Open Studios: Before

We will be doing Open Studios in San Mateo on May 20 and 21. This is a big-deal event for me. It takes weeks of my art time to prepare. I'll send out postcards and email announcements. I have to clean off my big work table and set up as much of my work as I can fit in the space. Some years I clean off the top of a long cabinet for additional display space. I planted nasturtiums and poppies in the vegetable garden months ago. (I hope they bloom.) Every year, as the date approaches, I think "what was I thinking? I don't want to do this again next year."

After Open Studios, and after the mess in my studio is restored to it's rightful place, I change my mind. There are lots of good things about this event. It's always fun to talk to other artists. I like seeing the work displayed, instead of in boxes in the closet. Because I'm not in any galleries right now, I also value the exposure. I usually get new students for workshops. That's a lot, right?

My husband, Jim, will have the Zymoglyphic Museum open. Because there are two of us there is the Companion Effect. If it rains, or when it's slow because of Mother's Day, we can at least hang out together and complain to each other.

I do have a list of things to do. Things get added to it every year, but I always ignore parts of it. This year I'm going to bring in fresh flowers from the garden and hang prayer flags in the tree outside. The floor will be dirty, everything is always dusty, there will be piles of papers and collage materials hidden under my worktable. It looks like an artist's studio, slightly tidied up. I think it will be a wonderful two days. If you're in the area and can come by to say "hello," please do.