aRtrageous

{Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved}

We began our Artrageous evening with Kampai sushi, tuna sashimi and goat cheese at Kampai. Delicious. Toured through the galleries for Artrageous, contemplated jumping in the white limo with the neon interiors, skipped over to room 38. Capped off our evening with X-rated Bellinis and {my all-time favorite} gooey butter cake with raspberries. Double delish. Thank you, Sam for the belated-birthday fun!

How To Be An Artist #18

Refuse to be responsible. I didn’t set out to do that. But it just happened. I received my first speeding ticket. Ever. I didn’t feel creative or adventurous ... just miserable and loathsome. Lately, I’ve been very irresponsible with my diet and work-out routine. Madness, I know. Sark must have figured that in doing this {not being responsible}, it takes us out of our safe element and opens our eyes to new things. So true. 
My eyes have been opened to few, new things. Here’s my brief confession, in my most honest voice: Designers have their mean reds too. I know it looks like we have fun, and you probably think we just draw pictures all day and learn new nerdy tricks on the Mac {ok, some of us do}. But it’s not always fun and easy because like any job, it’s a business. 

A few designer life lessons that I’ve learned (over again):

1. The simplest projects are never simple. If each draft (for one, simple job) equaled a meal, there would be a village of happy children in Africa.

2. Never fall in love with one of your innovative and creative designs. In the end, they always go for the old, been there/done that, big and ugly.

3. People get hung up on the weirdest thing. For instance, when I receive a design request for a calling card, people will obsess over every bit of information. Hello. It's not a book, it's a card. Nobody really cares about all that *@^}, they just want your digits. 

4. It doesn’t matter what color you go with. With 20 cooks in the kitchen, one is bound to hate that color. Oh, I didn’t realize Pantone made f*©king green.

5. There are clients who never want change. Even when change is needed. And it doesn’t matter how well you present the new idea, people who don’t like change will look at you like you’ve asked them to fly to the moon.

I’m going to stop now and find my happy place, sketchbook and Mac in tow. Speaking of happy place, here’s a pretty picture of the goodies that lovely Lynsie brought back from lovely London. She knew I was having a difficult week {being responsible and all}. ♥♥

How To Be An Artist #17

{thecoolhunter.com / pinterest / Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved}

Do it now (the money will follow) It has been crazy busy. That seems to be my daily mantra, I know. But busy has been good {for the most part} and never boring. So when I read “Do it now” that’s what I aspire to be my daily mantra. Even if being busy doesn’t allow it, I try to make time to do the things I want to do – to always try new things and begin/finish things I’ve had on my “to do” list. During my rare, free time, I’ve been working on the concert book. This book will continue to grow but after compiling pictures from the last few years, I thought I’d better begin with volume one. Here’s a sneak peak (above).

How To Be An Artist #16

{pinterest, The Help}
cry during movies. I don’t cry at movies — something about being out in public and keeping my emotions in check. When I first read The Help, I cried during different chapters of the book, in the privacy of my room. It's a great novel with wonderful characters, and it doesn't take much to be moved by the injustice of it all. Injustice is an unfortunate reality … it’s difficult to explain and believe {when you’re experiencing it} that down the road how much stronger you will be. I know this to be true.
I saw The Help at the theater and even though {for me} it fell under the loved-the-book-better category, I was moved to tears — especially when Viola Davis, who plays the maid, Aibileen, is on the screen.
I adore Emma Stone and The Help has an immeasurably talented cast. But Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer steal all the scenes they are in. If you can’t find time to read this enlightening book, see the film. And bring tissues.

How To Be An Artist #15

Puppy Love. The next thing on the How to Be An Artist list was “cultivate moods.” I took a cue from Beau’s puppy, Heiney, who one minute would be racing around and nipping creating excitement and havoc at the same time. The fangs would come out and I was sure she turned into a vamp dog after twilight. When she would calm down, she was an angel. I caught her during her calm moments — possibly sad. Mood, indeed.

{Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved}

The lady is a vamp. LOL.

