It's still a ways off til August 22

When I'll be part of the Women's Speaker Series at the REI in Soho!

I started a couple years alot.
Running alittle with Dave and Wendy.
I'd increase the distance, try to increase the speed.
Just enjoy myself and be consistant.
In January my yoga studio stopped with morning classes
so I started going to Equinox which has awesome classes.
So less yoga, more conditioning.  I got alot fitter and more inspired.
Running is good because it's a great work out in a short time.

I guess the point was that I did a 10K in Central Park.
It was awesome!
It reminded me some of racing bikes,
in that I'm planning to do even better next time
and that while I was running I kept thinking how  

If you are not actively moving forward
you are moving backwards.  
 

that is probably true for everything.
something to keep in mind.

Finally got myself up to the Morgan to see this show.

Wayne Thiebaud is one of my favorite painters.

Looking at drawings is a window into the thought process

I've been drawing alot with pencil lately and looking at pencil drawings in a variety of artist's sketch books.
Trying to make shapes instead of line.
What is "drawing like a painter"?

Always been intriqued by his black and white sketches.  
One day I'll try to draw like this.

.

 I love what I do.  It's been/is a journey to make a living from my work.  It's like a living thing, seeking balance between making/promoting/selling.
It's gratifying when it looks enough right that people ask advice.  These are not all my thoughts on the subject, just some recent answers to inquiry... 

Do you balance your art career with another occupation, or are you a full time artist?

I’ve been full time at this since 2000.

What was your first artwork sale experience?

Not sure, but I think it was the holiday show at art school.

Does specializing in one specific niche (bicycle paintings) help you stay focused? Sometimes, I can be overwhelmed with new ideas always coming to mind. Do you recommend a young artist to limit themselves to one subject, for the sake of developing their style?

I don’t believe in limiting yourself really, but following your own heart.  I started painting and focusing on bikes when I started cycling and got very excited about it Whatever your subject/passion is it will come to you. My bike paintings started when I was 28.  It has been helpful to have that focus. Having that it is somehow easier to be creative than if I had no focus. I think every artist/writer/creative person has a thing that interests them, that they want to express. It has to be for you, not the audience. It has made it easier, I think, to find an audience and the cycling world is friendly. 

Do you have an agent, or do you market your own work to galleries/shops?

No agent, but I don’t really market beyond selling extensively at outdoor markets and having the website and distributing postcards.  No agent could care as much about my success as I do!

What made you decide to sell your work at shops? Do you find this better than selling directly to the public?

I do everything I can.

What factors do you believe help “hand-drawn/painted” works stand out, in a world where digital graphics/illustrations abound?

You just said it, in a world where digital graphics/illustrations abound hand drawn\painted works stand out!

Any words of advice to a young artist hoping to put their work out to the public?

Be true to yourself.  Make postcards with your website url on them.  I leave stacks in bikeshops and wherever, it has been tremendously helpful.  Do everything you can to promote yourself and be creative with it, don’t just do the usual channels that everyone else is doing. When I was getting started I found cafes where I could show my work and that was really helpful too.

Good luck,

Taliah