I said, "Yes!", when I received an e-mail from a friend, on the afternoon of December 5, 2011, asking if I'd be interested in showing art in uptown Normal during their Twelve Days of Christmas promotion on December 14, 2011. Even though I only had one recently completed piece, from earlier in the fall, which I didn't even end up showing. Against all odds and logic, due to the other commitments and things going on in my life, I just went for it. I made seven pieces of art, in three days time, and had a wonderful time making it. I so needed that! More than I knew. I am so glad I Did It. In the moment it was the right thing, and in hindsight too. I needed a reason to make the art that was inside me. The nudge. The push. And yes, even the deadline and the adrenaline that comes with working to meet it. My husband only called me stubborn once. A new record perhaps. For both of us. It was when, on Sunday night instead of going to bed after being ill with fever and fatigue all day, I stayed up to begin making the art I'd be showing on Wednesday, instead of going back to bed for more rest and sleep. That is just a brief bit of background. Here is the story of My One Day Art Show told more through pictures, than words.
On the day of the Art Show I posted two notes on Facebook. The first, at 7:08 a.m. read, "I am so excited to be one of the artists participating in Art Day in Uptown Normal. I'll be at Uptown Gifts & Accessories from noon-2 and 4-6 today. Hope to see YOU there!" The second, posted just moments later on December 14, 2011 at 7:11 a.m. read, "Janean Baird has been busily making art the past few days to show at Art Day in Uptown Normal, which is TODAY! One more piece to finish…and frame…then settin' up this morning when they open. I will be at Uptown Gifts from noon-2 and 4-6 today. I didn't have a sign to put in the widow to say my art was there, so I'm posting it here instead."
This was the scene in front of me, as I was driving to the store that was featuring me and my artwork, after getting that last piece framed (with a little bit of begging and pleading), on the morning of the show, a mere hour or so before noon, when I announced I'd be in residence with my artwork.
Two things you can count on, when you are in a hurry and running late…pouring rain and bein’ stopped by a train. So, I wore my polka dot rain boots and slowed down to enjoy the journey.
The sign I made for the front and back doors, announcing that I am The Artist In The House, at Uptown Gifts & Accessories today, for Art Day, in uptown Normal, Illinois.
Looking in from the back door of the shop, on December 14, 2011, in uptown Normal, IL.
This is real.
I am doing this.
I made these business cards, using markers and scrap watercolor paper, for the art show I participated in, in October of this year.
My parents have one hanging on their refrigerator with s magnet.
I am an Artist and a Writer…
…because the cards say so.
When I posted this caption with the photo on Facebook my mother responded, "You ARE an artist and a writer; NOT just because the cards say so! ;-)" To which I responded, "I love you, Mom. So very, very much. Sometimes I'm just The Last To Know. ;-)"
Here is a look down the wall, standing near the inside of the store. The nails were already there, so I made do and rearranged until the sizes and colors of the artwork blended, in a pleasing way upon the wall in the back of the store.
"Bahama Blue"
watercolor and paper collage
10" x 20"
December 2011
Inspired by a family photograph from a fairy tale vacation we took in August 2006.
I used the photograph to illustrate my poem, "Untangled", written in April 2011.
http://my.opera.com/jbaird/blog/untangled
"blue skies and sunshine"
watercolor and cut paper collage with silver thread
10" x 20"
December 2011
Inspired by a photograph I took from the back seat of a moving car as we drove South along I-55. Heading Home. November 30, 2011. I wrote a poem on that day as well. The painting title echos a line in the poem. This piece I gave to my parents for Christmas. On the brown paper backing I wrote, "To my parents, for Christmas 2011. Thank you for always believing in me, and encouraging me in my pursuits, and for teaching me how to look at an empty, barren winter field and see the beauty of blue sky and sunshine. Love, Janean"
"Red Rocks of Sedona, AZ"
cut and torn paper collage
8" x 10"
December 2011
"Sedona, AZ, a mosaic"
cut and torn paper collage
8" x 10"
December 2011
Here are the two Sedona, Arizona Red Rock pieces hanging side by side. For both of these I wrote, "Inspired by photographs taken on our first visit to Sedona, AZ in March 2006. My sister lives near there, and a piece of my heart as well."
"Mount of Olives"
watercolor and cut paper collage
8" x 10"
December 2011
On a note attached to the art I wrote, "This is the third in a series of Olive Art I've made this fall. I Love Art. (Get it?) I Love the Lord too."
"purple"
watercolor and paper collage
9" x 12"
December 2011
there is a poem by the same name from November 29, 2011
"purple"
If I were made of purple glass
I'd cast a purple shadow
when the sun shone on me
just right
"Joy"
watercolor and cut paper collage
December 2011
18" x 24"
Because I think of Joy as purple…and when it is inside of you it bubbles up and spills over to the outside.
Here's the wall view if you are walking in like a drowned rat from the door that faces the parking lot in back. This weather is made for ducks, OR for stayin' home in pajamas, wearin' fuzzy slippers, curled up with A Good Book and mug of hot chocolate. Later. When it is time to go home.
