Sunday, December 14, 2014

Keeping Art Affordable at SheilaLynnK Art Studio

STARTING DECEMBER 15, 2014

Studio fans and followers can now earn B-Arter Bucks to use toward the purchase of in-stock studio items and commissioned projects.

Several times a month, activities will be posted here and on the Studio Facebook Page telling how you can earn them.
Sample Opportunities for Earning B-Arter Bucks
You may be asked to do some of these things (and others as I think of them) to earn your B-Arter Bucks.

Comment, share or in some way participate in a studio conversation or question here on the blog or on facebook.
Spread the word about a studio event or activity and post a link or photo of real-time action in the comments to show how you passed it on.
Deliver items to the studio that will be re-purposed for an art activity
Contribute in-kind services to a not-for-profit or community action activity (which may or may NOT be hosted by the studio)...and show us in a link or a photo how you participated in your community.
Bring the arts (any kind) to somebody in your community and share it with us
Exchange something from the studio Barter For Art list for B-Arter Bucks

The B-Arter Bucks value of these activities will fluctuate with the effort involved in making that happen.

There will be an assortment of earning opportunities that apply to both Local and On-line studio patrons. Due to the logistical benefits of geographic proximity, these benefits may NOT always match.

Each earning event will result in receipt of a B-Arter Bucks ID# upon completion of the task. Be sure to save this number as it will be the only way to document your eligibility.

You do NOT have to be a Facebook subscriber to receive these options. Following this blog will give you the same opportunities. However, you may miss instructions, opportunities, and B-Arter Bucks ID#s if you are NOT subscribed to the blog. B-Arter Bucks ID#s will often be delivered via email.

The Barter For Art Program

This exchange program began at the studio in February 2014.

This program supports an independent economy at SheilaLynnK Art Studio.

I recently read an article about artist, Jocelyn Meggait, who set up a FREE art store/gallery and like her I am, " interested in the goods as much as the notion that communities of people could come together and circumvent conventional modes of commodity exchange....That means that instead of creating objects, she creates experiences — specifically, ones intended to prompt discussions on alternatives to capitalism."

~ Artist Creates Free Store, Art Gallery, and Studio in Oakland

I too, am in the business of creating experiences. Although I welcome the discussions about alternatives to capitalism, I also hope to create empowering, meaningful, and creative, experiences for all of my patrons. This intention is not exclusive to the Arachnoiditis Survivors Participating in the Art For Arachnoiditis Project. My hope is to keep art affordable and accessible for anyone who would benefit from it.

I also realize that there are occassions when it is extremely difficult to escape the idea that Money Makes the World Go 'Round. To that end, there is ALSO a reasonably priced list of pre-printed and commissioned projects available from the PriceLists/OrderForms tab on the Studio Home Page.

As you may know from my previous post and Facebook Page, I spent yesterday at the 5th annual SnowFlake Festival at the Fountain Arts Center in Belmont, NY. I did sell enough items to cover the cost of the table but, more importantly, I had a wonderful and rare-during-the-winter-months opportunity to meet other local artists, local patrons of the arts, and community members. I was reminded of the real reasons that I create art and festively distracted from the Bottom Line.

I was respectfully provided with Reasonable Accommodations, in the form of a cushy purple-upholstered bench at my table, for Arachnoiditis during this lovely holiday event. It felt a little strange to lay down in public but, as the years go by; I am getting increasingly accustomed to not pay attention to that conditioning.

The Allegany Arts Association continues to work to provide quality art experiences for patrons of the Arts, Artists, Artisans, and our community.

Many thanks to them for all that they do.

Wishing you all a happy holiday season and very Merry, Low-Marketing Christmas.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Brought to you by the letter "M"

Pre-printed items ready to purchase

I am not a big fan of the pervasive, sometimes invasive, marketing slam that happens at this time of year...or actually any time of year.

When the need/urge to sell overshadows the substance of life something is lost.

However, I DO love giving gifts. As there aren't enough vertical hours in the day for me to MAKE gifts for all of the people on my list, inevitably I must buy some of them. This leads me to assume that others must do the same.

