Website is up & running!

The last entry I made was over a month ago and I have been quite productive in that time.  Here are the highlights:

I finished my most recent sculpture and titled her "Leader of the Sheep".   Over the course of production she evolved into a composite creature, like much of my work does. Part-human, part-bighorn sheep, she embodies all of the qualities necessary to lead any group of followers. In reflection, I recognize aspects of these qualities in myself.

My artist website, http://www.jamiedanielson.com is up and running!  I feel like a legitimate, real-deal artist!  I'm super happy that my domain name was available.  It wasn’t available the last time I tried to purchase it, so it seems now is the right time.  I built the website through weebly.com.  Super easy and user friendly.  I highly recommend.

I ordered prints of my artwork for my portfolio and WOW did they turn out nice!  I went through Image Source in Ventura and suggest you use them for any professional printing you need.  Excellent product quality and customer service.

I presently have artwork up in two exhibits:

“Contemporary Ceramics” at the WAV in downtown Ventura is a group show featuring ceramic work by 3 professors, Amiko Matsuo, Matt Furmanski, & Tom McMillin, 3 CSUCI alumni, Andrew Cummins, Kenji Webb, & Rebecca Tice, and one CSUCI student…ME!  
“Annual Art Exhibit” at CSU Channel Islands is the annual juried exhibit on campus.  My installation piece "Transcendence" was given prime real estate right in the front and center.   

Please see the NEWS page on my website for further details and upcoming exhibits: http://www.jamiedanielson.com

I  participated in Ventura West Marina’s annual Spring Sale and sold 4 necklaces.  You guys didn’t even know I was a jewelry designer, did you?  Yes, it’s true.  It’s a whole other endeavor that I’m not ready to go public with yet.  You’ll be the first to know when I do, so long as you continue reading my blog J

I attended CSU Channel Islands Honors Convocation and received a fancy red cord to wear around my neck during commencement. I also received the right to write “Cum Laude” next to my BA degree on my resume.

Finally, David and I saw Prince in concert at the LA Forum!  The main reason we went was to see the opening act, Esperanza Spalding, the 2011 Grammy award winner for Best New Artist.  She made history by being the first jazz musician to receive the award.  She’s also the first jazz musician to perform at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony and the youngest music professor at Berklee College of Music.  She plays the double bass (that gigantic beast of an instrument!) and electric bass.  She’s an amazing musician and is setting a new standard for true talent in music today.  Follow this link to a video of her performing at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-rWNAQx1ZE&playnext=1&list=PLB8180F5724D31143

The Blog Begins

Here it is, my first blog where I stare at the little blinking cursor and try to decide where to begin.  With so much to say, I've decided less is more.  It's a concept I learned rather quickly over the past 7 days since my husband and I just moved onto our boat.

My long term objective in writing this blog is to share ideas about being a career artist and exploring all of the elements influencing my artwork, such as living on the boat, being married to a LAFD Firefighter/Paramedic and Senior Chief Petty Officer NAVY Reservist, graduating from CSU Channel Islands with a BA in Studio Art, finding a job in the art field, planning for a family, applying for graduate school, and making time for family, friends, and hobbies like scuba diving, stand-up paddle-boarding, running, camping, and snowboarding.

As limiting as it may be, boat-living will likely benefit my work in many ways, the greatest being acquisition of a studio.  With absolutely no work space and minimal storage onboard, studio space will be a necessity once I graduate from CSUCI in May.

My husband, David, and I will be living on the boat in Ventura Harbor until we are ready to purchase our first home together and start a family.  We moved onboard April 1st and agreed to a maximum of 1 year on the boat; however, I've already fallen in love with this lifestyle and have invisioned little boat babies crawling around on the foreward deck.  Pregnancy may be problematic, though, as I will likely not fit in the head (bathroom) beyond my second trimester!

Right now we're taking things one day at a time as we continue transitioning into our second year of marriage and second week on the boat.  With good health and great attitudes, there's really nothing we can't achieve.

I'm off to the CSUCI studio to work on my current sculpture.  The move from our condo to our boat has taken priority over the past 3 weeks, so it's time to give her some much needed attention.