting so while I was waiting for news, I had my birds to keep me calm.  I worked on them for about 10 weeks, almost all the way through radiation.  I treasure each one and the story it tells.  I am happy to say they go on sale on my Nancy Curry Art Fbk Page at 7pm tomorrow night, along with much other art. Instructions will be on the album as they were last year.  Prices will be 20% off of $35.00 for originals and $28.00 for prints. 

    Two    of    my   favorites          

In the midst of the summer, my daughter graduated with the highest GPA in her doctoral class.  It was a long journey for us to get there, but the doctors cooperated and let me skip a day of radiation.  Proud mama moment for sure.  She has relocated back here with her significant other and both are gainfully employed here in St. Louis as PTs.  Oh, and both are named Sam.  It's quite something when there heads both turn.  We celebrated by taking her to Australia after my radiation was over.  It was a lovely 12 days down under.  

The fall brought a little renewed vigor although I am still not entirely myself.  I was able to attend a fantastic weekend class at Ephemera Paducah given by Jacqueline Sullivan on Eco Printing.  I'd been wanting to do it for quite sometime.  EP's hospitality is second to none so it was a fantastic weekend all around.  It was nice to see old friends and make new ones as we all watched our botanicals arrive.  I made over 40 pieces that weekend and have sold a few here locally.  There will be some in the sale tomorrow night as well. This month I taught three ornaments classes, a class for my local club and made over 200 ornaments myself. After my last class of the year on Monday night, I can rest, relax and renew throughout the Christmas season.  I am looking forward to it.  

Before I go, here's a little teaser for the biggest sale StencilGirl has all year.  Not only are my stencils on sale, they all are.  There are bonuses along the way for you, too.  Don't forget it.  It starts at midnight tonight. 

I so appreciate those of you who have done so much to boost my spirits throughout the difficulties the last couple of years.  Art heals as do friendships. Merry Everything!!!!!!

xoxo

Nancy

Merry Everything!

I spent last night reworking and updating my website a bit so thought I would take the three hour late night drive to update my blog and fill in the blanks since I last wrote. Healthwise, it’s been a long road back, but at least I’m on a straight stretch of road and not taking detours. I feel mostly good but every now and again I hit a wall and need to take a breather. Creatively speaking, I’ve been in a burst most of the year. But even that has worn me out at times. The first half of the year was almost exclusively Citra artwork as mentioned in the last blog post. The cherry on top was the filming of my first online class in March for StencilGirl’s new class platform. Citra Solv Art debuted in August and has been well received. I am posting bonus material for those taking the online class and for those who have taken my in person class, Transformations. Message me if you are interested in knowing more about it.

Madcap

Imperfection

October also saw the release of my first club stencil kit for StencilGirl. For those that don’t know, StencilGirl has a monthly subscription service that I’ve participated in since its inception. It was fun to design for it and then even more fun to see them in use by others.  The best part is that if you join you can always order past month's stencils. 

Into the Woods

                              

                                   Umbrella

                                       

Alcohol ink work has dominated the second half of my year. It started with my incarceration at St Luke’s. I had no idea said incarceration would occur so I was unprepared and my anxiety went through the roof. It didn’t help that we were all wheeled into the hallway for a tornado warning during my first few hours there. My husband saved the day and brought the only art supplies I had packed. A new series was born that week. I’ve had two small batch sales and I am so grateful for all the support for this new direction. I was even more grateful that my work caught the eye of Dick Blick and I had a featured demo there in November.  Into the Woods and Umbrella are fall additions to the series. The rest are not up in my gallery (updating over the Christmas holiday) nor Etsy yet but if you follow me on Facebook and Instagram, you’ve probably kept up. The next pop up sale will be the first week in February. Newsletter recipients will get sneak peeks and other perks. Sign up here.

In between paintings, I’ve become obsessed with making ornaments so much so that I’m adding them as a class opportunity next year. I’ve got some special tips, tricks, and tools to share with everyone. I’ve had a blast and there are several time lapses and lots of photos sprinkled on my social media to show my enthusiasm. This is my new favorite done on a navy glass ornament. True confession:  my favorites come in and out of focus because they all have different vibes.

I’m sure there will be many more to come as I explore the possibilities. I’ve been very blessed to have sold quite a few from Instagram and local queries and I love sending them out into the world. The most interesting commission so far has been the order of a blue and a pink to become baby reveals for  the grandparents on Christmas Day. 

For those interested in non-art sightings, here are the boys dressed to the nines for the holiday season.  Angus is on agility hiatus until January 5th.  I've been told they're crowd pleasers when they run.  

            

and the best for last..... DPT White Coated daughter.  I also call my dear husband and her #myeverything. She's about to finish her first of three clinicals in Knoxville.  Next up in January she heads to Virginia Beach and finally to Annapolis for the summer.  Then it's time to graduate and take her boards.  She's my inspiration. 

If you've stuck around this long, I'll let you know I've already picked my word of the year for 2019.  It's actually two words and it's very important to have both.  "Live inspired" will be the focus next year.  It's one thing to inspire.  It's another to model living inspired.  The components are mind, body and soul.  Stay tuned.  My teaching schedule will be evolving so stay tuned for that as well. 

I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season and to look upon the new year with expectation.