My studio is a business. This means selling things when people are buying them...and making sure that people KNOW that I have items they may want...also known as...s-h-h-h "marketing".

What if we, you and I, shed the shadow of the Money Monster Mucking up our Meaningful Memories and decide instead that this is Merely a Mindful Message Meant to Mitigate the Marking of Moments that Matter with Material Momentos of Magnanimous Meetings? M-m-m?

If you are a gift-giver/gift-buyer and an art lover looking for unique, affordable, creative, items to share with others; this blog post and The Fifth Annual Snow Flake Festival may be just the place for you.

December 13, 2014 from 10am-4pm, I will be participating in the Festival for the first time this year. Maybe I will see you there.

As much as I wish I could say that I am selling buckets of magic pixie dust to lighten the load of the problems of the world; this is what I am REALLY bringing along.

Pre-printed ready-to-purchase Items:

Fine Art Coloring Books

All new 2015 Fine Art & Photography Calendars

My First Series of Holiday Greeting Cards

Note Cards w/envelopes

Post Cards

11"x14" Poster Prints of my original artwork and photography

A wide variety of clearance cut prints of original drawings and photographs in assorted sizes

Custom Order Forms for:

Your choice of Note Cards/Post Cards/Greeting Cards

Boxed Sets

Custom Wall Calendars

Commissioned Portraits

Schedule a 2015 consultation for larger Commissioned Projects.

Because I believe in the Benefits of Art For Your Home and Business, I put much consideration into keeping items from the studio affordable. You can count on a diverse selection of sizes, styles, and prices all year long. Local Patrons may still select the Barter For Art option.

If you cannot make it to the Festival, you are welcome to Shop the Studio online.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Closing In: The Windows and Walls of Winter

First Snow November 2014

Approaching the Ice-olation of winter.

I know time is running out. I have been procrastinating this task for as long as I possibly can. With a heavy heart, I accept the inevitable.

After seeing the weather report predicting days of temps below 30...even calling for lows in the teens; I chose yesterday, with a high of 61, as the last possible chance to put plastic on my windows without putting myself out of commission for weeks*.

This year, more than ever before, this task feels as if I am sealing myself up in this space ...not just keeping the cold at bay but, essentially imprisoning myself for the duration of this unpredictable season. It would appear that this summer was not warm enough to burn away the residual emotional effects of the confining Polar Vortex. I am DEPRESSED about it. There. I said it. It's out there.

NOW,

How to cope with it....

Save (from my ginormous income) for quality storm windows that allow the sun light to get in....

Move to Panama (financed by SAME)...

or

Become the the best prisoner I can be.

The last flowers of the season. Snow is coming in...
cut these and brought them in to keep winter at bay as long as I can.

I am working on reminding myself that I am NOT powerless.

I have preserved wild remedies to minimize my pain. Hopefully they will help.

Like a squirrel gathering nuts, I have been collecting ideas and supplies for the making of art. My creative pantry is NOT going to be empty when the cabin fever is raging THIS year.

Some New Things on the Shelves:

Brewing some crazy 3D ideas about Pine Needles. I have an abundant supply which, up to now, has been used only as mulch. I have also baked my Pine Cones...

New Holiday and Christmas Cards and gifts must be made.

Creative Self-Care coping cards and similar projects to develop and share at artforarachnoiditis.org.

More Paint for Painting...MORE

Preparing for the SheilaLynnK Art Studio and BOFA event (March 21st) for SWAN Day 2015.

Continue Arachnoiditis Survivor: A Portrait of Resilience Against Patient Harm in America and the rest of The Art For Arachnoiditis Project. A project which was born of the confinement and isolation of winter 2013-2014. The First Exhibit will be at the Fountain Arts Center April 2015. The Book is scheduled to go to print by the end of 2015.

I...We... cannot forget that this, too, is a necessary season.
There is work to be done. PAIN is not the only thing here.
Healing, Recovery, Purposeful Activity and Connections
reside within these walls.

