Staying Consistent

I started working out last week and I am on Day 6. (Skinny pics coming in a few weeks ;0 )In the past I have said that I would work out 5 days a week but then something happens after the two days off. So I am just working out in some way every day. Even if I am just going for a brisk walk on one of the days. I know that I have to be consistent for the new habit to take hold. I can already tell the diference. My body feels better and my mind feels clear. It's great, actually.

So...I am learning that the way to be consistent is to do it every day. This applies to art too. You don't have to spend 8 hours in the studio every day but do something every day. Even if you just get your workspace set up to paint the next day. It is something and it keeps you in touch with what you are doing. It works.

There will be days when it looks like nothing is happening. I have had many of those. Then out of nowhere things will just appear. They were on the way the whole time! I did a google search for 'original abstract art' today and my shop is listed on the second page. I don't know how many times I have done that search and found nothing! But now here I am. I have been working on this since October and it's nice to see some signs that I exist online!

I am becoming convinced that a small consistent effort will work better than a sporadic huge effort. The little things really do add up and I find myself wanting to do more and more. I hope that you will find something you can try consistently for a time and see how it works for you!

::Liz::

Look at Stylish Modern Abstract Art!

F6 Gallery Show

This is the flyer for the next show that I am in. They put Elizabeth Ballard, not Lizardo. :( I did get an entire line to myself though. :) I can't wait to meet some new artists and check out everyone's work.

Check out all of my available art right here!

Change is officially here! I think this is the first time in my life that I really do feel like things are changing. I think it's cool that we have a black president but I think its even cooler that we have a black president, a white vice president and a woman as Secretary of State. I think it is a diverse representation and I am happy to see it too.

I don't agree with everything that Bush did and I'm fairly certain that Obama will do things I don't agree with. I do respect Bush for taking on a job like that because I know I wouldn't want to do it. So thanks for that, if anything.

As for me, I can feel personal change in the air too. I think it is this whole reaching 30 thing. All of the sudden I am wanting things I have never wanted. And wondering if certain things are ever going to happen, yet realizing it is better that they haven't. All in good time and under the right circumstances. And since I am still in college, I am obviously on my own little path here. Oh well. At least I look as young as most of the college students I go to school with.

I think I feel hope with the rest of the nation. I don't think that Obama is to the answer to my life's problems but I do think the attitude is changing. It's a good thing to see. This is probably one of the most historic days in my life so far. Life is good!

Cyberstalker Original Painting by Lizardo

Cyberstalker Original Painting by Lizardo
Originally uploaded by liz5552000

Good news! I have been accepted into a show called Electroshock 2 at the F6 Gallery in Arlington, TX. All o the works are inspired by computers or electronics. This is my first show this year and I'm very excited. I like meeting other artists and talking to people in person about my work. The show is on January 31st. Thanks to everyone that wished me luck when entering!

Fashionably Late Post on New Year's 09

Lizardo, New Year's 09


I didn't make any New Year's resolutions this year because I wanted to carry on what I am doing from last year. December was a fun month for me. I was featured in an Etsy e-mail and made my first sales. Great success! (Sorry , but I still quote Borat and I don't know when I'll ever stop.)

I want my entire 2009 to be as fun as this picture of me! I know I look really silly but this is my fave pic in a long time. I smile every time I see it.

So anyway, back to the point, if there ever was one. I didn't make the resolutions but I did just read someone's bucket list for 2009. I think I could handle that. The movie was great, by the way. I'm not sure if I should call it a bucket list since I am not planning on kicking the bucket in 2010. Either way, here is a fashionably late list of things I want to do this year.

Lizardo's 2009 Bucket List

Use my passport

Celebrate my 30th birthday in Vegas

Get my diploma

Offer prints in my Etsy shop

Have extra money for Christmas next year

Make enough money to hire someone to clean this poor house every once in a while

Be one of those people who is always in good shape no matter what the season because they consistently work out

Make my blog more interesting

Take more pictures

Actually visit hawaii now that I have two friends within 30 minutes of each other living there

Have one of my curated treasuries hit the front page

Be in more FP treasuries...it's happened once it can happen again

Promote myself in Dallas, Austin, Houston

Have a the best year ever!

Okay, there it is. Now everyone knows and I will always be able to find my list.

Today I'm working on a painting to submit to a gallery. I have no guaruntee that it will be in the show but I am having fun with it anyway. It has to be computer inspired. I am already calling it Cyberstalker and have some basic ideas in my head. Of course what is in my head usually morphs into something completely different when I start painting. But who really cares? It's not like anyone saw the mental idea, compared it to the finished product and found themselves disappointed. Oh wait, I did! Just kidding. If I remember, and I hope that I do, my plan is to take pictures of the entire process and post them in a future blog.

Hope everyone has a great day! Be sure to check out my interview if you haven't already!

Shop for Modern Stylish Original Art here!

Interview and Inspirational Story

I just did my first interview. (That was fun to say. I think I might just say it again.) Jay Neale III from jn3 Hand Crafted Woodworks at Etsy interviewed me for his blog. Thanks Jay! Check out the interview and also be sure to check out his shop!

So, I am thinking my next series of paintings is going to be called space. Because that is what I am feeling right now. A huge amount of space. I am the type that needs some space but I don't like to have too much. I guess we all have our limits. I think it will be a great series.

