New project

Last month I decided to recreate my studio space in the spare bedroom.  I wanted a library nook with floor to ceiling book shelves along two of the walls. I also wanted the walls to be freshened up.

So my journey began by picking out the colors. I decided to go with Bakery Box white for the walls (Behr paints) which has a blue undertone and Treasure Map blue for the bookshelves.  My brother is a handy dandy carpenter, so when he asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I told him custom bookshelves! I'll pay for the material and he is gifting me his time and talent!

The room is shaped like an L so last weekend I painted three out of the 6 walls. This morning I added a light third coat, which dried pretty quick.so I was able to put the art back up this afternoon  I did learn a hack from you tube in regards to nails. If you have a fluffy enough roller no need to take the nails out, just paint over them. That worked so it saved me time.

I just finished taking the books off of the bookshelves that I currently have so I can move them and paint the rest of the walls. I'm not sure if I'm wasting my time painting these walls since the bookshelves are going to be cover most of the wall space, but I guess I might as well paint just incase small areas may show.

I also got a bit creative by painting the light switch cover and the plug covers. Something different.

,,  

Hopefully I will be done with the room before the new year!!!

Uptown art stroll

Sometimes I wonder why I do the things I do and have to step back and think about everything. Then I pray, and give it to God.

This weekend is Uptown art Stroll and my first show in a few years. Overall I had a successful day, except that as soon as I finished setting up I spilled all my coffee on myself. I looked as if I peed my pants! Thankfully the sun was out to dry me out. My jeans stained to an ugly tint of brown but, I was glad that I don't drink sugar in my coffee or else the ants may have been after me, and I don't think I could have tolorated being sticky all day.

Today the show is going on from noon till 5, but since I was in the coop I opted not to participate today. There will be two other artisits participating today in the coop booth that weren't there yesterday so I don't feel bad about it.

I have a lot going on in my life right now, none of it which is bad, just overwhelming my mind.  I created this plaque which I thought was appropirate and since this particular one did not sell yesterday I will be keeping it for myself, on my desk.

It will remind me of the impotant things to do and not dwell or sweat the small stuff. 

Here are a few pictures of my setup yesterday at the art show. The wind kept blowing over my small plaques so I had to lay them down on the table. At least none of them broke when the toppled over (several times).

Rainy October

It's been a whirlwind of activity in my life, real estate, art, work, home, cats, dogs, fish, rain, rain and more rain!
Let's start with the weather..... October in Texas has never been as cool and rainy that I have ever experienced living here, and I'm loving it!!! It was so refreshing to breathe cool air, and I did not mind it raining everyday for weeks.  I never thought I'd say that about rain.

Well, October brings business planning for 2019 in the real estate office, and the number one thing on the list was keep telling people what you do, in other words market yourself, especially on social media.  Easier said than done since I have dwindled to one post a month on my blog, I barely go on Facebook and Instagram, and feel a bit overwhelmed by the negativity of politcics and the state in which our country is in.   So I now turn to my artwork.

I was asked to participate in an art show that I usually shop at.  I only agreed to it because I could be part of the coop table were there will be more than one artist, so I can sneak away for a bit to go shopping!  I started creating a few positive messages on glass that I'm pricing at $35.00. (Pictures below)

As far as my artwork in the art gallery, I have had my abstract glass and pastel artwork for 3 months in the gallery and even though I sold a few pieces, I'm taking it down to take to the art show on Nov. 3rd and 4th.  I'll keep the online gallery linked with them, but I broke about even with the rent and commission I paid from the artwork I sols, so Im not sure if I will be in the physical gallery again.

Newest 6"x6" glass art $35 each:

Old man in park

Last week I was asked to donate a piece of art for wounded warriors outdoors, so I agreed to donate my old man in the park.

This piece is drawn with fused glass powders and frits. It was one of my medium sized pieces of work 6"x 9".  I was pleasantly surprised that there was a 2 page bidding war and the winner paid $150.00!  I hope whomever won the bid enjoys the artwork!

Maybe I'll make something similar to this later on down the line.

Nice day

Some days are just better than others.

I took a lunch break earlier in the week and went to the book store to buy a journal to start writing in again.  I need a journal when I feeling stressed, confused and overwhelmed with life.  Blogging is great but sometimes a personal journal is the best to relieve the stress in the moment.

I picked out a journal with Alice in Wonderland having tea with the Rabbit and the Mad Hatter.  I thought is was very appropriate at this time in my life. as I approached the register I also bought One of each of ALL the book marks that had cats on them, I couldn't resist.  Then as I looked over to the counter I saw a double disk of Aretha Franklin's greatest  hits.  You know I had to get that too! 

And finally when I went home, I realized that it was a mellow day after all,  so I created a pastel abstract to reflect it.

I hope today and everyday is mellow for whoever is reading this.

4th of July

I have been busy neglecting my blog because I haven't had much to say, but now I do!

Lots of things going on and wanted to share one of the most exciting thing to happen on the 4th of July.  My son helped me put my artwork up in the San Antonio Artists Collective Gallery!!!

Hope you like what you see!!!

June

June in Texas is HOT! I have been  enjoying the evening heat by spending some time in the pool after work.  The water is warm so when I step out, the hot breeze actually feels slightly cool as the sun sets.  Yesterday, I was recovering from an emotional setback that I had created myself and a friend who is also my mentor guided me step by step on how to overcome my mistake. I followed her direction, corrected myself, and the emotional weight was lifted.
And then.....
I woke up this morning to the news about Anthony Bourdain and cried.  I loved his personality as I watched him on his shows while he traveled the world eating the food in all the different countries and cultures of the world.  I admired him, he made me want to go explore the world too.  I am sorry to see him leave this earth, and especially feel sad for his young daughter.  May his soul rest in peace.

it's been a while

Time passes when you're busy, and when you're still.   Some people take out their frustrations at the gym, some with food, and yet others take it out in their art. 