Here is my coat, hanging on the doorknob of the utility closet, next to my red and white State Farm umbrella. I had some visitors earlier in the day. They came by, just to see me and the art I've been making for the past three days. I worked on art making late into the night, began again in the wee hours of the morning, and during the in between time. It was worth it. So worth it. Mostly I am so thankful this opportunity didn't pass me by. Did I mention my name was in the paper today too? Yes, I feel like A ROCK STAR, for this snapshot moment of time, while my art is on the wall for a One Day Art Show in uptown Normal, Illinois.
A link to the local newspaper buzzing up the Twelve Days of Christmas event in uptown, Normal, Illinois.
http://www.pantagraph.com/special-sections/hometown-holidays/uptown-normal-plans-days-of-christmas-event/article_75e0be66-1532-11e1-b629-001cc4c03286.html
"Hope is like a balloon"
http://my.opera.com/jbaird/blog/2011/10/12/hope-is-like-a-balloon
"Untangled"
http://my.opera.com/jbaird/blog/untangled
When Art Calls You Home (Part 1)
http://my.opera.com/jbaird/blog/2011/05/18/when-art-calls-you-home-part-1
© 2012 Janean Baird, Turquoise Tangles
Turquoise Tangles 
Wow. Good stuff! I like the craftmanship behind it! :up: Good bright hounest colours. The Mozaic mountain pieces are great. Reminds me of David Hockneys pieces about Grand Canyon. Great for me to see another artists "language" :happy:
Originally posted by nopanic:
Thank you SO MUCH, Nicolas! The process is the fun part! I love cutting, tearing and gluing the paper pieces and combining them with watercolor background for the overall effect. What you can't see in the mosaic mountain photographs is that I used copper paper that was pearlized, or metallic looking. The Red Rocks are so vivid and magnificent in person, that even the best photographs don't do them justice. I love the metallic paper, as I did some welded found object sculptures in college, brazing the steel together with more brass than needed just for holding the pieces together. I'll have to google the Hockney pieces. It's been too long since my last Art History class… ~ Janean
..sounds great. I love the process the most, myself…it´s like reading a good book. One hopes it never stops :happy:
Originally posted by nopanic:
What a wonderful analogy between art making and reading, as I so enjoy diving into both. Some of my favorite books are those that continue into another one, carrying the same characters forward into another adventure. I always hate to say goodbye and close the book when the final page is read. I'm not done yet. Now, as I step in a new direction, I have to learn how to let my artwork go, and sell it (hopefully), so it can be enjoyed in someone else's home or place of work. It's harder than it sounds. For me at least. As I love them all and each is a part of me. The comfort is in knowing it means I'll have to set aside the time and clear the space to make more, where that came from. Ah, yes, the process, and art making itself. Simply marvelous! ~ Janean
Originally posted by jbaird:
Mine too! :up: 🙂
Originally posted by nopanic:
Characters in well written stories become good friends. It takes the edge off closing the book on them, when the last page rolls around. Thankful for authors who know that, and keep writing their continuing story. It must be lucrative as well, as often as it happens. (Not that I'm complaining as long as the books keep comin'.) ~ Janean
…like when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle killed Sherlock Holmes (or Moriarty did) And the readers wouldn´t let him. A lot of people wrote to him and demanded more stories about him, so Sir Arthur had to bring Sherlock back to life :p :sherlock:
Originally posted by nopanic:
Fascinating. I haven't read those classic tales. The modern thing to do is make it a prequal, a word George Lucas made up to make more Star Wars movies, or make it all a dream, a la Dallas back in the 80's (I think). I can see an author caving at pressure from a publishing house wanting to make more money on his or her talents, though as a reader, it's nice to know they had enough clout to persuade him to keep writing. ~ Janean
I like "Bahama Blue"watercolor and paper collage10" x 20"December 2011and "Mount of Olives"watercolor and cut paper collage8" x 10"December 2011CONGRATULATIONS! Must have felt good to create. And to display.
Originally posted by studio41:
Thank you, Jill, for telling me which two pieces are your favorite and sharing in the joy this one day art show, and making the art for it, brought to me mid-December.
"Bahama Blue" appealed to a lot of visitors that day when they came in out of the gray rain and saw the Caribbean waiting for them, a picture to step into that promised warm sand, hot sun, cool blue water and just right breezes.
"Mount of Olives" makes me smile. I was in church when the idea came to me. Felt right.
I'll be making more art sooooon, as the ideas are stacking up in my brain, and heart most of all. Looking forward to when that day comes.
~ Janean
Originally posted by jbaird:
nice to hear when the inspiration sprang!
Originally posted by studio41:
Fun to be able to share it. 🙂
Anonymous writes:Well done for grabbing the opportunity and coming up with the goods in such an incredibly short time.I like 'blue skies and sunshine' the best.Nice post! 🙂
Michelle Daly writes:Ps. I didn't mean to be anonymous but I had to reload Captchia and my name must have been removed in the process.
Originally posted by anonymous:
Michelle, Thank you for the kudos on My One Day Art Show. It's fun to know which piece is your favorite. That was the last one to be completed and framed, on the morning of the show in uptown Normal. I appreciate you posting twice, so I knew who left the first note as well. ~ Janean