How To Be An Artist #14

And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer. — F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Read everyday. Most days, the best part of my day is when I have down time — to relax, kick back, and read. I currently picked up a classic, East of Eden by Steinbeck, which I know I read long, long ago but I’m sure I didn’t fully commit to reading, understanding or appreciating it when I was young. I can’t wait. {Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved}

If you’re looking for a good book, I would recommend any one of these {fast} page-turners:

• The Help {read it before watching the movie. You will not be sorry} by Kathryn Stockett
• The Hunger Games trilogy {trust me when I say, you will not be able to stop at book one} by Suzanne Collins
• Girls in Trucks { like a glass of cold lemonade, refreshing and light} by Katie Crouch

A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight. — Robertson Davies

How To Be An Artist #13

Play catch-up. It’s not on Sark’s list but it is on mine. This past weekend was catch-up time. You know when you finally break down and do that annual overall house cleaning? Did that. Then we had friends over for a barbecue, to test out Matt’s new grill, catch-up and {sadly} say good-bye {for now} to my creative friend, Jen, who will be starting an exciting adventure in St. Louis.

Matt’s delectable corn tortillas.

Beau’s “Better-than-Bump and Grind-cake.” Chocolate, caramel, Heath bar, whip cream ... delish. {Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved}

ren and jen.

We caught up on romantic comedies. Ok, so I’m always watching movies, but these two were light, fun, and perfect for summer break.

crazy stupid love

friends with benefits

I caught up on naps. 

Next on my list is to catch up on reading. :) 

How To Be An Artist #12

{flickr}

Be free. There are so many ways I can do this. I may have to post this # more than once. My thoughts immediately went to the summer when we took a family trip to Colorado. Hiking, horse-back-riding, biking, canoeing, floating … and the craziest thing {crazy because I allowed my very young children to do this after our guides assured us it was safe} jumping off a very steep cliff into the cold Colorado River. Jordan, who was 7 at the time, went first. I remember him having all the gusto and lack of fear, running and jumping. Me, panicking. I was waiting in the water and when he surfaced, blood was running from his nose and screaming ensued. From me. The impact caused the nose bleed but Jordan was fine – all smiles and ready to go again. This was FREEDOM and madness. Crazy as it was, we all tried it once, just for the taste of freedom.

{Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved}

Express yourself. I’ve been making these cute Chevron bracelets. Not only does it take me back to my youth, but there’s something very relaxing about making them. Like knitting, it takes patience and a bit of methodical thinking. When you’re done, there’s that satisfaction of creating something out of simple, colored threads. I hope to improve and move on to more complicated pieces like this bracelet. Loving the lucky elephant motif.

Freedom is…

fun thong cookies made with a heart-shaped cookie cutter…

a beautiful, bare back…

visuals that get to the point. :) Stay free.
It started here.

How To Be An Artist #11

Make friends with freedom and uncertainty. I did just that when I met Kat and her friends, Rhonda and Marian. Kat and I worked together years ago, and she was getting ready to move and start a new job in Oregon. That’s a far cry from the small town of Macon, where she’s leaving. She was a bundle of energy and I was glad she asked me to come along and see her off. Marian is newly single and looking for a fresh start. I don’t doubt she’s going to bloom like that lotus drawing she kept showing us. Rhonda is a sister soul mate. We talked about things that shouldn’t be heard out loud, though I’m sure the waiter at bleu got an earful. I’m going to blame the absinthe. It’s not called “Death in the Afternoon” for no reason. Invented by Ernest Hemingway, it’s Absinthe and a flaming sugar cube drowned in champagne.

The ladies were still going strong as I walked barefoot to my car to go home. Freedom and uncertainty definitely has its charm. Good night, bullet, b-toy, liberator — rabbit.

How To Be An Artist #10

I played the other day. My guitar.

{various, lucy}
It’s been busy. Crazy busy. So crazy, so busy, that I forgot how much I love to sleep. But it’s gonna slow down because sometimes you just have to laugh and breathe and not get so caught up in the reality of it all. I picked up my guitar the other day. It had been months. Literally. I was thankful to remember a few chords and it felt really good, even though my fingers had that burn from not playing. So I’ll slow it down. Stay loose.

How To Be An Artist #9

Get wet. Perfect summer weather with good friends, family, barbecue and drinks at the lake. Add tubing, jet-skiing, good conversation, lazy Saturday on the pontoon, and a beautiful sunset. Thanks Jim, Sherry, Lloyd, Karen and all, for good times. {Ren Reiske© All Rights Reserved} It all started here.

How To Be An Artist #8

This makes me smile.
My first friendship bracelet came from Stephen, back when I was in college {yeah, I was late in the game}. I never took it off and wore it until it practically shredded off. Now, when I see them {on teens and adults alike}, it reminds me of when Beau was a little girl and I would show her how to easily make them.
This past weekend, I decided to dig out my craft box and create new memories. I made my first Chevron friendship bracelet following instructions here {these take awhile, so be patient}. 

{Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved} 
Another plus: they accent a summer tan … color me happy!