****************************************************************

*Because of arachnoiditis my nervous system receives pain signals from cold temperatures.
Putting my hands in cold water actually makes me feel pain in the left side of my head...this also has to do with "wires" being crossed and sending signals to the wrong places.

When the New York heat waves hit and my friends and family are sitting around melting in temps over 90 degrees fahrenheit, I am more active and comfortable than at any other time of year.

A quick splash of cold and I simply flinch like I've just been stuck with a pin. Prolonged exposure results in increased adrenaline, shivers, muscle spasms, shortness of breath, and PAIN. This pain eventually takes over my entire body...if I cannot get warm again quickly enough it can trigger a full arachnoiditis flare. Every year I expand my strategies to keep my house reasonably and efficiently warm. I do not need it to be a sauna but, it has to be warm enough to minimize sharp fluctuations in room temperature regardless of the weather activity outside. Basic intro to this phenomenon of cold=pain which defies the instinctive intrinsic powers of being born a winter baby:

"Sensitivity[edit]

Nociceptor neuron sensitivity is modulated by a large variety of mediators in the extracellular space.^[9] Peripheral sensitization represents a form of functional plasticity of the nociceptor. The nociceptor can change from being simply a noxious stimulus detector to a detector of non-noxious stimuli. The result is that low intensity stimuli from regular activity, initiates a painful sensation. This is commonly known as hyperalgesia. Inflammation is one common cause that results in the sensitization of nociceptors. Normally hyperalgesia ceases when inflammation goes down, however, sometimes genetic defects and/or repeated injury can result in allodynia: a completely non-noxious stimulus like light touch causes extreme pain. Allodynia can also be caused when a nociceptor is damaged in the peripheral nerves. This can result in deafferentation, which means the development of different central processes from the surviving afferent nerve. With this situation, surviving dorsal root axons of the nociceptors can make contact with the spinal cord, thus changing the normal input.^[6]"

^{MORE INFORMATION:}

Heat, Cold, and Pain

Hot and cold senses interact: Cold perception is enhanced when nerve circuitry for heat is inactivated

Neuropathy (nerve damage) the cause and its relief

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

The Choice to Serve

Vietnam War Memorial

I COMMEND THE SOLDIERS AND FELLOW VETERANS WHO SIGNED ON THE DOTTED LINE TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY IN COMBAT SHOULD THEY BE CALLED TO DO SO...NO MATTER WHAT IT MAY COST THEM. Unfortunately, the definition of "national defense" is no longer the seemingly straight-forward, mostly honor-bound, purpose it was in days of yore. Because of that the associated "cost" to the individual soldier may be even higher than what was once considered an "acceptable" risk....
Though the risks for the individual soldier are clear and still dire in combat situations, the present mission is often hazy. It gives new meaning to the concept of "signing your life away." However, if NOBODY was willing to "sign their life away" who would be there, ready to move at a moment's notice, when National Defense is the true call to action?

Saw this shared article shortly after seeing "Heroes don't wear capes they wear dog tags" on a T-shirt and thinking. "True but it doesn't mean ALL people who wear dog tags are heroes".

It is dangerous and misleading to assign any population with unanimous faults or attributes. Doing so implies that all in that population have the same motives, intentions, and goals...including those in a position of leadership.

The article also discusses the antiquated use of the word "hero" to promote enlistment. Perhaps it is better NOT to "market" our soldiers at all (for the purposes of increased enlistment) but, to let individual integrity, or lack-there-of, stand for itself.

As a nation our citizens must be ready to serve when called and must be equally able to realize that the call-to-action also means acting like responsible CITIZENS, capable of acknowledging our own power to control leading entities, instead of as a collective of tenants at the mercy of its leaders.
Service does not ALWAYS mean armed-combat.

Fortunately...thanks to the soldiers who came before us...we have the right in America to CHOOSE if we are willing to be on call for that National Defense moment...Soldiers who do so now, are not only potentially putting their lives on the line for an honorable cause. They are also subjecting themselves to all of the questionable motives/consequences/incidents discussed in this article...so that they CAN be ready if/when they are needed for the "other kind" of "war" that WOULD inevitably occur if they were NOT.