I am not sure why I am complaining about having too much space. On Tuesday morning I start school again and there will be no space and I will be complaining about that. You can't win with me! LOL

I am looking forward to my classes this semester. At first I wasn't because there were some issues with registration and a lot of classes were gone by the time I got there. But now that I look at it, I think I ended up in the perfect classes. Sometimes life has a way of guiding you.

I hope my sister doesn't mind but I want to tell her story. It's pretty cool!

Okay, she's been wanting to move to a certain city for quite a while now. Got her diploma, started sending out her resume and everything but no leads. The company she worked for went out of business last week so she decided to take the trip to the new city. Some of her leads had told her that they would interview her if she could come in person.

So she's taking the big step, gets to the airport and does the whole security thing. Well..someone in line with her had the exact same model of laptop as she does. I'm sure you can guess where this is going. She takes this guy's laptop to her city and he takes hers to another city. Funny, they were sitting in the same terminal for two hours or something.

You would think this would be pretty awful...

Somehow during the whole FedEx involved laptop exchange, he ends up asking her why she flew there in the first place. She tells him she is going to look for a job because she is moving there. They talk a little more and he actually ends up forwarding her resume to some of his contacts and she gets more interviews. Go sis!!!!

Just wanted to share. I wish I could convey her excitement. It was pretty awesome.

I have to go but I hope everyone is having a great week!

Lizardo Loves....First Edition

I thought it would be fun to feature different sellers on Etsy and various things that I have found. I can't promise any kind of regularity but I will post my treasuries in here for all to see.

I created a Treasury this morning. Click on the picture for more from these sellers!

Take care,

Lizardo

www.lizardoart.etsy.com

My First Front Page Appearance

Last night excited the hell out of me! I absentmindedly clicked on Etsy,only to find my painting in a Treasury on the front page. The extra exposure was short lived but it happened and that is all that matters. Funny, I spent the entire day updating pictures in my shop. I'm glad I did! Here's the famous painting…

Original Abstract Art by Lizardo

Taking It As It Comes

8" x 10" acrylic on canvas panel

© Lizardo, 2008.

Following A Hunch

An interesting thing happened to me today. I was out at Hobby Lobby looking at thier sale items and I just got a hunch. You know what I mean...you have this feeling but no scientific evidence to back it up. Well, I have been looking for a particular item for a long time now and have had no success. I use it for creating texture in my paintings and it is my favorite texture ever. I originally found it at a sewing store. Hobby Lobby has a sewing department and I always look to see if it has suddenly appeared there.

So...I am walking around looking at things, not really knowing where I am going. I start heading towards the homecoming section. I thought for sure I was crazy but I went anyway. I thought I might find something comparable but lo and behold....My item is sitting there on the shelf, cut exactly the way that I need it and on clearance. Hell yeah!

Moral of the story...follow your gut instinct....sometimes it leads you to good things.

New Art

Unhinged, Original Abstract Art by Lizardo, 30"x40"

New work posted! I have been working on this for the past week and am very pleased with the results. There is lots of texture and structure but it's not too perfect. It's a little symbolic of how my attempts to be more structured usually come out.

My Christmas vacation has been awesome! Just having the time to do normal things like laundry, grocery shopping and sleeping in has been great. I have the rest of this week and one more week until school starts again.

I've been having a lot of fun with my Etsy shop. I have been able to get a Treasury or two. When you create a Treasury, you are showcasing other sellers and things that you like. It's a fun way for me to explore Etsy.

I haven't been to work since the holidays ended but we're back to convention season. Yeah! I like kids and all but hundreds of them is a little overwhelming. Plus everyone has been getting sick and we're all tired. And I love my business travelers.

Who knows what the year will bring with that. I have heard that conventions have been canceled but I'm sure they will do something to bring the business in. I've always done well there.

Okay...off to ship my first sale of the year!

Only 6 more months until I turn 30! I've had a lot of fun in my 20's so I don't wish I could stay this age forever. I am looking forward to turning 30 and starting a new phase of my life.

It's funny that I can actually feel something changing. I feel more grown up and still the same. I think differently than I used to.

I am starting my senior year of college. I know...a 30 year old senior! I don't think it's any secret that I want to be an artist when I grow up, even though I am getting a degree in Finance. I am interested in both. I would like to be a rich artist.

I have to be honest when I say that I am feeling a bit of conflict towards graduating. I know I can get a good job and blah blah blah. But that seems so boring and easy. I have so much more fun when I am working on my Etsy shop, painting, promoting myself or working to get my art out into the world. I like the challenge and every little reward is worth it.

I think having a business degree is going to be the best thing. It helps me think both ways. I can't help but be creative and scatterbrained. The business side helps me to see opportunities to make money doing what I love.

My goals for this year include developing my online presence as well as my offline presence. I love being in shows because you get to meet new people and guage thier reactions in person. I'd like to start doing art fairs on some weekends. I'd also like to start offering prints.

Times have changed so much. Before it used to be that you would establish your art career to the point of being able to offer prints. Now, you can easily start offering prints. I am looking into the details but look for it in the next few months.

The business/creative thing isn't exactly new for me. When I was in 5th or 6th grade, I used to draw earrings and jewelry and clothing for hours. Then I somehow got my hands on some beads and wanted to sell jewelry. My friends thought it was a game and I remember feeling so frustrated because I fully intended for it to be a business. Maybe I had read to many Babysitter's Club books. LOL

So for now, I will get my degree and get a lame job until I get my art career to the point where I can just work for myself. Or better yet...have some people working for me! :)