ART? ART? Bears? What?

deppfan and others - here is the link to that tree thing from the other day

Cool tree thing.
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And for Chicago Bear fans - I put $10 on the OVER for the Bears winning 9.5 games this year.
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I was on an Art Fair Forum and got into a . . . . . . heated . . . discussion with another "artist".

The question was about printing.  A new person to the bigness was asking if we all printed our own work and of the 5 or 6 responders most did.  One guy said

"In my opinion, you cannot be a "art" photographer without also being a "printer"" 

I took slight offense to that and in a politically correct way informed him that I thought he was wrong.

So he says I did not mean to insult you and then basically repeats everything he just said .

"how can an artist not "micro manage" every step of their work if the purpose is to create art and not just sell pretty pictures? "  "The difference is if you want to be an artist or just someone who takes nice pictures and sells them. They are not the same thing."

BUT - he did end the post with "That's just my opinion".

 "That's just my opinion" is pretty much like "However!"  You know, when someone says something and then says HOWEVER!  "You look beautiful today . . HOWEVER . . . . ."

The thing is I do not believe I'm an "artist".  I'm a photographer.  I make pretty pictures and turn around and sell them. The people that purchase them call it art.  They are buying art from a photographer, not an artist.

I just have an issue with being called an artist. Just seems weird and does not sound right.  

With THAT said - here is my latest pretty picture.  I'm putting this in Filene Research Institute.

Big freaking canvas - size is 1/13.7 actual size of a B17

Edward Filene, among other things played a pivotal role in passing America’s first Workmen’s Compensation Law in 1911. However, in this case he is the person credited for creating Credit Unions.

Filene Research Institute  . . and I quote because I got a little bored reading what they do "Through Filene, leading scholars and consultants analyze managerial problems, public policy questions, and consumer needs for the benefit of the credit union system."
  Busy day today (might not make golf tonight) - I have to take 19 images to Trails Lounge in Portage and hang them, then run back, load the trailer with that behemoth and take the bouncy ride to Madison.  Hwy 151 SUCKS when it comes to trailers!  Hideous highway, all smooth in a car but the slabs are perfect for road harmonics when pulling a trailer.
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Obama is slowly opening up a lead now that the Ryan bump is subsiding.  Of the 15 major polls Obama leads in 12 of them. However we all know the popular vote does not win elections (he leads 50.6 - 48.2 and is +0.1 since August 21st). The electoral vote is the key and that race is widening (298.1 - 239.9  +3.0 since Aug 21st).

I watched the RNC for 5 minutes before I started to get angry with the rhetoric on how the right is so so much better with money and will "save" the nation (I really don't think we need "saving").

Lets see
Reagan (R) increased the debt 189%
Bush I (R) increased the debt 55%
Clinton (D)  increased the debt 37%
Bush II (R)  increased the debt 115%
Obama (D)  increased the debt 16%

In the last 50 years

Republicans have held the Presidency 28 years, Democrats 22 years.

Jobs created?  (R) = 24 million  (D)  42 million
Stock Market Returns = (R) 109%  (D) 992%
Gross Domestic Product average =  (R) 2.7%  (D) 4.1%
Income Growth average = (R) 0.6%  (D)  2.2%

There have been 16 recessions under GOP rule and seven under Democratic rule.

Source - Bloomberg, POLITICO and US Dept of Labor  - I have no link.

So don't tell me The GOP is better with money.

I do agree with a good number of their ideas - if we could get both sides to actually work together that would be awesome but no . . . that's not going to happen.

OK OK - step away from the keyboard.

Have a great Wednesday

Rod

Unleashed and Uncorked - Dane County Humane Society

with yesterdays rain Columbus has now received 2.62 inches of rain this month in seven rain events. This is about one inch below normal.  We had 4.2 inches in July and 0.5 inches in June. 

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For anybody watching what I now consider one of the best reality shows on TV, Big Brother, is this not a fantastic season?  balderdash wanted me to explain why Big Brother was so good and I think because it is the ultimate social game.  Survivor use to be but that is getting old.  Amazing Race is an adventure and not really a social game. Those are the only reality shows we watch that are actually games.

The ebb and flow of peoples relationships in the house is fantastic now that people playing have a clue how to actually play the game. Kick your friends out but you also want to have them vote for you to win $$.  It's tricky.  Watch all three episodes in one week and you will see.   It's like the board game Diplomacy.

Basic rules.  Day 1 - Compete for Head of House Hold (HOH) - if you win you put two people on the block and one will be eliminated.  Sides are taken secretly, who is voting for who.

Day 3- Veto contest. Winner can decided to take one person off the block. IF that happens HOH has to put up another person.  Again - secret alliances are made, who are people going to vote out. 

Day 7 - some one is kicked out and a NEW HOH is decided. The TRICK is with all that went on last week now there are targets on peoples back and alliances are made and broken. It's awesome.  It is so fluid it's crazy fun.