Also, thanks to the numerous soldiers who came before us...our citizens can CHOOSE not to make that commitment...and/or we can choose to be active, educated, informed, citizens who participate in the selection of our leaders who make these decisions. ...we can even choose to BECOME one of those leaders.

Lastly, thanks to those soldiers who came before us...If it be their truest heart's desire; our citizens can even CHOOSE to exist as inactive apathetic couch potatoes...and they can complain about all of the wrongs in the world that have been imposed upon them by the people who are not on the couch.

Thanks to the American Soldiers who came before us, we own these choices.

Other issues which effect these choices:

The Best Way to Celebrate Veteran's Day~Stop Thanking the troops

A former Army Ranger says he doesn’t want to be thanked for his service—he wants politicians to stop sending young soldiers off to die.

Refusing to Misunderstand the defense acquisition problem (2014)

American Soldiers Heroes or Victims by Arlen Grossman (2013)

Heroes, Villains, Victims (2013)

Defense:The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics & Liberty

Why the United States should spread democracy (1998)

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

November News from the Studio

Call For Entries: Arachnoiditis Survivors invited to join the project
DEADLINE: February 15, 2015
Registration Form

The Art For Arachnoiditis Project

The location & date for the FIRST Exhibition has been confirmed.

The Survivor Portrait for Jack Pavlekovich is complete.

Just started the next Survivor Portrait for Arachnoiditis Survivor,Kenny Brooks.

The project Facebook Page has been added to the Wellness Universe Online Directory of the Best Wellness Pages.

Thanks to Pain Exhitib.org, the painting, Honesty & Hope (a.k.a. No Pain, No Gain) is featured as the Cover (with Essay p. 194) in Volume 28, Number 3, 2014 of The Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy...advances in acute, chronic, and end-of-life pain and symptom control. This painting is shared with the public to increase Arachnoiditis Awareness and Prevention Efforts.

SHOP THE STUDIO

Fine Art Collection Calendar

Photography Collection Calendar

NEW Calendar Options Are Ready!!!

2015 Fine Art Calendar (12 Months) or a
Custom Fine Art Calendar

(12 Months)

2015 Photography Calendar

(12 Months)
or a
2015 Custom Photography Calendar (12 Months)

2015 Fine Art Calendar Poster

(12 months ~ One Page)

Allow 4-6 weeks to print and ship these items. Local patrons may schedule studio pick-up to eliminated shipping cost.

December 13, 2014 10-4pm These and other pre-printed studio items will be available at the Snowflake Festival at the Fountain Arts Center in Belmont, NY

Belfast Organization for Artists~ "Dolls Etc."

Doll show: hand-made Dolls and Accessories created by local Artisans.

On display at the Belfast Public Library during the month of November.

Many Thanks to Events Coordinator, Kathy Garrison, for making it happen.

RECENT ARTWORK

Family Portrait for My Cousin

~ in loving memory of Landon

Completed November 3, 2014

STUDIO in the LOCAL COMMUNITY

Acting as a program operative providing a transition location for drop-off and pick-up of baked goods for Food Not Bombs in Wellsville NY.

ALL NEW~ No-tech/Low Tech Tuesdays and Thursdays

After much deliberation and no sleep, I have made the executive decision to unplug from the world wide web two days a week. This time will be designated exclusively to the Making of the Art. Messages will be monitored as usual the rest of the week.

Health and Wellness
Enjoying some measure of relief and success with the use of the anti-inflammatory properties of mullein and ginger as well as exploring other natural remedies for pain relief.

Also, happy to share that it has been one year since Malachi, our eleven year old "puppy" was diagnosed with an enlarged spleen and a huge abdominal tumor which threatened the proper function of said spleen. After a year of balanced, natural, dietary adjustments which excludes all processed foods; his x-rays show the spleen has returned to normal size and the tumor has actually gotten smaller.

