JULY FOURTH AMERICANA EVERYWHERE

mari newman wrote

on 2 Jul 2009 9:04 AM

 I see a rooster painted in star and stripe pattern including a eagle plus many famous candies or other products in star and stripe decorative containers or bags that might be collectible or good subject matter for art. I wonder what a still life can be like if you have all star and stripe items, a clever way to put it together without clashing.

 I have a batch of wooden hand carved roosters, many photos were taken of these roosters plus photos of these individual roosters, now Iam doing a pastel drawing of a batch, total of nine wooden roosters, thank god I have the photograph I choosed, no matter where I go I can do my still life, pastels and picture rolled up in a tube plus camera, all in a compact bag then go off in my wheel chair. Photography has been a godsend, with no plumbing or no heat in house, no tables or desk, I trek to coffee houses, library or second story lofts above grocery stores and draw until eight o clock at night then catch the last bus to home.

 I rarely have money for art materials, iam saving money for a new sewer line, new furnace but I cannot get a loan because I filed for medical bankruptcy and still owe five thousand in property taxes. I do spend two hours a day at the main public library typing up grant proposals and sending images out to art galleries everyday except Monday when the library is closed, I dont own a computer, cant afford it and cant get medical insurance because I was born with a prexisting condition with multiple disabilities or cant get medical assistance because  they dont count net income only gross so my income is just slightly above their guidelines yet Iam five hundred percent below the poverty line if you count net income.

 I have not given up in trying to get a grant after forty years of trying and no grant yet and no solo show yet in a major gallery, not paying for solo show is rare indeed and no major big awards after forty years but I keep accurate records of everything plus proofs, one thing will become glaring obvious, people will say "this artist has worked hard and was ambitious, persistant, she tried very hard dispite all the rejections.

 This is not new to me, I start to enter kiddie coloring contests that were sponsored by local newspapers, tv programs or local merchants, those contests I entered until I reached that magic age limit of twelve years old. I had over three hundred plus rejections to my name by the time I was thirteen and didnt win one prize, not even honorable mention. After grade school classes with my dad's help, we hunted down every coloring contest including those provided by local churches, out school but I never won, I was determined to win many contests, my drawings were so mature that many people could not believe I was that good for a grade school kid but I practised everyday.

 I keep trying to this day plus trying to promote to art galleries, web search for lesser known grants, art competitions for disabled artists, mainstream competitions charge a jury fee, I avoid those but enter all art competitions for disabled artists, no jury fees plus you often get return shipping paid for.

 So as of today, I will not do a American stars and stripes artwork, too much overdone that it is cliche. Today at computer at a library looking for new galleries or unheard of funding for artists then doing a batch of small drawings to sell on the street  to make extra money to pay for large scale paintings or big sculpture installations. If you cant get into galleries or coffe shops, sell on the street or your front yard, only option I have now.

Karyn wrote

on 6 Jul 2009 10:01 AM

I'm sorry to hear of your struggles to find funding and loans.  Its not easy to be either an artist or disabled, and to live fully in both takes persistance and strength. 

Thank you for sharing.  I hope your future holds some brightness in grants, galleries and financial relief.