I suppose, for myself it comes down to a family size bag of BBQ potato chips, and in my art, hardly at the gym.... if I did I would be in championship shape, which I am not.....

My latest piece of frustration is here, in the multitude of colors that don't necessarily make sense.

 

36" Octagon

 

The design and the cutting is where I took out my frustration.  The 4 hour session of grinding the glass to fit perfectly allowed me to reflect without distraction.  The next steps will be tedious, which will allow me to practice my patience.   

 

 

I am thankful for all I have, the family I love and the friends in my life.

 

    

on the brink of something?

Over the last month I have neglected to read my fellow bloggers posts and totally failed at writing anything on my own blog.  I must catch up with both!

Have you ever felt like you were on the brink of something great but it seemed just out of reach?  I feel like that now.  Let me back up a bit and catch you up on things that have happened over the last month.

After all of these years creating art, trying to find "my style" I finally feel like I'm there with my abstracts.  It feels good to just let go and create with colors and my feelings, so I put it out there in the universe and applied at a gallery. I was accepted and my items are listed for sale on there online gallery!  I was also told that I could be on their walls in the physical gallery as soon as space opens up! You can check out the San Antonio Artists Collective here. Then just click on my name to see all the artwork I have listed.

I was an invited artist to donate to SaySi, Small Scale for Big Change this year (again) and I accepted (again), it's such a great art program for kids!  Anyway the online auction started on on March 2ndand you can check out all the artwork here.

I also donated another glass piece to SAMMinistries for their silent auction during the Empty Bowls fundraiser, and that went very well on Sunday. I don't know what the final bid was for my piece but it sold! SAMMinistries is a non profit that helps prevent homelessness and helps people overcome from being homeless.

On a totally different note, in mid February I started taking Spanish classes so when I have a client that only speaks Spanish I can communicate with them. According to the teacher it will only take 3 to 4 years before I'm fluent....  Well, hopefully if I can stick it out that long.

In regards to real estate, I have been showing plenty of properties in all different price ranges and meeting some very interesting people. Now I just need someone to let me write a contact and sell a property!

On all level I feel like I am on the brink of something great but just out of reach.  When will my art sell? When will I sell some real estate already???

here is a pastel I created that is not online at the gallery as of yet: ((you can see my flash in the middle of the picture...

"Moods" 

8"x10" framed in 11"x16"

Artistic frenzy

I went into this artistic frenzy these past few weeks with my pastels on Bristol paper. The internal frustration with myself as I struggle to figure things out came out in the pastel drawings.  I even went out and bought matting for them. Now that I have loaded my office/studio space with all this artwork I need to figure out what to do with them since I am literally running out of space to store anything. I still have 5 more to get the matted frames for, once those are done I will post them as well..  It's kind of funny, as you walk in you see a desk full of real estate paperwork on it, and around it, and immediately to the left, across the floor, walls and closet it's full of artwork and art supplies...
I can tidy up the desk, but I really need to sell the artwork.  I applied at a local coffee shop to show my artwork in April, but I received no response.  I suppose it's for the best.  Maybe I can figure out how to use the gadgets on the blog to create a page with paypal buttons.

On another note, I went and showed a property yesterday that I call the "Enchanted House". It felt like it was straight out of a fairy tale. I knew it was beautiful from the pictures online, but it was so much more beautiful in person, and it was 4403 square feet HUGE! The lot was beautiful as well, with trees that gave privacy from the neighbors.  It's located in the small city of Garden Ridge, Texas, and sits in a gated community.  I'm not sure who was more excited to be there, me or the prospective buyers!

Take a look for yourself!  21298 Las Cimas Dr.

So if you want to move to Texas and want a beautiful home for a fraction of the price it would cost in New York...hint, hint. my New York friends. Call me!!!


Okay so here is some of pastels that I matted.

1.  11"x14" matted in 16"x20" 

2.  11"x14" matted in 16"x20" 

3.  8"x10" in matted 11"x14"

4.  8"x10" in matted 11"x 14"  

5. 8"x10" in matted 11"x 14 

6.  8"x10" in matted 11"x 14"  

7.  8"x10" in matted 11"x 14" 

If you want to buy any of the artwork please contact me at dritaharris@yahoo.com

If you want to buy the house email me at Drita@msrpsa.com

2018 and resolutions/goals

So we either make, or not make resolutions for new year.  Set up for failure, or goal setting. This year I decided that I was going to set some goals.

First on the list : Get off the coach and join the gym. I really have no option at this point in my life since I kind of feel like jello.  I need gain some strength and muscle tone in my body, so my body doesn't turn on me.

Second goal: Get my marketing and socializing in order to prospect some clients for my new Real Estate career.  It's been very hard getting out there and getting to know people.  My original goal when I got my license out from the state in late August was to have 2 clients under contract by the end of October. I thought that was doable, but that did not happen. In those short months I did meet some great people by doing open houses, and hopefully I can work with some of them them in the future.  I feel it in my bones that I can be a great Realtor, I just need the chance to be around more people.  That is one goal that I really need to work hard on for the results I desire.

Third: One thing that I know for sure that is good for my mind and soul, is creating art. So my third and final goal for 2018 is to create more art and participate in some local art shows, instead of having all my artwork fill up my studio/office space.

The three goals I have set for myself are HUGE to me.  I wish that whoever reads this and has set goals for 2018 reaches them all, just like I wish it for myself!  Happy New Year!


The 5 pieces are ready to hang for a show:

Each of these vary in size anywhere between 7"x 10" to 12"x12"

I really enjoyed making these pieces!