Malachi

Monday, September 22, 2014

Equinox at the Studio~Naming Nature; A Light in the Darkness

Preserving Edible/Medicinal Weeds in The Studio Kitchen

"How the progress of science can alter the expression of our own human nature." Carol Kaesuk Yoon's Naming Nature, ~"taxonomy is critically important, because it turns out to be much more than mere science. It is also the latest incarnation of a long-unrecognized human practice that has gone on across the globe, in every culture, in every language since before time: the deeply human act of ordering and naming the living world."

As I was recently explaining to someone near and dear to my heart; there is more to this process of naming names than I originally anticipated. Learning the names and properties of these wild inhabitants has turned into an activity which awakens all of my "coming-home" sensibilities. As they come into focus, I feel this embracing sense of "oh! I remember YOU." It's like meeting up with long-lost relatives who forgive your absence and celebrate your timely return.

A dormant part of my nature, which has occasionally tapped to get out, has suddenly burst the door right off of it's hinges. It sort of reminds me of the difference between being a substitute teacher in a class full of strangers vs. being a substitute teacher who knows all of the names of the students in the room. I am letting go of whatever it was that kept me from knowing. The knowing allows us to be purposefully present and accounted for in times of darkness and light.

Creeping Harebells (Rampion) ready for salad

September Equinox in Buffalo, New York, U.S.A. is on
Monday, September 22, 2014 at 10:29 PM EDT the time to respect the impending dark while giving thanks to the sunlight.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Summer Sabbatical Summary

With winter looming in the not-to-distant future and summer only peeking in on us from time-to-time; I have spent as much time as possible outside. In late Spring, around the time my Grandson was finishing up with T-Ball; I became quite entrenched (read, "obsessed") with learning to identify edible and medicinal plants growing within walking distance of my house. Paying little heed to the obsession warnings of the experienced edible weed explorers, I soon became unable to pass by ANY plant in ANY location without wanting to "harvest" it if I knew its name and purpose OR identify it if I didn't.

I cannot quite recall what started it all. Perhaps, it was an accidental encounter with a weedy blogger talking about the miraculous nutrition and medicinal properties of Broadleaf Plantain or Prunella Vulgaris that lead me to realize that these and many other foods are growing all around me. Although I have read about and been familiar with the names and ideas of these and other wild plants over the years, it was not until that moment that I realized the value of the visual aspect of the internet to aid in the identification of these plants. The sketches and drawings in reference books never seemed quite true to life...at least not enough for me to have the confidence to EAT anything based on those images alone.
(DISCLAIMER: I am sharing my own experience on this journey. I am not a physician or an herbalist. Be sure to positively confirm and identify all plants prior to consumption.NEVER EAT ANY PLANT IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS. Speak with a professional herbalist or physician prior to using any medicinal plant as they may have negative effects or may be harmful in combination with other medications. No topic discussed in this post is intended to replace the guidance of your own physician.To avoid hazardous allergic reactions it is also wise to try small portions to begin with and work your way up to combining these edible weeds into your regular diet.)

Road trips, softball games, and family picnics have become venues for potential grocery shopping in Mother Nature's permacopia. However, I have discovered that not everyone shares this enthusiasm. It has also come to my attention that just because the references say that something is "edible" does not necessarily imply that it is PALATABLE. Plucking a leaf too late in the season can be the difference between a lifetime affection for a "new" food and absolute revulsion for all Food Under Foot. Specifics about which portion of the plant to eat are also quite relevant. Given my limited culinary background, I am also paying close attention to HOW to Eat The Weeds. I have found that most of them have the ability to sustain a person. However, as is the case with many cultivated foods, it takes a certain cuisine art to get the full benefit of the experience.

Daylily Buds sauteed in butter, salt, & pepper

The more I learn, the more I want to know.
Most usage guides include historic medical properties of these wild foods. As with ANY medication, proceed with caution in this area as portion, concentration, preparation method, and timing play a crucial part in determining the difference between relief and overdose. Since I take several prescriptions and supplements to manage my health issues, it is also important for me to know if these plants play well with others.

The motivation for all this work?
1) Free easy access to food.
2) The potential to replace synthetic medications and supplements with natural ones
3) Potential for Relief from the symptoms of arachnoiditis