People who hate reality shows only watch one episode but the key is getting to know the personalities. Once you see Ian is an evil genius in sheep's clothing and NOBODY has a clue. THEY PROTECT HIM!! LOL  I think if he can pull this off he might be one of the best players EVER.  The guy acts so clueless but he is pulling all the strings. 


ANYWAY. This has been a very fun season. 

Art fair season is almost over two more fairs and I can relax and take care of all the places that do my work for me (but I get paid MUCH less).  Gotta love galleries but that 40% cut they take hurts.  I wish they would take the 40% it takes me to MAKE the art . . . but noooooo . . they take the 40% profit part. 

Now I totally understand why art costs so much. It's all the art that never ever sells that you spent money on and just sits there collecting dust.

I'll be raising my prices 5% next year and now that I dry mount all my poster sizes AND print them on paper impregnated with metal those will go up maybe $10 as their production has doubled in price.
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This could be the best job EVER!!!

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So DJ made home made deodorant last night using her new miracle jar of Coconut Oil.  So now I'm worried that by Christmas I'll be wearing burlap pants and eating fresh killed squirrel for dinner. And DJ will have flies buzzing her armpits!  What's next.  She was looking for organic toothpaste the other day at Woodmans.  I can't believe they did not have any.

I started counting all the popcorns and at 46 I got board and estimated over 250 different styles of popcorn.  They do  have a great wall of weenies and I found some Oscar Meyer ones I've never seen before.  We bought some New Your Style Smoked Uncured Beef Franks (I hope they cure them at some point)  which are awesome.  But their meat department is just one step better then Pic-n-Save which offer their half gray half red steaks.

And don't give me this crap about "OH, they are still good even though they are gray".  they YOU buy the gray steaks.

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I have a fantasy football draft Friday Night.  In fantasy baseball I'm now in 3rd place but still in the money.  I've never done a "pro" Fantasy Football team so this is a new adventure (pro means I can win $$).

I'm looking for more confidence football pools.  Those are money makers and last year I profited over $400 and in the last four years I think I'm up over $700.  In fact in my last seven pools (4 years worth) I have not failed to win money.  I should become a professional.

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These guys made a huge canvas print with a bare tree. Then put green chalk on either side of the road.

 

How cool is that!

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I'm going to donate some artwork to the Dane County Humane Society for their Unleashed and Uncorked event Friday, September 14, 2012, from 7-10 p.m.  Wine tasting, art for sale, star gazing and live bluegrass music by Daylight in the Swamp - sounds like a lot of fun for a great cause.

Tempt your taste buds with 45 specially selected wines and satisfy your palette with delectable chocolates, fruits and cheeses. Peruse the work of more than 50 Wisconsin artists who have donated their work to be sold in the art gallery.

Proceeds benefit Dane County Humane Society programs and services for animals in need. Every $15 donation provides food, water, shelter, vaccinations, bedding, ear scratches and belly rubs for one homeless animal.

Have a great Monday!!  

Rod

Phase 3 - GONE!

There is one word in the English language that is always pronounced incorrectly.

What is it?  Answer on the bottom.
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And then there is Todd Akin.  Yea - what he said was pretty stupid but booyah!  Well done on dealing with your Republican critics.  All of these people saying he should step down - screw you!!  Romney calls him and what does he do? Ignores him.


Of course FOX news who's new motto is "Don't listen with your mind, listen with your heart" blames the liberal media (media which is not FOX) but ummmmm . . .seems like every Republican on the planet wants  him to step down. 


I say run!!  Let the voters vote.  Good Grief!


Then there is the GOP convention which will be held during a hurricane Isaac.  Issac has a blocking high at the moment so it's traveling west but about the time it goes under Cuba the high drifts east and BAM - Issac makes a right turn north and hits Florida right during the convention!!  I think it's a sign.

After all - this race is a done deal. Obama will win 295 electoral votes and Romney gets 242.  Screw the polls which only show popular vote. Wisconsin at the moment is the 3rd most important state in the election and if you take all the polls and average them out there is a 71% chance that Obama wins Wisconsin. Ohio and Virginia are more important then Wisconsin.

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We found out last night while talking to  some neighbors that Phase Three of the  Kestrel Ridge Development ain't going to happen.  

In the spring we watched as they smoothed out the fields on the other side of the fairway and planted wheat (which was beautiful) and they harvested it an so forth.  Lately we have been seeing house putting in new sidewalks and  as we were out for our walk we stopped and talked to a sidewalk person.

Seems people in our area are being forced to spend their money putting in sidewalks.  Columbus government mandate. But not EVERYWHERE. Only our little area (which gets zero traffic).  Other parts of town they don't have too I guess.

ANYWAY - the area that was suppose to have 40 homes built was sold back to the farmer and now soybeans and wheat will be our across the fairway neighbor. SWEET!  

There have been a few Sandhill Cranes across in the field (I thought they were actually pterodactyl's . . . . .think I didn't have any trouble spelling THAT one?, come on give me a break!!).

SO - it's country living with no houses.
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Check out this cool purse!!  It's awesome!!! 

 You can get them online for $99

Jump from Paper purses!

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Answer:  Incorrectly



Have a fine Wednesday!

Rod